C11 Cruel Training

The stream trickled by, a secluded brook not far from Wu Town. It was a place few cared to visit, nestled within the forest's embrace, offering the tranquility Meng Fann sought for his cultivation.

Now, with the black beads in his possession, Meng Fann knew he had to exercise extreme caution to ensure no one discovered him.

The constant murmur of water accompanied him as he stood atop the stream, contemplating the rocks before him. These hefty stones, strung together with hemp ropes, were the fruits of Meng Fann's meticulous preparation the night before. They were part of a training regimen detailed in the Big Collapsing Hand—a method known as Iron Cage Stone, designed to constrain the cultivator's body.

The regimen demanded that a cultivator bear a massive stone weighing one hundred jin to facilitate body refining. Such a weight would inevitably slow a cultivator's pace and drain their energy. Yet, this arduous method also served to significantly enhance the flow of Vitality within the cultivator's body.

With gritted teeth, Meng Fann hoisted the Iron Cage Stone from the ground and draped it over himself. The oppressive weight, well over one hundred jin, forced a stifled groan from him as it settled onto his frame.

Despite having ascended to the Third Grade of Body Refining, Meng Fann's body was still ill-equipped to endure such burdensome weight. The stone's heft made every movement a struggle.

His face flushed with effort, Meng Fann bit down hard and began to tread through the stream, each step a deliberate advance through the crystalline water.

The rock, now a constant companion, grazed Meng Fann's skin with every motion. Though his body had toughened considerably since reaching the Third Level of Body Refining, the stone's abrasive contact still tore his flesh, drawing blood.

With a guttural growl, Meng Fann pressed on, wading through the stream. The river's current tested his physical limits—a crucial challenge for any cultivator.

"This is merely the outset of my cultivation journey," he thought, determination steeling his resolve. "If I falter here, the upcoming stages of Qi Refining and Soul Refinement will only grow more formidable. I must find a way to persevere."

Meng Fann whispered gently, his youthful face etched with resolve. He made his way through the stream, step by step, braving the force of the water as it battered him. Stones tore at his skin, the pain clearly etched on his face. After enduring for nearly half an hour, exhaustion overcame him, and he collapsed into the water, motionless.

Such cultivation was known to rapidly deplete a cultivator's strength, and not even the aid of Spirit Herbs could alleviate the toll it took. But for Meng Fann, all he needed to do was sit cross-legged and allow the energy from the black beads to infuse his body. This not only nourished his meridians but also reinvigorated him, enabling him to dive back into his training with renewed vigor.

Day after relentless day, Meng Fann dedicated himself to mastering the Big Collapsing Hand technique. For a fifteen-year-old, the intensity of this training was nothing short of brutal.

It wasn't just the physical strain that was grueling, but the mental fortitude it demanded. If he gave in to the desire to stay down after a fall, he risked losing the ability to continue his cultivation altogether.

Yet, Meng Fann spent every moment of those six days by the river's edge.

With the Clans Tournament drawing near in Wu Town, excitement stirred among the town's youth. They threw themselves into their training with fervor, driven by the promise of the tournament's lavish rewards. Rumors swirled that the victor would receive prizes of untold value.

The allure of such rewards was irresistible to the Young Generation of Wu Town, and the area around the town buzzed with the activity of young cultivators. Little did they know, hidden away by the river, there was a young man subjecting himself to a grueling regimen of self-imposed hardship.

Meng Fann's feet splashed against the ground, sending ripples through the water as he moved. Six days had passed, and he had adapted to the weight he bore during his training, his physique growing even more resilient. He pressed on, one determined step after another.

After six days of unwavering perseverance, carrying a hundred-pound Iron Cage Stone on his back had become as natural to him as walking unburdened. Several hundred steps later, Meng Fann stood in the stream, took a deep breath, and with a powerful leap, he soared into the air. In that moment, he was the embodiment of a fierce leopard, his arm lashing out to strike the empty air with formidable force.

Suspended in mid-air, Meng Fann's palm appeared to swell slightly as he struck. A potent force radiated not just from his arm but seemed to surge through his entire being with terrifying intensity.

The power emanating from Meng Fann's palm was none other than the Big Collapsing Hand, a technique bestowed upon him by Gu Xin'er.

As he harnessed the collective strength of his body, the stones bound to Meng Fann with hemp ropes abruptly shattered. They tumbled off him, plunging into the river below and sending a myriad of water droplets dancing into the air.