A month had passed since Li Wei began practicing the Fundamentals of Combat and exploring the first chapter of the Harmonized Flow of the Eternal Phoenix: Azure Breath of the Phoenix. Though he had made steady progress, these were mere first steps on the long path ahead. Meanwhile, his understanding of the Titanic Pulse Refinement Technique remained largely theoretical—until now.
One crisp morning, Li Feng arrived at his quarters with a faintly amused look. "Today, you'll train somewhere special," he announced.
Li Wei followed without question, curiosity simmering beneath his calm demeanor. Their destination became clear as they approached the towering figure of Mount Celestia. Even from a distance, its sheer majesty was awe-inspiring. Standing 10,000 meters tall, its summit disappeared into clouds illuminated by a faint, otherworldly glow. The mountain radiated an energy that seemed to vibrate through the air.
Li Wei had heard tales of Mount Celestia: a living artifact forged by an ancient master. It wasn't merely a mountain but a training ground with unmatched capabilities, revered across the clan.
"Mount Celestia isn't just a test of endurance," Li Feng explained as they approached the mountain's base, where enormous metallic gates stood etched with runes. "It's a treasure. It can simulate hyper-gravity conditions up to 10 million g-forces, tailored to temper both body and will. It has 99 levels, each offering increasing gravity, denser energy, and tougher challenges."
Li Wei's eyes widened. "Ten million g? That's…"
"A number beyond your concern for now," Li Feng interrupted, smirking. "You'll start small. Today, you'll be introduced to Level 15. It's a privilege afforded by your father's clearance."
At the gates, Li Feng tapped a black metallic card against a glowing sigil. The gates rumbled as they opened, revealing a spiraling staircase embedded into the mountain. Floating platforms drifted silently, ferrying cultivators up and down the levels.
They stepped onto one such platform, which ascended swiftly but smoothly. As they rose, the air grew heavier, denser, vibrating faintly with the mountain's latent energy.
The 15th Level of Mount Celestia
Level 15 was a sprawling cavern illuminated by glowing crystals embedded in the walls. The air felt thick, each breath requiring conscious effort. Runes lined the floor and ceiling, softly pulsing as the platform docked. Training rooms were carved into the cavern's sides, each radiating faint traces of energy.
"This is Level 15," Li Feng said, gesturing at the surroundings. "The gravity here peaks at 200 g, but you'll start at a manageable level. Even so, the strain will push your limits. Let's begin with 2 g."
Inside a spacious training room, Li Feng tapped the glowing console. A hum filled the air, and Li Wei immediately felt his weight increase.
Experiencing Gravity Training
At 2 g: Li Wei's effective weight doubled, his body feeling as though it carried a second version of himself. It was manageable—his resilient muscles and body conditioning made it no more difficult than hauling a heavy load. His breathing grew slightly labored, but it was far from overwhelming. He took steady, deliberate steps, adjusting to the sensation.
"Not bad," Li Feng remarked. "Now, we'll push it to 4 g."
At 4 g: His body felt significantly heavier, each step demanding concentration and effort. His arms and legs moved with difficulty, as though submerged in thick mud. His chest felt tight, the act of breathing requiring conscious focus. His vision dimmed slightly at the edges, forcing him to stabilize his posture and circulate his energy.
Li Feng observed him closely. "Focus your breath, Li Wei. Let the principles of the Titanic Pulse Refinement Technique guide you. Your body must resist the strain without faltering."
With great effort, Li Wei steadied himself and moved forward.
"Good. Let's see how you handle 6 g."
At 6 g: The strain was immediate. His limbs felt leaden, each motion slow and deliberate. His lungs struggled against the crushing weight on his ribcage, each breath shallow and strained. Sweat dripped from his forehead as he forced his body to adapt, drawing on every ounce of willpower.
"You're holding up better than I expected," Li Feng noted, increasing the pressure again.
At 8 g: Li Wei's knees buckled as the gravity intensified. His limbs felt impossibly heavy, his movements sluggish. Each breath felt like dragging air through a collapsed tunnel, his chest compressed as though a mountain rested on him. His enhanced vascular resilience kept him conscious, but his vision wavered dangerously close to gray-out.
"Don't stop now," Li Feng urged. "This is where real progress begins. Circulate your energy! Let it reinforce your body, align your breath with the rhythm of the technique!"
Li Wei gritted his teeth, forcing his trembling muscles to obey. The principles of the Titanic Pulse Refinement Technique came to the forefront of his mind. Slowly, deliberately, he aligned his breathing with his movements, feeling the faintest spark of harmony between his body and the overwhelming gravity.
At 10 g: The room seemed to spin as his body screamed in protest. His effective weight was now 450 kilograms, every joint and muscle straining under the pressure. His lungs barely managed shallow gasps, his vision darkening at the edges. Yet, through sheer grit, he remained standing.
"That's enough," Li Feng said, finally reducing the gravity to normal.
The sudden release felt almost as disorienting as the pressure itself. Li Wei collapsed onto the floor, his muscles trembling uncontrollably. His breathing came in ragged gasps, but the faintest spark of triumph burned in his chest.
"You did well for your first session," Li Feng said, his tone neutral but his gaze approving. "Hyper-gravity training isn't just about surviving the weight. It's about aligning your technique with the pressure to temper your body. In time, this will strengthen you beyond what ordinary cultivation alone could achieve."
After the intense experience with the 10 g gravity, Li Wei could barely stand. His muscles screamed in protest, his bones felt as though they had been crushed under an unimaginable weight. He collapsed onto the floor of the training room, his breathing labored and ragged. The strain had pushed him to the edge of his endurance.
Li Feng, ever the calm instructor, stood silently for a moment, watching Li Wei's struggles. Then, he reached into his robes and pulled out a small vial filled with a shimmering, golden liquid. He uncorked it and handed it to Li Wei.
"This," Li Feng said, "is a restorative tonic. It will replenish your energy and heal the strain on your body. You'll be back to full strength in a matter of minutes."
Li Wei took the vial with trembling hands and drank the contents in one go. A warm sensation spread through his body, quickly sinking into his muscles, joints, and bones. The soreness melted away, replaced by a vibrant surge of energy that coursed through his veins. Within moments, he felt revitalized, as if he had never experienced the crushing weight of gravity at all.
His breathing slowed, and the faint weariness in his limbs faded, replaced by a renewed vigor. The effects of the tonic were swift, almost miraculous, and he could feel his strength returning in full force.
After recovering, Li Feng took Li Wei to explore more of the 15th level. He demonstrated the training room's other capabilities, including puppet simulations.
"These puppets are customizable," Li Feng explained. "You can set their speed, strength, cultivation base and martial arts techniques to challenge your limits. "
Good," Li Feng said with a slight nod. "Now, we'll see how you perform against one of the mountain's training puppets. But be prepared—these puppets are designed to challenge you to your limits."
Li Wei nodded, his resolve firming once more. He followed Li Feng into a new training room, where a humanoid figure stood waiting in the center of the space. The puppet was a perfect replica of a cultivator, down to the smallest detail—its size, strength, speed, and cultivation base all matched Li Wei's own.
Li Feng tapped the console next to the puppet, and its form flickered to life. "This puppet has mastered the Fundamentals of Combat to the advancement stage, far beyond where you stand now. It will test your abilities with ruthless efficiency. Use everything you've learned."
Li Wei stepped forward, taking a deep breath. His heart raced with anticipation. He had practiced for a month, pushing himself every day to refine the basic techniques. But this—fighting a realized version of what he aimed to become—was something else entirely.
The air in the training room grew heavy with tension as Li Wei and the puppet faced each other. Li Wei's heart pounded in his chest, his muscles tensing with anticipation. He dropped into his stance, the basic movement from the Fundamentals of Combat scroll. The puppet mirrored him, its blank expression unreadable but its posture poised, ready to strike.
A single word broke the stillness.
"Begin."
The moment Li Feng's voice rang out, the puppet moved.
It was a blur—faster than anything Li Wei had faced before. In an instant, the puppet closed the gap, its fist shooting toward Li Wei's midsection with terrifying speed. Li Wei barely managed to raise his arm in time to block, but the impact was like being hit by a boulder. The force sent him stumbling back, his footing slipping as the puppet pressed on.
Focus, Li Wei thought, shaking off the disorientation. He quickly regained his stance, but before he could even react, the puppet struck again—this time with a low sweep of its leg.
Too slow! Li Wei thought desperately as the puppet's leg took out his feet from under him. He crashed to the ground with a resounding thud, the air knocked out of his lungs. He grunted, trying to roll away, but the puppet was already there, ready to strike.
With a quick twist of his body, Li Wei narrowly dodged a series of rapid punches aimed at his face and chest. His arms trembled from the effort, the puppet's strikes coming too fast, too precise. Each blow felt like a hammer crashing against his defenses, his body unable to keep up.
The puppet didn't hesitate. Its attacks flowed from one to the next in a flawless sequence, the kind of fluidity Li Wei could only dream of. Its movements were like water—seamless and relentless. Every time Li Wei blocked, another punch or kick would appear, faster and more precise than the last.
Then, with a sudden burst of speed, the puppet launched an overhead punch, aiming straight for Li Wei's head.
I have to move! Li Wei thought, panic rising in his chest.
He sidestepped just in time, but the puppet—anticipating his move—didn't stop. In mid-air, it twisted its body and executed a spinning backfist that caught Li Wei square in the chest. The blow was so forceful that it sent him crashing into the training room's wall.
Pain exploded in Li Wei's chest as he crumpled to the floor, gasping for breath. He could feel the world spinning around him as his vision darkened.
I can't stop now, Li Wei thought, forcing himself to push up from the ground, his body screaming in protest.
The puppet advanced once more, its movements calm, methodical. It didn't rush, didn't overextend. It was the embodiment of the Fundamentals of Combat mastered to perfection.
Li Wei's body was already bruised and battered, but he refused to back down. I have to focus, he told himself. Stances, footwork, balance.
But the puppet was too quick. With a flicker of motion, it closed the distance and delivered a devastating knee to Li Wei's stomach, knocking the wind out of him. He staggered back, clutching his gut, struggling to stay on his feet.
Before he could recover, the puppet was already upon him, its elbow smashing into the back of his head with brutal precision. The force was too much. Everything went black.
Li Wei awoke on the floor, his body aching, his limbs heavy. His vision blurred as he tried to sit up, only to be met with the cold reality of his defeat. The puppet stood above him, unmoving, its expression still as blank as ever.
Li Wei's chest heaved as he coughed up blood, the taste metallic on his tongue. He looked up at the puppet, frustration and determination warring within him.
I'm not there yet, Li Wei thought, a fire burning deep inside him. But I will be. I'll do better next time.
Li Feng's voice broke through the haze of his exhaustion.
"You're not ready yet, Li Wei. But that's the purpose of this training. To push you beyond your limits, to make you realize where you stand. This puppet represents where you are right now—still in the early stages. But with time, you'll surpass it. You're on the right path."
Li Wei slowly pushed himself up from the ground, wiping the blood from his lip. Every muscle screamed in protest, but his resolve hardened.