---
2 Month Later
---
A large burst of red aura exploded around the training courtyard, along with it was Wu Tianmo's robes.
Thankfully he still had a few sets from when he first set off on his journey, though they were now becoming a rare commodity.
Wu Tianmo slowly stood and stretched. His strength had clearly improved.
He had successfully broken through to the Second Stage of the Body Reforging realm.
He clenched his fist, then shook his head,
"This isn't enough, not nearly enough. Ten years to break through to the Meridian Opening Realm and thirty years to produce a cultivator heir. Tsk.."
Wu Tianmo took a fasting pill provided by the Liu clan and continued cultivating.
The next stage of the Body Reforging realm was the muscle tempering phase.
Now that his skin was tempered and its pores had evolved to absorb spiritual essence, he could begin refining the rest of his body.
Wu Tianmo entered his mind space and got the gist of how to complete this stage, there were two ways.
First, one could sit and cultivate the scripture which would cause the muscles to undergo a change.
While a viable option it was slow, even with such a high-tier cultivation method, it would take 9 months.
Muscles need to be stimulated to grow, therefore there was a second method.
Within the Crimson Lunar Blood Scripture there was a special sword form that could be practiced.
This sword form was the Crimson Moon Dance, with over 300 steps it stressed each muscle of the body.
Wu Tianmo walked over and grabbed one of the tier one wooden swords from the rack. He then centered himself on the training field and reviewed the first twenty steps.
The sword form noted that once you were able to complete the Crimson Moon Dance all of the muscles would be refined. This method was quicker, yet this pace had a cost, pain.
Wu Tianmo firmed his resolve, began channeling the Crimson Moon Blood Scripture, and took his first step of the sword dance.
*Tear*
Wu Tianmo grimaced from the pain, his muscles were already beginning to tear. He grit his teeth and stabbed his sword out ahead for the next move while taking a step forward.
*Tear*
"Dammit!"
----
1 Day Later
---
Wu Tianmo lay on the ground covered in sweat and fragments of red aura, he was breathing heavily.
"Five moves... a whole day and I only completed the first five moves of the Crimson Moon Dance. What masochist created this damn technique."
Wu Tianmo sat up and grabbed the sweaty handle of the sword and stood.
"No sense in whining about it, a sword cultivator must have resolve, to push through even if it means death.. Only when I let this fear of pain no longer drive me will I reach a higher stage."
Cultivation wasn't just about training the body; it was also about improving the mind and one's sense of self.
"Continue!"
Five steps later,
*Tear*
*Tear...*
*Tear.....*
---
29 days later
---
"150 steps... I really am halfway there.."
At this point over half of the muscles in his body had been refined, some were even being refined multiple times.
Wu Tianmo thought about this sword dance, it was elegant and creative. It activated all the muscles in the body and he was starting to feel like his body was no longer the one he knew.
"Continue!"
After seeing results, his desire for greater strength grew alongside his determination.
---
60 days later
---
Wu Tianmo stood with sword in hand, he no longer was breathing heavily, the pain of every tear so far had strengthened his tolerance of pain.
The Crimson Moon Dance was the optimal way of cultivation this stage, how else would he get this kind of pain tolerance.
"After a full three months.... there still are fifty steps left."
He took a deep breath and quickly looked to the side of the courtyard towards a set of trees outside the walls.
"Am I crazy? There is no one there.."
During this training his divine sense has also been growing step by step. The training field was very large yet he could still sense something going on in the trees outside of the wall.
Wu Tianmo rushed towards the trees with his robes in tatters and a tier one wooden sword in hand.
It was then that a few girls screeched,
"Run! He's coming he's coming!"
There were three girls that had been spying on him during his training. They apparently had been there so long the ground was cleared of fallen leaves and the bark of one of the large branches had been worn down from being sat on.
There were three girls in total, all were wearing brightly colored robes embroidered with a flying fish insignia.
Two of the girls started their escape first, they were only mortals but they were clearly in good shape. One of the two pushed the third girl down attempting to cover their escape.
Wu Tianmo had a disdain for people who discarded others in such a way.
Wu Tianmo was graceful in his long strides and arrived quickly, landing on the large branch above her, wooden sword in hand and crimson aura still faintly radiating from his body.
"Who dares to trespass on the Wu Clans territory."
The girl who was sitting on the ground covered in dirt now looked up at Wu Tianmo, she didn't know what to say and began to stutter in her speech.
"I....I... I..."
Wu Tianmo's eyebrow raised,
"You you you?"
The girl shook her head in frustration and stood to her feet laughing nervously. Yet she looked him in the eyes, red eyes,
"Immortal... I am Jiang Ling'er, please forgive my intrusion.. We were only---"
She then realized her two older sisters had completely abandoned her.
"I...simply wanted to see the hermit... I mean Immortal of the Wu Clan."
She could only think to herself,
Can such a perfect man really exist. His skin is like jade, face as if it was carved by master craftsman, and eyes that make me want to fall into bliss.
Wu Tianmo had never experienced this before, he was a cultivator but could he really be considered an immortal?
For mortals this choice of wording was natural, cultivators chased immortality and strength. If they could not be considered immortals, who could be?
Perspective changes from class to class.
Mortals had to be respectful even in the worst of circumstances, a single wrong word could cost them their lives.
Wu Tianmo cleared his throat and got a better look at the girl.
She was quite beautiful, but not in a delicate way noble ladies often were.
She was slender and nearly as tall as him.
Her long black hair fell down like a waterfall, slightly messy as if the winds never allowed it to be perfectly arranged.
Her eyes were a striking shade of green, like emeralds yet bright and lively. As if the sun was reflecting off shallow river water. They carried a restless energy.
Her skin was lightly tanned from countless days beneath the sun, it lacking the pale jade complexion noble women often possessed.
Her robes were colorful and embroidered with a large flying fish emblem, they showed signs of work and travel. Torn in some areas and the color faded in others.
Even a faint scent of river water and fresh reeds clung to her clothes.
A branch had caught one of her sleeves revealing a slender yet toned arm that carried the strength of someone who lived a hardworking life.
What stood out was not her beauty, but the spark of life and pride within her eyes.
How often would a mortal dare to look a cultivator in the eyes?