As time passed, plenty of outsiders headed straight for the rolling Blood-colored Wolf Smoke. But ordinary people found they could not get close. Most stalled seven or eight hundred meters away. The nearer they got, the stronger the pressure became, as though heavy stones were bearing down on them. It made their hair stand on end.
"What kind of mysterious power is this? I can't go any farther! Is this the supernatural?!"
"It feels like I'm facing something terrifying. I can't even move my feet. This is incredible..."
"The rumors online were true! The Human Immortal Martial Dao really is inside the ruins! Does anyone know how to get in?!"
"..."
The crowd buzzed with excitement. They knew the Human Immortal Martial Dao hidden inside involved Supernatural Power, yet they could not even get close. It was frustrating, and there was nothing they could do.
Those kept outside by the Blood-colored Wolf Smoke Pillar pulled out their phones and began filming. They described the strange things they had experienced, and the videos soon spread through Moments, Group Chat chats, Douyin, and other video apps.
—Shocking! The Blood-colored Wolf Smoke at Da She Village really involves Supernatural Power!!
—Guys! How do we get close to this mysterious power?!
—An invisible pressure hits from a distance! I can't move! Get over here and find your chance! Whoever gets in first can find the Human Immortal Martial Dao cultivation method first!!
—...
Similar videos and posts spread online, drawing another surge of attention. After seeing this display of Supernatural Power, even the spectators watching from afar grew eager.
This was genuine Supernatural Power! Some had doubted it before, thinking someone was setting off smoke bombs in the mountains to create a spectacle for publicity. But with so many people posting firsthand videos, the footage lent weight to the rumors about the Wu Ming Ruins and the Human Immortal Martial Dao cultivation method that transcended mortal limits.
One or two people posting videos might be faking it. But what if dozens, even hundreds, posted them at once? What if some were friends you knew? That changed everything!!
: This is an ancient Human Immortal Martial Dao that involves the supernatural! A huge opportunity! I missed my chance with National Martial Arts before. I'm not missing this one!!
: Damn it, guys! I've already driven nearly two hundred kilometers! I'm heading straight for the site! Wait for my update!!
: Buddy upstairs! I've already flown to Jiangnan! I'll be there by one this afternoon at the latest!!
: Why can't people get close? How do we withstand the pressure of that Supernatural Power and explore the ruins?!
: There must be some conditions you have to meet! Otherwise, all you can do is watch from outside!!
: ...
As the discussion raged online, several more outsiders at Da She Village finally broke through the invisible pressure and advanced toward the Blood-colored Wolf Smoke Pillar. Everyone watched them go, and someone called out.
"Hey, guys! How did you get in?!"
"Yeah, tell us! Don't keep it to yourselves. We all want to go in and take a look!"
The outsiders heading toward the Blood-colored Wolf Smoke Pillar glanced back at the questioners with contempt.
"Don't waste your energy. Even if we told you, you couldn't get in. You haven't even reached Manifesting Strength, and you can't bring your strength together as one. How could you withstand the pressure from that Qi and Blood Wolf Smoke? This is a trial! Give up and go back where you came from!"
"Heh... He's right. You're ordinary people, neither strong nor sturdy. How could you resist pressure coming from every direction? You need to reach at least Manifesting Strength to get close! This opportunity is for us martial artists. The rest of you might as well go home."
"Haha... Exactly! Stop wasting time on them. We need to find what's inside! I can feel this pressure giving my strength an excellent workout!"
As the other outsiders strode toward the Blood-colored Wolf Smoke, realization dawned on the onlookers. They could not approach because they were ordinary people. Unable to bring their strength together, they could not resist pressure from all sides. Of course forcing their way forward had left them unable to move.
Word soon spread online, catching the attention of National Martial Arts practitioners. Many who had reached Manifesting Strength rushed over, determined to explore the opportunity.
Roughly a month and a half had passed since Pillaring Grandmasters and Transforming Strength Great Boxers appeared and sparked an online National Martial Arts craze. Countless people across Central Continent had begun learning it. With that many practitioners, there were bound to be quite a few at Manifesting Strength.
Some had also grown up in martial arts families or were longtime enthusiasts, with solid physiques and foundations already. Even at a success rate of one percent, nearly a thousand people must have reached Manifesting Strength by now. It was no small number.
Near Liu Qing'er, Fang Xiu, Ye Zhen, Wang Xiaoai, and Li Xingming were many unfamiliar faces: Central Continent's newly minted Manifesting Strength boxers. They looked vigorous and stood straight, many with calluses on their fists and hands.
The official fifty-member Special Operations Elite Unit finally entered the area too. Not many of them had reached Manifesting Strength. The authorities' main advantage lay in firearms and other equipment, after all. A Manifesting Strength boxer could not stop a bullet. Even a Transforming Strength Great Boxer could resist only bullets from weapons such as handguns, not explosives. Until one reached the supernatural level, equipment remained stronger than the person wielding it.
By afternoon, more than two hundred Manifesting Strength boxers had gathered. They could feel themselves improving rapidly under the pressure of the Blood-colored Wolf Smoke Pillar. Their eyes shone as they practiced stances and threw punches, the results plain to see.
Gu Chen judged that the situation had developed enough. The phenomenon at the Wu Ming Ruins had earned him 150,000 Origin Points so far. It was time for his Core Condensation Gang Qi avatar, Li Hansha, to appear. The ruins could open soon.
Official forces had also arrived at Da She Village to control the area. They turned back ordinary people and vehicles to prevent accidents.
"All right! Everyone, go back! This isn't a place for ordinary people!"
"That's right! Stop crowding around! You can't get in! You need to have reached Manifesting Strength in National Martial Arts!"
Just then, a startled cry came from outside. Someone pointed behind them and screamed. The official forces on site tensed at once. Had some dangerous confrontation broken out?!
As everyone at Da She Village turned to look, a figure leaped through the air from the tops of trees over ten meters tall. He closed the distance in an instant and raced toward the Blood-colored Wolf Smoke Pillar.
"Holy shit! It's Pillaring Grandmaster Li Hansha!!"
"Even a Pillaring Grandmaster has come? What about the other Pillaring Grandmasters and Transforming Strength Great Boxers? Are they coming too?!"
"My idol! Pillaring Grandmaster Li Hansha really is incredible! That's practically the Lightness Skill you see in movies! He's so strong!"
Before you continue