The next day, Lin Chu came alone to the back of Shaoyin Mountain and indeed saw a naturally formed waterfall.
Recalling Bai Yuwei's words from the previous night about tempering the physical body and cleansing impurities within the body to improve spiritual energy absorption efficiency, Lin Chu immediately shed his robes and walked directly to the rock beneath the waterfall, sitting down in meditation.
The first time, Lin Chu could only endure for three minutes before his skin felt an unbearable sting, and he was then blown by the waterfall into the deep pool.
After a brief rest, Lin Chu once again walked to the rock and sat down. He was then blown away again, and walked back onto the giant rock…
This continued for a full month. Every day, Lin Chu would come to sit beneath the back mountain waterfall to temper his physical body. Under the constant assault of the潭水 (tan shui - pool water), Lin Chu's physique became incredibly sturdy. From the initial three minutes, he could now endure for over an hour.
During this period, Bai Yuwei also visited Lin Chu from time to time. Upon seeing Lin Chu's persistent efforts, the look of relief in Bai Yuwei's eyes grew stronger.
While Lin Chu was tirelessly training in the back mountains, the news of his arranged battle with Qiu Shaoming gradually spread throughout the minor sect. Especially when people learned that Lin Chu was merely a newly recruited ordinary disciple, the ensuing sensation was even greater.
Regarding this news, the minor sect, excluding the newly recruited disciples, did not hold much hope for Lin Chu. After all, Qiu Shaoming's strength at the intermediate level of the Initial Spiritual Mirror was undeniable. It was too difficult for a new disciple to defeat an elite disciple who already possessed intermediate Initial Spiritual Mirror strength.
However, despite not favoring Lin Chu much, many minor sect disciples still wished to witness his demeanor. The fact that a new disciple could challenge an elite disciple was enough to pique their interest.
But after searching the residences of all the new disciples, they found that no one knew Lin Chu's whereabouts.
Later, when the news of Qiu Shaoming's elite disciple status being stripped and him being demoted to an ordinary disciple spread, those disciples who had not favored Lin Chu before suddenly felt that Lin Chu was not as simple as he seemed.
This was because when these rumors spread, Qiu Shaoming did not deny them in the slightest. Some even claimed to have seen Qiu Shaoming wearing ordinary disciple attire.
In an instant, Lin Chu was shrouded in an aura of mystery for all the minor sect disciples.
"Interesting. If that Qiu Shaolong knew his brother was challenged by an ordinary disciple, and was even demoted to an ordinary disciple, his expression must be quite amusing."
Within the residence of a core disciple of the minor sect, a man in a purple robe smiled slightly after hearing the account of his follower.
This scene was simultaneously unfolding within the residences of other core disciples. Some core disciples who were in seclusion, upon hearing this news, clearly displayed intense interest in their eyes.
Lin Chu, as the person involved in the changes within the minor sect, remained completely unaware.
A month passed, and Lin Chu's body, having been tempered by the waterfall's impact, had subtly become even more slender. His once tough skin had now turned a bronze color. One could tell at a glance how strong Lin Chu's physique had become.
On this day, Lin Chu once again arrived before the back mountain waterfall. He looked at the constantly flowing water, smiled faintly, stepped onto the rock, and sat down in meditation.
"After a month of tempering, my physical body is almost ready. It's time to attempt the first level of the Creation Chaos Heart Method. I wonder what surprises await after successfully cultivating this level," Lin Chu murmured to himself, then took a deep breath and slowly closed his eyes.
As the water continued to strike his body, Lin Chu remained as still as an ancient monk. A few breaths later, Lin Chu clasped his hands together and slowly formed hand seals. The spiritual energy in the surrounding air immediately converged.
As his hand seals continued to change, the spiritual energy gathered from the surroundings gradually intensified. After being absorbed into his body, Lin Chu felt his body become lighter.
Not only that, but as Lin Chu absorbed the spiritual energy, he could clearly sense changes occurring throughout his body. His heart, in particular, was beating more powerfully as spiritual energy accumulated within it.
Time passed gradually, and Lin Chu felt the spiritual energy within him growing denser. An indescribable strength was slowly forming within him. Lin Chu had the illusion that this strength could easily shatter the rock he was sitting on.
Feeling this power, Lin Chu gradually grew excited. If this strength continued to grow, wouldn't he be able to reopen the seal in his mind and learn about his past…
Just as Lin Chu's mind wavered and he lost focus, the gathered energy suddenly surged within Lin Chu's body like an enraged beast.
"Not good!" Sensing the anomaly in the energy, Lin Chu immediately snapped back to attention.
Recalling Bai Yuwei's warning to never lose focus during cultivation, he felt a pang of regret. As the energy surged, Lin Chu felt his blood and qi churn, and with a muffled groan, he spat out a mouthful of blood.
The gathered energy, upon the expulsion of this mouthful of blood, acted as if it had found a vent and instantly dissipated.
"Cough, cough… I was careless," Lin Chu said with a wry smile, shaking his head.
At this moment, the strength within him was almost gone. The results of a morning's hard work had vanished into nothing due to his lapse in concentration. Not only that, but even his meridians had sustained damage to varying degrees.
*Splash!*
As the water continued to pound, Lin Chu had no choice but to leave the rock and sit by the deep pool. He took a deep breath, formed his hand seals again, and began to absorb the spiritual energy from the air to regulate his breathing.
Fortunately, although most of the spiritual energy had dissipated, some faint traces remained within Lin Chu. As Lin Chu absorbed spiritual energy again, these faint traces, under his conscious direction, began to repair his internal injuries.
Half an hour later, Lin Chu's turbulent breathing gradually stabilized. His initially pale complexion had become much more ruddy.
*Huu!*
Lin Chu slowly opened his eyes, exhaled a breath of turbid air, and then stood up.
*Whoosh!*
At that moment, a piercing sound echoed. Lin Chu turned his head in the direction of the sound and, upon seeing the approaching figure, a smile instantly appeared on his face: "Sister, you're here."
Bai Yuwei stopped and glanced at Lin Chu's complexion. A look of concern immediately appeared on her face: "What happened? Your body… why is it so severely injured?"
Lin Chu smiled and shook his head. "Sister, I'm fine. I was just a bit too excited during my first attempt at cultivation and lost control of my emotions, becoming distracted. Look, Sister, I'm truly alright." Lin Chu said, waving his arms to demonstrate.
Bai Yuwei's worry lessened upon hearing this, but she then glared at Lin Chu with mild annoyance: "I warned you long ago not to be swayed by emotions, not to be carried away by pride. And especially not to let your mind wander during cultivation. Have you been ignoring everything I've said?"
Seeing Bai Yuwei's tone become serious, Lin Chu quickly raised his hands: "Sister, I was wrong. I promise, it won't happen again."
Looking at Lin Chu's gesture, Bai Yuwei shook her head helplessly, her voice becoming gentler: "Let's stop here for today. After we return, I'll brew you a stalk of Condensing Blood Vermilion Fruit to heal your injuries. Once your body is fully recovered, you can start cultivating again."
Hearing Bai Yuwei's words, Lin Chu nodded immediately.
Seeing this, Bai Yuwei's thoughts stirred. Her spiritual energy instantly circulated within her, and she flew with Lin Chu towards the direction of the guest rooms.
"Sit properly." After Lin Chu finished drinking the Condensing Blood Vermilion Fruit that she had brewed, Bai Yuwei spoke.
Lin Chu nodded and sat down.
Seeing this, Bai Yuwei's thoughts stirred, and spiritual energy instantly flowed out, enveloping Lin Chu.
Sensing this power, Lin Chu slowly closed his eyes. He then felt Bai Yuwei's spiritual energy enter his body through his pores and begin to heal his damaged meridians.
Feeling this, Lin Chu opened his eyes and glanced at Bai Yuwei. A warmth surged through his heart.
In the blink of an eye, two days quietly passed.
As soon as dawn broke, Lin Chu, who had woken up early, took a deep breath and headed towards the back mountain waterfall again.
"Let's begin. This time, I cannot get distracted again." Stepping onto the rock, Lin Chu slowly closed his eyes. His hand seals changed, and the surrounding spiritual energy once again converged.
Having learned from past experience, Lin Chu's cultivation speed this time was significantly faster than before. An hour later, Lin Chu once again felt the return of the lost power.
This time, Lin Chu was cautious, his mind exceptionally focused. Following the first level of the Creation Chaos Heart Method, he condensed this power in his dantian and consolidated it.
A moment later, Lin Chu slowly opened his eyes. He clenched his fist, which was filled with power, and punched out at the pool water.
*Bang!*
As the punch passed, the pool water instantly rippled. Lin Chu smiled with satisfaction at the sight.
"Now, I should have entered the Qi Refining realm," Lin Chu murmured to himself. With a thought, he stood up.
Huh? Just as Lin Chu was about to leave, he suddenly felt a piece of information appear in his mind again. Seeing this, Lin Chu immediately closed his eyes and began to read.
"Sky-Piercing Fist: Physical strength, united into one. When mastered, nothing is unbreakable."
"Lingxu Step: The charm of movement, flowing like water. Ascending to the heavens and descending to the earth, disregarding all."
"Are these two techniques?" Lin Chu was surprised. He hadn't expected that as he mastered the use of spiritual energy, two more techniques would be unsealed in his mind.
*Crack!*
While Lin Chu was still excited, a faint cracking sound echoed in his mind again. Lin Chu then felt a scene appear in his memory.
He saw clouds floating in the sky, with many unknown birds flying past. As he traversed through the clouds, magnificent and colossal palaces appeared before Lin Chu's eyes.
Looking at these palaces, Lin Chu felt a sense of familiarity.
As this feeling arose, Lin Chu became even more eager to continue watching. However, when the scene appeared before a palace called Emperor Luo Palace, it abruptly stopped. The scene shattered like a mirror and vanished.
"Emperor Luo Palace… is that my home?" As the scene disappeared, Lin Chu stood blankly in place, a sense of loss washing over him, and murmured to himself.