Chapter 1: The Cold Door Youth
Call!
"Father, why have you called me?" Han Yu asked with some confusion, as his father had never shown such an expression before.
After breaking through to the fifth level of body refinement, the benefits gained by the practitioner from the tempering of the skin and bones are difficult to articulate. However, in subsequent cultivation, the enhancement of one's cultivation level relies not only on continuous physical training and the activation of one's potential but also on the refinement of vital energy, which is extremely important. This is because whether it is the subsequent refining of the skin, bones, or membranes, a powerful vital energy is required within the body for the tempering process.
Han Yu suppressed the excitement in his heart, took the classic text from his father's hand, and asked eagerly: "Since mother is alive, why does she not meet with us? Where is she now?"
Han Zifeng slowly turned around, his face slightly pale, and the eyes beneath his sword-like brows were dim and lacking luster, clearly indicating that he was injured. When he saw the young man in front of him, a smile finally appeared on his face as he softly said, "Yu'er, you have returned"
The path of body refinement consists of six major realms: Body Tempering, Innate, True Martial, Profound Meaning, Yin-Yang, and Shattered Void. It is said that reaching the pinnacle will grant one the ability to destroy the heavens and extinguish the earth, as well as to move mountains and overturn the seas.
Cough cough
In the humble dwelling, the yellowed light refracts through the window into the courtyard, while the branches and leaves of an old locust tree sway nearby, the light shimmering softly upon them
Han Yu's legs were slightly bent, and his long, slender hands exerted a sudden force. With a series of cracking sounds from his bones, the heavy iron stone trembled slightly and finally began to lift off the ground as the boy raised his arms.
Cultivation begins with the refinement of the body. Only by honing the physical form to its limits and fully unleashing the hidden potential can one break free from constraints, shedding the mortal shell to join the ranks of cultivators. If the body is refined to its utmost, it will possess the divine abilities to move mountains and drain seas, transcending the earthly realm. The profound truths within this state are difficult to fathom without reaching that level.
Han Zifeng shook his head. Just as his gaze was about to return to Han Yu, a flash of astonishment suddenly crossed his face. "Yu'er, have you reached the fifth level of body tempering?"
Is it possible that my mother is still alive? Han Yu's heart began to race unexpectedly. How many days and nights had he wished for a complete family? Upon hearing this news, his desolate heart ignited with boundless hope like a roaring flame!
Han Zifeng coughed, and his originally pale face now appeared even more ashen. He glanced at the young man before him, who was on the verge of adulthood, and spoke with some gravity, "Your mother is also a victim of circumstances. The place and status she occupies are beyond the reach of ordinary cultivators like us. If you wish to see your mother, you must reach the realm of Yin and Yang to have even a glimmer of hope"
This child is named Han Yu and is a direct descendant of the Han family
It was an extremely simple courtyard, built against the mountain, consisting of only a few basic houses, surrounded by a circle of bamboo, which looked completely out of place compared to the resplendent grandeur of the Han family mansion
It is truly hard to imagine that the once-envied prodigy, who made all the cultivators in Taiyan Town envious, would reside in such a humble courtyard
Han Yu nodded, his face displaying a resolute expression. As long as he could stand out in the clan competition, he would receive the clan's support and a monthly stipend. More importantly, his father had always been nostalgic about the inner courtyard, hoping to return to the clan one day. This was also Han Yu's goal; he wanted the members of the Han family to know that he, Han Yu, was not inferior to anyone else
That is an iron stone that can only be lifted by a cultivator who has reached the realm of the Five Great Achievements of Tempering Body
Yes, Father, I will definitely work hard to cultivate myself and will not disappoint your expectations
Looking at the frail figure before him, whose once sharp demeanor had faded, Han Yu felt a tightening in his heart. This father, who had brought countless honors to the family, was now enduring inhumane treatment due to a single mistake, left to fend for himself with no one to care for him
With a glance at the iron stone before him, Han Yu tightly gripped the stone handle with both hands, channeling the energy within his body. Veins bulged as if he possessed an explosive force between his arms
Thus, he aims to become a strong individual, compelling those who mock and ridicule him to retract their ugly faces and submit at his feet
In the realm of Yin and Yang! Han Yu appeared astonished as if struck by a heavy hammer
Call!
The Nine Levels of Body Refinement primarily focus on refining the physical body, and the threshold for cultivation is not high. Especially in the first five levels, as long as one is willing to put in the effort, breakthroughs can be easily achieved. However, as one progresses further, the difficulty of cultivation will increase. The fifth level of body refinement presents the first significant bottleneck in cultivation. Within the Han family, countless disciples, supported by the family's financial resources, have remained stagnant at the fifth level of body refinement for a long time before finally achieving a breakthrough.
The Han family had high hopes that Han Zifeng would bring glory to their name; however, things did not go as wished. In the past, Han Zifeng made a grave mistake that affected the important matters of the Han family. In a fit of anger, the old master of the Han family expelled him from the inner courtyard and relegated him to a house originally meant for storing miscellaneous items, leaving him to fend for himself. Meanwhile, Han Yu, a legitimate descendant of the family, found himself in a position worse than that of a servant, enduring endless ridicule and mockery.
This is the scripture left to you by your mother. Today, I shall hand it over to you on behalf of your father. You must take good care of it in the future! Han Zifeng glanced at Han Yu, took a deep breath, and then carefully took out a delicate small iron box and gently opened it.
Taiyan Town, located on the western frontier of the Great Qin Dynasty, directly governs the geographical area of Xiyang City in Xihuang County
The words of Han's father stirred waves in Han Yu's heart like a giant stone, as long as his mother was alive, the reunion of the family was not a luxury
It is truly hard to imagine that a sixteen-year-old youth possesses such astonishing strength
There is no need for my father to be this way; as long as I work hard on my cultivation, I will surely achieve something in the future. Although I am very eager for the elixir mentioned by my father, Han Yu knows that at this moment, he must focus solely on his cultivation, reaching a level that cannot be underestimated by his clan members, in order to receive that special treatment. At this time, he must stand out in the clan's small competition three months from now
Behold the determination that flashes across this tender little face, Han Zifeng's brows tightly knitted together. At such a young age, one should be blooming like a flower, carefree and without worries. Yet, his own son has no choice but to strive diligently in his cultivation
Han Yu entered the house with a light and brisk step. His eyes scanned the hall slightly, and his brows immediately furrowed. "Father, why are you up?"
Han Zifeng, the father of Han Yu, is the third son of Han Zhenshan, the current head of the Han family. He was once a prodigy who was fully nurtured by the Han family and is widely recognized as a once-in-a-century genius of Taiyan Town.
The refinement of the essence of vitality cannot be achieved merely through physical training; it requires the gradual distillation of the vital energy of heaven and earth through one's own efforts. This is a process that cannot be accomplished in a single day.
As the box opened, a strange aura that seemed capable of captivating the mind immediately spread out from the iron box
In these past months, Han Yu has undergone devilish training. Although he has not witnessed it with his own eyes, he can still discern some aspects. "If my body had not been injured, why would you need to endure such arduous training? I fear that with the aid of external forces, you would have already reached the seventh level of body tempering. It is a pity..."
Han Zifeng's gaze slightly condensed as he looked at Han Yu, a warm smile appearing at the corner of his mouth. "If Xi'er were here to see how understanding Yu'er is, how wonderful that would be!"
Father, you are injured, so please take care of your wounds in peace!" Seeing several steaming dishes on the old, worn table in the hall, Han Yu felt a tremor in his heart, tightened his fists, and thought to himself that he must return home early tomorrow to ensure that his seriously injured father does not tire himself out.
The realm of Yin and Yang is not only rare in the Western Wilderness County, but also a phenomenon that is seldom seen throughout the entire Great Qin Dynasty. Such practitioners are as elusive as a dragon, appearing only in legends. If one must reach this level of cultivation to have even a slight chance of meeting my mother, it is indeed as difficult as ascending to the heavens
Such cultivators are ethereal and elusive, beyond the reach of ordinary people. One can only imagine the status of Han Yu's mother.
At this moment, Han Yu has only reached the fifth level of body tempering, which indicates that his aptitude is mediocre and he is not among those with exceptional talents. However, his diligence has made him surpass many disciples of the Han family who can only look on in envy
The ridicule and mockery from his clan did not lead Han Yu to silently endure; instead, he trained frantically to enhance his cultivation. He understood that this is a world where martial prowess is revered, and as long as one possesses sufficient strength, one can change the current situation
However, if there is the assistance of a miraculous medicine, the refinement of such vital energy will come naturally, achieving results with half the effort!
In Taiyan Town, the one with the highest cultivation is none other than the True Martial Realm
What about mother's belongings? Why has father never mentioned them before? Han Yu felt a slight confusion in his heart, and then turned his gaze towards the iron box
Han Yu rolled up his sleeves and gently wiped the beads of sweat from his forehead, then once again directed his gaze towards the front, where a larger piece of ironstone lay in sight
At this moment, in a martial arts training ground in Han Family Village, a boy of about sixteen, with a slender figure, was engaged in a series of astonishing physical training exercises. Despite his delicate, knife-like features having turned red from the cold, the boy showed no signs of wanting to stop.
Han Family Village, a century-old prominent family in Dayan Town, now the former glory of the Han family has faded, leaving only the grand manor that still witnesses the hundred years of vicissitudes of the Han family
Holding the ancient texts in the iron box, Han Zifeng treated them as if he were holding a mountain, his expression appearing extremely solemn. As his gaze flickered with a hint of nostalgia, he glanced at Han Yu and sighed, saying: "This is the only thing your mother left behind; perhaps in the future, you will be able to meet her through this"
Similarly, in the absence of family support, Han Yu's slow progress in cultivation is regarded as mediocrity.
The realm of body tempering, as the name suggests, refers to the process of refining the physical body and transforming human muscular capabilities in order to unleash its hidden potential
Your mother is indeed alive, but seeing her is as difficult as ascending to the heavens! A fleeting look of reminiscence appeared on Han Zifeng's face, but he soon shook his head slightly, a hint of unwillingness evident between his brows
Within the iron box lies a tome of ancient style, from which a peculiar aura emanates. Upon closer inspection, it is evident that there are no inscriptions on the tome.
As deep winter arrives and night falls, the lanterns hanging in the corridor occasionally sway and clink in the biting cold wind, their lights flickering like stars.
Han Zifeng has no complaints about this, as he caused the Han family to miss an opportunity for a turnaround, resulting in the Han family being unable to recover ever since. The decline of the Han family has always been a source of pain in his heart
He looked up at the pitch-black night sky, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and walked out of the training ground, heading towards a secluded courtyard in Han Family Village.
Seeing his obedient and understanding son, Han Zifeng's eyes filled with a misty sheen: "With a son like this, what more could one ask for!"
Taking a deep breath, the young boy placed the iron stone in his hand among a row of iron stones of varying sizes in front of him, his slightly childish and charming face revealing a hint of joy
After dinner, Han Zifeng displayed a serious expression and summoned Han Yu to his bedroom
On the dilapidated table, there were only a few vegetarian dishes, which were certainly insufficient to satisfy a growing boy. Han Yu showed no signs of complaint about this. Ever since he became aware of his surroundings, the Han family had not provided his father with a single monthly salary. If it were not for the support of his aunt, it is likely that the father and son would have long since starved to death from hunger and cold