Chapter 36: Chapter 36: Iron Armor, Buddhist Scripture

Iron Body Method...

Fu Juemin stared, mesmerized, at the spot on Li Tong’s neck where the blade had struck.

At this moment, he felt his understanding of the world’s Martial Dao had been completely overturned.

"Immune to Blades and Guns," "Immune to Water and Fire"... these terms, once confined to legend, were now vividly displayed before his very eyes.

Although he hadn’t used his full strength in that strike against Li Tong, he had put in thirty to fifty percent of his power. The Eyebrow Knife was sharp enough to split a hardwood plank an inch thick, yet when it struck Li Tong, it hadn’t even left a mark.

And Li Tong had taken the blow on his neck, one of the most vulnerable parts of the human body.

"Uncle Tong."

Fu Juemin lowered the knife, took a deep breath, and said, "Teach me."

"Aren’t you going to ask what the technique is called first? Or how to train it?"

"Please, Uncle Tong. I’m listening."

Li Tong said calmly, "This Iron Body Method of mine is called the ’Iron Armor Technique.’ The initial training is similar to your current Bone Forging.

"You start by striking your entire body with hardwood sticks, then switch to an Iron Ruler. This is combined with hardening yourself by ramming into wooden stakes. Later, you’ll need a custom-made iron sand suit, which you must wear at all times, whether walking or training, to get used to the weight...

"It’s supplemented by special medicinal powders and Medicated Baths... to defend the outside from impact and support the inside from pressure."

"Once mastered, you can withstand ordinary punches, kicks, and clubs, even slashes from blades and thrusts from spears, without injury..."

"The Iron Armor Technique..."

Fu Juemin murmured, thinking the Cultivation Technique’s name sounded quite similar to the commonly heard "Iron Cloth Shirt."

"Uncle Tong."

Fu Juemin suddenly asked, "This Iron Armor Technique... can it block bullets from Western guns?"

Li Tong had personally demonstrated the effects of the Iron Armor Technique upon mastery. Fu Juemin was now asking about the Cultivation Technique’s upper limits.

In an era of increasingly prevalent Firearms, whether a Martial Art could contend with guns was, in his mind, a crucial dividing line.

"At the Great Success Realm, perhaps. Even if you couldn’t block them completely, you wouldn’t be killed by a single shot."

Li Tong thought for a moment before adding, "But any Iron Body Method is easy to learn and difficult to master. Without thirty to fifty years of bitter, unceasing training, achieving Great Success is absolutely impossible."

Fu Juemin automatically ignored the second half of what Li Tong said.

For others, achieving Great Success in a Martial Art was incredibly difficult, but for him, all it took were enough Skill Points.

With great foresight, he had specifically saved one Skill Point, waiting for a situation just like this.

As long as he could reach the Entry Level in the Iron Armor Technique, he could immediately advance to Mastery. Then, with one more Skill Point, he could rapidly reach the Great Success Realm.

Tongxuan was still too distant for him now, but the Great Success level of the Iron Armor, which could also withstand bullets, seemed almost within his grasp.

Fu Juemin’s heart pounded with excitement. "Uncle Tong," he said at once, "I’ll do it."

A glint flashed in Li Tong’s eyes as he smiled. "You’d better be sure, Young Master. To practice this Cultivation Technique, the intensity of your Bone Forging will have to increase by at least threefold..."

Perhaps afraid of scaring him off, Li Tong added in a gentler tone, "But there are benefits, too.

"Whether you succeed in mastering the Iron Armor Technique or not, Young Master, the progress and results of your Bone Forging will far surpass those of an ordinary person..."

Fu Juemin nodded solemnly.

’The benefits were enough. A little suffering could be endured by gritting his teeth. Once he mastered this, the next time he faced someone with a blade or gun, he wouldn’t be so constrained, forced to fight such a stifling battle.’

"Uncle Tong, what do I need to practice the Iron Armor Technique? I’ll have someone start preparations right away."

"First, I’ll write you a new prescription for your Medicated Bath..."

As they were speaking, someone knocked and entered the room, calling out "Young Master" to Fu Juemin.

"Uncle Chen."

The butler, Uncle Chen, stood at the door. "Young Master, the thank-you gift from the Lin Family has been brought for you."

Fu Juemin’s eyes lit up, and he quickly gestured. "Bring it in."

"Yes, sir."

Butler Uncle Chen directed two servants to carry in a box about a meter square.

The box was an ordinary one made of yellow pear wood. It looked quite old but was very well-maintained, its surface polished to a glossy sheen.

There was no lock on the box, so Fu Juemin had them open it directly. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

When the box was opened, they found another box inside.

There were two boxes, one large and one small. The large one, a black leather case, was about a foot wide and two feet long.

A transparent round lens was embedded in the front of the case, and something resembling a hand crank was attached to the side.

The smaller one was quite exquisite, looking like a lady’s vanity box.

Fu Juemin blinked and had them take out the large case first.

Only after taking it out did he notice that the leather case had four retractable bronze supports attached to its bottom corners.

Fu Juemin circled the strange-looking leather case, then leaned over slightly, bringing his eye close to the transparent round lens on the front.

Light shone from within the case, projecting onto a white cloth. A sudden realization struck Fu Juemin, and he reached out to slowly turn the handle on the side.

Soon, a desert scene appeared before his eyes. There was an oasis in the desert, and a long caravan of camels snaked its way toward him from the distance....

"Interesting."

Fu Juemin straightened up, unable to suppress a laugh.

It was actually a "Magic Lantern."

It was a rare type of toy, quite popular among the young masters and ladies of wealthy families in this era.

The box contained a series of exquisite photographs or slides. By turning the handle, the images inside would slowly change, creating a visual effect similar to watching a movie.

Fu Juemin had one of these in his own bedroom, but it was far inferior to this one—like the difference between a basic model and a deluxe edition. Even the basic model had cost him several hundred silver coins, and he had to pull some strings to buy it. This deluxe version before him was likely something money couldn’t necessarily buy.

"What was in the box for my father?"

Fu Juemin asked Uncle Chen casually, picking up the second, smaller box as he spoke.

Uncle Chen replied, "The box for the Master contained some antiques, calligraphy, and paintings."

Hearing this, Fu Juemin couldn’t help but smile.

Everyone in the Luan River region knew that the master of the Fu Family loved antiques, while the Young Master was fond of strange and curious gadgets from the Western World.

This Little Grandma Su of the Lin Family certainly knew how to cater to their tastes.

The second box felt feather-light in his hands. Fu Juemin opened it to find a book and three pitch-black objects that resembled Buddhist Beads, resting on a yellow satin cushion.

A flicker of light crossed his eyes as he saw the title written on the book’s cover—*The Sutra of the Buddha’s Original Vows and Merits of the Pharmacist Master Vajra Light*.

It was a Buddhist Scripture.

Fu Juemin picked up the pamphlet-sized Buddhist Scripture and casually flipped through it. He found that the contents were, indeed, scripture, but the pages were made of some unknown material.

It was neither paper nor silk, thin as a cicada’s wing, and suffused with a faint golden luster that made it nearly transparent. It was too exquisite to be a mortal object—another antique.

"Why would Su Hui send me a Buddhist Scripture?

"What, does she think I accumulated too much sin from the killing I did the day I saved her, and wants to help me find salvation?"

Fu Juemin couldn’t quite figure it out, muttering to himself as he looked at the Pharmacist Buddha Sutra in his hand.

"Are you sure this was meant for me?"

Fu Juemin confirmed again with the butler, Uncle Chen, who nodded. "The people from the Lin Family specifically and repeatedly instructed that the items in this box are a personal gift for you, Young Master."

"Fine."

Fu Juemin shook his head, intending to put the Buddhist Scripture back in the box and just add it to his collection.

Just then, Li Tong, who had been standing silently and watching, suddenly spoke. "Young Master, could I have a look at the Buddhist Scripture in your hand?"