Chapter 6 Forged in Fire: Sixty Days of Hellish Training
Mingyue's statement about "doubling the training volume" was by no means a joke.
Starting from the second day, Ye Feng and Ye Shaotian's lives entered hell mode. They had to get up at 3:30 a.m. every day and appear at the training ground at 4 a.m. sharp. The weights they carried increased from 20 jin to 30 jin per set, and the training time was extended from two hours to three hours.
In-depth understanding
water
ice
What's even more frightening is the upgrade in training content.
"Today we'll train your soul power control." Mingyue laid out twelve bowls on the snow, each filled with water. "Use your soul power to move the water from the first bowl to the second bowl without spilling a single drop."
Ye Feng tried to condense his soul power into a thin thread and carefully probed it into the water. The moment the soul power came into contact with the water, the water in the bowl fluctuated violently and almost spilled out.
"Soul power is not brute force." Mingyue squatted down beside him. "You have to imagine that your soul power is an extension of your body. It has to be gentle and precise."
The situation was even worse for Ye Shaotian. As soon as he probed the water with his soul power, the entire bowl of water instantly froze, and the bowl cracked.
Mingyue shook her head: "Control, control! Your Frost Sword Martial Soul has the ice attribute, which means you have a natural affinity for ice attribute soul power, but it also means it is more difficult to control. You need to learn to control it freely, instead of letting the Martial Soul control you."
After a week of practice, Ye Feng was finally able to steadily move water from one bowl to another, while Ye Shaotian found his own method—he no longer tried to completely suppress the ice attribute, but instead made precise adjustments at the moment of soul power output, allowing the water to freeze during the movement, forming ice pillars that extended from one bowl to another.
"Very good, you've made progress." Mingyue rarely praised him, "but this is just the beginning."
In the second week, a specially made wooden dummy was added to the training ground. The dummy was made of ironwood, a specialty of the North, and was extremely hard, with its surface covered with sharp icicles.
"Dodge training." Mingyue pointed to the wooden dummy. "I will control it to attack you. You cannot fight back, you can only dodge. If you are hit once, your dinner will be halved."
The wooden dummy came to life under Mingyue's soul power, launching attacks from every angle. Ice spikes hurtled through the air as Ye Feng and Ye Shaotian dodged and weaved within the narrow space.
After the first day of training, both of them were covered in bruises and abrasions. Ye Shaotian was in the worst shape, as he was pricked in the buttock by an ice pick and was in so much pain that he grimaced.
"Boss, I'm not kidding. I think Teacher Mingyue wants to kill us." Ye Shaotian said with a mournful face as he applied the medicine that night.
Ye Feng gritted his teeth as he treated the wound on his shoulder: "She's pushing us to our limits, and... it's definitely effective, isn't it?"
After a week of evasion training, Ye Feng's reaction speed improved significantly. He could predict the trajectory of the wooden dummy's attacks and even make minimal evasive movements when the ice spikes were about to hit him. Shao Tian developed a new technique—using cold air to form a thin ice armor on his body surface. Although the defense was limited, it was still a way to reduce damage.
In the third week, Mingyue led them away from the academy.
Thirty miles outside the city of the North, there is a waterfall called "Icefall". The waterfall is about fifty meters high and the water flows rapidly. What is even more peculiar is that due to the low temperature in the North, the sides of the waterfall are covered with ice crystals and the water is mixed with ice fragments.
"Today's training is upstream waterfall climbing." Mingyue pointed to the waterfall. "Without using soul power, relying solely on physical strength, climb to the top, take down an icicle, and then come down. One hour time limit."
Ye Feng looked at the cascading waterfall and gasped. Not using his soul power meant he had to climb it with his bare hands, braving the impact of the water and ice shards, while also being careful of the slippery ice walls.
Ye Shaotian's legs went weak: "T-Teacher, this is impossible..."
"Then give up." Mingyue said expressionlessly. "But those who give up are not qualified to go to the Ice Mystic Realm."
Ye Feng gritted his teeth, took off his coat, and walked towards the waterfall in just his shirt. As soon as he got close, the icy water hit him so hard that he couldn't open his eyes. The ice shards cut his skin, and the blood was instantly washed away by the water.
He grabbed a protruding rock and began to climb upwards. Every rock here was specially designed by Mingyue, so Ye Feng didn't need to think about how to climb; he could just go straight up. Every step was extremely difficult, as the force of the water kept pushing him down, and the ice wall was so slippery that he almost lost his footing several times.
By the time Ye Feng reached a height of ten meters, he had exhausted most of his strength. His fingers were frozen purple, and his whole body was trembling. But he did not stop. He had only one thought in his mind—he could not let down his grandmother's expectations, he could not disappoint Teacher Mingyue, and he could not let himself have any regrets.
Twenty meters, thirty meters...
Ye Feng's consciousness began to blur, and he climbed upwards purely on instinct. He recalled the mountaineering documentaries he had watched in his previous life, the warriors who conquered the peaks, and the Soul Masters who stood at the pinnacle in Douluo Continent.
"I...can do it too..."
At 45 meters, he could already see the icicles at the top. Ye Feng bit his tongue, using the pain to keep himself awake. In the last five meters, he unleashed all his potential, using both his hands and feet, and finally climbed to the top of the waterfall.
The wind was stronger and the temperature was lower at the top. Ye Feng trembled as he broke off the longest icicle, bit it in his mouth, and began to descend.
Descending is more dangerous than ascending because Ye Feng cannot see the path beneath his feet. He can only grope around by feeling, and several times he has missed a step and is hanging in mid-air by relying entirely on his arm strength.
When Ye Feng returned to the ground, soaked to the bone and with purple lips, exactly fifty-nine minutes had passed.
A hint of appreciation flashed in Mingyue's eyes, but her tone remained stern: "Barely passable, Ye Shaotian, it's your turn."
Seeing Ye Feng's miserable state, Ye Shaotian swallowed hard, but still resolutely walked towards the waterfall.
Little Fatty's performance was unexpected. Although he was slow, he took each step steadily and used his relatively strong physique to fight against the water flow. When he climbed to 30 meters, he was obviously exhausted, but he came up with a clever idea - to use the cold air to create a temporary foothold on the ice wall.
Although this method was very costly, it was indeed effective. In the end, Ye Shaotian completed the task two minutes before the deadline.
"Not bad." Mingyue tossed them two thick cloaks. "Knowing how to utilize one's own advantages is one of the most important qualities of a Soul Master."
On the return journey in the carriage, Ye Feng and Ye Shaotian shivered, wrapped in cloaks. Mingyue sat opposite them, unusually not continuing her lecture, but quietly watching the snow scene outside the window.
"Teacher," Ye Feng suddenly spoke up, "why are you so strict with us?"
Mingyue turned her head, the moonlight shining on her delicate profile: "Because this world will not be kind to you. The Northern Territory may seem peaceful, but it is actually fraught with danger. The soul beast clans of the far north are eyeing us covetously, and the major forces in the south are also coveting the resources here. Even within the Northern Territory itself, there is a lot of open and covert struggle."
She paused for a moment: "You have talent, but if talent cannot be transformed into strength, it is worthless. I hope you will return alive from the Ice Mystic Realm, and I hope even more that you can make a name for yourselves in this chaotic world."
Ye Feng fell silent. He could sense the sincerity in Mingyue's words. This seemingly strict teacher was actually protecting them in her own way.
In the fourth week, the training entered a new phase—real combat exercises.
Mingyue found two Soul Masters from somewhere to serve as sparring partners. Both were Great Soul Masters around level 20, and both were experienced veterans of the Soul Arena with rich combat experience.
"Ye Feng vs. Zhao Gang, Ye Shaotian vs. Li Xue. Ten matches a day, one extra meal for each win, one extra training session for each loss," Mingyue announced.
Zhao Gang's martial soul is the Iron-Armed Ape, a power-type beast martial soul. Although his soul power is only about ten levels higher than Ye Feng's, he has rich combat experience and already has two hundred-year soul rings. Li Xue is a control-type soul master with the Ice Vine martial soul, which is perfect for countering Ye Shaotian's Frost Sword.
On the first day, Ye Feng and Ye Shaotian were completely defeated.
Zhao Gang's iron arm was powerful and heavy, and Ye Feng's Thousand Chance Umbrella was completely at a disadvantage in head-on clashes. In ten battles, Ye Feng only won one by relying on his agile movements, and even that was a very lucky victory.
Ye Shaotian fared even worse. Li Xue's ice vines appeared and disappeared unpredictably, always managing to entangle his hands and feet at crucial moments, resulting in ten consecutive defeats.
That night, the two practiced until late. Mingyue sat by the training field, watching them fall and get up again and again, her eyes filled with complex emotions.
"Teacher," Ye Feng asked during a break, "what exactly is missing from my Thousand Manifestations Umbrella? Why does it always feel like it can't unleash its true power?"
Mingyue walked to his side and carefully examined the Thousand Chance Umbrella: "Your martial soul is very special. It seems to have many possibilities, but they are all sealed. I guess it needs a suitable soul ring to 'activate' different forms. Before activation, you can only rely on your basic abilities and physical qualities, or explore its wonders on your own. Didn't you already develop a short staff form that reaches your eyebrows?"
She pointed to the umbrella: "During today's battle, you tried to use the umbrella to block Zhao Gang's iron arm, but the defense was not very effective. Why didn't you change your approach? Since you can't block it head-on, then deflect and guide the force, using minimal effort to overcome maximum impact."
Ye Feng seemed to be deep in thought. The next day, during the battle, he changed his strategy. When Zhao Gang's iron arm came crashing down, he did not block it directly. Instead, he used the angle of the umbrella to deflect the attack, while the tip of the umbrella waited for an opportunity to counterattack, targeting the joints where Zhao Gang's defense was weak.
This move proved effective. Zhao Gang's brute force was cleverly neutralized, and his excessive force exposed his weakness. Ye Feng won four out of ten matches that day.
Ye Shaotian also made a breakthrough. Under Mingyue's guidance, he no longer tried to cut the ice vines with the Frost Sword. Instead, he released cold air when the ice vines approached, making the vines fragile and breaking with the slightest touch. Although this increased the consumption of soul power, he finally had a way to fight back.
In the fifth week, the training focus shifted to teamwork.
"In the Ice Mystic Realm, you will face not only soul beasts, but also other people," Mingyue said solemnly. "In the Mystic Realm, human hearts are often more dangerous than soul beasts. You must learn to trust each other and cooperate seamlessly."
She designed a series of two-person cooperative training exercises: one person takes the lead in attacking while the other provides support; one person draws attention while the other launches a sneak attack; one person defends while the other counterattacks... The training content is different every day.
Ye Feng and Ye Shaotian grew up together and already had excellent teamwork. After systematic training, their coordination became even more refined. Ye Feng's Thousand Chance Umbrella could be used for both offense and defense, while Ye Shaotian's Frost Sword provided control and output. The two complemented each other extremely well.
During a training session, Mingyue personally tested their teamwork, suppressing her soul power to level 20 and fighting two opponents at once.
At the start of the battle, Ye Feng opened his Thousand Chance Umbrella to hold the enemy at the front, while Ye Shaotian circled around to the side to look for an opportunity. Mingyue easily dodged Ye Feng's attack, and with a wave of her folding fan, several wind blades shot towards Ye Shaotian.
"Shield!" Ye Feng shouted, and the Thousand Chance Umbrella flew out of his hand, spinning in the air to block Ye Shaotian. The wind blades struck the surface of the umbrella, making a dense sound.
Taking this opportunity, Ye Shaotian raised his Frost Sword high: "Ice Seal!" This was a simple application of soul power.
The cold current of soul power surged toward Mingyue. Mingyue was a little slow to dodge, and her feet were frozen by thin ice. Although she shattered the ice layer in an instant, that momentary delay was enough.
"Now!" Ye Feng caught the Thousand Chance Umbrella that flew back, and the umbrella ribs retracted into a short staff that reached his eyebrows, which he thrust straight at Mingyue's chest.
Mingyue used her folding fan to block the short stick, but Ye Shaotian's sword was already behind her.
"Stop." Mingyue called a halt to the battle, a satisfied smile on her face. "Not bad. You know how to use each other's strengths to create opportunities. This kind of teamwork should be enough to deal with ordinary Great Soul Masters."
Week six marks the final stage of training – pushing the limits.
Mingyue led them to the icy plains outside the Northern City, where the temperature was even lower and the wind was biting cold.
"Today's training is very simple," Mingyue pointed to a small hill in the distance, "Run there and then run back. You are not allowed to use your soul power to keep warm, and you are not allowed to stop and rest."
Ye Feng estimated the distance to be about twenty li (approximately 10 kilometers) round trip. Running twenty li on flat ground wouldn't be too difficult, but on the icy plains, braving the cold wind, without using soul power to keep warm...
The two had barely set off when they felt the cruelty of the ice field. The cold wind, mixed with ice particles, lashed their faces like knives, and the snow reached up to their calves, making each step a great effort.
By the time they had run five miles, Ye Shaotian's face had turned pale and his breathing was rapid. Ye Feng was in no better shape; his lungs felt like they were on fire, and his legs felt as heavy as if they were filled with lead.
"Boss... I can't go on..." Ye Shaotian slowed down.
"We can't stop!" Ye Feng gritted his teeth and grabbed him. "It will be even colder if we stop, and Teacher Mingyue is definitely watching from behind. Think about the Ice Mystic Realm, think about our first spirit ring! Teacher Mingyue probably wants to improve our physical fitness so that our first spirit ring can be of a higher age."
Ye Shaotian took a deep breath and continued forward.
At the ten-mile turnaround point, the two were exhausted. The return journey was even more difficult because of the headwind and the cold wind that made it almost impossible to move.
Ye Feng's consciousness began to blur. Images of his grandmother's hunched back, Mingyue's stern gaze, and the various future forms of the Thousand Chance Umbrella appeared in his mind...
"I absolutely cannot fall here..."
He bit his lip, the salty taste of blood stimulating his nerves. Ye Shaotian followed behind him, each step leaving deep footprints in the snow, which were quickly covered by the wind and snow.
For the last three miles, Ye Feng was moving forward entirely by willpower. His vision was blurred, his ears were ringing, and his body was numb. Only his legs were still moving mechanically.
When he finally saw the firelight of the training camp, his legs went weak and he fell forward. Ye Shaotian also fell down immediately. The two lay on the snow, panting heavily, and the white mist they created quickly dissipated in the cold wind.
Mingyue walked over and warmed their bodies with her soul power: "Congratulations, you have passed the last training exercise."
She looked at the two boys who had collapsed to the ground and said in a rare tone, "In the past two months, your progress has far exceeded my expectations. Ye Feng, although your soul power is still at level ten, your control, physical strength, and combat experience have all reached the level of a Great Soul Master. Ye Shaotian, your Frost Sword can now control the cold energy and is no longer being released randomly. Your soul power has also reached level ten."
"Take a rest tomorrow, and set off for the snow mountain trial the day after tomorrow. Get ready, the real test is about to begin."
Back in his dormitory, Ye Feng lay on his bed, his body aching all over but unable to sleep. The two months of training had transformed him; not only had his physical abilities improved dramatically, but his understanding of soul power had also deepened.
More importantly, his connection with the Thousand Manifestations Umbrella has reached a new level. Now he can clearly sense the internal structure of his martial soul, its complex mechanical devices, and its forms waiting to be activated...
"Rifle mode..." Ye Feng muttered to himself. During recent training, he vaguely sensed the possibility of the Thousand Manifestations Umbrella transforming into a long-range weapon. The internal structure of the umbrella shaft seemed capable of being modified into a gun barrel, and there was a trigger-like device at the handle...
However, all of this requires a spirit ring to activate. Without a spirit ring, the Thousand Manifestations Umbrella is just a sturdy umbrella and cannot truly display its ever-changing nature.
The next day, Mingyue gave them a surprise—two sets of specially made winter clothes.
"These are made of ice silkworm silk and snow wolf skin. They're lightweight, warm, and can even offer some protection against soul beast attacks." Mingyue handed them the clothes. "Consider this a reward for your successful training."
Ye Feng stroked the soft fabric, a warm feeling welling up in his heart. Although the past two months had been tough, Teacher Mingyue had always been thinking of them, taking meticulous care of everything from training plans to equipment preparation.
"Thank you, teacher," Ye Feng said sincerely.
Mingyue waved her hand: "Don't rush to thank me. The dangers of the Ice Mystic Realm are beyond your imagination. Once we get there, the help I can provide is limited. You'll have to rely on yourselves."
She unfolded a map, which marked the terrain of the Northern Snow Mountains and the distribution of spirit beasts.
"We'll set off the day after tomorrow, first following the main academy group to the outer edge of the snow mountain. There, you'll find mostly ten-year and hundred-year-old spirit beasts, making it a good place for ordinary students to obtain their first spirit ring. Once most of you have completed your goals, I'll take you to the entrance of the Ice Mystic Realm on your own."
Mingyue pointed to a red mark on the map: "The entrance to the secret realm opens once every three years, and only ten people can enter each time. This year, in addition to us, people from other forces will also be coming. Remember, in the secret realm, do not easily trust anyone."
Ye Shaotian asked nervously, "Teacher, what dangers are there in the secret realm?"
"Everything," Mingyue said solemnly, "extreme environment, powerful soul beasts, bizarre natural phenomena, and...human nature. Last time the secret realm opened, only five out of the ten people who entered came out alive. Two of them went mad, and the remaining three refused to talk about their experiences."
Ye Feng gasped. A 50% mortality rate was more dangerous than he had imagined.
"It's not too late to back out now," Mingyue said, looking at them.
Ye Feng and Ye Shaotian exchanged a glance and shook their heads simultaneously.
"Let's go."
Mingyue smiled, a smile that held both relief and worry: "Alright, then let's make thorough preparations. Get a good rest tonight, check the equipment tomorrow, and set off early the day after tomorrow."
As night deepened, Ye Feng arrived at the training ground alone. Under the moonlight, the Thousand Chance Umbrella gleamed silver. He gently stroked the umbrella and whispered, "Buddy, soon you'll be able to show your true form."
The umbrella trembled slightly, as if in response to him.
The trials of the northern snow mountains, the adventures of the icy mystical realm, the acquisition of the first soul ring... everything will begin the day after tomorrow.
Ye Feng looked up at the starry sky. The night sky in the Northern Territory was clear and the stars were dazzling. He thought of his grandmother in Emperor Soul Village, the village chief, the arduous training of the past two months, and Mingyue's meticulous guidance.
"I will not let you down."
In the cold wind, the boy's figure stood tall and straight like a pine tree.
Reference image by Teacher Mingyue