Martial Arts

Living a life on the run isn't great. If there's one benefit, it's that it can effectively temper one's spirit. Bai Lang, after his transmigration, has been practicing Martial Arts for over three years. In reality, he's likely much stronger mentally than before he transmigrated. This trek through mountains and valleys has only made him more resilient, allowing him to remain unfazed by adverse environments.

To speak of any transformative changes in his Martial Way? Don't be ridiculous. The current Bai Lang can't even claim to be on the Martial Way; he's merely at the level of Martial Skills. Skill approaches Art, and only after Art does one enter the realm of the Way. The current Bai Lang is only roughly familiar with Martial Skills. Practicing the Tiger Form's true intent in that world could only be considered a rough grasp of Martial Skills. He still has a long way to go from the external to the internal.

Bai Lang has opened his Lesser Heavenly Cycle, taking his first step into the martial world. However, he's already been a part of the Jianghu for a long time. During his time running through the wilderness, he hasn't neglected his daily cultivation. Yet, this cultivation has made him realize one thing: the training of the Golden Bell Shield has reached its limit in this world.

Although it involves tapping into the potential of his physical body, it also requires the world's vital energy to open pathways and mobilize it. The world's vital energy is only enough to allow him to break through the first gate of the Thirteen Protectors' Hardening and Golden Bell Shield, and that's the end of it. Bai Lang has practically worn the book to shreds, but ultimately, he can't think of anything else in this regard. "Also, this Thirteen Protectors' Hardening requires one to maintain virginity before breaking through the four gates. It's no wonder no one seems to practice this. Even with elixirs and medicinal soups, given the state of this world, breaking through the first gate might not be hopeless, but it would at least take ten years. As for the four gates, it would be impossible in a lifetime, so there's really no point in practicing it."

So, the ceiling of this world is just this much. The Lightness Skills of flying in wuxia films, palm strikes that manifest as dragons, are ultimately just special effects and adult fantasies. Bai Lang, at his current level, has already touched the ceiling of this world—the human body can only reach this far; there's no further path ahead. "Is the mortal world not worth it?" Bai Lang muttered to himself, while his hands strengthened their grip, firmly securing his body to the cliff face.

With the current strength of his physical body, his grip alone could cause rocks to crack. He could shatter rocks even before mastering the Golden Bell Shield; now, he simply doesn't need to deliberately channel his vital energy or accumulate internal energy. His mind moves with his will; his internal energy is as responsive as his own limbs, rubbing the stone dust into falling flakes. It's been over a month since he entered the mountains. Bai Lang did overestimate his skills somewhat. The Lightness Skill, Flight Over Grass, is ultimately a low-level Martial Art. It truly can't allow one to fly up a cliff from flat ground, and its ability to leap vertically is also limited. This technique is more suited for sprinting and gliding on flat or slightly undulating terrain, not for high jumps.

Therefore, the distance he covered this month is shorter than he had initially estimated. However, even so, Bai Lang is confident that he has basically lost the police as a tracking target—as long as he doesn't cause any more trouble or withdraw money from his bank card. If he were locked onto by modern technology, Bai Lang isn't sure he could escape next time.

So, he discarded his cell phone long ago. After much thought, Bai Lang also removed the hard drive from his laptop before discarding it. Now, apart from his supplies and well-wrapped money, Bai Lang has no modern electronic devices on him. His clothes are also quite tattered now—his good clothes are neatly packed in his bag, as he plans to change into them once he's safe.

His clothes are ragged, he has no shoes, his hair is messy, and his beard has grown quite a bit. But none of that matters. Bai Lang has a dagger bought from a street vendor. While it's not very hard, it's at least stainless steel. Once he cleans himself up, no one will be able to tell he's a wild man who came out of the mountains.

With his Martial Arts somewhat accomplished, Bai Lang's eyes and brows have a natural sharpness, giving the impression of a tiger. When he moves, in addition to a tiger-like agility, there's a solidity like a great bell. This past month, while tempering his spirit, it has also allowed his Martial Arts to gradually become more refined and integrated. The Thirty-two Forms Long Fist has completely merged into the Golden Bell Shield.

The special task force responsible for pursuing Bai Lang still has no leads. The conference room is filled with smoke all day. However, if this suspect doesn't leave the mountains, there's truly nothing they can do. They can only set up surveillance in nearby cities, hoping that cameras or networked hotel systems will detect his whereabouts. As for apprehension, while it's a challenge, it's actually easier. For a live capture, they can use special net guns or stun guns; for a dead one, live ammunition can be used. Although Bai Lang's Martial Arts are quite exaggerated, capable of shattering bones with a single palm strike, he is, after all, still human.

Bai Lang is also well aware of the limitations of the Golden Bell Shield's first gate. Let alone the first gate, even cultivating to the sixth gate described in the book wouldn't stop bullets. And there are different types of bullets. If it were a 12.7mm or 14.5mm bullet, even cultivating to the eighth or ninth gate would be useless. After all, machinery surpasses human capability. Even the master who created this divine technique might not have encountered such mechanical weapons.

However, Bai Lang believes his first gate might be able to block handgun bullets—at least he thinks he could block a 64-type "little bomb" bullet at a certain distance. "If modern firearms were brought to that world, could they be used?" Bai Lang pondered this question. He felt they probably could be used, but they would likely be very effective against low-level martial artists. However, against masters, they might not be of much use. Although he hasn't seen any Xiantian Masters, if the Golden Bell Shield in this book could truly be practiced further, then after the tenth gate, guns would likely be useless, and cannons would be necessary—however, cannons probably couldn't hit such masters.

Bai Lang's current knowledge can only go this far. However, he hasn't considered what would happen if the propellants in this world couldn't be used in that world. That world has fireworks and firecrackers, so black powder would work, but Bai Lang assumes various explosives would also work.

Bai Lang's case did spread. After all, Douyin and Kuaishou are friends and ATMs for rural people. Bai Lang's case of killing four people in one night was filmed and uploaded by villagers when they reported the crime. Although it was taken down very quickly, the news had already spread.

The murderer of four people was initially just described as a brutal person. Then, so-called "insiders" began to reveal certain "inside stories" of the case, and the online discourse shifted again. Initially, everyone agreed that such a person must be caught, too ferocious. But when news broke that the deceased were villagers buying wives and human traffickers, everyone immediately said he did well, a righteous hero. However, the authorities didn't really refute it—because it was the truth, there was no rumor to refute. They simply issued a case report, focusing on the illegal act of murder.

People generally understand the law. They knew that even if those four deserved to die emotionally, it should be the state that meted out justice, not private execution. These four were all villagers with no backing. If they were caught, people believed there would be a fair trial.

Bai Lang was unaware of the online reversal. In fact, if he weren't a martial arts master and the news of him killing four people with a single strike hadn't leaked, the buzz might have been even higher. At least now, after over a month, most of the heat surrounding him has dissipated—the so-called trending topic only lasted about a week. Now, Bai Lang stands on the mountaintop, looking at the distant town. "Should I go down and look for a signpost to confirm where I am?"