Chapter 41: Forging Resilience

Jiang Feng sat cross-legged on the mat, surrounded by the faint glow of the cultivation room. The lines etched into the walls pulsed gently, their rhythmic shimmer creating an aura that felt both calming and invigorating. As the soft light filled the space, Jiang Feng focused on steadying his mind. This room was unlike anything he had ever encountered, and it was the perfect place to attempt the technique that had revealed itself during his encounter with the Celestial Shadow Church—Draconic Resilience.

The technique was said to fortify both the body and spirit, forging them as unyielding as dragon scales. The name alone had captured Jiang Feng's admiration, embodying quiet strength and unshakable fortitude. Yet now, faced with the task of practicing it, he realized how little he understood.

Closing his eyes, he recalled the method as it had first surfaced in his mind: "Resilience is not merely strength. It is the ability to endure, to adapt, to rise again." Those words echoed within him, igniting a flicker of determination.

The first step was to guide his internal energy into a stable flow and send it to the illusory dragon within his chest. Only then would the full technique take shape. Jiang Feng visualized the energy inside him—a flickering, molten stream. Infernal in nature, it was unbearably hot, a result of his cultivation with the Skyforge Flame. At first, the flow was chaotic, sputtering and fragmented, but as he focused, it began to smooth, turning into a steady current.

Sweat beaded on his brow as he pushed the energy through his meridians, channeling it toward the coiled dragon in his chest. The effort was immense, and he gritted his teeth against the strain his body was enduring. He then suddenly noticed a strange phenomenon while pushing himself to stay stable: the glowing lines on the walls seemed to reacting in someway, their brightness intensifying. The room itself felt alive, resonating with something.

"What in the world?" Jiang Feng opened his eyes briefly, astonished. The spiritual energy within the room had increased, as if the lines were drawing in energy from the outside world. The realization left him momentarily stunned. "The walls... They can replenish the spiritual energy I use up from out of the cultivation room? Hmm But at this rate, it still wouldn't be able to keep up with my body's needs." He chuckled wryly. "So, this is just basic-level stuff. I shouldn't have expected more."

Closing his eyes again, Jiang Feng refocused, now acutely aware of the energy around him. His senses were sharpening, allowing him to feel the ebb and flow of spiritual energy with greater clarity. It was a revelation, but also a challenge—there was so much to learn, and so little time.

The coiled dragon within him devoured the energy eagerly, as though it were a bottomless pit. The infernal energy in his meridians flared, igniting the Skyforge Flame that dwelled within him. In an instant, blue flames erupted across his body, engulfing him in a fiery aura. Jiang Feng's lips tightened into a grim line. 'I still can't control this thing properly'.

The flames spread, licking at the walls of the cultivation room. But to his surprise, neither the walls nor the mat beneath him were damaged. The lines embedded in the walls seemed to contain the flames, dispersing their heat harmlessly which made he relax a bit. Jiang Feng exhaled sharply, the corners of his mouth twitching upward. "This room is something else... Even the mat can resist the Skyforge Flame."

The sight within the room was breathtaking. Jiang Feng sat in the center of the inferno, a figure of calm amidst the chaos of the flames. The blue fire roared, burning fiercely yet failing to consume its surroundings. As the last reserves of his spiritual energy were drained, the dragon within his chest shuddered, and a torrent of information flooded his mind.

The words echoed as though spoken by a primordial force:

"Draconic Resilience: A body cultivation technique that tempers the flesh and bones through disciplined stances and dynamic movements, mimicking the toughness of dragon scales. The Practitioner needs absorb spiritual energy, devour spiritual pills, spirit stones, beast cores, and other heavenly treasures and oddities to fuel the growth of the draconic body. Training involves grounded stances to strengthen the draconic core within one's self, enduring impacts to harden the flesh, and fluid movements to redirect or absorb force effectively. Advanced practitioners enhance their resilience by subjecting themselves to external pressures, building a body capable of withstanding immense forces."

As the waves of knowledge subsided, Jiang Feng opened his eyes, blinking away the residual light from the flames. He rubbed his temples, a wry smile forming on his lips. "What the hell... This technique sounds like it's going to be hellish."

The sheer demands of the technique weighed heavily on him. He didn't possess the spiritual pills or rare treasures it described. For now, he would have to rely on his own strength and ingenuity until he could afford to get his hands on what he needed. "This world doesn't plan to make anything easy for me, does it?"

Standing, Jiang Feng stretched his limbs, feeling the residual heat of the Skyforge Flame lingering on his skin. He approached the wall to his right, studying the intricate lines glowing softly against the stone. "These walls... They're incredible. The lines not only reinforce them but also distribute force evenly across their surface, the flames had no effect whatsoever and they still function properly."

On a whim, Jiang Feng drew back his fist and punched the wall. The impact sent a dull thud echoing through the room, but the lines shimmered briefly, dispersing the force. The wall remained unscathed, as though mocking his efforts.

"I knew it," he muttered, a grin spreading across his face. "These walls are perfect for training. I can practice my strikes and condition my body here without worrying about damaging anything at my level."

Satisfied with his discovery, Jiang Feng leaned against the wall, taking deep breaths as he activated his Infernal Breathing technique. The air currents grew warmer as spiritual energy filled his lungs, invigorating his body once more. Night fell over the city, its distant bustle muffled by the walls of the cultivation room. But Jiang Feng didn't stop.

Hours passed, and he continued absorbing spiritual energy, converting it into infernal energy to fuel his Skyforge Flame. By the time he returned to his peak state, his determination had only grown stronger.

"This is just the beginning," he murmured, gazing at his fists. With renewed focus, he prepared to face the grueling path that lay ahead, ready to temper himself into a force as unyielding as dragon scales.

Jiang Feng's gaze lingered on his fist, raw and trembling slightly from the exertion. Yet there was a flicker of pride in his eyes. The thought of tempering himself into something unbreakable brought a deep, visceral satisfaction. He flexed his fingers experimentally, feeling the faint residual ache. His strike was still far from perfect or even enough, his force still uneven, but that only meant there was major room to improve. A dragon's resilience wasn't cultivated overnight, and he had all the time he needed—or so he told himself.

His eyes shifted back to the shimmering lines on the wall, their faint luminescence a constant reminder of the mysterious craftsmanship that surrounded him. He wondered about the origin of this room, its creators, and the purpose it once served. "This place wasn't made casually," he thought aloud. "Every inch of it seems designed for cultivation, like it's alive, adapting to the needs of the practitioner." The thought invigorated him. If this room had been built with such care and precision, he owed it to himself to rise to the challenge it offered.