Iron Armor Art

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

Strangely enough, Soul-Lost Bay lay shrouded in dense fog year-round, making travel by boat difficult, yet Wooden Fish Island, deep within Soul-Lost Bay, seemed entirely unaffected, little different from the outside world.

"Wooden Fish Summit. Wooden Fish Island is shaped like a fish, and Wooden Fish Summit is where its head lies. It is the highest point of the entire peninsula, and also Ironman Tu's residence."

The sunlight fell warmly on him as Jiang Chen climbed the steps to Wooden Fish Summit. Before long, a servant led him into Ironman Tu's estate.

"Winding corridors, a new view at every step—is this Ironman Tu's residence? It is rather well built. It does not resemble 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 gaze swept over flowing water, ornamental hills, flowers, plants, covered bridges, while thoughts churned endlessly in his mind.

From the memories of Jiang Wang, the former owner of this body, this chief's origins seemed far from simple. Seeing it now, that was indeed true. This courtyard exuded elegance in every corner, not something a grassroots bandit chief would have built.

As Jiang Chen pondered, they crossed a wooden bridge. The servant brought him to 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 should belong to Ironman Tu, the chief. Yet with his perception, he had failed to notice the man's presence immediately. That was rather strange.

Doubt stirred in his heart, but none showed on his face. Jiang Chen ascended to the second floor. Since he was already here, he had to meet this legendary chief.

When he finally saw the chief's true appearance, Jiang Chen's gaze shifted slightly. Ferocity—that was his first impression of the River-Sweeping Bandits' chief. He was broad and burly, his skin like ancient bronze, his head shaved bare, his arms thick enough for horses to run upon, like a man-shaped bear. Every inch of him radiated savage brutality.

But after another careful look, Jiang Chen's impression of Ironman Tu changed somewhat. The man held a large brush and was writing stroke by stroke. His expression was earnest, his eyes resolute, and the hand holding the brush was steady to the extreme. Not a trace of impatience lingered about him.

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

After observing him for a moment, 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 guns?"

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

Jiang Chen nodded at those words.

"I am somewhat curious."

His reply drifted out calmly. Seeing Jiang Chen like this, Ironman Tu froze for a moment. It seemed that no one had spoken so bluntly before him in a very long time.

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

"For me, practicing calligraphy is also cultivation. You should know that long ago, I took the imperial examinations as well. I simply failed to pass."

A self-mocking expression surfaced on his face as Ironman Tu seriously answered Jiang Chen's question. Once he finished, 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 now."

"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 Realm. You are already skilled in hand techniques, so it suits you quite well. I hope you can make this martial art bloom with splendor once more in the future. Then my old rival should be able to rest in peace."

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

Without further nonsense, Ironman Tu handed Jiang Chen the things 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 felt increasingly satisfied.

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

His expression solemn, Ironman Tu gave his promise.

Meeting Ironman Tu's gaze, Jiang Chen clasped 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 his desk and watched the rising morning sun through the window. He could not help releasing a sigh. At that moment, all the boldness and refinement about him vanished.

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

Retracting his gaze, Ironman Tu's expression flickered between light and shadow.

He was not a pure martial artist. Beyond his martial arts, he had cultivated a special talisman art—the Iron Armor Art. This art was miraculous. Martial artists could cultivate it as well, and 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 through the combination of this powerful talisman art and his martial arts that he had been able to rampage unhindered and remain undefeated. Yet 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 continuously lose their senses of the outside world and become like iron and stone.

After a while, Ironman Tu gathered all his thoughts. His condition was indeed complicated, but it was not truly without a solution. He merely still needed certain things.

"The small kitchen has developed a new dish. Go have a taste."

After steadying his mood, Ironman Tu left the warm pavilion.

Over the years, his Iron Armor Art had grown ever stronger, and its effects on him had become increasingly severe. It had made him lose interest in many things, including matters between men and women. Only fine food could still bring him pleasure. That was precisely why he had gone to such lengths to invite a master chef to Wooden Fish Island before.

After he left, a clear breeze drifted in through the window and lifted the white paper he had used for calligraphy. Three characters were written upon it: Not an Immortal. The brushwork was vigorous and forceful, with hidden sharpness within, condensed with longing and unwillingness.

Meanwhile, after leaving Ironman Tu's estate, Jiang Chen's steps paused.

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

"That chief is already close to no longer being human. No wonder I did not detect his presence at once. Not only is he extraordinarily gifted, having cultivated his martial arts to the very limit of the First-rate Realm, just one step from the Grandmaster Realm, but he has also cultivated a powerful talisman art. His combat strength is likely far greater than the outside world expects."

After their brief encounter, Jiang Chen had seen certain things in Ironman Tu through his powerful perception. Though Ironman Tu had concealed himself to some extent, he still could not hide from Jiang Chen's eyes. The yin energy surrounding him had nearly become tangible. Rather than a living man, he was more like a walking corpse.

"I am still lacking some accumulation of time. Spending a while stationed at Golden Sand Field will be good too, and it will conveniently let me test the Bloodflame Art. I only wonder where the treasure Jiang Wang had obsessed over is, or whether it truly exists at all."

With that thought rising, Jiang Chen no longer looked back. He turned and left Wooden Fish Summit, sunlight falling across him and casting a long shadow behind him.