Sitting cross-legged upon his hard wooden bed, Zani stared intently at the translucent blue interface floating silently in his field of vision.
[Sect System Level 1] [EXP: 0/100] [Sect Master: Zani] [Disciples: 0/40] [Quests:] [New Quest: Recruit 20 Disciples] [Reward: 10 EXP and ‘Skin Tempering Introduction Manual’] [New Quest: Recruit a Talented Disciple] [Reward: 20 EXP and New System Feature: ‘Talent Evaluation Eye’] “Why is the disciple count showing zero?” Zani muttered.
“Is it because I have not officially registered their names yet?
And it seems the system restrict me to forty disciples for now.” He let out a long yawn examining this.
“So sleepy.
Let’s see if my luck is good enough to complete the second quest tomorrow.” The next morning.
Inside the Iron Core Gym, Zani stood at the entrance of the grand hall with hands clasped behind his back.
“State your name, age, and origins.
So that I can register you,” Zani instructed the gathered youths.
“Fifteen years old.
Eldest son of Chief Sythe.” “Thirteen years old.
Son of Chief Sythe.” …
“Elisi, fourteen years old.
Daughter of Hunter Teer.” After everyone was registered, Zani finally looked up to examine the group.
Four boys and two girls.
From which he had already received the monthly fee of twenty copper coins from the first five.
The last one, Elisi, was a new arrival.
“Elisi,” Zani asked mildly.
“How will you settle your fees?
Monthly or annually?” “I…
I heard there is a third path,” she said softly.
“Oh?” Hearing this, not only Zani but the other youths also showed genuine surprise.
Then thinking about something he nodded.
“We shall discuss this matter later.” Then He led the youths deep into the hall.
Although Zani was no fitness master in his past life, he knew enough about the body limits to understand safety .So, before letting them touch the iron weights, he strictly lectured them on form and posture, ensuring no one would snap their spine attempting to lift a heavy burden on their first day.
Then, he personally demonstrated, lifting the weights alongside them so they could mimic his breathing and movements.
This grueling physical conditioning lasted for a full sichen (two hours).
Only after that, utterly exhausted youths departed to rest and eat, promising to return for the evening session.
Leaving only Elisi behind in the grand hall with him.
Unlike Zani’s past world, this realm was rich in spiritual energy and marvelous herbs.
These herbs didn’t just heal wounds; they purged fatigue and nourished the blood.
This was exactly why Zani wasn’t worried about the youths destroying their bodies because as long as they took herbal baths or drank medicinal teas, the micro-tears in their muscles would only serve to rebuild their flesh stronger than before.
From what he knew of the martial path, mortals rarely cultivated not because they lacked courage, but because true tempering required endless cycles of self-harm and expensive herbal recovery.
“Elisi,” Zani said while wiping sweat from his brow.
“May I ask why you chose the third path of deferred payment?
As far as I know, Brother Teer is wealthy enough to easily afford your tuition.” upon hearing the question, Elisi avoided his gaze and spoke meekly.
“My father does not know I am here.” “What?” “Please, Senior Zani!
Please do not tell my father that I am walking the martial path!” “Why such secrecy?” The meekness in Elisi’s voice slowly vanished, replaced by a rising, fierce determination.
“Because I refuse to marry that Young Master from Sweet Corn Village!
I will control my own fate.
So, Please Senior help me.
If my father finds out, I will take full responsibility.” “Just let me register!” Elisi spoke with such absolute resolve that Zani was caught between a sigh of worry and a laugh of amusement.
This was a classic tale of teenage rebellion.
“Very well.
Do as you wish.” Herbal Store.
After securing his lunch, Zani decided to invest in his own cultivation.
So, He spent a solid silver coin to purchase a month’s supply of medicinal herbs.
In truth, calling them ‘spiritual herbs’ was an exaggeration; they were merely high-grade medicinal tea leaves, which after brewing help relaxed strained tendons and washed away profound fatigue and Combined with eating meat three times a day for essential nutrients, it formed a rudimentary mortal foundation method.
Zani was twenty-one this year, possessing a clean face and the handsome, scholarly features of a transmigrator.
Now that his physique was filling out from the iron weights, he was bound to become an existence that would make the jade beauties of the village swoon.
Two more days passed like flowing water.
One more youth joined the gym, bringing his total count to seven.
Yet, the system remained indifferent.
[Disciples: 7/40] None of them triggered the ‘Talented’ quest.
His daily routine had become incredibly fulfilling, walking up early, guiding the youths, tempering his own body, eating hearty meals of filled with meat, drinking his medicinal tea, and sleeping soundly.
Only a few days of following it and He was now able to lift 60 kg weights casually, a staggering leap in progress and Because of the herbs and meat, he never felt muscle soreness.
Among his disciples, the most terrifying work ethic belonged to Elisi.
The girl was practically a gym rat, who lived in the main hall.
She even brought her three daily meals and her medicinal herbs to avoid going home for break, truly cultivating like a mad demon.
If Zani didn’t force the gates shut at night, he suspect she would sleep directly on the iron dumbbells.
Yet, despite her heaven-shaking effort, she could still barely lift 45 kg.
This caused Zani to pause and ponder.
Why is my progress so explosive?
Could it be…
I am a heaven-defying, one-in-a-million genius?
And Just like that, a full month drifted by.
The number of disciples had naturally swelled to fifteen and just as Zani expected, not a single one quit.
The physical transformations were too visible to deny.
[Disciples: 15/40] Although repeatedly lifting iron all day was as boring as watching paint dry, doing it in a group with peers of the opposite gender ignited a fierce, competitive fire among the youths.
and Zani, acting as the ‘peerless genius’ and couch of his own gym, could now lift a monstrous 100 kg.
During this month, a great storm hit the village: Hunter Teer finally discovered his daughter’s secret and The resulting argument shook the heavens and became the primary gossip of Big Wheat Village.
Zani thought he will not be seeing her again.
However, after a two-day absence, Elisi returned to the gym, her eyes burning with even greater vigor.
She, as the senior sister among the disciples, had breached the 60 kg mark.
Though a few older boys who joined later could already lift 75 kg due to their natural physical maturity, Elisi had become a symbol.
She now has a small, devoted following of junior brothers and sisters who viewed her iron will as their role model.
But the most significant development of the month was something else entirely.
The reputation of the Iron Core Gym had finally breached the borders of Big Wheat Village, spreading into Grains City and its four surrounding territories.
The mortal world now knew the name of Zani’s domain.
________________________________ [Author Note: Thank you for reading so far.
From now on chapters will be updated around same time from Mon to Fri.