Shi Yan lay sprawled on his back, arms and legs spread wide, his face flushed as if blood might seep from his skin. His chest heaved violently, great gasps of air tearing from his lungs, his body occasionally seizing with a tremor.

Gazing up at the brilliant, star-strewn sky, Shi Yan felt every cell in his body vibrating. With each spasm, his muscles, sinews, bones, and internal organs expanded and contracted in a rhythmic, almost meditative motion.

Without mobilizing a single spark of Jingyuan (Essence Power), he slowly closed his eyes, savoring the strange changes occurring in his exhausted body—the peculiar trembling deep within his sinews and bones, the decomposition and subsequent reorganization of his cells, the slow, steady accumulation of dissipating strength.

As a die-hard enthusiast of extreme sports, Shi Yan understood that the limit reached this time was invariably just the starting line for the next.

The limits within the human body could be constantly shattered; boundaries could be surpassed again and again. Human potential was boundless, infinite.

Experience from countless extreme endeavors had taught him that only by breaking past limits could true, lasting progress be achieved.

With his eyes shut, having expended not a shred of Jingyuan, he could still perceive the transformations happening within his muscle cells with startling clarity.

Concentrating his awareness, he quickly realized that the "Undying Martial Soul" within him had begun to activate, repairing his body in ways he could barely comprehend, restructuring his torn muscle tissues, making them exponentially tougher and stronger!

Overloading one’s system with gravitational stress could enhance explosive power. Only when the muscles were torn to their breaking point could they rebuild during the next phase into something even more robust and powerful, leading to an increase in both bulk and explosive output.

As an extreme sports fanatic, Shi Yan knew the truth of that doctrine, honed through repeated practice, and understood precisely the methods to rapidly augment his ** power.

Feeling the lingering ache of his muscle cells and keenly meditating on the effects of the "Undying Martial Soul," a faint smile slowly spread across Shi Yan's lips. Mustering his strength, he managed to sit up, retrieved food from his pack, and began to gorge himself with blissful abandon.

High-intensity exercise drained vital energy reserves at an alarming rate. For the body to recover fastest and attain greater power, an abundance of sustenance was absolutely essential!

Piece after piece of dried jerky was torn and swallowed. As soon as the meat hit his stomach, it was rapidly digested, transforming into life-giving nutrients that permeated his system.

Soon, the five-person ration of food he carried in his pack was devoured in a single sitting.

Sensing the changes sweeping through his body, the smile on Shi Yan's face deepened. After moving his limbs around slowly for a while, he finally closed his eyes and began to circulate his Jingyuan through a complete heavenly cycle.

The moment the Jingyuan moved, Shi Yan's body gave an involuntary, slight shudder.

Just as he suspected!

The speed at which the Jingyuan flowed through his meridians was demonstrably a full third faster than usual!

His body, pushed past its limit, had become exceptionally **, and his meridians were unusually active. As strands of Jingyuan moved through them, the meridians seemed to absorb faint wisps of energy, nourished by which they appeared to swell slightly, becoming incredibly resilient!

Shi Yan had long theorized that tempering the physical body was just as crucial as cultivating Jingyuan; the two complemented each other perfectly.

When the body reached a sufficient level of robustness, the speed of Jingyuan accumulation would also accelerate. The stronger the physical form, the greater the assistance it provided in gathering and utilizing Jingyuan. Perhaps even the two "Martial Souls" hidden within his body would be slightly enhanced as a result.

Putting it to the test today, Shi Yan finally confirmed his hypothesis, letting out a broad, wicked chuckle.

...

In the distant undergrowth.

"Xiao Die, why are you here? You should be resting properly. Only sufficient sleep will allow your Martial Soul to recover sooner," Luo Hao scolded Mu Yudie the moment she arrived. He had sensed her presence while dealing with Shi Yan in the gravity field. When Shi Yan was utterly spent and unable to rest, Luo Hao slipped over to her location.

"I couldn't sleep. Just wandering around, and I happened to see you two training," Mu Yudie replied, clearly unafraid of him, offering a light smile.

After a pause, Mu Yudie’s expression turned peculiar. "Uncle Luo, did you... go a little too hard on him? I recall when you were training Zhao Xin, you only used a triple gravity field. Zhao Xin was already at the Second Layer of Innate Realm then, and he at least had a foundation for body tempering. But you hit this guy with five times gravity right from the start—what were you thinking?"

Luo Hao offered a wry smile, shaking his head and sighing. "I used five times gravity immediately because I didn't want him wasting his energy at this stage; I wanted him to recognize the difficulty and retreat. Little did I know, little did I know this kid was so fanatical! I was dumbfounded in the end; I tried to call it off several times, but he wouldn't stop!"

"You mean, your original intention was to scare him off instantly? So he'd never dare seek a trial with you halfway through again?" Mu Yudie rolled her eyes, almost speechless.

"Exactly," Luo Hao lamented. "You know, controlling the gravity field still consumes some Jingyuan, and I couldn't afford to be distracted. I didn't want to waste my own strength, nor did I want him unable to walk the next day, which would affect our pace. Who knew this fellow was such a maniac?"

"Uncle Luo, how many laps did you predict he would last before backing down?"

"Four laps!"

Luo Hao held up four fingers and stated firmly, "Generally, a martial artist new to the Innate Realm, without systematic ** training, can only complete four laps under a five-times gravity field; five might be the absolute peak. I saw how frail he looked and just assumed he’d call it quits after four."

"...Uh, but he completed eleven laps," Mu Yudie’s expression became incredibly strange. She couldn't help but look up stealthily toward the distance. She saw Shi Yan sitting there, still as a mountain, already resuming his cultivation. "Heavens, he—he actually sat up again!"

"What? He can still move?" Luo Hao froze, glancing far toward Shi Yan, then shook his head with a bitter laugh. "Madman! This guy is a lunatic! If he keeps messing around like this, tomorrow he probably won't be able to move a muscle. With training this intense, he’ll find every inch of him aching tomorrow. I think we'll have to adjust our schedule for the day."

"Well, we have no choice. He really is a reckless fellow," Mu Yudie shook her head, flashing a strange, enchanting smile.

...

The next morning, before the sun had peeked over the horizon, the fog was thick.

"Xiao Die, come down, we're setting off," Luo Hao called softly from beneath an ancient tree.

"Let me sleep a little longer," Mu Yudie murmured, half-asleep. "Why must we leave so early today? Didn't we assume that guy wouldn't be able to move today...?"

"He's already waiting for you," Luo Hao whispered, the look of shock still lingering on his face.

Ten minutes prior, Shi Yan had bounded over, full of vigor, and asked him for three portions of food.

In front of Luo Hao, Shi Yan had devoured the three servings of rations like a whirlwind, then patted his stomach and cheerfully announced he was ready to depart. This had stunned Luo Hao into silence. He had stared at Shi Yan with a chilling gaze for several minutes before recovering, muttering under his breath, "Pervert!"

"Is he waiting for me too?" Mu Yudie mumbled, reluctantly rubbing her eyes.

"Yes, he's got more energy than us," Luo Hao replied with a wry smile.

"What?" Mu Yudie instantly snapped awake, her beautiful eyes swirling with an unusual light as she searched beneath the tree for Shi Yan’s silhouette. When she finally spotted Shi Yan standing rigidly straight as a javelin, his eyes sparkling with vitality, she, like Luo Hao, opened her mouth wide and muttered softly, "What a freak!"

Shi Yan meticulously checked his clothing once more, ensuring there was nothing amiss, then frowned. "Uncle Luo, Miss Mu, what part of me looks like a freak?"

"The whole thing!" Mu Yudie burst out laughing, suddenly feeling incredibly lighthearted.

Her radiant smile was like the arrival of spring; all the beauty of the dark forest seemed to be eclipsed by it.

Zhao Xin and Hu Long showed fleeting looks of infatuation before immediately recoiling, lowering their heads in embarrassment, afraid to meet Mu Yudie’s gaze directly.

Shi Yan narrowed his eyes, his gaze bold and intense as he swept over Mu Yudie’s ethereal face. "Miss Mu, if I were a freak, you'd be the first one I'd target. You’d better be careful tonight; I might not be able to control myself. You must scream loudly then; I absolutely adore the frantic shrieks of women."

"Insolence!" Di Yalan snorted coldly.

"Oh, my apologies. I forgot there was another beauty present, and that’s why the lady is angry. Don't worry, I'll remember to come for you too. You mustn't be jealous," Shi Yan said with an air of sudden realization, repeatedly slapping his forehead in self-reproach, as if he had truly forgotten something vital.

"Hee hee! He he he!" Mu Yudie clutched her stomach, laughing ecstatically beneath the tree, shaking so much she nearly tumbled off. While laughing, she pointed at Shi Yan. "You, you’re truly amusing! How can someone like you exist? Heh heh..."

Di Yalan paused, then couldn't help but let out a small snort of laughter herself, looking utterly resigned to dealing with Shi Yan.

Zhao Xin and Hu Long stood dumbfounded, their expressions a mixture of disbelief and confusion.

They simply could not comprehend it. When they treated the two beauties, they had always been the epitome of politeness, terrified of offending them in any way, yet the ladies rarely favored them with a smile despite their careful attention. But this fellow, Shi Yan, spoke to the two women without any restraint, his words openly flirtatious, and yet they bestowed their smiles upon him without hesitation. What in the blazes was going on?

"Ahem!" Luo Hao glanced curiously at Shi Yan, then smiled gently. "Alright, stop fooling around. Let's leave."

...E