As news of the Wu Ming Ruins and the Human Immortal Martial Dao spread online, it drew countless eyes. People stirred in every direction, and before long, many who lived nearby began to arrive.
In Da She Village, Liu Qing'er, Ye Zhen, Wang Xiaoai, Fang Xiu, Li Xingming, and the Transforming Strength Great Boxers and Pillaring Grandmasters had no idea how much the online and outside worlds had changed.
They stood gazing at the Blood-colored Wolf Smoke Pillar rising and churning in the mountains. Only after a long while did they recover from its oppressive presence.
Fang Xiu exclaimed, "What incredible power. We can feel such intense pressure from over a thousand meters away. The ruins must contain clues to the Human Immortal Martial Dao, just as the Fragmented Ancient Scroll said. What else could cause something like this...?"
Fang Hansong, standing beside her, nodded. "Such overwhelming pressure is on par with the immortals and Buddhas of ancient tales. That surging Qi and Blood Wolf Smoke reaches hundreds of meters into the sky. It's hard to imagine how a human body could cultivate such terrifying vitality..."
Tang Ye frowned. "However our ancestors cultivated that power, what matters now is how conspicuous this is. News will spread everywhere in no time. Who knows how many people it will draw? And the more people there are, the more trouble we'll have..."
The other Transforming Strength Great Boxers nodded in agreement.
Wang Tianba, the only Pillaring Grandmaster present, laughed. "Hahaha... Then what are we waiting for? We martial artists advance through courage and determination. We fight for what we seek! Clues to the Human Immortal Martial Dao are right before us. How could we let them slip away? That surging Blood-colored Wolf Smoke has shown us where the ruins are. I'll go on ahead!"
With that, Wang Tianba grabbed Wang Xiaoai beside him and sprang forward. Tremendous force erupted beneath his foot, blasting apart the earth as he cleared thirty meters in a single stride and charged toward the Blood-colored Wolf Smoke Pillar over a thousand meters away.
Liu Qing'er, Ye Zhen, Fang Xiu, and Li Xingming watched the hulking, six-foot-three Wang Xiaoai being carried like a chick. The incongruous sight made their eyes twitch.
The Transforming Strength Great Boxers exchanged glances and made their decisions. Leading their disciples, they set off after him toward the surging pillar of blood-red smoke.
Seeing the outsiders race toward the pillar, the villagers of Da She Village exchanged glances too. The younger ones in particular grew tempted to follow.
"Those outsiders are all heading over there. There might be treasure!"
"Exactly! I heard cars down the mountain. More outsiders are coming! Maybe treasure really has appeared. Hurry, before they take it all! We deserve a share too!"
"..."
Over the next two hours, cars arrived at Da She Village one after another. People came in wave after wave, a veritable tide, and it was clear more were still on their way.
The mysterious Blood-colored Wolf Smoke Pillar and the pressure they could feel from over a thousand meters away filled them with excitement. Online rumors claimed that the mysterious ancient Wu Ming Ruins lay here, containing a Human Immortal Martial Dao cultivation method that touched on supernatural power.
Unable to contain their excitement, the newcomers headed toward the pillar, hoping to stumble upon an opportunity. What if they got lucky?
And still more people were on their way.
Meanwhile, a well-equipped Special Operations Team from Jiangnan arrived at the foot of the mountain in off-road vehicles, carrying out a mission of its own.
Two hours earlier, roughly four hundred meters from the churning Blood-colored Wolf Smoke Pillar...
Pillaring Grandmaster Wang Tianba had been the first to arrive, with Wang Xiaoai dangling from his grip like a chick.
As they drew closer, the churning pillar came clearly into view. It was a breathtaking sight, one that made them feel small.
The closer they got, the stronger the pressure became. It felt like a higher being bearing down on a weaker one, setting their hearts pounding. It was as if an ordinary person stood before a giant Fierce Beast, certain he might be torn apart and eaten at any moment.
At this distance, Wang Xiaoai, who had reached only Manifesting Strength, could no longer bear it. His head swam, and the terrifying pressure made it hard for him to breathe. Wang Tianba casually tossed him a dozen meters back. "Practicing your stances here will benefit your cultivation. Use the pressure on both mind and body to train, and you'll reach Hidden Strength much sooner..."
With that, Wang Tianba strode farther ahead. Before long, the other Transforming Strength Great Boxers, their disciples, and Gu Chen arrived one after another.
The Transforming Strength Great Boxers immediately reached the same conclusion as Wang Tianba: the surging Qi and Blood Wolf Smoke could greatly benefit martial artists. Its pressure could temper them like iron under a hammer. Repeated blows drove the impurities from a crude lump until it became fine steel.
Hearing this, Liu Qing'er, Fang Xiu, Ye Zhen, Wang Xiaoai, and Li Xingming naturally had no intention of passing up a chance to grow stronger. The Transforming Strength Great Boxers continued onward; only farther in would the pressure have any effect on them.
Liu Qing'er, Fang Xiu, Ye Zhen, Wang Xiaoai, and Li Xingming, all at the Manifesting Strength level, felt the pressure on mind and body most keenly. They breathed heavily, as though facing a deadly enemy. Their hair stood on end, and cold sweat poured down their bodies.
"Huff... This surging Qi and Blood Wolf Smoke is terrifying! Every minute here feels like torture!" Liu Qing'er said through gritted teeth.
Not far away, Fang Xiu nodded. "The seniors said practicing our stances and boxing here will benefit us. The greater the pressure, the greater the benefit. It could greatly shorten the time it takes us to reach Hidden Strength..."
Li Xingming couldn't help speaking up. "Isn't this like a trial in a novel? The longer we endure, the greater the reward?"
"As I thought! This opportunity was left here for a gifted protagonist like me, Ye Liangchen! How could a little pressure dim a shining star like me?"
Ye Zhen, whose adolescent delusions showed no sign of fading, offered his opinion as well. Everyone ignored how badly he was asking to be punched.
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