When soaking in his medicinal baths, Ling Fei would take the opportunity to read some ancient texts.
At the same time, whenever he had questions, Ling Fei would proactively ask his adoptive father.
Elder Ling was always extremely patient in his answers.
He would even sprinkle in life lessons during his explanations, which gave Ling Fei moments of clarity as he pondered them.
For this reason, Ling Fei committed all of his adoptive father's words to heart.
...
「The next morning.」
"Father, Xue Xi, I'm heading to the Training Ground!" After washing up, Ling Fei left the medical hall early.
Longtan Town had a Training Ground.
The youths of the town would usually go there to practice their Martial Arts.
Although many people in Longtan Town practiced Martial Arts...
...the older generation also had their own training to do. How could they have time to teach their sons every single day?
The Training Ground, however, was different.
Here, you could train with your peers, fostering a sense of competition that pushed everyone to strive for more.
More importantly, there were also Martial Masters with a wealth of Martial Arts experience to offer guidance.
These Martial Masters were all individuals who were stuck at the Ninth Layer Perfection Realm of Martial Arts, unable to advance further. Their experience was immense.
Some of the current Martial Masters had even attended the Divine Academy.
...
The heavy snow had stopped, leaving a thick blanket of white on the ground.
After saying goodbye to his adoptive father and sister, Ling Fei strode briskly toward the Training Ground.
'Once you reach the Eighth Layer of Body Tempering, you should have 800 jin of strength. I wonder if I've made the cut?' Ling Fei was eager to test his Power.
The Third Layer of Body Tempering could grant 300 jin of strength!
The Eighth Layer of Body Tempering could grant 800 jin of strength.
If one reached the Ninth Layer of Body Tempering, there would be a qualitative leap.
The Ninth Layer of Body Tempering was divided into four minor stages.
Early Stage: 1,000 jin of strength!
Mid Stage: 2,000 jin of strength!
Late Stage: 3,000 jin of strength!
Perfection: 6,000 jin of strength!
Upon reaching the Innate Realm, one could possess 10,000 jin of strength!
The Training Ground was located in the center of Longtan Town, and Ling Fei arrived early.
At this time, the snow in the Training Ground hadn't been cleared yet, and the main gate had only just been opened.
Ling Fei was the first youth to arrive.
The Training Ground was spacious, with a large Martial Master's platform in the center.
Below the platform was a wide, open area.
Along the left edge, stone locks were arranged in a row.
These stone locks were arranged in order, ranging from 100 jin to 3,000 jin.
In the Body Tempering Realm, lifting stone locks had become the best method for determining a person's cultivation Realm.
Ling Fei walked over to the stone locks. His gaze swept over them and landed on the eighth one in the row.
The stone lock wasn't large, standing only two chi tall.
It was carved from extremely hard Xuan Gang Stone, making it far heavier than ordinary rock.
'The 800 jin stone lock!' Ling Fei eyed the stone lock before him. After taking a deep breath, he sank into a horse stance, reached out his right hand, and gripped the handle.
Inside his body, physical strength began to gather in his right arm.
"Up!" As a low shout escaped him, the veins on Ling Fei's arm bulged. With a single motion, the incredibly heavy stone lock lifted off the ground.
'I really do have 800 jin of strength!' Seeing this, Ling Fei's heart filled with joy.
After confirming his increase in strength, he suddenly poured more force into his right arm.
Then, he lifted the stone lock to his chest. He held it for a full three breaths before he started to feel fatigued.
THUD!
Following the dull sound, the stone lock hit the ground, making the entire Training Ground tremble slightly.
"Huh? Brother Fei, was that the 800 jin stone lock you just lifted? Have you broken through to the Eighth Layer of Body Tempering?" Just as the stone lock landed, a surprised voice cried out.
In the Training Ground, a stout boy dressed in a tight-fitting martial arts uniform and leather boots was staring at Ling Fei, his eyes wide with shock.
After the initial shock, a look of delight spread across his face, and he ran toward Ling Fei.
"Wu Dapang!" Hearing the voice, Ling Fei was slightly taken aback before snapping out of his own joyous haze.
Ling Fei had very few friends his age.
Most of his peers had enjoyed taunting and mocking him since they were children.
Only Wu Dapang had never done so.
This was because Wu Dapang had been sick as a child. His parents had prayed to the Divine Spirits for their blessing, but to no avail.
In the end, it was Elder Ling who had cured Wu Dapang.
Because of this, Wu Dapang's family was endlessly grateful to Elder Ling, and he and Ling Fei had become good brothers.
When Ling Fei turned around, he found the stout boy was already beside him.
Wu Dapang ran over, the plump flesh of his flushed cheeks jiggling, looking quite adorable.
After reaching Ling Fei's side, Wu Dapang struggled to widen his squinted eyes, examining the stone lock next to Ling Fei.
"That's right, it was the 800 jin stone lock." Wu Dapang nodded slightly.
"Haha, Brother Fei, you've broken through to the Eighth Layer of Body Tempering?" Then, his face full of excitement, the stout boy threw his chubby arms around Ling Fei in a tight embrace.
His portly body was so heavy that Ling Fei could barely breathe.
"Hey, Fatty, let go of me! Don't hug me so tight, anyone who didn't know better would think there was something improper going on between us!" Ling Fei rolled his eyes.
"Get outta here! Who'd have an improper relationship with you? A brother's just happy for you, that's all!" Hearing this, Wu Dapang shot him a look of disdain.
Nevertheless, his face was still wreathed in a huge smile.
After letting go, he blinked his small eyes and looked Ling Fei up and down.
"Not bad, your complexion is looking better and better. Looks like it won't be long before your body makes a full recovery." After his inspection, Wu Dapang nodded and said.
He was also happy for Ling Fei.
"Well, well, isn't it Ling the sickly? What, you came to the Training Ground again?"
Just then, a highly unwelcome voice suddenly rang out.
"It's Zhao Fa!" When this voice sounded, both Wu Dapang's and Ling Fei's brows furrowed, and a look of disgust appeared on their slightly childish faces.
Following their gazes, they saw four youths strolling toward them.
They walked with arrogant strides, the corners of their mouths curling into mocking smirks as they looked at Ling Fei.
Their eyes were filled with contempt.
The one who had just spoken was a youth in a tight-fitting cyan uniform named Zhao Fa.
"What's this, little brother Ling Fei, testing your strength? Have you reached the Ninth Layer of Body Tempering yet?"
Zhao Fa slowly walked over, treading on the snow. He squinted his eyes, staring at Ling Fei with a sarcastic tone.
"Heh heh, Ninth Layer of Body Tempering? If this sickly good-for-nothing could reach the Ninth Layer of Body Tempering, I would've already entered the Innate Realm and become a Divine Guard!"
Behind Zhao Fa, a youth in yellow robes sneered.
This person's name was Huang Liang, and he had spent years mocking and taunting Ling Fei.
"Hey, Zhao Fa, Huang Liang, what's the meaning of this?" Hearing that, Wu Dapang's chubby face immediately darkened. "What 'Ninth Layer of Body Tempering'? You say it like you've already reached it yourself. You're shameless." Zhao Fa's words were clearly intended to mock Ling Fei.
"Heh heh, it's true I haven't reached the Ninth Layer of Body Tempering yet, but I reached the Perfect Body Tempering Eighth Layer a long time ago. It won't be long before I can break through to the Ninth Layer. Wu Dapang, if I recall correctly, you only just managed to reach the Perfect Body Tempering Eighth Layer last month. If you want to reach the Ninth Layer, I'm afraid you'll have to wait until after I do."
Zhao Fa crossed his arms, a smug look on his face.
"And after spring begins, the Divine Chosen One competition will be held. Longtan Town only has eight spots, you know. I'm afraid you're going to be left out!"
"Hmph, what's so great about that? You're just relying on your family's money to constantly use Spirit Medicine for Body Refining," Wu Dapang snorted coldly.
"What, not convinced? If you're not convinced, we can have a little contest," Zhao Fa said, raising an eyebrow with contempt.
"A contest it is! What's there to be afraid of!" Wu Dapang's brow furrowed. He took a large step forward, planting his hefty body in front of them. The ground shook when his foot landed. The sheer force of this fatty was enough to make many people wary. By all appearances, he was ready to fight.
"Heh heh, fine. Since you want to fight, this young master will oblige you," Zhao Fa laughed.
He had reached the Perfect Body Tempering Eighth Layer long ago, and his strength was greater than Wu Dapang's.
Furthermore, he had also practiced many Martial Arts. He considered himself a prominent figure among his peers in Longtan Town and had no fear of Wu Dapang whatsoever.
"Dapang, there's no need to stoop to his level." Seeing this, Ling Fei pulled Wu Dapang back.
He naturally knew where they both stood.
"What, scared?" Seeing this, Zhao Fa's eyebrows arched as he smirked.
"Heh heh, Zhao Fa, you've indeed reached the Perfect Body Tempering Eighth Layer. But this world is vast, and there are countless capable people. Don't you think you look like a clown, showing off like this? You should know, in the eyes of true geniuses, you are nothing but an ant, completely insignificant," Ling Fei said with a calm smile.
Having been well-read in the classics since childhood, Ling Fei also had some understanding of the Martial Arts World.
In this world, there were many geniuses.
Some were born with astonishing Divine Power, possessing 1,000 jin of strength by the age of four or five.
Some could even control water and fire.
Those were the true chosen of the heavens.
Therefore, Ling Fei had always maintained a humble heart in his training, not becoming arrogant just because he had obtained the "True Dragon Body Refining Technique."
"I'm an ant?" Hearing this, Zhao Fa's expression turned grim. His eyes narrowed as he stared at Ling Fei, and he spoke in an arrogant tone, "In front of those chosen of the heavens, I may indeed be an ant. But you, Ling the sickly, are also an ant in my eyes! Do you... dare to fight me?"
"Fight you?" Ling Fei's brow twitched.
"Haha, you don't dare!" Behind Zhao Fa, Huang Liang sneered. "You, Ling the sickly, are all talk. If it weren't for that sickly Old Ling of yours having some medical skill, this young master would have beaten you to a pulp long ago! Do you think you have the right to lecture Brother Fa?"
"Huang Liang, you can look down on me, but you will not insult my father. If my adoptive father hadn't been injured in his youth, would he be like this now? Even so, he is not someone you have the right to insult." Huang Liang's words made Ling Fei's expression turn cold and severe. In his eyes, no matter what, his adoptive father was a towering figure.
Even if his adoptive father was now terminally ill, like a lamp running out of oil, he remained as great as a mountain in Ling Fei's heart.
This wasn't just because of his adoptive father's brilliant medical skills, but also his insights into life, which Ling Fei admired immensely.
Therefore, he would not allow anyone to call his adoptive father a sickly good-for-nothing.
"What, are you upset now?" Huang Liang roared with laughter. "Look, everyone, Ling the sickly is angry, haha."
He laughed at his companions beside him.
The nearby Zhao Fang and the others had mocking smiles on their faces, all watching coldly.
This made Ling Fei's brows knit even tighter, his fists clenched hard.
"What, you want to hit me?" Seeing this, Huang Liang was momentarily stunned, then said with great arrogance, "Haha, you, a sickly good-for-nothing, want to hit me? Come on, I'm right here! If you've got the guts, come and hit me!" He was extremely smug, showing not a trace of fear toward Ling Fei. From his expression, it was clear he was long accustomed to mocking Ling Fei like this.
"Hit you... why wouldn't I dare!" Just as Huang Liang's face was filled with smugness, a glint flashed in Ling Fei's eyes, and then, a low voice suddenly escaped his lips.
Then, Huang Liang saw the blur of a fist flash before him.