CHAPTER 62: CHAPTER 62: THE TRANING ORGANIZED BY SHAURYA

The members of the Sanatan Flame Sect stood gathered upon the training ground, their faces pale and eyes wide with shock. Their bodies trembled uncontrollably, as if the aftershocks of the overwhelming power they had just witnessed still lingered in their bones. Every gaze was locked upon a single figure—Shaurya—floating calmly in the sky above them.

Suspended in midair, he held in his right hand a small golden orb of compressed energy, radiating dazzling brilliance. That orb, however, was not merely light—it contained the entirety of the catastrophic explosion they had seen moments before. What should have reduced the entire sect grounds to dust and ash was now quietly restrained in the palm of their master.

Shaurya glanced down at his disciples. Their awestruck faces reflected both fear and reverence. A faint sigh escaped his lips, his expression unreadable, before he clenched his fist. At once, the golden orb vanished, dissolving into nothingness. The radiant chakra mark that had burned upon his forehead dimmed and disappeared as well. His body returned to its normal state, no trace of the earlier divine pressure lingering.

Then, with a small smirk tugging at his lips, Shaurya lowered his head slightly toward his sect members. In the next instant, he stepped lightly upon the air, vanishing from sight using his aerial steps, leaving only stunned silence behind.

The disciples blinked in confusion at his sudden disappearance, still unable to process the miracle they had just witnessed.

It was Elder Wu who first regained his composure, his weathered face solemn as he broke the silence.

"That fusion attack... it was beyond terrifying. The explosion alone could have reduced this entire area to dust—most of the disciples would have perished instantly. Yet Master stopped it... as though it were nothing."

Elder Liya inhaled deeply, steadying her heart before speaking.

"Indeed. Even if we combined all of our strength, stopping such a force would have left us gravely injured. But Master suppressed it with ease."

Elder Feng Yu’s grip tightened upon the scabbard of his sword. His eyes were still filled with lingering dread as he muttered,

"If I poured every ounce of power into stopping that blast, I would not have been able to contain it. At best, I would have been left half-dead."

Elder Wan remained frozen in shock, his lips dry.

"It seems... we have truly underestimated Master’s power."

Beside them, Lin Shu slowly nodded, his face serious.

"We cannot measure his powers by cultivation levels. Even though he and Elder Feng Yu stand at the same realm, the gap between their strength feels like a vast chasm."

At that moment, Wang Tian and Luo Chen descended from the sky, their robes torn, their chests rising and falling heavily. Sweat drenched their bodies, their faces pale with exhaustion. Luo Chen struggled to catch his breath, then managed to speak in a hoarse voice.

"Master’s power... it is beyond imagination."

Wang Tian nodded firmly, his usually sharp eyes softened with reverence.

But Elder Wu’s stern voice broke the solemn mood. He clapped his hands sharply and barked,

"Alright, enough standing around! Stop resting—this place won’t fix itself. We must rebuild at once!"

The jaws of the disciples collectively dropped. Their faces darkened, but none dared protest. One by one, they donned the construction helmets provided and began their work, tools in hand. The once-grand training ground, now scarred and shattered, slowly echoed with the clamor of rebuilding.

Meanwhile, inside Shaurya’s Room.

He collapsed heavily onto his bed, his body trembling with fatigue. Each breath he took was ragged, his chest heaving as though even breathing had become a labor.

Before he could close his eyes, a familiar chime rang in his mind.

Ding!

A glowing system window materialized before him.

[Host... that was truly impressive. You looked amazing. In fact, I even captured a photo for you!]

Shaurya sat up immediately despite his exhaustion, excitement gleaming in his eyes.

"Really? Show me!"

The window shifted, revealing an image: Shaurya himself, floating in the sky, condensing that massive explosion into a golden orb of divine light. The chakra mark burned on his forehead, his expression calm and composed, his figure radiant like a god descended upon the world.

Shaurya’s eyes lit up, his lips curving into a dazzling smile.

"Whoa... I look incredible! Look at that golden glow, the chakra shining on my forehead, the orb in my hand, and my calm expressions... it’s perfect! Just like one of those overpowered protagonists I used to read about! Hahahaha!"

His laughter filled the room—but midway, his vision blurred, his body swayed, and he collapsed back onto the bed. Dizziness washed over him in waves, and his eyelids fluttered heavily.

The system’s calm voice echoed once more.

[Host, that form increases your power tremendously, but the exhaustion it brings is overwhelming. If not for your immortal body, you would have fallen into a coma after using it.]

Shaurya sighed, his chest rising and falling slowly.

"Tch... that form truly multiplies my strength fourfold. But the exhaustion is unbearable. I don’t even have the energy to sit up right now. Still..." He opened his eyes slightly, a faint grin curling his lips. "It’s perfect. I’ll name it... Divine Form."

[Then host must cultivate diligently, the system reminded him. Only by raising your realm can you maintain the Divine Form for longer periods.]

Shaurya’s breathing slowed, his eyes drifting shut.

"Understood..."

And with that, he drifted into deep sleep.

Back at the training ground, the air rang with hammers, saws, and the sighs of exhausted disciples.

Xiao Rui wiped the sweat from his brow, his lips curved into a weary smile. He turned toward Lee Bie, raised a trembling thumb, and said,

"Work’s done."

The group stood admiring their effort. The ruined training ground had been restored to its former state.

Elder Wu inspected their work and gave a satisfied nod.

"You all did very well. Take a rest for one hour. After that, training will resume."

At his words, the disciples’ faces fell like wilted flowers. Their shoulders sagged, and in a defeated tone, they chorused,

"Yes, Elder..."

Elder Wu shook his head, clicking his tongue.

"These young ones... far too weak."

Standing nearby, Wang Tian’s sharp gaze locked on him. His voice was icy.

"Elder Wu... did you just call me weak?"

Elder Wu froze instantly, sweat breaking across his forehead. He forced a dry laugh, waving his hands in denial.

"No, no! Of course not. I was speaking of the younger generation, not you... Ghost Emperor."

Wang Tian gave a short nod.

"Good. Then it’s fine."

Suddenly—whack!

A fist struck his forehead.

Elder Liya stood before him, her expression dark and irritated.

"You Dumb Emperor. Behave yourself!"

Wang Tian grabbed his head, glaring at her in disbelief.

"You old witch! How dare you hit me!"

Elder Liya cracked her knuckles, a devilish grin spreading across her face. Her right eye glowed faintly with a pink aura.

"Do you still think you’re the mighty Ghost Emperor? Remember this—I can beat you as many times as I wish. You’re no longer an Emperor."

For a moment, Wang Tian faltered, fear flickering in his eyes. But he quickly masked it with a grin.

"Oh, really? Don’t forget—you’re no longer an Empress either, old witch."

Elder Liya smirked.

"True. But I am still an elder, and stronger than you at present. Most importantly..." her smile widened, "I am your elder sister, you dumb emperor!"

She swung her fist, and the scene went black. Only the sound of punches, kicks, and Wang Tian’s muffled cries echoed, accompanied by stars spinning around his head.

Later.

Luo Chen sat cross-legged, trying to hide his laughter. His head tilted curiously as he looked at the swollen figure before him.

"Well... what happened to you?"

In front of him sat Wang Tian, his entire face swollen and bruised, looking utterly ridiculous.

"Nothing," Wang Tian muttered coldly. "Mind your own business."

Luo Chen turned his head, covering his face with both hands, shoulders trembling. But he could not hold it in any longer. Laughter burst out of him.

"Pfft—haha! Sorry! Sorry! But you... you look like a clown!"

Veins bulged on Wang Tian’s forehead. His teeth clenched. With a growl, he rose to his feet and slammed an uppercut into Luo Chen’s jaw, sending him flying.

"Shut your damn mouth!"

One hour later, the disciples assembled once more on the training ground. The elders stood at the front, their expressions stern.

Elder Wu’s voice boomed across the field.

"Disciples! Do you all have your weight bracelets?"

"Yes, Elder!" they responded in unison.

"Good. Wear them on your wrists. These bracelets will apply tremendous pressure upon your bodies, as though you carry heavy weights with you. Each bracelet has ten levels, marked by stars. One star equals one ton. We begin with the first star and increase gradually."

Gasps rippled through the disciples. Their eyes widened in disbelief.

Meanwhile, Wang Tian, Luo Chen, Sheng Lu, and a few others clenched their fists, excitement blazing in their eyes. Without hesitation, they strapped on the bracelets and activated them.

Lu Fang stared at the glowing star upon his bracelet. The moment the first star lit, his body nearly buckled under the crushing weight. His breaths came hard and fast.

"It’s... so heavy..."

Wang Tian and Luo Chen, though drenched in sweat, grinned.

"This is incredible," Wang Tian said. "It’s like training in the gravitational chamber."

"Yeah," Luo Chen nodded eagerly. "With this, we can train anywhere!"

Watching them, Xiao Rui’s jaw dropped.

"Are they even human?"

Lee Bie struggled for air, his face pale.

"Forget them. They’re monsters."

Cheng Fang and Zong Bu could only nod in agreement.

Elder Wu’s sharp voice cut through their murmurs.

"Sect Master has personally instructed us to begin with basic compulsory training. This regimen will strengthen your bodies before true cultivation training begins."

The disciples blinked in surprise, confusion spreading across their faces.

Sheng Lu whispered to Lu Fang, curiosity burning in his eyes.

"I wonder what kind of training Master has prepared."

Xiao Rui and his friends huddled together, murmuring.

"Knowing Master," Zong Bu said nervously, "it’s going to be brutal."

"Of course," Xiao Rui replied dryly. "Let’s just see."

Elder Wu cleared his throat, then declared loudly,

"The basic training is as follows: Ten thousand pushups. Ten thousand sit-ups. Ten thousand squats. Ten thousand jumping jacks. Fifty laps running from sect gate to the base of this mountain peak. And finally, one hour of meditation with controlled breathing."

The training ground fell into utter silence.

The disciples stood frozen, their expressions blank, their bodies like stone statues. A dry wind swept past, rustling their robes.

Tears welled in Lee Bie’s eyes. He forced a weak smile and turned to Xiao Rui.

"Do you... do you think we’ll survive this?"

Xiao Rui, smiling faintly, answered without hesitation.

"Of course not."

Zong Bu broke down crying.

"I don’t want to die! I’m not even married yet!"

"I don’t want to die single!" Cheng Fang wailed, tears streaming down his face.

The other three glared at him.

"You scum!" Xiao Rui shouted. "You already have a fiancée!"

Cheng Fang blinked, then laughed sheepishly.

"Oh, right. I forgot. It still feels like a dream, honestly."

Without hesitation, the other three clenched their fists and began pounding him mercilessly.

Meanwhile, Wang Tian inhaled deeply, then exhaled. Luo Chen cracked his neck and glanced sideways.

"So, what do you think?"

Wang Tian smirked.

"I don’t care. I know I can do it easily."

"I’ll finish before you," Luo Chen replied flatly, their eyes locking in silent challenge.

Elder Wu’s sharp voice broke the tension.

"Running fifty laps—begins now!"

The disciples bolted forward, racing down the mountain.

At the front, Wang Tian and Luo Chen led, their rivalry burning fiercely. Lee Bie struggled close behind, while the others pushed themselves desperately to keep up.

One disciple gasped in shock.

"We’re wearing one-ton weights, and they’re running like it’s nothing!"

"I won’t lose either!" another shouted, determination blazing in his eyes.

The disciples roared in unison, pushing their limits.

The elders stood at the peak, watching with faint smiles.

The disciples sprinted down the mountain, then up again, sweat soaking their robes. Their steps grew sluggish, exhaustion clawing at their limbs. Yet Wang Tian and Luo Chen refused to slow.

Fifteen minutes later, the two rivals charged into their final lap. Their muscles screamed, sweat flew from their faces, but neither backed down.

At the very end, Luo Chen let out a roar, forcing every ounce of strength into his stride. His foot crossed the sect gate a mere heartbeat before Wang Tian’s.

Elder Wu raised his hand and declared,

"Luo Chen takes first place! Wang Tian second! Lee Bie third! All others, continue until you complete the task!"

The disciples roared with renewed determination.

Meanwhile, Luo Chen fell to his knees, both fists raised to the heavens. His voice cracked with triumph.

"I wooooon! I finally won!"

Wang Tian spat saliva to the side, his eyes burning with pride.

"Don’t celebrate too early. In the end, I will be the true victor."

Their eyes locked again, fierce and unyielding.

Not far away, Lee Bie collapsed face-first onto the ground, unconscious.

Slowly, one by one, the disciples completed their laps. The elders stood by, passing water, offering guidance, and quietly smiling at the determination blazing in their disciples’ eyes.

To be continued...