Although Yuan Jin had been injured and therefore had not received the opportunity to cultivate in the Quenching Body Pool, his cultivation progress was not slow. After Zeng Fan broke through to the Body Tempering Bone stage, Yuan Jin also faintly began advancing toward Body Tempering Bone perfection.
Zeng Fan knew that Yuan Jin must have had his own fortuitous opportunity. Some things could not be asked about too much, but Yuan Jin himself told Zeng Fan to find time to go out with him after he broke through.
"I wonder when that kid came back. I'd better cultivate first." Zeng Fan had already left a note on Yuan Jin's door. Once Yuan Jin returned and saw it, he would come call him. Zeng Fan then sank his mind and seized the time to absorb spiritual energy and temper his bones.
Just as Zeng Fan was immersed in cultivation, unaware of how much time had passed, Yuan Jin's voice rang out from outside. "Zeng Fan! I'm back!" Zeng Fan opened his eyes, a trace of amusement in them. That fellow was still as boisterous as ever. He rose and opened the door, and Yuan Jin strode inside. He picked up the kettle on the table and gulped down its contents, then let out a satisfied groan.
"Where did you go, rushing around like that?" Zeng Fan asked Yuan Jin.
"I went out to take care of something. You're free today? Then come with me later. I'll take you to that place." Yuan Jin spat out the vegetable leaf in his mouth and picked at the gap between his teeth with a finger.
"Alright."
"Is this the place you were talking about?" Zeng Fan stared at the scene before him in shock. A torrent crashed down from a brown cliff dozens of meters high, like a white flood dragon viciously slamming into the pool below and producing an unceasing roar. At the point of impact, wisps of white vapor rose and steamed. Under the sunlight, they reflected seven-colored radiance. This was a waterfall.
At the place where the water met the earth below, several round stone platforms stood there, hazily concealed within the mist. Several figures were standing atop the platforms, enduring with great difficulty as their bodies continuously withstood the impact of the water.
Zeng Fan knew that this was probably how Yuan Jin meant to accelerate his Body Tempering Bone cultivation. It was just that he would have to suffer a bit.
"You mean using the impact of the waterfall to accelerate the tempering of the Body Tempering Bone?" Zeng Fan turned toward Yuan Jin, only to discover that Yuan Jin had already begun rustling out of his clothes.
"Yes, but that's not all. Talking is inferior to doing. Try it with me and you'll know. I won't disappoint you. Remember to circulate your cultivation with all your strength, or you'll be coming right back down after you go up." Yuan Jin grinned at Zeng Fan and walked straight into the pool beneath the waterfall.
Zeng Fan knew Yuan Jin would not harm him. He immediately removed his clothes and followed behind him. The pool water was slightly chilly, but Zeng Fan paid it no mind. What surprised him was that the concentration of spiritual energy in the pool was higher than in ordinary places. Even if there were nothing special about it, cultivating beside this pool would still be quite good.
When they reached the stone platform, the fierce current ceaselessly battered it. The splashing water struck Zeng Fan's body, leaving him with a faint numbness.
"How great must the force on this platform be?" Zeng Fan exclaimed. When he turned his head, he saw that Yuan Jin was already standing on the platform, his expression twisted as he gritted his teeth and struggled to withstand the impact.
Zeng Fan circulated his Spiritual Energy, driving his entire cultivation into a frenzy. Then, he gritted his teeth and stepped onto the platform as well.
The instant he stepped onto the platform, a terrifying force crashed down from above. Zeng Fan's knees bent at once, and he nearly fell to his knees on the platform. Spiritual Energy surged ceaselessly from within his body. Gritting his teeth, Zeng Fan slowly stood up. By then, he had no mind to observe anyone else's performance. The sound of the water had completely drowned out his ears.
The current carried enormous force as it repeatedly crashed against Zeng Fan, like heavy hammers pounding him. Zeng Fan circulated his cultivation madly, every muscle in his body taut as he resisted the pressure.
Unfortunately, the effect was not very good. "I can't hold on!" Zeng Fan used all his strength but could only resist for a short while before the waterfall's current blasted him straight into the pool. He slowly floated back to the surface and began panting violently.
"This impact is difficult to adapt to. I need to continuously circulate my cultivation and work hard to coordinate the muscles throughout my body with the exertion of force. Persisting for a long time will surely bring benefits. No wonder Yuan Jin's cultivation hasn't fallen behind by much. He just has to suffer a little more." Zeng Fan floated on the surface, resting as he pondered.
"Hmm? That's not right!" Once his strength had recovered somewhat, Zeng Fan actually felt that the Spiritual Energy within his bones had clearly increased a little compared to before. After withstanding the waterfall's impact, the Spiritual Energy contained within the waterfall could actually be absorbed directly into his body. Although the increase was not much, as long as he persisted long enough, the spiritual energy he absorbed would certainly be considerable—faster than directly absorbing spiritual energy.
Gritting his teeth, Zeng Fan walked toward the stone platform again. As long as it could accelerate his cultivation speed, no matter how great the current's impact was, he had to grit his teeth and endure it. Once more, he stepped onto the platform, and the terrifying force swept over him again. Zeng Fan let out a low growl, then closed his eyes and resisted with all his strength...
Night descended. Two figures lay on their backs beside the pool. They were none other than Zeng Fan and Yuan Jin. Both of them had cultivated as though their lives depended on it, refusing to climb down from the stone platform until they had exhausted every last bit of strength. The waterfall's thunderous roar continued without pause, as though it would never stop.
"How did you find this place? I saw other Body Tempering Bone disciples cultivating nearby too. It seems quite a few people know about it." After recovering some strength, Zeng Fan spoke lazily. Every muscle in his body was aching now.
"My clan brother and several fellow disciples discovered it when they were at the Body Tempering Realm. Later, the few of them made an agreement with one another. Since there are only so many spots here, they can only tell the younger generation." Yuan Jin answered, his voice filled with exhaustion as well.
"What cultivation level is your clan brother at now? I've hardly heard you mention him." Zeng Fan was somewhat curious.
Yuan Jin fell silent for a moment. "I'll tell you when the time is right."
Zeng Fan nodded and said no more. Gazing at the stars that glittered across the sky after night fell, he felt extremely exhilarated inside. After all, a day of cultivation here was equivalent to three ordinary days. As long as he persisted like this, breaking through to the next minor realm was close at hand.
Zeng Fan sat up from the ground and looked at the waterfall before him. An idea suddenly arose in his mind: What would happen if he cultivated Fish Dragon Dance beneath the waterfall's impact?
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