Lian took a deep breath as he struck the illustrated pose from the scroll. It wasn't a simple meditative position like he had first thought. No, this one required him to squat low with his knees bent deeply, but with his upper body bent forward so that the weight of his entire frame shifted toward his arms, which were planted on the ground. His elbows bent, forcing him to balance his weight on his forearms while his legs trembled with strain.
It was as if his body was in an awkward mix between a squat and a push-up, with his knees hovering above the ground and his back muscles stretched taut. His chubby frame protested almost immediately, but surprisingly, Lian found the pose easy to imitate, thanks to the clarity of the illustrations on the scroll. Still, he knew this wouldn't last long—the real challenge lay in holding the position for a prolonged period.
As time passed, Lian could feel the strain building up, especially in his legs and arms. The bulk of his weight seemed to center on his forearms and thighs, causing a sharp burn to spread through his muscles. Sweat trickled down his face, dripping onto the ground as he gritted his teeth. Minutes passed, and the mild discomfort turned into a searing pain, radiating from his thighs and arms, which were now wobbling under the strain.
His body began to shake uncontrollably. The pain in his muscles was unlike anything he'd felt before, growing with each passing second until it was nearly unbearable. He felt his limbs trembling beneath him, sweat soaking through his robes, his breathing growing ragged. The tearing sensation in his muscles grew worse, and he almost gave in several times. His fat frame seemed to jiggle with every quiver, making him look like a piece of jelly about to collapse.
But he knew he couldn't give up yet. The scroll had specified a duration he hadn't even come close to reaching. If he couldn't hold the basic pose, how could he ever hope to advance to the higher levels? The thought of quitting so early gnawed at him, but another part of him refused to give in to weakness.
He continued to push through, his face contorted in agony as his chubby form shook violently. Groans escaped his lips despite his best efforts to suppress them. He looked like a man fighting against gravity itself, his cheeks puffing out as he held his breath, trying to manage the pain. Sweat dripped off him like a waterfall, soaking the ground beneath him.
Onlookers at the training center couldn't help but glance his way, some with raised eyebrows, others with amused smirks. The sight of a chubby boy wobbling like a frightened rabbit while trying to hold a ridiculous pose was, admittedly, quite a spectacle. A few people snickered under their breath, though most quickly turned back to their own training.
By the time he was halfway through the required duration, Lian's limbs had already gone numb. He couldn't feel his forearms anymore, and his thighs felt like they were on fire. His mind screamed for relief, and he could hardly hold his balance. His groans grew louder, and at one point, he couldn't help but let out a low, pained whimper that drew even more eyes.
Finally, the time passed, and Lian collapsed onto the ground with a loud thud, gasping for breath. His entire body felt like it had been run through a grinder, and he lay there, trying to recover from the intense pain that was slowly subsiding. As he lay there, he couldn't help but glance at the scroll once more.
He chuckled weakly to himself. The author of the Heavenly Steel, Heavenly Pillars Body Refinement Technique clearly meant business. The detailed illustrations of pain and struggle he had seen on the scroll perfectly matched the agony he had just endured. The little figure etched into the book with its contorted face and bent limbs suddenly felt far more relatable. The author wasn't exaggerating at all—the technique was just as painful as the drawings had promised.
In that moment, Lian wondered with a tired grin if completing this body refinement technique would really make him like a 'heavenly steel or pillar' capable of supporting the skies themselves. Because right now, he felt more like a wobbly pillar of jelly. He chuckled again, though the sound was more of a pained wheeze.
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Still, if this was only the beginning, he could only imagine what lay ahead. He was bound to push his body beyond its limits, possibly transforming into something far stronger than he ever thought possible. But for now, as he lay flat on the ground, limbs twitching and body soaked in sweat, he couldn't help but think, Maybe turning into a heavenly pillar is just a polite way of saying "suffer like hell."
After resting briefly on the ground, Lian forced himself up and quickly assumed a meditative position, his breathing still ragged from the previous pose. He remembered the instructions from the scroll—after each pose, he had to circulate spiritual energy to strengthen the muscles strained by the exercise. He crossed his legs, closed his eyes, and began the process, focusing on calming his mind as the pain slowly seeped from his limbs.
The sensation began as it had in the infirmary—a faint ripple of energy, like the surface of a lake disturbed by a slight breeze. The energy, which he recognized as the Boundless Light, swirled gently within him, gaining intensity with each breath. His previous experience with this energy left him cautious; the last time he had recklessly channelled it, the pain had been overwhelming. Now, he kept his control firm, stirring the energy slowly and evenly, making sure not to guide it forcefully to any part of his body.
Strangely, though, something was different this time. The energy began to flow on its own, without his direction. He could feel it seeping into his arms, thighs, and legs—the very muscles that had been tortured by the earlier pose. For a moment, a shiver of fear ran through him. He remembered the excruciating pain that had come before and braced himself for the worst. But to his surprise, no searing pain came.
Instead, a cool sensation washed over the aching areas. The Boundless Light flowed effortlessly through his arms, legs, and thighs, soothing the pain while simultaneously tightening the muscles. Lian's eyes snapped open in surprise, but he kept his posture, steadying his breath. The energy continued to swirl within him, strengthening his body exactly where it had been weakened. The cooling sensation was oddly pleasant, and as it traveled through him, he could feel the muscles growing firmer, the fat in those areas beginning to burn away.
"This is… the strengthening that was mentioned," Lian muttered under his breath, his voice tinged with amazement. He could visibly feel his body changing, the Boundless Light doing its work as if on autopilot. It was a bizarre feeling, as though the technique was acting on its own, fortifying his body exactly where it needed to.
Though a bit cautious from his past experience, Lian couldn't help but feel a rising elation. The development was unexpected, and the sensation of his muscles growing stronger with each passing second was invigorating. His fat was burning off in real-time, the cooling energy circulating steadily. Slowly, he continued the process, allowing the boundless light to do its work as time trickled by.
Finally, after the designated duration had passed, he stopped circulating the energy and slowly got to his feet. As he stood and stretched his arms and legs, a creaking sound echoed through his body. His muscles tightened involuntarily, as if they were resonating with the new strength they had gained. The pain that had tortured him earlier had completely subsided, replaced by a cool, refreshed feeling. He flexed his arms and legs, noting how much stronger and firmer they felt compared to before. His limbs, which had ached so badly just moments ago, now felt invigorated and firm.
A satisfied gleam appeared in Lian's eyes as he glanced briefly over his body, then at the scroll. He knew he was making real progress. Picking up the scroll again, he examined the next pose, which required a standing position.
The second pose was more challenging, targeting different parts of his body. Lian struck the pose carefully, planting his feet firmly on the ground and adjusting his posture to align with the detailed illustration. This time, his legs and arms had to hold up most of his weight while his torso twisted slightly, creating a stretch that targeted his sides and back. The tension immediately built up in his core muscles, and the familiar ache began to creep in.
As time passed, Lian's groans started to escape his lips again, reminiscent of his struggle with the first pose. Each second felt like an eternity as the pain intensified, especially in the areas now bearing the brunt of the exercise. However, the onlookers at the training center regarded him differently this time. Having witnessed his endurance with the first pose, there was now less mockery in their eyes. The smirks had mostly vanished, replaced with glances with faint traces of respect. Lian's chubby form still wobbled, but there was no mistaking the determination in his expression.
The pain was unbearable, but this time, it wasn't his legs and arms that suffered most—it was his torso. His sides burned fiercely, and he felt every stretch of muscle from his hips to his shoulders. The strain was intense, but the knowledge that he had survived the first pose gave him the willpower to endure this one. Time dragged by, and finally, when the duration had reached and he could bear it no longer, he collapsed to the ground again, gasping for breath.
Despite the pain, Lian realized something surprising: this second pose had been slightly easier than the first. His legs, strengthened from the previous circulation of the boundless light, had aided him in holding the position longer. Although his torso ached terribly now, his legs had felt sturdier and more resilient.
After resting briefly, he once again struck a meditative pose, ready to circulate the boundless light within him. As before, the energy seeped effortlessly into the areas he had just worked on—this time, his torso and core. A cool sensation spread through his body as the boundless light worked to strengthen him. His muscles tightened, and the fat in those areas began to burn away, leaving behind a stronger, leaner frame.
A strange sense of elation filled Lian as he felt the changes in real-time. The boundless light was transforming him, reshaping his body to become stronger with each pose.