[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-heretic-trainer-the-gym-is-my-cultivation-method":3,"chapter-heretic-trainer-the-gym-is-my-cultivation-method-heretic-trainer-the-gym-is-my-cultivation-method-chapter-261":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Heretic Trainer: The Gym Is My Cultivation Method",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1633156,2099,"Chapter 261: When Beasts Start Overthinking","heretic-trainer-the-gym-is-my-cultivation-method-chapter-261",261,"\u003Cp>Deep inside the forest, the huge hidden beast stood completely still.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the first time since it woke up, it was truly shocked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...What...what did I just witness?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It stared in the direction where the humans were standing, its sharp senses still focused on them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That woman with violet hair...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its jaw tightened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"To think that from earlier... I was already pulled into her illusion.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The beast clenched its claws against the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I didn’t even realize it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That fact alone made it uneasy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I am a strong third-realm demonic beast,\" it muttered. \"And yet... I didn’t notice when it started.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It replayed the moment in its mind. The strange delay. The confusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The feeling that something was slightly off, but never dangerous enough to trigger full caution.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Her illusion didn’t attack me directly,\" it said slowly. \"It blended into reality.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The beast snorted quietly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That level of illusion control... Is she a third realm cultivator?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It paused and focused on the mana it sensed earlier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No. Her mana is still within the boundary of the second realm.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its eyes widened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And yet she dragged me into her illusion.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The beast clicked its tongue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Ridiculous.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then its gaze shifted, as if looking for something it still couldn’t fully grasp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And the other woman...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its expression darkened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That one is even worse.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It remembered the moment clearly. One second she was there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next second... nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"She disappeared completely.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No movement, sound, or even fluctuation in mana.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"She wasn’t hiding,\" the beast growled. \"She simply wasn’t there.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its tail twitched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"She left afterimages that weren’t illusions.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It remembered trying to sense her presence, only to feel empty air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And when she reappeared... she passed through matter.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The beast’s voice lowered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That wasn’t deception. That wasn’t trickery.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its claws dug into the dirt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That was real.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It shook its head slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Invisibility. Intangibility. Afterimages.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It let out a short, bitter laugh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"She’s the most ridiculous one of them all.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then its gaze moved again, this time settling on the woman standing calmly behind the others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...And then there’s that one.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dahlia.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The beast narrowed its eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Compared to the other two, she’s more straightforward.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It paused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...But that doesn’t make her weak.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It could still clearly remember the pressure she released earlier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Dragon traits,\" it said quietly. \"Real ones.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its expression turned serious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Not a lower dragon. Not a diluted bloodline.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It swallowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"True dragon traits.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The beast slowly straightened its posture.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How can this be...?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It looked around the forest, as if questioning the world itself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"When did humans start producing monsters like this?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its gaze returned to the group one last time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...If these are only their second realm...\" the beast said quietly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its lips curled into something that was not quite a smile and not quite a snarl.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Then humans have changed far more than I thought.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It exhaled slowly, then shook its massive head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No. This isn’t something I can ignore.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The beast turned its body, thick scales brushing against trees as it moved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I need to talk about this with the others,\" it said in a low voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If humans like these are appearing... then the balance is already shifting.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without another word, the huge beast disappeared deeper into Demon Gate Island.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its presence faded into the heavy demonic mana as if it had never been there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, back on the battlefield, Dahlia crossed her arms and looked at Clara and Eliza carefully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her eyes were sharp, but there was a clear hint of approval in them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Good,\" she said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your[Unique Physique]is strong. And not just strong but troublesome.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clara stretched her shoulders and grinned. \"Troublesome is good, right?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dahlia nodded. \"Very.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She glanced between the two of them again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Honestly... yours are even better than the twins’ and Arden’s.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clara blinked. \"Oi. Aren’t you being a bit harsh?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dahlia shrugged. \"They’re elemental types. Powerful, yes, but straightforward.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She pointed at Clara. \"You mess with perception itself.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clara’s lips curled upward immediately, her shoulders rolling back as if she had just been praised in the best way possible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then Dahlia turned her head slightly and looked at Eliza.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And you,\" she said, \"mess with existence.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a brief moment, Eliza didn’t react.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then the corner of her mouth lifted, just a little.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clara, on the other hand, leaned forward eagerly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh? Is that your official evaluation, Senior Sister?\" she asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Because that sounds amazing.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dahlia snorted. \"Don’t let it go to your head.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clara straightened and stretched her arms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Too late.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She cracked her neck and grinned wider.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then it’s time for some payback.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eliza turned to look at her, one brow lifting slightly. \"...Payback?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clara nodded hard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don’t you remember?\" she said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The boys mocking us, saying things like, ’Oh, the girls still haven’t awakened their[Unique Physique]?’\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She waved her hand, mimicking an exaggerated voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"’Maybe they’ll awaken when they’re old ladies.’\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dahlia burst out laughing. \"They really said that?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clara clicked her tongue. \"Every single time.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eliza’s eyes narrowed a little. \"...I remember.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clara leaned closer to her, lowering her voice. \"So yeah. It’s time.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eliza tilted her head. \"Time for what, exactly?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clara straightened again, hands on her hips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"To mock them back,\" she said proudly. \"And teach them a lesson.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dahlia raised an eyebrow. \"You planning to beat them up?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clara shook her head quickly. \"No, no. That’s boring.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her grin turned sharp. \"We’ll do it the fun way.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eliza sighed softly. \"...I already don’t like where this is going.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clara laughed. \"Relax. We won’t hurt them.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She glanced toward the direction of the other teams, eyes gleaming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We’ll just make sure they never forget it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dahlia watched the two of them for a moment, then shook her head with a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Those boys are doomed.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eliza crossed her arms. \"They brought this on themselves.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clara snapped her fingers. \"Exactly.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elsewhere in the forest, far away from the others...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rynar suddenly paused mid-step.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Huh?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A strange chill ran down his spine. He rubbed his arm and frowned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why do I feel like I just offended someone...?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not far from there, in a completely different area, Rynor sneezed hard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Tch... What the hell?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He shook his head, glancing around the trees.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"For some reason, my body’s screaming danger... but there’s no beast around.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both brothers, separated by distance and unaware of each other, felt the same unease.\u003C\u002Fp>",1063,"2026-06-06T11:12:18.543Z",1,"novelbin.me","0d7b308e3c6fcc3c2b5e6dce07bd9c845f476a4fb058bb81a7f8adbdb408c148","heretic-trainer-the-gym-is-my-cultivation-method-chapter-18","heretic-trainer-the-gym-is-my-cultivation-method-chapter-17",613,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fheretic-trainer-the-gym-is-my-cultivation-method-cover.jpg"]