Chapter 31

As Finn hobbled to his room, he received a system prompt:

**Tomorrow will be a spar day with your chosen partner.**

**You will spar for 8 hours, rest for 1 hour, and then spar again for 8 hours. Afterward, you will have a 7-hour rest period before finding a spot in the coliseum stands. The infirmary will close, and all students must attend.**

**There will be 25,000 combat spots for 1-on-1 duels with goblins. You will wait for the system to prompt you and then make your way to your combat spot. You must kill the goblin to be released; failure will result in death. The timer will be 10 minutes.**

Finn's entire body ached as he continued to hobble to his room, thinking about the new information. The weight of the upcoming challenges pressed on his mind. He pondered how he could push his limits by fighting someone weaker than himself.

Finally reaching his room, he saw that the others were already in their baths. Finn made his way over, finding the talisman near his bath with a note. With his fractured hands and forearms, he could barely hold it.

**Only use when having a B+ grade mortal medicinal bath and merit points for a high-grade meal.**

**Each use of the talisman will require 30 merit points, and pain must be endured outside the bath; the process lasts 20 minutes. Passing out is not advised; not immediately getting into the medicinal bath can lead to long-term effects.**

**Even if you're hurt, this talisman can still be used. It will look for other areas to strengthen.**

Finn hmm'd and looked at his bath grade: A- and he had enough merit points.

He already felt incredibly hurt; he could barely use his arms and hands, but he steeled himself. Determined to push his limits, he put a little spirit power into the talisman. It jumped to his chest, and then he felt excruciating pressure.

The talisman began its work, creating intense pressure that tore through his muscles and fractured his bones, focusing on his legs and torso. The pain was beyond anything Finn had ever experienced. It felt like his muscles were being stretched to their limits, and his bones were being carefully fractured and reinforced. He could feel the tendons in his legs stretching to their breaking point, and the muscles in his torso felt like they were being twisted and pulled apart.

Each second felt like an eternity. The pressure was relentless, squeezing every ounce of strength and endurance out of him. His vision blurred, and his breath came in ragged gasps. He could hear his heartbeat pounding in his ears, a relentless drumbeat that matched the throbbing pain coursing through his body.

Finn gritted his teeth, refusing to give in to the agony. He focused on his breathing, taking shallow, measured breaths to keep himself conscious. The room seemed to spin around him, the edges of his vision darkening as he fought to stay upright.

His legs felt like they were on fire, the muscles tearing and repairing in a brutal cycle. His torso ached with a deep, bone-deep pain that made it hard to draw breath. Every movement sent sharp stabs of pain through his body, but he forced himself to stay standing.

The minutes dragged on, each one an ordeal of pain and endurance. Finn's mind drifted in and out of focus, the world around him fading to a distant blur. All he could think about was the searing pain and the relentless pressure that seemed determined to break him.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the pressure began to ease. The talisman released its hold, and Finn staggered, barely able to stay on his feet. He looked down at his hands, seeing the bruises and swelling that had formed during the process. His legs trembled with fatigue, and his torso throbbed with a deep, aching pain.

Gasping for breath, Finn knew he had to get into the medicinal bath immediately. He stumbled forward, each step sending jolts of pain through his body. With a final effort, he lowered himself into the bath, feeling the cold water envelop him.

The medicinal properties of the bath began to work, soothing his torn muscles and fractured bones. The pain slowly ebbed away, replaced by a cool, calming sensation. Finn closed his eyes, letting the healing waters do their work.

As he lay there, he couldn't help but think about the challenges ahead. The sparring session with Lythana, the life-and-death battle with the goblin—it all seemed overwhelming. But Finn knew that he had to push through, to endure the pain and come out stronger on the other side.

He had made a promise to himself to become the strongest cultivator he could be. And no matter how much pain he had to endure, he would see that promise through to the end.

Finn drifted off into a fitful sleep, his body healing and his mind steeling itself for the trials to come.