Chapter 6 - Closed Door Training

Ren Zu stopped in front of the closed door for a moment.

He let out a sigh, locked the door, turned on his heels, and walked with measured steps to the center of the room. He sat on the edge of the bed for a moment, his eyes fixed on his hands resting on his knees. Then, with a firm and unhurried movement, he crossed his legs and settled in the center of the mattress, back straight and shoulders relaxed.

The silence lingered.

Thinking too much about that guy was like willingly drinking poison. He knew what he felt—disdain, repulsion, a cold anger—and he also knew he couldn't let those feelings take up too much space.

The only priority now was simple:

To become stronger.

He closed his eyes.

In his mind, he outlined a simple yet effective training plan to grow stronger.

In the morning, he would dedicate himself to physical strengthening with the "Heavenly Tyrant Manual." In the afternoon, he would cultivate his profound strength through the "Ten Extreme Daos." At night, he would study the "Miracle of Life" and, instead of sleeping, use his rest hours to deepen his martial intent. During this period, he would train relentlessly in the mental battlefield, refining his skills while mastering the "Unlimited Sword Art" and the "Soothing Song of the Vermillion Bird Spirit."

With this in mind, he decided to begin his physical training.

It could be said that this method was divided into 'Strength Training,' 'Flesh Training,' 'Viscera Training,' 'Muscle Alteration,' 'Bone Forging,' and 'Pulse Condensation,' all of which were included. Beyond these stages, there was also the stage of 'Marrow Tempering'!

Above the 'Marrow Tempering' stage, there were indeed others: the 'Eight Hidden Inner Gates.' Using the Eight Trigrams to align with the movement of the Nine Celestial Organs, one could open eight gates within the body. Then, the 'Nine Stars of the Dao Palace'! With it, one could break the body's limits and reach an even higher level of strength.

But that was still far from his reach now.

His first stage was 'Strength Training,' and it came to his mind like a book being opened, detailing everything about it. The manual not only explained how to reach the extreme of this level but also included training for precision and control over the amount of force used. Once greater control was achieved, a person would be able to use their palm to turn a tree trunk into fine fibers! They would have near-perfect control over every gram of their strength.

He breathed in a specific rhythm, initiating the methods of the "Heavenly Tyrant Manual" to use profound energy to strengthen his body. His goal at that moment was only to test his natural body cultivation speed without resorting to auxiliary materials. However, he was surprised to find that his progress was even more impressive than he had expected!

The profound energy flowed from his Profound Veins, coursing through his entire body and refining every part of it at an extraordinary speed.

He could feel the difference after a few minutes—his body was improving!

Could this be one of the benefits of having absorbed the Prime World Liquid?

According to the novel's information, this liquid was capable of transforming the body into an unparalleled treasure.

Although he had only refined a diluted version, it still undoubtedly granted him countless hidden benefits...

In any case, this was advantageous for him. He wouldn't need to rely on many resources so soon to aid in his physical training. He could focus on making the most of his body's current potential for now...

…The hours passed in silence.

The sun made its natural movement in the sky above, slowly. The shadows in the room shifted...

The profound energy continued to circulate with increasing fluidity, refining not only muscles and tendons but even the subtlest structures of his physical body. During the process, Ren Zu remained still as a mountain, each breath aligned with the rigorous methods of the "Heavenly Tyrant Manual."

Sweat began to trickle down his temples, running down his back and soaking the sheet beneath his body, but he didn't stop.

At a certain point, his body began to emit small crackling sounds. It was the sound of muscles compressing, tendons tightening with greater density, bones vibrating slightly under the pressure of physical progress.

And then, finally…

His black eyes snapped open.

For a moment, they remained calm and impassive, reflecting only the emptiness of late morning. But soon, a faint smile appeared at the corners of his mouth—subtle, but brimming with confidence.

He had reached the peak of "Strength Training."

Even without using a single drop of his profound strength, his body was already capable of exerting a brute force equivalent to 2,500 kg, far more than he had expected. He supposed this was due to the special nature of his physical body. By his estimates, his combat prowess should now be at the peak of the True Profound Realm, thanks to the physical enhancement he had achieved and his Vermillion Bird Profound Art...

Well, he would have to test it later in the Asura Battlefield to be sure...

Something he had learned while killing enemies in that place—or perhaps an instinctive "awareness" inherited from the former owner of his body—was the ability to discern the cultivation level of those he faced. Even before strengthening his body, after just one night of battles in that field, he was already capable of facing cultivators at the Fourth Level of the Profound Realm, despite being only at the First Level.

Rising from the bed, Ren Zu felt his body lighter, as if every part of him was vibrating with compressed vitality. His reflexes, the precision of his movements, the firmness of his steps—everything had been elevated to a new level.

He observed his hands for a moment, rotating his wrists with curiosity; his bodily control had become almost perfect.

"Let's see what it's like to punch with two and a half tons of force…" he murmured, taking two steps to the center of the room, inhaling deeply, grounding his stance, and focusing all his newly acquired strength into a single punch forward.

The impact was silent for a moment.

Then came the dry boom.

The air in the room shook as if hit by a contained explosion. Ren Zu's punch didn't hit any walls, but the shockwave spread with invisible violence. The generated wind rattled the paper windows as if a storm had passed through the room. The sound echoed through the ceiling beams, and fine dust fell from the cracks as if the house had trembled for a second.

On the floor, a circular pattern of cracks spread around his feet, like webs slowly expanding across the floorboards.

"There's really nothing more satisfying than a powerful body…" Ren Zu observed the result with a light gasp, surprised but satisfied.

He then calmly returned to the bed, crossed his legs again, wiped the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand, and prepared for the second cycle of the day.

Now, it was time to cultivate his profound strength.

Without hesitation, he closed his eyes again, positioned his fingers in a simple seal, and activated the "Ten Extreme Daos."

Ren Zu's breathing slowed almost imperceptibly.

The room's temperature rose slightly.

It was as if his body had become the center of an invisible whirlwind.

The profound energy between heaven and earth began to converge toward him, entering through his profound entrances rapidly.

At first, in small threads.

Then, in dense streams.

And finally, like a current pulled forcefully by a dam breaking.

His Profound Veins opened with surprising voracity. The energy was drawn into his body at a pace that surpassed even the most optimistic expectations. Even extremely talented cultivators would take days to achieve what he was beginning to accumulate in minutes.

The Ten Extreme Daos were not only a powerful technique that aided in faster cultivation. They also had ten paths, of which he was following the path of "Fire." Thus, while cultivating his profound strength, he was also comprehending the Law of Fire. Doing both at the same time required considerable concentration, so his mind's full focus was on it...

The energy entering through his profound entrances flowed like water through carved riverbeds, without resistance or reflux. With each complete cycle of the technique, he felt his Profound Veins expanding, strengthening little by little, while his mind tried to grasp the insights about "Fire" described in the Ten Extreme Daos.

…Time passed.

The daylight faded through the window slats, tinting the room with golden hues that slowly darkened. Outside, the distant sound of cicadas and the whisper of the wind in the leaves marked the fall of night. But inside that room, the world was in complete silence.

Ren Zu continued cultivating.

Hours had passed without him eating or drinking a single time. His body coped well due to his cultivation level, which allowed him to survive for several days solely on profound energy.

The profound energy continued to flow, absorbed by his Profound Veins with almost abnormal efficiency. The Law of Fire slowly began to become clearer in his mind; physically, he could feel a faint warmth growing in his chest, like a spark yearning to become a flame.

But despite all the progress, he still hadn't broken through to the next level.

When he finally slowed his breathing and allowed the energy to settle, he opened his eyes slowly. The darkness of the room enveloped him, but his night vision allowed him to see every detail with calm clarity.

"Enough for today…" he murmured calmly.

Although he hadn't advanced to the Second Level of the True Profound Realm, he wasn't bothered by it. He knew the process would be slow, even with his unparalleled Profound Veins in this world and his high level of talent. He couldn't skip multiple levels in a few minutes—that would be too fantastical without some legacy or pill to justify it, right?

He sat in silence for a few moments, breathing deeply. Then, without hesitation, he turned his attention to another priority.

The [Miracle of Life].

Ren Zu closed his eyes again.

His consciousness touched this medical manual created by the Goddess of Life, Li Suo.

A green light shone in his mind, expanding in all directions with the force of a small but intense sun.

And then came the information.

Not in words, but in sensations, visions, structures too complex to be described simply. It was as if his mind were watching the construction of a complete organism, cell by cell. Tissues forming, bones shaping, energy flowing like blood, veins connecting to meridians…

He spent hours comprehending the Miracle of Life, then entered the battlefield of his martial intent to train his skills.

And so the days passed with him doing the same thing.

.

.

.

.

Two weeks later.

Two weeks had passed since Ren Zu had begun his extreme training regimen.

During this time, he remained in complete isolation. Each day was rigorously divided between physical training, profound strength cultivation, studying the [Miracle of Life], and battling within the space of his martial intent.

That night, the scene was different.

The Great Zhou Mountain, one of the largest natural formations outside the Imperial Demon City, rose like a millennial colossus on the horizon. Its rugged, tree-covered face gave it an intimidating appearance.

At the foot of the mountain lay a vast, silent plain, covered with low grass and dotted here and there with natural stones. The light of the full moon poured over the world like liquid silver, bathing everything in a cold, silent, pristine glow.

There, in the center of the plain, Ren Zu stood.

Motionless.

He had been there for hours, eyes closed and body relaxed, breathing in a specific, continuous, deep rhythm. Each inhalation seemed to draw in the very essence of the night sky; each exhalation made the wind blow gently around him.

It was as if the grass dancing in soft swirls around him moved because of his breathing.

Dew had already accumulated on the taller blades. One drop, in particular, grew slowly on the edge of a curved leaf just above Ren Zu's head. And then, with the graceful slowness of nature, it fell.

Plim.

The drop landed softly on the tip of his extended finger, rolling across his skin until it rested in the center of his open palm.

It was at that moment that he opened his eyes.

Black, deep as a starless sky, yet calm as the surface of a frozen lake.

Without a single word, he slowly closed his fingers, forming a firm fist. His shoulders aligned, the muscles in his legs tensed—a simple movement, but perfectly coordinated.

And then, he threw a punch.

Boom!

The sound reverberated like muffled thunder among the mountain slopes.

The dewdrop, now propelled by the absurd force contained in that single blow, shot through the space in front of him like a streak of light. The massive rock, located over thirty meters away, exploded on impact. The solid block of stone cracked like glass under pressure and shattered into millions of pieces, each fragment reflecting the moonlight like broken stars.

The impact was so clean, so focused, that the point where the drop struck was perfectly pierced, as if a beam had passed through the solid matter without causing chaotic dispersion.

Silence returned.

And Ren Zu remained still for a few more seconds, his fist still extended.

Only his breathing resumed its slow rise and fall.

"I finally did it…" he murmured to himself.

After a week locked in his room, training relentlessly, he decided to teleport through the "Ancestral Spatial Symbol" to an isolated location where he could test his skills freely. He chose a remote mountain, perfect for training without interruptions. The blow he had just executed was exactly what he had been practicing throughout the following week—his goal was to perfect control over his strength until he achieved complete mastery.

His idea was to control his strength to the point of not destroying the dewdrop and instead propel it to be used as a bullet. It might seem simple, but it was utterly absurd and required incredible control. He had to exert immense effort to reach this level, and it brought him many benefits. His speed in releasing profound energy, switching between techniques, and everything else skyrocketed to an entirely different level.

The dewdrop, composed of a highly unstable and fragile molecular structure with almost no mass of its own, was the ultimate test of strength control. The slightest wrong vibration, the smallest deviation in pressure, and it would shatter or evaporate instantly. Instead, Ren Zu wanted it to absorb his strength, convert the momentum, and be launched with concentrated speed and density, like a high-penetration projectile.

But for that, the punch couldn't just be strong.

It had to be absurdly precise.

From a technical standpoint, what he sought was a perfect combination of three factors.

Energy transfer without dissipation. The punch's impact needed to transfer kinetic energy to the drop directionally, without causing distortions that would scatter it. This meant his palm, fist, muscles, and entire body needed to operate in perfect synchrony.

Micro-adjustment of force per contact area. Every square centimeter of his hand needed to exert exact force, measured in grams per millimeter. A difference of 0.01 kg could mean the drop's destruction or inertia.

And finally, synchronization between breathing, pulse, and profound energy conduction. His profound energy needed to be converted into a single, dense, focused line, almost like a laser beam. For this, he had to learn to condense the energy at the exact moment of contact, without recoiling or letting a single thread escape.

The result was not just a dewdrop flying like a bullet.

It was a complete breakthrough in his ability to manipulate profound strength.

By achieving this meticulous control, Ren Zu also drastically increased his speed in activating techniques, his energy consumption efficiency—since he now used energy only at the exact point needed, without leaks or waste—and finally, his bodily reaction time, as the training required reading micro-natural events (like the moment the drop detaches from the leaf), which refined his kinesthetic and instinctive perception to superhuman levels.

It was a highly effective training, and he had to dedicate a significant amount of time to achieve it.

But—

Obviously, even with the addition of this new training to his routine, it didn't undergo any significant changes. He still trained his body in the morning, cultivated in the afternoon, and studied the Goddess of Life's medical manual at night before diving into the battlefield to refine his skills.

Thanks to his constant efforts, he reached the Fourth Level of the True Profound Realm!

Additionally, he was almost at the peak of the first layer of the Ten Extreme Daos, and his mastery over the fire element was becoming superb…

Beyond his cultivation, he had also reached the peak of 'Flesh Training,' the stage following 'Strength Training' in the "Heavenly Tyrant Manual." To reach this stage so quickly, he relied on the aid of some special herbs. He had used three slices of Crimson Blood Ginseng, acquired in the Hidden Imperial Demon City.

In fact, anticipating his future needs, he purchased various herb seeds mentioned in the manual in his mind. Using his Life Spirit Flame, he magically accelerated the growth of these plants, making them mature quickly. This method completely eliminated his concerns about resources for cultivation.

Speaking of the body, he had basically achieved comprehension of one-tenth of the Miracle of Life. Currently, he was not only capable of identifying and curing many diseases but also able to open the profound entrances of a practitioner. Finally, he possessed complete knowledge of the entire human body, having learned full human anatomy and being capable of using some acupuncture.

But his greatest gain was, without a doubt, in his combat prowess.

Every night, he spent at least eight hours in the Asura Battlefield, fighting and killing countless enemies while refining his skills. This process drastically increased his killing intent; he had already eliminated tens of thousands of opponents. His battle experience became as vast as that of old monsters hundreds of years old.

During this period, he successfully mastered up to the tenth stage of the [Soothing Song of the Vermillion Bird Spirit] and achieved initial success in the [Unlimited Sword Art]…

He relaxed his arm and let it fall to his side, looking at the spot where the rock had once been. On the ground, a small crater smoked lightly, as if reality itself had been scratched.

Ren Zu looked up.

The full moon seemed higher now.

Getting stronger was fun…

A calm smile appeared on his lips before he resumed training…

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