The night was as thick as ink, and a heavy silence draped over the Ye Clan estate. Inside his small room, Ye Qian sat alone, the echoes of yesterday's battle with the bully Ye Chen still vibrating in his mind. That fight had been a wake-up call; it showed him the absolute limit of his current strength, but it also pointed toward the threshold he was about to cross. Every dodge and every strike from the previous night had acted like a hammer, forging his intent.
He sat cross-legged on the cold floor, his hands resting lightly on his knees. Closing his eyes, he began to circulate the Body Tempering Mantra. This time, the flow of Qi was different—it was no longer a struggling spark, but a steady stream of warmth. He focused on squeezing every drop of potential from his muscles, bones, and tendons. Outside, a cool breeze rattled the window frame, and pale moonlight streaked across the wooden floorboards, illuminating the steady rise and fall of his chest.
Time slowed down. The air in the room felt heavy, as if it were solidifying around him. His mind and body reached a state of perfect harmony he had never experienced before. Suddenly, a low, guttural groan escaped his throat. He felt a series of muffled "pops" echoing from his joints and spine, like dry wood snapping in a fire. The bottleneck that had held him back at the third stage of the Body Tempering Realm finally shattered.
Warm energy flooded his meridians, and Ye Qian felt himself officially step into the Fourth Stage of Body Tempering.
His body felt denser, his muscles tighter, and every breath brought a surging sense of power. When he opened his eyes, his gaze was no longer that of a victim; it was steady, sharp, and full of iron resolve. He could finally control his potential rather than being limited by it.
The next morning, the dawn air was crisp and refreshing. Ye Qian stepped into the wilderness of the back mountain, away from the prying, hateful eyes of the clan. Dewdrops on the grass sparkled like diamonds in the rising sun, and the scent of damp earth filled his lungs. He took a deep breath, feeling the Stage Four power circulating through his limbs. Every step felt light, every movement felt perfectly coordinated.
He hadn't walked far when he heard a low growl.
From the thick brush, a large Grey Wolf lunged out. Its eyes were twin points of cold light, and its fur bristled as it kicked up a cloud of dust. Ye Qian didn't panic. He lowered his center of gravity, leaning slightly forward. His right hand came up instinctively while his left foot tapped the ground, feeling the vibration of the earth.
The wolf pounced, its razor-sharp claws aimed directly for his throat. Ye Qian dipped his shoulder, his body twisting just enough to let the attack whistle past his ear. The wind from the wolf's movement stung his cheek, but he remained calm.
As the wolf landed, Ye Qian pivoted on his right foot, swinging his body in a smooth arc. He threw a lightning-fast left hook at the wolf's shoulder to test its reaction. The wolf snarled and scrambled back, its claws digging deep into the dirt before leaping at him again.
This time, Ye Qian didn't just dodge. He stepped into the wolf's space, his forearms coming up to block the strike. Thud! The impact against his reinforced arms felt solid, but it didn't hurt. He used the momentum to drive a heavy right punch into the wolf's ribs. He felt the power travel from his heels, through his hips, and explode out of his fist.
The wolf was knocked sideways, let out a pained whimper, and tried to circle him. Ye Qian moved with it, his left foot stomping the ground as he slid sideways, cutting off the beast's escape. When the wolf tried to snap at his leg, Ye Qian retreated with a fluid motion, the sound of his boots scraping against the gravel sharp in the morning air.
The beast lunged a third time, desperate and hungry. Ye Qian crouched low, his left hand catching the wolf's paw mid-air while his right leg swung upward. Using the wolf's own weight against it, he spun half a circle, tossing the creature away and regaining his balance instantly.
Every move he made was precise. He wasn't just fighting; he was practicing. He was observing the wolf's rhythm and guiding its movements. With his Stage Four agility, the world seemed to have slowed down. He saw the patterns in the chaos.
After several rounds of combat, Ye Qian saw his opening. He kicked off the ground, his body springing forward like a released bowstring. He slapped the ground with his left hand, using the rebound to leap upward, and delivered a devastating right punch to the wolf's chest. The wolf was sent skidding back, fear finally replacing the hunger in its eyes.
Ye Qian didn't chase it. He stood his ground, regulating his breathing. His heart was steady, and his muscles felt full of life. The grey wolf realized it had met a predator far more dangerous than itself and slunk back into the shadows of the forest.
As the sunlight broke through the canopy, Ye Qian looked at his hands. This was the difference a single stage made. It wasn't just about raw strength; it was about the absolute mastery of his own body. He felt unified—his mind, his muscles, and his breath were now one.
But the trial wasn't over. Suddenly, the bushes parted again, and a much larger shadow emerged. This wolf was twice the size of the first, its fur scarred and its eyes glowing with a dark, primal intelligence. It moved silently, like a bolt of lightning.
Ye Qian's eyes narrowed. He adjusted his stance, his right hand guarding his chest. As the large wolf attacked, he moved with a grace he had never possessed before. Every dodge was measured in millimeters; every block was timed to the millisecond. He caught the beast's rhythm, turning the fight into a fluid dance of survival.
After a dozen intense exchanges, the giant wolf backed away, recognizing the power radiating from this young human. Ye Qian stood tall in the clearing, the morning dew shimmering on his skin. He felt a deep sense of satisfaction. The trash that everyone looked down upon was gone. In his place stood a cultivator who was beginning to understand the true meaning of strength.
The wilderness was no longer a place of fear; it was his training ground. He looked toward the deeper parts of the mountain, where the air was thick with mystery and danger.
"Stage Four is just the beginning," he whispered, his voice carrying a new weight of authority.
The wind blew through the trees, carrying the scent of pine and the promise of a long, arduous journey. Ye Qian turned and walked deeper into the woods, his every step echoing with the quiet power of a soul that had finally learned how to fight back.