[{"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-267":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},1633169,2099,"Chapter 267: Old Monsters Fear New Monsters","heretic-trainer-the-gym-is-my-cultivation-method-chapter-267",267,"\u003Cp>The first huge beast slowly lowered its head and spoke in a calm, steady voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The humans are here.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The second beast narrowed its eyes immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Humans?\" it said coldly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Aren’t they always here? What kind of news is that, Eldrin?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eldrin let out a quiet sigh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His massive body shifted slightly, leaves and dust sliding off his scales.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Silvar,\" he said patiently, \"this time is different.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silvar’s ears twitched. \"Different how? Humans are humans.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They fight. They die. They run away when they should,\" Silvar continued flatly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That has never changed.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eldrin turned his head and looked directly at Silvar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That’s exactly why you should listen.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silvar frowned. \"Then explain. Don’t waste my time.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eldrin nodded once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"First, think about the timing. Around this period, humans usually sense what is about to happen on this island.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He raised a claw slightly, pointing toward the depths of the Demon Gate Island.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"When the second and third realm demonic beasts awaken, humans stay away. They always do.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silvar snorted. \"Because they’re weak.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes,\" Eldrin agreed calmly. \"Because they know they can’t survive.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He paused, letting the silence stretch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But this time,\" Eldrin continued, \"they came anyway. Not one group. Many of them.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silvar’s eyes flickered for a brief moment. \"So they’re foolish.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eldrin shook his head, long and deliberate. \"No.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silvar turned fully toward him. \"Then what? Humans are humans.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eldrin’s expression tightened. \"That’s the problem. These ones are not.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silvar frowned. \"What are you saying? Humans... not humans?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They look the same,\" Eldrin replied. \"Same shape. Same blood. Same breath.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He lifted one claw slightly. \"But what’s inside is different.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silvar crossed his arms. \"Different how?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"These humans,\" Eldrin said, \"do not cultivate the normal mana path.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silvar’s eyes sharpened. \"A body path, then.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes,\" Eldrin answered. \"But not the crude kind you’ve seen before.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silvar scoffed. \"What? I have seen it before. They are all the same. The ones we met were barely second realm.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But this time it’s different,\" Eldrin replied calmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silvar paused. \"Explain.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eldrin leaned forward slightly. \"Seven third-realm demonic beasts awakened early.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silvar frowned. \"And?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They were killed,\" Eldrin said. \"By those humans.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silvar’s eyes widened. Just a little. But it was enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...What?\" he said slowly. \"Seven?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silvar’s jaw tightened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Even if they awakened early and were a bit weak, they were still in the third realm.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Exactly,\" Eldrin said. \"That’s why this matters.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silvar took a step back, claws digging into the earth. \"That shouldn’t be possible.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eldrin nodded. \"It shouldn’t. And yet it happened.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silvar went quiet, then spoke again. \"How?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They cultivate the body,\" Eldrin said, \"but they also use mana.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silvar’s gaze snapped up. \"Both?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes. Not separately. Together.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eldrin’s eyes darkened slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"One of them even dragged me into an illusion.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silvar stiffened. \"You?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes,\" Eldrin said plainly. \"I didn’t even realize it at first.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silvar’s voice dropped. \"...That’s dangerous.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That’s why I called you,\" Eldrin replied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"These humans break patterns. They don’t follow the rules we know.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silvar was silent for a long moment. Then he asked, \"So what do we do?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eldrin looked toward the deeper parts of the island, where other ancient presences slept.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We wait,\" he said. \"Let the others wake first.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silvar nodded slowly. \"And then?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eldrin’s voice remained calm but firm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then we decide whether this change should be allowed to continue.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The forest remained silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But something deep beneath it stirred.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>---\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Garion stood in front of the piled corpses, arms crossed, eyes scanning them one by one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He nodded slowly. \"Good. You brought back a lot.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several massive bodies lay on the ground, still radiating faint pressure even in death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Seven third-realm demonic beasts,\" Garion continued.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That means most of them have already woken up.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He let out a short breath and looked toward the forest in the distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Now this place finally feels like the real Demon Gate Island.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rynar grinned, resting his hands behind his head. \"Heh. Easy peasy.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rynor snorted. \"Yeah. Barely broke a sweat.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dahlia crossed her arms proudly, wings flickering faintly before fading away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Honestly? I expected more trouble.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clara tilted her head with a playful smile. \"Same. I was just warming up.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eliza stood quietly beside them, nodding once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Garion glanced at the group, then turned his attention to the new disciples standing a little farther back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were staring at the corpses with wide eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Alright,\" Garion said calmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Tell me. What do you think about hunting now?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The new disciples exchanged looks. One of them swallowed and spoke up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Senior disciples are monsters.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another nodded quickly. \"Yeah. I didn’t even see how some of those beasts died.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They moved so fast...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And they’re not even scared of third-realm beasts.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few laughed nervously, half in shock, half in excitement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mersha pushed up her glasses, eyes sparkling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Right? They’re amazing! Their bodies are like walking experiments. I really want to...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rynar immediately pointed at her. \"No experiments.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mersha pouted. \"Aww.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Valtor laughed loudly, slapping his chest. \"They’re strong. Real strong. That’s the kind of power I want.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seira crossed her arms, chin lifted slightly. \"They exceeded expectations.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone glanced at her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She paused, then added coldly, \"...By a lot.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Garion watched their reactions quietly. The fear, the admiration, the hunger to grow stronger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A small smile tugged at his lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Good,\" he said. \"That’s exactly how you should feel.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned back to the corpses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This island is dangerous. It always was. But now you’ve seen it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked at his disciples again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"As long as you train here, hunt here, and survive here... this level of strength won’t be something special anymore.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The juniors straightened without realizing it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Garion nodded once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Rest for today. Tomorrow, we hunt again.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A wave of responses followed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes, Master!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Understood!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The disciples began to disperse, still buzzing with excitement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Valtor laughed as he walked away. \"Tomorrow’s gonna be even crazier.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mersha bounced along beside him. \"I should prepare more prototypes!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seira said nothing, but her eyes stayed sharp, clearly replaying everything she had seen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the crowd thinned, Arden remained behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hesitated for a moment, then stepped forward. \"Master. I want to talk.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Garion turned, noticing the serious look on his face. He raised an eyebrow slightly, then relaxed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sure,\" he said. \"Let’s talk while eating dinner.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arden let out a quiet breath of relief and nodded. \"Thank you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1064,"2026-06-06T11:12:18.543Z",1,"novelbin.me","d576b93a73949ffa8feb038e07be72fcc4692ba7dbd1d4228ce09d90026d8288","heretic-trainer-the-gym-is-my-cultivation-method-chapter-25","heretic-trainer-the-gym-is-my-cultivation-method-chapter-24",613,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fheretic-trainer-the-gym-is-my-cultivation-method-cover.jpg"]