Covering the Sky: I Prove the Great Dao Through the Gate of Immortality

The cell was dimly lit.

Li Chenzhou's aura was deep and focused, his fist stance unfolded, and his joints cracked slightly like fine sand flowing. Ba Liming occasionally offered a word of guidance.

As the fist techniques flowed, Li Chenzhou noticed something amiss.

The Tiger Form Divine Art, rooted in internal energy, refines muscles to their peak, then generates internal energy, triggering a second transformation and breaking through the barriers of the human body. Upon reaching the Grandmaster realm, one can continue to grow stronger.

The form and meaning of dragons and snakes represent another path.

"Externally, temper your muscles and skin; internally, cultivate your inner strength." Ba Liming's voice was not loud, but every word was precious.

Muscular strength is not fundamental in this world; power originates from bones forged through countless trials and tribulations, and membranes as supple as dragon tendons.

Those emaciated old boxing masters, with a thought, their muscles and bones resonate like muffled thunder, their killing power is no less than that of a young man, and they have no concept of internal strength.

The so-called hidden strength and transformative strength refer to the subtle control and ultimate application of one's own qi, blood, muscles, bones, and spirit, with the ultimate goal of breaking through the void and seeing the indestructible spirit.

"Though the forms and meanings are the same, the paths differ depending on the world." Li Chenzhou understood this perfectly, remaining calm and composed. In all the myriad realms, the ways of power naturally vary greatly.

Both methods have their own principles.

Every day at dawn, the prison cells become the arena for fistfights.

Ba Liming said little, sometimes standing, sometimes sitting, demonstrating the entanglement of Tai Chi, the transformation of Bagua, and the strength of Hongquan. His movements were simple, but the flow of energy contained profound mysteries.

Li Chenzhou observed quietly, memorized the movements, and subtly adjusted his stance accordingly, incorporating his own understanding.

He attempted to integrate the nourishing principles of the Tiger Form Divine Art into the methods of refining the tendons and bones of dragons and snakes. During practice, the cracking of his joints remained powerful, yet a subtle warmth and fluidity flowed beneath his skin.

Ba Liming's gaze was sharp as lightning. Occasionally, he would pause for a moment at the subtle shifts in Li Chenzhou's power, nod slightly, and gain a great deal of insight.

Both were immersed in the fusion of two different styles of boxing, two different principles of boxing. The Tiger Form Divine Art nourished them, and the Dragon and Snake Controlled them. These two styles converged, collided, and quietly merged deep within their minds.

Moss spreads and fades in the cracks of the stone corner.

On this day, Li Chenzhou practiced Baguazhang in a small space.

His footwork remained simple and concise, his palms flashing. Ba Liming stood with his hands behind his back, watching quietly.

Only after Li Chenzhou finished his attack did he speak:

"You've got the technique right. This power is deep and penetrating." His eyes flashed with admiration. "Good punches, your punches are almost perfect."

Li Chenzhou's breathing calmed down, his eyes as still as a deep well. He looked up at the iron bars of his window, at the world of dragons and snakes, and realized that three years had quietly passed.

As dawn broke, in the prison cell.

"Sizzle!" "Snap!" "Buzz!"

Li Chenzhou's punches and kicks were powerful and slow, but each strike was heavy, as if he were dragging an iron chain. His feet slammed into the ground, making a dull thud on the blue bricks.

Sometimes he slowly draws circles with his hands, the air swirling around him; sometimes he stomps his foot and throws a punch, the air bursting out of his body. His body slides, his shadow disappearing from sight. He slams his shoulder, the strong wind making the iron window creak. His muscles tense, and a deep, thunderous sound rolls out from his body.

Three years.

Sweat streamed down his neck, soaking his vest. White vapor rose from his body, unable to condense into arrows, but the timing was perfect.

The softness of Tai Chi, the explosiveness of Xingyi, the slipperiness of Bagua, the collapse of Bajiquan, and the depth of Huxiao... all blended together in him, making it impossible to distinguish one from another.

A unique "spirit" is slowly taking shape within it; it's still a bit raw, but the framework is already there.

Li Chenzhou withdrew his fist, stood still, let out a long breath, closed his eyes, and cleared his mind.

"Your boxing has reached a plateau!"

Ba Liming's voice came, like a stone falling to the ground. He opened his eyes from his slumber, feeling even heavier, like a piece of black iron soaked in water. The Tiger Form Divine Art had ignited the foundation he had built up over thirty years, and his martial arts skills were advancing by leaps and bounds.

"Practicing boxing requires hard work and dedication; you can toughen your muscles and bones, delve into the details, and grasp the essentials." He spoke, his words few but profound, "but to make the boxing 'come alive,' to bring out its spirit..." He stared at Li Chenzhou, "you have to infuse it with 'emotion,' but without emotion, even practicing until death will only result in an empty shell."

"Find strength in being moved!"

After saying that, Ba Liming raised his right arm and threw a straight punch.

The action couldn't be simpler; it was just a forward thrust, looking limp and powerless.

But just as the fist was about to move, the entire cell suddenly sank!

Li Chenzhou's eyes narrowed! An indescribable, scorching force, capable of turning the sky upside down, was not the wind, but a pressing "meaning"!

That was something seeping from the very bones of Ba Liming; it was all the stuff he had accumulated over the past thirty years of revolutionary fervor, all crammed into that one punch!

"Click!"

Several of the blue bricks beneath Li Chenzhou's feet had cracked!

His entire body tensed up on its own, his hair stood on end, and a chill ran from the soles of his feet to the top of his head! It wasn't the force pressing down on him, but that domineering and unreasonable "spirit," like the whole sky crashing down on him!

Ba Liming's fist stopped less than a foot in front of Li Chenzhou's chest.

He withdrew his fist, his eyes remaining unchanged:

"Go find something that moves you, and pour your heart, your thoughts, all your frustrations, your joys, your desires... into your fist. When your heart is there, your fist will naturally be able to move."

The sun suddenly leaped out from the horizon, its light pouring into the prison cell, shining on the broken bricks, and also into Li Chenzhou's eyes, which suddenly seemed to ignite with a "whoosh".

"Find strength in being moved..." Li Chenzhou gently tapped these few words.

In the original trajectory of this world, Wang Chao was also guided to measure the bloody Long March with his own feet.

The snow-capped mountains are icy cold, and the grasslands are muddy. The purpose is not to hone one's muscles and bones, but to imprint the tragic and resolute spirit of the broken mountains and rivers and the raging fire into one's fist!

It was this heart-wrenching "emotion" that helped him break through the barrier, which led him to become the "Invincible King".

"Our meeting is like the friendship between Guan Zhong and Bao Shuya, mutually enriching each other..." Ba Liming's fist intent subsided, and the surging blood and qi around his body returned to the deep sea, yet it seemed to contain an immense weight. "The Tiger Form Divine Art has cultivated immense strength. You have only just entered the Ming Jin realm, yet you have already surpassed ordinary An Jin! However, this power is also a shackle. Will you break free of the shackles and roar freely to the heavens? Or will you carry the mountain on your back and ultimately sink into the mire? The path... is under your feet, and even more so in your heart!"

"I see!"

Li Chenzhou's eyes suddenly brightened, the fog in his heart dissipated, and the road ahead became clear!

What he sought next was not external things, but a questioning of his own heart!

Seek that "emotion" that can burn away all doubts and ignite the soul! With this heart as fuel and this intention as fire, you can forge your great power into the foundation of the supreme path!

"Your progress in martial arts these past few days far surpasses mine back then." Ba Liming rarely revealed such a complex emotion—a mixture of relief and admiration. "With your Ming Jin (manifest strength) body, your fist intent can already penetrate to the bone and marrow. In terms of the pure and overwhelming power of Ming Jin alone, even I… would willingly admit defeat. The An Jin (hidden strength) stage is not a hurdle for you. Once you master it, the Hua Jin (transformation strength) stage will come naturally, as effortlessly as turning your hand over!"

For the first time in his life, he felt a sense of loneliness, as if there was nothing left to teach.