4 months later, Winter settled over Jinlong Province like a heavy blanket, the biting cold halting trade routes and isolating Li Wei and his family. The town of Guanshan was now a memory, and with no merchants to escort, Li Wei found himself at a standstill. He was at the peak of the 3rd realm, yet no immediate path lay before him to break through to the 2nd-rate.
The chill in the air was sharp, but Li Wei found solace in training. He moved outside early each morning, the breath from his lips visible in the cold air. The ground was often covered in frost, and the temperature felt more suited for hibernation than for hard work. Yet, Li Wei was undeterred.
He had a technique to master: the Iron Sand Palm. It was a low-level technique, but its potential was evident. He had discovered that while many had struggled to master it, with his experience and diligence, he could turn it into an advantage.
The training regimen for Iron Sand Palm was brutal. Li Wei had set up a small training area near the edge of the village, where he could practice undisturbed. His hands were often submerged in a shallow bowl filled with poison, a necessary step to prepare for the hot sand he would punch into. The first few times, the poison made his hands feel numb, the sensation foreign yet oddly empowering.
After the poison, he would dip his hands into the hot sand. The first contact felt like fire, a searing heat that made him flinch, but he fought through the pain. Each strike sent a wave of heat coursing through him, and he quickly learned to focus on his technique rather than the discomfort.
As he practiced, Li Wei could feel the sweat pouring down his face, even in the freezing cold. It dripped onto the ground, a testament to his hard work and determination. The first morning he trained, he felt like a fool, pouring sweat in weather that should have kept him indoors, but he knew that training required sacrifice.
With every punch, he focused on perfecting his form. His fists struck the sand repeatedly, and with each impact, he felt his hands toughening. The cold air bit at his skin, but the heat from the sand made his body feel alive, pushing him to work harder. He was aware that many would think him mad to train in such conditions, but Li Wei had long understood that strength was not given; it was forged through perseverance.
He also practiced the Tiger Boxing Manual, now fully mastered. The poses were ingrained in his muscle memory, but he wanted to find a way to integrate the fluid movements with the raw power of Iron Sand Palm. With every kick and punch, he felt the rhythm of both techniques coming together.
Time passed slowly, and the physical toll was evident. Li Wei's hands ached, but he refused to relent. He knew that breaking through to the 2nd-rate realm required more than just desire; it needed real, tangible growth. He would not rush his progress, but he would not shy away from hard work either.
As the weeks dragged on, he felt his strikes becoming sharper, his hands gaining the light brown hue that indicated he had reached the second star of Iron Sand Palm mastery. Each session was grueling, but the knowledge that he was improving kept him motivated. He took note of the changes in his body; his muscles grew stronger, and his reflexes sharpened.
Li Wei wasn't desperate to advance to the 2nd-rate realm. He understood that such strength would come when the time was right. For now, he was content to train, to refine his skills, and to prepare for whatever challenges awaited him.
The snow began to melt as spring approached, but Li Wei's commitment to his training remained steadfast. Each day was a step toward mastery, and with every drop of sweat, he felt more confident that when the time came, he would be ready to seize the opportunity to advance.