"Brother Chen, is this enough? If not, I've still got more."
Uncle Zhang asked.
"Hmm..." Chen Ping'an surveyed the pile of gravel in the corner of the yard.
The second stage of training for the Iron Cloth Shirt required him to strip off his clothes and continuously roll around in the gravel. This would allow his shoulders, back, chest, abdomen, and arms to be constantly abraded, forcing them to adapt and change.
Additionally, he needed to fall both forward and backward, plunging his body into the gravel to gradually toughen his muscles and bones.
That being the case, he would need a considerable amount of gravel.
"I'm going to need a bit more. Probably another four or five baskets like this one."
Glancing at Uncle Zhang, Chen Ping'an added.
"Uncle Zhang, let me know how much silver the gravel is, and I'll pay you for it."
"We're neighbors, what's all this talk about money? It's just some gravel, and I've got plenty of it!"
Uncle Zhang said magnanimously. Chen Ping'an's status as a temporary constable might not have been enough to impress the likes of Young Master Xiao Hu, but among the neighbors in the alley, it still carried some weight.
Uncle Zhang was happy to do Chen Ping'an a simple favor like this.
"But I can't let Uncle Zhang take a loss."
Chen Ping'an said, but he didn't argue with Uncle Zhang.
"Uncle Zhang, do you have any spare baskets? If so, I'll go with you. It'll save you an extra trip back and forth."
"I do have some at home. That works, too."
Uncle Zhang said with a smile.
"Nannan, I'm heading out with Uncle Zhang for a bit." After saying this, Chen Ping'an left with him.
Behind Uncle Zhang's house was a decent-sized plot of open land where a large amount of gravel was piled up. Gravel might seem unassuming, but it had many uses, so Uncle Zhang had stockpiled a bit extra.
"Brother Chen, the baskets from my house are a bit big. You should use my other one; it'll be easier for you."
Uncle Zhang had taken out two wicker baskets that were clearly a size larger, with coarse cloth layered around the edges to prevent gravel from leaking out.
"It's fine, Uncle Zhang. Don't be fooled by my thin frame. I've got some strength," Chen Ping'an said, patting his chest.
For him, who had reached Qi Blood First Level Perfection, carrying these two baskets was nothing. He could even carry four at once; it would be a piece of cake.
Disbelief was written all over Uncle Zhang's face. The baskets he normally used were already a size larger than standard ones, but the two he had just brought out were extra-large. They were specially reinforced with rope wound around the bamboo frame. If baskets of this size were filled to the brim, even a strong, grown man would find them extremely strenuous to carry, let alone the thin and frail-looking Brother Chen before him.
He himself had carried sand for years, and even for him, using these two baskets was quite an effort. After working all day, using these extra-large ones would be even more exhausting. That was why he hadn't used them to bring the gravel to Chen Ping'an's door earlier.
However, Uncle Zhang didn't object. He figured it was just a young man trying to save face, so he went along with it and handed the baskets to Chen Ping'an.
Chen Ping'an took a shovel and filled the two large wicker baskets to the brim.
"Brother Chen, this gravel might look light, but it's actually not light at all," Uncle Zhang reminded him.
"It's nothing."
Chen Ping'an replied.
After Uncle Zhang's own basket was also filled with gravel, the two of them hoisted their loads onto their shoulders and started walking.
'He actually lifted it.' Uncle Zhang glanced at Chen Ping'an.
He had expected Chen Ping'an to give out quickly, but to his surprise, Chen Ping'an walked all the way back to his own house without even breathing heavily. He looked completely effortless.
"This..."
Uncle Zhang was completely stunned. He had finally seen something truly impressive.
'As expected of someone who works for the Garrison Commandant's Office. He really is out of the ordinary.'
...
With the gravel situation sorted out, Chen Ping'an couldn't wait to try the new training method for his Iron Cloth Shirt.
The gravel was spread evenly across the ground. Chen Ping'an stripped off his clothes and lay down on it naked. An ordinary person would have found it unbearably uncomfortable. After all, gravel wasn't like sand; the small stones had many sharp edges. A single careless move could easily result in getting cut.
However, for Chen Ping'an, who had reached Minor Achievement in the Iron Cloth Shirt, it was nothing unusual. In fact, it even felt somewhat comfortable.
The saying "successful Skin Refining makes the skin like thin cowhide" was no joke.
Lying naked in the gravel, Chen Ping'an began to roll around. To truly train the Iron Cloth Shirt effectively, he had to ensure the gravel made full contact with his shoulders, back, chest, abdomen, and arms.
Every roll thoroughly and effectively trained each part of his body. Compared to rubbing his body with his hands, this method was undoubtedly much more efficient.
The Iron Cloth Shirt primarily tempered the upper body. While it did train the lower body as well, the effects were rather ordinary.
Chen Ping'an rolled in the gravel, using it to constantly abrade his body. At his side, Chen Erya was completely dumbfounded by the sight.
'This is gravel!'
'If my brother keeps rolling around in that, how torn up will his skin get?'
The little girl couldn't help but worry.
But after watching for a while, she realized the scene she had imagined wasn't happening. Chen Ping'an's skin looked smooth, but at this moment, it was displaying an indescribable toughness.
'How long has Big Brother been practicing martial arts!? First, he got strong enough to lift a water vat, and now his skin has become so tough. My brother... he...'
'He's truly a Martial Dao genius!'
The new training method for the Iron Cloth Shirt really provided a huge boost. After just about half an hour, a "+1" experience symbol flashed in Chen Ping'an's vision.
Sensing his own condition, Chen Ping'an didn't stop, but continued on.
After another half hour or so, the "+1" experience symbol appeared again.
"Again!"
Although his skin was beginning to ache, he felt it was still within a tolerable range. Gritting his teeth, Chen Ping'an steeled himself and decided to continue.
And so, after about another half hour, another "+1" experience symbol appeared. When Chen Ping'an stood up from the gravel, his skin was completely red, a frightening sight to behold.
"Big Brother~"
Chen Erya's heart ached for him as she rushed forward. But seeing her brother's skin so red and faintly streaked with blood, she ultimately stopped halfway.
"Are you okay? Does it hurt?"
The little girl was heartbroken.
"I'm fine."
Chen Ping'an said with a smile, revealing his peerlessly white teeth.
He might have looked like he was in a sorry state, but his gains were extremely gratifying.
Name: Chen Ping'an
Realm: Qi Blood First Level Perfection
Martial Arts: Iron Cloth Shirt Minor Achievement (8/40)
....
'Three Experience Points in one go!'
Chen Ping'an was thrilled.
This meant the new training method for the Iron Cloth Shirt had once again increased the efficiency at which his Martial Dao Cultivation accumulated Experience Points.
'But...'
Chen Ping'an looked at his own skin, red and covered in bloody streaks.
'I can only train this hard at night. In the morning, I should probably only do two sessions!'
He had to report for duty in the morning, and it would be too frightening if he trained until he looked like this. His torso could be hidden by clothes, but his arms could not.