The Forbidden Land of Heavenly Fate Sect, shrouded in perpetual mist, became Lin Chen's only refuge.
Venturing deeper into the forbidden zone, he found a hidden cave, its entrance concealed by vines and rocks. It shielded him from outside prying eyes and blocked intrusions by savage beasts. From that day on, he settled there and began an almost harshly disciplined cultivation.
No noise, no conflict—only endless silence and day‑after‑day training.
Before dawn each day, Lin Chen was already awake. Outside the cave, facing the faint morning light, he practiced Mountain‑Splitting Fist over and over. Every movement, from start to finish, was precise. The wind of his fists roared, shaking the surrounding air. The Savage Bull Bloodline surged within him, merging with his fist intent, and his physical strength was slowly tempered through monotonous repetition.
After morning training, he sat cross‑legged to meditate. Circulating the Blood Shadow Art, he absorbed the pure yet violent spiritual energy of the Forbidden Land. Though rich, the energy here was mixed with impure miasma; ordinary practitioners risked losing themselves if they cultivated here. But relying on the unyielding will granted by the system and his purified foundation after marrow cleansing, Lin Chen forcibly refined this wild energy into his own robust true essence.
At noon, he went out to hunt. Savage beasts roamed the Forbidden Land, ranging from Body Tempering Realm to True Martial Realm. They were both threats and the best sparring partners and resources. No longer as cautious as when he first entered, he hunted calmly with his Middle True Martial Stage cultivation, Traceless Snow Tread, and the ferocity of Mountain‑Splitting Fist. The beasts' flesh nourished his body, while their demon cores were carefully stored for future cultivation.
Evening was for studying techniques and reflecting on gains and losses. He integrated Blood Shadow Art with Traceless Snow Tread, making his movement more ghostly and his aura more concealed. He also repeatedly reviewed his daytime battles to fix flaws in his moves, sharpening his combat instincts.
Day after day, month after month.
Monotonous, lonely, and strict.
No entertainment, no laziness—he even suppressed all unnecessary emotions. Like a precise cultivation machine, he strictly followed his own schedule, engraving self‑discipline into his bones.
Occasionally, he thought of the destroyed sect, the fallen fellow disciples, and the unreachable super‑powerful clan. But these thoughts only flashed briefly in his heart, turning into deeper motivation that urged him never to stop.
He knew clearly that his current peace was only temporary seclusion. Only by tempering his strength to the extreme could he protect himself in future storms… and perhaps even seek justice.
Time flowed quietly; cold came and heat went.
Before he knew it, half a year had passed.
On this day, the first faint ray of morning light pierced the mist of the Forbidden Land and fell on the clearing outside the cave.
Lin Chen stopped his fists. Vitality rose from his body like smoke, and a powerful aura far stronger than half a year ago slowly spread.
He slowly opened his eyes. There was no wild joy in them—only bottomless calm.
After half a year of ascetic‑like disciplined cultivation, his cultivation had long since stabilized at the peak of Middle True Martial Stage, only one step away from the Late stage. His physical strength, nourished by the Savage Bull Bloodline and Blood Spirit Fruits, had reached a terrifying level; even ordinary Late True Martial attacks could barely harm him.
Mountain‑Splitting Fist was already perfected—one punch could split stones and break metal. Blood Shadow Art and Traceless Snow Tread complemented each other perfectly; his figure hidden in the mist was almost one with heaven and earth.
More importantly, half a year of solitude and tempering had forged an incomparably tough and steady heart, free of all youthful restlessness.
He raised his hand, feeling the surging power within, his gaze calm and unwavering.
"It is time to leave this place."
His training in the Forbidden Land was complete.
It was time to step back into the outside world, to see the wider heavens and earth—and to let the dormant dangers resurface.