Eight Level Collapse

The night was black as ink, wrapping the Xiao Family Training Ground tightly within its embrace. Moonlight soaked the bluestone slabs in a cold gleam, while several dust-covered red lanterns swayed among the branches of the Old Locust Tree. Dim yellow light shone through holes in the lantern paper, casting scattered, trembling patches of light across the ground like shattered stars strewn everywhere. Xiao Yan sat cross-legged in the center of the grounds, a faint Dou Qi glow wreathed around him. He had just finished cultivating the Blazing Art, and the Dou Qi of a Fighter Two Star slowly circulated through his Dantian, carrying a barely perceptible heat. Yet he always felt that this power was like a ferocious beast trapped in a cage—possessing only brute strength, yet unable to find an outlet. His punches always lacked the ruthless force to shatter mountains and split rocks; once they struck something solid, most of their power dissipated.

His fingers unconsciously brushed the black Storage Ring on his right index finger. Its icy touch calmed him somewhat, and he softly called out within his mind, his tone filled with urgency and anticipation. "Master, my Dou Qi has now stabilized at Fighter Two Star, but in actual combat, my power always scatters instead of gathering. Is there some ultimate move that can completely unleash the power of my Dou Qi?"

A moment later, Elder Yao's aged yet sharply commanding voice rang out in his mind. It carried solemnity, along with a trace of expectation. "Your Dou Qi is reasonably refined now. What you lack is a domineering Dou Technique that can concentrate power at a single point. I have a High-grade Profound Tier Dou Technique here, called Eight Level Collapse. From beginning to end, it has only one punch, yet through the method of eightfold compression, it can twist your full body Dou Qi and physical strength into an indestructible rope, then unleash it in a single explosive burst! When mastered, one punch will shatter mountains and split rocks with ease. Even an early-stage Dou Shi would suffer trembling meridians and retreat severely wounded after taking a hit!"

"A High-grade Profound Tier? And it only has one punch?" Xiao Yan's eyes flew open, his dark pupils filled with shock. Then he clenched his fists, his knuckles whitening with force. The resentment and longing he had suppressed for three years burned fiercely in his eyes. "Master, I'm not afraid of hardship! For three years, I've had enough of being called trash, enough of everyone's scorn, and even more of the helplessness of being unable to protect those I want to protect! As long as I can become stronger, forget a little suffering—even a month of whipping, I can endure it!"

"Good! Only with that ruthlessness are you worthy of this Dou Technique!" Elder Yao's voice carried undisguised praise. Before the words fell, a strand of Pale Gold soul power surged out from the black Storage Ring, gathering in midair into a three-foot-long Invisible Whip. Fine patterns of light flickered across its body, as though it had been woven from countless razor-sharp strands of soul power. Before it even drew near, Xiao Yan's skin tightened, as if that invisible sharpness would slice him open the next instant. "Starting tonight, from the hour of the Tiger to the hour of the Pig every day, apart from one hour for meals and rest, you will train here in the Training Ground for all remaining hours! Horse stance, punches, kicks—if any movement is distorted, if your exertion is off, or if you dare slack off even a little, this whip will strike you! Remember, this Soul Power Whip is not merely punishment. It can stimulate the regeneration of your muscle fibers, temper your bones, smash apart the foundation of this trash body of yours, and forge it anew into iron bones and copper sinews capable of withstanding eightfold compression! Whether you can train Eight Level Collapse to the eighth level within one month depends entirely on whether you can endure this suffering!"

On the first night, Elder Yao established ironclad rules. Xiao Yan had to hold a horse stance for two hours, steady as Mount Tai. His knees could not bend, his waist and hips could not rise, and he could not sway even once. He also had to practice the Mountain Shattering Fist three hundred times. Every punch had to begin from the waist and hips, travel along the spine to the shoulders, sink into the arms, and finally gather at the edge of the fist. It had to be stable and heavy, carrying the vicious force to smash through stone slabs.

Xiao Yan did not dare delay. He immediately assumed a horse stance, spreading his feet shoulder-width apart, bending his knees and sinking down, his hands clenched into fists at his waist. Yet after only half an hour, his thigh muscles ached until they trembled, as heavy as if filled with lead. His knees bent unconsciously. Crack! A crisp, piercing whip crack suddenly exploded across the Training Ground. The soul power whip lashed viciously against the outside of his thigh, and searing pain instantly shot through his entire body. His skin reddened at a visible rate. Xiao Yan could not help letting out a muffled groan, stumbling and nearly falling to the ground.

"Your waist and hips didn't sink low enough. You look like a rootless scarecrow that falls over with the first gust of wind! Start over! Sway again, and the whip will strike twice as hard!" Elder Yao's voice was utterly merciless, carrying the severity of an iron-blooded drill instructor and allowing no ambiguity. Xiao Yan gritted his teeth and bit his lips hard, forcing back the tears threatening to spill from the corners of his eyes. He readjusted his stance, deliberately lowering his waist and hips further. He felt the extreme soreness as his thigh muscles stretched to their limit. Every breath was slowed and deepened as much as possible, allowing his breath to sink little by little into his Dantian. His clenched fists tightened further, his nails nearly digging into his palms.

Sweat slid down his forehead and dripped onto the bluestone slabs, spreading into small wet marks. Before one hour had passed, the clothes on his back were soaked through and clung tightly to his body, outlining his thin yet exceptionally unyielding frame. But he did not dare stop. The moment his body swayed even slightly, that cold Soul Power Whip, carrying a tearing pain, would fall upon him without mercy. Once, when he truly could not hold on any longer, his vision darkened in waves and his body swayed. Crack! The whip struck his lower back. Pain made his whole body Tremble, and he nearly cried out, yet he still forcibly corrected his posture. Over and over, he muttered, "I can't stop! For Yan Ran, for Xun'er, for the sake of never being looked down on again, I can't stop!"

Over the next seven days, the Xiao Family Training Ground thoroughly became Xiao Yan's "hell." Whenever he practiced the Mountain Shattering Fist, he had to smash his fists into the air again and again. The instant his strength broke apart—if his waist and hips failed to follow through or his arms drifted—the whip would strike his arms, the backs of his hands, even his cheeks. Once, his fist trajectory veered off, causing all his force to leak into his arm. Crack! The whip lashed across his cheek, and searing pain instantly erupted as blood seeped from the corner of his mouth on the spot. He raised a hand and wiped away the blood without saying a word. He merely took a deep breath, assumed his stance again, and threw punch after punch until his fist wind howled and could easily shatter the blue bricks on the ground. Only then did Elder Yao stop the whip.

Elder Yao's demands grew harsher by the day. During horse stance training, he would condense a Thousand Jin Stone from soul power and press it onto Xiao Yan's shoulders. If Xiao Yan swayed even once, the whip would strike twice as hard. During punching practice, he would place a layer of soul power resistance before Xiao Yan's fist. If Xiao Yan could not break through it, his wrist would receive a lash, leaving him in such pain that he could barely clench his fist. Throughout the first seven days, the whip marks on Xiao Yan's body never faded. Old wounds overlapped new ones. At night, he could only sleep on his stomach, and the slightest movement tugged at his injuries and made him grimace in pain. Yet he never considered giving up. After taking a Qi Gathering Powder each day to restore his strength, he immediately returned to the Training Ground, as though it was not a place meant to torment him, but a furnace that could transform him into a strong man.

On the evening of the seventh day, the setting sun cast its afterglow across the Training Ground. Xiao Yan held his horse stance with a Thousand Jin Stone on his shoulders, yet remained motionless for two hours, his body as steady as though it had taken root. When he threw a punch, he could easily break through the soul power resistance Elder Yao had set up. His fist wind swept past, stirring fallen leaves several feet away with a sharp whistle that tore through the air. Elder Yao's voice finally softened somewhat, carrying a trace of approval. "Not bad. Your muscles and bones finally have some shape to them. You now have the foundation to withstand Eight Level Collapse. Starting tonight, I'll teach you the first level of Eight Level Collapse—First Level Collapse!"

Elder Yao's soul power transformed into a warm stream and slowly flowed into Xiao Yan's meridians. Following the path of his circulating blood and Qi, it guided the Dou Qi in his Dantian toward his Right Hand palm. "The core of Eight Level Collapse is one word—compress! Gather all the Dou Qi in your Dantian into your palm, then use your will and physical strength to compress it with all your might, like squeezing a sponge! Remember, your body is an iron hoop. You must trap the Dou Qi firmly and not allow even the slightest leak!"

Xiao Yan sat cross-legged and closed his eyes, focusing all his attention as he guided the Dou Qi in his Dantian toward his palm bit by bit. At first, the Dou Qi was like a trickling stream, slowly gathering in his palm. He gritted his teeth, compressing it with his mind while mobilizing the muscles in his arm. He felt the Dou Qi in his palm change from loose to condensed, from warm to scorching, like a ball of fire continually heating up in his grasp.

At first, the Dou Qi was like a mischievous, rebellious child, always trying to break free of his control and darting wildly around his palm. It brought waves of stinging pain, as though countless tiny needles were piercing the flesh of his hand. Veins bulged at Xiao Yan's temples, and his arm muscles were taut as hard stone, yet he persisted stubbornly without relaxing in the slightest. "Very good! Keep compressing! Compress the Dou Qi until it is the size of a grain of rice, and condense it into a compact ball of light!" Elder Yao guided him in real time from the side, occasionally using soul power to stabilize the Dou Qi that was about to lose control, like an experienced craftsman polishing an uncut gem bit by bit.

At dawn on the eighth day, when the sky had only begun to brighten and the bluestone slabs of the Training Ground still carried the chill of the night, the Dou Qi in Xiao Yan's palm finally condensed into a pale red ball of light the size of a grain of rice. Fine light patterns flickered over its surface, and it faintly radiated a violent aura, as though it would explode at any moment. "First Level Collapse is achieved! Strike out! Pour all your strength into this punch and let the Dou Qi erupt together with your fist!" Elder Yao's voice carried eager anticipation.

Xiao Yan abruptly opened his eyes, a fierce glint flashing through them. He clenched his right fist and smashed it viciously toward a waist-high bluestone nearby. Boom! A dull yet deeply penetrating loud noise rang through the Training Ground. The instant his fist struck the stone, the pale red ball of light in his palm exploded like a small firecracker. The hard bluestone's surface was instantly covered in spiderweb-like cracks. Then, with a crack, it split into two halves down the middle. Rubble clattered to the ground, striking the bluestone slabs with crisp sounds.

Xiao Yan stared at his fist, then at the split bluestone on the ground, his eyes filled with irrepressible ecstasy. The power of that punch was at least three times greater than his previous Full Power Attack! "Master, I Achieved it! First Level Collapse is complete!" he shouted excitedly within his mind, his voice trembling slightly.

"Don't be happy too soon. This is only the beginning." Elder Yao's voice sounded at the right moment, reminding him, "For the next seven days, you will continue enduring the whip to train your body while also breaking through Second Level Collapse and Third Level Collapse. Remember, every additional level of compression doubles the demands on your body. Do not rush!"

In the days that followed, Xiao Yan grew even more diligent. When practicing Second Level Collapse, he had to compress his Dou Qi another time on top of First Level Collapse, reducing the ball of light in his palm to the size of a soybean. By then, the Dou Qi was as hot as a red-hot coal in his hand, and waves of swelling pain came from his meridians as though they were about to burst apart. Once, when he truly could not endure it any longer, the Dou Qi nearly backlashed and ran wild through his meridians. Cold sweat poured down his forehead from the pain. Crack! The whip struck his back, and the stinging pain of soul power instantly cleared his mind. He gritted his teeth and endured it. When training Third Level Collapse, the Dou Qi had to be compressed to the size of a mung bean. He had to mobilize every muscle in his body, from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head, tightening every inch. Veins bulged on his arms like little snakes slithering beneath his skin. Sweat dripped from his chin, striking the bluestone slabs with a steady patter, yet he still did not stop.

On the night of the fourteenth day, beneath clear moonlight, Xiao Yan stood in the center of the Training Ground. He took a deep breath, compressed his Dou Qi to Third Level Collapse, and smashed a fist at a bluestone beside him. Boom! The bluestone exploded outright, Flying Rubble scattering several yards away and striking the ground with a rapid series of crackling sounds. Elder Yao's voice carried obvious praise. "You reached Third Level Collapse in half a month—far beyond ordinary people! But if you want to reach the eighth level within one month, you must work even harder. You cannot slack off in the slightest!"

Starting on the fifteenth day, Elder Yao's whip grew harsher, and his demands became extreme. Each day, Xiao Yan not only had to practice Fourth Level Collapse and Fifth Level Collapse, but every time he compressed his Dou Qi, he had to bear the Thousand Jin Stone on his shoulders. If he relaxed in the slightest—if his compression slowed or his Dou Qi became unstable—the whip would strike even harder than before. It would even deliberately lash his old wounds, hurting him until he was Trembling all over.

While training Fourth Level Collapse, Xiao Yan had to compress the Dou Qi to the size of a sesame seed. The temperature in his palm was high enough to burn his skin. He gritted his teeth so hard that his lips bled, and the Smell of Blood filled his mouth, yet he still held on stubbornly until the Dou Qi stably condensed into a tiny red ball of light. While training Fifth Level Collapse, the Dou Qi was compressed to the limit, seeming ready to break through the restraints of his body at any moment. He Trembled all over, his teeth chattering, yet under the whip's repeated "reminders," he steadied his mind again and again, trapping the Dou Qi firmly in his palm and not daring to relax even a fraction.

At dawn on the twentieth day, Xiao Yan arrived at the Training Ground as soon as the sky brightened. He took a deep breath, compressed his Dou Qi to Fifth Level Collapse, and smashed his fist viciously toward the Old Locust Tree beside the Training Ground, its trunk as thick as a bowl. Rumble! With a loud noise, the tree trunk snapped directly in two. The upper half fell to the ground with a crack, branches and leaves raining down as dust billowed into the air. Xiao Clan members passing nearby were stunned, each standing rooted in place with disbelief in their eyes. This youth they had once mocked as trash now possessed such terrifying strength! Yet Xiao Yan merely wiped the sweat from his forehead, his gaze still firm. He knew this was not enough. There was still a long way to go before the eighth level of Eight Level Collapse.

On the night of the twenty-first day, only the swaying glow of red lanterns remained in the Training Ground as Xiao Yan successfully trained Sixth Level Collapse. The Dou Qi in his palm had been compressed to the size of fine dust, nearly invisible, yet it emitted a Heart-palpitating aura. One punch left a pit half an inch deep in the bluestone slabs, its edges covered in cracks. Elder Yao's voice carried astonishment, even a trace of excitement. "Your perseverance surpasses even mine in my younger days! In the final nine days, break through Seventh Level Collapse and Eighth Level Collapse! These are the two most difficult levels, and also the two most crucial. Endure them, and you will truly step across the threshold of the strong!"

The final nine days became the most painful period of Xiao Yan's life. Every minute and every second was a struggle against pain and his limits. While practicing Seventh Level Collapse, the backlash from compressing the Dou Qi sent stinging pain through his meridians, as though countless tiny blades were cutting within them. Every breath carried tearing agony. Each day, he had to rely on Qi Gathering Powder merely to support his physical strength. Whip marks densely covered his body. Old wounds had not yet healed when new ones layered over them. Some places had even scabbed over, only to be torn open again by fresh whip marks, blood seeping out. Yet he still persisted through gritted teeth. Whenever the whip fell, he transformed that piercing pain into the force driving him to compress his Dou Qi. He stared fixedly at his palm, not daring to let his mind wander in the slightest.

When practicing Eighth Level Collapse, the Dou Qi churned in his palm like a violent volcano, capable of backlashing at any moment and shattering his meridians. He had to mobilize every inch of muscle and every bone in his body, concentrating all his strength in his palm and compressing the Dou Qi to its utmost limit, as though he had to gather the entire power of his Dantian into that single point. Several times, he felt he could no longer endure it. His vision darkened and his consciousness blurred. Yet whenever he thought of the name "trash," of Xun'er and Yan Ran's expectations, he gritted his teeth and forcibly pulled back his fading consciousness.

On the twenty-eighth day, while Xiao Yan was training Seventh Level Collapse, his strength had long been exhausted after days of intense cultivation. His Dou Qi suddenly lost control and ran wild through his palm and meridians. Pain made his body convulse, and he Curled Up on the ground as cold sweat instantly soaked his clothes. Elder Yao did not stop. Crack! The whip lashed his back, and the stinging pain of soul power jolted him awake. "Hold on! If you give up now, all the suffering you endured before will have been for nothing! Use your will to suppress it!" Xiao Yan gritted his teeth and used every bit of strength to prop himself up. Sitting cross-legged, he guided the out-of-control Dou Qi little by little while enduring the whip's lashes. In the end, he stabilized the Dou Qi and successfully trained Seventh Level Collapse. That night, he sprawled across the Training Ground's bluestone slabs, Covered in wounds, yet he smiled more happily than ever—only the final step remained!

On the thirtieth day, at the final moment of the month, silver-bright moonlight fell upon Xiao Yan's scar-covered body, as though it had clothed him in a layer of silver armor. He sat cross-legged in the center of the Training Ground. The surroundings were so quiet that only the rustling of wind through leaves remained. He took a deep breath. The Dou Qi in his Dantian surged toward his Right Hand palm like a rushing river. Every muscle in his body was pulled tight like a fully drawn bowstring, while his bones made faint cracking sounds—the sign that his body was bearing pressure at its limit. The Dou Qi in his palm contracted from a hazy glow, then contracted further, compressed bit by bit to the utmost extreme. In the end, it condensed into an almost imperceptible point of red light, yet it emitted a Heart-palpitating aura, as though it Contained the power to destroy everything—the aura of the eighth level of Eight Level Collapse!

"Hah!" Xiao Yan's eyes snapped open, and a blade-sharp gleam flashed through his dark pupils. His right fist carried the Howling wind like a cannonball fired from its barrel as it smashed viciously toward the enormous bluestone at the center of the Training Ground, taller than a person and requiring several people to embrace it. It was the Strength Testing Stone used by the Xiao Clan to test the strength of its members. It was incomparably hard; even an ordinary Dou Zhe's Full Power Attack could leave only a Faint Trace.

Boom!

An Earth-shattering loud noise erupted like thunder exploding over the Xiao Clan, clear enough for the entire clan to hear! The hard Strength Testing Stone instantly exploded. Flying Rubble shot in every direction, Smoke and dust filled the air, and even the bluestone slabs of the Training Ground cracked open with fissures. The red lanterns several yards away swayed violently from the shock, their candle flames nearly extinguished!

As the smoke and dust gradually dispersed, Xiao Yan stood where he was. His Right Hand Trembled slightly, and his palm bore an unnatural flush, yet his eyes were bright with excitement and wild joy. Elder Yao's voice rang out in his mind, carrying unprecedented praise and gratification, even a trace of pride. "Good! What an Eight Level Collapse! In a single month, you went from the trash everyone mocked to mastering the eighth level of Eight Level Collapse. You Achieved it! Xiao Yan, from this day onward, among the younger generation of Wutan City, no one can receive this punch of yours! You finally have the strength to protect yourself and those around you!"

Xiao Yan looked at his hands, covered in calluses and faint whip marks, and felt the unprecedented power surging within him. A determined yet relieved smile rose on his lips. Beneath the moonlight, he Clenched fist, and the Dou Qi in his palm continued to flow faintly, as if Telling of the hardship and transformation of this past month.

This month of whipping had not been torture. It was the badge that transformed him from trash into a strong man! He had finally learned Eight Level Collapse and finally cast off the label of trash that had weighed on him for three years! In the future, he would use this fist to shatter every slight and every mockery, Protect well those he wished to protect, and make the name Xiao Yan resound throughout the entire Jia Ma Empire!