Thousand Hardening Body Refinement is one of the highest and most advance cultivation method available for those who practices Body-Refining. Its a cultivation method that strengthens and tempers the body to its absolute limit. Then, forces the body even further to surpass those limits to uncover the body's hidden potential. Its sounds amazing, but its actually a torture.

Refining the body would be like a stone forcefully being hammered and heated again and again, to miraculously turn it into an iron. That iron then would be shaped into a sword, and be hammered and heated again and again to make it sharp. It sounds stupid. But thats how cultivation works.

Defying the Laws of the World, acquiring the privilege to control small part of it, then becoming one with the Laws, gaining an even more deeper understanding about the Laws, finally surpassing the Laws, and Becoming a God that the Laws of the World would have to obey. When one reaches the apex, its not the Laws that would order and instruct the cultivators, its cultivators who would order and instruct the Laws of the World.

Anyway, Thousand Hardening Body Refinement is the highest and strongest cultivation method to build a proper foundation for Mortals. Its says that, since those who do not have any experience in cultivation would have more impurities in their bodies, this cultivation method would remove those to make the body more suitable for Cultivation. Making the cultivator discover their hidden potential.

First, the Qi would be needed to be absorbed and circulate the body. Using the Qi circulation method of the Thousand Hardening Body Refinement, the body would be more purified and the Qi would be even more compressed. When the body of cultivator is full of Qi, one would need to temper the body using the Martial Arts of Thousand Hardening Body Refinement. Once all the Qi stored in the body was used, the cultivator would need to absorb and circulate the Qi again and wait for the body to be fully rested. Then--- repeat the cycle.

Understanding all of these is--- super easy, barely an inconvenience!

"But, there's still a problem.." I sighed.

Its almost midnight and my family are already asleep, or at least the lights in their rooms are out. I'm not a person who like to stay awake until morning. I prefer sleeping for the whole day and wasting all of my time doing nothing. But this time, even though my whole room is dark, and my windows are open, I'm still awake and sitting on top of my bed like a retard pretending to be a monk!

Well, me looking stupid is normal. The problem is, forget about absorbing and circulating Qi--- I cant even feel it! I've been trying my best to feel the Qi in my surroundings, but no matter what I do, I feel nothing.

"Am I too stupid for this?" I whispered. ".. But from the looks of it, this Thousand Hardening Body Refinement is the most simple and straightforward method. Even a brain dead fcker can cultivate this as long one can move the body!"

This is one of the reason why I chose it.

Calm down. There's got to be something that I'm not doing right.

"Should I practice the Martial Arts first?"

Based on everything that I know about this, cultivation wont work without Qi. Even if I practice and master the martial arts, nothing would happen. Maybe it would make the body a little bit stronger and flexible, but nothing else.

"Well.. I've got nothing to do anyway."

When I chose this Thousand Hardening Body Refinement, all kinds of information about it entered my mind. Forms and posture of the martial arts, the rhythm, movements-- I can even imagine myself moving and finishing the whole set without a problem. But, that's only applicable in my mind though.

When I used my real body, my movements became awkward and stiff. It also kinda hurt because some movements and forms has a need for flexibility. Good thing, I already know everything. I just need to practice it for a couple more times to make it more natural. Hours later, my body already familiarized with the martial arts. Of course that doesn't mean I can do it easily. But at least I can finish the set without falling down like a fcking retard.

"I cant believe I managed to focus on one thing for hours.." I whispered with amazement. "Am I actually turning to a god?"

Letting my body rest for a while, I decided to visit a dark and empty place inside my mind. Inside, floating lights made up of ancient characters or letters are forming words. Thousand Hardening Body Refinement. These floating words are covered with a transparent balloon like film. When I touched it, its smooth, kinda soft and looks easy to pop.

Out of curiosity, I poke it to see if its gonna pop. And if it is, what would happen? I already tried everything I could think of, but I still cant feel this thing called Qi. The only thing I haven't tried is popping this balloon.

"Worst come to worst, I'll just die."

I'm afraid of killing myself, but that doesn't mean I'm afraid of death.

Without any hesitation, I poke it with all my strength. Pop! When it pop, the parts of the popped balloon became dust. Slowly, it started shining like fireflies looking beautiful. Then, these shining dust floated towards me and entered my body. It did not take long for all the words and light vanished, and a strange energy slowly spreading to every part of my system.

I opened my eyes and looked at my body, nothing really changed. Its the same, pale skin, average built with a slightly flabby face, waist and arms. To be honest I'm not fat, but compared to my fitness when I was in High School, I look like someone who would stay virgin for life!

As I was insulting myself, the strange energy transformed into a roaring primordial beast, and started rampaging inside my body. Boiling and heating like a lava. This energy is filling my body and making me feel like a bomb that is on the verge of explosion!

"Is this the Qi?"

-------

Immediately, I ran outside and went to an empty lot not far from my neighborhood. This place is where I used to play when I was a kid, so I knew there would be no one here to watch me. The nearest house from here is couple minutes away. Me, running to this place from my house and not getting tired--- is actually quite amazing.

Sadly, I don't have time to admire myself.

I calm my mind and let the energy within my body boil. Then, I tried to circulate it in my entire body using Thousand Hardening Body Refinement. Frowning hard, I held myself from screaming because of the pain.

The feeling of barb wire entering and circulating in every part of the body, furiously scratching the veins, muscles, bones, internal organs, and others--- and this barb wire is as hot as molten metal--- this is torture.

I continued circulating the energy in my body repeatedly until I felt like my body reached the limit. Feeling like I'm on the verge of explosion, I know that the only way to release this wild energy is to do Martial Arts. So that's what I'm gonna do.

Stepping one foot forward, I lowered my body a little to start the first posture. This position is quite easy when I was practicing the martial arts earlier. But now, for some reason, I cant move my body well. It feels heavy. I still tried though. The energy in me is still circulating properly, so I don't think I need to worry about that now. I just need to focus on the Martial Arts.

It didn't take long for my body to get use to this huge pressure. And, even though my body is quite heavy, I still maintained a proper posture and movements. This is where the real problem arises. Actually its not a problem, but an extreme pain that torture my body, and even my soul.

With every movements of my fists, the energy inside me explodes! Making all the body parts that I used to make those movements feel like being ripped apart. Stepping forward, I kicked, turned my body, punched, stepping back, I pushed my elbow forward, punched again, swift kick--- I can feel my body repeatedly being destroyed. But I didn't stop. I gritted my teeth hard and continued.

While the wild energy circulates, my body moves and uses that energy to strengthen it. Slowly, some of the impurities are being release from every part of me, and the fats I have are being burned down fast. My body is slowly being compressed and becoming more and more harder. The process of destroying one's self to create a new one, suddenly popped in my mind.

I don't know how long I was here or when I started. But, without me noticing it, I no longer feel pain. No longer think, and no longer care. Everything around me became nothing, and I entered a place where there's only me and my moving body.

Thousand Hardening Body Refinement is a simple Martial Arts. It doesn't have any elegance, but it has ferocity and simplicity that would destroy an opponent in a most simplest manner. Without wasting any movements, its fast and strong like a beast that only care about the hunt. Maximizing the results by using the minimal energy, thats what this martial arts is based of.

PLOP!

I barely finished the whole set once when the wild energy inside me vanished. At the same time, all the strength that I use to move disappeared. Making my body smash to the ground like a puppet without strings. Tired and out of breath, I feel like dying and refreshed at the same time.

Black sweats keeps oozing out of every part of my body, making me dirty and smells like shit. I also cant move, forcing me to smell that shit. I'm hungry and feel terrible. The only consolation here is that, I can see small transparent lights floating around me. These lights looks like fireflies that emits a familiar and refreshing feeling every time they closed to me, or entered my body.

Of course I have the idea on what those are. So without hesitation, I used the Thousand Hardening Body Refinement to absorb those lights and circulated it in my body. I continued doing that for a couple more minutes and finally confirmed that my thoughts are correct. Those transparent fireflies are without a doubt, the Qi.

Feeling it circulating in my body, I couldn't help but smile.

Slowly, I continued absorbing Qi until my body feels full. Then circulated it repeatedly to make my body recover faster. After a little bit more than ten minutes, I can already move my body. Even though I'm still kinda weak, its enough to move and walk around. So without waiting my body to fully recover, I started walking home.

-------

During breakfast, the five of us are eating at the table.

Since all of us are mostly busy at our things, its quite rare for us to gather and eat at the same time. So seeing this, I couldn't help but smile a little bit. Specially now that I would have to live alone later.

"Why're you smiling like that?" asked Mom.

After putting mayonnaise and ham on my bread, I stuffed it in my mouth and shook my head.

"Nothing. The ham is just good."

My mom just looked at me and didn't say anything.

While we were eating, I notice that the youngest is looking at me with narrowed eyes.

"What?" I asked.

".. its just, are you deceased?" asked the youngest.

"Don't go there, kid. D'you even know what deceased means?"

With my answer, the youngest frowned and rolled his eyes.

"Of course. It means someone's sick."

I snorted, but I didn't correct him. Let him find out what it means on his own, and be embarrass for his own stupidity.

"So, are you deceased?" repeated the youngest.

Shaking my head, I answered, "no". Then shove another ham in my mouth.

"Then why are you becoming slimmer fast?" he asked while looking at my belly. "You're still fat yesterday."

"Fck you, I'm not fat." I whispered. Then I noticed mom glaring at me, so I stopped.

Sighing slightly, I rolled my eyes.

"Anyone would be like this if he rarely eats, you know?" I said, then looked at mom trying to make her feel guilty. "You don't know the feeling of not eating for one or two days. I could only drink water repeatedly to satisfy my hunger. How sad is that.."

Raising her eyebrow slightly, Mom looked at me and snickered.

"You know you don't have anything to eat, and know that I won't give you anything. So why didn't you go outside to buy something? Is it my fault you're stupid enough to not go outside? Or do you want me to carry you like fcking baby and feed you my milk? Is that what you want?"

So much for 'no cursing', I thought.

And who the fck would want your milk? I just said a couple sentence, and she fired back with so many question.

I snorted and didn't say anything.

Actually I also just noticed that I got thinner. But I know the real reason, and its not because of not getting enough food. Well, maybe its one of them. But, the real reason was because of my cultivation.

Based on the outward appearance of my body, compared to yesterday, I look like I lost a few pounds of fat in just a single night. Which is normally impossible if based in normal people's perspective. So its normal for them to think I'm sick.

After eating breakfast, the twins said they won't be home tonight because they'll stay at their friend's house. I didn't really care, they're old enough to do what the fck they want. The youngest though is someone we all need to take care for. So when the youngest said, he'll also stay at friend's house, I immediately asked, "whose house?"

"Jeremy." he answered while drinking his hot chocolate-milk.

"Who the fck is Jeremoy?" I asked bluntly.

"It's Jeremy."

"Jeremoy."

"It's Jeremy!" he shouted.

"That's what I said.... Jeremoy."

Seeing him frustrated is quite fun to see. Bullying the youngest is always fun.

Frowning, he looked at me like he's ready to pounce on me and bite me to death. Suddenly, he snorted and snickered.

"Ah, I forgot, friends are taboo for you." he said slowly. "After all, you. Don't. Have. Friends. As a your brother, I feel sad."

I just stood there looking at the kid slowly walking away with a smug look on his face. That kid is becoming more and more outrageous.

"There's food in the fridge. Do whatever you want with that." Mom said while walking out of kitchen. "Also, make sure to clean all the dishes."

I nodded and looked at her.

"Should I prepare dinner tonight?"

"Na, I'll probably be late, so I'll just eat outside." then she looked at me and added, "just cook for your own."

-------

8:39 am, tuesday.

After eating my breakfast and washing all the dishes, I immediately went back to my room and continued my cultivation. I already absorb enough Qi to fill my body, I also tried to compress and purify those Qi to its utmost limit by circulating it in my body over and over again. From what I know, I don't really have to do this. The Thousand Hardening Body Refinement stated that, one just need to fill the body with Qi and use that to cultivate. But I thought, the purer and more concentrated/compressed the Qi is, the more effective it might be(?).

I'm not really sure, but its not like I'll lose anything so why not try. My cultivation would only become time consuming, so it didn't really matter.

Using the most pure and concentrated Qi in my body, I started doing my martial arts. Like before, there's a huge pressure enveloping my entire body every time I move. The pressure is not as strong when I popped the balloon last night, but its still painful as before. Every kick, punch, twist of my body, steps I made--- the pure Qi that circulating in my body, explodes and strengthens my body. This is literally a torture, but I didn't voice out anything. I just continued until all my strength are gone, then I absorb some Qi again to continue the cycle.

10:50am, tuesday.

Absorbing Qi, circulating it in the body repeatedly to compress and purify it to its limit, then using this practice martial arts. For more than two hours I managed to complete this cycle two times. I know its kinda slow. From what I read from Thousand Hardening Body Refinement, even beginner cultivators would be able to finish three-to-five cycles. I'm not that discouraged though.

Stretching my body a little bit, I stood up and went to the kitchen. I already looked at the fridge earlier, surprisingly it has lots of food. Which is weird since I didn't find any last night. Anyway, since my body also needed some rest, why not use that resting time to eat.

Theres a marinated milk fish in the fridge. Based from the wrapper, its most likely bought in a supermarket. One just need to fry it and ready some soy sauce and mix it with some lime-- and enjoy it like that. With lots of rice, it would be perfect.

Since I became a shut-in, I became in charge of kitchen. I cook the breakfast, lunch, and dinner for this family. I couldn't go outside, I didn't wanna go outside, I didn't wanna meet anyone who knows me. My depression, social anxiety, inferior complex, was killing me and I didn't feel comfortable outside. So to calm my mind, I decided to cook for them and be a little bit useful in this house. And it was effective. Although it took years, I feel like a normal person now. And with this cultivation, I feel like my confidence as an individual rose, and my perspective of life changed.

".. done." I whispered.

After preparing the meal, I immediately made myself full and noticed something. I can eat more food than last night. Not really that mind blowing, but it feels like I'm changing.

Since there are ingredients, I decided to also prepare for dinner. I marinated a chicken with soy sauce, vinegar, onions, some garlic, ground pepper, and some dried bay leaves. Letting it be for hours should make the whole dish perfect when it cooked later.

Looking around, I don't really have anything to do now. So I decided to just go the living room and slump my ass on the sofa and sleep. Thinking about it, I realized I haven't sleep since yesterday.

1:28pm, tuesday.

I woke up, went back to my room, and continued my cultivation.

5:37pm, tuesday.

I stopped my cultivation to prepare for dinner.

First, I let the chicken and the sauce that I made earlier to boil for at least ten minutes. Then, I remove the chicken and let it be for a couple minutes before using the grill to cook the chicken even more. With this, the taste of chicken would have a smoky flavor further enhancing its smell and taste. While I was doing that, I cut some pineapples into small pieces and added it to the sauce, making it sweet, salty, yet kinda sour. The proper balance of these three are important to make the dish godly. After that, pour the sauce into the chicken and its done.

It took me almost an hour just to finish it, and when I did, I immediately ate and fill my empty stomach. I also hid a some of it so I could eat it later at midnight. After I'm done, I noticed that my brothers still isn't home. Weird, the youngest is just a elementary student, so school should have ended. Then I remember that they won't be be coming home tonight.

Shaking my head, I went back to my room and started cultivating.

-------

I don't know how long I was cultivating, but the moment I stopped and decided to rest, my phone suddenly rang. Looking at the screen, I saw that it was already 8:47pm and the caller is my mom. Without thinking deeply, I answered it and asked why did she call. And her response, and the way her voice trembles, made me feel concern.

"Is he home?" she asked hurriedly.

Feeling the sense of dread, I immediately answered.

"Who? I'm the only one here."

"Rico didn't come home?"

Rico is the name of my youngest brother. We rarely call him that though. Since all of us use some kind of nicknames, we never call each other with our real names. Mom, using the real name of the youngest, means that this business is fcking serious.

"No." I said. "He said he would stay at his friend's home, right? Jeremy was it?"

Mom stayed quiet for a couple of seconds before saying, "I just confirmed it. From his teachers, his classmates' parents, parents of those kids he was close with, and the whole neighborhood. I'm sure."

Alone in my dark room, a sense of discomfort spread across my body. Cold winds entered my opened window and lowered the temperature of the room. Listening to the other line, I could hear my Mom's breathing becoming more and more rough and heavy.

"Sure about what?" I asked nervously.

"There's no house, there's no friend.." she whispered slowly.

"You mean.."

Then, what she said next sent shivers down to my very spine.

"Jeremy doesn't exist."