Breakthrough! Dragon Roar Iron Cloth Shirt!

Night. Silence reigned.

Inside the brightly lit study.

Lu Changsheng stood with his feet apart and his arms folded, his gaze blazing.

With a thought, he tapped the button behind Iron Cloth Shirt.

"Iron Cloth Shirt has reached its limit and cannot be improved. Activate the fusion function?"

"Yes."

Lu Changsheng nodded.

The instant he confirmed, Source Energy Points rapidly drained away, and an indescribable throb descended in an instant.

The membrane beneath his skin began to ripple, giving off a faint golden glow. It was extraordinarily wondrous.

After cultivating Iron Cloth Shirt to perfection, you still did not stop. The strength of your fleshly body continued to grow...

Three months later, your strength had risen to ten thousand jin, reaching the limit of Skin Refining throughout the ages. It could not be increased by even the slightest fraction.

At this time, you realized that you needed to seek out the next path for Iron Cloth Shirt...

You painstakingly studied for ten years and finally gained a new idea...

Fifty years later, combining Iron Cloth Shirt, Iron Arm Technique, Iron Leg Technique... and many other Skin Refining martial arts, you finally deduced a new technique...

"A new technique has been successfully generated. Would you like to rename it?"

Another crisp, utterly emotionless voice rang out.

Lu Changsheng slowly opened his eyes, and a sharp gleam pierced into the empty air.

It was as though flowing light revolved within his eyes.

He looked over his body. As his blood and qi circulated, his skin membrane seemed to ring with the sound of metal colliding. It was truly wondrous.

"Rename the technique Dragon Roar Iron Cloth Shirt."

Lu Changsheng directly settled on the new technique's name.

When cultivating this technique, it seemed as though tigers roared and dragons chanted. It had great advantages in tempering the muscles, so he named it according to its characteristics.

He opened the panel to inspect the new technique.

Technique: Dragon Roar Iron Cloth Shirt (Beginner)

Note: An advanced Muscle Refining technique, deduced and fused from Iron Cloth Shirt and several external cultivation techniques. Its power is remarkable. Once cultivated to completion, the body becomes like diamond.

Technique Rating: Three stars.

Source Energy Points: 12.

This fusion deduction had used a total of thirty Source Energy Points, but the results still satisfied him greatly. You got what you paid for.

Looking at the plus sign behind Dragon Roar Iron Cloth Shirt, he no longer hesitated.

"Add points!"

With a light tap of his thoughts, an immense warm current swept through his entire body. His fleshly body began to expand, as though he had grown a full circle larger. It was a startling sight.

Then, his body slowly shrank back down. His blood and qi also surged violently, becoming increasingly pure.

A moment later.

Host: Lu Changsheng.

Age: Twenty-one hundred twenty.

Realm: Muscle Refining.

Techniques: Dragon Roar Iron Cloth Shirt (Minor Accomplishment), Great Strength Ox Demon Fist (Not Initiated)...

Skills: Five Tigers Severing Gate Blade (Complete), Frenzied Wind Shadow Blade (Not Initiated), Blood Burning Secret Art (Complete), Basic Blade Technique (Complete), Fleeting Light and Shadow (Complete).

Equipment: Pig-Slaughtering Blade sharp weapon

Status: Good.

Source Energy Points: 2.

Bound exotic beast: King Pangolin Red

Level: 11.

This breakthrough into Muscle Refining had used a full ten Source Energy Points.

The resources in his hands had once again reached a critical shortage.

Lu Changsheng clenched his fist. An incomparably powerful strength filled his entire body, as though he could punch through the void with a single blow.

This illusion came precisely because his strength had risen too much, and he had yet to fully adapt to it.

He estimated that his strength was likely around fifteen thousand jin. It had directly increased by five thousand jin, a truly terrifying gain.

It was enough to rival some experts who had trained in Muscle Refining for more than a decade.

One had to know that after ten thousand jin, every bit of improvement was extraordinarily difficult, let alone gaining five thousand jin of immense strength all at once.

This advanced technique certified by the panel was indeed extraordinary.

He wondered what kind of power the top-tier techniques above it, or even divine-grade techniques, possessed.

The sensation of gradually growing stronger also intoxicated him greatly.

The heart of a strong man rose naturally within him.

Now that he had stepped into Muscle Refining, he finally possessed a rudimentary ability to protect himself.

This gave him even more confidence in his next move.

That was right. He intended to begin taking revenge on the Three Rivers Gang.

Having been targeted by them time and again, his killing intent had long boiled over. When he had been weak, he could only lie low. Now, he finally had a measure of strength to strike back.

Lu Changsheng planned to search for spiritual resources while dealing with the Three Rivers Gang.

Three days later.

As the Demon Suppression Department personnel returned one after another, a massive uproar instantly swept through the entire Demon Suppression Department office.

Quite a few martial artists had fallen during this mission.

Some had been killed when the Wicked Spirits' strength suddenly surged, while others had died in attacks encountered on their way back.

After the higher-ups of the Demon Suppression Department investigated with all their might, everyone firmly fixed their eyes on the Scent Worship Cult.

Inside the Demon Suppression Department's main hall.

Smash...

Qin Ruobing viciously hurled the teacup in her hand to the floor.

"Those cultists actually dared to take the initiative and make trouble for us. They're courting death."

"This is probably retaliation for our crackdown on them a year ago. They really know how to endure."

Xiao Tianci gave a cold laugh.

A year ago, they had assisted the magistrate in capturing a group from the Scent Worship Cult, along with some Black Mountain Bandits. They were still locked in prison now.

"I propose that we take action again and sweep away those cultists with all our strength."

Qin Ruobing was cold as frost. She had suffered considerable losses among her subordinates during this operation.

"I will discuss this matter with Magistrate Du..."

Soon, the hall returned to calm once more.

Li Family estate.

Inside an extravagant room.

"You're saying Young Master has yet to return and may have met with an accident?"

An old man's face was full of disbelief.

He bore some resemblance to Li Yunhua.

As a family elder, Li Wanpeng had only this one son. He had never expected such a thing to happen.

The killing intent in his heart surged wildly.

"Investigate with all your strength. If he is alive, I want to see the man. If he is dead, I want to see the corpse."

"This junior obeys."

A man in blue below him answered respectfully.

He then slowly walked out of the hall.

Within a dim space, ghostly green flames flickered.

"My lord, are we going to take the initiative against Changping County's official forces and stop hiding? What should we do with those followers?"

A black-clothed, masked man spoke with some confusion.

"Hmph... This is the Venerable Master's will. Do you wish to defy it?"

An old man stood with his hands behind his back, Sha Qi roiling around him.

"The old emperor is nearly finished. The princes are busy fighting for power and profit. Great Zhou's national fortunes are in turmoil, and it can no longer suppress the entire realm..."

"The flesh and blood of Changping County's million living souls will surely satisfy my lord. Let those followers serve as the beginning. They will willingly offer themselves up. Hehehe..."

A burst of icy, sinister laughter echoed through the void.

The following day, early morning.

Lu Changsheng rose early and prepared to head to the Demon Suppression Department.

He still had a minor merit reward in hand. He wanted to see whether he could exchange it for something useful.

After all, the situation was becoming increasingly tense. Not a single opportunity to improve his strength could be missed.

After washing up, he put on his official uniform and hung a long blade at his waist, looking exceptionally heroic.

At that moment, Fang Qing walked out from the room. She came before Lu Changsheng, stretched out her soft little hands, and carefully straightened his robes, like a sensible young wife.

"You're an official now. When you go out, you should mind your appearance..."

As she spoke, she secretly glanced at Lu Changsheng's profile, her cheeks flushed red.

"I know. Thank you, Sister-in-law Qing."

Lu Changsheng smiled, then turned and walked away.

Leaving his courtyard, he made his way along the broad, clean streets.

The passersby around him all stepped aside, looking at Lu Changsheng with faces full of awe.

These days, Lu Changsheng had gained some fame in Changping County, especially among the common people.

For an ordinary person to rise against the odds, become a martial artist, and even join the Demon Suppression Department—fewer than a handful appeared in three years. Naturally, the commoners envied him immensely.

Quite a few young girls nursing romantic feelings even began asking after Lu Changsheng's residence and sent matchmakers to propose marriage, but Lu Changsheng declined them all.