Training from morning till noon had become Feiyin's new reality. Every day was a structured cycle, the morning for external refinement, forging his body through rigorous postures, and the evening for internal cultivation, focusing on controlled breathing and nutrition to nourish his organs. This method was demanding but efficient, ensuring that his body was tempered without breaking, strengthened without overexertion.
Some days began with Python Postures, training his muscles and tendons, pushing their endurance and explosive strength. Then, after lunch, the focus would be on Tree Breathing, a technique designed to stimulate the spleen and stabilize the body's core balance.
The pattern was unchanging yet diverse, covering all five essential phases of Body Tempering. Crocodile Postures reinforced the skin, making it tougher and more resilient, combined with Earth Breathing, which stabilized his body like the unshakable ground. Tiger Postures were designed to harden the bones, paired with Metal Breathing, strengthening his skeletal structure. Dragon Whale Postures refined the marrow, working in tandem with Water Breathing, enhancing recovery and endurance. Finally, Hummingbird Postures focused on blood circulation, while Fire Breathing stimulated his heart, improving Qi adaptability and stamina.
Each breathing technique was more than just inhaling and exhaling, they were precise, deliberate patterns designed to stimulate specific organs and enhance their efficiency. They required deep concentration, and through them, Feiyin could feel the oscillations of his body, sensing the shifts in circulation, the subtle pulse of energy within him.
His meals were just as important as the training itself. Every day, his mother prepared special soups infused with medicinal herbs and nourishing ingredients, each carefully selected to aid in recovery and amplify the effects of training. Ginseng to invigorate blood, lotus root to reinforce the spleen, black bone chicken for marrow enhancement. Without proper nourishment, even the strongest cultivator would eventually collapse.
For five days a week, his schedule was relentless, a cycle of breaking and reforging, exhausting and recovering. The remaining two days were reserved for rest and leisure, time he spent playing, accompanying his mother to trade with merchants, or refining his skills on the zither.
Many might have found such a lifestyle monotonous, but for Feiyin, every day was a new lesson, every challenge an opportunity. His curiosity had always been boundless, and rather than tiring from the repetition, he found himself drawn deeper into the endless pursuit of mastery.
Even in a small village, he had seen enough to understand that strength was not just a luxury, it was a necessity.
He could still recall the first time he had witnessed blood spilled in the streets.
It had been a typical day at the market, the air filled with the scent of spices, roasted meats, and freshly baked bread. Feiyin followed closely behind his mother, his eyes darting over the colorful stalls as they wove through the bustling crowd. Mei Liao was a natural at handling trade, her keen eyes catching opportunities others might overlook.
"Cultivation is costly, my dear," she had explained to him as they moved through the market. "Even at your stage, the daily cost of proper nutrition alone is around a hundred Essence Coins."
Feiyin nearly tripped over his own feet. "A hundred Essence Coins? Didn't you say a normal family could live for a month on that?"
His mother chuckled, adjusting the small ledger in her hands. "That's right. And when you reach higher realms of cultivation, you might need ten thousand Essence Coins per day."
His shock only grew. "How does anyone afford that?"
Mei Liao smiled knowingly. "What seems expensive to one person might be nothing to another. That's why, if you want to cultivate freely, you must learn to sustain yourself. Do you remember what I taught you?"
Feiyin straightened his posture. "Find something in high demand, purchase a few at a lower price to test the market, and then steadily sell more as you gain income."
"Good. What else?"
"If the market is volatile or restricted, you either find a different trade or grow strong enough to negotiate your way through."
Her smile widened. "Correct. Now, tell me, what product do you think would, "
She suddenly stopped speaking, her gaze locking onto a scene unfolding a short distance ahead.
A group of rough-looking men had gathered around an old merchant's stall, their postures predatory. The stall owner, an elderly villager selling fur-lined socks, was visibly nervous as he faced them.
"Hey, old man!" one of the men sneered. "I wore your socks while hunting last night, and my toes nearly froze off! You trying to cheat me?"
The old merchant shook his head frantically. "That's impossible! I use only fine rabbit fur, they should be warm enough for winter hunting."
The thug slammed his palm against the stall. "So you're saying I'm a liar?"
Feiyin felt his stomach twist as he saw the oscillations in the air shift, subtle vibrations of rising aggression, the tension in the men's bodies as they prepared for violence.
With a metallic clang, the men drew their blades, their intent unmistakable.
"Mom…" Feiyin whispered, gripping her sleeve.
Mei Liao remained calm, giving his hand a reassuring squeeze. "This is why your father trains the militia," she murmured.
Before Feiyin could respond, a shadow flickered behind the thugs. A gust of wind swept through the market, and in the blink of an eye, the men's arms, still clutching their blades, were severed from their bodies.
A chorus of agonized screams filled the air as the attackers collapsed, their blood pooling on the cobbled ground.
Standing behind them was a broad-shouldered man with a brown beard, his expression cold, his blade still dripping with fresh blood.
"You lot have been stirring trouble in this region for too long," he said. "Stealing, killing, preying on villages with no protection. Your heads are worth a decent bounty, dead or alive." He narrowed his eyes. "But if you choose to resist, I can take just your heads."
The gang leader, his face pale from blood loss, shook his head frantically, stumbling to his feet with the others. "N-No! We'll come quietly!"
The enforcer nodded, sheathing his blade. "Good."
As they were led away, Feiyin couldn't tear his eyes from the blood-stained ground.
"There's so much blood…" he murmured.
Mei Liao gently took his hand, leading him toward a different street. "Do not dwell on it, my dear. Justice is not always gentle, but it prevents greater suffering. If they had been allowed to continue, how many more lives would they have taken?"
Feiyin swallowed, nodding absently, though the sight lingered in his mind long after they returned home.
As he set the dinner table later that evening, the memory resurfaced, sending an involuntary shiver through him.
What if those men had been stronger? What if they had attacked Mother?
Shaking his head, Feiyin placed the last bowl down just as his mother finished cooking. He noticed the slight furrow in her brow as she stirred the pot.
"What's wrong, Mom?" he asked.
Mei Liao looked up, her expression softening. "Nothing serious. I was just thinking… There aren't any children your age in the village, since it's a new establishment. You have no one to play with."
Feiyin grinned. "That's okay! You're already my best friend!"
Cai Feng, who had just entered the room, raised an eyebrow. "Oh? And what about me?"
Feiyin turned to him, grinning mischievously. "Dad, you're different. You're my rival."
Cai Feng scoffed in amusement, crossing his arms. "Hmph. You're still far from that, brat."
Feiyin laughed, feeling the warmth of their home settle around him.
After a few weeks of getting accustomed to the training, Feiyin stood before his father, his heartbeat steady, his mind excited. Today, he knew that they will be moving to something new.
"This lesson," Cai Feng said, his voice measured, "is the most important one you will receive in the Body Tempering Realm."
Feiyin straightened his posture, knowing what his father was about to explain would shape his cultivation path for years to come.
"The Body Tempering Realm is not just about making yourself stronger. It is about preparing yourself for what comes next." Cai Feng's gaze sharpened. "Your goal in this realm is to forge a body capable of handling Essence Qi. A weak body will collapse the moment Qi enters it. A refined body will endure it, and more than that, it will allow you to open your meridians."
Feiyin furrowed his brows. He had heard of meridians before, but this was the first time his father had spoken of them directly.
"To open the meridians," Cai Feng continued, "your body must be able to generate and withstand an immense level of force. That is why Body Tempering is not only about refining flesh but about developing internal strength, true power."
He took a step forward, his presence suddenly heavier. Feiyin felt it immediately, the slight tremor in the ground beneath his father's feet, the shift in the air, as though space itself bent around him.
"This is internal strength, the force your body naturally generates simply by living, controlled at will."
Feiyin's breath hitched. He had always felt the oscillations of movement, the subtle shifts of force around him. But now, as he focused, he realized his father was not moving, yet force pulsed through him.
"Every part of the body contributes to this strength," Cai Feng explained. "The more refined your body, the greater the force you can generate."
He raised a single finger.
"The skin, when tempered, grants 1,000 kg of force, not only protecting you but increasing the strength of every movement." He clenched his hand into a fist. "Tempered muscles and tendons add another 1,000 kg, making your strikes sharper and faster." He touched his wrist, his voice unwavering. "Forged bones add 1,000 kg, allowing your body to withstand greater impacts without breaking."
Feiyin's mind raced as he absorbed the numbers.
"The marrow strengthens your endurance, generating another 1,000 kg of force by making your blood and regeneration more efficient." Cai Feng's eyes narrowed. "And finally, tempered blood itself grants the last 1,000 kg, perfecting circulation, stamina, and Qi adaptability."
Feiyin took a sharp breath. "That's… 5,000 kg of force."
His father nodded. "Yes. But that is not the true limit."
He tapped Feiyin's chest lightly.
"You have already learned that the five elements govern different parts of your body, Earth for skin, Wood for muscles and tendons, Metal for bones, Water for marrow, and Fire for blood. But what you may not yet understand is that these elements also govern your internal organs."
Feiyin frowned, recalling his lessons. "The spleen, liver, lungs, kidneys, and heart?"
Cai Feng smiled. "Correct. When your organs are properly refined, they enter a state of perfect harmony. Your breathing becomes fully optimized, your body processes energy efficiently, and your inner strength flow stabilizes. And when all five aspects of Body Tempering are harmonized with your organs, your force is no longer limited to 5,000 kg, it doubles."
Feiyin's heart pounded.
"10,000 kg of force."
A silence stretched between them as Feiyin fully grasped the weight of his father's words. This wasn't just about toughness or strength, it was about becoming something far beyond normal human limits.
"The greatest mistake most cultivators make is thinking that strength comes from cultivating their Qi alone," Cai Feng said, folding his arms. "But Qi alone is meaningless if the body cannot handle it. Many rush into the next realm, opening meridians too soon, only to find their bodies breaking apart because they lack the foundation to endure Essence Qi."
Feiyin nodded, understanding now why his father had spent so much time drilling him in both external and internal training.
Cai Feng continued, "The more refined your body, the more meridians you can open in the next realm. A weak body can only open a few, limiting future growth. A strong body, one tempered properly, can open far more."
Feiyin narrowed his eyes. "So Body Tempering doesn't just determine my strength now, it determines my potential for all cultivation moving forward."
Cai Feng smirked. "Exactly."
A sudden thought struck Feiyin. "If internal strength is the body energy… does that mean it can be used for more than just body refinement?"
His father's smirk deepened. "Now you're asking the right questions."
He took a single step forward.
The ground cracked beneath his foot.
Feiyin barely had time to process what had happened before Cai Feng extended a single finger, flicking it toward a small training dummy several meters away.
A gust of compressed force shot forth like an invisible shockwave, not Qi, not elemental energy, but pure, controlled kinetic energy.
The dummy's wooden chest imploded instantly, splinters flying in all directions.
Feiyin's jaw dropped. "That was, "
"Internal strength," his father said simply. "Refined body energy can be controlled, directed, and used offensively. Most rely on Qi techniques when they advance, but a properly tempered body can kill without ever drawing upon Essence Qi."
Feiyin clenched his fists. The potential was staggering.
Cai Feng turned toward him fully. "This is why your training follows both external and internal refinement. It is not just about endurance, it is about control. If you cannot control your own force, your power will be wasted. Worse, you may even harm yourself."
Feiyin nodded, his mind now racing with new understanding.
Cai Feng allowed him a moment to process before speaking again. "From now on, your training will be more focused. You will refine each part of your body with intent, not just repetition. The more precisely you control your internal strength, the more force you will generate."
Feiyin exhaled slowly, his entire perspective shifting.
Strength wasn't just about how hard he trained, it was about how well he understood his own body, how perfectly he controlled the energy within him.
His father clapped a hand on his shoulder. "Tomorrow, we begin your first true internal strength refinement exercise. Prepare yourself."
Feiyin grinned despite himself.
10,000 kg of force.
He would reach it. And beyond.