Chapter 42: Harsh Training

Jiang Feng stepped back from the wall and lowered into a wide, grounded stance. His legs burned as his muscles strained, each fiber protesting the demand for more as was needed. He sent spiritual energy flowing into his muscles, forcing his body to remain firm and stead fast. Drawing on the information embedded in the technique, he began to shift his weight slowly, swaying from one side to the other, focusing on the sensation in his legs, the deep stretch of his muscles.

With each movement, he visualized the coiled dragon inside his body, its power feeding into his body through his three meridian channels. The stance deepened, the burn spreading through his legs as his energy circulated through his body. As the stance solidified, he extended his arms, simulating sweeping strikes that cut through the air with surprising force. Heatwaves spread outward from him as the center, and for a moment, the room seemed to hum in response. The faint glow from the walls grew brighter, pulsating with his every movement.

Jiang Feng felt an undeniable connection to the technique, an almost intimate bond forming between his body and the power he was cultivating. He struck the wall again, this time with a controlled palm strike, his blood rushing, muscles firm and bones sturdy. The impact reverberated, traveling through his arm, to his chest and to the root of his legs. There was no noise from the wall, but there was some breaking sounds of his finger bones and the steady resonance of his flesh, his body growing a little with every impact.

The rhythm of his movements became a blur, time lost to the burn in his muscles, the sharpness of his focus. His thoughts drifted back to the battle with the Celestial Shadow Church. The technique had emerged instinctively in that desperate moment, a response to the overwhelming threat. But now, as he trained, it was becoming something else, a tangible part of him. "Draconic Resilience," he whispered to himself, the name carrying weight. This was more than just a technique, it was a promise to endure, to grow stronger, to rise above whatever trials awaited him.

'Celestial Shadow Church, I will kill!!!!'

He threw punches in a lowered stance, never once breaking his rhythm, never ceasing his breathing technique as he pulled in deep currents of heated air and spiritual energy. Sweat drenched his robe, his hair matted to his forehead. With each punch, his fingers began to shake violently, the strain pushing him to his limits. The floor beneath him was a slick mess of his sweat, a testament to the effort pouring out of him.

"I must keep going," he thought, his resolve firming even as his body screamed in protest to the deep pain and exhaustion it was under. He twisted his torso, moving to the side, delivering a powerful kick to the wall. The room echoed with the low thuds of his impacts as he shifted from stance to stance, each movement calculated and sometimes not, each kick and punch designed to break through his own limitations. Hours passed in the quiet of the room, the only sounds the thumping of his strikes against the wall and the steady rhythm of his breath.

By the time the sun had risen and light filtered through the windows, Jiang Feng was lying on the floor, gasping for air. His chest heaved, his body broken and battered from the relentless punishment he had put himself through. His hands were bloody, his legs bruised, yet the black walls, adorned with their shimmering lines, stood above him without a mark. They remained unchanged, silently watching him, like a patient teacher observing a student's struggle.

This was the most intense training Jiang Feng had ever endured in his life. He had pushed himself to the brink of collapse, never imagining that the path to true strength would be so painful, so demanding. The road ahead felt longer than ever, yet something within him burned with passion. There was no turning back now.

"Feng, my father's back. There are some arrangements we need to discuss" Lin Rou's voice called out from beyond the door, the knocking punctuating the silence.

Jiang Feng groaned, his body feeling as though it were made of lead. Every muscle screamed for rest, yet he knew he couldn't afford to sleep just yet. With great effort, he managed to sit up, his limbs shaking with exhaustion. "I'll be right there," he called out, forcing the words from his mouth. "I need to wash up first."

The exhaustion in his voice was clear, but Lin Rou, ever perceptive, simply nodded. "We'll be waiting," he said, before turning to leave.

Jiang Feng stood, his legs unsteady, and made his way to the washroom. His movements were sluggish, but he pushed through, knowing that he couldn't afford to have a weak will. After cleaning up and changing into a fresh set of clothes, he walked down to the main hall after one hour.

Lin Rou and Lin Moyi were already seated at the table. Lin Rou's gaze flicked over to him, sensing the toll that the training had taken. A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Not bad, kid," he said. "You've hit 90% muscle toughness, and your blood purification is complete. Impressive progress."

Jiang Feng nodded, though internally, his thoughts lingered on the changes his body had undergone that no one could sense. The fourth meridian channel had begun to form, and his bones had reached 90% refinement as well. They couldn't feel it, and he suspected that was due to the effects of reverse cultivation, which obscured his true progress from their senses. They won't see it, not yet, he thought, a quiet satisfaction settling within him.

He sat down across from Lin Rou and Lin Moyi, his body sore but his mind sharper than ever due to his mind and endurance increasing. The path ahead was still uncertain, but for the first time in a long while, Jiang Feng felt ready to walk it. Jiang Feng smiled at the two as he sat down beside them.

"I must thank the two of you for protecting me these past days. I will remember this favor for the rest of my life and will surely repay this kindness," Jiang Feng said sincerely, clasping his hands in front of the pair. His gratitude was heartfelt, Lin Rou and Lin Moyi had truly gone above and beyond in taking care of him.

"Nonsense" Lin Rou said with a dismissive wave, his tone warm and reassuring. "You are one of us. There's no need for words like that. You assisted us when you first showed up, so naturally, we must take care of you in return." He patted him on the shoulder with a smile that radiated camaraderie.

Lin Moyi, sitting nearby, watched the exchange with a similarly warm expression. Without interrupting the moment, he poured himself some tea, taking his time to savor the aroma before speaking. "Well, now that the heartfelt sentiments are out of the way, let's get down to business," he said with a dry chuckle.

He set the teacup down and continued, his tone steady but serious. "I've spoken with our allies, the Zhen clan, who are part of the Northern Moon Council. We've secured a permanent residence here, but it comes at a price. Every year, we'll need to pay a tax of three hundred thousand low-grade spirit stones. That doesn't even account for the additional spirit stones we'll spend on daily needs. Altogether, it's a significant amount flowing into this city."

Jiang Feng and Lin Rou immediately straightened in their seats, their casual demeanor replaced with focused attention. To cultivators like them, such an expense was no trivial matter. Even Lin Rou, an Essence Stage expert, found the sum daunting—it was far beyond anything he had spent or seen before.

Spirit stones were a valuable resource divided into three tiers: low, medium, and high. The conversion was straightforward but sobering: ten thousand low-grade spirit stones equaled one medium-grade stone, and ten thousand medium-grade stones equaled one high-grade stone. The sheer volume required to meet the tax was enough to leave even seasoned cultivators apprehensive.

Lin Moyi took another sip of tea, his eyes calm but calculating. "We'll need to carefully manage our resources moving forward. While it's a heavy burden, it's also an investment in stability and in the opportunities this city provides."