Becoming a Saint From the Iron Armor Skill

After she finished her examination, a gentle smile appeared on her face. "This boy has an exceptional physique and aptitude. Since he already cultivates the Wind Chasing Saber Technique, he would be a good fit as my disciple to learn the Phantom Sword Technique."

Gongsun Rou thought this because Chen Cheng’s physique was lean and strong, his bones dense and solid, making him perfectly suited for Light Body Techniques. If Chen Cheng were to cultivate the Phantom Sword Technique with her, even if he couldn’t match Mu Xiaowan, his future achievements would still be extraordinary.

Everyone exchanged glances, thinking to themselves that this First Madam, who normally disliked taking on disciples, was now fighting over one with Mr. Zheng. After only just accepting Mu Xiaowan a few days ago, it was truly bizarre.

Before Mr. Zheng could speak, Gongsun Rou said to Chen Cheng, "Chen Cheng, are you willing to take me as your master?"

"Uh..." Chen Cheng was at a loss for words, unsure how to respond.

He was also completely baffled, since this First Madam had looked down on him before.

Fortunately, Mr. Zheng snapped out of his contemplation at that moment. As if struck by a sudden realization, he exclaimed in admiration, "So that’s how it is! I nearly forgot about that. Marvelous! Truly, absolutely marvelous! Marvelous beyond words!"

"Master, what is so marvelous?" Gongsun Rou asked, confused.

"It cannot be spoken of!" Mr. Zheng shook his head slightly and ignored her, turning instead to Chen Cheng. "Kid, you have a superior physique, but also a resolute mind. You are also suited for cultivating Horizontal Cultivation Techniques."

"Yes," Chen Cheng replied.

Mr. Zheng’s words were cryptic, leaving Gongsun Rou completely in a fog. However, she knew one thing for certain: she had lost the bid for this disciple.

"Xiaowan, come back with me to practice your Swordsmanship." With that, Gongsun Rou took Mu Xiaowan’s hand and headed for the inner courtyard.

Evidently, the First Madam was sulking at her husband.

Mu Xiaowan turned and stuck her tongue out playfully at Chen Cheng, as if to say that her master was just that strange.

Chen Cheng responded with a gentle smile.

Shen Qingshuang noticed the two of them exchanging glances. She vaguely guessed something was going on between them and suddenly felt an inexplicable sense of loss.

Just then, Mr. Zheng chuckled. "So you’re Mu Xiaowan’s husband."

Chen Cheng replied, "I am."

"Oh, I see. For a husband and wife to both have such fine aptitude is rare indeed." Mr. Zheng nodded slightly, then continued, "Since you are now my disciple, you will follow Min Wei in the Double Courtyard and cultivate Horizontal Cultivation Techniques with your senior brothers."

With that, he called out to Qin Ruiyang and Shen Qingshuang and prepared to head into the inner courtyard.

"Master, this disciple also wishes to cultivate Horizontal Cultivation Techniques!" Black-faced Zhao Kui summoned his courage and shouted.

Mr. Zheng turned to look at him, pondered for a moment, and said, "The previous disciples who cultivated Horizontal Cultivation Techniques could all draw the Wild Bull Bow to a near full moon. You can only draw it to a half moon, which is a bit lacking. However, considering your dedication to cultivation, you may stay."

Zhao Kui was overjoyed and quickly knelt to kowtow his thanks.

After Mr. Zheng and the others had left, Min Wei finally spoke to the three new disciples. "Junior Brothers, Master has tasked me with teaching you the Powerful Eagle Claw Skill.

"Only when you have cultivated Momentum in the Powerful Eagle Claw Skill will he personally teach you the Dragon’s Roar Iron Cloth Shirt."

"Yes," the three of them replied.

Compared to Outer Disciple Skills like Saber Techniques and Swordsmanship, the moves of the Powerful Eagle Claw Skill were not difficult.

With Min Wei’s verbal instructions and physical demonstrations, Chen Cheng cultivated for an hour in the morning, rested a bit after lunch, then cultivated for another hour, bringing the Cultivation Technique to the Beginner Level.

Of course, Chen Cheng’s Cultivation speed was extremely fast, while Luo Chenghu and Zhao Kui were much slower.

Their training was full of stumbles; they were far from the Beginner Level and would likely need another two or three days of practice just to reach it.

[Powerful Eagle Claw Skill Cultivation Progress increased.]

...

[Skill: Powerful Eagle Claw Skill (Beginner 5/100)]

After cultivating the Iron Armor Skill once more, Chen Cheng summoned his panel to check it, a faint smile appearing on his face.

’I really am suited for cultivating Horizontal Training Techniques. When I was cultivating the Wind Chasing Saber Technique, I’d occasionally hit a wall and would need the panel’s boost, only breaking through after two or three practice sessions.

’But cultivating the Powerful Eagle Claw Skill feels completely natural, with no obstructions at all. With the panel’s boost, every practice session increases my progress, so my Cultivation speed is naturally very fast.’

Thinking this to himself, Chen Cheng glanced to the side at Luo Chenghu and Zhao Kui, who were being constantly berated by the one-eyed Min Wei, and couldn’t help but shake his head and chuckle.

"Ah Hu, I told you to grab, not to punch! The way you use your arm for a grabbing force is different from a Fist Force! Why don’t you get it?"

"Zhao Kui, you bastard, practice the forms first! Once the forms are right, then you use force, understand? What are you glaring at? Got a problem with that? Then let me teach you a lesson!"

"OW! Senior Brother Min, go easy on me! I didn’t say I had a problem!"

...

As evening approached, the training session ended. Luo Chenghu and Zhao Kui shuffled over to Chen Cheng, sighing incessantly.

Senior Brother Min had disciplined both of them several times with his Powerful Eagle Claw Skill.

"Brother Cheng, how do you train so fast?" Luo Chenghu asked humbly.

Zhao Kui also clasped his hands together repeatedly. "Senior Brother Chen, do you have some kind of secret?"

Chen Cheng rolled his eyes at them and said leisurely, "I’m just like you guys, it’s my first day cultivating the Powerful Eagle Claw Skill. What kind of secret could I have?

"Didn’t Senior Brother Min already teach us all the secrets there are through his words and actions?"

"Oh, right!"

"True!"

Luo Chenghu and Zhao Kui stared at each other blankly. They felt it should be that simple, but they still couldn’t figure out why Chen Cheng was able to cultivate so quickly.

They had both learned Fist Techniques faster than others before and had considered themselves quite talented. But Chen Cheng was even better than them—he was just too monstrously gifted.

"Ah Cheng, come here for a moment."

It was Min Wei, who had come out from the inner courtyard and was beckoning to Chen Cheng.

Chen Cheng walked over, and Min Wei handed him a thin booklet made of yellowed paper.

"You work at the City Guard Department, so it’s not convenient for you to come to the Martial Arts Hall to train every day. Fortunately, you’ve already reached the Beginner Level in the Powerful Eagle Claw Skill, so you can practice on your own at home from now on.

"This is the Powerful Eagle Claw Skill Secret Manual. You can refer to it during your Cultivation. If you run into any difficulties, you can come and ask me anytime."

"Alright." Chen Cheng took the Secret Manual. "Thank you, Senior Brother Min."

"We’re fellow disciples, no need to be so formal." Min Wei smiled, then added, "By the way, Master specifically mentioned that your natural talent is much higher than ours. It would be best if you could have a pair of Dragon Eagle Iron Claws forged. Cultivating the Powerful Eagle Claw Skill with them will allow you to achieve twice the result with half the effort."