[{"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-346":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},1633424,2099,"Chapter 346: Humans Are Better Than Elixirs","heretic-trainer-the-gym-is-my-cultivation-method-chapter-346",346,"\u003Cp>Morveth looked down at the severed arm in his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blood still dripped slowly from the cut end, warm and thick.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The muscles were dense, far denser than any human flesh he had ever seen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Interesting,\" Morveth muttered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He raised the arm slightly and tore off a small piece near the forearm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just a bite. Nothing more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He brought it to his mouth and ate it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment the flesh touched his tongue, Morveth froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eyes widened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...What?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A surge ran through his body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t violent. It wasn’t explosive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was clean. Refined. Powerful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Morveth inhaled sharply as the runes across his body lit up all at once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His breath caught in his chest as his internal seals shifted, tightening and rearranging on their own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...My power,\" he said slowly. \"It increased.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zathrek stiffened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Count Morveth?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Morveth clenched his fist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just one bite.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just that much.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And his strength had risen noticeably.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His mana felt denser. His authority sharper. The seals in his body felt more complete, more stable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Morveth slowly looked back down at the remaining arm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...If this much came from a single bite,\" he said quietly, \"then eating the whole thing...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eyes narrowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...I would step into Duke territory.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zathrek’s breath hitched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...A Demon Duke?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Morveth did not answer right away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead, he calmly sliced the hand part of the whole arm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned and tossed it toward Zathrek.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Take it,\" Morveth said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zathrek caught it instinctively.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Count?\" he said, confused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Morveth looked at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You served well,\" he said. \"And you earned it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zathrek stared at the flesh in his hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His fingers trembled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...You mean...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Eat,\" Morveth said simply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zathrek swallowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he did.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment the flesh entered his mouth, Zathrek let out a sharp breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Ah!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Power surged through him violently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ash exploded from his body as his aura flared uncontrollably.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ground cracked beneath his feet as his presence expanded, pressing outward in all directions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zathrek fell to one knee, clutching his chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His body shook.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ash around him thickened, becoming heavier, denser, and more oppressive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His domain pressure spiked without him even activating it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...This power,\" Zathrek gasped. \"This is...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His runes burned brighter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His authority deepened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His unstable Baron-level presence stabilized and expanded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zathrek’s eyes snapped open.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Count.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He slowly stood up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...I’m a Demon Count.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He laughed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A deep, satisfied laugh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Haha... so strong,\" Zathrek said, ash rolling off his shoulders. \"This is what it feels like.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked at Morveth with raw excitement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A Demon Count... finally.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Morveth watched him calmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Control yourself,\" Morveth said. \"This is only the beginning.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then Morveth turned back to the remaining part of Garion’s arm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He did not hesitate and ate it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All of it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment the last piece vanished, the world around him shifted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The air froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The seals on Morveth’s body rearranged violently, carving deeper into his flesh as new runes formed on top of old ones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The pressure released from his body was no longer that of a Count.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was heavier, sharper, and absolute.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ground beneath him shattered outward in a wide circle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Morveth exhaled slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...I see,\" he said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His voice was calmer than before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...So this is it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He straightened fully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Seal Domain around them trembled, then expanded without command.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Space itself felt tighter, more controlled, as if reality was being told to behave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zathrek took an instinctive step back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Duke,\" he whispered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Morveth looked down at his own hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Demon Duke,\" he said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He closed his fingers slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...From a human.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He lifted his gaze toward Garion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the moment his eyes locked onto where Garion had been standing...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was gone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Morveth’s smile froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...What?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His head snapped left. Then right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The road was empty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The blood on the ground was still there. The pressure of Garion’s presence was still lingering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Garion himself...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Where did he go?\" Morveth muttered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zathrek frowned and quickly scanned the surroundings. \"Did he escape?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Morveth’s brow furrowed deeply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No,\" he said slowly. \"He couldn’t have.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then it hit him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Morveth’s eyes widened slightly as he felt it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Tch.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He clenched his fist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During his evolution...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During that brief moment of growth and restructuring... his focus had shifted inward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The seals he placed on Garion had wavered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not fully broken.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But unstable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Damn it,\" Morveth hissed. \"I lost control for a moment.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His expression darkened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My elixir,\" he growled. \"Where did he go?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Morveth could think further...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A calm voice spoke from behind him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You really did grow strong.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Morveth’s body stiffened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zathrek spun around.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Garion was standing there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Close.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blood still ran down his body. One arm was gone. His breathing was rough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But his eyes were sharp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Focused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And to think,\" Garion continued, \"my flesh could push you that far.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He raised his remaining hand slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But now,\" he said, \"you can’t seal me properly anymore.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eyes narrowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So I’ll finish this.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mana surged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Garion poured everything into his left arm. Muscles tightened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Veins stood out sharply as power gathered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stepped forward and threw a punch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His body lifted off the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...What?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Garion’s eyes widened as his feet left the road.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His punch stopped halfway, his arm frozen in midair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An invisible force held him there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suspended.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Morveth turned slowly, looking at Garion floating helplessly in front of him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he laughed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Haha...\" Morveth said. \"You really thought it would be that easy?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Garion gritted his teeth, trying to move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nothing worked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Morveth stepped closer, his presence heavier than before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I am a Demon Duke now,\" Morveth said calmly. \"Did you think my abilities stayed the same?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He raised one finger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Before, I sealed mana.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another finger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Movement.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Reaction.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked up slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And now...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The air around Garion visibly distorted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I seal the air itself.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Garion felt it instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The space around his body hardened. Not pressure. Not weight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Restriction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every breath felt locked in place. Even shifting his fingers felt impossible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Tch,\" Garion muttered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Morveth smirked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Now you understand,\" he said. \"This is the difference between a Count and a Duke.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He leaned in slightly, eyes cold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You will not fall.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You will not escape.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And you will not die quickly.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zathrek stepped forward, ash swirling proudly around him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Congratulations, Duke Morveth,\" he said, bowing slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Morveth glanced at him and smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hah,\" he said. \"Good. Very good.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked back at Garion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’ll give you more of his flesh later,\" Morveth added casually. \"You earned it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zathrek straightened, eyes gleaming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Thank you, Duke,\" he said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Morveth paused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then corrected him with a faint grin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Count Zathrek.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zathrek froze for a heartbeat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then his smile widened uncontrollably.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Count,\" he repeated. \"Yes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1121,"2026-06-06T11:12:18.542Z",1,"novelbin.me","636cc39c56f80b70c29651ed443fac8c28312da082152fa27ec3dabc371ddc60","heretic-trainer-the-gym-is-my-cultivation-method-chapter-347","heretic-trainer-the-gym-is-my-cultivation-method-chapter-345",613,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fheretic-trainer-the-gym-is-my-cultivation-method-cover.jpg"]