Just arrived, and immediately it's a fight for survival, a desperate struggle. Even Chen Ping, who had weathered many storms in his previous life and died once, only to be reborn with a second chance at life, couldn't help but secretly exclaim that this was too thrilling.
How could one escape this certain-death predicament?
No matter the era, killing is ultimately wrong. Even in this environment, where life at the bottom is as insignificant as grass, it's not as if there are no consequences.
Once caught, it would be lucky to have a last meal in prison before dying.
Of course, given their current status, these little beggars had almost no chance of eating from the state's provisions.
More likely, they would be caught by the Seven-Colored Hall's people in some corner, and killed quietly, with no power to resist.
...
The newly appeared light sphere, and this familiar silkworm larva might just be a glimmer of hope.
Chen Ping stared intently at the characters displayed on the attribute column in front of him. He was sure the other little beggars, with gloomy faces, saw none of this peculiar scene. But he wasn't surprised. After all, if a soul can transmigrate, then other mysterious and strange events can be accepted.
Why did this seem so familiar?
This takes us back to when he was six years old in his previous life, just starting to learn martial arts from his grandfather.
Though martial arts couldn't sustain a livelihood or protect oneself by then, his grandfather still regarded the Eight Trigrams Fist he practiced all his life as his cherished love, a family legacy that must be passed down.
So, from the age of six, Chen Ping began taking herbal baths, practicing horse stance, stretching tendons, and building a foundation.
On his birthday, his grandfather also gifted him an amber piece.
This beautiful item, perfect as a pendant, contained a bug—this white silkworm larva with faint wing marks.
"Child, this is something your grandfather found in the old forest. I secretly consulted an expert who said it formed naturally and is millions of years old…"
Grandfather carefully hung the white silkworm amber around Chen Ping's neck, treating it as a significant treasure.
Chen Ping didn't think much of it at the time, but because it was a token of his grandfather's affection, he wore it for thirty years, never taking it off until he was finally besieged and attacked.
In his final moments, amidst the blood splatter, it seemed the amber on his chest was shattered by a bullet.
'Has it recognized its master, is it a spirit beast companion, or has it absorbed some ability from the amber and silkworm?'
'Millions of years ago, who knows what abilities those bugs had, or what history they bore?'
Chen Ping's consciousness immersed in the white silkworm larva known as the Spring and Autumn Silkworm, lingered only briefly, with some past life memories flashing by, then stopped thinking about it.
He just focused his consciousness on the numbers in the column.
As expected, this light screen probably indicated some hidden information about his body.
In the cultivation technique column, the Eight Trigrams Palm reached the "Mastery" level, which was easy to understand.
This doesn't imply his current body excels at the Eight Trigrams Palm; it's the martial arts honed over years in his past life, ingrained into his very soul, brought over by him.
It's not that the 'Mastery' level of skills is poor. According to Chen Ping, those in his past life who reached mastery were all renowned "masters."
Generally, the highly acclaimed martial arts schools and combat experts were only "proficient."
The "Mastery" level skill is the career of careers, with martial arts becoming an instinctive reaction, which is quite impressive.
Unlike some who display flamboyant techniques but forget everything in a fight, brains fogged, resorting to clumsy punches.
Not to mention precise force application—sometimes even their movements are deformed, not even "proficient."
Chen Ping had never met anyone beyond the "Mastery" level in his previous life; he only heard about them in legends.
It's said that some, after mastering their fist technique, dramatically increased in strength and physique, became as swift as horses, capable of killing cattle with sheer force. The typical sign was an interconnected fascia resisting ordinary weapon attacks, and skillfully borrowing and redirecting force.
Chen Ping hadn't reached that level, though he sometimes aspired to it. Unfortunately, his talent wasn't enough; his innate aptitude and enlightenment were just so good. No matter how determined and diligent, what couldn't be achieved simply couldn't be.
Over those years, his formidable reputation grew by integrating fist and spear techniques, constantly learning and evolving.
When facing significant forces, he met his downfall...because of the times, nothing to regret.
...
Innate Talent and Enlightenment, a 4 and a 3, typical mediocrity was reasonable to say.
If he had been truly gifted, he wouldn't have ended up so poorly in both past and present lives, would he?
'With my abilities, I might not handle the upcoming dangers.'
Chen Ping was quite aware; despite appearing confident and capable in front of the little beggars who trusted him greatly.
He truly lacked assurance.
The key issue was that his leg was broken, and this body showed no signs of having undergone rigorous training.
Earlier on, catching Boss Yat off guard was a stroke of cosmic fortune.
This kind of luck wouldn't succeed every time, and considering the enemy as fools was unwise.
'So, hope lies in Tribulation and Fortune.'
Focusing on "Tribulation," Chen Ping felt a sense of joy inside.
He understood what this was.
It was the manifestation of the white light ball absorbed after killing Boss Yat.
As Boss Yat came to brutally break their limbs over insufficient begging income, that was the tribulation.
All tribulations, big or small, must either be avoided or faced directly and broken through.
Taking it head-on, actively facing the tribulation, upon breaking it, he gained luck, securing the qualification to continue surviving.
Each tribulation and fortune, with the Spring and Autumn Silkworm's unknown method, transformed this elusive thing into the resources to enhance his power.
So that's how it is.
Chen Ping suddenly realized in his heart.
This is great.
His eyes fixed on the Wandering Body Bagua Palm there, his breathing inevitably becoming slightly rapid.
Tribulation Points can break through realms.
Break through what realm? It's the cultivation technique realm.
"Let's try it."
After understanding the use of Tribulation Points, he had no hesitation and swept his mind over the Eight Trigrams Fist (Mastery), imagining improvement.
Two Tribulation Points immediately disappeared, transforming into a bizarre sensation that rippled out from his mind and permeated into his body, bones, blood, muscles, limbs, and every part.
Chen Ping's expression changed dramatically, and his body jumped involuntarily, standing on one leg, his body swaying like bamboo in the wind, yet stable as a mountain...
"Seventh Brother!"
"Seventh Brother, what's wrong?"
Hua Lian'er and Zuo Duanshou all were shocked, jumping up, picking up bamboo sticks and bricks, all full of alertness.
"It's nothing, it seemed like there was a mouse crawling on me just now."
Chen Ping chuckled lightly, speaking dismissively.
Hearing the rustling sounds from behind the incense table, everyone breathed a long sigh of relief, at ease, looking like they were all nervous as if startled birds.
Though Chen Ping spoke calmly, his heart was not at all calm. He found that just now, something strange seemed to have happened to him.
He refused Hua Lian'er's support, gently stretching his hands and feet... The injured leg seemed to become much more agile.
He felt that within his body, it seemed a vast invisible net had formed, or it was like having countless eyes... The Wandering Body Bagua Palm that he practiced for thirty years till the soul in his past life, suddenly had numerous enlightenments.
Aspects of exertion and the distribution and manipulation of body bones, muscles, and tendons that he didn't understand before, now became exceptionally clear.
Understanding one concept leads to understanding hundreds...
It feels like he's been practicing this fist technique for decades again.
The major tendons throughout his body were clear and interconnected, and wherever his mind moved, he could exert full force from all directions.
In a flash, he could form a fascia with every part of his body, muscles and bones joined as one, exerting strength simultaneously to ward off any attack.
Focusing his mind, he looked again at the "cultivation technique" column.
[Cultivation Technique: Wandering Body Bagua Palm (Great Success)]
'So this is what the feeling of Great Success in fist technique is, practicing a lifetime in the past and felt like it was in vain. After strengthening the body and bones, it's Bone Strengthening... Fascia forms, covering the entire body without any gaps, this is the realm of a master of fist technique.'
Chen Ping sighed silently.
Grandfather back then, until the day he died, was still regretful, claiming the descendants were unworthy, unable to inherit the peerless skill of their predecessors...
And himself, in just one moment, has accomplished it.
To hear the Dao in the morning, one can die in the evening.
He felt that if he had the same body again, he could defeat ten of his past selves.
If he had such a level of fist technique during the last battle at that time.
Would he be faster, with more unpredictable body technique, and withstand a few more bullet attacks?
Perhaps he could break through the encirclement and escape alive...
The experiences of the past life, seemed like mist in the past.
A trace of melancholy flashed through Chen Ping's heart, he gripped the fragmented brick tightly, with a light cracking sound, the brick split into several pieces...
In an instant, he felt that a force several times stronger than before the realm elevation triggered the tendons in his fingers and arms, mobilized muscles, and tightened skin...
The force seemed like flowing water, extending to the shoulders and back, sweeping past the waist and legs. The transmission of force wasted not a bit.
Truly achieving pulling one strand and moving the whole body.
Chen Ping was both happy and worried in his heart.
Happy because his casual strike was much more powerful, with several times less effort.
Worried because simultaneously activating all the tendons and bones throughout his body with slight force, it seems he only used two or three tenths of strength, and unusually, the muscles transmitted a tearing pain. Meanwhile, the finger bones and hand bones felt somewhat overwhelmed. His body stiffened, and shaking all over, almost led to cramping.
'It's a pity, this body is far from as strong as that of the past life... My fist technique realm is achieved, and I can unleash perfectly round and exquisite fist techniques at any time. However, the inherent quality of the physical body determines that a Great Success realm fist technique at the Bone Strengthening level can only display a fraction of its power.'
'Speed, speed is lacking, strength, strength is insufficient. Forcefully controlling the body to borrow and disperse force, attacking with full power, might harm one's own body, tendon rupture and bone fracture are minor issues...'
'Facing an opponent at the Bone Forging stage, maybe I can compete with them due to superior realm. Facing an opponent who also has achieved Bone Strengthening, I might not break through their defenses. When directly encountering them, the body may fall apart.'
Thinking like this, Chen Ping was already very satisfied in his heart.
The realm is achieved, the strength of the body is actually just happening naturally, as long as more meat is eaten, supplements are taken... adapting to such fist technique realm... soon, the tendons, bones, and skin throughout the body can be developed to peak condition.
After breaking through, not only has his primary cultivation technique "Eight Trigrams Palm" reached Great Success, the auxiliary Thirty-Six Distinct Tan Leg Technique also feels greatly enlightened. With a little practice, it can reach the Proficient level, practicing to the Great Success of leg technique can happen naturally, without wasting much effort.
This is the true meaning of Tribulation Points for "Breaking Realm."
It is a leap in cognition, the high-level comprehension of the realm.
Not like before, no matter how he strengthens his foundation, practices fist and leg technique, he could only train the skin, muscles, and bones, and couldn't practice the major tendons throughout the body, the efficiency was extremely low.
But now, as long as nutrition keeps up, all around strength and speed can be raised within a month or two.
Then, silver is needed, lots of silver, to buy meat and medicine.
This is indeed a problem.