After all, he is someone who has fully mastered the first six layers of the Golden Bell Shield through cross training.
And being able to master these first six layers of the Golden Bell Shield also required enduring the Bone Carving Technique.
The cultivation method for the Golden Bell Shield is different from other cultivation techniques. The first six layers of cross training donât teach you how to hit others, only how to endure hits.
In the first layer, the cultivator has to practice horse stance and piling exercises daily, using a certain breathing method to train the bodyâs functions, and also soak in a large amount of Body Refining Medicine to greatly enhance the bodyâs functions.
In the second layer, physical beating begins, initially using water-soaked cloths. These wet cloths are heavy and painful when they hit the body. This helps to simply train the bodyâs resistance to strikes, and also gives basic training to the internal organs to prevent them from being easily injured.
Once the body is trained to a certain degree and the internal organs can withstand ordinary impacts, you can move on to the third layer.
The third layer replaces the wet cloth with blunt instruments like sticks, and the force of the strikes is gradually increased until you adapt to the blows from the sticks, causing the muscles to generate strong resistance. This layer is considered successful when there is no sense of pain in the late stage.
Then, you move to the fourth layer, where blunt blades and swords are used for slashing. Eventually, sharper blades will be used, and when ordinary blades canât harm the skin or damage the muscles, thatâs considered success.
At this point, you can advance to the fifth layer. The fifth layer targets formidable martial artists. You have to cultivate the ability to withstand and even counteract a martial artistâs Gang Qi if it strikes you. Eventually, enemy attacks can rebound back at them. If someone uses weapons to slash at you, you might even be able to break their weapon.
This achieves the legendary state of being immune to swords and spears, rendering the body invincibly defensible.
Reaching this level means that common experts in Jianghu are no match for you at all. But this is not the ultimate limit because you still have a weakness, which is the vital point.
Everyone knows this; in the past, when watching TV, if you encounter a master of the Golden Bell Shield, you just need to target their vital point and lightly strike it to defeat them.
This trick doesnât work on a true master of the Golden Bell Shield. A true master has no vital point.
In the Golden Bell Shield, the final step of external training is specifically practicing to address this vital point.
In the sixth layer of the Golden Bell Shield, the practitioner becomes a top cross-training expert in Jianghu, impervious to blunt and sharp weapons. At this point, only strikes to the eyes, ears, nose, mouth, lower body, or critical acupoints (the vital point) can be fatal. Hence, practitioners need to try to train these areas to be unafraid of attacks.
By training to this level, practitioners practically eliminate any weakness other than the eyeballs, achieving great success in the cross training of the Golden Bell Shield.
After that, you can transition from external to internal cultivation of inner strength, but that need not be discussed further.
It was apparent that Du Xiong had achieved perfection in the sixth layer of the Golden Bell Shield.
At this time, in a confrontation with Liu Caidie and Han Lingâer, he stood there letting them punch him as he remained motionless. For Du Xiong, the strikes from these two women were no more than a tickle.
Seeing Du Xiongâs indifferent expression, Liu Caidie and Han Lingâer were enraged, yet a sliver of despair crept into their hearts. How could they possibly fight someone like Du Xiong?
Han Lingâer, with her extremely strong-willed nature, was infuriated upon seeing Du Xiong seemingly unfazed by their attacks. She immediately unleashed all her skill, delivering a punch straight towards Du Xiongâs eyes.
The purpose of this punch was to block Du Xiongâs vision, to take away his ability to observe. As the punch flew, the powerful physical force drew in the ambient cloud Qi to confuse Du Xiongâs eyes directly.
As long as Du Xiong couldnât see, the next steps would be much easier to handle.
At this moment, Han Lingâer swung her fist towards Du Xiongâs eyes. Du Xiong promptly shut his eyes, and Han Lingâer immediately switched from a fist to a claw, extending two fingers aiming to gouge Du Xiongâs eyeballs.
Du Xiong was unfazed, confidently closing his eyes.
Bang!
Han Lingerâs two fingers thrust towards Du Xiongâs eyes, but they caused him no harm at all, stopped entirely by his eyelids.
Her fingers couldnât press down further, causing Han Lingâer to wince in pain, as if she had jabbed an iron plate.
However, Han Lingâer was not one to concede easily, and she shifted from poking to clawing. Han Lingâer swung her claw directly at Du Xiongâs throat.
Du Xiong seemed to perceive Han Lingâerâs intentions, made no attempt to dodge, and even extended his neck to let Han Lingâer strike, and Han Lingâer clawed forward.
With a piercing screech, it sounded like her claw scraped across an iron plate.
Han Lingâerâs nails almost lifted off, the pain nearly brought her to tears, while Du Xiong laughed and said, "With those skills, youâre trying to fight me? Just marry me and Iâll take good care of you."
"You!"
Seething with rage, Han Lingâer lifted her leg, intending to deliver a vicious kick to Du Xiongâs groin.
"Hah!"
Han Lingâer mustered all her strength, aiming a kick at Du Xiongâs lower body. This kick was driven by personal emotion, delivering it without any restraint, intending to permanently incapacitate Du Xiong.