The Great Martial Saint!

Seeing that the golden finger panel was indeed effective, Chen Ping'an wanted to press his advantage and continue practicing Iron Shirt.

However, just moments ago, he hadn't felt it, but now that he paused for a bit, he felt intense pain all over his body.

Removing the tight clothing wrapped around his chest and back, he noticed his skin was red, with some areas slightly cracked.

No wonder it hurt so much!

He couldn't keep practicing; he needed to rest.

If he continued like this and his skin completely broke, it would be troublesome!

Chen Ping'an decisively stopped the idea of continuing to practice Iron Shirt.

Looking at the crumpled undergarments, Chen Ping'an knew they were ruined and couldn't be worn anymore.

"Keep them for practicing Iron Shirt!"

"Brother, have some water."

Seeing her brother stop, Chen Er'ya, who was nearby, brought over a bowl filled with clear water.

Chen Ping'an didn't hesitate and took it, gulping down the water in large swallows, some of it spilling from the corners of his mouth.

At that moment, Chen Ping'an was bare-chested, his skin red. Though his body was thin, he exuded a somewhat rugged demeanor.

Chen Er'ya looked at her brother with a heart full of pity.

Seeing him like this, she wondered how much suffering he had to endure!

Chen Ping'an finished the water in one go and handed the empty bowl back to Chen Er'ya, patting her head.

"Little one, I'm going to sleep for a while. Don't wait for me for lunch; there's some rice in the pot, you can eat that."

He hadn't slept all night, excited because of the golden finger, and his spirit had been able to hold up. But now, after practicing Iron Shirt, the relaxation brought an overwhelming sense of fatigue.

"Brother, what would you like to eat tonight? I'll go buy it."

Chen Er'ya asked. Usually, when Chen Ping'an was on duty, she handled most of the grocery shopping.

Chen Ping'an was about to say they could make do with whatever was available when he suddenly realized that now that he was starting to train in martial arts, his energy consumption was huge, and he needed proper nourishment. They couldn't just make do.

"Buy some beef and half a pound of eggs. We'll have a good meal tonight."

"Okay."

Chen Er'ya nodded.

Chen Ping'an went inside, lay down on the bed, and sleepiness quickly overcame him. He soon fell into a deep sleep.

When Chen Ping'an woke up, it was already somewhat dark outside.

"How long have I been sleeping?"

Getting up from the bed, Chen Ping'an felt some soreness in his body. It seemed that after not exercising for a while, his body wasn't used to such sudden exertion.

However, the pain had lessened considerably.

He wasn't sure if it was because his body recovered quickly or if it was an invisible benefit of the golden finger.

Speaking of the golden finger, besides the fact that any progress in cultivation was permanent and could never be lost, there was another benefit.

It could hide his cultivation level and adjust his physical state to show whatever he wanted others to see.

It was a great tool for deceiving others!

But for Chen Ping'an at this stage, it wasn't of much use.

He hadn't even started cultivating yet; what was there to hide!?

"Brother, you're awake! Have a bun to fill your stomach."

Chen Er'ya was the first to notice Chen Ping'an waking up and brought over a white bun from the kitchen, handing it to him.

Chen Ping'an took it and noticed the bun was still slightly warm.

"I bought it from Auntie Wang when I went shopping this afternoon."

Chen Er'ya said with a smile.

"Mm."

Chen Ping'an nodded and quickly devoured the bun.

After eating the bun, he still felt a bit hungry, so he got up.

"Little one, come help me start the fire and cook!"

"Yes."

Chen Er'ya stood at attention, like a little soldier ready for the front lines.

Chen Ping'an's home wasn't big—a small courtyard, one bedroom, and half a kitchen made up the entire layout.

Living in the city wasn't easy.

Having such a setup was already something many ordinary civilians would envy.

Most commoners lived in shared courtyards with several families. Some even had six family members crammed into half a room along the street.

In comparison, the peaceful residence Chen Ping'an and his sister had was the envy of many.

This was all thanks to Old Chen's legacy!

After some busy work by the siblings, a delicious dinner was ready.

Two bowls of fragrant white rice, a plate of braised beef, a plate of stir-fried vegetables, and a bowl of bone soup. Additionally, each had an egg.

Before they even started eating, Chen Er'ya was already drooling.

"Little glutton, dig in."

Seeing Chen Er'ya like this, Chen Ping'an tapped her little hand and smiled.

"Mm, thank you, brother."

Chen Er'ya, who had been trying to hold back, felt as if she had been granted amnesty and immediately picked up her chopsticks, starting to devour the food.

Though Chen Er'ya's movements were quick, Chen Ping'an noticed that her first bite was from the plate of vegetables.

This girl was so thoughtful it was heartbreaking.

"Little glutton, if you're so eager, why aren't you eating some meat?"

Chen Ping'an picked up two pieces of beef and put them in Chen Er'ya's bowl.

"Brother... I don't need this much."

Chen Er'ya looked at Chen Ping'an with wide eyes.

Since Old Chen had passed away, to pay off debts, they rarely ate meat. On the rare occasions they did, most of it was saved for Chen Ping'an.

He was the man of the house and needed to work during the day, requiring more energy. He needed to eat well to have strength.

"Just eat it."

Chen Ping'an pretended to be stern.

"Don't worry, our family's situation will improve soon. We'll be able to eat meat every day!"

Seeing Chen Er'ya still hesitating and not picking up her chopsticks, Chen Ping'an added.

"What? Don't you believe your brother?"

"I believe."

"If you believe, then listen to your brother and eat."

"Mm."

Chen Er'ya nodded heavily.

The little girl buried her head and started eating with gusto.

Halfway through, she didn't forget to remind Chen Ping'an.

"Brother, you eat too."

"Mm, okay."

Chen Ping'an responded and also started eating.

To be honest, he was extremely hungry.

In the small courtyard, the aroma of the food filled the air. The occasional conversation between the siblings added a touch of warmth to the fragrant atmosphere.

After dinner, Chen Ping'an and Chen Er'ya cleaned up the dishes, wiped the table, and moved the wooden table and stools back inside.

After some light activity to help digest the meal, Chen Ping'an started practicing Iron Shirt again.

It was the same method, the same way of training.

Perhaps because the first practice had strained his body, this second session started with a faint pain.

Chen Ping'an gritted his teeth and persevered.

Compared to the physical pain, he cared more about a life without hope.

He used his palms to vigorously rub and pat his body.

His palms went numb, and his blood surged!

Again and again.

Finally, in Chen Ping'an's field of vision, the desired "+1" symbol flashed.

Name: Chen Ping'an

Level: None

Martial Arts: Iron Shirt (Not yet initiated) (2/5)

The feeling of getting returns for your efforts was truly addictive!