The martial arts of the Iron Wire Fist School—strength-training fist techniques—could only be used to train strength. To temper the body, one had to continue learning other body-tempering martial arts, such as the Iron Fist Thirteen Forms, Ironcloth Body Shield, Vajra Locking Jade Formula...
Another point worth mentioning was that the Iron Wire Fist School divided the Body Tempering Realm into two stages: Outer Tempering and Inner Refinement.
Among them, Ironcloth Body Shield was a unique Outer Tempering technique of the Iron Wire Fist School, tempering a Martial Warrior's sinews, bones, and skin.
The Vajra Locking Jade Formula, meanwhile, was an Inner Refinement technique, cultivating the five viscera and six bowels within a Martial Warrior's body.
"Outer Tempering for the sinews, bones, and skin; Inner Refinement for the five viscera and six bowels.
"It really does cultivate every aspect of the Body Tempering Realm thoroughly.
"But the Tiger Demon Body-Tempering Fist I received as a reward from the Spirit-Seeking Treasure Mirror is an all-encompassing martial art.
"Relying solely on this fist technique and progressing step by step, I can cultivate all the way to the peak of the Body Tempering Realm.
"By comparison, the Tiger Demon Body-Tempering Fist is clearly more profound."
Chen Shaojun silently compared them.
He quickly reached his conclusion.
Thinking about it, that was only natural.
Nothing rewarded by the Spirit-Seeking Treasure Mirror was ever poor.
The Iron Wire Fist School, on the other hand, was merely a relatively ordinary fist school. It could not even rank within all of Shengjing City, so naturally, the martial arts it taught could not be all that exceptional.
"Never mind. The two don't conflict anyway.
"At worst, I'll cultivate the Iron Wire Fist School's martial arts when others are around, and practice the Tiger Demon Body-Tempering Fist in the appraisal room."
Muttering to himself, Chen Shaojun openly assumed the stance of the Ironwood Stake Skill in the courtyard.
Earlier, Fifth Senior Brother Mao Qiuyang had taught him the method for circulating strength in the Ironwood Stake Skill.
In fact, the instant he began circulating it, he felt strength continuously springing forth within his body.
There was no need to transmit strength at all. The strength within him was already nearly overflowing throughout his entire body.
But he did not dare show it.
Instead, he did his best to conceal it.
Now that he had returned to the pawnshop, most of the people around him were resting. Standing alone in a corner of the courtyard, he no longer feared being seen, and only then did he remove his restraints and cultivate freely.
Then, he watched helplessly as his stake skill advanced by leaps and bounds.
Beginner, proficient, minor achievement, major achievement...
Almost in the blink of an eye, he felt the strength within him surge like a raging tide, as if it were about to burst free from his body.
Chen Shaojun's heart stirred, and he threw a punch.
Sssht!
A visible wave of air blasted out like a hurricane, sending a pile of lumber in the distance scattering in all directions.
"According to Fifth Senior Brother Mao Qiuyang, strength extending three inches beyond the body is the sign of stake skill major achievement.
"My punch sent strength out by far more than three inches. It was more than three zhang. Doesn't that mean my stake skill has reached perfection?"
Chen Shaojun blinked, puzzled.
"Perhaps it's because my accumulated foundation is simply too deep?"
He thought of everything he had experienced during this period.
Essence-Nourishing Pills, Blood-Qi Pills, Spirit-Nurturing Pills, and even the Primordial Spirit Pearl that could rank as Low-Grade Treasure Rank... Even if these were given to a Qi Sea Realm Martial Warrior, they would be enough to help them break through one or two realms.
And him?
He was still only an ordinary person.
It was merely because the medicinal effects of these spirit pills were gentle that most of their power had only strengthened his physique and consolidated his foundation, while the remaining medicinal power had all accumulated within his body.
Now, with the stake skill to cultivate, that medicinal power was released, naturally allowing his strength to grow rapidly.
Over the next two days, nothing much happened at the pawnshop.
Zhang Ke did not suffer any mishap.
Even though he returned to his quarters exhausted every night, he still could not resist bragging about what he had seen at Third Master Zhang Gao's Water Cloud Retreat. Whenever he happened to see Chen Shaojun, he would even hypocritically ask why Second Appraiser had not summoned him to help in his Gold Treasure Room.
Chen Shaojun merely smiled and said, "I was only lucky enough to cultivate the Divine Gaze Technique to the proficient level. Second Master does not think much of me.
"Unlike Brother Zhang, who directly earned Third Appraiser's favor. You are bound to soar into the heavens one day."
Then he would quietly sit alone against the edge of his bed, cultivating the Tai Shang Perception Scripture and visualizing the Cosmic Star Chart.
As for the daytime, he was quite busy as well.
After collecting his routine appraisal assignments, he would generally remain in the appraisal room for a long time.
Cultivating the Tiger Demon Body-Tempering Fist.
When he had first begun cultivating this fist technique, he had found it rather difficult, and it consumed a great deal of stamina.
But now, the strength within his body surged and overflowed through his entire frame.
He only felt that everything came far too easily.
Every time he began cultivating, he felt a ceaseless stream of strength emerge, continuously tempering his flesh and blood, hammering his skin, membranes, sinews, and bones, refining his blood, marrow, and bones...
His martial arts realm also began to soar rapidly along with it.
First Layer of the Body Tempering Realm, second layer, third layer...
After just one day of cultivation.
His martial arts realm had stabilized at the Sixth Stage of Body Tempering, at the level of Blood Exchange.
Originally, he had thought his cultivation speed would slow afterward.
Unexpectedly, on the second day, he broke through two more realms in succession, reaching the Body Tempering Realm, Eighth Layer, at the level of Six Bowels Tempering.
He was only one step away from Inner Sight at the Body Tempering Realm, Ninth Layer.
All he could do was marvel at how extraordinarily deep his previous accumulation had been.
Even imperial clans and aristocratic families likely could not possess such accumulation and fortuitous encounters as his.
That day, when the sun was already three poles high.
Chen Shaojun was waiting with the other apprentices for the day's appraisal assignments.
But he discovered that Shen Lang, Appraiser Shen, who was always early, was absent.
Then Shopkeeper Liu entered, leading a young man dressed in a black constable's uniform with a saber at his waist.
"This is Constable Ye from the yamen. There is a matter concerning Mr. Shen Lang that he wishes to ask you about."
Shopkeeper Liu gathered everyone in the pawnshop and introduced him.
"Appraiser Shen? What crime did he commit?"
Xu Hongtao asked curiously.
"It isn't that Appraiser Shen committed some crime.
"He is already dead."
Shopkeeper Liu shook his head.
"Dead?"
"How did he die?"
Everyone revealed looks of utter disbelief.
How could Shen Lang have died so suddenly?
Just yesterday, they had clearly heard him humming opera tunes on his way back.
"His body was discovered this morning.
"Before his death, it seems he was tortured. He died with his eyes still open."
Shopkeeper Liu wore a grief-stricken expression.
"That is what we need to ask you.
"You have worked with him for so long. You should know whether he had any grudges with anyone, or whom he had been in contact with recently.
"Also, did he ever say anything strange?"
Constable Ye began his routine questioning.
The case itself was quite simple: it was murder.
But catching the culprit would not be easy.
The other party appeared to be an experienced hand, and much of the evidence had been wiped away.
When it was Chen Shaojun's turn, he could only shake his head.
He had had little contact with Shen Lang and did not know whom Shen Lang had offended. The image of that scar-faced man did flash through his mind, but without any proof, he could not say much.
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