Chapter 2 Curiosity Killed The Cat

"THUD!"

"THUD!"

"THUD!"

Countless disciples were trudging forward tirelessly around the Demonic Cliff Sect's training grounds. Here disciples in the Body Tempering Realm would run laps around the training grounds while carrying heavy weights.

It was currently the time for the 2nd year disciples to train. These disciples had joined the Sect around a year ago, and could be considered to have barely begun their cultivation journey.

The vast majority of them had by now reached the 3rd Stage of the Body Tempering Realm, while certain geniuses among them had reached the 4th Stage. This was quite the impressive feat, after all even a Stage's difference could turn into a vast gap down the line.

As usual the disciples ran around the training grounds, although there was a difference in their demeanor compared to usual.

Some ran half heartedly, while others seemed to tremble with each step, not due to the difficulty of the training, but rather due to mental anguish. Others seemed to be completely normal, but if one looked closely they'd notice a certain contemplative look in their eyes.

There was one exception though. Compared to the other disciples this boy was completely average, be it in looks, stature or cultivation. His black head of hair and black eyes were the norm in the crowd, but what made him stand out was his determination.

While the other disciples walked, he ran. One could argue this was counter productive, as he'd tire out faster, but that didn't stop him. He ran and continued to run, but no one could understand why.

After yesterday 99% of the disciples from the youngest junior to even some of the oldest seniors began to doubt the path they had chosen, making him quite the anomaly.

But this didn't concern the boy, if others had doubt did that mean he must doubt himself as well? Just because of one senior brother's failure suddenly the whole Sect was confused. This didn't make sense to him.

'As long as I run for one step more than the last time, then I'd have made progress.' He thought to himself, completely focused on training.

The training regimen was pretty basic for disciples of their level. They were simply required to run 10 laps around the training grounds while carrying a weight equivalent to their current Stage in cultivation.

For example 1st Stage disciples would carry 1 tonne of weights, 2nd Stage 2 tonnes, 3rd Stage 3 tonnes, etcetera. Like this disciples could follow a simple and effective routine to progress in the Body Tempering Realm and make an easy first few breakthroughs.

So to put it in perspective, the boy was now running 10 laps around a kilometer long pathway while carrying a 3 tonne weight on his back.

Time passed slowly but surely, and 3 hours later most disciples had concluded their training for the day, but the boy was still running. Well "running", by now he had tired himself out so much that his run had devolved into more of a fast walk.

'Just one more lap.' Each step he took was harder than the last but that didn't stop him. And eventually, almost 20 minutes later he completed the lap.

"Haa, haa, haa." He exhaled heavily before putting the weight down to take a quick rest. After a short five minutes the boy picked up the weight once again before heading to the storage facility.

Placing the weight inside the boy then turned around and left, he had to go back home and rest otherwise he may inadvertently impede his own cultivation if he over trained himself.

While walking down the path towards his residence the boy seemed to be lost in thought. 'I already overdid it a bit today but I doubt its enough..... I might have to use that.' He pondered as he neared the residential area.

"ARGH!"

A bloodcurdling scream sounded out causing the boy's ears to perk up. 'They must be bullying Chen Zemin again, well its none of my business anyway.' The boy shook his head before continuing forward, but his eyes couldn't help but move towards the source of the sound.

Giving into his curiosity, the boy moved quietly into the nearby shrubbery and soon came upon a group of boys beating up a downed boy on the ground.

"Hmph! This is what you get for being an arrogant prick!"

"Exactly, who do you think you are!? Even Senior Brother Zhang has quit yet you think you'll reach the peak of cultivation?"

"You're just a bastard."

They insulted him one after the other. If one didn't know any better they might assume that this Chen Zemin had slaughtered their families and they were exacting their hatred upon him, but naturally it wasn't so.

Chen Zemin was simply the trash of their batch. While most disciples had already reached the 3rd Stage he had barely reached the 2nd Stage. Not only that but he was extremely arrogant when they had first entered the Sect, boasting non-stop about how he'd one day reach the summit of cultivation.

Alas that was not what fate had in store for him. Instead his life was diminished to that of a bullying target and an easy one at that.

The boy sat there watching this scene for about 5 minutes until the group of boys took out a weird blue strand of grass and was about to feed it to Chen Zemin. Seeing this the boy looked at Chen Zemin with pity before turning around and walking away.

"SNAP!"

Before he could get very far away he accidentally stepped on a branch causing the group of bullies to look in his direction. "Who's there?" One of them asked wearily.

Hearing this the boy quickly came to a decision, deciding to turn around and step out. He couldn't run away as he was too tired, and if he got caught it'd look suspicious, so it was better for him to simply reveal himself.

"Huh? Mo Xiaowen? What are you doing watching us?" One of the bullies asked. Seeing Mo Xiaowen the group had calmed down somewhat. He was middle of the pack and around their level so he wouldn't cause any trouble.

On the other hand Chen Zemin gazed at Mo Xiaowen with hope. 'Finally someone has some compassion.' He thought, ultimately no one liked to be beaten unless they were a masochist, and that Chen Zemin was not.

"Ah I just got lost, you guys can continue doing what you're doing." Mo Xiaowen smiled while rubbing the back of his head. He needed to get out of here and fast.

"Hmm, sure but I am curious. What the fuck was that today? Why all the extra effort?" This was a question everyone had on their mind, after all it was hard not to notice Mo Xiaowen during today's training.

Mo Xiaowen was quite surprised when he heard this. While he knew someone might ask him a question or two he hadn't put much thought into a reply. At first he thought about making up some random reason before scraping the idea, sometimes being honest was the best method.

"I want to surpass myself." He replied succinctly.

Hearing this the group of bullies were quite confused, but they didn't put much thought into it. At the end of the day they were simple minded beings so they didn't care much for Mo Xiaowen's reply.

"Whatever just piss off and don't stick your nose into other people's business next time!" One of them snarled before continuing to beat up Chen Zemin. Mo Xiaowen then sighed in relief before leaving the group and heading to his residence.

On the other hand Chen Zemin laid there getting beat up, his eyes full of fury. 'THERE'S NO JUSTICE IN THIS WORLD!' He roared inwardly, before another foot crashed into his nose.