Chapter 56: Sudden Changes in Xue Lingxi (1)
Body Cultivator?!
In the vast world of cultivation, where countless disciples seek enlightenment through the refinement of spiritual energy, there exists a path far more arduous—one tread by the stubborn, the desperate, and the unyielding. These individuals are known as Body Cultivators, a rare breed who forsake the traditional method of harnessing the world's energy and instead temper their own flesh, bones, and will to achieve transcendence.
Unlike Qi Cultivators, who refine their meridians to become conduits of immense power, Body Cultivators forge themselves into living weapons. Their journey begins with the agonizing process of refining their tendons, stretching them to withstand impossible strain until they are as strong as tempered steel. Next, they harden their bones, shattering and reforging them countless times to make them unbreakable. Their blood, once ordinary, is transformed into a torrent of vitality, thick with resilience and power. Only after these grueling steps can they begin to establish their foundation—an ordeal that takes decades, even for the most talented.
Yet, despite their dedication, most Body Cultivators do not live long. Their path demands not just suffering but an unshakable will that few possess. For every one who reaches greatness, a hundred more perish, their dreams crushed under the weight of their own ambition. Those who persist are often driven by something far deeper than the desire for power—unsettled grudges, endured humiliation, or an unrelenting need to prove themselves in a world that has mocked their struggle.
They may not soar through the skies like Qi Cultivators, nor command the heavens with a flick of their fingers, but when they stand upon the battlefield, unshaken by spells or weapons, their presence alone is enough to shake mountains and part seas. To walk the path of Body Cultivation is to declare war against one's own limits, to carve strength into flesh and bone, and to face the heavens with nothing but sheer will.
Xu Mo did not think he was even close to catching up to such individuals. While he considered himself fortunate enough to awaken his talent, he believed that if he had not, he would have preferred becoming a beggar rather than stepping onto the path of Body Cultivation. He truly lacked the strength and willpower required. After all, a person knows themselves best. Elder Long's praise was just that—praise.
"Now, why don't we try punching again?" Elder Long offered a forced smile, recalling how Xu Mo had been diligently taking notes. Xu Mo, however, was fed up with punching the strong sheet of metal. No matter what he did, he saw no improvement. Even when he went all out, the strange sheet remained immovable, and every attempt left him utterly exhausted.
Reluctantly, Xu Mo stood up, tucking his notebook into his robe pocket. Discipline was essential for everything, even cultivation. But discipline only works when there is hope and results. Right now, Xu Mo felt as though he stood before an insurmountable mountain. He glanced at Elder Long, and a humorous thought crossed his mind: What would it look like if Elder Long threw powerful punches at the sheet, only for nothing to happen?
Xu Mo calmed his breathing. Over the past few days, he had invested his time in practicing a set of boxing techniques. Fortunately, it was the same technique from the trial—one he had attempted to practice without the skill book, leaving him confused about which hand to use first. However, after a quick review, his muscle memory returned, and he recalled how he had practiced the technique during the trial.
In truth, it was inaccurate to call it a boxing technique. In reality, the technique had only one level and was essentially a critical hit technique. The requirement was to finish the task in one punch; otherwise, the task would finish you. This was true for those in the Qi Condensation stage. However, if one advanced to the Foundation Building stage, the technique would evolve into a four-punch technique.
The technique placed immense strain on the meridians, requiring the user to exert all their spiritual energy while focusing on a single point—specifically, the meridians, one of the most sensitive parts of the human body. There were records of many Hidden Dragon Sect disciples dying because of this technique. It wasn't that the technique was unorthodox; rather, these disciples often challenged their limits, believing they were no less than their peers. This led them to use the technique more than once while still in the Qi Condensation stage. Though they might win, the cost was their lives.
Boom!!
Once again, Xu Mo threw a punch. Through many nights of effort, he managed to hold his ground, though with great difficulty. Elder Long had set a new goal for him: to hit the bullseye. This meant replicating the exact movement, timing, placement, and measurement of his first punch. After continuous efforts, Xu Mo had managed to hit the 1.5-centimeter mark. His knuckles were bleeding.
Huff... If the Body Cultivators knew he was being praised as one of them, they would barge through the main entrance and demand his head for such an absurd claim. Typically, peak Body Cultivators—more commonly known as Body Refinement Cultivators—achieve skin as strong as diamond or ruby upon completing the final sub-stage of Body Refinement: Skin Refinement. Unless a spiritual energy cultivator surpassed a Body Refinement cultivator by two major realms, there was no hope of even leaving a scratch on them.
Xu Mo wondered when the first trial for the Dao of Silence would begin. Or had it already begun without his knowledge? He couldn't rule out the possibility that every time he entered a new stage, a trial would be set in place to test him. It was also possible that the Dao would throw obstacles in his path in the real world.
As he pondered this, even the simple sheet of metal in front of him seemed to whisper silently, urging him to prove himself if he truly wished to become one with the Dao.
The next day, Xu Mo took a much-needed nap to relax his tense nerves. As he lay there, someone knocked on the main gate. For a moment, he decided to ignore it, assuming the visitor would leave after receiving no answer.
Knock, knock.
A few moments later,
Knock, knock.
And again.
Knock, knock.
'Ugh, why did I have to jinx it?' Xu Mo thought, buried under the thick sheet as he tried to take a quick nap. His knuckles were wrapped in white bandages because Elder Long had advised him to refrain from relying on pills to ease the pain. "You need to get used to it to increase your tolerance," the elder had said.