Becoming a Saint From the Iron Armor Skill

Chapter 426: Chapter 215: Secret Technique Beginner Level

’What books does he read every day? What Dao does he comprehend?’

He had never done so, however. For one, his Literary Dao Dharma Aspect was still unstable, and each use consumed a massive amount of Incense and Candle Power.

On the other hand, Shen Zhiming subconsciously believed, ’Before a Saint, a Dharma Aspect does not manifest.’

It would be inappropriate for him to spy on Chen Cheng.

Especially in the past two days. Whenever he glanced toward the courtyard where Chen Cheng was staying, his heart would leap into his throat.

It was as if someone were spying on him.

But Shen Zhiming was certain that no one was spying on him. Rather, his own presence had been detected by someone else’s Perception.

Spying and being perceived were profound, mysterious concepts. Had Shen Zhiming not been skilled in the Literary Dao Realm himself, he wouldn’t have been so certain.

Shen Zhiming had only ever experienced this feeling outside Ice Castle.

This was because the Martial Arts Power of the Shen Family’s Ancestor was so immense, he had nearly reached the state of ’a cicada sensing the autumn wind before it blows.’

Within a certain range, he could clearly perceive the slightest disturbance.

Yet, the feeling Shen Zhiming had here was different from the one outside Ice Castle. It was obvious that Chen Cheng’s technique wasn’t the ’cicada sensing the autumn wind before it blows.’

Besides, with Chen Cheng’s Martial Arts Power, it was impossible for him to have reached such a level.

Therefore, Shen Zhiming guessed that Chen Cheng had likely also cultivated some form of Literary Dao Realm.

The thought made Shen Zhiming extremely excited. He wished he could stay at the Chens’ residence all day.

He wanted to wait for Chen Cheng to emerge from his seclusion and get a clear answer from him immediately.

A long time passed, but there was still no sign of activity from Chen Cheng’s courtyard.

Chen An tiptoed to the edge of the main garden. Seeing Shen Zhiming lost in thought, he gestured to Li Chunlei.

Li Chunlei took the hint and spoke up. "Lord Shen, it’s time for lunch."

"Oh?" Shen Zhiming snapped out of his reverie. He saw Chen An standing nearby with a smile and realized he was feeling a bit hungry himself.

"Then I shall impose."

Of course, the County Magistrate was going to freeload a meal at the Chens’ residence.

...

In the courtyard, Chen Cheng sat before a stone table, leisurely sipping tea.

For the past three days, he had been in seclusion, focused solely on cultivating the Martial Dao. He worked on his Qingfeng Saber Intent, Iron Armor Dragon Elephant Skill, and the Concealment Secret Skill.

Both the Qingfeng Saber Intent and the Iron Armor Dragon Elephant Skill consumed vast amounts of Qi Blood Power. The Qingfeng Saber Intent, however, also drained a great deal of Spiritual Power.

Back in Linji City, when Chen Cheng cultivated his Qingfeng Saber Intent, he would feel exhausted after an hour at most, requiring several more to recover.

After obtaining and consuming the Red-Eyed White Tiger Heart and Soul from Evil Tiger Ridge, Chen Cheng’s Spiritual Power seemed to grow much stronger, allowing him to cultivate his Qingfeng Saber Intent for longer each day.

This was naturally thanks to the nourishing effect of the Demon Beast Heart and Soul on the Divine Soul.

The Ghost-Faced Mountain Demon Heart and Soul he acquired later had an even stronger nourishing effect on his Divine Soul.

After returning from Qingxi Town, Chen Cheng’s Spiritual Power had suddenly skyrocketed. This was more than just his Divine Soul being nourished; his Spiritual Power had grown to a point where it was continuously breaking its own limits.

It had reached the terrifying point of increasing severalfold.

A Heart and Soul nourishing the Divine Soul to strengthen Spiritual Power was clearly not supposed to be this fast.

Chen Cheng guessed that this change had occurred for a couple of reasons. First, his mind was at ease.

He had returned to Chen Family Gully and settled the karmic debt related to the Chens’ bloodline. Slaying the demon had also been a relaxing and enjoyable cakewalk.

His heart was content, his mind refreshed. When a person is in a good mood and their thoughts are clear, their Spiritual Power is naturally more vigorous.

Conversely, if one were melancholic and frustrated, their willpower would likely falter, their spirit would sink, and their mind would become sluggish.

This was a natural physiological factor.

The second reason was likely related to what Shen Zhiming had said about the Literary Dao. The Literary Dao had a concept of Incense and Candle Power. Gathering this power within oneself could also cause one’s Spiritual Power to surge.

The so-called Saints of the orthodox path and the Evil Gods of the Demon Sect were all likely blessed with Wish Power.

Chen Cheng had limited knowledge in this area and didn’t fully understand it.

’However, I must have genuinely received some sort of blessing from Incense and Candle Power, which is why my Spiritual Power’s limit has increased.’

"Perhaps the increase in my Spiritual Power limit is related to the people of Qingxi Town building a golden statue of me?"

Chen Cheng muttered to himself, then suddenly beckoned with his hand. A sparrow from nearby flew over and landed on his hand.

The sparrow, with its beady little eyes, hopped about, looking here and there, but it didn’t seem to notice Chen Cheng’s presence at all.

It had flown to Chen Cheng’s hand based on instinct, feeling that something was attracting it.

After searching for a while and finding nothing, the sparrow lost its patience and tried to fly away.

It pushed off forcefully with its legs and flapped its wings again and again, but it couldn’t fly away. It began to chirp anxiously.

This, of course, was because Chen Cheng had already acted.

Before the sparrow could even push off to take flight, Chen Cheng’s palm had already neutralized the force of its legs, much like a cicada falling silent before the wind begins to stir.

’When Martial Arts Cultivation reaches a certain level, one’s Perception becomes exceptionally sharp. To put it concretely, it’s the state of ’a cicada sensing the autumn wind before it blows.’’

’But I haven’t reached that state. Instead, I’ve mastered the Beginner Level Concealment Secret Skill.’

’Go on, little fella!’

Chen Cheng murmured. Without any visible movement, the sparrow was suddenly launched high into the air, soaring dozens of feet.

It was stunned for a moment. Only when its body reached the highest point and began to fall rapidly under the pull of gravity did it react, hurriedly flapping its wings to stabilize itself.

It shot a puzzled look downward before finally flying away.

’To perceive with the spirit, not the eyes... The Beginner Level Concealment Secret Skill and the state of ’a cicada sensing the autumn wind before it blows’ are different paths to the same marvel.’

’The key is the enhancement of Perception. And Perception itself is a profound and mysterious thing. If I had to explain it, it would be the ability to judge and sense things from the most minute details.’

’Touch, smell, hearing, sight... all senses are gathered within me, allowing my mind to make a judgment.’

’And this so-called Concealment Secret Skill ultimately leads to creating an external incarnation. At the beginner level, it starts by enhancing Perception. By perceiving the subtlest details of all things, one first comes to know they exist. Only then can one create them...’

’First, you must perceive what is hidden to make it manifest. That is the true essence of the Concealment Secret Skill!’

’Marvelous, marvelous! Simply indescribable!’

[Cultivation Progress of Concealment Secret Skill increased.]

As the panel notification appeared, Chen Cheng held his breath and focused his mind. He extended his senses and clearly perceived Shen Zhiming and the others slowly walking out of the main garden.

’Unfortunately, the Incense and Candle Power I’ve gathered seems quite limited, so the boost to my Spiritual Power isn’t that great.’

’Still, for my current level, it’s already incredibly powerful.’

Chen Cheng’s gaze focused. Everything in the courtyard came into sharp focus. He could see every flower, every blade of grass, every tree with perfect clarity.

He could even predict the next movements of the flowers, grass, and trees in the gentle breeze.

Perception and prediction—this was one of the powers of the Beginner Level Concealment Secret Skill.

’A Secret Technique is clearly different from Martial Arts Skills. Its power is mysterious and profound.’

’If I were to fight someone, I could anticipate their every move!’

Chen Cheng recalled his fight with the Ghost-Faced Mountain Demon.

At that time, his Perception had already been quite strong; he had been able to clearly sense the Ghost-Faced Mountain Demon’s power.

But that was ultimately just an instinctual sense derived from his own Martial Arts Power.

But now that he had mastered the Beginner Level Concealment Secret Skill, his ability to anticipate his opponent’s moves had improved qualitatively.

’If I encountered the Ghost-Faced Mountain Demon now, the instant it even thought of moving—even the subtle twitch of its fur stirring the air—I would be able to predict it.’

’I wouldn’t even need to use my Qingfeng Saber Intent. I could capture it easily with just the Great Power Realm.’

’This is a complete domination of levels. Because I’ve mastered the Concealment Secret Skill, my ability to anticipate an enemy is no less than that of powerful Martial Artists whose Perception approaches the state of ’a cicada sensing the autumn wind before it blows.’’

’Even though my Martial Arts Realm and Cultivation Techniques haven’t improved much, my actual combat strength has increased enormously.’

’This is the power of a Secret Technique!’

The benefits brought by the Concealment Secret Skill were far more than just these. It was also of great help in Martial Arts Cultivation.

It made it easier to achieve profound, minute mastery when cultivating all his various Cultivation Techniques.

Over the past few days, Chen Cheng had occasionally practiced his other Cultivation Techniques, and the rate of his progress had been absurdly fast!

A faint smile appeared on Chen Cheng’s face as he thought about this exciting development.

He summoned his status panel to take a look.

[Name: Chen Cheng

Realm: Bone Forging (Great Success)

Skills: Iron Armor Dragon Elephant Skill (Great Success 659/10,000)

Dragon Elephant Bone Forging Technique (Small Success 911/1,000)

Dragon’s Roar Iron Cloth Shirt (Great Success 233/10,000)

Tendon-Separating Bone-Crushing Hand (Great Success 108/10,000)

Powerful Eagle Claw Skill (Perfection) (Powerful Eagle Claw Stance) (First Layer of the Great Power Realm) (Inference of the Second Layer Technique of the Great Power Realm, Progress: 455/1,000. Cultivation of the Second Layer is possible upon completion.)

Qingfeng Saber Technique (Perfection) (Qingfeng Saber Stance) (Qingfeng Saber Intent, First Layer 163,202/200,000)

Flame Sun Sword Skill (Perfection) (Flame Sun Sword Stance 32,890/100,000)

Green Wave Sword Technique (Perfection) (Green Wave Sword Stance 29,800/100,000)

Secret Skill: Hidden (Beginner Level 3/100)

Secret Skill: Cang (Incomplete 22/100) (Uninitiated 8/10).

(Note: Incomplete Skills can be cultivated. The technique is automatically corrected during Cultivation, and progress is gained.)]

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