We're practicing all martial arts, so why did you switch to easy mode?

Chapter 40: Entering the Core Formation, Strength Greatly Increased (Please Read On)
[Easy Mode: ...Iron Shirt - 1 Remaining Attempts (100 taels of silver/attempt)]

After drinking the Qi and Blood Powder, his panel changed immediately, and he could use the easy mode.

"Turn on Easy Mode".

[Easy Mode Activated: Take a warm bath for ten minutes to upgrade Iron Shirt - Remnant Training to Level 1.]

One hour later, the panel refreshed:
Name: Su Chen

Martial Arts: Iron Shirt - Incomplete (Level 1 1%), Raging Waves Blade Technique (Maximum), Tortoise Shell Technique (Maximum), Ape Arm Technique (Perfect 1%), Bone Shrinking Technique (Perfect 1%)

【简单模式：铁布衫·残0次（100两银子/次）狂浪刀法0次（任意一门完整刀法/次）龟甲功0次（无）猿臂功0次（10两金子/次）缩骨功0次（10两金子/次）】

However, Su Chen had no time to pay attention to the panel; his gaze was fixed on his palms.

The surface of his palms looked no different than before, but Su Chen could clearly feel a wisp of air flowing within them.

"This is... internal force?"

Seemingly unable to believe it, Su Chen murmured to himself, his eyes glazed over.

boom!
Su Chen picked up a small stone and instantly activated the force in his palm.

Without exerting any force, he saw that the moment the force entered the stone, several cracks appeared on its surface and quickly spread throughout its body.

A crisp sound rang out, and the stone split open as if a flower were blooming.

Then Su Chen gently squeezed the stone, and it instantly turned into a cloud of dust, which drifted away in the air with the wind.

"That really is powerful!"

Su Chen was pleasantly surprised. He hadn't expected that just a few days ago he was asking Hong Ming how to enter the state of internal energy, and today he had inexplicably entered the state of internal energy.

"It's too fast, I wasn't prepared at all!"

The unbelievable words, coupled with a slightly smug expression, would likely have prompted Hong Ming to intervene if he had seen this scene.

I've spent most of my life trying to achieve the state of "internal strength" (劲), and you've already done it after only a short time? It's truly infuriating to compare yourself to others!
After a short while, Su Chen calmed down.

"The power of the force is indeed great, but its quantity is too small. I only used it once before I could no longer use it."

"No wonder the robbers didn't use their full strength the whole time. They were probably like me, not long into practicing internal strength, and didn't have much energy stored up in their bodies."

"Although it can only be used once, it can be used as a trump card, like a hidden blade, and it will be enough to give the enemy a hard time."

"And this is just the beginning. After I improve my Iron Shirt skill again, my strength will increase. That's when my strength will truly shine."

Thinking this, Su Chen brought up the panel, and when he saw the data on the panel, he couldn't help but rub his forehead: "It will cost another hundred taels to activate easy mode next time!"

Well, he's penniless again, though it seems he's never truly been rich.

"Oh right, there's also the Ape Arm Skill and the Bone Shrinking Skill. They're just one last easy mode away from reaching their limit. With the Iron Shirt upgrade, it'll cost a total of three hundred taels."

Ouch, my head hurts!

Shaking his head to dispel the thoughts from his mind, Su Chen stopped thinking about it.

Things will work themselves out. With his current abilities, he'll have both bread and money.

Shaking off the distracting thoughts in his mind, Su Chen continued to test the power of his strength.

Su Chen continued testing until nightfall, still enjoying himself immensely.

The more I tested it, the more I felt the immense power it possessed; it was practically a deadly weapon.

However, what puzzled Su Chen was that the force in his palms could only flow within his palms and could not extend to his arms.

He conducted numerous tests, but ultimately failed to reach a definitive conclusion, attributing it solely to the incompleteness of the technique.

"Iron Wire Fist and Iron Sand Palm can be combined, but I wonder if Iron Shirt, Ape Arm Skill, and Tortoise Shell Skill can be combined? It's unclear at the moment, so we'll have to wait and see."

Putting the matter out of his mind, Su Chen stopped testing and went out for a simple meal.

When he got home, it was still early, so Su Chen continued to prepare the mind-controlling powder until late at night before finally going to sleep.

Two days later.

Su Chen arrived at the yamen (government office) and stood in front of the wanted poster, carefully examining it. He spent a day successfully concocting the bewitching powder, then rested for a day before deciding to start making money.

The government offices were the first to be affected.

These past few days have passed, and just like last time, the wanted list remains unchanged.

"Yang Zhuangshi?"

Just as Su Chen was pondering which wanted criminal to choose, a voice came from behind him.

He turned around and saw that it was the government official he had met once before.

"Who are you?" Su Chen asked, puzzled.

"I am a clerk in the county government," the man replied with a smile.

Then, his gaze shifted between Su Chen and the wanted list, and he said, "Does Warrior Yang wish to accept the challenge?"

Su Chen nodded: "Yeah."

He paused for a moment and then asked, "I've seen these wanted posters for quite some time now. Does the government have any updates on them?"

The clerk shook his head: "Indeed, as Yang Zhuangshi said, these lists are quite old, but the yamen doesn't know whether the wanted criminals on them are alive or dead."

These words made Su Chen slightly disappointed. He was not afraid of spending time, but he was afraid of spending time and still not being able to find the person.

"Sir Yang, would it be possible for us to proceed to the county government office?"

Just then, the clerk glanced around and asked cautiously.

"Oh?" Su Chen looked at the other person's expression and saw that he seemed to have something to say to him, so he nodded, "Thank you for your trouble, Master."

Having said that, he followed the clerk into the county government office.

The advisor led Su Chen to the main hall, had tea served, and then took his leave.

Su Chen sat in the lobby without drinking tea. After waiting for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, his eyes suddenly turned to the door.

"Hero Yang!"

Approaching them was County Magistrate Tao Wenxuan, who greeted Su Chen with a broad smile and a cupped-hand salute.

"Magistrate Tao," Su Chen greeted him, then turned his gaze to the clerk.

Upon seeing this, Tao Wenxuan chuckled and said, "I heard from the clerk that Yang Zhuangshi was at the county government office. At first, I didn't quite believe it, but I didn't expect to see Yang Zhuangshi again after so many days. He is as dashing as ever."

“Magistrate Tao, please speak freely.” Faced with Tao Wenxuan’s roundabout approach, Su Chen replied directly.

Tao Wenxuan was not angry after hearing this, and said, "It is like this, I happen to have a reward here, I wonder if Warrior Yang would be interested?"

"Elaborate."

"The person for whom the bounty is placed is related to the Rebirth Sect!" Tao Wenxuan's voice became somewhat solemn, and the expression on his face also became restrained.

Religion of the dead?

Su Chen frowned, and relevant information quickly surfaced in his mind.

The Great Qian Dynasty was in its twilight years. In addition to the various gangs, there were also many rebel armies, among which the Rebirth Sect was one.

The Rebirth Sect is a rebel force that has risen in recent years. It has been active near Qinzhou for many years, opposing the imperial court and causing the government a great headache.

Unlike other rebel groups, this Rebirth Cult is very mysterious.

Apart from the initial incident of killing officials and distributing grain, which caused a huge sensation, it was like a forgotten relic that disappeared from the government's sight.

It now seems that they haven't disappeared without a trace, but rather have been lying in wait in the shadows, waiting for their chance.

Seeing Su Chen remain silent, Tao Wenxuan and the clerk exchanged a glance, and then the clerk coughed lightly and said, "Hero Yang, the reward for this is one hundred taels!"

Upon hearing this, Su Chen's eyes lit up slightly.

(End of this chapter)