"Thump! Thump!"
Night descended, and thumping could be heard coming from the Forging Altar. Immediately Big Boar noticed this and moved towards the pillar and turned off the Forging Altar.
"CRACK!"
"POP! POP! POP!"
In but a few moments the red barrier shattered and Xuan Jin emerged. "I need more food." The boy said patting his stomach. They had been feeding him in intervals throughout the day, but despite this he still hungered for more.
"Here, I thought you might need some." Big Boar said before tossing him a basket filled with meat, immediately the boy began devouring it leaving naught even scraps behind.
A warm sensation washed over Xuan Jin as the Vitality entered his body. 'Not only have I conquered the effects of the Forging Altar, but I think I've completed Bod-THAT'S NOT GOOD!' Just as Xuan Jin was celebrating his victory, a sickening sensation covered his body.
"Grrr! GRRRR!"
Xuan Jin's stomach churned, and his face paled. Without another thought Xuan Jin ran off as fast as he could, clutching his stomach along the way. Seeing this Big Boar merely chuckled while Iris looked on in pity.
"Hehehe, I guess we have cause for celebration." Big Boar laughed, while Iris shook her head. What Xuan Jin was undergoing at the moment was the commonly known, "Body Cleansing", or in other words extreme shitting.
It indicated that one had filled their body to the brim with Vitality, and that it was undergoing a sort of purge, eradicating the impurities and multitude of other issues found within the body.
'What did I eat?!' Xuan Jin raged internally as he sprinted towards the nearest lavatory. Fortunately for him, his eyes soon locked onto one, and he immediately dashed into it.
----------
A few minutes later, a pale faced Xuan Jin reappeared. 'T-That was disgusting.' The boy sighed to himself. He had cleaned himself off with his Xuan Qi and made his way back to the father daughter duo.
"I must have eaten something bad, are you two okay?" Xuan Jin asked, his voice filled with concern. "Hahaha, it wasn't the food, that was a result of you completing Body Forging. Congratulations kid." Big Boar declared before slapping his back.
"Oh really? Well thank you." Jin replied, naturally elated at the news. That was until his mind began churning. 'If that's the case why didn't he warn me beforehand....'
Before he could think any further, Iris walked up to him. "Father don't you think we should let him get clean first." Iris suggested, but Xuan Jin rejected this proposal. While he wasn't opposed to bathing, he had already cleaned himself off so there was no need.
"Wow, that Qi of yours sure is handy." Big Boar praised. "Now that you've completed Body Forging we'll have to discuss your Vital Core, but before that we have some news." He continued, Jin's ears perking up.
"What happened?"
"Tomorrow at noon you have a fight. An Elder is doubting my integrity, and has thus challenged you on behalf of his grandson." He explained, much to Xuan Jin's dismay.
"...Does anyone think they can challenge me now!? What does he take me for a joke? Is his grandson even stronger than Little Boar?" The challenge, was in a sense an attack on his pride and Xuan Jin wouldn't accept that especially now that he'd gained his footing.
"Indeed who are they! That kid is barely 14 years old, and can barely hold a light to my son. You better teach him a lesson Xuan Jin!" Big Boar goaded the child, and Xuan Jin was more than willing to follow along.
"Hmph! Tomorrow at noon? I'll be there." With that the three went back to the hut.
----------
The morning sun rose over the east, and then eventually, noon arrived. At the periphery of the Iron Body Tribe almost the entire, thousand tribesmen could be found surrounding a large cage.
This was naturally the aptly named Iron Cage. It was used for a variety of purposes, from coming of age battles against demonic beasts, to friendly duels, at times it was even used for settling disputes within the tribe which couldn't be solved by words. Maiming and killing were obviously not allowed between tribesmen, but they weren't so barbaric that they'd kill one another over a disagreement anyway.
"Its already noon and the Chieftain has yet to show with the outsider!" Elder Silver bull announced unhappily, trying to stoke unrest among the crowd.
"What is the Chief doing, playing us for fools!"
"Ya I heard a rumor that that outsider has been eating more food than my family gets in a week."
"Really? I heard something even more ridiculous.
"What is it?"
"I was told he not only survived the 7 days in the Forging Altar but went back in again, twice!"
The crowd gossiped and gossiped about this outsider. Naturally in a tribe like there's, gossip passed around quickly and due to its relatively small size it was easy for someone like an outsider to become the talk of the town.
"I guess he's simply a coward grandfather." Golden Bull snorted, but just as he said that a voice sounded from afar. "The Chieftain has arrived!" A tribesmen announced.
Big Boar, Little Boar, Iris, and of course them boy of the hour, Xuan Jin, had arrived. The boy sauntered forward dressed his torn but still useable Black Blade Pavilion robes.
"Which one of you is courting death by challenging me?" Jin declared as soon as he arrived, sending a shock through the crowd. Who did this kid think he is?
"Courting death? We'll see if you can last a blow, pipsqueak!" Golden Bull rebutted as he stepped forth. Immediately Xuan Jin's expression soured and he turned towards Big Boar.
"Where did such a piece of trash come from? I haven't glanced at such a weak opponent since I turned 8 years old!" Jin scoffed, provoking Golden Bull and Silver Bull alike.
"Chieftain its one thing for you to harbor an outsider, but to allow him to show such disrespect to a fellow tribesmen is blasphemous!" Silver Bull roared, locking eyes with Big Boar.
"He's merely a child saying a few words. At the end of the day the two are destined to fight it out so why take offence?" Big Boar rebutted shutting the Elder up.
Xuan Jin and Golden Bull then entered the Iron Cage from opposite ends. "Once the gates close, the fight will officially begin. Good luck." Big Boar explained.
"When have I Xuan Jin ever needed luck? Consider this fight won."
"BOOM!"
And with that the gates swiftly shut.