My martial arts have no bottlenecks.

Chapter 46 Ambush

Quiet room.

The Iron Armor Realm requires Cold Iron Essence and Red Copper Sand as the main ingredients, along with nine auxiliary materials for daily medicinal baths and hammering. The main ingredients needed for the subsequent Bronze Armor and Gold Armor Realms are even rarer, no wonder the old man guarding the tower said it was twice the effort for half the result.

Fortunately, he has already exchanged for the first batch of medicinal herbs.

The medicinal herbs exchanged for 300 contribution points were piled up in the corner, including three catties of cold iron essence and five catties of red copper sand, enough to support cultivation for a period of time.

Liang Cheng did not hesitate and began that very night.

Inside the wooden tub, the medicinal liquid was dark red, and a strong metallic smell emanated from the rising steam. Liang Cheng took off his clothes and stepped into the tub.

"laugh!"

The medicine felt like a branding iron on his skin, causing excruciating pain. He gritted his teeth and persevered. Then the medicine penetrated his flesh, forcibly reshaping every inch of his skin.

After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the color of the medicinal liquid changed from dark red to light gray, indicating that the medicinal power had been absorbed. Liang Cheng stepped out of the wooden tub, and his skin surface even showed a faint metallic luster, but it was still soft to the touch.

"Not enough."

He grabbed the prepared iron hammer and began to gradually increase the force of his blows, slowly pounding his entire body.

"Thump! Thump! Thump!"

A dull thud echoed in the quiet room.

With each strike, the skin in that area quickly develops a grayish-white halo, transforming the force of the strike into a refining force that propels the medicine to penetrate deeper.

The hammering sounds continued throughout the night, yet not a single sound escaped; the soundproofing of the martial arts academy's meditation room was indeed extraordinary.

When dawn broke, Liang Cheng let out a breath. His body had reached its limit and he needed to rest and relax, otherwise, he would overdo it.

[Introduction to Stone Armor Technique (Iron Armor) (6/200)]

Liang Cheng couldn't help but grin as his cultivation progress exceeded his expectations.

The feeling of his strength increasing rapidly made his blood boil and he was intoxicated by it.

After that, Liang Cheng resumed his previous regular life during the day, practicing swordsmanship during the day and physical training at night. It was monotonous but extremely fulfilling.

Seven days later.

Liang Cheng stood shirtless in the center of the quiet room, his skin shimmering with a gray-iron sheen, no longer the gray-white of the Stone Armor Technique, but with a more profound and weighty texture.

He slowly tightened his five fingers, clenching his fist and thrusting it out.

"Buzz—"

A deep resonance emanated from the muscles and bones, and fine textures were faintly visible beneath the skin, like the lining of an iron armor. A casual punch struck a prepared granite, which shattered instantly, yet the fist felt no pain.

[Stone Armor Technique (Iron Armor) - Minor Mastery (1/1000)]

"It's done." A glint of light flashed in Liang Cheng's eyes.

Having reached the minor completion stage of the Iron Armor Realm, his defensive power has increased by nearly 50% compared to the previous perfected Stone Bone Style, making him virtually unharmed by ordinary attacks of the Transformation Realm.

More importantly, he could feel his internal energy and blood growing stronger again under the influence of the Iron Armor Realm, and the so-called minor Transformation Realm was not suitable for him.

Current strength:

[The Hunyuan Stance is now complete]

[The power of the wild bull is fully realized]

[Minor Mastery of Gale Blade Technique (485/800)]

[Stone Armor Technique (Iron Armor) - Minor Mastery (1/1000)]

[PS: Completed techniques will no longer be recorded.]

"If one can cultivate the Ironclad Realm to perfection, one can block a late-stage Transformation Realm expert using only hard skills."

However, a problem has arisen: the body-refining medicinal materials have been exhausted.

Three hundred contribution points worth of medicinal herbs are only enough to sustain one until the minor completion of the Iron Armor Realm. If one wants to continue cultivating, one will need at least five hundred points worth of Cold Iron Essence and Red Copper Sand.

Unfortunately, I only have 100 contribution points left.

"I need to find a way to earn some money."

Liang Cheng washed up, changed into his robes, and headed to the Foreign Affairs Hall.

……

When Liang Cheng stepped into the Foreign Affairs Hall, dozens of disciples were browsing in front of the mission jade wall. He also went up to check and selected a mission that suited him.

When he saw one of the tasks, he couldn't help but smile, realizing that he and Old Huang were truly destined to meet.

[Collect Tier 4 Ironback Bear Paws, 200 contribution points per paw, maximum 5 paws per person, no limit on the number of people who can accept the task, issued by: Elder Huang of the Alchemy Room]

The Ironback Bear has thick skin and flesh, making it extremely strong and incredibly powerful. Even disciples of the Inner Cultivation Sect would find it difficult to break through its defenses.

But it suits me well. With my Iron Armor Kung Fu partially mastered, Ironback Bear can only take the beating!

Without further hesitation, Liang Cheng showed his disciple token to Zhao Ming behind the counter, "This is it."

When Zhao Ming registered this time, he not only did not make things difficult, but also put on a fake smile and completed the procedures efficiently.

Liang Cheng took the mission token and turned to leave.

Not long after he left, Wang Li walked out of the side door with a gloomy face.

"Which mission did he take on?" Wang Li asked.

"Hunt down the ironback bear," Zhao Ming whispered.

"Okay, wait for my message."

Wang Li left decisively. Zhao Ming watched his retreating figure with a sinister look in his eyes. Liu Meng was his cousin, and Liang Cheng was slapping him in the face.

Following the mission instructions, Liang Cheng ventured alone into the Black Wind Forest. Ancient trees towered into the sky, the light was dim, and a faint fishy smell permeated the air.

He moved very lightly, his stance training was perfect, and his control over his body was so precise that it affected every inch of his skin. When he was heavy, he could crack rocks, and when he was light, he could step on leaves without making a sound.

After walking for about half an hour, they finally found fresh footprints. The palm print was as large as a palm fan, and the claw marks were deeply embedded in the soil.

"It should be nearby."

Liang Cheng placed his right hand on the hilt of his knife and scanned the bushes in front of him. Almost simultaneously, the bushes shook violently, followed by a deafening roar!

A colossal creature stood upright, nearly ten feet tall, its body covered in black fur like steel needles, with a crescent-shaped white stripe on its chest—it was a fourth-tier Ironback Bear!

Upon smelling the human scent, its eyes turned bloodshot. Without any prior action, it swung its giant hand directly at Liang Cheng, the wind from the palm whistling loudly enough to shatter a boulder.

Instead of retreating, Liang Cheng advanced, directly raising his left arm horizontally to block in front of his chest.

"Bang!"

The collision of flesh and arm produced a dull thud like metal striking metal. Liang Cheng's body sank slightly, and fine cracks appeared on the ground beneath his feet, but only a few white marks remained on his arm, which disappeared in an instant.

The defense of someone at the early stage of the Iron Armor Realm is indeed formidable!

The Ironback Bear was taken aback, as if it had never seen such a hard human before. Liang Cheng, however, seized the opportunity to counterattack, drawing his long sword from its sheath and slashing towards the relatively soft abdomen.

"Sizzle!"

The blade sliced ​​through, but only penetrated three-tenths of an inch into the flesh before being caught by the strong muscles. In pain and rage, the Ironback Bear swung its other palm across.

Liang Cheng drew his sword and retreated hastily. The toughness of the Ironback Bear's hide was not much less than that of his Iron Armor Realm cultivation. He changed his strategy, no longer aiming to kill with a single blow, but instead relying on his superior agility to maneuver around the giant bear.

So the blades targeted vulnerable spots like the eyes, nose, and joints. Although they couldn't inflict serious damage immediately, they caused the giant bear to roar repeatedly, becoming extremely agitated.

……

Several dozen feet away, in the canopy of an ancient tree.

Wang Li and Sun Yan held their breath, watching the battle closely through the gaps in the branches and leaves. Wang Li held three bone-piercing nails in his hand, coated with a highly poisonous meridian-sealing powder, specifically designed to disrupt the flow of qi and blood.

"His defense is so amazing, we really can't let him live any longer," Wang Li said with a sinister look in his eyes. "But the Ironback Bear is stupid and only knows how to use brute force."

He is patiently waiting for the right opportunity.

In the arena, after a fierce struggle, Liang Cheng finally found an opportunity and stabbed the Ironback Bear in the left eye. The excruciating pain drove the giant bear completely mad, and it lunged at him recklessly!

If this strike had landed squarely, it would have been enough to deform the armor. Liang Cheng retreated rapidly, but his back slammed into an ancient tree, leaving him with no way to retreat for the time being.

It's now!

A fierce glint flashed in Wang Li's eyes, and three bone-piercing nails shot out silently, heading straight for Liang Cheng's back!

At the same time, he and Sun Yan pounced down from the treetop, each wielding a short blade, and thrust straight at Liang Cheng's neck. This was a double-edged sword, and they were determined to kill him!

Liang Cheng's hair stood on end. The life-or-death crisis was like being doused with ice water. He didn't have time to turn around. He could only rely on instinct. With the Hunyuan Stance in perfect condition, he forced his body to move half a foot to the left in an impossible situation.

"Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!"

All three bone-piercing nails were driven into the tree trunk, but Wang Li's short blade followed. Because he moved sideways and lost his aim, it only tore the robe on his shoulder, leaving a shallow line of blood on his skin.

No wonder he's ranked 30th in the Earthly Sect!

Taking advantage of the momentum, Liang Cheng charged forward, breaking free from the encirclement of the bear and the man. He suddenly turned around, and Wang Li and the other man landed three zhang away from him, their faces ashen.

Ironback Bear, having lost sight in his left eye, was enraged when he saw the two men appear. Without distinguishing friend from foe, he struck out with a palm directly at Wang Li and the other man.

Wang Li hurriedly dodged, his figure darting away, but Sun Yan was too late. He was struck in the chest by a palm, his whole body trembled, blood spilled from his mouth and nose, he staggered a few steps, and his breath became weak.

"Help me!"

Unfortunately, Sun Yan's call only earned him another palm strike from the Ironback Bear, causing his brains to splatter and his body to perish!

Liang Cheng's pupils contracted slightly, and his voice remained calm.

"Wang Li, have you been waiting for me for a long time?"

Wang Li's smile was icy: "Soon, just in time to send you on your way. You've improved too fast, so fast that it keeps me up at night."

Before he finished speaking, he took a step forward, heading straight for Liang Cheng!

Liang Cheng's pupils contracted slightly, and his right hand slowly gripped the hilt of his sword. Behind him was the furious Ironback Bear, and in front of him were his fellow disciples with resolute killing intent.

This is a dead end; there is no other way but to fight!