Returning to the Mysterious Era

Chapter 130 - Light Armor Mastery

In the real world, Cassius had gained firsthand experience by personally testing it. He was a pugilist at the second-level accelerated blood flow stage who could withstand small firearm shots when fully activated. He still had to dodge when it came to light machine guns; if Cassius were hit by a barrage of bullets, even he'd have a hard time coming out of it unscathed. This was especially the case when it came to more powerful weapons like heavy machine guns or sniper rifles. He'd still have to run from the ones that could easily penetrate his body like high-powered firearms. The further he got, the better.

"A pugilist's punch can penetrate armor as thick as a finger joint, and have reflexes quick enough to catch a flying sparrow. Each time a blood node in the body clears, one’s explosive power would instantly double, continuing until the navel, heart, and brow nodes fully connect to form a loop.

"At that stage, one would be granted a terrifying physical strength and unparalleled endurance to the point that they can survive for more than half a month without food or water. The cycle of the three nodes will continuously accelerate, refining the body and nurturing a mysterious power beyond what is physically possible for a human body. This power is known as Qi. Different Qi can also be generated through practicing different Covert Martial Arts and having varied life experiences. Once Qi is activated, one’s strength and will to fight would also increase at a constant rate. Qi envelops them, striking fear into the hearts of their enemies. A Covert Martial Artist may even be able to accurately perceive and predict enemy movements within the scope of their Qi.

"Mastering Qi, refining combat skills until they are perfect, and evolving the body alongside a chosen Dao—that is the essence of a sect master otherwise known as a combat artist!

"Only at the level of a combat artist can the body withstand machine gun fire and survive a sniper's bullet without fatal injuries. However, this can only occur when one fully practices the purest state of Covert Martial Arts. It is also possible to rely on external forces..."

Cassius's thoughts turned to the Covert Martial Arts and techniques. To put it bluntly, techniques were a severely simplified and diminished version of Covert Martial Arts.

While it emphasized certain areas, Covert Martial Arts was comprehensive, elevating every aspect of the human body overall. Techniques, on the other hand, focused purely on one aspect, and lacked the foundational structure and the means to break through and evolve the human body.

The effect of a technique could surpass that of the Covert Martial Arts when it came to a specific technique-focused area. For example, Azure Wind Flow, the incomplete technique that Lisa had left him possessed an astonishing destructive power. If Cassius continued practicing it, he might even be able to form a Tornado Sphere!

Similarly, the Stone Armor Technique was also a type of technique that focused on physical defense. There were rumors that, when fully mastered, one would appear to be wearing hard stone armor on their entire body, enabling them to resist various kinds of sharp and blunt attacks.

Unfortunately, the Body Refinement Sect practitioners among the Hellsing did not perform outstandingly. The hardening Qigong did not demonstrate much power and often led to injuries, even death, during tasks, as they had to be at the forefront of battles against dark creatures. As time passed, the Body Refinement Sect practitioners deemed it a useless technique.

However, over the past few months of reading and practicing the Stone Armor Technique, Cassius discovered one issue. The Black Rain Manor's enhancement did not allow the Hellsing to break through the human body's limits to reach the stage of a pugilist.

Although the Body Refinement Sect practitioners trained in the Stone Armor Technique and trained their bodies to support the hardening Qigong, their physiques were below the human limit. The fact that the Body Refinement Sect could still pass down their lineage, even as they faced non-human dark creatures in such a state, was a testament to the quality of the Stone Armor Technique.

Cassius believed that if the hardening Qigong was used by someone at a level beyond a pugilist, its true power might be revealed. In the chamber, he took out a manual and began reviewing it, carefully rereading the important details.

Ten minutes later, Cassius set down the Stone Armor Technique manual. He relaxed his body slightly, allowing his firm muscles to pulsate while the burning blood in his veins circulated steadily.

"Let's do this... I'll use Soul Power to enhance the Stone Armor Technique." Cassius closed his eyes.

In an instant, Soul Power dispersed throughout his body. The Stone Armor Technique began replaying over and over at a thousandfold speed.

Every inch of his muscle exuded a heavy airflow that suddenly rose inside of him and toward the surface. The pain was akin to being hammered a thousand times in every limb and bone. As his bones and joints started to crack, Cassius frowned but did not show any sign of pain. This was just the first layer of the Stone Armor Technique, so the pain was nothing compared to the agony brought about from enhancing the Wind Elephant Covert Martial Arts.

Gradually, the heavy airflow began to secrete from his muscles to his skin like an invisible liquid, covering layer after layer on his skin, like applying multiple coatings of sunscreen. The changes in his tendons and muscles were subtle, but the skin and muscles beneath it began to writhe and mutate. They became denser and heavier, as if his body was covered with a sheet of light armor. He suddenly opened his eyes and glanced at the upper right corner.

[Stone Armor Technique: Light Armor Beginner (Total Two Stages)]

The first stage of the Stone Armor Technique was Light Armor, the second stage called Heavy Armor. Each stage was further divided into Beginner, Proficient, and Mastered.

Unlike Azure Wind Flow, it did not display a percentage, though he was unsure if it was due to the technique being complete. Cassius reached out and pinched his skin, immediately noticing it was much tougher; his defense had been heightened. He felt relieved. n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

As expected, hardening Qigong was meant to amplify the existing physique. The Stone Armor Technique wasn't completely useless.

Well...he'll keep going then.

Remaining: 3.7 units of Soul Power

Cassius closed his eyes again, his entire body trembling as he felt Soul Power circulate inside him. A vital force gradually spread from the core of his body in the form of a heavy airflow, continuously passing through his bones and muscles to reach the skin.

[Stone Armor Technique: Light Armor Proficiency (Two Layers)]

Remaining: 2.5 units of Soul Power

Cassius did not open his eyes this time. Needless to say, he simply pushed through.

Whoosh...

Two units of Soul Power dispersed instantly.

Cassius's entire body ached, and his bones cracked audibly. He stood up, showcasing his wildly bulging muscles. Unlike before, his strong muscles were covered with a faint gray layer, making him look like he was covered in marble. Additionally, his skin had the thick, solid feel of stone.

He raised his large hand and hit his chest hard, producing a resounding thud. It sounded like stones clashing together.

"I can feel it. My defense has gotten stronger," Cassius said, glancing at the upper right corner with satisfaction.

[Stone Armor Technique: Light Armor Mastery (Two Layers)]

As he stared, a line of small black text, resembling an explanation, appeared beneath the entry.

"This is..." Cassius squinted his eyes.

[Skin Hardening Level One: due to practicing hardening Qigong, the muscles and skin on the surface of the body has increased slightly in density, becoming tougher and more resilient. It is now capable of withstanding slashes, stabs, blunt force, and other types of damage...]