Douluo Dalu 1: The Tang Family Rebel

"No! I can't stop!"

Suddenly, Yun Chuan shook his head, casting aside the negative thoughts in his mind. He knew that he was only feeling a little tired, and he was far from reaching his limit. If he stopped now, it would defeat the whole purpose of this training.

Training is about persistence!

Giving up halfway won't lead to any results.

If he wanted to become strong and gain the power to protect his mother and Sister Xue, how could he even think about giving up over such a small amount of hardship? Becoming strong is not about avoiding pain!

With this thought in mind, Yun Chuan adjusted his mindset, deciding to take the training seriously from this point on.

No matter how tired or painful it gets, he would push through!

After all, it's through enduring hardship that one becomes a true leader!

"Ha! Ha! Ha…"

As Yun Chuan continued running with the heavy load, his breathing became increasingly ragged. His legs felt numb, and it was as if he had forgotten how to run. He was relying on instinct and momentum to keep moving forward.

"Buzz!"

Suddenly, Yun Chuan felt a strange vibration from the symbol on his forehead.

At the same time, an unusual wave of energy spread from his brain throughout his entire body.

His previously numb body began to regain sensation, and the aching, tingling, and swelling feeling surged through his body.

But Yun Chuan didn't have time to worry about that.

He could sense that as the symbol on his forehead emitted that strange wave, a mysterious, indescribable feeling arose within him.

Instinctively, Yun Chuan began adjusting his breathing rhythm.

In… Out!

In… Out!

In just a few breaths, Yun Chuan felt as if his tired body had been reinvigorated!

The simple act of breathing in and out seemed to contain some grand, natural law that resonated with the very rules of the world. His previously chaotic breathing became orderly, and his arms, which had been swinging randomly, now moved in a smooth rhythm. His legs regained their strength as well.

A new power flowed into his fatigued body.

Yun Chuan became immersed in this strange state, adjusting his running intervals, arm movements, and breathing patterns, unconsciously using every bit of energy in his body in perfect harmony.

He was no longer aware of his fatigue, his goal, or the hundreds of pounds of weight on his back. He was simply focused on perfectly coordinating every movement of his body and utilizing every ounce of his energy.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Yun Chuan saw the familiar figure of the Pope in the distance.

Only then did he snap out of this strange state.

"What just happened?" Yun Chuan felt puzzled. He realized that he felt remarkably good—he had run such a long distance with the heavy load, but instead of feeling exhausted, he was full of energy. He could clearly sense every bit of soul power flowing through his body, every muscle's movement. It felt like he had gained full control over his body and soul power!

At this moment, his combat ability might even surpass the old him by tenfold!

"It was the symbol from the 'Body Cultivation Method'!" Yun Chuan suddenly remembered the moment before he entered that strange state when the symbol on his forehead had emitted that peculiar vibration. He understood now, it was the symbol that had brought him to this state.

"Perhaps I've found the correct way to use this symbol," Yun Chuan thought, as he felt an intuitive understanding of the "Body Cultivation Method" forming in his mind.

Everyone's body and talents are different, and so are the environments they are in. What works for one may not work for another. For example, if someone without spiritual roots is given a cultivation method meant for spiritual cultivation, they won't be able to practice it. Even if they do have spiritual roots, they still can't cultivate in an environment without spiritual energy.

That's why this symbol doesn't directly provide a method to practice; instead, it guides the person. It helps them sense their body and find the path that best suits them in their current world!

This, Yun Chuan realized, is the most skillful form of guidance.

As he saw the Pope's figure waiting for him in the distance, Yun Chuan instinctively slowed his pace, adjusted his breathing, and allowed his body to gradually return to normal from the intense state he had just experienced.

However, as his body returned to its normal state, the aftereffects of overexertion began to show. He felt sore, numb, swollen, and in pain—all sorts of discomforts flooded his senses. The relief felt almost too painful to bear.

Struggling with his exhausted body, Yun Chuan stumbled toward the Pope, moving so slowly that it was almost like crawling.

Finally, when he felt dizzy and nearly collapsed, Yun Chuan reached the Pope, only to fall forward, ready to hit the ground.

Just in time, the Pope flashed forward, catching him in her arms, preventing him from falling.

As Yun Chuan lay there in her arms, he couldn't help but breathe in the soft, sweet scent of her, feeling as though he was resting on a soft bed at home. A wave of drowsiness overcame him, and he fell asleep almost instantly.

"You did so well, Chuan'er," the Pope murmured, smiling gently as she looked down at the unconscious boy in her arms. Her expression was full of pride and affection. She didn't mind the sweat covering his body at all.

Soon, she took flight and headed back to Spirit City.

...

When Yun Chuan regained consciousness, he found himself in a haze, the scent of herbs filling the air. Confused, he blinked his clear eyes and, after a while, began to come to his senses.

"Am I… soaking in a medicinal bath?" he wondered.

Looking around, he realized he was in an unfamiliar room, naked and submerged in a large tub filled with pale blue liquid. The air was thick with a soothing herbal fragrance.

The exhaustion and discomfort from his earlier training had vanished, replaced by a feeling of total relaxation. It was incredibly refreshing.

At that moment, the door opened.

A person holding a small basket of prepared herbs entered the room. When she saw Yun Chuan waking up, she exclaimed in surprise, "Little Chuan, I didn't expect you to wake up so soon. It looks like your constitution is even stronger than I thought. You're absorbing the medicinal properties so well!"

"Elder Ju," Yun Chuan recognized the person immediately.

In the entire Spirit Hall, no one was more knowledgeable about medicinal herbs and creating restorative potions than Chrysanthemum Douluo, whose spirit was the mystical Herb of Heaven and Earth, the Chrysanthemum.

The fact that the Pope, who loved him so dearly, had arranged for such a special recovery treatment spoke volumes.