Chapter 9

"Have you memorized the Heart Method and Incantation of the Vajra Power?" Bai Chen asked.

Yuan Long nodded. He wasn't particularly smart, but after Bai Chen repeated it several times and paused to explain a few times, he managed to remember it all. Besides, the incantation of the Vajra Power wasn't complicated, only about a thousand characters.

"From now on, you must always circulate your true qi according to the Heart Method and Incantation."

At this moment, A Dai's voice came from outside. It was still not fully light, but A Dai had already arrived.

A Dai and a few villagers carried a set of several hundred pounds of fine iron-forged boxing gloves and armor. Bai Chen had gone down the mountain overnight to the village and had the blacksmiths work through the night to forge them.

This set of armor covered the hands and feet, providing excellent protection and being quite heavy.

Yuan Long picked up a hand guard and weighed it a few times. "It's so heavy."

"It's supposed to be heavy." Bai Chen nodded with a smile. "Put it all on."

A Dai and the other villagers were dumbfounded. They had carried it all the way, and the full set weighed about eight hundred pounds. They watched as Yuan Long put on the entire set of armor.

"Start circulating your qi. From now on, you must always maintain this state."

"Brother Bai, is Brother Yuan Long's injuries healed?" A Dai couldn't help but worry about Yuan Long's injuries. He remembered clearly that Yuan Long was still covered in wounds when he returned the day before yesterday, and it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say he was on the verge of death. In less than two days, he had already recovered to about 70-80%.

"If any of the villagers get sick in the future, bring them up the mountain. Bai Chen knows some medical skills and can help with minor injuries and illnesses."

A Dai didn't think it was just a little medical skill. To heal someone on the brink of death in just two days, this medical skill could be described as bringing the dead back to life.

After giving the villagers some labor fees, Bai Chen sent A Dai and the others down the mountain.

"Come, let's practice. The Iron Shirt technique requires taking hits! Otherwise, just practicing hard won't lead to improvement."

The night's hard work didn't make the two feel the slightest bit tired. The tension of the impending battle instead gave them boundless energy.

Yuan Long's punches were quite heavy, especially with the hand guards and iron boxing gloves. This punch was even heavier than those of the Mountain Path Sect disciples.

Bai Chen's Iron Shirt, malevolent aura, and vitality all changed, immediately becoming more spirited.

It was indeed effective. Bai Chen taught Yuan Long internal and external techniques partly to resist the Mountain Path Sect's attack and partly to have a sparring partner.

After a few punches, Bai Chen's Iron Shirt proficiency increased by a few points, his malevolent aura increased by three to four points, and his vitality slightly decreased. It was clear that in terms of pure strength, Yuan Long's strength was not inferior to those of the Mountain Path Sect disciples.

However, as a beginner, Yuan Long was already exhausted after a few punches. He forced himself to say to Bai Chen, "Again! This time, you attack and I defend."

Bai Chen looked at Yuan Long with a smile and suddenly threw a vicious punch, hitting Yuan Long's chest hard.

Smack—

Yuan Long flew backward and couldn't get up. A shallow fist mark was left on the iron armor on his chest.

"Damn... You hit too hard." Yuan Long groaned on the ground.

Yuan Long didn't have the Hanging Pot Technique and couldn't resolve the malevolent aura himself. Bai Chen had to sit down and help Yuan Long resolve the malevolent aura.

However, after this punch was healed, Yuan Long's Iron Shirt directly advanced to the second level.

The two began to feed each other moves, both only attacking and not defending. The entire morning was spent in intense practice.

It must be said that the efficiency of this training method was high. Yuan Long lay down four or five times in the morning, but his Iron Shirt had already advanced to the second level. Although his cultivation had not yet broken through to the first stage, he was already quite close.

However, Yuan Long's progress was far from comparable to Bai Chen's.

Bai Chen's Hanging Pot Technique and Iron Shirt could be said to be the perfect combination. One improved cultivation through injury, the other through taking hits, and both could improve during combat.

Moreover, by helping Yuan Long resolve the malevolent aura, Bai Chen's cultivation had already broken through to the third stage from the second stage.

The Iron Shirt had also increased to the fourth level, with an additional 1000 points of strength.

Cultivation Level: Postnatal 3rd Stage.

Internal Skill: Hanging Pot Technique, Lower Rank 1st Quality, Growth Value 1/1/2

Life: 6000/6000

Internal Energy: 5000/5000

True Qi: 500/2000

Malevolent Aura: 15/100

Constitution: 100+500

Strength: 100+500+1000

Speed: 100+1000

Insight: 16+3

Iron Shirt 4th Level: 501/2000

Due to the additional strength from the Iron Shirt, strength had already surpassed speed.

As for the increase in speed, it was the most intuitive. Since Yuan Long and A Lan were at the level of ordinary people, Yuan Long might be a bit higher, but compared to Bai Chen, there was still a significant gap.

Before reaching the Pre-natal realm and unblocking the Ren and Du meridians, internal energy could not play a decisive role in combat.

Each stage's improvement mainly relied on the skills of fists, feet, swords, and spears, and at most, it was an increase in attributes.

Therefore, in the confrontation of Postnatal martial artists, the one with higher attributes generally had the advantage.

Of course, except for Bai Chen himself, others could not see the attributes and could only roughly judge the difference by feeling.

"Strange, it's been a whole day. Why haven't those bastards from the Mountain Path Sect come?"

Yuan Long stood up again. This exhausting training was like a thousand miles a day for him. In just one day, his true qi was almost at the first stage, and his Iron Shirt had directly advanced to the second level.

Each punch and strike had strong explosive power, but for Bai Chen, the effect was already minimal. So in the following time, Bai Chen basically served as the sparring partner.

"I don't know. It would be best if they came a few days later, when we both have enough confidence." Bai Chen said matter-of-factly. Bai Chen currently didn't have enough confidence, knowing that the Mountain Path Sect's sect leader was at the 5th stage, the four elders were at the 4th stage, and there were over a hundred disciples of varying levels.

Bai Chen felt that he could hold off the Mountain Path Sect's sect leader, but the remaining disciples and elders would have to be dealt with by Yuan Long.

The chances of winning were clearly not high. Unless Yuan Long's cultivation could advance to the 4th stage and use the Iron Shirt to harden against the four elders, there would be enough confidence.

Moreover, A Lan was also a problem. If the other side took A Lan as a hostage, they would be in trouble.

However, A Lan was too young and not suitable for martial arts training.

Yuan Long lifted a stone mill from the ground. This stone mill weighed about two thousand pounds, but Yuan Long used it as a barbell to train his strength.

"We are still too few. If we had more people, it wouldn't be so urgent." Yuan Long said helplessly.

"But even if we recruit people, we can't afford the expenses, and we can't provide a complete martial arts system."

"Money... If we had money, we wouldn't be in such a predicament. If we had money, we could directly buy martial arts manuals." Yuan Long sighed helplessly.

"Money, money, money..."

Suddenly, Bai Chen thought of something. "I have an idea!!"

Yuan Long was puzzled and followed Bai Chen as he ran into the house.

Bai Chen found a book of alchemy from the pile of miscellaneous items he had bought yesterday. Yuan Long smiled bitterly. "You're not thinking of making money by refining pills, are you? Don't say you're not an alchemist, even if you were..."

"Go train. I'm going to seclude myself. Don't disturb me unless it's important."

Bai Chen kicked Yuan Long out of the house and quickly flipped through the "Book of Alchemy."

Obtained "Book of Alchemy," proficiency +5.

Learned Alchemy Level 1: 5/10.

Can refine pills up to the 3rd