Chapter 127: Chapter 127: Golden Bell Shield, Great Success
’Even within the same Inner Qi Realm, the differences are truly vast!’
Chen Ping’an began to recall the detailed information he had previously gathered about the Inner Qi Realm.
According to his understanding, the classification of masters within the Inner Qi Realm was not so simple or crude. It wasn’t judged solely by the amount of Inner Qi accumulated in one’s Qi Sea or the length of time since breaking through.
Anyone who could step into the Inner Qi Realm possessed at least some remarkable talent for Cultivation. Martial Arts Masters of the Inner Qi Realm differed from one another in many ways: their Martial Arts Skills, combat techniques, practical experience, and innate talent.
Therefore, as long as there wasn’t a gap between Great Realms—such as the difference between Initial Qi Sea Transformation and Purification and Rejuvenation—the division between masters of the Inner Qi Realm was determined by actual combat. Only after two opponents had crossed blades could one know who was stronger and who was weaker.
Basically, every renowned Inner Qi Master had forged their reputation through constant battle and tempering.
There are no fakes under a great reputation. Any Inner Qi Master with a widespread name was not to be trifled with.
If one were to classify them based on the written information he’d collected, the First Stage of the Inner Qi Realm could be roughly divided into four levels based on combat prowess: the weaker tier, the normal level, the stronger tier, and the top level.
Someone like the current Chen Ping’an was at the weaker tier. Of course, that was only because he had just entered the Inner Qi Realm and had not yet consolidated his foundation.
With a period of steady, step-by-step accumulation of Inner Qi, and relying on the Martial Arts Technique he cultivated, he would be able to gain a firm foothold and approach the normal level for the Inner Qi Realm.
After roughly figuring out his own combat standing, Chen Ping’an once again felt the state of his Dantian Qi Sea. The Inner Qi he had previously consumed was slowly recovering.
Although the speed wasn’t fast, it wasn’t unacceptably slow.
After several consecutive attempts, Chen Ping’an came to a conclusion.
Generating new Inner Qi was an extremely slow process, one that had to be measured in days. However, simply recovering his existing Inner Qi was much faster.
’No wonder those Inner Qi Masters need to accumulate power for several years to possess such considerable destructive force! This process of Refining and Gathering Earth Spirit Muddied Qi into Inner Qi is just too slow!’
Chen Ping’an sighed.
However, based on his past experience, as long as he broke through to a new Cultivation Level in one of his Martial Arts Skills, he should be able to gain a new influx of Inner Qi.
Two days after breaking into the Inner Qi Realm, Chen Ping’an also successfully reached the Entry Level for Eight Steps Chasing Cicada, a Superior Lightweight Skill.
With his mastery of Eight Steps Chasing Cicada at the Entry Level, Inner Qi stirred in his Dantian Qi Sea, and dozens of strands of new Inner Qi emerged.
’Just as I thought!’
Chen Ping’an was overjoyed. His guess had been correct.
Just by reaching the Entry Level in a single Lightweight Skill, he had completely consolidated his Realm and stepped into the normal combat power level for the First Stage of the Inner Qi Realm.
’Keep going! Keep going!’
This feeling of constant, tangible progress was truly intoxicating.
That evening, Tian Fuliang, along with the Constables from the Nanquan Alley Town Patrol Office and representatives from various gangs, big and small, held a banquet of several tables for Chen Ping’an.
Unlike in the past, Chen Ping’an was the absolute center of attention at this banquet.
During the feast, it went without saying for the Constables and gang representatives, but even Tian Fuliang himself was all smiles, frequently toasting Chen Ping’an.
"Ping’an, I’ll have to rely on you a lot more in the future!"
"Not at all, Lord Tian. We’ll be helping each other."
"Yes, helping each other, hahaha..."
After a round of toasts, the atmosphere was warm and harmonious.
At the farewell banquet, Chen Ping’an received many gifts, including gold, silver, bolts of cloth, and other items.
After returning home from the banquet, Chen Ping’an still did not slacken in his Cultivation of Martial Arts Skills.
In the small courtyard, his posture was tall and straight, like a green pine tree standing firm.
His Qi and Blood surged, and his Inner Qi roiled, flowing and swirling back and forth throughout his body.
Every part of his body—his skin, membranes, tendons, bones, blood, and marrow—was being continuously tempered and refined.
+1.
As a point of experience appeared.
A smile touched Chen Ping’an’s face as he ceased his Cultivation and stood up.
SWOOSH~
The Experience Points on the panel churned, transforming into starlight that surged into the space between his eyebrows.
Golden Bell Shield, Great Success!
At the same time, a large amount of Inner Qi appeared in his Dantian Qi Sea. In just a few moments, his Dantian Qi Sea was rapidly filled to the brim.
After a long while, Chen Ping’an emerged from his state of comprehension and looked at the panel information floating in the void.
Name: Chen Ping’an
Realm: Inner Qi - Initial Qi Sea Transformation
Martial Arts: Iron Cloth Shirt Perfection, Flying Locust Stone Perfection, Public Door Thirteen Blades Perfect, Thirteen Grand Protectors Cross Training Perfect, Great Success in Golden Bell Shield (0/400), Gale Sword Technique Entry Level (16/60), Eight Steps Chasing Cicada Entry Level (5/60)
...
’I never expected that achieving Great Success in Golden Bell Shield would cause the Inner Qi in my Dantian Qi Sea to skyrocket, filling nearly two-thirds of my reserves! At this level, I can probably be considered a veteran Inner Qi Master.’
The substantial increase in his Inner Qi was somewhat beyond Chen Ping’an’s expectations.
As he was now, he could no longer be considered weak within the first stage of the Inner Qi Realm.
He was likely still a bit weaker than the Chief of the Patrol Office, Mu Wanjun, but there probably wasn’t much of a gap between him and the Vice Chief of the Patrol. As for the other Inner Qi Tributors, if they were on the weaker side, he might even have the upper hand.
Of course, this was just Chen Ping’an’s own speculation. The actual outcome could only be known after a fight.
After achieving Great Success in Golden Bell Shield, Chen Ping’an wiped himself down and went to sleep, completely content.
Tomorrow was the day he would officially take up his post at the South Town Garrison Command.
...
Chen Ping’an had been to the South Town Garrison Command several times before, so he was quite familiar with the way.
He did not bring Chen Erya with him this time to take up his post at the South Town Garrison Command. He planned to bring Chen Erya and the others over after he had established a firm foothold.
The South Town Garrison Command had a wide, open entrance, and the constables on duty were solemn. Their spirit and bearing were completely different from those at Nanquan Lane.
When Chen Ping’an reached the main gate of the Garrison Commandant’s Office, a constable came forward to greet him before he could even speak.
"Might you be Lord Chen Ping’an?"
Evidently, the South Town Garrison Command had already made arrangements for Chen Ping’an’s appointment.
The position of Prison Chief of the South City Prison was one of high rank and significant authority. Even within the South Town Garrison Command, it was considered a Steward’s role.
When a person of such status reported for duty, his portrait and time of arrival had been arranged in advance, with all relevant parties specially notified. Naturally, there wouldn’t be a clichéd scene from a cheap novel where an ignorant gate guard causes trouble only to be put in his place in a dramatic reversal.
Led by the constable, Chen Ping’an entered the South Town Garrison Command without a hitch.
His personnel file had already been transferred from Nanquan Lane. His reporting for duty today was a formality; matters like registration had already been taken care of. The main tasks were to receive his Waist Token and get acquainted with his colleagues.
As Chen Ping’an walked toward the Task Room of the South Town Garrison Command, he saw a familiar figure in the distance.
"Lord Chen, I heard you were coming today and thought I’d come over to see. I didn’t expect to actually run into you."
The person caught sight of Chen Ping’an, let out a hearty laugh, and walked toward him.
"Lord Shen, it’s been a while."
Chen Ping’an smiled and clasped his hands in greeting.
