Half a Month Later—
Chirp!
Chirp!
The sun hung high in the afternoon sky, its golden rays casting long shadows over the bustling Outer Sect.
Birds flitted between trees, their songs blending into the distant hum of disciples engaged in sparring, gossiping, sharing meals, and tending to their daily tasks.
But amidst this ordinary afternoon, unusual sounds echoed from the training ground of a particular abode—
"HAAH...!"
"HUFF~"
"HAAHH...!"
Sweat dripped onto the wooden floor, forming small puddles beneath the figure of a young man, his muscles straining with each movement.
"9945!"
"HAHH—"
"9946!"
His breath came in ragged gasps, his arms trembling slightly, yet his determination never wavered.
"9968!"
"9969!"
His pace quickened, a surge of willpower igniting his final push.
"9999!"
And then—
"10,000!"
With a final exertion, he collapsed onto the ground, his chest heaving as he gazed up at the endless expanse of sky.
The steady, thunderous rhythm of his heartbeat filled his ears, his body drenched in sweat, every muscle trembling from exhaustion.
And yet, despite it all, a weary, satisfied smile ghosted across his lips.
"Finally... completed... today's routine."
This was no ordinary exercise.
His body, once frail and weak, had transformed.
His muscles, lean yet powerful, rippled beneath his skin—not overly bulky, but honed to perfection.
It was the physique of a warrior, forged through relentless discipline.
Half a month.
Yet, his transformation was something that would take an ordinary man from Earth years to accomplish.
The man exhaled deeply, lying there for a moment before finally pushing himself up. He wiped the sweat from his forehead and made his way inside.
A wooden plaque hung outside the door.
Outer Disciple.
Xue Taiyang's Abode.
Yes, the young man was none other than Reon himself.
After a quick bath to wash away the exhaustion, he emerged refreshed, a towel draped over his shoulders.
He took his usual seat on the floor, crossing his legs as he calmed his breath.
His eyes flickered with anticipation.
"I have built enough fitness. Now, it's time."
A half-smile played on his lips.
"For the past half-month, I've followed a grueling regimen—"
10,000 push-ups, 10,000 sit-ups, 10,000 squats, 10,000 sword swings And a 1,000-kilometer run.
"Every single day."
It sounded insane.
No ordinary human could sustain such torment.
But Reon wasn't ordinary.
Not anymore.
And today—
"Today, I step into the Qi-Solidification Realm."
His fingers traced the worn covers of several books stacked beside him. These tomes had been his guides, his silent mentors during the past few days.
The Path of Cultivation: A Beginner's Guide to Mastery
The Strength Within: A Guide to Cultivating Your Constitution
The Blade's Edge: A Beginner's Guide to Sword Cultivation
The Forge of Body: A Guide to Physique Cultivation
Mastering Technique: The Art of Efficient Depiction and Execution
Damn. These books held invaluable knowledge—precious, profound, and surprisingly captivating.
Did the world truly understand their worth?
He had devoured each one, memorizing their secrets, unlocking their wisdom.
There are still many cultivation books I bought from the library, but these are the ones I've read so far. Most of them share a common lesson:
Before advancing beyond the Qi-Refining Realm, one must build a physically strong enough body to bear the weight of power.
"That's why I pushed myself beyond my limits."
"Thanks to my constitution, my bones are now stronger than the toughest metal."
"But my flesh? That needed tempering."
Yet, it wasn't just the cultivation books that intrigued him.
Reon's gaze shifted toward another set of volumes.
These weren't about strength or technique.
They were about something far greater.
The Myths and Legends of the Nine Realms
Chronicles of the Nine Continents
Geography and Cultures of the Nine Continents
Each book consisted of nine volumes, each brimming with knowledge never once mentioned in the novel.
"The first was mostly fables and fairy tales—stories for children. But even myths have roots in truth."
"The second was a detailed account of wars, legendary battles, and the rise and fall of heroes."
"The third... it contained everything about this world—its cultures, vast landscapes, and places so obscure that even the natives might not know they exist."
He knew a bit about these continents from the novel, but the books he read were on another level—filled with rich details far beyond anything the story had mentioned.
But knowledge alone wasn't enough.
That's why, every week, he participated in the Weekly Dueling Event—testing himself against skilled opponents, refining his techniques, and tempering his battle instincts through real combat.
Reon let out a quiet chuckle.
"I've even completed some tasks and earned rewards along the way," he mused.
"And I managed to cultivate my footwork technique to the Early-Stage all on my own."
A flicker of pride gleamed in his eyes.
It's the same feeling as finally solving a difficult math problem on your own after hours of failed attempts.
But mere progress wasn't enough.
After breaking through to the Qi Solidification Realm, he would take on an even greater challenge—comprehending the Unknown RankBreathing Technique.
From that moment forward, it would become the key to pushing his cultivation to new heights.
Without hesitation, he reached into his inventory and summoned three items into his palm.
First—
A Superior Tier Grade-2 Qi Enhancement Pill—a pill brimming with dense Qi, perfect for boosting his internal energy during the breakthrough.
He had earned it as a reward after completing a task from the system in recent days.
Second—
A Low-Tier Grade-3 Blood Essence Pill—refined from the Blood Essence Crystal of a Shadow Claw Bear.
"Hah! It was both painstaking and costly to have this pill crafted in the Alchemy Hall by her."
"I had to seek her out from the inner sect and pay a hefty sum. She's undeniably skilled, but also incredibly demanding."
"Still, it was worth it. Without her mastery in alchemy, this pill would have been nothing more than a High-Tier Grade-2."
Lastly—
A Superior Tier Grade-2 Breakthrough Pill—acquired from the Golden Lotus Merchant, a prestigious pavilion within the sect that offered a vast array of herbs, pills, talismans, sect attire of various grades, scrolls, and an assortment of other valuable items though it did not deal in weapons.
Renowned across the Eastern Province of the Sleeping Dragon Continent, this esteemed establishment was founded by a Great Family affiliated with the Supreme Dao Sect.
It stood as one of the ten greatest commercial hubs on the entire continent.
Reon stared at the three pills resting in his palm, feeling the weight of this moment.
His breath steadied.
His heartbeat slowed.
He exhaled.
And then—
A sharp gleam flashed in his eyes.
"Now..."
"Shall we begin?"