Chapter 6: The Levels of Life — The Trainee Stage
When I was about five years old… to be precise, the day I opened my eyes with true awareness—
The memories of my past life returned.
Even before those memories resurfaced, I had always been more mature than my peers.
It seems I was reborn after death. The reason my memories only awakened now is probably because my infant brain had not yet fully developed.
“How unexpectedly realistic… this strange place.”
In short, the most accurate description of my situation would be: reincarnation.
That is my conclusion.
---
Three Years Later
The sky was overcast, and rain fell steadily.
In the backyard lay a wide, open training ground.
Patriarch Nick stood in the field, personally overseeing O’Neil’s training.
“At the beginning of training, it’s nothing more than strengthening the body and mastering basic skills,” Nick said calmly.
“Combined with special herbal formulas and demonic beast blood potions, the goal is to enhance physical fitness.”
“At this stage, as long as nutrition is sufficient and training is rigorous, one can push the human body to its maximum potential.”
“Those at this stage are called Trainees.”
“Once a certain threshold is reached, and with the help of medicinal potions and breathing techniques, the essence of human life will elevate. A core life energy will condense within the lower abdomen.”
“Only then can one officially become a true warrior and advance beyond the Trainee stage.”
“Training is exhausting and extremely harsh. Without sufficient nutrition, not only will training fail to produce results, but the body may collapse. And nutrition requires meat—lots of it—which in turn requires a large amount of gold coins.”
“After advancing beyond the Trainee stage, you’ll discover that everything has only just begun. Ordinary training methods will no longer improve your physique.”
“You must rely on breathing techniques. And breathing cultivation requires enough demonic beast blood to progress faster. As breathing improves, so too does the body.”
“If you want to be more effective in combat, you’ll need better weapons and armor. That requires even more gold—and sometimes spirit coins.”
O’Neil raised his hand.
“Patriarch Nick, what are spirit coins?”
“They are the hard currency of the extraordinary world. You’ll deal with them naturally once you enter that circle.”
“For now, focus on intensive physical training. Remember—every gold coin spent on your food is recorded. You must repay the tribe through hunting after your training.”
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“I’ll give you the herbal formula that purifies the violent energy within demonic beast blood later. The herbs aren’t rare. Since you’ve studied herbal processing, you can prepare it yourself and save money.”
“Now then—you are already a warrior. Obedience is your duty.”
“Put on the sand suit and run one hundred laps.”
“Yes!”
O’Neil’s voice rang out clearly.
He immediately ran to the equipment rack, donned a heavy sand-filled vest, tied sand weights around his legs, wrapped sandbags around his wrists—and began running at full speed.
---
I’m hungry.
With each lap, O’Neil’s legs grew heavier. His breathing grew harsher.
His vision darkened, and a burning sensation spread through his chest.
His throat felt like a pot boiled dry, smoke rising from within.
Sweat drenched his body. The rough sand vest scraped against his skin. His wrists, legs, and back burned with pain.
“No… I can’t run anymore. Let’s stop for today…”
The voice of surrender echoed in his heart.
“Run,” Nick said coldly. “Every second you endure after reaching your limit is progress.”
“Don’t you want to become extraordinary? The opportunity is in front of you—hold on.”
“I’ll tell you the truth. The demonic energy in this world is growing more active. Supernatural events will only increase.”
“If you don’t want to face danger helplessly, then don’t close your eyes and pray.”
“Pour out your spirit and your will.”
Nick held a whip made from strange beast hide. Whenever O’Neil slowed even slightly, the whip cracked across his back.
His eyes were cold—but deep within burned a fierce flame.
The boy before him had surprised him yet again.
Already over seventy laps—while wearing full sand weights.
Though he had said one hundred laps, that was merely the theoretical threshold for advancement.
Ordinary people would need three to five years of training to reach such a level.
Yet on his very first attempt, O’Neil had already completed seventy-four laps without collapsing.
It would be a crime not to temper such talent.
---
O’Neil knew his physical strength was completely drained.
He was running purely on willpower now.
His legs were numb. His blood burned.
Crack—
Another lash struck.
This time, he could not increase his speed.
His body had reached absolute exhaustion.
Without recovering strength, he could run only a few minutes more.
But how could one recover stamina while running?
Wait…
The meditation technique—the visualization of the stellar rings—didn’t require a fixed posture.
If I can visualize while running… wouldn’t that solve the stamina problem?
The idea flashed through his mind.
Previously, he always closed his eyes to visualize.
Now he forced himself to imagine with his eyes open.
His gaze gradually lost focus. Under extreme exhaustion, entering that state became strangely easier.
The third stellar ring appeared faintly within his pupils.
But because his body was moving, it was like throwing a stone into water—the reflected ring shattered instantly.
Focus.
Again.
Let the stellar aura move with my motion. Maintain relative stillness between them.
Once.
Twice.
Again.
Nick counted eighty laps.
By now, O’Neil wasn’t running—he was barely maintaining a jogging motion.
The Patriarch stopped swinging his whip. Further lashes would no longer draw out potential.
He could see the boy was running purely on will.
He watched silently, curious to see the limit.
---
O’Neil forgot he was even running.
His body moved mechanically.
He forgot fatigue. He forgot time.
Starlight shone upon his body and entered between his brows, flowing into the Sea of Consciousness.
It then radiated through his organs like a crimson sun burning within his heart.
Finally, that red sun descended into his Life Core at the lower abdomen—radiating through every pore.
In Nick’s eyes, it was like parched grass welcoming rain.
O’Neil’s body revived.
His speed gradually increased.
Not fully restored—but astonishing nonetheless.
One lap.
Two laps.
He was running again.
---
Suddenly—
An overwhelming hunger shattered his trance.
His stomach rumbled violently.
His chest felt hollow. A dull ache twisted his gut.
He staggered to a stop before Patriarch Nick.
“I’m hungry!”
Nick burst into laughter.
“I’ve already informed the kitchen. We can eat now.”
On his very first session, O’Neil had completed ninety-two full laps.
His endurance was exceptional.
With focused strength training, he could reach the advancement threshold soon.
One year? Perhaps even half a year.
---
Dining Hall
O’Neil ate in small bites—but astonishing speed and volume.
Nick looked at the growing stack of empty plates and smiled inwardly.
The more energy one consumes, the more one must eat.
In a sense, the strongest on the knightly path is simply the one who eats the most.
“Patriarch, the herbs are ready.”
A slender woman approached, carrying an enamel bowl in one hand and a clay jar in the other.
Nick nodded gently.
“Thank you, Afina. Leave them here.”
She placed the items down and left quietly.
Nick stood and patted O’Neil’s shoulder.
“Take the medicinal soup internally. Apply the ointment externally.”
“I’ll copy the medicinal bath formula for you tonight.”
With his hands behind his back, he added:
“Don’t overeat. You have a two-hour break at noon. Sword training begins this afternoon.”
“Gather at the training ground before two.”
---
O’Neil was too full to drink the medicine immediately.
He picked up the jar and returned to his assigned quarters.
The furnishings were simple: a table, a chair, a narrow wooden bed.
An oil lamp and kettle sat atop the table.
Everything was made of untreated logs—without even varnish.
He opened the jar.
Inside was a black-and-red ointment.
He sniffed it and immediately identified several herbs—broom herb, blood-activating grass.
It resembled tiger-bone ointment: promoting circulation, relieving pain, strengthening muscular endurance.
He applied it to his aching muscles, then sat upright on the bed.
Not cross-legged—just straight-backed.
He closed his eyes and began visualization meditation.
Though he had learned to visualize with eyes open while moving—
He still felt that doing so was far less effective than entering a proper meditative state.
