More than 150 people followed Steward Wang, bypassed Immortal-Welcoming Flat, and walked towards the side of the mountain gate.
No one spoke on the road, only the sound of chaotic footsteps. Qin Tiexin walked in the middle of the team, looking at both sides - this is a gentle slope at the foot of the mountain, with sparse trees, and the ground is paved with bluestone slabs, which is much more regular than Immortal-Welcoming Flat's place.
After walking for about a quarter of an hour, an open field appeared ahead.
The field is half the size of Immortal-Welcoming Flat. The ground is paved with thick loess, which is hard to step on. There are wooden piles around it, with weapon racks hanging on the piles, and there are swords, guns, swords and halberds. In the center of the field, there are three rows of stone locks, ranging from small to large, the smallest is as big as a millstone, the largest...
Qin Tiexin took another look.
The largest stone lock was completely green and black, probably the size of a water tank, and the lock handle was as thick as a child's arm. Next to it stood a wooden sign with the words "Three Hundred Jin" engraved on it.
"Everyone stand still."
A voice sounded.
Everyone followed the sound and saw three men walking towards the sidelines. The leader was a strong man in his forties, with a bare upper body, tangled muscles, bronze skin, and covered with fine scars. He stood there, his breath thick as a hill.
The two people behind are slightly younger, both are strong and strong, and are wearing gray shorts.
"My surname is Shi, and I teach Flowing Cloud Sect Body Refining Institute." The strong man spoke with a hoarse voice, "Body Refining. The first thing to focus on is the foundation. What is the foundation? Strength, muscles and bones, and patience. The first test today is strength."
He walked to the row of stone locks and pointed. "The rules are simple. Under the age of fifteen, lift eighty kilograms of stone locks with one hand, above your head, and hold for ten breaths. From fifteen to eighteen years old, lift one hundred kilograms. Over eighteen years old, lift one hundred and twenty kilograms. If you can't lift it, or can't hold it for ten breaths, get out."
There was a gasp from the crowd.
"One hand? One hundred and twenty pounds?"
"I have to use my shoulders to carry grain bags weighing 100 kilograms at home..."
"It's over, I just turned eighteen this year..."
Instructor Shi ignored these comments and shouted, "Start now, in order. Come forward when you read the name."
The first one to go up was a tall and lanky boy, no older than fifteen. He walked to the eighty-pound stone lock, squatted down, held the handle of the lock with one hand, and took a deep breath.
"Start--"
The stone lock was half a foot off the ground. The young man's face turned red and his arms shook violently. He could barely lift it to his waist, but he could no longer go up.
"Put it down." Instructor Shi said expressionlessly, "Next one."
The young man lowered his hand and the stone lock hit the ground with a thud. He lowered his head and walked back to the team, his eyes already red.
The second one was a short and stocky young man, about seventeen or eighteen years old. He walked to the 100-pound stone lock, rubbed his hands together, and exerted force.
The stone lock was lifted up and dangled above his head. The young man gritted his teeth, veins popped out on his arms, and his whole body was shaking.
One breath, two breaths, three breaths...
At the fifth breath, the stone lock began to fall. The young man groaned and tried desperately to hold on, but his arms no longer obeyed his command.
"Ten breaths." Instructor Shi said, "Let it go."
The young man was relieved, and the stone lock hit the ground, splashing a cloud of dust. He gasped and stepped aside - he barely managed to pass, but he had exhausted all his strength.
Testing continues.
The vast majority of people couldn't lift it, and the few who could lift it occasionally were all red-faced and struggled to hold on. The sound of "dong-dong" hitting the ground could be heard endlessly, and every sound was like a hit on people's hearts.
Qin Tiexin watched quietly.
He discovered that there were indeed a few people who were unusual.
A black-faced boy, who looked at most sixteen, grabbed a hundred kilograms of stone locks with one hand and raised it above his head. His arms only trembled slightly, and he held on steadily for ten breaths. When he put it down, his breath was only slightly chaotic.
"Zhao Heizi, sixteen years old, passed." The disciple who recorded it looked at him one more time.
There was also a man in his early twenties, with a strong back and a strong back. He walked up to the 120-pound stone lock and shouted, and the stone lock rose in response. After raising it above his head, he even had the energy to adjust his posture and stand firmly.
"Sun Daniu, twenty-one years old, passed."
Qin Tiexin is secretly alert.
There are people outside. This Body Refining is indeed a hidden dragon and a crouching tiger.
"Qin Tiexin."
Finally I heard his name.
Qin Tiexin walked out of the team and came to the row of stone locks. He is 19 years old and according to the rules, he should lift 120 kilograms.
Instructor Shi glanced at him. "Are you that Five Spirit Roots?"
"Yes."
"Five Spirit Roots is coming again Body Refining." Instructor Shi said in a tone that showed no emotion or anger, "Let's get started."
Qin Tiexin said nothing and walked to the 120-pound stone lock.
He didn't rush to do it. He squatted down and held the handle of the lock with his right hand. The stone lock was made of bluestone, with a rough surface and a solid grip. He tightened his fingers and tested the weight.
Then, exert force on the waist and legs - the stone lock lifts off the ground
Qin Tiexin did not pause, raised his arm, and the stone lock drew an arc and was raised steadily above his head. He stood up straight, his right arm was straight, and the stone lock hung above his head, motionless.
One breath, two breaths, three breaths...
His breathing was steady, his expression was as usual, and he even had time to glance at Instructor Shi.
Instructor Shi stared at him, a trace of surprise flashed in his eyes.
Ten breaths have arrived.
"Let it go."
Qin Tiexin slowly lowered the stone lock with a gentle and steady movement. When the stone lock fell to the ground, it only made a dull "dong" sound and did not cause dust to fly like others.
He took a step back and stood back in line.
Several people nearby looked at him secretly with complicated expressions. The man named Sun Daniu also looked at him twice and grinned as a greeting.
The test lasted for more than an hour.
There were more than a hundred people, but only 47 people finally passed. The rest either couldn't lift the stone lock, or couldn't hold on for ten breaths, and left the venue dejectedly.
Instructor Shi walked up to the crowd and glanced around. "Being able to pass the first level means you have good strength. But Body Refining, strength alone is not enough."
He pointed to the other end of the field. "The second level is a test of pain tolerance and willpower. Come with me."
Everyone followed him and walked to a row of stone houses at the edge of the field.
The stone house is not big, each room is about three feet square. The door is carved with dense patterns, which makes people dizzy. There are two disciples in gray clothes standing at the door, holding incense burners in their hands.
"Two people share a room, and sit on the futon after entering." Instructor Shi said, "After the formation is activated, no matter what happens, you are not allowed to leave the futon, and you are not allowed to scream. Stick to the time of one stick of incense. If you can't do it, you will be ejected by the formation."
He paused and added, "This level is ten times more difficult than lifting a stone lock. It's still too late to quit now."
No one moved.
"Okay." Instructor Shi nodded, "Go in."
Qin Tiexin and the black-faced boy Zhao Heizi were assigned to a room.
The stone house was empty, there were two futons on the floor, and nothing else. The walls, floor, and ceiling were all carved with strange patterns, and I felt depressed when I walked in.
The two sat down cross-legged on the futon.
"Brother, you were really stable in lifting the stone lock just now." Zhao Heizi whispered, "Have you practiced?"
"Trained in blacksmithing."
"No wonder." Zhao Heizi scratched his head, "I farm at home and have gained some strength, but I'm far behind you."
Instructor Shi's voice came from outside the door. "Close your eyes and meditate. The formation is about to be activated."
Qin Tiexin Close your eyes.
At first, I felt nothing. But soon, an invisible force penetrated from all directions, drilling into the skin and into the bones.
Then, the pain came.
It was not severe pain, but a fine, ubiquitous numbness and tingling, like countless needles pricking me, or like bugs crawling in my bones. The pain was amplified, and the small pain that usually broke my skin became unbearable at this moment.
Qin Tiexin frowned slightly.
He heard Zhao Heizi next to him groan, and his breathing became heavy.
But it's not over yet.
Illusions began to appear in my mind - dense black bugs emerged from the ground and crawled up the legs; cold ice spikes pierced into the flesh; Flame burned the skin...
Qin Tiexin's breathing was stagnant.
But the next moment, he took a deep breath and adjusted his breathing to the rhythm of Body Tempering Technique. He breathed in and out, slowly and deeply.
Does it hurt?
Pain.
But compared to the intense pain of having your shoulder armor split open and bones shattered by the enemy with a knife on the battlefield? Compared to when you were climbing over Spirit Severing Mountain, when you were so cold that you lost consciousness and every step felt like you were stepping on the tip of a knife?
What about those illusions?
Compared to the wide-eyed eyes of the Formation-Breaking Second Camp robes before they died?
Qin Tiexin sits as straight as a bell.
Fine beads of sweat broke out on his forehead and slid down his cheeks. His muscles tensed, but not because of pain, but because of resistance - using his will to fight against the urge to scream and roll.
Deep in his consciousness, the ancient piece of Illustrated Catalog of Ten Thousand Artifacts shone slightly, exuding a cool breath. This breath was very weak, but like a sea-calming needle, it stabilized his turbulent mind.
Time becomes extremely slow.
Every breath is like a year.
There was a suppressed groan of pain from next to him, and then the sound of a heavy object falling to the ground - Zhao Heizi couldn't hold on any longer. Then, he was pushed out of the stone house by an invisible force, and the door closed with a bang.
Qin Tiexin didn't open his eyes.
He heard screams coming from the stone house next door, one after another. People outside were constantly being ejected and fell to the ground, curling up and moaning.
But he still sat.
His breathing became slower and slower, but his heartbeat was as steady as a rock. The rhythm of Body Tempering Technique became the only anchor point, firmly anchoring his consciousness in this sea of pain.
I don't know how long it took.
Maybe it's a stick of incense, maybe it's an hour.
Suddenly, all the pain receded like a tide, and the illusion also dissipated.
Qin Tiexin slowly opened his eyes.
He was the only one left in the stone house. Sweat had soaked through his clothes and left a dark mark on the ground. He moved his stiff shoulders, and his joints made a slight "click" sound.
The door opened.
Instructor Shi stood at the door, looking at him, with obvious approval in his eyes for the first time.
"Come out."
Qin Tiexin stood up and walked out of the stone house.
In the open space outside, there were four people standing sparsely - including him, there were five in total.
There were more than 150 people, but after two passes, only five were left.
Instructor Shi glanced at the five people, and finally landed on Qin Tiexin: "What's your name?"
"Qin Tiexin."
"Qin Tiexin." Instructor Shi repeated and nodded, "Five Spirit Roots... It's a pity. But with your will, Body Refining, maybe you can really go far."
He turned around and said loudly to the five of them, "From today on, you are the disciples of the Flowing Cloud Sect Body Refining Institute in the outer courtyard. We will gather here at 9 o'clock tomorrow. Those who are late will be expelled."
After saying that, he strode away.
The remaining four people looked at each other, and they all saw fatigue and happiness in each other's eyes.
Qin Tiexin wiped the sweat from his face and looked up at the sky.
The sun has set in the west.
There was another stream of light passing through the clouds and mist in the direction of the mountain gate.
He made a fist, his palms were sweaty but steady.
Flowing Cloud Sect.
Finally, came in.