"Damn!"
"This technique is impossible for anyone to cultivate!"
His body was sore, numb, aching, and itching all at once.
Even Chen Shouyi, who could cut open his own chest without batting an eye and reach in to set a broken rib, had his face twisted into a knot. He kept sucking in sharp breaths, and his heart was so agitated he wanted to scream.
He reached out and slapped at the muscles knotted across his body, working them loose one by one.
Feeling the adverse effects gradually fade, he finally let out a long breath, exhaling a stream of scorching air.
I can't split my attention this time. I'll master the Thirty-Six Forms first. Once I've got them down, I'll practice them together with the hardening exercises! Chen Shouyi mused.
He rested for about a minute, took a deep breath, entered a profound meditative state, and continued practicing the Thirty-Six Forms.
This time, with his mind focused on nothing else, things went better than before. He made it all the way to the ninth form before his movements broke down.
"I'm making progress!"
He was drenched in sweat, and kept slapping his muscles. Sweat soaked a large patch of the floor. He went over to the desk, picked up the hot-water kettle, and poured himself a cup of boiling water. Ignoring the heat, he raised the cup and gulped it down.
"Keep going!" He gritted his teeth and told himself.
The light outside the window gradually brightened. Dawn had arrived. Chen Shouyi turned off the kerosene lamp that had been burning all night, then dragged his trembling body over to the window and struggled to pull open the curtains. The morning sun streamed through the window, its dazzling light making him squint.
He had practiced for most of the