At the dinner table atop the Artifact Refinement Peak, Jin Eryndor’s family was gathered, enjoying a meal. Jin Valen glanced at his son, who was enthusiastically devouring his food, and casually asked, “Dori how was your training today? You seem to have worked up quite an appetite.”
“Father,” Eryndor replied with a cheeky grin,
“today marks the official start of my physical training. I’ve begun practicing the foundational claw techniques. The exercises I did before? They were just warm-ups, mere child’s play. From now on, I’m seriously diving into external training—building the external to strengthen the internal.”
“Oh?” Jin Valen raised a brow. “Why did you choose claw techniques over fist techniques?”
“Hehe, I just feel like the claw techniques suit me better,” Eryndor replied with confidence.
Jin Valen pondered for a moment, then said,
“The equipment you asked me to make is ready. Where should I place it?”
“Just leave it in the training yard for me, Father. That’s where I’ll need it.”
Jin Valen nodded but then added with a curious tone,
“While I was finishing it up, your master happened to visit. He saw the equipment and found it fascinating. Then the other elders came to take a look and agreed it could benefit the sect’s physical training. They’re considering introducing it for broader use across the sect. What do you think about that?”
The hand-pulley weight machine was Jin Eryndor's design, sketched and handed to Jin Valen for creation. Given Jin Eryndor’s unique status within the Skyshade Sanctum Sect, any proposal to extend its use across the sect would first require his agreement. No one in the sect was willing to offend him over a small piece of training equipment, much less risk conflict with the Artifact Refinement Peak and the Pill Refinement Hall.
Hearing his father’s words, Eryndor fell into thought and asked,
“Oh? The elders found it useful, you say? Which elder suggested it?”
The question carried a subtle undertone, as though Eryndor sought to understand who might take an interest in making his invention available to the entire sect. Jin Valen hesitated briefly but eventually answered,
“It was the Sect Master himself. He mentioned that your opinion on the matter should be considered first.”
“Nice,” Eryndor replied after a moment of reflection.
“Father, you can tell the Sect Master this: contributing to the sect and helping my fellow disciples is an honor for me. I’m happy to see it put to good use.”
Jin Valen looked at Jin Eryndor with some surprise and said, “Dori, are you serious about this?”
Eryndor laughed heartily in response, “Father, why don’t you guess?”
Jin Valen scrutinized his son for a few moments, clearly intrigued, before Serene Skyshade stepped in to diffuse the moment.
“Alright, alright, let’s focus on finishing dinner.”
Not long after, the meal concluded, and the family of three sat down to enjoy tea together. Seizing the moment, Eryndor decided to consult his father:
“Father, I’m planning to train my stances tonight, particularly the horse stance. Do you have any advice for me?”
Jin Valen, taking his time, began to explain:
“The horse stance is considered as the foundation of martial training. Besides the horse stance, there are others like the snake stance, rooster stance, crane stance, and turtle stance. But over millennia of martial refinement, the horse stance has been simplified and optimized for its effectiveness and suitability, especially for cultivators.
The stance resembles sitting astride a horse:
* Your legs are spread shoulder-width apart.
* Your knees bend slightly as if sitting, but not quite.
* Your arms bend and rest under your armpits, parallel to your shoulders.
Mastery of the horse stance progresses through three stages:
1. Initial Mastery: Finding your center of gravity or root.
2. Greater Mastery: Developing stability akin to a tree with deep roots, allowing you to withstand impact and maintain balance during movement or combat.
3. Perfected Mastery: Achieving seamless control, where your upper body can move freely for dodging or short-distance shifts while your lower body remains anchored and immovable, as if rooted deep into the ground. At this stage, navigating all terrains feels as effortless as walking on flat ground.
The horse stance is a must for all martial practitioners. It’s the foundation of movement techniques and body control. The better you train it, the greater your achievements in martial arts. Do you understand now, Dori?”
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Jin Eryndor pondered over his father’s words, nodded thoughtfully, and said,
“Yes, I understand.”
With his sharp memory, he knew he wouldn’t forget a single detail of the explanation.
Eryndor began his training in the practice room, adopting the horse stance. At first, it felt incredibly uncomfortable. His legs ached incessantly, and there was a persistent sense that the posture itself was strange. Occasionally, his stance would shift out of alignment, and before long, Jin Valen would step in to guide him and correct his form.
As time passed, the strain on his legs grew unbearable. His thighs felt like jelly, and sweat poured down his back. Inside his mind, an insistent voice echoed:
“Just take a break, it’s too much. There’s no need to push yourself this hard. You’ve already done enough for today. No one will blame you if you rest a little...”
These thoughts crashed into his mind like waves, one after another, each more tempting than the last.
Truthfully, Eryndor was overwhelmed. He hadn’t expected that simply standing still could be so exhausting. Compared to this, he would rather train his body the entire day than endure another hour of holding this stance. His childlike nature fought back against the discipline; after all, he was still young. The initial excitement of a new challenge quickly gave way to boredom and frustration.
A single stick of incense burned away, then half an hour passed, then a full hour. His forehead was dotted with beads of sweat, and his back was drenched, his shirt clinging to him uncomfortably. His legs trembled so violently they felt as though they might give out. And yet, he didn’t move.
In his previous life, he had been a nobody—a shut-in with no wealth or talent. Could he allow himself to fall into mediocrity once again in this life?
No! No way! He refused to settle for a meaningless existence. He wanted to laugh in the face of the heavens, to wield his sword and shake the mountains, to stand unmatched under the sun and moon, gazing down upon all creation.
He, Jin Eryndor, would become the greatest cultivator this world had ever seen!
With a stubborn resolve burning in his heart, Jin Eryndor banished all distracting thoughts. He focused on maintaining his stance, leaving only a thin thread of consciousness to ensure his posture remained intact. He wanted to push his body to its absolute limit, to see how long he could endure. As for finding his “root” today? Forget it. This was his first time attempting the horse stance; he wasn’t expecting miracles. Jin knew he wasn’t a prodigy or a genius with supernatural insight like the protagonists of stories. His path required relentless hard work to make up for his natural shortcomings.
An hour passed. Eryndor was still standing, his legs trembling slightly. His shirt was soaked with sweat, and his teeth clenched tightly as he fought against the exhaustion coursing through his entire body.
Two hours passed. He remained rooted to the spot, though his legs now shook violently. Sweat dripped steadily from his forehead onto the floor, and his clothes were drenched through, clinging uncomfortably to his body. His clenched teeth rattled audibly, the strain palpable.
Three hours passed. Eryndor felt like he had reached his breaking point. His entire body shook uncontrollably, veins bulging across his sweat-drenched forehead. The sweat poured off him like a river, and his legs felt completely numb. He gritted his teeth and endured, even as blood seeped from the corners of his lips where he had bitten through in his determination. At this point, only sheer willpower kept him upright.
As the fourth hour began, Eryndor finally collapsed, unconscious, onto the floor. Yet, even as he fell, a faint smile graced his lips—he had triumphed over himself today.
The moment he hit the ground, Jin Valen and Serene Skyshade appeared in his room like a gust of wind.
Jin Valen's gaze was filled with complexity as he looked at his son.
Serene Skyshade gently cast a cleansing spell on Jin Eryndor, then cradled him in her arms, softly stroking his hair, her maternal aura radiating warmth and care.
Jin Valen broke the silence.
"Dori truly is exceptional. To stand in a horse stance for four hours on his first try is remarkable. We monitored him multiple times with our spiritual senses and saw moments when he seemed ready to give up, yet he always pushed himself to continue. His willpower is extraordinary. But I don’t understand—why is he so determined to pursue martial arts? At his age, shouldn’t he be out enjoying himself a little?"
Hearing this, Serene Skyshade chuckled lightly.
"Of course, Dori is exceptional; he’s our son. I've observed countless children practicing the horse stance, and most give up within half an hour—an hour at best. Eryndor lasting four hours is a rarity among rarities, likely tied to his unusually strong spirit. And his dedication to martial arts? Isn't that a blessing? Or would you prefer he spends his days idly causing trouble like those other privileged sect heirs, wandering around acting like fools?" She glanced down at Jin Eryndor, her eyes brimming with affection.
Jin Valen let out an awkward chuckle.
"Dori is indeed excellent, but I feel he's pushing himself too hard. He's constantly forcing himself to the limit. Since you're home most of the time, make sure to keep a close eye on him so he doesn’t overtrain and harm himself."
Serene Skyshade sighed softly.
"Until now, his training was just harmless exercises—sit-ups, jumping rope, running. I often watched him with my spiritual senses and didn’t see anything too intense or dangerous. But now, it seems I’ll have to carefully monitor his training. He’s becoming more and more relentless."
She gently carried Jin Eryndor to his bed, laying him down carefully. His small figure looked peaceful, sleeping in a neat and upright posture.
After ensuring he was comfortable, both parents returned to their room to rest.
And that, another day of Jin Eryndor's tireless training came to an end