[{"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-548":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},1633739,2099,"Chapter 548: Rules? What Rules?","heretic-trainer-the-gym-is-my-cultivation-method-chapter-548",548,"\u003Cp>Sianor sighed as he surveyed the situation unfolding in the arena. \"Tch... this has really gotten out of hand.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Floren stood beside him, raising his fan to his face before snapping it shut and tapping it lightly against his palm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yeah,\" he muttered. \"I never expected a demon lord to join the tournament.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned to Sianor, resting the closed fan against his chin. \"Remind me once again... Was that ever part of the agreement?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without waiting for an answer, he looked back toward the arena. Heinkel had never mentioned anything about involving a demon lord in battle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sianor shook his head, irritation clear on his face. \"No, he didn’t. And that’s exactly what makes this situation even more frustrating.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few steps behind them, Dahlia began walking forward, arms crossed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I understand,\" she said calmly, \"but getting angry won’t help. We don’t even know how far this will go yet, do we?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Floren clicked his tongue, glancing at her. \"It’s easy to say that while just watching, but are you really okay with this, Dahlia?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He flicked his closed fan toward the arena. \"Rachel, a member of your God Gym, is the one down there. Shouldn’t you be the most worried?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sianor nodded and didn’t respond immediately and waited for what Dahlia was going to say.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dahlia exhaled softly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I know,\" she admitted, \"but what can we actually do? From the very beginning... there weren’t any rules against this, were there?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She gestured toward the arena. \"The only rule is that the fight continues until one side surrenders or can no longer go on.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She shrugged. \"There’s nothing that says a demon lord can’t participate.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sianor sighed, still uneasy. \"That’s true, but... we don’t even know how powerful a demon lord really is. And...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His words trailed off as he turned back to the arena. Heinkel was bowing to the figure before him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That alone spoke volumes. Whoever stood there had to be incredibly powerful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dahlia followed his gaze, then looked back at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Maybe,\" she said, \"but don’t underestimate Rachel either. And besides...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She paused briefly before continuing, her voice steady. \"My master hasn’t arrived yet. You both know how powerful he is, don’t you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sianor and Floren exchanged a glance before letting out a quiet sigh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Floren tilted his head slightly. \"Yeah, we know. But still... how long is Garion going to take? That’s assuming he even succeeds in his cultivation.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sianor nodded in agreement. \"Exactly. Dahlia, we can’t rely on him showing up in time to save her.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dahlia sighed, but her expression remained steady. \"I know. That’s why... if Rachel starts to lose, I’ll step in and help her directly.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She turned her gaze to Sianor. \"And this time, the opponent is a genuine demon. That gives you the advantage.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her voice grew firmer. \"If things really go bad, it’ll be much easier for us to intervene.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sianor nodded, a faint grin forming. \"Yeah... unlike Heinkel, this one won’t be able to block my anti-demon abilities.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eyes flicked back to the arena. \"And since he’s a true demon lord, my skills should work perfectly on him.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Floren let out a low chuckle. \"So... we’re breaking the rules now?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sianor laughed lightly. \"There were never any rules about helping a contestant from being killed, were there?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Floren smirked. \"Fair point.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dahlia nodded, turning her attention back to the arena.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"For now, let’s stay ready and keep watching. We move the moment the situation goes bad.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>---\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment Rachel stepped into his range, Haron moved, faster than thought itself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His claw shot forward, aimed straight at her. Not to kill, but to seize.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rachel twisted sharply, her body turning sideways just as his claw grazed past her shoulder, sending a ripple through the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She slid back a step, never breaking eye contact.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Haron chuckled, clearly amused, as he began to circle her at a slow, deliberate pace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His gaze lingered, dragging over her form with unsettling intent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’ve got impressive reflexes, woman,\" he said. \"But you don’t need to be so tense. I’m not here to kill you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rachel didn’t relax. If anything, her stance lowered further, more grounded, and more ready.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yeah,\" she replied coldly, \"that’s exactly the problem.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Haron laughed again, louder this time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You misunderstand,\" he said. \"I already told you... you’re strong. Strong enough to interest me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His grin widened. \"Fight me. Struggle a little... and then you’ll understand just how futile it is to resist.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He slowly curled his claw inward. \"After that... you’ll come with me willingly.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eyes gleamed with anticipation. \"Oh, that would be very entertaining.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rachel’s eyes narrowed, her lips curling into a faint smirk. \"You really talk too much, you furball.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Haron could respond, she moved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a blink, she closed the distance between them, too fast to track and too sudden to anticipate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her hand shot forward, not aiming for a heavy strike, but for something far more precise... and deliberately humiliating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She twisted her body slightly as she stepped in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Haron had already braced himself, ready to demonstrate the overwhelming gap between them... but Rachel never struck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead, she pinched his cheek. Hard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a split second, everything froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Haron’s body locked, his mind struggling to process what had just happened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before he could react, Rachel pivoted sharply on her heel and drove a clean, direct kick into his torso.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The impact sent him staggering back, his footing breaking as the force rippled through him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rachel landed lightly, already resetting into her stance, her posture relaxed but ready.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Heh... how’s that?\" she said, grinning. \"What does it feel like to get pinched like an idiot?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Haron didn’t move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Slowly, almost mechanically, his claw rose to his cheek.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then a low growl rumbled out of him, not laughter this time. \"You...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The air around him trembled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pressure surged outward in a violent wave, cracking the ground beneath his feet and sending debris skidding across the arena.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eyes burned with fury.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I have fought countless battles,\" he said, his voice dropping into something darker. \"Crushed warriors... broken champions.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stepped forward, the ground cracking beneath his foot. \"None of them ever managed to hurt me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A low growl rumbled from his chest as his claws flexed, tension coiling through his frame. \"But you...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eyes sharpened, locking onto Rachel with a predatory intensity. \"You actually made me feel pain.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a brief moment, something dangerous flickered behind his gaze, something colder than anger. \"You can’t be my lioness anymore.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A pause. \"So now... you’re prey.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rachel exhaled slowly, steadying her breathing against the crushing pressure bearing down on her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her posture remained firm. Unyielding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Good,\" she said, her voice calm but edged with defiance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A faint, fearless smile tugged at her lips. \"Then I’ll just do it again.\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1136,"2026-06-06T11:12:30.898Z",1,"novelbin.me","7f2a95fd2d54711977b51dc905936d93fbd740245f0f011576d93c27a91eedc1","heretic-trainer-the-gym-is-my-cultivation-method-chapter-549","heretic-trainer-the-gym-is-my-cultivation-method-chapter-547",613,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fheretic-trainer-the-gym-is-my-cultivation-method-cover.jpg"]