After finishing the meal, Jin Valen glanced at Eryndor and clicked his tongue in mock appraisal. "Tsk tsk, Dori, you look so full of spirit. At your age, other kids are still playing in the mud."

Eryndor, not one to be humble, replied confidently, "Father, that goes without saying. I’m the son of two Nascent Soul cultivators. How could I stoop to playing in the mud? With my knowledge, I could ace a top scholar examination with ease."

Jin Valen raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Quite the confidence, huh? You haven’t stepped out of this house, like a proper little lady. How do you even know about taking scholar exams?"

"It’s all in the books. Nothing surprising there," Eryndor retorted, his tone casual but clearly exaggerating. In truth, he was relying on memories from his past life—there was no mention of scholar exams in the sect’s library.

Jin Valen chuckled, clearly not letting it go.

"Oh really? You do realize that to pass as a scholar, one needs to excel in poetry, literature, and philosophy. Looking at you, I’d bet you’d stumble on the poetry part. And let’s not forget, neither your mother nor I are exactly talented in writing verses."

It was true. Both Jin Valen and Serene Skyshade had minimal talent in poetry. They could dabble a bit, but calling them proficient would be an overstatement.

Jin Eryndor, realizing his boasting was on the verge of being exposed, quickly sought to justify himself.

"Father, just because you and Mother don’t have the skill doesn’t mean I lack it. I feel like my poetry is quite good. Just wait—when I’m older, I’ll take the scholar’s exam and make our family proud!"

Jin Valen burst into laughter. Making the family proud by earning recognition from a mortal dynasty was a concept that only applied to commoners. To cultivators like him, a mortal empire was nothing more than a passing speck—easily destroyed if one wished. Still, Jin Valen wasn’t a demonic cultivator who indiscriminately slaughtered innocents, so he let the thought pass.

Serene Skyshade found her son’s antics quite entertaining. Jin Eryndor, who seemed to have picked up boasting from somewhere, was proving amusing. Bragging might not be the best trait for a cultivator, but his bold aspirations of achieving glory through his accomplishments certainly set him apart from other sect elders’ children. Encouraged by the playful atmosphere, she added,

"Well then, Eryndor, why don’t you compose a poem for us?"

Jin Eryndor frowned slightly, realizing that he’d been cornered. He remembered a few poems from his past life, and this seemed like the perfect opportunity to adapt one. After clearing his throat dramatically, he began to recite with flair:

"Father’s love, a mountain reaching the skies,

Mother’s care, an ocean that never dries.

The eastern seas cannot measure Mother’s grace,

Nor can boundless skies cover Father’s embrace."

The short, rhythmic poem, with its clear and heartfelt sentiment, beautifully conveyed the gratitude and reverence a child holds for their parents. It left an impression of simplicity yet profound affection.

"As people, we must never forget the kindness of those who gave us life and nurtured us. If we do, even the heavens will not forgive us. Life becomes an uphill battle, and we will be despised by all."

Jin Valen was momentarily stunned. He hadn't expected his son, not even two years old, to truly compose a poem—let alone one that praised him as a father. His heart swelled with pride, and he thought, This child truly is my greatest blessing.

Serene Skyshade, meanwhile, was moved to tears. Her eyes glistened as she cried out,

"Oh, Dori, you're so intelligent and respectful. You've made your mother so happy!"

Without hesitation, she scooped him up and began showering his face with kisses.

Eryndor let out a small, helpless chuckle.

"Mother," he said, "there’s no need to be so emotional. I just borrowed some words, that’s all."

Jin Valen snapped out of his daze, laughing heartily. "Eryndor, your poem was excellent. Come here, your father has a reward for you!"

Hearing the promise of a reward, Jin Eryndor eagerly rushed over. Jin Valen scooped him up and planted a few kisses on his cheek.

Jin Eryndor frowned in mild annoyance. "Father, is this what you call a reward? I was expecting something... better."

"You don’t like it?" Jin Valen asked with mock seriousness.

"It’s not that I don’t like it," Eryndor muttered, "but we’re both grown men. Isn’t this a bit much?"

Jin Valen’s sharp ears caught his son’s grumbling, and he roared with laughter. "Alright, alright, Dori . I’ll head out now. But I must share your poem with the other elders later!" He walked out the door, still chuckling.

Realizing what might happen next, Jin Eryndor didn’t linger in the house. If he stayed any longer, his mother might turn him into her "little puppy" and smother him with affection again. He quickly said, "Mother, I’m off to train!"

Without waiting for her reply, he darted into the courtyard.

The afternoon sun cast a gentle warmth over Skyshade Sanctum Sect, not too harsh but still bright. Jin Eryndor decided to focus on strength training instead of practicing the foundation claw techniques he had worked on in the morning. Why not train strength earlier in the day? Simple—he felt more productive practicing claw techniques in the morning, while physical conditioning seemed to yield better results in the afternoon.

At the training yard, a variety of stone training equipment lay neatly arranged on the ground, with weights carefully measured and labeled.

These tools were standard for manual laborers and outer disciples of the sect, and Jin Eryndor had asked his father to procure a full set for his personal use.

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

Picking up a 5kg stone dumbbell, Eryndor sat on a bench, resting his elbow on an inclined surface, and began his workout.

For him, 5kg was challenging—he could manage only three repetitions before his arms started to ache. Recognizing his limit, he stopped immediately to avoid overstraining. After a brief rest to let his blood flow and muscles recover, he switched to sit-ups.

Sit-ups were familiar territory, something he'd practiced frequently. Completing 100 reps was effortless, and even after reaching 500 reps, Eryndor felt only slightly fatigued. Taking another short break, he moved on to bench presses. Using a 10kg weight, he managed to push out five reps before pausing.

One by one, he cycled through all the stone training equipment, experimenting with different exercises as long as they didn’t involve carrying weights on his back, which could hinder his growth. After finishing one round of exercises, he rested for five minutes before beginning the next.

Initially, his body was fresh and capable, and a five-minute break was sufficient to recover. However, as his muscles fatigued and lactic acid built up, the strain began to show. His body grew increasingly tired, and each subsequent round demanded longer recovery periods.

Despite the mounting exhaustion and the burning sensation in his muscles, Eryndor didn’t relent. He kept pushing forward, exercising methodically from one station to the next, until the sun dipped below the horizon, marking the end of a long day of rigorous training.

Dragging his weary body back to the house, Jin Eryndor was greeted by his mother, Serene Skyshade, who was waiting by the door.

"Dori, take a quick bath and then soak in the herbal solution," she instructed.

"Herbal solution?" Eryndor asked, puzzled.

"Yes, an herbal soak. Training your body without properly replenishing it will only wear you down. Now go bathe first—I’ve already prepared the solution for you," Serene explained.

Approaching the tub, Eryndor noticed the liquid was cloudy and dark, with a faint warmth rising in steam, so it must have been freshly heated.

Suspicious, he asked, "Mother, is this really for body conditioning?"

"Of course," Serene replied with a gentle smile.

"Body conditioning depletes your energy and vitality. For someone older, proper meals would suffice, but soaking in a strengthening herbal solution speeds up recovery and improves results. However, since you’re still so young, skipping this step could permanently harm your body from overtraining. Now get in, and remember—bear with it, no matter what."

Eryndor froze for a moment, doubting, "Bear with it? No matter what? This sounds dangerous..."

Serene chuckled lightly, reassuring him, "It's not dangerous, just uncomfortable at first. Trust me, it’s for your own good."

Jin Eryndor hesitated by the edge of the tub, his gaze flickering between his mother and the ominous-looking liquid. He swallowed nervously.

"Just uncomfortable?" he repeated cautiously. "Mother, could you be a bit more ..... precise?"

Serene Skyshade raised an eyebrow, the corners of her lips quirking up in amusement.

"Uncomfortable as in... a bit tingly. Maybe it’ll feel like your skin is warming up—or perhaps like tiny needles prickling at you. But it’s nothing to worry about, Dori. It’s all part of the process. You’ll get used to it."

Eryndor wasn’t convinced. "Tiny needles? That doesn’t sound reassuring at all! You’re telling me to just hop into this mysterious concoction that looks like swamp water and let it stab me with imaginary needles?"

Serene’s amusement grew as she patted his shoulder. "It only sounds worse than it is. Trust me, you’ll come out feeling refreshed, and your training will be more effective. Now stop overthinking it and get in."

Still skeptical, Eryndor sighed dramatically and muttered under his breath, "I’d better not come out of this as a boiled dumpling..." before stepping cautiously into the tub.

Encouraged but cautious, Jin Eryndor nodded and climbed into the tub, ready to endure whatever came next for the sake of his growth.

Jin Eryndor didn’t say another word as he took a deep breath, removed his shirt, and carefully stepped into the tub of medicinal solution. The water was warm, almost on the edge of being too hot, but still bearable.

The medicinal bath, crafted from a variety of herbs with differing ages and properties, was no ordinary concoction. The precise blend depended heavily on the individual's cultivation stage and physique. Some advanced body-refining techniques even required secret formulas to create the ideal medicinal bath. These formulas were the essence of body-refinement practices, and without them, any attempts to strengthen the body could lead to eventual ruin.

Body refinement wasn’t merely about training muscles and bones; it was a process that continuously pushed the body to its limits, consuming potential along the way. Without the right replenishment from these secret methods, prolonged training could deplete one’s innate potential, leaving no room for further breakthroughs. At that point, progression would become impossible.

As Eryndor sank into the tub, the first sensation was nothing more than the soothing warmth of the water enveloping his body. For a moment, it felt like a simple hot bath—nothing extraordinary. But then the change began.

A few moments later, a peculiar sensation crept over his skin. It started as a faint tickle before growing into an overwhelming itch, as if thousands of tiny ants were crawling across his body. They weren’t biting, but the persistent sensation made him squirm in discomfort.

"Just uncomfortable, she said," Eryndor grumbled to himself, his face scrunching up as he resisted the urge to scratch. "Mother, are you sure about this?"

Despite his complaints, he knew what was happening. The herbs were beginning to work, penetrating his pores and stimulating his body’s recovery and enhancement. They were healing the micro-tears and wear from his earlier training while nourishing his body’s potential.

As he focused, Eryndor could feel subtle changes in his skin. It wasn’t hardening, but instead becoming more elastic and resilient. There was a springiness to his flesh, a newfound durability that hinted at the potential to become impenetrable like tough hide over time—a gradual transformation toward the legendary toughness sought by body cultivators.

"Looks like this isn’t just torture after all," Eryndor muttered, forcing himself to stay still and endure the process. The results, he figured, would be worth the discomfort.

Jin Eryndor asked, “Mother, are these herbs expensive?”

Serene Skyshade smiled gently. “Not expensive. You’re just starting out with body refinement, so these are common-grade herbs. However, the formula itself is special—one of those rare prescriptions, perfectly suited for a beginner like you. How does it feel?”

“Aha, it must be from Elder Blanc! I feel a bit itchy, but it’s manageable. Mother, could you leave for a bit? You standing here watching is... kind of awkward.”

“Pfft, you cheeky boy! I raised you from birth, and now you’re shy? Fine, fine. Judging by how fast you’re absorbing it, an hour should be enough. I’ll be outside.”

Jin Eryndor sighed as his mother stepped out, muttering about how she always found a way to tease him. Once she was gone, he closed his eyes and focused on the changes in his body caused by the medicinal bath.

At first, he thought he could endure it, but as he tuned into the sensations, the itchiness became unbearable. It was as if a swarm of invisible ants was crawling all over him, mocking him with every move. The more he focused on it, the worse it seemed to get.

“It’s just like when you have a wound,” he thought to himself, “and if you’re too focused on it, the pain feels ten times worse.”

Realizing this, Jin stopped trying to analyze the sensation and instead adopted a simple mental mantra: Absorb the medicine, absorb the medicine, absorb...

Over and over, he repeated the phrase in his mind like a lullaby. Whether or not it actually helped him absorb the medicinal bath, it did wonders to distract him from the itchiness. It was far better than dwelling on the discomfort he couldn’t do anything about.

An hour later, Jin Eryndor opened his eyes. The once murky bathwater had turned crystal clear, as if all the impurities had been drawn out of it. Jin felt his entire body light and refreshed, as though every ounce of fatigue from the day had been swept away.

Savoring the sensation for a moment, he couldn’t help but clench his fists and shout inwardly, "Refreshing!"

He stepped out of the bath, dried himself off, and got dressed. Heading to the main hall, he found dinner already laid out, the table brimming with delicious dishes. His father, Jin Valen, was already seated, smiling warmly as he saw Jin enter.

Without hesitation, Jin joined his parents at the table. The family shared a peaceful, heartwarming meal, their conversation light and cheerful. The harmonious atmosphere made the day’s efforts feel all the more rewarding.