Chapter 28: The Weight of Strength

Scene 1: A New Power

Lin Feng stood still, his chest rising and falling in steady rhythm. Power pulsed through his limbs, raw and untamed like a violent river refusing to be contained.

The fourth stage of Body Tempering.

He had forced his body past its previous limits but it wasn't just strength that had changed, it was everything.

His skin was tougher, his muscles heavier, his steps naturally carrying more force than before. Even his perception of his own movements felt altered as if his body no longer obeyed the familiar constraints of his past self.

He curled his fingers into a fist, clenching it tightly.

A gust of wind swept through the valley, carrying with it dust and fragments of stone. Lin Feng took a step forward, intending to test his control.

Crack.

The ground beneath his foot shattered. A spiderweb of fissures spread outward, dust rising from the broken terrain.

His eyes narrowed.

"I can't even walk properly like this?"

This wasn't a problem of power, it was a problem of control.

His body had grown stronger but his movements were no longer aligned with his instincts. Every motion carried too much force, every step risked damaging the very ground he walked upon.

He needed to correct it.

No he needed to master it.

Scene 2: Testing the Limits

Taking a deep breath, Lin Feng lowered his stance and ran.

The valley stretched before him, uneven and filled with natural obstacles. He needed to understand the full extent of his breakthrough, not through theory but through action.

His first few strides were unstable. His legs carried him forward faster than he intended, his balance faltering on the shifting terrain. He leaped over a jagged boulder, only to find himself overshooting the landing.

He twisted midair, forcing his body downward—bam! His feet slammed into the stone below, another crack forming on impact.

Too much power.

He gritted his teeth and pushed forward, adjusting his pace. His breath steadied, his mind focused.

With every step, he refined his movements.

The wind howled around him as he sprinted up a steep incline, his feet barely touching the rocky surface before propelling him forward. He had never moved like this before—fast, powerful, yet dangerously unrefined.

If he wanted to truly master this strength, he had to keep going.

So he did.

He ran across the valley floor, dodging unstable rocks and leaping between cliffs. The terrain constantly shifted beneath his feet, forcing him to react instantly. Every misstep carried consequences, every hesitation threatened to throw him off balance.

This wasn't simple endurance training anymore.

This was survival.

Scene 3: The Valley's Resistance

An hour passed. Then another.

The valley did not remain idle.

As Lin Feng continued his relentless training, the environment seemed to respond.

The shifting gravity, once sporadic, grew more erratic. One moment, he felt weightless, the next his entire body felt crushed.

His breath hitched as he staggered under the sudden increase in pressure. His muscles screamed in protest, his bones aching under the strain.

The valley wasn't just testing him.

It was forcing him to adapt.

Lin Feng clenched his fists, refusing to yield. He planted his feet firmly against the rocky surface and took another step. Then another. Then another.

He would not break.

The gravity shifted again, this time doubling in intensity.

His knees nearly buckled.

But he forced himself upright, sweat dripping down his forehead. He would not break.

He gritted his teeth and pushed forward, his mind focusing not on the pain, but on his goal.

Master it. Overcome it.

Each step became a battle. Each movement required deliberate precision. The valley was relentless, but so was he.

Minutes stretched into hours, and yet Lin Feng did not stop.

Slowly, his body adjusted.

His steps no longer caused the ground to crack. His movements became smoother, his control sharpening with each passing moment.

The overwhelming force that had once threatened to crush him now felt… manageable.

He wasn't just enduring anymore.

He was conquering.

Scene 4: Master Yen's Observation

Beneath the valley, hidden within the deep caverns of the mountains, Master Yen watched.

His arms were crossed, his expression unreadable. The flickering torchlight barely illuminated his features but his keen eyes never left the scene unfolding above.

"Brat's got good instincts," he muttered.

For an ordinary cultivator, adapting to a single breakthrough in Body Tempering took weeks, even months. Yet Lin Feng had already begun refining his movements, as if instinctively molding his body to match his newfound strength.

It was absurd.

Most cultivators struggled just to survive the increased pressure of their own growth. They relied on external techniques, manuals, and years of guided practice to truly advance.

But Lin Feng?

He was doing it through sheer will.

Master Yen exhaled through his nose, shaking his head. "Tch. Stubborn fool."

And yet, there was something deeply satisfying about watching a disciple forge their own path.

This was what made cultivation meaningful.

Still, he wouldn't let the brat get too comfortable. Not yet.

His gaze shifted toward the valley's depths.

The real training had yet to begin.

Scene 5: The Weight of Strength

Lin Feng collapsed onto one knee, panting. His entire body burned, his limbs aching from the relentless training.

And yet, his lips curled into a small grin.

He could feel it.

His body was stronger. His movements sharper. The once crushing weight of the valley now felt like an old rival, one that no longer held the same power over him.

The fourth stage of Body Tempering…

It wasn't just about raw power.

It was about control.

He exhaled slowly, wiping the sweat from his brow.

Tomorrow, he would train again.

And the day after that.

Because this was only the beginning.

Deep underground, Master Yen chuckled.

"Good. Let's see how far you can go, brat."