Iron Armor Art

Wooden Fish Island lay beneath the sunlight, gilded in gold, like a golden carp about to leap from the water.

Strangely enough, Soul-Lost Bay was shrouded in dense fog year-round, making passage by boat difficult, yet Wooden Fish Island, deep within Soul-Lost Bay, seemed wholly unaffected, with little difference from the outside world.

"Wooden Fish Summit. Wooden Fish Island as a whole resembles a fish, and Wooden Fish Summit is where its head lies. It is the highest point on the entire island and also Ironman Tu's residence."

Sunlight fell upon him, warm and gentle. Jiang Chen climbed the steps and arrived at Wooden Fish Summit. Before long, a servant led him into Ironman Tu's residence.

"Winding corridors, a new view at every step. Is this Ironman Tu's residence? It is rather well built—not like a bandit's den, but more like those Jiangnan gardens from my memories."

Following behind the servant toward the depths of the courtyard, Jiang Chen's peripheral vision swept over flowing water, artificial hills, flowers, grasses, covered bridges, and the thoughts in his mind kept turning.

In the memories of Jiang Wang, the original owner of this body, this chief's origins seemed far from simple. Now that he had seen the place, that was indeed the case. Such a courtyard exuded elegance in every corner; it was not something a bandit chief of humble origins would have built.

As Jiang Chen pondered this, they crossed a wooden bridge. The servant led him into a warm pavilion, made a gesture of invitation, then withdrew on his own, leaving Jiang Chen alone.

At that moment, a deep, resonant voice came from upstairs.

"Come up!"

Hearing that voice, Jiang Chen knew it must be Ironman Tu, the chief. Still, it was rather strange that, with his senses, he had failed to notice the man's presence immediately.

Though doubt arose within him, his expression did not change. Jiang Chen climbed to the second floor. Since he was already here, he naturally had to meet this legendary chief.

When he saw the chief's true appearance clearly, Jiang Chen's gaze shifted slightly. Fierce and powerful—this was Jiang Chen's first impression of the River-Sweeping Bandits' chief. The man was broad and burly, his skin the color of aged bronze. Bald-headed, with arms thick enough for horses to run across, he resembled a man-bear, every inch of him radiating savage ferocity.

But after examining him more closely, Jiang Chen's impression of Ironman Tu changed again. The man held a large writing brush in his hand and was carefully writing stroke by stroke. His expression was earnest, his gaze steadfast, and the hand holding the brush was steady to the extreme, without the slightest trace of impatience about him.

"A bandit's exterior, a scholar's bones."

After observing for a while, Jiang Chen's initial impression of Ironman Tu took shape. It had to be said that what this chief displayed was somewhat beyond his expectations.

At that moment, Ironman Tu set down his brush, raised his head, and turned his gaze toward Jiang Chen.

"Are you curious why a bandit chief like me is practicing calligraphy here instead of wielding blades and spears?"

As though he had seen through Jiang Chen's doubts, a faint smile appeared on Ironman Tu's naturally imposing face.

Hearing this, Jiang Chen nodded.

"I am somewhat curious."

Jiang Chen's words drifted lightly as he gave his answer. Seeing him like this, Ironman Tu could not help but pause. It seemed that no one had spoken so bluntly before him in a very long time.

"Haha, Jiang Wang, you are quite something. Since you are curious, I shall explain. I have tempered my body to its utmost limit. If I wish to advance further, I must temper my heart."

"To me, practicing calligraphy is also a form of cultivation. You should know that I once took the imperial examinations long ago. I simply failed to pass."

A self-mocking expression appeared on his face as Ironman Tu earnestly answered Jiang Chen's doubts. After finishing, he took a booklet and a porcelain bottle from beside the desk.

"I knew long ago that you were capable. As expected, you have not disappointed me."

"This is the Mystic Slaying Finger, a martial art left behind by an old rival of mine. It is enough to cultivate to the first-rate level. You are already skilled in hand techniques, so this martial art suits you quite well. I hope that in the future, you can make this martial art bloom with brilliance once more. Then my old rival may rest with his eyes closed."

"As for this porcelain bottle, it contains twelve Tiger-Leopard Pills. They can effectively strengthen your body. With these pills and the Mystic Slaying Finger, I believe you will soon break through to the first-rate level."

Without wasting words, Ironman Tu handed Jiang Chen the items he had prepared long ago.

Seeing this, Jiang Chen did not hesitate and accepted them directly.

Watching Jiang Chen act with such clean decisiveness, Ironman Tu grew even more satisfied.

"Golden Sand Field will be entrusted to you from now on. So long as you hold the fort there for three years, when you return, you will become the Fourth Chief of my Wooden Fish Island. This is my promise."

With a solemn expression, Ironman Tu gave his word.

Meeting Ironman Tu's gaze, Jiang Chen cupped his hands and bowed.

"Many thanks, Chief."

Without hesitation, Jiang Chen accepted Ironman Tu's arrangement. To him, this was not a bad thing.

Seeing this, Ironman Tu did not keep Jiang Chen any longer.

After Jiang Chen left, Ironman Tu stood behind the desk and watched the rising morning sun through the window. He could not help letting out a sigh. At that moment, all the boldness and refinement about him vanished.

"I can no longer even feel the warmth of sunlight. The time left to me truly is not much."

He withdrew his gaze, his expression shifting between light and shadow.

He was not a pure martial artist. Besides his martial arts, he had also cultivated a special talisman art—the Iron Armor Art. This art was wondrous, and even martial artists could cultivate it. Once mastered, it not only granted immense strength, but also made one's body like iron armor, impervious to blades and spears.

It was precisely by relying on this powerful talisman art in tandem with his martial arts that he had been able to roam unhindered and remain undefeated. However, cultivating this talisman art required drawing upon the yin energy between heaven and earth. Over time, that yin energy eroded the cultivator's flesh, causing them to steadily lose their perception of the outside world and become like iron and stone.

After a moment, Ironman Tu gathered all his thoughts. His problem was indeed complicated, but it was not truly without a solution. He merely needed a few more things.

"The small kitchen has developed some new dishes. Let's go try them."

After adjusting his mood, Ironman Tu walked out of the warm pavilion.

Over the years, his Iron Armor Art had grown increasingly powerful, and its influence on him had also deepened. It had caused him to lose interest in many things, including affairs between men and women. The only thing that could still bring him pleasure was fine food. That was precisely why he had gone to such lengths earlier to invite a master chef to Wooden Fish Island.

After he left, a fresh breeze entered through the window and lifted the sheet of white paper on which he had practiced calligraphy. Three words were written upon it: Not Immortal. The brushwork was vigorous, with hidden sharpness, congealing longing and unwillingness within.

Meanwhile, after leaving Ironman Tu's residence, Jiang Chen's steps halted slightly.

Turning back, he looked at the courtyard bathed in sunlight and saw darkness within it.

"That chief is already close to no longer being human. No wonder I failed to detect his presence immediately. Not only is he exceptionally gifted, having cultivated his martial arts to the pinnacle of the first-rate level and standing only one step away from the realm of a grandmaster, he has also cultivated a powerful talisman art. His combat strength is likely far greater than the outside world has imagined."

After that brief encounter, Jiang Chen's powerful senses had allowed him to see certain things on Ironman Tu. Though the man had concealed them to some extent, he still could not hide them from Jiang Chen's eyes. The yin energy shrouding his body had nearly become tangible. Rather than a living person, he was more like a walking corpse.

"I still lack a little accumulation of time. Going to hold the fort at Golden Sand Field for a while is not bad. It will also be convenient for me to verify the Bloodflame Art. I just wonder where the treasure Jiang Wang had been obsessing over actually is—or whether it truly exists at all."

With that thought arising, Jiang Chen did not look any longer. He turned and left Wooden Fish Summit. Sunlight fell upon him, casting a long shadow behind him.