Five hours passed while Huo Chen sat cross-legged under the crushing pressure, and his body gradually adapted to the weight bearing down on him from all directions.
The Qi circulation that had felt sluggish and resistant at first began moving more smoothly through his meridians as they strengthened from the constant strain.
His breathing became easier and his muscles adjusted to supporting his frame under conditions that would have been unbearable when he first sat down.
Huo Chen opened his eyes and stood up slowly, testing how his body responded to movement under the pressure. The weight was still immense, but manageable now in ways it hadn't been hours earlier.
'Let me go deeper.'
He began walking further down the slope toward the center where the spiritual energy grew even denser. The pressure increased with every meter of depth and bore down on him with greater force. One step. Five steps. Ten steps. At thirteen steps beyond his previous position, the pressure had grown so intense that his bones felt like they might crack and his internal organs compressed to the point where breathing required conscious effort.
'This is my limit. Any further and my body might explode.'
Huo Chen sat down immediately and sweat began pouring down his face as the full weight of the pressure settled over him.
This was his new limit, thirty-three steps total from the formation's edge, and the force bearing down on him here made his earlier position feel light by comparison.
He reached into his storage ring and pulled out three spiritual fruits. The first was an Ironbone Fruit, its surface dark red and covered in fine ridges. The second was a Steelflesh Berry, smaller and purple with a tough outer skin. The third was a Viscera Strengthening Plum, pale green and giving off a faint medicinal scent.
Huo Chen ate all three in quick succession, biting through the flesh and swallowing without pause. The moment the last fruit went down his throat, the medicinal properties exploded inside his body and flooded through him with overwhelming force.
Heat spread from his stomach outward and the spiritual energy contained in the fruits activated all at once.
A grunt of pain escaped him as the energy rampaged through his body. He immediately tried to channel the medicinal effects through his meridians using the Earthfire Foundation Method, but the crushing pressure made circulation almost impossible.
The Qi resisted moving and the energy from the fruits couldn't flow through the pathways the way it normally would.
Instead, the medicinal properties began seeping directly into his flesh and bones. The gravity forced them deeper with every passing second, driving the effects into places where normal circulation would never reach.
The Ironbone Fruit's energy penetrated his skeleton and worked its way into the marrow. The Steelflesh Berry's essence soaked into his muscle tissue and skin. The Viscera Strengthening Plum's power settled into his internal organs and reinforced them against the crushing weight.
Huo Chen circulated the Huo Clan cultivation technique as much as the pressure allowed and pulled in the concentrated spiritual Qi surrounding him.
The combination of the fruits' effects being forced deep into his body by gravity and the absorption of dense spiritual energy created a crude but effective method of body tempering.
His foundation strengthened from the inside out and his physical form adapted to withstand forces it had never faced before. Hours passed while he sat there sweating under the immense pressure, and the medicinal properties continued their work until they were fully absorbed into his body.
---
Eventually, Huo Chen stood and began the slow walk back up the slope toward the formation's edge. Each step away from the center reduced the pressure slightly and his body gradually adjusted to the decreasing weight.
When he finally stepped beyond the boundary where the gravity effect ended, the sudden absence of pressure made him feel lighter than he'd ever felt in his life.
He bent low and threw rapid punches into the air with both arms, striking like a boxer testing his speed. The punches came faster than before, smoother and more explosive, and his body responded with an efficiency he hadn't possessed hours earlier.
He smiled. 'Much faster. Worth it.'
Huo Chen straightened and pulled out the map, studying the markings until he found what he was looking for.
A location marked "Cleansing Springs" sat roughly three hours west of his current position. The notation beside it mentioned Jade Clarity Lotus, a resource known for purifying Qi and removing medicinal impurities from the body.
He folded the map and began walking.
---
The sun had moved significantly across the sky by the time Huo Chen arrived at the Cleansing Springs.
The area was larger than he'd expected, with multiple pools of crystal-clear water scattered across a shallow valley.
Jade Clarity Lotus flowers grew in clusters throughout the pools, their pale blue petals floating on the surface and releasing faint wisps of spiritual energy into the air.
The mist rising from the water created a hazy atmosphere that made the entire valley feel dreamlike.
Cultivators were everywhere. Groups had claimed territory around different pools and some were harvesting lotus flowers while others stood guard with weapons visible. The air carried tension alongside the spiritual energy, and it was clear that competition for the resources here had already created conflict.
Huo Chen was scanning the valley and deciding where to position himself when a voice called out from his left.
"Huo Chen?"
He turned toward the voice, surprised. Who would know him here?
A young man was walking toward him with an expression of shock on his face. Huo Jian from the Huo Clan.
Huo Chen moved to meet him and Huo Jian's shock only seemed to deepen as he got closer.
"You actually entered?" Huo Jian's eyes went wide.
"At the fifth layer?" He shook his head in disbelief.
"Aren't you afraid? This realm is restricted to sixth layer and above for a reason. The beasts here would tear apart anyone weaker!"
Huo Chen laughed. "Hehehe. You'll understand soon enough."
Huo Jian stared at him for a moment, clearly confused by the response, then shook his head again.
"There's a lot happening here. The Jade Clarity Lotus is valuable and multiple groups are competing for control of the best pools. Our Huo Clan members have secured one section, but tensions are high with the other factions."
He gestured toward the far side of the valley where a group of cultivators in familiar Huo Clan robes had gathered around one of the larger pools.
"Come on," Huo Jian said, already turning to lead the way. "Let me take you to where our people are."