The Trial of Iron Sand

The midday sun bore down relentlessly, casting long shadows across the training grounds. Inside the martial arts school, the air was thick with heat and the acrid smell of burning iron sand. Ye Chen stood before Du Hai, his expression resolute as he addressed his teacher.

"Du Jiaoxi, I've successfully completed the stone grinding stage," Ye Chen said, his voice steady. "Now, it's time to start the iron sand grinding stage, right?"

Du Hai nodded, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "You've done well to complete the stone grinding stage, Ye Chen. It took you nearly two months, but this next stage will test you even further."

He motioned for Ye Chen to follow him to the chain repair site. The area was bustling with activity. Large pots sat over roaring fires, each filled with blazing hot iron sand. Apprentices worked tirelessly, their hands submerged in the searing material, stirring the molten grains. Their faces were grim, and some bore visible signs of pain—red, blistered hands that trembled as they worked.

Du Hai gestured toward one of the apprentices, who winced as he stirred the pot, his hands swollen and raw. "This is the iron sand grinding stage. It's far more grueling than the stone grinding stage. The intense heat and friction will temper your body, but the process is painful. It will take time and determination to endure."

Ye Chen approached an unoccupied pot and knelt beside it. He reached for the firewood below, feeding the flames until the iron sand glowed a fiery red. He could feel the heat radiating from the pot, almost unbearable even at a distance.

"Du Jiaoxi," Ye Chen asked, glancing at his teacher, "how long will this stage take to complete?"

Du Hai's gaze remained steady. "Your stone grinding stage took nearly two months. For the iron sand grinding stage, it will take at least five months if you persevere."

Ye Chen's heart sank slightly at the thought of enduring five months of relentless pain, but he quickly steeled himself. Without hesitation, he plunged his hands into the scorching iron sand.

The heat was excruciating.

Pain shot through his arms like a lightning bolt, his hands feeling as though they were being consumed by fire. Within moments, his skin turned red, the intense friction and heat raising painful blisters. His instincts screamed at him to stop, but he gritted his teeth and continued, stirring the iron sand with trembling hands.

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Hours passed, and Ye Chen's hands were raw and bloodied. Blisters formed, burst, and were replaced by new ones as he worked tirelessly. He finally withdrew his hands, panting heavily as he inspected the damage. His palms were covered in broken skin, blood oozing from the deeper wounds.

Still, he didn't falter. After leaving the chain repair site, he went straight to the martial arts hall to purchase the secret medicine. Applying the cool, soothing salve to his battered hands, he felt the sting of the wounds diminish slightly. The secret medicine, crafted from rare herbs and demon blood, accelerated his recovery, though its effects were slow.

Despite the pain, Ye Chen didn't regret his decision.

"This pain is nothing," he muttered to himself. "If I can endure this, I'll be one step closer to becoming a warrior in the Stone Skin Realm."

The next day, Ye Chen returned to the iron sand pot. His hands, still tender, screamed in protest as he plunged them into the scorching grains once more. The cycle repeated: hours of grueling work, followed by the application of secret medicine to heal his wounds.

Each day was a battle against his limits. The pain was unrelenting, but so was his determination. He reminded himself of the rewards that awaited him—the ability to sense energy and blood, the threshold to the Stone Skin Realm, and the strength he needed to survive in this dangerous world.

Ye Chen's progress wasn't swift, but it was steady. By the end of each session, he felt his hands growing tougher, his endurance increasing. The searing pain that had once been unbearable became a familiar companion, one he learned to withstand with grit and resolve.

Thanks to his income as a blacksmith, Ye Chen could afford to purchase as much secret medicine as he needed. Each ninth-grade weapon he forged brought him a substantial commission, ensuring he never lacked the resources to support his training. If the secret medicine could be used more frequently without side effects, he would have applied it twice a day to recover faster.

The iron sand grinding stage was slow and unforgiving. Ye Chen's average aptitude meant he couldn't expect rapid breakthroughs, but he remained patient. Day after day, he immersed himself in the painful process, knowing that each moment brought him closer to his goal.

Five months turned into six, then nine. By the end of the year, Ye Chen's hands bore the marks of his efforts—scarred and calloused, yet stronger than ever. The pain he had once dreaded was now a distant memory, replaced by the satisfaction of growth.

Finally, after a year of relentless grinding, Ye Chen felt a shift within himself. The energy and blood within his body, which had once been faint and elusive, now thrummed with a steady rhythm. He was on the brink of sensing it clearly—a sign that he was nearing the threshold of the Stone Skin Realm.

On the final day of his training, Ye Chen stood before the iron sand pot, his hands steady as he stirred the blazing grains. The heat no longer fazed him, his body tempered by months of perseverance. As he finished his final session, he withdrew his hands and clenched them into fists, feeling the strength coursing through his arms.

Du Hai approached, observing Ye Chen with a rare smile. "You've come a long way, Ye Chen. Completing the iron sand grinding stage is no small feat. You're now ready to begin sensing your energy and blood—a critical step toward becoming a Stone Skin Realm warrior."

Ye Chen bowed deeply, his gratitude evident. "Thank you, Du Jiaoxi. Your guidance has been invaluable."

Du Hai nodded. "Remember, the path of martial cultivation is long and arduous. Each stage will test you, but with determination like yours, I have no doubt you'll succeed."

Ye Chen straightened, his eyes burning with resolve. He knew that the trials ahead would only grow more difficult, but he was ready. The iron sand grinding stage was just one step on his journey—a journey that would lead him to unimaginable strength and a future shaped by his own hands.

As he walked away from the training grounds, his scarred hands resting at his sides, Ye Chen couldn't help but smile.

This was only the beginning.