The next morning, Garion clapped his hands together hard.
"Up, Dahlia! Time for morning training."
From under the blanket, a muffled groan answered.
"Master... today is the arena fight. Why do I need training now?"
Garion pulled the blanket right off her and tossed it aside.
"Because your body doesn’t care about it. Your body still needs a warm-up to keep the blood flowing to clear your head and ensure you don’t trip in the arena." Tʜe sourcᴇ of thɪs content ɪs N()velFire.net
Dahlia sat up, hair messy, glaring at him with half-closed eyes.
"Can’t I just warm up there?"
"Nope. But if you want to cramp suddenly in front of thousands of people, go ahead."
Dahlia snorted and tossed a pillow at him.
"Fine, fine. I’ll do it now."
Minutes later, the two of them stood in the building yard.
Garion rolled his neck, loosening his shoulders, while Dahlia endured her reluctant stretches.
"Arms up, bend forward, and hold. Keep your breathing steady," Garion instructed.
He mirrored her movement, both of them bending at the waist.
"It’s bad," Dahlia muttered, though her body was already loosening up.
"That’s just the soreness leaving your muscle. The pain is the weakness leaving your body."
They moved through lunges, squats, and some light push-ups.
Dahlia moved more easily with each rep, her groans slowly giving way to steady breathing.
Garion’s mind soon wandered back to the Second Realm theories.
Before stepping into that realm, one must reach the Saturation Stage of the Mana Refinement Realm.
It was where the mana pool was filled to the brim, and only then could the liquid pool be compressed into a seed.
Garion rubbed his chin, thinking.
My mana cells aren’t close to full yet.
Unlike other cultivators who had one large pool, Garion had reshaped his body into thousands of tiny mana cells.
Each was a mana pool, giving him firmer and smoother mana, but they also slowed his growth.
Every little cell needed to be filled to the brim before he could advance to the next realm.
He flexed his hands, exhaling slowly.
Still, maybe I don’t need to rush. If each cell fills even halfway, it’s already a tremendous amount compared to others.
Dahlia quickly finished a set of push-ups, sitting back on her knees.
"Master, are we done? I don’t want to be too tired before the fight."
Garion chuckled, snapping out of his thoughts.
"Relax, that was just the stretch. Your body’s warmed up now. No fatigue, right?"
Dahlia tilted her head, realizing he was right. She didn’t feel drained but sharper and more awake.
"Huh... you’re right."
"Of course I’m right."
He smirked and tapped his head.
"Remember, training isn’t always just breaking the limits. Sometimes it’s just about tuning the body."
Garion’s gaze drifted back toward the city wall in the distance.
His mind still gnawed at the problem of the second realm.
Maybe... just maybe... It’s not as frightening as they make it sound.
He clenched his fist, feeling mana swirl faintly through his veins.
If those Saturation brats were nothing but weak opponents to me, then condensation stage cultivators shouldn’t be that strong for me to fight.
Confidence swelled in his chest before turning to Dahlia.
"Dahlua, today you’ll fight kids from big sects, people who’ve trained with mana since childhood."
"Don’t get distracted by their robes or their flashy skills. Just remember your basics and strike with your whole body."
She nodded, serious now.
"Yes, Master. I won’t forget."
He patted her head roughly.
He soon earned a glare before she could push his hand away, which made Garion chuckle.
The streets leading to the arena were already packed when Garion and Dahlia arrived.
Every inn, tavern, and stall was stuffed with people here to witness teh once-in-a-decade tournament.
Garion walked in, shoulders broad enough to part the flow of people around him.
Dahlia followed just a half-step behind, her robe pulled tight over her combat suit.
She peeked up at him.
"Master, why do I feel like everyone’s staring at me?"
"They’re not. They’re staring at me. I’m too handsome for this world."
Dahlia groaned. "Be serious."
"I am, just look at these arms." Garion flexed once, earning a few side-eyes from passersby.
Dahlia pulled her hood lower, muttering under her breath.
When they reached the massive gates of the arena, the officers were already waiting.
"Competitors, this way! Spectators follow the other path."
Dahlia tightened her fists. "This is it."
Garion put his hand on her shoulder.
"Go on. Remember what I taught you. Don’t get dazzled by their flashy skills."
She nodded firmly. "Yes, Master."
An officer stepped forward and gestured politely.
"Miss, the waiting area is inside."
Dahlia glanced at Garion before following the officer through the competitors’ entrance.
Garion turned and found another guard bowing slightly.
"You must be her master. You qualify for the special seats as she’s among the top thirty-two."
Garion raised an eyebrow.
"Special, huh? Don’t tell me it’s just seats closer to the snacks."
The guard looked confused but gestured for him to follow. "You’ll see."
They climbed a long staircase and stepped into the inner gallery.
Unlike the crowded standard seats he’d sat in before, this section was orderly.
Each box was spaced apart, carved into the stone with cushioned benches and shaded roofs.
People here wore finer robes, their crests stitched boldly across their chests.
This place was basically an upgraded version of the elderly seats from yesterday.
Garion walked in, hands behind his back, his simple clothes sticking out like a sore thumb.
A few elders looked him over with raised brows, whispering among themselves.
Garion only smirked, taking a seat and stretching his legs as if he owned the place.
"Not bad. It had a better view than the standard seats."
Down below, the arena floor was being prepared for the battle.
Garion’s eyes were fixed on the entrance where Dahlia would soon walk out.
"Alright, kid. Time to show them the power of our God Gym, whether they know the name or not."