The Next Morning
Tianyu woke up earlier than usual. He intended to do physical training, just like he used to back in his hometown. However, upon arriving at the pavilion courtyard, he realized—there were no proper tools available for his training.
As he stood there in confusion, Madam Lin passed by. Tianyu immediately approached her.
"Madam Lin, is there anything really heavy here? Around 1,200 to 1,500 kilograms. I need something heavy to train with," he asked.
Madam Lin smiled. "Ah, Young Master! Yesterday, the Young Lady ordered us to prepare a special iron tripod for your training. However, we weren't sure how heavy you needed it to be."
"Really? Where is the tripod now?" Tianyu asked, his eyes lighting up.
"It's still in the back storage. If you'd like, I'll have the servants bring it out to the courtyard right away," Madam Lin replied kindly.
Tianyu nodded enthusiastically. "Yes, please bring it here. I want to try it out immediately!"
Madam Lin hurried off to give instructions, and shortly after, several strong servants arrived, pushing a large iron tripod into the courtyard.
With a loud rumble, the heavy iron tripod was finally moved to the center of the courtyard. The object was made of dense black metal, with three sturdy legs firmly rooted into the ground. It stood taller than Tianyu himself, and the fine engravings on its surface showed it was a carefully crafted, handmade item.
"It weighs around 1,300 kilograms, Young Master," one of the servants explained, wiping sweat from his brow. "It took six of us just to push it here."
Tianyu circled around the tripod, his eyes gleaming. "Perfect," he murmured. Without another word, he bent down and reached for the base of the tripod.
Taking a deep breath, Tianyu planted his feet firmly into the ground. His stance was solid, his body slightly leaning forward. Both hands slowly reached under the tripod, gripping it tightly.
The remaining servants in the courtyard stopped what they were doing. They watched Tianyu with astonished expressions, some even holding their breath. None of them had truly believed the young man intended to lift something that heavy by himself.
Even Madam Lin froze in place, her eyes widening at what her Young Master was attempting.
Grrkk…
The sound of heavy metal grinding against the ground began to echo. The iron tripod was slowly rising. The earth beneath Tianyu's feet cracked slightly, showing the incredible pressure he was exerting.
Veins bulged along his arms and neck, but his expression remained focused. His body trembled under the weight, but the determination in his eyes never wavered. In a moment, he had lifted the tripod high above his head.
Everyone watching fell silent. Only the sound of Tianyu's heavy breathing and the low hum of vibrating metal filled the morning air.
Some of the servants swallowed hard, unable to believe what they were seeing. One even whispered, "Is he… even human?"
Hearing the commotion from the courtyard, Xu Jiujiu quickly made her way over with swift steps. Her sharp eyes instantly caught the extraordinary sight: Tianyu standing tall with the massive iron tripod raised above his head, while the surrounding servants stood frozen in awe.
"What's going on here?" Xu Jiujiu asked the nearest servant, her voice full of curiosity.
The servant turned to her, still pale-faced. "M-Miss Xu… the Young Master… he lifted a 1,300-kilogram iron tripod with his bare hands!"
Xu Jiujiu turned her gaze toward the direction the servant had pointed. There, the small-framed Tianyu was steadily holding up the massive weight above his head, the muscles in his arms—usually hidden beneath his clothes—now visibly hardened like steel.
Xu Jiujiu was astonished. When she had ordered this tripod for Tianyu yesterday, she had thought it might be too heavy for him and that he wouldn't be able to use it yet. But now, Tianyu had lifted it—even if it was clearly a struggle.
The ground beneath Tianyu's feet began to show fine cracks, forming a spiderweb-like pattern around his shoes. Sweat poured down his temples, even though his expression remained calm.
Xu Jiujiu couldn't help but speak up. "Tianyu, be careful! Don't overdo it!" she shouted, her voice filled with concern.
Tianyu heard Xu Jiujiu's voice and glanced at her, offering a reassuring smile. "I'm fine, Sister Jiujiu! This is just training," he replied, though his breathing had started to grow labored. He remained focused, working to stabilize the heavy tripod above his head.
Then, Tianyu began walking—step by step—while still holding the tripod above him.
Every step felt heavy, but his determination didn't waver. He tried his best to maintain his balance, feeling every muscle in his body strain. Tianyu was determined to condense his second spirit ring as quickly as possible and grow stronger.
The servants and Xu Jiujiu could only watch in awe, unable to believe that the seemingly small young man could accomplish such a feat.
"He's truly incredible," one servant whispered to another. "Who would've thought he could lift and walk with something that heavy?"
After walking for several minutes, Tianyu finally came to a stop. He carefully lowered the tripod to avoid damaging the ground too much.
"Haah… I'll rest a bit before continuing," Tianyu said, wiping the sweat from his face. His breath was still heavy, but his eyes shone with satisfaction.
Xu Jiujiu approached him lightly, offering a delicate lace-edged handkerchief. "You really worried me," she said, her gentle voice trembling slightly. Her beautiful eyes reflected a perfect blend of concern and inescapable admiration.
Tianyu accepted the handkerchief with a small laugh, softly wiping the sweat from his brow. "Hehe… I just want my body to get used to the pressure. This tripod is perfect for that."
Xu Jiujiu looked at the iron tripod now standing firmly on the ground, then turned her gaze back to Tianyu with a meaningful expression. "If you keep doing this, your body could break, you know?" Her tone grew firmer. "Even the strongest steel will crack if it's constantly under pressure without rest."
Tianyu gave a relaxed shrug, an innocent smile spreading across his still-flushed face. "My body's a little special, Sister Jiujiu. I've been doing this since I was four years old. So, you don't have to worry too much."
Xu Jiujiu let out a long sigh, folding her arms across her chest. "Alright then," she said, shaking her head. "So you still want to continue training? I'll come get you when breakfast is ready."
"Okay, Sister Jiujiu," Tianyu replied with an enthusiastic nod, his eyes once again gleaming with excitement as he looked at the iron tripod—eager to take on the challenge once more.
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