Chapter 41: For The First Time In His Life


    In this desperate situation, Wang Xuan could feel his impending death looming. His Hyper Perception, which was triggered by the intensity of the moment, made him acutely aware of the danger surrounding him. Despite his keen senses, he could not bepletely certain of sessfully avoiding the fate of being shot.


    In this Hyper-Perceptive State induced by his desperation, Wang Xuan could see the Inner Landscape. Knowing that he had no other choice, he sprinted toward it with the sole purpose of acquiring the mystery factors. His aim was not to enhance his strength, but rather to swiftly regain his stamina and heal his severe injuries.


    The Landscape remained unchanged, characterized by its eternal silence and destion. It was a mysterious ce that eluded those who could not reach the Hyper Perceptive state. Time flowed differently here, where mere minutes in the outside world tranted to numerous years in this realm.


    Without any hesitation, Wang Xuan stood up and activated the core technique of the bamboo slips from Early Qin dynasty in this deste realm. Although time passed slowly here, he could not afford to spend several years in this ce when his life was in grave danger in the outside world.


    He sighed. Although he felt that it was a pity, he did not think of this as a wasted opportunity. After all, his main focus of triggering his Hyper Perceptive State and making his way here was to save his own life. Standing in the vivid moments of emptiness and rity, he absorbed the mystery factors that had drifted into the Inner Landscape, allowing it to boost his mental focus.


    Meanwhile, his body outside of this realm also received an abundance of mystery genomes, rejuvenating his exhausted body and replenishing his stamina.


    With a frown on his face, Wang Xuan wondered if he could leave before his time in this realm ran out. He had never attempted to leave this way, as entering this realm was a very rare opportunity. Through experimentation, he soon realized that exiting was not as challenging as he initially believed. His consciousness withdrew and returned to his physical body.


    Moments before the Inner Landscape faded away, time in the outside world remained frozen. Wang Xuan once again sensed his vital points being locked on by what felt like a multitude of spears that could easily pierce through his body.


    The only difference now was that his body no longer felt exhausted and drained; it overflowed with renewed vigor. Although it was toote topletely dodge every single bullet, he could at least choose where to be hit.


    In a split second, he made calcted choices, avoiding bullets aimed at his head, heart, and other vital organs. Suspecting that the bullets were of super special grade with great pration power, he also avoided being struck in ces where it hurt the most.


    Most of the bullets hit the spot where he had been lying before, sending mud, water, and debris flying in all directions. Shrubs and other nts were damaged as chaos ensued.


    Wang Xuan tumbled out. Two bullets struck his body in quick session, delivering powerful impacts that shook his body. The front part of his shirt was shredded, and his threeyers of bulletproof vests disintegrated one after another. One of the bullets was sessfully blocked during this process, while the other partially prated his flesh. Fortunately, it was ultimately stopped.


    A small amount of blood trickled from Wang Xuan’s body. He exerted a slight force, the bullet was expelled from his flesh and fell to the ground, leaving a trail of blood in its wake.


    As expected, they were special bullets with great pration power. Wang Xuan had only been able to stop them by wearing threeyers of bulletproof vests, along with the protection provided by the fourthyer of the Golden Body Technique.


    Not far away, more powerful bullets and beams of light from energy guns rained down on the spot where Wang Xuan had been lying just moments ago.


    With a swift motion, Wang Xuan rushed forward, using rocks and the body of the massive ck howler as a shield. His eyes gleamed with determination as he realized there were six skilled snipers targeting him with impable timing. They had chosen the moment when he was exhausted and vulnerable, making it nearly impossible for him to evade their shots.


    The man in ck copsed on the ground, still alive but in disbelief. He had witnessed the young man’s miraculous escape despite his weakened state, sessfully evading the snipers and enduring two bullets on top of that. It was truly a shocking sight.


    He a copious amount of blood came out from his mouth and nose, momentarily allowing him to breathe better before his body was consumed by severe pain. The fist-sized hole in his chest left him unable to do anything but lie on the ground, gasping heavily.


    Wang Xuan paid him no mind and entered the Inner Landscape without second thought because he realized that he was still in Hyper-Perceptive State, though it was close to fading. Even in the ancient times, when the Old Arts were at their peak, such an opportunity was rare. If someone managed to trigger it, even the sect ancestors would personally assist and guide them into the Inner Landscape.


    Wang Xuan had to exit earlier due tock of choice, but now he seized the moment to enter again. He quickly meditated and began practicing the Golden Body Technique, repeating it over and over again to strengthen himself. He ignored the five-page golden book left behind by Zhang Daoling. The engraved diagrams were too profound for him to fullyprehend at this stage. The first diagram alone already took up a lot of his time.


    At his current level, he could only utilize the first diagram, and even then, he could only sustain it for a few moments before exhaustion and excruciating pain set in. If he pushed himself any further, he feared his internal organs would be torn apart. This type of physical art was too overwhelming for him at this stage.


    Nevertheless, he could not deny the power and profoundness of the first diagram. It had allowed him to tap into a novel secret power that greatly increased his strength, enabling him to block and strike the man in ck with a force that surprised even himself.


    The man in ck was also in a Hyper-Perceptive State at the time. With an ultimate secret technique activated, he was incredibly powerful, almost god-like. If it was not for mastering that initial stance that Zhang Daoling had left behind, Wang Xuan would have surely perished at the hands of the man in ck, even with the fourthyer of the Golden Body Technique. The man in ck had only read the first page of that scripture, so his knowledge was iplete. Wang Xuan could only imagine how profound and unfathomable that scripture truly was.


    Wang Xuan continued to practice the Golden Body Technique in the Inner Landscape, determined to improve himself. Time seemed to stretch on endlessly in this ce, and Wang Xuan estimated that the six snipers who had destroyed the ck howler would not be able to harm him for a while. Therge rocks also provided him with cover, making it difficult for them shoot him unless they approached or found higher ground.


    Wang Xuan understood that if he chose to exit the Inner Landscape once again, his Hyper-Perceptive State would likely dissipate, making it difficult for him to reenterter today. He immersed himself in the practice of the Golden Body Technique until fatigue set in, at which point he would switch to the core technique to gather the mystery factors in the Solitary Void. During his breaks, he would carefully survey the outside world, fully aware that time was of the essence.


    The man in ck, who was not far away, observed Wang Xuan and noticed the halo of light surrounding him as he moved slowly. Instantly, he recognized what was happening. “He has reached the pinnacle of meditation and entered the Inner Landscape?” the man in ck murmured to himself.


    As a great expert in the Old Arts, the man in ck possessed a broad insight and a relentless desire to forge a path forward. Suddenly, everything became clear to him, exining why Wang Xuan had achieved such heights at such a young age.


    However, he was puzzled. In this current era where masters from Early Qin dynasty and sect ancestors no longer existed to serve as mentors, how did Wang Xuan manage to stay in the vivid moments of emptiness and rity and gain ess into the Inner Landscape?


    He had dismissed the idea earlier, assuming that no one would be able to ess the Inner Landscape due to theck of guidance in the current world. It was only now that he realized that Wang Xuan had managed to enter it on his own.


    “A person like him cannot die. Perhaps he truly can revive the Old Arts in this era… and forge a path forward!” The man sighed as his eyes sparkled with a strange gleam.


    “Stop… Don’t shoot him!” He coughed up blood as he attempted to shout at his men. Unfortunately, his voice was too weak to be heard. His face was turning purple from theck of oxygen, but there was nothing he could do to intervene.


    Meanwhile, Wang Xuan was making progress in the Inner Landscape. He had attained the fifthyer of the Golden Body Technique, but it was not because he had spent years practicing here. It was mainly because he had already practiced the Golden Body Technique to thete stage of the fourthyer long ago and was very close to advancing to the nextyer.


    Therefore, attaining the fifthyer did not require too much effort. Although he was only at the early stage of this newyer, it was enough. The recent breakthrough had elevated his overall strength and further boosted his mental focus!


    He suppressed his greed and decided to exit. Although he was reluctant, he knew his current situation was not conducive to further his progress. He could be discovered and attacked at any given moment, so he knew he had to be cautious.


    Furthermore, he believed that the fifthyer of the Golden Body Technique would be enough to save his life in normal circumstances. However, if he were caught off guard and shot in the head, he would still meet his demise.


    As Wang Xuan exited, he felt better than before. He had shed ayer of skin and the bullet wound had expelled some contaminated blood. The wound had almostpletely healed, and it seemed that any remaining traces would vanish within a couple of days.


    Additionally, the wounds on his hands, caused by the man in ck, had long stopped bleeding and closed up. The cracks on his nails, caused by the powerful vibrations, had also disappeared. Wang Xuan estimated that within another night or two, every scar on his body would be gone.


    This was mainly due to his recent entry into the Inner Landscape and the breakthrough in his Golden Body Technique, which had led to aplete metamorphosis of his body. His newfound vitality also yed a role in this.


    When Wang Xuan heard the hoarse voice of the man in ck, he could not help but be stunned. The man had actually ordered a cease-fire. In that instant, Wang Xuan understood the man’s intentions. This person had a deep appreciation for the Old Arts and had once desired to walk that path himself. He saw hope in Wang Xuan and wanted to preserve him at thest moment.


    “The person who wants to kill me is…” Wang Xuan began to speak.


    “Run! Hurry! They have... energy cannons!” The man in ck shook his head and anxiously yelled at him, spewing out another mouthful of blood.


    Almost simultaneously, Wang Xuan felt the shadow of death approaching once again. This area had been surrounded. Fortunately, he was now in his most powerful state. As soon as his spiritual senses detected the impending danger, he immediately charged into the dense forest.


    In the distance, the men had assembled a small energy cannon and activated it. They grumbled about misjudging Wang Xuan’s arrival due to the rain. If they had known, they would not have wasted time disassembling the energy cannon earlier.


    <em>Boom! </em>The energy cannon blew apart the ck howler. The forceful st sent rocks flying, and one of them struck the man in ck in the chest. He let out a muffled grunt and tumbled a long way. He was already heavily injured, but now his condition was even more critical. It seemed unlikely that he would survive.


    The light in his eyes dimmed, and he sumbed to his injuries. Had it not been for the fatal blow, he could have survived if he had been immediately taken to the hospital, given the current advancements in medical technology.


    Wang Xuan was heading straight for the location of the energy cannon. He maneuvered through dense forest with agility and speed, fearlessly pushing through thistles and other obstacles in this path. His physique was incredibly strong, thanks to his practice of the fifthyer of the Golden Body Technique. He soon found himself not far from the energy cannon.


    “H-He’s here!” Some voices trembled with fear. Despite having advanced instruments to capture Wang Xuan’s figure, they could not lock onto him as he constantly shifted his positions.


    The hunt had turned into a counter-hunt!


    Half an hourter, Wang Xuan left the Great ck Mountain, his emotions in a state of turmoil. For the first time in his life, he had to steel himself and kill his own kind.