Several more days passed, and Chen Cheng received word that Mr. Zheng had returned to Linji City.

On his day off from duty, Chen Cheng woke up early. After finishing his cultivation in the courtyard, he summoned his panel and took a look.

[Name: Chen Cheng

Realm: Muscle Strengthening (Small Success)

Skills: Iron Armor Skill • Muscle Strengthening (Small Success 226/1000)

Powerful Eagle Claw Skill (Perfection, Powerful Eagle Claw Stance 24,563/100,000)

Wind Chasing Saber Technique (Perfection, Wind Chasing Saber Stance) (Deduction in progress. Current Progress: 13/100. Upon completion, this Cultivation Technique can advance to a Superior Technique.)

]

After entering the Muscle Strengthening Realm, the Bear Skin Grinding Technique and the Wild Bull Skin Grinding Method no longer appeared on the panel.

After cultivating for more than half a month, the progress of the Iron Armor Skill of the Muscle Strengthening Realm had indeed slowed considerably, increasing by a mere 225 points.

If he couldn’t increase the training weight, his progress might slow down even more. At this rate, it would likely take another two to three months to bring his Iron Armor Skill of the Muscle Strengthening Realm to the Great Success level.

Going from Small Success to Great Success in the Muscle Strengthening Realm in three months was actually pretty good.

The saying goes, "Three years for Skin Grinding, five years for Muscle Strengthening." Even for a Celestial Pride of Linji City, it would take at least a year to advance from the Beginner Level to Small Success in the Muscle Strengthening Realm. Cultivating from Small Success to Great Success would likely take over a year, maybe even two.

Chen Cheng’s cultivation speed was already lightning-fast.

While his progress on the Iron Armor Skill slowed due to insufficient training weight, it was the opposite for his Powerful Eagle Claw Skill. Chen Cheng trained with full-body weights and the Dragon Eagle Iron Claw for nearly six hours every day. His progress was excellent; he had gained nearly 20,000 points in this period. At this rate, it would take him less than two months to develop ’Momentum’.

As Mr. Zheng’s signature skill, the Powerful Eagle Claw Skill was a true Superior Technique, one from which a practitioner could cultivate ’Realm’.

Once he developed ’Momentum’ and then cultivated it further into ’Realm’, Chen Cheng’s true combat prowess would reach a whole new level!

"The future is promising!"

...

After breakfast, Chen Cheng took a horse-drawn carriage to the Zheng Martial Arts Hall.

Entering the Double Courtyard, he saw the one-eyed Senior Brother Min Wei leading a dozen or so disciples through their Powerful Eagle Claw Skill practice.

Min Wei, Luo Chenghu, and Zhao Kui were all training with the Dragon Eagle Iron Claw, as were several other disciples.

The crowd shouted, practicing with vigor. Min Wei, Luo Chenghu, and Zhao Kui, in particular, were completely fired up. Though drenched in sweat, they continued to train with all their might.

Min Wei’s Powerful Eagle Claw Skill was exquisite; his movements were precise and his Power ferocious, far surpassing the Perfect Level. It seemed he was on the verge of developing ’Momentum’.

’Chen Cheng had a vague feeling that, in terms of progress toward developing ’Momentum’, Min Wei was actually a bit ahead of him—probably around the halfway mark.’

Surprisingly, Luo Chenghu and Zhao Kui were also approaching the Great Success level with their Powerful Eagle Claw Skill. Their cultivation speed was something to be proud of.

When Min Wei saw Chen Cheng arrive by the corridor, he stopped his training and walked over. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

Luo Chenghu and Zhao Kui, however, acted uncharacteristically. They kept their heads down and continued to train intensely, showing no sign of stopping. Judging by their wide, bullish eyes, they were clearly competing with each other.

"Greetings, Senior Brother Min," Chen Cheng said, cupping his fists in a salute.

Min Wei seemed to be in high spirits. He brandished his Dragon Eagle Iron Claw and grinned. "Junior Brother Chen," he said, "I heard from the others that you’ve reached Great Success in the Powerful Eagle Claw Skill. How about we spar for a few rounds?"

Chen Cheng smiled and shook his head. "Senior Brother Min, you’re on the verge of developing ’Momentum’. I wouldn’t dare presume to show off in front of an expert."

Min Wei was greatly surprised. "Master said I should be able to develop ’Momentum’ in another year or two," he said, amazed. "I didn’t think you’d be able to tell, Junior Brother Chen.

Your Powerful Eagle Claw Skill must be beyond the Great Success level, then?"

Chen Cheng gave a faint smile and lowered his voice. "I won’t hide it from you, Senior Brother. Just as Master said, training with the Dragon Eagle Iron Claw yields twice the results for half the effort. I’ve already reached the Perfect Level."

"What? You’ve already reached Perfection?!" Min Wei exclaimed. He quickly realized he had lost his composure and hurriedly pulled Chen Cheng toward the inner courtyard.

...

Back in the training yard, Luo Chenghu and Zhao Kui suddenly stopped, staring at each other wide-eyed.

Though they had appeared to be engrossed in their training, they had actually been secretly watching Chen Cheng’s every move.

Luo Chenghu tapped his broad forehead with his Dragon Eagle Iron Claw, his voice full of disbelief. "Junior Brother Zhao, did you hear that right? It sounded like Brother Cheng said he’d reached Perfection in his Powerful Eagle Claw Skill."

Zhao Kui’s dark-complexioned face was uncertain. "I thought I heard that too!" he said. "But how is that possible? We must have misheard."

"Yeah, we must be tired from training and misheard him," Luo Chenghu said with a mischievous chuckle. "Keep training hard, Junior Brother Zhao. Next time, we’ll team up and teach Brother Cheng a proper lesson."

Zhao Kui nodded emphatically. "You’re right. I’m tired of Senior Brother Chen handling me like I’m a little chick every time. It’s too humiliating."

The two exchanged a look, then resumed their training, once again shouting as they practiced the Powerful Eagle Claw Skill.

Min Wei led Chen Cheng through the corridor and into the inner courtyard. Once they reached a secluded spot, he asked with a solemn expression, "Junior Brother Chen, have you truly reached Perfection with the Powerful Eagle Claw Skill?"

Chen Cheng smiled faintly. His right hand shot out in a flash, executing the ’Dragon Eagle Captures the Tiger’ move and grabbing for Min Wei’s shoulder blade. The action was incredibly fast, yet natural and fluid.

They were standing close together. Min Wei instinctively tried to dodge, but he was a step too slow and was caught.

"You really have reached Perfection!" Min Wei’s face twitched involuntarily.

’He had practiced the Powerful Eagle Claw Skill for several years and had only made progress after great difficulty. And how long had Chen Cheng been at it?’

’This kid is an absolute monster!’