Brutal Training

Early the next morning, before the sky had fully brightened.

A thin mist shrouded the Body Sect's mountain gate, quiet and serene.

Inside Xu Yan's courtyard.

He had risen early and was stretching his muscles and loosening his joints according to the basic methods in the "Secret of the Body," stimulating his blood and vital energy.

He intended to face today's grueling training in the best possible condition.

He wanted to see just how outrageous Elder White Bone's training really was.

The lava in the courtyard had long since cooled and solidified, leaving a dark red patch of scorched earth.

Yan Feng, Ji Juechen, and Xu He were beside him.

Without their soul tool training equipment, the three could only train in the most primitive way, just like the Body Sect's disciples.

Yan Feng lay on the ground, repeatedly bench-pressing a two-hundred-jin stone dumbbell in each hand.

As he exerted himself, he could not help complaining:

"Brother Yan, the Body Sect's training methods are way too backward. When can we use gravity suits?"

The corner of Xu Yan's mouth twitched as he replied flatly:

"We can't even build a gravity chamber, and you're asking for gravity suits? Forget about those for the time being."

"My gravity suit was personally crafted by Jing Hongchen, the master of the Illustrious Virtue Hall. Every core array embedded in it was at least Class Eight.

With the current level of soul tool technology in the Douluo Three Kingdoms, replicating it is simply impossible."

A gravity suit was essentially a mobile gravity chamber, shaped like close-fitting armor.

It could freely adjust the gravitational field around the wearer, covering a one-meter radius.

It could also provide real-time feedback on various training data.

It was a priceless treasure he had specifically asked Jing Hongchen to tailor for him.

It even incorporated elements of mechas, making its value incalculable.

Even ordinary gravity chambers could not be mass-produced with current soul tool manufacturing techniques.

Otherwise, with Du Busi's vision, he would certainly have acquired a few for the sect, however resistant he was to soul tools.

"Ah, what a shame."

Yan Feng looked helpless. "If I'd known, I would've brought that suit along."

When they had gone out to hunt soul rings, none of them had brought their gravity suits.

Afterward came the banquet in the Imperial City, the coup, and their flight.

They had finally made their way to the Body Sect, with no chance to retrieve them.

"Make do for a while. Once things settle down, I'll contact the Illustrious Virtue Hall and find a way," Xu Yan reassured him.

At the mention of the Illustrious Virtue Hall, Xu Yan could not help picturing that innocent girl with her slightly lovestruck nature.

He sighed inwardly.

Meng Hongchen was a year older than him. When he had gone out soul hunting, she had yet to reach rank twenty.

By the time he returned, she had just left to gain experience.

Presumably, she still did not know that he had left the Sun Moon Empire.

"The next time we meet will probably be at the Continental Advanced Soul Master Tournament."

Just as Xu Yan's thoughts stirred, a figure slipped silently through the courtyard gate.

His steps were light, his landing soundless. It was the Third Elder, Peng Yu.

"Boy, you're up early enough."

Xu Yan gathered his thoughts and bowed. "Greetings, Elder."

The other three bowed as well.

Although they did not possess body martial souls, they were now members of the Body Sect.

"Mm. Good."

Seeing all three diligently training in the courtyard, Peng Yu's eyes flashed with approval.

The Body Sect despised those who shirked work, played tricks, and sought shortcuts.

Only disciples who trained diligently and tempered themselves truly earned the sect's recognition.

"Come with me."

With those words, Peng Yu turned and walked straight out.

Xu Yan dared not delay and immediately followed.

Peng Yu did not take him to the usual training grounds or cultivation areas, but headed straight for a secluded valley behind the mountain.

Noticing their direction, Xu Yan's thoughts stirred, and he asked:

"Elder, are we going to Ten Thousand Gale Valley?"

Peng Yu paused briefly, somewhat surprised. "You actually know about Ten Thousand Gale Valley?"

"The sect master briefly mentioned it when I joined," Xu Yan answered truthfully.

"I see."

With a faint smile, Peng Yu shook his head and explained, "But we aren't going to Ten Thousand Gale Valley today. You can't withstand its intensity yet.

We're going to Bone Tempering Valley beside it."

Bone Tempering Valley?

Xu Yan felt a little surprised, but asked no further questions and followed steadily.

The two soon reached the depths of the valley.

Natural stone pillars filled the area. The ground was rugged and uneven, and the rocks had sharp edges.

Howling winds sounded constantly in the distance, echoing eerily like wailing ghosts and wolves. The sound was particularly chilling.

"At the end of that little path lies Ten Thousand Gale Valley." Peng Yu raised a hand to indicate it.

Xu Yan silently noted the direction.

He planned to return to Ten Thousand Gale Valley and try training there when he had some free time.

With the flame of life protecting him, he had no fear of fierce winds piercing his body.

The two turned onto another path.

After a short walk, the thunder of a waterfall reached their ears.

Emerging from the stone forest, they were suddenly greeted by a magnificent waterfall cascading down a cliff.

The mountainside was steep, the air thick with spray, the sight majestic.

"We're here! This is Bone Tempering Valley, a branch of Ten Thousand Gale Valley. Their subterranean veins are connected."

Peng Yu stopped and turned to Xu Yan, speaking slowly:

"There are three training sites in this valley: the cold pool, the waterfall, and Wild Wind Cliff.

All are secluded sites for grueling training sectioned off from Ten Thousand Gale Valley.

Starting today, you must complete three body-tempering exercises here every day."

He pointed to a deep, clear pool nearby, faint wisps of cold rising from its surface:

"First, Cold Pool Meridian Tempering.

Immerse yourself in the pool for four hours each day while circulating the Body Sect Meditation Method.

This pool connects to the subterranean cold veins of the North Sea. Its water chills the bones and invades the marrow, freezing your blood and vital energy as the cold enters your body.

You must maintain a steady flow of blood and vital energy and keep your mind clear.

Use the extreme cold to temper all your meridians, improving their resilience and the speed at which soul power circulates."

Having finished, he pointed to the endlessly thundering waterfall:

"Second, Heavenly River Body Tempering.

You must sit beneath the waterfall and allow its immense torrent to scour your body from above.

You will remain there for four hours. Throughout that time, you are forbidden to protect yourself with soul power or draw on your martial soul.

Withstand the water's pressure and scouring force with your flesh alone, tempering your skin, flesh, connective tissue, and bones to strengthen your body's limits and your mental endurance."

Finally, he looked toward the sheer western cliff, which seemed hewn by blades and axes and was swept by howling gales:

"Third, Wild Wind Cliff Climbing.

This cliff is sixty zhang high. Water and fierce winds scour its rock face all year round, leaving it smooth and difficult to climb.

The gales along the cliff are like knives, cutting without pause.

You must climb to the top with your bare hands, then return by the same route, making two round trips each day."

"Of course, there's a net at the bottom to catch you. You won't die, but a few broken bones are common."

Peng Yu's tone was calm, yet every word rang like iron:

"You will repeat these three exercises daily, rain or shine.

I'll supervise you from the side. If you slack off or take shortcuts, your training load doubles."

Xu Yan's heart tightened as he listened.

Good grief. Any one of these could take half a person's life.

No wonder even Long Aotian paled at the mention of them.

A sixty-zhang cliff—that was nearly two hundred meters.

The force of a waterfall that high hardly needed imagining!

And he couldn't even use his martial soul!

This was several times more terrifying than training in a gravity chamber.

Not to mention climbing that cliff barehanded.

Scoured by water and fierce winds year after year, its slickness was easy to imagine.

Of the three exercises, only the first, the cold pool, seemed relatively easy.

As these thoughts rose and fell, fierce fighting spirit ignited in Xu Yan's eyes.

These three exercises were, in fact, highly targeted.

Cold Pool Meridian Tempering strengthened his meridians' resilience and accelerated soul power circulation.

Heavenly River Body Tempering honed his entire body, inside and out, tempering skin, bones, and organs.

Wild Wind Cliff Climbing honed his will and tempered his mind.

Though difficult, completing them would indeed produce considerable improvements.

They perfectly suited his current training needs.

He took a deep breath and solemnly cupped his hands. "I understand. I will give it my all and live up to your efforts to temper me, Elder!"

"Mm. That drive is a good thing. I hope you can persevere to the end."

Peng Yu nodded slightly and flicked his sleeve, sending out a gentle strand of soul power.

Xu Yan rose into the air and landed squarely in the deep cold pool with a splash.

The pool was a full hundred meters deep, and Xu Yan followed the momentum down onto a natural stone platform thirty meters beneath the surface.

In an instant, bone-piercing cold stabbed into his skin like thousands upon thousands of fine needles.

Xu Yan shuddered all over and clenched his teeth.

He immediately closed his eyes, focused his mind, and began circulating the Body Sect Meditation Method.

He did not summon his extreme yang fire to resist the cold.

Instead, he allowed the extremely cold energy to seep into his body through his pores.

He used the cold to scour and temper every inch of his meridians repeatedly.

He had endured the utmost agony of extreme yang burning his body yesterday. Today's bone-piercing pain from the cold pool could hardly shake his resolve.

A burly figure landed silently by the pool, appearing in the blink of an eye.

It was Du Busi.

"Greetings, Sect Master." Peng Yu immediately bowed.

Du Busi waved casually, his gaze falling on Xu Yan as he sat motionless in the pool. His tone held a hint of concern:

"I remember that when Ao Tian and the others first practiced Cold Pool Meridian Tempering, they only had to endure an hour.

You've given him four hours right from the start. Isn't that too harsh?"

"Haha, you worry too much, Sect Master."

Peng Yu smiled calmly, brimming with confidence:

"How could ordinary disciples compare to the young sect master?

His physical regeneration, reserves of blood and vital energy, and mental resilience are all unmatched by anyone I've seen in my lifetime.

Four hours is within his ability to endure."

Du Busi raised an eyebrow and gave him a long look. "What did you just call him?"

"The young sect master."

Peng Yu looked perfectly at ease, as though it were only natural. "Isn't it just a matter of time?

With his contributions to the sect and his talent, if his cultivation weren't still lacking, he would be more than qualified to take over as sect master directly."

The corner of Du Busi's mouth twitched, and he said irritably:

"I'm still in office. Is it appropriate for you, you old fellow, to praise my successor right in front of me?"

At that, Peng Yu rolled his eyes and spoke bluntly:

"Then show some promise and pull yourself together, Sect Master!

How many years has our Body Sect existed? Our treasury has been empty year after year, shabby and desolate.

If the young sect master hadn't put in the effort this time, your treasury would still have nothing but rats running through it. How could it be filled to bursting like it is now?

In all my years in the sect, I've never seen its treasury so full!"

Du Busi was momentarily struck speechless, unable to offer a single word in reply.