Two days later…
Arthur sat on the wooden floor of his dimly lit room, drenched in sweat. His chest rose and fell with each labored breath as threads of soul energy silently swirled around his body, gently seeping into the glowing core nestled deep within his mind.
He could feel it—the progress. Tangible. Real.
> Strength: 50
> Agility: 50
> Stamina: 60
> Senses: 10
> Soul Sensitivity: 10
> Soul Force: 56
His entire body felt more alive than ever. His senses were sharper. His mind clearer. His limbs moved with newfound ease, and his soul was growing stronger, more attuned with each passing hour.
But between cultivation sessions, especially when resting, Arthur often found himself absentmindedly scrolling through the net. It was during one of these sessions that he stumbled upon a crucial topic discussed in a high-ranking cultivator's forum—something no beginner should overlook.
> The Path of Energy: Internal and External.
Internal Energy – The life force cultivated through breathing techniques. It nourishes internal organs, enhances vitality, and can be projected outward through martial arts, weapon infusions, or defensive barriers.
External Energy – The physical force refined through sheer bodily training. It strengthens muscle fibers, bone density, and skin resistance. It is the foundation that allows a cultivator to harness, contain, and fully utilize their internal energy in battle.
Arthur leaned back against the wall, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
"I've been focusing on soul force and internal energy, but I've completely ignored my body's limits. What happens if I gather too much energy, but my body can't hold it?"
He knew the answer instinctively—disaster.
In the worst-case scenario, his own power could rupture his organs or tear his muscles apart from the inside.
He sighed and looked down at his hands—hands that had grown stronger, but were still untested.
"How should I train my external energy then?" he muttered, troubled by the thought.
And then, as always, the system responded.
Ding!
> [Answering the host's inquiry—]
> [At your current level, it is recommended that you focus on consolidating internal energy.]
[Upon enrollment in a cultivation academy, the host will receive access to specialized training designed to temper the body through scientifically enhanced regimens and controlled exercise experiments. These include: weight forging, gravity compression drills, endurance rituals, and body-hardening baths.]
[However, if the host wishes to begin early, training manuals and supportive gear are available in the System Store under the "External Energy Cultivation" section.]
Arthur's eyes lit up.
"So I can start now…"
He sat upright, muscles aching but heart energized by the possibilities.
"If I start working on this now, I won't just catch up to others—I'll surpass them."
He summoned the translucent system interface and navigated swiftly:
> [System Store → Cultivation Manuals → External Energy Path]
The screen flickered to life with a soft hum, its interface shimmering before neatly organizing itself into categories. One by one, names of training scrolls appeared—each promising a path toward physical transformation. From Muscle Reinforcement Scrolls to Bone-Forging Disciplines and Dermal Hardening Methods, the list was long and daunting.
Arthur scrolled carefully, analyzing each title and its brief description. But none of them felt right.
Until—
1. Body Tempering Manual
A foundational manual designed to establish the physical base for all further cultivation. Essential for those preparing to step into the Body Tempering Realm. Ideal for beginners seeking structured, stage-based progression.*
System Points Required: 20,000
Arthur's eyes lit up.
"This is perfect. Just what I need to advance to the first major stage of cultivation…"
He quickly tapped open the realm description listed below the manual.
Body Tempering Realm (Physical Foundation)
> Purpose: To transform the mortal body into a vessel capable of withstanding internal qi and channeling soul force.
> Primary Focus: Strengthening bones, muscles, skin, and vital organs.
> Core Traits Gained:
> • Enhanced raw strength and endurance
> • Accelerated healing and resistance to physical injury
> • Increased tolerance to environmental stressors
> Sub-Stages:
> • Skin Tempering – Resilience and impact resistance
> • Flesh Tempering – Muscular density and explosive strength
> • Bone Tempering – Structural reinforcement and internal fortitude
> • Marrow Refinement – Enhanced blood circulation and nerve reactivity
> • Organ Fortification – Protection and vitality of inner systems
Arthur exhaled slowly, heart thumping with excitement.
"I haven't even reached the first true cultivation stage yet… and this is my path forward."
Without hesitation, he hit the purchase button.
Ding!
[You have successfully purchased: Body Tempering Manual]
[System Points deducted: 20,000]
[Manual added to Inventory → External Energy Cultivation]
A beam of golden light descended from the system interface, forming a radiant scroll in his hand. The cover shimmered faintly, etched with archaic runes and the seal of an unknown martial lineage.
The moment he unfurled it, the words seemed to shift and reshape themselves into readable text. Information poured into his mind like a stream of molten knowledge—hot, relentless, enlightening.
Body Tempering Manual – Stage 1: Skin Tempering
> Begin your training at dawn when the body is cool and the qi of the world is calm.
> Daily Routine:
> • Start with full-body friction exercises: rubbing the skin with coarse fabric or bristle brushes to stimulate surface nerves.
> • Proceed to striking practice: repeated low-force impacts to limbs, torso, and back using padded logs or stone bags.
> • Engage in endurance poses: plank holds, stance meditation, and tension squats for muscle control and balance.
> • End each session with Vital Heat Circulation Breathing—a post-tempering breath pattern that distributes heat and accelerates recovery.
> Optional Enhancements:
> • Cold water immersion after each session to flush waste and reduce swelling.
> • Herbal bath infusions to accelerate skin regeneration (available in system shop).
> Note: The first two weeks will result in bruising, soreness, and fatigue. This is the body shedding weakness.
Arthur's hands trembled slightly as he rolled up the scroll. A smirk slowly crept onto his lips.
"So this is how true cultivators begin… not with flashy spells or explosive qi—but by breaking down their own flesh and rebuilding it stronger."
He stood up, the scroll still glowing faintly in his grip. The wooden floor creaked beneath his steps as he cleared space, moving aside his mat and pushing his desk to the corner.
In the center of the room, he took his first stance—legs shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent, arms raised defensively.
"Let's begin."
Amd after making all the preparations—
Arthur's breathing steadied as he folded the scroll and set it beside him. The morning light seeped through the thin curtains, casting golden stripes across the wooden floor. The silence in the room was heavy, sacred—like the calm before a storm. He stood tall, his bare feet pressing firmly into the floorboards as he prepared himself for the first step in his journey toward physical cultivation.
He reached for the coarse fabric towel he'd prepared in advance—an old curtain he had roughened by hand the day before. Wrapping it around each arm in turn, he began full-body friction exercises, dragging the scratchy cloth along his skin with slow, deliberate pressure. The sensation was harsh and irritating at first, but he gritted his teeth and continued. Reddish welts rose across his arms, chest, and back, and every sweep of the fabric made his nerves flare.
"Stimulate the nerves… awaken the skin…" he muttered, repeating the words from the manual like a mantra.
Once he finished the friction routine, he shifted to the next phase—striking practice.
Arthur had filled two cloth bags with sand and knotted them tight. He braced one against the wall and began striking it lightly with his fists, forearms, and shins in rhythmic motions. Each impact stung, the pain spreading like fire under his skin. His knuckles turned red, his wrists ached, and a dull soreness began to build in his legs.
"This is the body shedding weakness," he reminded himself, exhaling sharply.
He turned and let the strikes land across his shoulders and back, alternating limbs to distribute the pain. Every hit was a whisper of the power he hoped to earn.
Sweat dripped from his temples. His shirt stuck to his skin, soaked and clinging. He welcomed the discomfort.
Next came the endurance poses. He dropped into a plank—arms trembling beneath him. Thirty seconds passed. Then sixty. Then ninety.
By the time he collapsed, his core felt like it had been torn open.
He lay on his back for a moment, gasping. But he wasn't done.
"One more stance…"
He rose into a low horse stance—feet wide, thighs parallel to the ground, fists clenched at his hips. The burn in his legs started immediately. His muscles quivered. Sweat dripped from his brow and fell to the floor in small, steady drops.
His breathing deepened.
Vital Heat Circulation Breathing.
He closed his eyes and focused inward. Inhale slowly through the nose… draw the breath deep into the belly… hold… exhale through the mouth, dispersing the inner warmth throughout the limbs.
Each breath carried away pain and brought in a strange, smoldering vitality. It wasn't soul force. It wasn't qi. It was the heat of life itself—being tempered, reshaped.
As the breathing continued, Arthur could feel his blood flow accelerating. The soreness dulled ever so slightly. A tingling warmth spread from his core outward.
He finished the cycle and dropped to his knees. His body was a patchwork of minor bruises and aching muscles.
Still panting, he dragged himself to the corner of the room and filled a steel bucket with icy water from the tap. He didn't hesitate. He plunged his arms and legs into the cold.
A hiss escaped through clenched teeth as the chill bit into his nerves. But it was soothing… numbing. The pain ebbed.
"Day one… done."
He leaned back against the wall, muscles pulsing and trembling, heart thundering in his chest like war drums.
And yet, amidst the fatigue, he smiled.
"So this is what it means… to forge yourself into a weapon. I already want to give up."
He said in pain...