Lie Zhanfeng didn't know how long he had been practicing. Hours stretched into what felt like days as the tearing, relentless pain consumed his entire being. At first, it was like his bones were being crushed under immense pressure. Now, even his skin felt as though it was being peeled layer by layer. Each moment was agony, but he endured. Gritting his teeth, his breaths came out ragged, yet his resolve remained unbroken.
"How do I survive this?" he wondered, sweat dripping from his brow like a leaky faucet.
Suddenly, a thought sparked in his exhausted mind—the spiritual spring! The miraculous water that had alleviated his fatigue earlier might help him push through this torment. With that hope burning in his chest, Lie Zhanfeng forced his trembling body to rise.
Every movement was torture. His legs felt like lead, his muscles screamed in protest, and his vision blurred from the sheer strain. But he refused to give in. One foot in front of the other, he staggered out of the cottage. His breath hitched with every step as though his lungs were squeezing out air through a straw.
The spring wasn't far, but for him, it might as well have been miles away. He fell to his knees multiple times, the hard ground scraping his skin, but each time he got back up.
His hands trembled as he scooped a handful of water, bringing it to his parched lips. The cool liquid slid down his throat, and immediately, a faint sense of relief washed over him. The pain didn't disappear entirely, but it dulled, enough to give him some clarity.
Encouraged, Lie Zhanfeng grabbed the pan strapped to his back and dunked it into the spring, scooping out a large portion of water. He drank deeply, ignoring the water spilling over his chin and onto his bloodstained clothes. With every gulp, the torment receded further, and his breathing steadied.
But then, he felt something stir within him.
It started as a subtle tremor in his dantian, a ripple of energy that grew stronger with each passing moment. His body trembled violently, and a massive whirlpool of spiritual energy formed around him. It was as if the heavens had opened, pouring endless energy into his body.
Lie Zhanfeng's cultivation soared rapidly. The initial surge carried him past the Initial Stage of Body Tempering. His battered body healed rapidly, the torn muscles and fractured bones knitting themselves back together. The whirlpool intensified, lifting him to the Middle Stage, Late Stage, and finally the Peak of Body Tempering.
But it didn't stop there.
"Am I... still advancing?" Lie Zhanfeng murmured, his voice trembling with disbelief. Before he could process it, he felt himself stepping into a new realm.
The spiritual energy condensed further, pouring into his newly-strengthened body. His cultivation surged into the First Level of Qi Refining, then Second Level, and finally settled at the Third Level.
The energy storm dissipated, leaving Lie Zhanfeng kneeling by the spring, his chest heaving.
He clenched his fists, marveling at the newfound power coursing through his veins. "This… this is incredible."
Standing, Lie Zhanfeng looked down at his hands, opening and closing them experimentally. The once weak and mortal body now held terrifying strength. With a single thought, he channeled Qi into his arm, and a faint golden sheen appeared on his skin.
"Let's test this."
Spotting a large boulder nearby, he approached it and raised his fist. With one swift punch, the rock shattered into countless fragments, the sound echoing across the vast space. Lie Zhanfeng grinned, satisfied with his newfound strength.
But there was no time to waste. His mind quickly turned to the treasures he had yet to collect.
"Time to leave," he muttered, glancing at the Void Bracelet.
He stood up, ready to leave the space. As he willed himself to exit, a sudden sensation on his wrist caught his attention. Glancing down, he realized the Void Bracelet was gone. In its place was a faint, intricate mark etched onto his skin.
"What the...?" Lie Zhanfeng muttered, frowning.
The mark was faintly glowing, pulsing in sync with his heartbeat. It looked like an intricate array of symbols encircling his wrist, almost like a tattoo.
"This never happened to Zhao Tianyun in the original plot..." Lie Zhanfeng thought, his brows furrowing. For a brief moment, he wondered if this was some sort of glitch or deviation caused by his transmigration. But in the end, he decided not to overthink it.
"Whatever the reason, the space and I are now connected," he murmured, flexing his wrist. "That's all that matters."
With that, he focused his attention on the next task: looting the cave.
In the blink of an eye, he was back in the damp cave. The air was musty, and the dim light of the cave seemed harsher after the serene environment of the space. Without missing a beat, Lie Zhanfeng began sweeping the cave for treasures.
Lie Zhanfeng swept his gaze around, spotting clusters of spiritual plants and treasures scattered throughout the cave. Without hesitation, he moved quickly, gathering everything in sight. He stored the spiritual plants inside the space, his newfound connection to it making the process seamless. With just a thought, the items vanished from the cave and reappeared within the bamboo house.
"Not bad!" he muttered, satisfied.
He moved to the treasures next. Rare ores, ancient artifacts, and even a few items that seemed too valuable to belong in such an isolated location—Lie Zhanfeng took them all. The cave was robbed clean, not even a speck of dust remaining.
As he patted his hands and surveyed his work, a smug grin appeared on his face. "Perfect. Now it's time to head back to the village."
Although there's a time difference between the space and the outside world, Lie Zhanfeng wasted a lot of time while traveling to look for the cave. It was time for him to return and check on the situation back in the village.
With one last glance at the now-empty cave, Lie Zhanfeng turned and walked away, his steps light and his heart brimming with confidence for what lay ahead.