Chapter 3: 60 Years of Power_2

The Thirteen Grand Protectors' Horizontal Skill could not be perfected without at least ten years of effort. Even the true disciples of top sects or the offspring of noble families, with the aid of various pills and ointments, would still need to spend years of rigorous training to achieve perfection.

However, once the body reached a certain level, and internal energy began to breed, warriors entered the Breeding Energy Realm. Few would then focus on external skills like the Iron Armor Skill.

After all, even if the Iron Armor Skill reached perfection, it still couldn't withstand a single palm strike from a warrior in the Communicating Pulse Realm. This was the difference in cultivation strength.

But Gu Chen didn't have such worries because he had the panel.

Thus, Gu Chen spent three more points to elevate the Thirteen Grand Protectors' Horizontal Skill to perfection.

When the Thirteen Grand Protectors' Horizontal Skill reached perfection, martial arts knowledge flooded Gu Chen's mind, and he immediately felt a significant enhancement in his muscles and skin.

At the same time, the previous sense of physical bloating from rapid cultivation improvement also subsided considerably.

However, Gu Chen didn't choose to continue enhancing his cultivation. Instead, he spent five points to perfect the Red Flame Palm.

Immediately, corresponding martial arts knowledge surged into Gu Chen's mind.

Improving the Red Flame Palm to mastery cost two points. Perfecting it cost three points.

"It seems that different martial arts levels require different point costs," Gu Chen thought to himself.

At his age, very few patrol officers in the Jing Tian Department could perfect a martial art. Reaching mastery would be considered a great talent. Perfecting a martial art required not only time but also superior talent and comprehension.

Reaching perfection in any martial art level was much harder than combining the stages from initial understanding to mastery.

Gu Chen could easily perfect three martial arts because of the panel.

After making these enhancements, he only had one point left on the panel.

Name: Gu Chen

Martial Arts: Iron Armor Skill (perfected), Thirteen Grand Protectors' Horizontal Skill (perfected), Red Flame Palm (perfected), Dragon Tendon Tiger Bone Fist (initial understanding)

Internal Skill: Pure Yang Skill

Cultivation: Sixty years

Realm: Breeding Energy Realm - Great Perfection

Points: 1

After spending fifty-one points, Gu Chen's strength underwent a tremendous transformation. His internal energy cultivation reached sixty years.

Normally, such a level of internal energy would transcend the Breeding Energy Realm, easily breaking through to the Communicating Pulse Realm in someone else. Yet the panel still showed Gu Chen in the Breeding Energy Realm's Great Perfection.

Gu Chen himself felt his body could accommodate more internal energy.

Because of this, he was not in a hurry to break through.

Gu Chen found himself somewhat addicted to this rapid cultivation improvement, akin to his previous life's thrill from extreme sports. This feeling of power enhancement was utterly wonderful.

Moreover, in an ancient feudal society like this, strength equaled power. The world wasn't safe; the chaos of the Nine Provinces had just started, and supernatural beings could appear at any moment. As a member of the Jing Tian Department, he had to face them directly.

Thus, strength was what Gu Chen needed most at this stage.

After shedding his skin, Gu Chen cleaned himself up and went to bed.

The next morning, after washing up, Gu Chen changed into a black robe, hung a precious sword at his waist, and left for the Jing Tian Department.

In this life, he had a handsome appearance, slender figure, and striking features, especially his upward-slanting eyebrows that added a heroic touch.

Gu Chen was very satisfied with his appearance, feeling it was no less than his previous life's looks.

Tiandu City, the capital of Da Xia, was exceptionally prosperous. The streets were bustling with people, carriages, and various dazzling buildings. Street vendors called out constantly.

It presented a scene of flourishing prosperity, which made Gu Chen silently marvel.

This was only the outer city. Tiandu City was divided into inner and outer cities. The inner city was even more prosperous, reserved for royalty and nobility.

Even though Gu Chen's status was equivalent to a seventh-grade official in Da Xia, he still couldn't afford housing in the inner city.

Housing prices were too high, and Da Xia didn't offer installment payments.

Listening to the lively calls around him, Gu Chen didn't hurry. He admired the sights while heading towards the Jing Tian Department.

The headquarters of the Jing Tian Department was also in the inner city. The outer city's Jing Tian Department was just a branch, similar to those in other state capitals.

As soon as Gu Chen walked into the Jing Tian Department's main gate, someone secretly reported this to Liu Zheng.

...

At that moment, Liu Zheng was training in his martial arts field when a servant suddenly rushed over.

Liu Zheng, shirtless and forging his body, was displeased by the interruption.

However, when he heard Gu Chen had appeared at the Jing Tian Department, he was shocked.

"How could it be? That kid isn't dead?" Liu Zheng furrowed his brow.

He had been precise. Initially, his palm strike to Gu Chen's chest seriously injured his internal organs, causing Gu Chen's original injuries to worsen and letting the demonic energy invade his heart meridian.

In that situation, Gu Chen was almost certainly doomed by the demonic energy invasion.

The Jing Tian Department valued martial arts but didn't prohibit combat unless it caused serious injury or death.

Liu Zheng had carefully controlled his attack. Even if Gu Chen died, it wouldn't be traced back to him because, ultimately, Gu Chen died from the demonic energy.

It had been a month and a half since the incident, and Liu Zheng thought Gu Chen was dead. He didn't expect Gu Chen to appear unscathed at the Jing Tian Department.

"Perfect timing. I've just mastered the Iron Sand Palm and need someone to spar with. You've delivered yourself to me," Liu Zheng's lips curved into a cold smile.

He thought Gu Chen, though surviving by luck, would be unable to fight for life. Besides, after defeating Gu Chen, Liu Zheng's training had surged, almost reaching the Breeding Energy Realm's mid-stage.

Thus, Liu Zheng felt confident Gu Chen was no longer his match.

"Prepare the bath and clothes," Liu Zheng ordered. Immediately, maids came to assist him.

After everything was ready, he quickly left for the Jing Tian Department.

…

"Gu Chen!"

From afar, Gu Chen heard someone calling his name. He turned to see a young man of average build with a sinister look in his eyes approaching.

The man was Liu Zheng, the one responsible for severely injuring him.

"You are indeed alive," Liu Zheng walked up quickly, coldly smiling at Gu Chen.

Gu Chen's expression remained calm as he met Liu Zheng's gaze, asking, "Why are you looking for me?"

Liu Zheng snorted, saying, "Last time wasn't satisfying enough. Do you dare to spar with me again?"

Upon hearing this, Gu Chen laughed, his eyes playfully looking at Liu Zheng, "You want to challenge me?"