The evening sky had begun turning orange.
Kyle walked silently through the streets of the Ash District.
Each step sent pain shooting through his body.
His ribs ached.
His shoulder still burned where the Mana Bullet had struck.
His fists were swollen.
His clothes were stained with blood and dust.
"...That guy..."
"...was tougher than I expected."
He let out a tired laugh.
"But..."
"...I won."
People occasionally glanced at him before quickly looking away.
A wounded cultivator wasn't an uncommon sight.
No one asked questions.
Kyle continued limping toward Thorn Dojo.
As he reached the familiar wooden gate, he pushed it open.
Creak...
The peaceful courtyard came into view.
The old tree swayed gently in the evening breeze.
Elias sat beneath it with a cup of tea.
As though he had never moved.
Without even looking up, he spoke.
"You took longer than expected."
Kyle smiled bitterly.
"I met a few people."
"A few?"
Elias finally raised his eyes.
His calm gaze swept over Kyle.
The torn jacket.
The bruises.
The blood.
The slight limp.
"...Three."
Kyle nodded.
"They wanted money."
"And?"
"They're sleeping."
Elias stared at him for a moment before taking another sip of tea.
"I see."
He slowly stood.
"Follow me."
Kyle obediently followed him into the dojo.
They entered a small storage room lined with old wooden shelves.
Elias stopped before a locked cabinet.
He produced a small key.
Click.
The cabinet opened.
Inside...
Rested a small jade box.
Elias carefully picked it up.
Kyle blinked.
"...What's that?"
Without answering, Elias opened the lid.
A silver pill rested inside.
Its surface shimmered faintly beneath the light.
Delicate silver patterns drifted across it like flowing clouds.
A rich medicinal fragrance instantly filled the room.
Kyle unconsciously took a deep breath.
The fatigue in his body eased ever so slightly.
His eyes widened.
"...A medicinal pill?"
Elias nodded.
"A Silver-grade Healing Pill."
Kyle froze.
His expression changed immediately.
"...Silver-grade?"
Even Rank Two cultivators rarely possessed something this valuable.
Many would spend years saving for one.
"You..."
"...you're giving this to me?"
"It was made to be used."
Kyle quickly shook his head.
"I can't accept something this expensive."
Elias calmly closed the lid.
"A cultivator's greatest weapon..."
"...isn't his sword."
"...It's his body."
"If your foundation is damaged now..."
"...you'll pay for it later."
He tossed the jade box toward Kyle.
Kyle hurriedly caught it.
"...Master..."
Elias looked directly into his eyes.
"Eat it."
Kyle hesitated.
Then...
He slowly nodded.
"...Thank you."
He placed the pill into his mouth.
The instant it touched his tongue...
It dissolved.
Warm medicinal energy rushed down his throat.
Within seconds...
His entire body grew warm.
The pain in his ribs lessened.
The swelling in his fists gradually subsided.
The wound on his shoulder tingled intensely.
Kyle took a sharp breath.
"...Amazing."
But the warmth didn't stop.
It continued spreading.
Into his muscles.
His bones.
His tendons.
Every inch of his body.
It felt as though countless tiny streams were washing away every hidden imperfection.
His muscles trembled.
A strange pressure built inside him.
Kyle frowned.
"...Master?"
Elias remained perfectly calm.
"Don't resist it."
"Let the medicinal essence circulate."
Kyle closed his eyes.
He guided the warmth throughout his body.
The pressure grew stronger.
Stronger.
Then—
CRACK.
A deep sound echoed from within his body.
Kyle's eyes flew open.
He instinctively clenched his fist.
Strength surged through his muscles.
His body felt lighter.
Denser.
Far stronger than before.
A familiar blue screen appeared before his eyes.
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Body Trait
Level One → Level Two
Breakthrough Successful
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Kyle stared blankly at the screen.
"...I..."
"...broke through?"
Elias nodded.
"You were already standing at the threshold."
"The Silver-grade Healing Pill merely gave your body the final push."
Kyle slowly looked down at his hands.
He clenched them again.
His strength flowed far more smoothly than before.
He couldn't hide the smile on his face.
"...Thank you..."
"...Master."
Elias simply waved his hand dismissively.
"The medicinal energy hasn't finished its work."
"It will continue healing and tempering your body while you sleep."
"Get some rest."
"Tomorrow..."
"...is the entrance examination."
Kyle's smile gradually faded.
Tomorrow.
Everything would begin.
He carefully bowed.
"I won't disappoint you."
Elias turned around.
"See that you don't."
Kyle chuckled softly before returning to his room.
The warmth inside his body continued flowing peacefully.
He lay on his bed.
For the first time in a long while...
Every ache had disappeared.
His eyelids gradually became heavy.
"...Tomorrow..."
"...I'll take my first step."
With that thought...
Kyle slowly drifted into a deep sleep while the remaining medicinal energy quietly continued strengthening his body throughout the night.
Kyle slowly looked down at his hands.
"...Body Trait Level Two..."
He frowned.
"It doesn't feel that different."
Elias calmly replied,
"Your Body Trait isn't strength."
"It's healing."
"If you want to understand it..."
"...test it."
Kyle blinked.
"...Test it?"
Elias nodded toward the Iron-grade sword resting nearby.
"Cut yourself."
Kyle hesitated.
"...Seriously?"
"Do it."
Taking a deep breath...
Kyle slowly drew the sword.
The black blade reflected the evening light.
He carefully placed a finger against its edge.
Then...
He pulled.
A sharp sting spread across his finger.
A thin line of blood appeared.
Kyle immediately looked at the wound.
Nothing happened.
"...Master?"
"Wait."
A few seconds passed.
Then...
The blood stopped flowing.
The cut slowly began closing before his eyes.
The torn flesh knitted together.
Within moments...
Only a faint pink line remained.
A few more breaths later...
Even that disappeared.
Kyle's eyes widened.
"...It healed."
He turned his hand over repeatedly.
There wasn't even a scar.
Elias nodded.
"Level One accelerated your recovery."
"Level Two accelerates the healing process itself."
"In battle..."
"Your wounds will close much faster."
"Your stamina will recover sooner."
"And minor injuries won't slow you down."
Kyle stared at his flawless finger.
A slow grin spread across his face.
"So..."
"...the longer a fight lasts..."
"...the stronger I become."
Elias shook his head.
"No."
"The longer the fight lasts..."
"...the harder you are to kill."
Kyle laughed awkwardly.
"...That sounds even better."
Elias turned toward the dojo.
“Sleep.”
“Tomorrow…”
“…your real journey begins.”
Kyle bowed deeply.
“Yes, Master.”
He returned to his room.
The warmth inside his body still hadn’t faded.
Instead…
It flowed gently through every muscle and bone, quietly reinforcing them.
Kyle lay on the bed.
He closed his eyes.
His thoughts drifted to tomorrow’s entrance examination.
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
“…I’ll pass.”
Within moments…
Sleep overtook him.
Throughout the night…
The remaining medicinal essence continued nourishing his body, completing the transformation brought about by the Silver-grade Healing Pill.