Chapter 22: Parchment, Turtle Shell Art, Bone Shrinking Technique

Chapter 22: Parchment, Turtle Shell Art, Bone Shrinking Technique

Sssk!

Blood erupted like a crimson geyser, splattering across the ground as Zhao Kuo collapsed. A large patch of earth darkened with his lifeblood.

His body shrank back to its original size, but his eyes remained wide open, filled with seething hatred toward Su Chen—just like Lin Hai’s vengeful death gaze.

Confirming Zhao Kuo’s demise, Su Chen yanked his steel saber from the corpse.

“Lucky this fool trusted his Black Armor too much and didn’t see through my disguise. Otherwise, taking him down in one strike would’ve been tricky.”

Zhao Kuo’s Black Armor had astonishing defensive power, impervious even to the Yellow Robed Woman’s blade. Su Chen’s Raging Waves Saber Technique, though perfected, could breach the armor only with maximum effort—but not cleanly kill.

“I wonder what martial arts he cultivated!”

Su Chen crouched beside the corpse, rifling through its pockets. His expression soured after a moment.

“Nothing? Huh… Wait, there’s something odd under this armor.”

As he tugged at the irregularity, a parchment slipped out.

“No wonder I couldn’t find anything—hidden here all along!”

Unfurling the parchment, Su Chen’s face lit up. It detailed a martial technique.

“Got it!”

Before he could study it further, hurried footsteps echoed nearby. He pocketed the parchment, sheathed his saber, and vanished into the shadows.

Moments later, Zhao Kuo’s subordinates arrived, freezing at the sight of their leader’s corpse. Soon, the entire area buzzed with commotion.

At the White Jade Gang’s headquarters, a white-robed man glared at Zhao Kuo’s lifeless body, his face stormy.

“Report,” he barked at the two subordinates.

They recounted the events, ending with the Yellow Robed Woman’s involvement.

“Useless!” the gang leader roared. “He disgraced himself chasing another man’s wife, then died like this? Pathetic!”

He waved them off. “Dispose of the body. Issue orders to all branches—track down that woman. Killing my gang’s member and thinking she can escape? Not a chance. Notify me immediately upon finding her.”

“As you command!”

As the gang’s network mobilized, Su Chen returned home, scrubbing blood from his skin. Unfolding the parchment, he discovered two techniques: the Turtle Shell Art and Bone Shrinking Technique.

“The Turtle Shell Art must be Zhao Kuo’s cultivation. Once mastered, it cloaks the body in Black Armor, dormant until activated for enhanced defense. But the physical transformation requires the Bone Shrinking Technique to balance it—complementary, like yin and yang.”

He read further. “The Turtle Shell Art demands grueling trials to toughen skin and flesh. One misstep risks crippling injuries. Even perfected, it leaves the head and neck vulnerable.”

Studying the manuals, Su Chen smirked. “Defects? No problem. I’ve got the Progress Panel.”

An hour later, after spending 12 silver taels to activate Easy Mode for both techniques—solar infusion for the Turtle Shell Art (ten minutes to minor mastery, twenty for full) and squats for the Bone Shrinking Technique (fifty for minor, a hundred for full)—the Progress Panel updated:

Turtle Shell Art (Mastered 1%)
Bone Shrinking Technique (Mastered 1%)

Stripping to examine himself, Su Chen noted no physical changes. “Cultivating through the Panel avoids the flaws.”

Activating the Turtle Shell Art, his body hardened, a thin layer of Black Armor shimmering across his skin. Punching his chest produced a metallic clang.

“Excellent! My limbs’ defense strengthens too.”

Testing the Bone Shrinking Technique, his bones crackled. His height dropped from 1.88 to 1.78 meters, limbs shortening ten centimeters. Startled but intrigued, he reverted.

“This aids disguise better than combat. If I mimic the One-Armed Yang Guo again, I’ll be even more convincing. Who’d suspect a hidden arm ready to strike?”

He sighed, recalling his Iron Sand Palm’s 100-tael cost. “Wish I could advance these techniques further, but at least the Panel’s Limit unlocks the Iron Thread Fist next.”

Glancing at the Progress Panel:

Iron Sand Palm (Limit)
Iron Sand Palm 0/1 (Limit → Iron Thread Fist)

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end