Chapter Fifty-Six: Metamorphosis

The sun and moon whirl past, time flies like an arrow.

Half a year has passed since Liu Tian accepted the mandate of the Heavenly Way and began training in the Thirteen Guardians Iron Body—a martial art forged from the synthesis of thirteen distinct disciplines. Within this span, leveraging the connections of the Gaien family, Liu Tian became a virtual ghost in the aristocratic academy. In truth, if not for the convenience of his student credentials—especially for accessing the academy’s library—he would have withdrawn long ago.

During these days, Allen still occasionally tried to make his presence felt beside Liu Tian, attempting to draw the two closer. Yet, now that Liu Tian possessed two paths, Allen’s offerings seemed insignificant, and Liu Tian aimed to instill in Lilia, who stood behind Allen, a sense of isolation and utter helplessness. Only those who reach despair yet burn with desire are willing to pay the greatest price.

Thus, Liu Tian deliberately withheld any attitude that might mislead them into believing he could be relied upon. Time slipped by, and under the relentless urging of the Heavenly Way—in its most literal, physical sense—Liu Tian trained obsessively.

Contrary to his initial expectations, despite the challenge posed by thirteen martial arts, the Iron Body technique unified them, supported by the finest secret medicines, the Heavenly Way’s insight into weaknesses and application of precise force, his own dogged perseverance, and the panel’s unwavering progress. His advancement was anything but slow. Even without allocating points, simply fusing the thirteen disciplines into one, in half a year, he had surmounted three gates—from novice to skilled, then to true martial artist. Perhaps for Liu Tian, pursuing the path of body refinement was always his destined route. The panel’s benefit—that progress could never be undone—was invaluable in this domain.

Now, Liu Tian alone, armed with the Thirteen Guardians Iron Body, was already a competent shield-warrior. Yet, his progress was gradually slowing; each advance was smaller than the last. At this pace, it would take at least two years to reach the Fighter tier with this technique, and Liu Tian had no patience to wait so long—there were still ninety-four martial arts awaiting his mastery. If every step took three years, even with the panel’s help, the journey would be interminable.

Sometimes, a shortcut must be taken.

His greatest asset was the forty points of Source Energy he had accumulated. He opened the panel, his gaze passing over the Shadow Dragon Step and Heaven’s Martial Killing Path—still unupgradeable and unmergeable. Previously, to avoid trouble, he had spent thirteen points to fuse the thirteen disciplines into one. Now, the panel showed: Thirteen Guardians Iron Body, Level 3; Effects: Strengthening (Level 3), Rebound (Level 1).

Compared to Heaven’s Martial Killing Path, this technique’s strengthening penetrated every aspect of his being. Perhaps because of the Source Energy fusion, there were no conflicts or lost benefits from combining the arts. The Heavenly Way had not taught Liu Tian the original Iron Body, but instead gifted him the raw, more potent thirteen disciplines for maximum effect. Though training them separately was harder, the results were unparalleled. To become the strongest creature on earth, perfection must be pursued—any margin, any slight, any hair’s breadth was unacceptable. Even a small flaw here, or there, in the end would become a chasm.

But through his hard-won fusion, the combined art not only preserved but enhanced all effects of the individual disciplines, and even granted new abilities—such as Rebound. More importantly, for Liu Tian, an art fused through effort was as if self-created, greatly deepening his understanding of body-refining arts and martial arts in general. It was as if the technique was his own invention, merely compressed in time through diligence. This precious experience would make it far easier to fuse or invent stronger secret techniques in the future.

With the Heavenly Way’s guidance, Liu Tian was steadily ascending to the absolute pinnacle of secret martial arts. Now, it was time to plan for the future, when the road ahead would be lost.

He would now witness the miracle of hard work—first, a simple upgrade to lay the foundation.

Liu Tian focused his will, determination surging, and pressed the upgrade. Like bursting a water balloon, a warm current welled from the depths of his soul, coursing through his body along a mysterious route. Muscle fibers tore and reformed, his already robust physique gained another degree of power, his close-fitting shirt stretched tight. Countless memories of tireless training—under waterfalls, in the deep sea, using every possible method—flashed through his mind, as if years passed in an instant.

Not bad—the increase in strength came without a loss in speed. With a solid foundation and precise control over his body, Liu Tian could accurately gauge his current level. He clenched his fist lightly, feeling a powerful force held within.

Three points per upgrade—acceptable.

Again! More!

In an instant, thirty Source Energy points vanished. Unexpectedly, he lost so many at once, but before he could regret it, an unprecedented pain flooded his body. From fingernails to toes, forehead to organs, every fiber, every viscera screamed with torment.

“Ah!”

A primal, uncontrollable scream escaped him.

The Heavenly Way, choosing Liu Tian’s next martial art in the room, was startled by the cry. Instantly recognizing his disciple’s agony, she didn’t pause to consider who could make the now-powerful Liu Tian suffer so. In a flash, jagged battle marks surfaced in her mind and on her brow. A surge of killing intent and dominance, fiercer than any in the past decade, exploded forth. All intelligent beings within several kilometers felt as if they’d been swallowed by a ferocious, tyrannical shark. Even the once proud guard dogs shrank into trembling balls, not daring to move.

The Heavenly Way, unleashing her full power, smashed through thick walls and crossed nearly a hundred meters in seconds, only to find an empty courtyard—save for Liu Tian.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Before she could act, three thunderous heartbeats echoed, as if proclaiming a new birth to the world.

His hair, now shoulder-length, his shirt utterly torn. Liu Tian slowly rose, his old bronze skin shedding, replaced by a snowy white like a boiled egg. He tilted his head, looking at the Heavenly Way—perhaps for the first time, sensing the limits of her power.

Then, Liu Tian raised his gaze to a world clearer than ever before. His physical abilities had surged, rivaling the leap he achieved when breaking through to Fighter with Heaven’s Martial Killing Path.

The panel hovered in the air, displaying: Thirteen Guardians Iron Body, Level 6; Effects: Strengthening (Level 6), Rebound (Level 3), Transformation (Level 1), Steel Body (Level 1).

Breaking through to level five cost only five points, but from five to six was like touching a boundary, consuming twenty-five Source Energy points—enough to push Heaven’s Martial Killing Path from novice to Fighter. But it was no loss; Liu Tian understood he had gained an evolution.

A transformation that only occurs when every inch of the body is refined to the utmost.

How strong am I now?

Feeling his nearly three-meter tall frame, Liu Tian was uncertain about his own power.