Chapter 257.2: Lu Changsheng Catches Bullets Barehanded! A Body That Does Not Fear Guns! Everyone Is Shaken! (II)

Lu Yuan and Senior Sister Xiang switched to another car and continued toward his home. His family was not affected as the assassins had been lying in wait outside, watching Lu Yuan the whole time.

Seeing how calm he was, Senior Sister Xiang could not help asking, "Master, are you... truly unharmed?"

The whole thing was too incredible to her. No one could watch a human being stop bullets with their bare body and not be downright shocked.

Lu Changsheng said nothing. He simply drew one of the assassins' pistols and fired it point-blank into his own palm.

Bang!

The bullet left the barrel and his hand closed in a catching motion. When he opened his palm, the bullet sat in the center.

Senior Sister Xiang's heart lurched. Catching a bullet barehanded was even more terrifying than simply stopping one shot by an attacker—and it felt even more real. The sight had left no room for doubt: Lu Yuan truly was immune to bullets.

"Senior Sister Xiang, you didn't believe the limits of the human body could be broken either, did you? Then let me tell you now. The reason I can catch bullets barehanded is that I have already broken the limits of the human body and entered Second Growth."

She was stunned. "What? Master, you've entered Second Growth?"

The Extreme Martial Dao that Lu Yuan founded had laid it out plainly. Once First Growth reached its ceiling, one had to break that ceiling in order to enter Second Growth. Upon reaching Second Growth, one could gradually unlock the terrifying power hidden within the human body, gaining all types of inconceivable traits.

Since Lu Yuan had entered Second Growth, he now feared neither guns nor bullets. Entering Second Growth meant surpassing the martial arts training Force entirely. Even at their highest attainment, those martial artists could not withstand a bullet.

Senior Sister Xiang was elated by Lu Yuan's breakthrough. It proved the theory behind the Extreme Martial Dao was sound and that one could keep walking that path further still. It was a priceless reassurance. If the road went on, who would not want Second Growth, or even Third Growth? The potential was limitless.

The car soon reached the residential complex where Lu Yuan's family lived. Lu Changsheng went up alone and knocked. Within a short while, the door opened, revealing both of Lu Yuan's parents.

"Hm?"

Upon closer look, he noticed three strangers there as well.

"Lu Yuan, you're back. Come and sit. These three are administrators from our university..."

His parents introduced each of them slowly. All three held leadership positions at the university where his parents taught, which made them his superiors as well, since Lu Yuan was still officially a third-year student on the record. He had only taken a temporary leave of absence because of his injuries, and now he could resume his studies at any time.

"Lu Yuan, you've accomplished so much at such a young age. Founding the Extreme Martial Dao has taken Pan City by storm. Some of our students have even formed an Extreme Martial Dao club. We've come to ask you back to give a lecture, and to complete your re-enrollment paperwork while you're at it. You are, after all, still a third-year student with us."

The administrator's tone was warm and genial.

Lu Changsheng frowned slightly. "The lecture is no problem. But as for the enrollment paperwork, I'm afraid I don't have the energy to continue my studies..."

"No, no, the paperwork is purely for your convenience in getting the diploma. Once it's done, the university can simply issue your diploma next year. You are one of our most distinguished alumni, after all."

Lu Changsheng nodded in understanding. The re-enrollment was not about attending classes at all; it was merely a formality. For someone with prospects like Lu Yuan's, what university would insist on him attending classes? It was out of the question. They would simply hand him the diploma when the time came, and from then on the school could advertise that Lu Yuan had come from their halls.

After chatting some more, the administrators eventually took their leave. Now, Lu Yuan was alone with his parents.

Both were university professors, members of the educated elite, and they had strongly opposed his martial training. They never would have imagined that their household would produce a martial artist, let alone the founder of the Extreme Martial Dao. All of this had caught them completely off guard.

There was no point in trying to stop Lu Yuan. Perhaps his parents did not understand martial arts, but one look at Pan City told them the whole story. There wasn't a street or alley that did not have an Extreme Martial Dao Center. Television channels and the internet were saturated with discussion of the Extreme Martial Dao and of Lu Yuan.

Put simply, they knew their son had made a name for himself, far more prestigious than the path they had planned for him.

"Lu Yuan, we can't manage your affairs anymore, but we hope that since you've chosen the martial path, you'll walk it with resolve. There's a great deal of controversy about you online, but no matter how heated it gets, you have to hold firm..."

His parents lectured him for a while, and Lu Changsheng listened patently. In the Sacred Earth, he had never known the warmth a family could offer. Here, at last, he could finally feel it.

The next day, Lu Changsheng returned to the Extreme Martial Dao Center. Senior Sister Xiang immediately came to deliver a report.

"Master, I've accessed some private channels on the dark web and delivered our warning. Unfortunately, those behind the bounties have paid no heed to our warning. They won't take down the bounties."

Lu Changsheng nodded. That dark web would have to be uprooted eventually, but for now, there was nothing to be done, as he could not even track down the people behind the bounties.

In any case, he kept consuming various potent nourishing items, but his progress in Second Growth remained slow. At the rate he was going, it could take longer than two years to reach Third Growth. Without making that leap, he could not reach transcendence, much less establish his Martial Dao.

Deep down, he knew the cause for his stagnation: there was simply too much energy required. The First and Second Growth stages were worlds apart. One remained within the limits of the human body while the other had already broken past them. Naturally, the energy demanded was of a different magnitude.

Energy... For human beings, energy comes essentially from food. In the Sacred Earth, any martial artist would be able to absorb the spirit energy of heaven and earth as energy... but here? In this world, it's also almost impossible to find rare natural treasures. I need to find a more direct source of energy.

Lu Changsheng looked up at the sky. The sun and the constellations could serve as a source of energy, but he knew that trying to absorb that kind of energy with his current body was no more than a foolish fantasy.

The most direct energy, the kind most easily obtained by humans...

He turned the issue over and over in his mind, and eventually, his eyes lit up.

Electricity!

Indeed, the answer was electrical energy. Humans generated it from wind, water, coal, and even sunlight. In short, electricity was the largest and most direct form of energy that humanity could obtain.

Would it be possible to use electricity to stimulate his body's advancement? In other words, could he draw energy directly from it? It sounded absurd, but Lu Changsheng possessed the consciousness of an Earthly Saint, and from that lofty vantage it did not strike him as absurd at all. As long as it was energy, it could be used.

At First Growth, before the limits of the human body had been broken, the body could never withstand electricity, much less absorb it. However, Lu Changsheng was different. He had already entered Second Growth, and the toughness of his body was beyond ordinary. It was definitely worth a try.

"Senior Sister Xiang, prepare a large, empty building for me. The wiring must already be in place, preferably with transformers of various ratings. I'll be using it to train."

She nodded and set to work immediately. She finished preparations within a few hours.

"Master, I purchased a factory in the name of the Extreme Martial Dao Center. It has built-in wiring and transformers in a range of ratings. Would you like to take a look?"

Lu Changsheng nodded and said, "Good! Let's go."

The group soon arrived at the factory. The workers had all been dismissed, leaving only a few electricians to maintain the wiring. Senior Sister Xiang was indeed meticulous and dependable, leaving Lu Changsheng well satisfied.

"Have everyone else leave, and switch on the power," he said.

"Yes, Master." Some electricians replied.

Left alone in the factory, Lu Changsheng switched on a two-hundred and twenty volt circuit. He picked up a live wire and pressed it against his body. A hum ran through him, causing him to shudder. However, his consciousness could command every cell he possessed. At once, he brought his body under control and began absorbing the electricity coursing through it.

Since his body had already undergone Second Growth, its defense was formidable. Over two hundred volts was not enough to kill him; it could only injure him. Additionally, with his consciousness to guide it, his body could absorb the electricity.

Lu Changsheng remained in the factory for three days, devouring every current of electricity. At the end of the third day, he checked his Status Panel.

[Status Panel]

Host: Lu Yuan

Extreme Martial Dao: Second Growth (2%)

His eyes brightened. It really works! One percent progress in just three days. That should be ten percent a month, and ten months to completion and a chance at Third Growth!

Third Growth in ten months was remarkably fast, and it was all thanks to electricity. If he increased the current and used higher voltages, his progress might even be faster.

Of course, only Lu Changsheng could "train" on raw current like this. For someone else who reached Second Growth, they would lack his vast consciousness and would have to proceed with great caution. Even if they could absorb electricity, they could never match his pace.

Nonetheless, a slow rate was perfectly normal. What mattered was that Lu Changsheng had found another road forward for ordinary people. The path of cultivation at Second Growth would run on electricity.

Lu Changsheng had decided to train in the factory with electricity, pushing for a hundred percent as fast as he could, and then to break his limits once more and step into Third Growth.

"Senior Sister Xiang, tell the others that unless it's something urgent, I'm not to be disturbed."

Senior Sister Xiang nodded and retreated.

The days passed, and before long three more months had gone by. Then one day, Senior Sister Xiang came hurrying to his side and said respectfully, "Master, there's something I must report."

Lu Changsheng did not stop as he responded. "What is it?"

He kept the wire in his hand pressed to his body. Arcs of electricity crackled across his skin, making his assistant wince slightly.

It was not the first time she had seen it, but it still looked eerie to her. She had even started thinking that Lu Yuan was no longer human. After all, what normal human being could hook themselves directly to a live wire?

Senior Sister Xiang proceeded with her report. "Master, those martial artists training in Force have extensive connections, and they've been mobilizing them recently. There is news that they've already persuaded the upper ranks of the Jade Dragon Kingdom, and they intend to outlaw our Extreme Martial Dao. No formal order has come down yet, but the news is surfacing through every channel. I didn't dare to delay, so I came to report to you."