Chapter 24: New Training Method

"Little Brother Chen, is this enough? If it's not, I have more at my place," Uncle Zhang asked.

"Mhm," Chen Ping'an replied, eyeing the pile of sand and gravel stacked in the corner of the courtyard.

The second stage of the Iron Cloth technique required him to strip off his clothes and roll continuously within the sand and gravel. He needed to allow his shoulders, back, chest, abdomen, arms, and other parts to constantly come into contact and friction with the stones to allow them to adapt through continuous change.

Furthermore, he needed to throw his body forward or backward, plunging into the gravel to gradually harden his muscles and bones.

As a result, a significant amount of sand and gravel would be required.

"I'll need a bit more sand and gravel. I might need another four or five of these bamboo baskets," Chen Ping'an added, glancing at Uncle Zhang. "Uncle Zhang, how much will the sand and gravel cost? I'll pay you for it all at once."

"We're neighbors, why talk about money? It's just some sand and gravel; I have plenty at my place!" Uncle Zhang said quite generously. While Chen Ping'an's status as a temporary constable wasn't much to the likes of Young Master Hu and his crew, he still held a fair amount of respect among the neighbors in these streets.

For a simple favor like this, Uncle Zhang was happy to do Chen Ping'an a kindness.

"I can't let you take a loss, Uncle Zhang," Chen Ping'an said, not arguing with him. "Uncle Zhang, do you have any extra baskets? If you do, I'll take them with me now to save you the extra trip."

"I have some at home. That works," Uncle Zhang said with a smile.

"Nannann, I'm going with Uncle Zhang for a bit," Chen Ping'an left this instruction before heading out with Uncle Zhang.

Behind Uncle Zhang's house, there was a large open space where a considerable amount of sand and gravel was piled. Although sand and gravel seemed unremarkable, they were useful in many ways, so Uncle Zhang kept a large stock.

"Little Brother Chen, the baskets at home are a bit large. Use these instead; they'll be easier on you," Uncle Zhang said, bringing out two large wicker baskets. The edges were lined with coarse cloth to prevent the gravel from leaking out.

"It's fine. Uncle Zhang, don't let my thin frame fool you; I've got some strength," Chen Ping'an said, patting his chest.

Having reached the Great Perfection of the first layer of Vitality, not only could he carry these two baskets, but even carrying four at once would be a piece of cake.

Uncle Zhang's face clearly showed disbelief. The baskets he usually used were already a size larger than normal, and the two he had just brought out were extra-large. The bamboo used for the baskets had been specially reinforced with rope; if filled, even a grown man would find them extremely heavy to carry. Much less the thin and weak-looking Little Brother Chen before him.

He himself found it quite strenuous to use these two baskets for moving sand year-round. Having worked all day, using these extra-large ones would be even more exhausting. That was why he hadn't used them to deliver the sand earlier.

However, Uncle Zhang didn't argue, thinking the youth was just being prideful, and he handed the baskets to Chen Ping'an.

Chen Ping'an took a shovel and filled both baskets to the brim.

"Little Brother Chen, this sand and gravel might look easy to handle, but it's actually quite heavy," Uncle Zhang warned.

"It's alright," Chen Ping'an replied.

Once the baskets were full, the two of them hoisted them onto their shoulders and walked out together.

"He actually picked them up," Uncle Zhang muttered, glancing at Chen Ping'an.

He thought Chen Ping'an would struggle quickly, but to his surprise, even after walking all the way to Chen Ping'an's house, the boy wasn't even breathing heavily. He looked completely effortless.

"This..."

Uncle Zhang was stunned; he had truly witnessed something extraordinary.

"As expected of someone serving in the Suppression Division, truly unusual."

***

With the matter of the sand and gravel settled, Chen Ping'an could not wait to begin practicing the new method of the Iron Cloth technique.

The sand and gravel were spread flat on the ground. Chen Ping'an stripped off his clothes and lay down naked upon them. If an ordinary person did this, they would likely find it incredibly uncomfortable. After all, sand and gravel were different from fine sand; the small stones contained many sharp edges. One wrong move and the skin could easily be cut.

However, for Chen Ping'an, who had achieved minor success in the Iron Cloth technique, it was nothing unusual; in fact, it felt somewhat soothing.

The saying that successful skin refinement makes one's skin like thin oxhide was no joke.

Lying naked in the gravel, Chen Ping'an began to roll. To practice the Iron Cloth effectively, he had to ensure the gravel had full contact with his shoulders, back, chest, abdomen, and arms.

Every roll allowed for an efficient and thorough workout of every part of his body. Compared to rubbing the body with hands, this efficiency was undoubtedly much higher.

The Iron Cloth technique primarily tempered the upper body; while it did temper the lower body, the effects were relatively modest.

As Chen Ping'an rolled in the gravel, using the stones to constantly grind against his body, Chen Erya stood by, completely dumbfounded.

This was sand and gravel!

With her brother rolling around in there, wouldn't his skin be torn to shreds?

The little girl couldn't help but feel worried.

However, after observing for a while, she found that the scene she had imagined did not occur. Chen Ping'an's skin looked delicate, but at this moment, it displayed an indescribable toughness.

How long had her brother been practicing martial arts!? First, his strength became enough to lift water vats, and now his skin had become this resilient. Her brother...

He truly was a martial arts genius!

The new method of the Iron Cloth technique indeed provided a massive boost. In just under half an hour, a "+1" experience symbol flashed before Chen Ping'an's eyes.

Sensing his own state, Chen Ping'an did not stop; he continued.

After another half hour, the "+1" experience symbol appeared again.

"Again!"

Feeling that although his skin was starting to ache, it was still within a tolerable range, Chen Ping'an gritted his teeth and steeled his resolve to continue.

Another half hour later, the "+1" experience symbol appeared. When Chen Ping'an stood up from the gravel, his skin was bright red and looked quite terrifying.

"Brother~"

Chen Erya rushed toward him, her heart aching for him. However, seeing her brother's skin so red and faintly laced with blood vessels, she stopped halfway.

"Are you okay? Does it hurt?" the little girl asked, distressed.

"I'm fine," Chen Ping'an said with a smile, revealing his pearly white teeth.

He looked disheveled on the outside, but his gains were extremely gratifying.

**Name:** Chen Ping'an **Realm:** Vitality Layer One (Great Perfection) **Martial Arts:** Iron Cloth (Minor Success) (8/40)

"3 experience points in one go!"

Chen Ping'an felt a surge of excitement.

This meant that the new method of the Iron Cloth technique had once again increased the efficiency of his martial arts cultivation and experience accumulation.

"However..."

Chen Ping'an looked at his own bright red, blood-streaked skin.

"I can only practice like this at night. In the morning, twice is enough!"

He had to report for duty in the morning. If he practiced until he looked like this, it would be far too terrifying. He could hide his body with clothes, but he couldn't hide his arms.