[{"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-271":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},1633177,2099,"Chapter 271: Pain Is Part Of The Path","heretic-trainer-the-gym-is-my-cultivation-method-chapter-271",271,"\u003Cp>A full week had passed since Arden and Dion went deeper into the forest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They haven’t found the abnormal signs or even a clue connected to the recent awakenings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the seventh day, even Arden had to admit it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This area is clean,\" he said quietly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dion lay on his back on the grass, one arm behind his head, staring at the leaves above.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Clean forests are boring forests.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arden sighed and sat down nearby, carefully setting his notes aside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You say that now, but last time you complained about being chased for three days.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That was different. That one had teeth.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dion rolled to a sitting position and stretched his shoulders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His breathing slowed, his expression easing into focus.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lazy smile didn’t disappear, but something sharper sat behind it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’m close,\" he said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arden looked up at him at once. \"Close... how close?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Really close,\" Dion replied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dion closed his eyes. Mana began to circulate naturally through his body, smooth and steady.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His posture straightened on its own, spine aligned, shoulders relaxed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arden hesitated, then spoke carefully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You remember what will happen, right?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dion opened one eye. \"The pain?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes.\" Arden’s voice lowered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s not normal pain. The twins said it felt like their nerves were being torn apart and stitched back together at the same time.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dion nodded. \"Yeah. I heard.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He exhaled slowly. \"They said it’s like being pierced by trillions of needles all at once.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arden nodded once. \"That’s the description.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silence settled between them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then Dion stood up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Well,\" he said, rolling his neck. \"No reason to delay it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arden quickly got to his feet. \"Wait, at least sit. If you fall...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I won’t.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dion planted his feet firmly on the ground and closed his eyes fully this time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mana surged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Violet light spilled out from his body, slowly at first, then stronger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wrapped around him like smoke, then thickened, smoothing out as it turned into a rounded cocoon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The air grew heavy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arden stepped back, heart pounding. \"Dion... brace yourself.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I am,\" Dion replied, voice steady.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cocoon sealed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A second later...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"FUCK!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The scream exploded out of it, sharp and rough, ripping through the quiet forest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arden flinched but didn’t step back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He planted his feet and shouted toward the cocoon, \"Good. Scream as much as you want.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another shout came from inside, broken and angry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don’t hold it in,\" Arden continued, voice firm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don’t think. Don’t control it. The awakening will do its own work.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cocoon shook again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mana rippled wildly as[Mana Core Cell Resonance]surged and clashed inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"All you need to do,\" Arden said, clenching his fists, \"is endure it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dion’s voice cracked through the shell. \"You! You’re saying that like it’s easy!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arden shook his head. \"It’s not. I know.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was a short, sharp laugh from inside the cocoon... half laughter, half scream.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yeah? Never thought you’d gone through something this messed up.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I did,\" Arden replied immediately. \"Every single second of it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cocoon trembled again. Dion cursed loudly, words blurring together as pain tore through him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This is insane! My whole body!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I know,\" Arden said, jaw tight. \"It feels like your cells are tearing themselves apart and rebuilding wrong.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dion let out a hoarse laugh. \"That’s not comforting!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s honest.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another scream burst out, longer this time. Arden turned his head slightly but didn’t move away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Endure it,\" he said again, quieter now. \"You’re past the point of turning back.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Minutes dragged on. Then more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The forest stayed silent except for Dion’s broken shouting and the dull pulse of mana hitting the cocoon from the inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At some point, the screams changed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They didn’t stop, but they grew steadier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arden noticed it and let out a slow breath. \"Good. You’re stabilizing.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don’t talk like... AH! Like you know everything!\" Dion snapped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arden almost smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Time passed. Hours slipped by without either of them noticing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arden’s head snapped up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thin lines spread across the cocoon. Violet light leaked out, flickering unsteadily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another crack followed. Then another.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cocoon broke apart piece by piece, dissolving into fading mana.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dion stumbled forward, dropping to one knee.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His breathing was heavy, sweat dripping from his chin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arden rushed over and caught his shoulder. \"Easy.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dion waved him off weakly. \"Don’t touch me yet.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arden stopped, hands raised. He looked Dion over carefully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His hair had changed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What was once dark now shimmered violet, uneven and wild.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Strange tattoos had appeared across his arms, shoulders, and chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arden straightened slowly. \"Looks like it worked.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dion let out a shaky laugh. \"You think?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He tried to stand, wobbled, then managed it. \"How do I look?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arden smiled, small and tired. \"Like you survived something horrible.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dion snorted, then winced. \"Great. But damn... the pain’s still there.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arden shook his head. \"It isn’t.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dion blinked and looked at him. \"What?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s just your mind,\" Arden said calmly. \"Your body finished changing. The pain is gone.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dion stayed silent, breathing slowly, testing himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He rolled his shoulders, flexed his fingers, then shifted his weight from one foot to the other.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...You’re right,\" he muttered. \"It’s not pain anymore.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arden nodded. \"It’s the memory of it. That part lingers. And honestly, that’s the scary part.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dion swallowed and let out a long breath. \"Yeah. I don’t want to do that again anytime soon.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They stood there for a moment, letting the forest settle back into quiet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then Arden glanced at the faintly glowing tattoos on Dion’s arms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eyes sharpened with curiosity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So,\" he said, unable to hide it, \"what kind of[Unique Physique]did you awaken?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dion slowly lifted his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lazy smile returned, but this time it carried something sharper underneath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You really want to know?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Of course,\" Arden replied immediately. \"I was the one guarding you for hours.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dion chuckled and straightened fully, stretching his neck. \"Alright.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He took a step closer and crooked a finger. \"Then come here.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arden hesitated for half a second, then stepped forward, eyes focused and alert.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dion’s tattoos pulsed once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Violet mana stirred quietly around him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Watch carefully,\" Dion said, voice low and confident.\u003C\u002Fp>",1023,"2026-06-06T11:12:18.543Z",1,"novelbin.me","8fc2ea218b29a4e535951dc0bc3d609df49432e4182b8815ecea73d5fca7cc52","heretic-trainer-the-gym-is-my-cultivation-method-chapter-29","heretic-trainer-the-gym-is-my-cultivation-method-chapter-28",613,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fheretic-trainer-the-gym-is-my-cultivation-method-cover.jpg"]