Is This Still the Iron Man Stance?

Stance techniques.

Were methods proven over long periods of time.

To be the most suitable foundational techniques for guiding human martial artists onto the path of martial cultivation.

Train the body externally, and temper the mind internally.

Only by breaking through the chaotic Inner Demons brought on by physical exhaustion during Standing Posture.

And seeing the bright light of the heart could one find the Spirit Sea.

Draw upon the power of the Spirit Sea, turning illusion into reality.

Seek within oneself to achieve the goal of life evolution.

The Iron Man Stance was the most common and ordinary stance technique.

"It's like the radio calisthenics from my previous life. It definitely has training benefits."

"But compared with what professional athletes practice, the gap must be considerable."

Qin Annian digested the additional memories in his mind.

"But this?"

"Can this still be considered the Iron Man Stance?"

His current limit for holding a stance was four hours.

Of that, only around thirty minutes allowed him to clarify his mind and see his nature, drawing upon the Spirit Sea.

And because of that.

His Life Development Power had risen slowly.

In the end, he had missed the Martial Arts Exam and lost the easiest path for an ordinary person to change their fate against the heavens.

But within those extra memories.

His feet seemed to have taken root as he stood upon the earth.

Three years!

It was as if he had truly become an Iron Man, standing tall for three whole years through wind and rain, summer and winter!

Every subtle mystery of this stance technique had been laid bare before him without reservation.

If the circumstances had been different.

Qin Annian would have already assumed the stance and begun training!

"I have a feeling."

"The next time I practice the stance, I'll be able to raise my Life Development Power past 10!"

Beep—whoop—

Beep—whoop—

The police sirens rapidly drew closer.

Red and blue lights flashed in alternating bursts, washing over the half-closed rusty gate.

Boom!

Dust rose in a cloud as the rusty gate collapsed completely.

The tall figure leading the group strode in, fully armed.

His gaze did not fall on the two criminals groaning softly on the ground.

Instead, he first narrowed his eyes and studied Qin Annian, who leaned weakly against the wall, for several seconds.

Then.

He waved a hand and instructed his subordinates behind him:

"Let the medical team come in and examine this colleague."

"Take these two suspects back to the bureau for questioning."

The moment he finished speaking.

The screech of tires against the ground came from outside the gate.

Immediately after.

Came a string of hurried footsteps.

A somewhat portly middle-aged man ran in, drenched in sweat.

He had not even put on his Peace Officer uniform properly. He had clearly rushed over in a hurry.

"Captain Chen!"

His plump face crumpled into a chrysanthemum-like smile, full of flattery.

"You've worked hard this late at night!"

The tall man shook his head and replied calmly:

"Peace Officer Zhao."

"You should know the bureau's rules."

"From now on, you may not have any contact with these two suspects."

The smile on Zhao Daming's face froze. After recovering, he hurriedly nodded.

"I know."

"I know."

At the side, Qin Annian watched Zhao Daming turn and stalk angrily toward him.

Meanwhile, he recalled the Security Bureau's organizational structure.

As the Federal Government's violent institution for maintaining domestic public order.

The Security Bureaus in every city were more or less the same.

There were two martial personnel systems within the bureau.

"Peace Officers are similar to neighborhood cops from my previous life, but they have far, far greater authority."

"They are responsible for public security in a designated district."

"The Operations Division oversees three battalions: the Assault Team, the Intelligence and Technical Support Team, and the Medical Team."

Each battalion was further divided into several squads.

"Qin Annian!"

The furious shout pulled Qin Annian from his recollection.

Zhao Daming glared viciously at Qin Annian like a wild boar ready to devour someone.

"Do you even know?"

"That the Security Bureau is a disciplined force?"

"What the hell are you trying to do?!"

"Huh?"

He immediately launched into a barrage of scolding.

Qin Annian narrowed his eyes and stared at the fat pig standing before him, spraying spittle.

Zhao Daming was highly suspected of being the mole who had betrayed him.

Since they had already fallen out, and there was even a blood feud between them.

Qin Annian naturally had no reason to indulge him.

"Peace Officer Zhao!"

Qin Annian snapped upright and looked coldly at Zhao Daming.

"Which law did I violate?"

"Or which bureau regulation?"

"Was it the Public Employees' Integrity Act?"

Interrupted, Zhao Daming stared at Qin Annian in disbelief.

This temporary worker, who had always been so meek and submissive, actually dared to talk back to him—and even mock him?

Even the Operations Division members escorting the suspects and preparing to leave.

Could not help casting strange looks back and forth between Zhao Daming and Qin Annian.

"Every action I took was properly filed."

"And authorized by Miss Ju Zi."

Miss Ju Zi was the name of the Security Bureau's supercomputer mainframe.

"You! You!"

Zhao Daming raised a carrot-thick finger, pointing at Qin Annian as he trembled too hard to speak.

Just as the atmosphere turned stiff.

The medical team finally entered after enjoying enough of the show, positioning themselves between the two men.

"Peace Officer Zhao, we need to take him for an examination."

The leading young woman turned around and winked at Qin Annian.

"Come with me."

As Qin Annian's figure was about to disappear beyond the gate.

The furious Zhao Daming finally could not restrain himself and roared:

"Qin Annian!"

"You're just a lousy temp worker!"

"Who gave you the authority to contact Miss Ju Zi over your superior's head?"

"You're fired!!!"

Outside.

A nurse from the medical team covered her mouth and lowered her voice.

"Don't worry."

"He doesn't have the authority to fire you directly. At most, he can write a recommendation."

"You solved this case and earned merit."

"The higher-ups will definitely have to consider the impact."

"Besides."

"If your Life Development Power breaks through 10, you can also take the Operations Division assessment."

Qin Annian spoke softly at that.

"Thank you."

"Please help examine the children inside, sister."

The young women from the medical team smiled and nodded.

Inside the factory.

Zhao Daming slammed the door and left.

The young man beside Captain Chen kept clicking his tongue.

"That kid's got guts, I'll give him that."

"That Zhao fellow is in for trouble too."

"But."

"If Zhao pulls some dirty tricks, let alone becoming a full employee, whether that kid can remain in the Security Bureau at all will be a problem."

Captain Chen did not respond. Instead, he asked leisurely:

"What's your current Life Development Power?"

The young man looked somewhat proud.

"14.8. I should be able to push it to 15 in two months."

Captain Chen looked at his Personal Terminal.

"Sun Liu, Mad Dog, combat power 38; He Jin, Savage Bear, combat power 35."

"How long would it take you to deal with them?"

The young man pondered for a moment, uncertain.

"Within fifteen minutes?"

Captain Chen looked thoughtful as he withdrew his gaze from the Personal Terminal.

"Without Assault Team equipment, and without support from the Operations Division's other battalions."

The young man's brows furrowed even more deeply.

"Maybe half an hour?"

The two wanted criminals had undergone mechanical implant modification surgery, possessed extensive combat experience, and had plenty of blood on their hands.

The two of them working together would not be easy to handle.

Captain Chen clasped his hands behind his back. His voice was soft, yet it left the young man standing there dumbfounded.

"From the time we received Miss Ju Zi's order."

"To the time we arrived here."

"It took a total of twelve minutes and thirty-six seconds."

Only after nearly everyone from the Assault Team had left the factory.

Did the young man suddenly suck in a sharp breath and cry out:

"How is that possible?"

"Captain Chen!"

"What is that kid's Life Development Power?!"

Captain Chen's voice reached the young man's ears. "When he joined the Security Bureau, he was registered at 9.8."

After a brief silence.

"Huh?!"

"Captain Chen, you're not lying to me, are you?"

This outstanding Martial Arts University graduate stared wide-eyed.

"Oh."

"Right."

"He's only eighteen this year."