Traversing the path of life and death

Chapter Seven Conflict

After hearing that he had successfully entered the Solidification Realm, Lin Yu quickly returned to his hut and carefully observed his body.

His skin was unusually hard, and five faint marks appeared on his arms. When Lin Yu tried not to see them, the marks on his arms would quietly fade away, leaving only flawless skin. However, his skin was still very hard. On his way back to his hut, Lin Yu asked Elder Wu why his skin was so hard.

The old shaman simply smiled and said to Lin Yu, “The Nine Heavens Transformation Shaman Technique is unlike other types of cultivation techniques. Each level has its own characteristics. The hardening of the skin is just a transitional stage. If you break through again, things will change. You don’t need to worry about that. Moreover, it is precisely because of its uniqueness that it can become a top-tier cultivation technique for the Solidification Realm. So, striving to break through and improve your strength is what you need to do now. Besides, I will not allow you to make any mistakes during your cultivation.”

Hearing the teacher's answer, Lin Yu became even more eager to see what changes would occur after his further improvement.

The sun continued to scorch the earth, but the intense heat did not dampen people's enthusiasm for cultivation. A thin veil of light hung over the Lin family's training ground to shield them from the blinding light, while below, a dense crowd of people cultivated, each with their own unique method.

The distinction between spiritual cultivation and physical refinement is particularly clear. In the west, physical refinement is characterized by powerful punches and kicks, resulting in muscles and bones of iron. In the east, spiritual cultivation is characterized by a sky full of fireballs and columns of water, with water and fire intertwined. Regardless of which type of cultivator they are practicing, they are all immersed in their cultivation.

Behind the mountain, the merciless waterfall crashes against the rocks below. The large rock where Lin Yu used to linger is no longer there. The raging waterfall rushes into the lake like a stampede of horses, splashing up countless water droplets. The rocks below are also eroded by the huge impact, with gaps carved into them. But this does not seem to elicit any mercy from the waterfall, which continues to relentlessly pound against them.

The waterfall continued its relentless onslaught, but below it appeared a small, thin figure, shirtless, with an extremely ferocious expression on his face. His two small hands trembled slightly under the impact of the waterfall, but the boy gritted his teeth and persevered below.

"Fifty-eight seconds. This time it's twenty seconds longer than last time. Although it seems like a small improvement, it's much better than the first few seconds. First, relax your whole body, and then go down to the bottom of the waterfall." The speaker was Elder Wu, and the boy was Lin Yu.

Ever since Lin Yu sensed the elements of heaven and earth and successfully broke through to the first level of solidification, Elder Wu no longer allowed Lin Yu to simply comprehend the elements, but instead made Lin Yu undergo more rigorous training. This waterfall body tempering was part of Elder Wu's plan, and this step was indispensable.

After resting for a while, Lin Yu went back under the waterfall. His body, which had been exposed to the air, felt intense pressure the moment it touched the falling water. His thin body turned slightly red. Lin Yu had experienced this several times before, but it would disappear after a while. This time was no exception.

Lin Yu stayed longer this time than last time, although it was only for a dozen seconds, but each improvement was very important to Lin Yu.

If Lin Yu's previous comprehension of the elements of heaven and earth was about integrating those elements into himself, then the impact of the waterfall was about bringing those elements together to increase their density. Although he had to endure the long period of time under the waterfall, which was tiring and painful, he believed that only by enduring hardship could he rise above others. Only by laying a solid foundation could he pave the way for future cultivation.

Looking at Lin Yu's ferocious face under the waterfall, Elder Wu felt a pang of pity. Every time Lin Yu emerged from the waterfall, he would quickly regain his composure before being ravaged by it again.

As time passed day by day, Lin Yu seemed to have long since gotten used to the daily torment of the waterfall. Every day before dawn, he would go to the waterfall early to receive his daily training, which meant being tormented by the waterfall.

The continuous flow of water relentlessly pounded against Lin Yu's slender body. At this moment, Lin Yu did not show the distorted expression he had when he first entered the waterfall. Instead, his face remained calm, his eyes slightly closed, letting the water hit him. The water hitting Lin Yu's body produced a buzzing sound, like the sound of drumming, only not as loud, but still audible.

Lin Yu can now hold out for fifteen minutes under the waterfall. He remains unmoved by the impact of the waterfall and can even move his body below it. Of course, the speed of movement is not very fast and the distance is not very far, but every step takes a lot of effort.

"Teacher, it's been over a year, why haven't I reached the second level of Body Tempering?" Lin Yu asked Elder Wu as he walked out of the waterfall.

"I placed you below the waterfall so that the elements of heaven and earth within your body could be compressed to their limit. After breaking through, you will perfectly enter the second level of the Lower Transformation Stage. At that time, your body will be several times stronger than a normal advancement. Now is the time to accumulate, so don't rush. Take it one step at a time," Elder Wu said to Lin Yu.

Lin Yu was not surprised when he heard his teacher's words, because he felt that his body was stronger than before, and the five elements in his body had become densely packed and tightly connected together. His skin had also begun to become more elastic. "When my skin is truly full of elasticity, I will enter the second level of the Transformation Stage and reach the second level of the Solidification Stage," Lin Yu thought to himself.

His handsome face was deeply reflected in the water, and the splashing water rippled out of the lake. The five attributes that originally existed in his body emitted a burst of five-colored light, swirling within Lin Yu's body.

The five elements that were originally densely packed in his body dispersed in an instant, spreading to the surface of his skin and turning into tiny particles that penetrated deep into the muscles beneath his skin. Waves of power erupted from his body in the shower. Lin Yu, who was under the waterfall, finally could not bear it any longer! Three loud roars came from Lin Yu's mouth, and the water on his body was instantly stirred up, leaving a vacuum zone.

Through daily perseverance, Lin Yu successfully entered the next stage: the second level of Body Strengthening.

Even after reaching the second level of Body Strengthening, Lin Yu did not shorten his cultivation time. Every day, he would go to the waterfall behind the Lin family's mountain and continue cultivating until late at night before dragging his tired body back to his hut.

One morning, just as Lin Yu stepped out of his house, preparing to head to his destination, a piercing voice rang out in his ears, "Isn't this our genius Lin Yu?" Hearing this voice, Lin Yu stopped and slowly turned around.