Even though exhaustion affected his entire body, he quickly took a brief rest. Then, sitting in a meditative pose, he began circulating the Boundless Light energy within him. Once he had completed the circulation, he stood again. His bones cracked, his muscles tightened, and he swiftly moved on to the fourth illustration.

  He instantly shifted into a series of poses, carefully mimicking the illustrations from the very first stance. As he performed these intricate movements, his muscles grew taut, and he felt the Heavenly Nodes—once barely perceptible—starting to surface. It was as though a fog was lifting, and slowly, they began to reveal themselves.

  As time trickled by, the Heavenly Nodes became more distinct. Several minutes passed as he struggled through the poses and exercises, much like he had done the day before. Sweat trickled down his body, and his muscles ached profusely. Yet, with persistence, the Heavenly Nodes became fully visible. Just as the technique had described, he collapsed into a meditative pose once more, instantly circulating the Boundless Light energy.

  It felt like a repeat of what had occurred the previous day. As the Boundless Light energy coursed through him, the Heavenly Nodes acted like voracious vortexes, pulling the energy into themselves. The Boundless Light flared like a roaring sea, rushing to fill the Heavenly Nodes. Lian could feel his body tightening. The sound of his bones cracking echoed as his muscles constricted visibly, and his once plump figure began to change at a pace noticeable to the naked eye.

  Where he had once been a chubby young man, his body now appeared leaner. Though still somewhat round, his muscles were becoming more defined, and the fat on his body had significantly reduced. Anyone who had seen him before entering the training center would be astonished by the transformation. His rapid progress in such a short time would have left them speechless.

  Indeed, many in the training center had noticed. Their gazes frequently flickered in his direction, surprised at how quickly he had changed. Some had even been keeping tabs on him, intrigued by the intensity of his practice and the mysterious origins of the technique he seemed to be mastering.

  In less than two days, his weight had visibly dropped, and his muscles were faintly bulging beneath his skin. It was a transformation so remarkable that it left the onlookers bewildered, unable to suppress their curiosity.

  Yet, Lian paid little attention to their stares. He could feel their eyes on him, but he remained focused on his practice, circulating the Boundless Light through the Heavenly Nodes. Gradually, just as before, the vortices within the Nodes slowed their spinning, their ferocity diminishing. When the energy finally stilled, Lian knew his training for the day had reached its limit. He stood up, stretching, his bones and muscles crackling in the aftermath.

  Even in that brief moment, he could feel the difference. His body seemed to be overflowing with energy, like a wave roaring within him, waiting to be unleashed. His muscles pulsed with vitality, and he couldn't help but wonder how much his strength had increased after this session.

  Glancing outside, Lian noticed the sun was still high in the sky, shining intensely over the land. It was only the afternoon, and he still had some time left before leaving the training center. With that in mind, he decided to use the remaining time for further experimentation.

  With a single thought, he summoned the system window, which materialized before his eyes. The system's layout displayed its usual initial panel, showing his basic information and stats. and the familiar interface appeared before him. However, something caught his eye. There was a new icon glowing faintly on the corner of the interface, indicating that further information was available.

  Lian immediately understood. This was due to the recent physical stats update brought on by his training. He swiftly clicked on the icon. The panel shifted, and instantly, his physical stats appeared.

  Lian glanced briefly at his physical stats. There wasn’t much change from what he had seen earlier that morning.

  His strength had increased from 8 to 9.

  Stamina had risen from 6 to 8—a noticeable improvement. This made sense to him, given how the Body Refinement Technique he was practicing constantly pushed his limits. The strain and pain he endured during each pose and illustration had naturally built his endurance, though strength hadn’t seen as significant a rise. He realized that while he had been using his strength, he hadn’t truly focused on strength-based training yet.

  As for his agility, it too had increased, climbing from 7 to 9. This, he reasoned, was understandable. With his weight gradually decreasing due to the body refinement process, it was inevitable that he’d become more agile as his muscles developed and his movements became more fluid.

  Dexterity and endurance, however, had remained unchanged. After reflecting on this, Lian understood why. Dexterity was something that would improve with weapon training and fine motor skills—things he hadn’t yet practiced.

  A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  Endurance, though it was supposed to rise with body refinement, hadn’t seen much progress because his training hadn’t been fully focused on building that stat. He was confident, though, that once he completed his foundational training and learned to channel the Boundless Light properly, his endurance would also rise significantly, along with the rest of his stats.

  With these thoughts, Lian dismissed the system window. The interface vanished from his view, and he made his way over to the nearby pool to wash off the sweat from his training session. After cleaning himself, he left the training center.

  Just like yesterday, as soon as he stepped outside, a familiar sensation of intense hunger hit him. The deep rumbling in his stomach confirmed his suspicions—every time he finished training the Heavenly Steel, Heavenly Pillar Technique, the energy expenditure left him starving. He knew he had to be better prepared for this in the future.

  Navigating his way through the streets, Lian headed towards the vendors and market stalls. The sun was still high, shining brightly in the afternoon sky, and the streets were busy with people going about their daily lives. He made his way to the same area where he had bought bushmeat the day before. This time, he purchased some meat along with a few other ingredients, planning to prepare a proper meal when he got home.

  When Lian finally reached his doorstep, he instinctively glanced at the corner where Elysia had left a package for him the day before. He walked over to the wooden barricade and removed the sunshade cover, revealing a small note. Elysia had responded to the one he left for her that morning. He picked up the note, the paper slightly crinkled at the edges but intact.

  Unfolding it, he read her familiar handwriting:

  “Lian, I saw your note this morning. I’m glad you got the robe and the coins. I hope they were of some help. I was hoping to see you today, but since you’ve been so focused on training, I understand. Maybe tomorrow? Let me know if you need anything else. I’ll be around. —Elysia.”

  Lian smiled softly as he read her words. She had always been thoughtful, looking out for him even when they didn’t get the chance to meet. They had grown up together, and despite their different circumstances, their bond remained strong. Elysia was the daughter of the count, and when his mother had passed away, her family had taken him in, treating him like their own. Elysia, especially, had always been close to him, their childhood spent side by side.

  He tucked the note into his pocket, appreciating her kindness. With a glance at the sky, he realized the day wasn’t over yet. But for now, he was eager to head inside and rest after his training. He stepped through the door of his small, modest house, the comforting silence greeting him.

  As soon as Lian entered the house, he set down the ingredients and bushmeat he had bought from the market. The hunger gnawing at him was relentless, just as it had been the day before after training. Wasting no time, he began preparing his meal.

  This time, rather than a stew or rice, he decided on a simple, hearty dish—grilled bushmeat steak with roasted vegetables. The ingredients were sparse, but with the right seasonings and a little patience, it would be enough to satisfy his hunger.

  He set to work, cutting the meat into thick slabs, seasoning them with salt and dried herbs he’d stored from earlier trips to the market. He then placed the meat over the open fire, the smell of sizzling bushmeat filling the air as he turned his attention to preparing the vegetables—wild roots and greens that would roast alongside the meat. The crackling of the fire was the only sound in his small home, as he waited, poking the fire occasionally to make sure everything was cooking evenly.

  Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the food was ready. The moment the aroma hit him, Lian’s stomach growled louder, and without hesitation, he plated the meal. His hunger was so overwhelming that he didn’t even savor the first few bites. He devoured the food quickly, his body demanding nourishment after the strain of his training.

  By the time he was done, the sun had dipped lower on the horizon. It was still light out, but the evening had begun to set in. Lian leaned back, feeling the satisfaction of a full stomach. Yet, as the hunger faded, his thoughts began to drift.

  Sitting on the edge of his bed, Lian’s mind wandered to Elysia. He hadn’t seen her in two days, and he knew she must be eager to see him, especially with the notes she had left. He thought about how she always went out of her way to help him, whether with gifts or her kind words. For a moment, he considered going to visit her. She had been a constant part of his life ever since they were children. But as quickly as the thought entered his mind, he pushed it aside.

  Despite their close bond, Lian was reluctant to seem overly dependent on her. Her status as the count’s daughter, compared to his humble origins, always reminded him of the divide between them. Though his mother had been close to Elysia’s family, she was still a maidservant, and Lian had grown up learning to fend for himself.

  He didn’t want to appear as if he were relying too much on her. Besides, she was probably busy with her own responsibilities. The last thing he wanted was to be a burden, to intrude on her time.

  With a sigh, Lian dismissed the thought of visiting her. Instead, he sat back on his bed and closed his eyes, letting his mind settle as he began to meditate. Slowly, he focused on the Boundless Light within him, attempting to stir and rotate it as he had done before.

  The sensation was still new to him, but it filled him with a sense of purpose. For years, he had thought he’d never wield any form of power. He’d believed that without the ability to sense spiritual energy or gain divine power, he would be stuck, powerless, while others around him grew stronger.

  But now, things were different. He could feel the Boundless Light coursing through him—an energy that, while not exactly spiritual, held a unique strength, probably divine in nature. It still felt surreal to him, this newfound power. The system he had acquired through his connection with the Heaven’s Devourer had changed everything.

  As his thoughts deepened, he couldn’t help but wonder about the Heaven’s Devourer itself—the ancient, massive eye that had appeared in his dreams and granted him this system. It had been silent for a while now, not communicating with him as it once had. Lian found himself wanting to ask it questions, to seek guidance on his journey forward, but no matter how hard he tried, the Heaven’s Devourer wouldn’t respond unless it chose to. It was frustrating.

  He muttered under his breath, “Old man… always silent when I need answers.”

  He remembered how, before gaining this power, he had no control over entering the dream space where the Heaven’s Devourer resided. Back then, it would pull him into that realm without warning, every time he slept. But ever since the system had been given to him, the dream space had become elusive, and now he had no way of initiating contact.

  There were still some questions in his mind—about the system and his path forward. But for now, those questions remained unanswered.

  With a deep sigh, Lian stopped rotating the Boundless Light within him. He could feel the fatigue of the day settling in, and as much as his mind raced with thoughts, he knew he needed rest. Tomorrow would be another long day of training, and he wanted to be prepared. Last night, sleep had come quickly, and when he awoke, it felt as if morning had arrived too soon. Tonight, he wanted to fall asleep early, to avoid that same feeling of having missed out on proper rest.

  He lay down, closing his eyes, letting the exhaustion pull him into sleep.