I have no idea how long it takes me, but I’m diligent with each particle. By the time I’m done, I’m out of breath, drenched in sweat and on the verge of passing out.
My eyes snap open and I take a big gulp of breath.
That’s just the introductory meditation.
Glancing at the book still by my side, I recall the contents page and all the different methods inside that I still haven’t tried.
Although I am so tired, it feels like I’ve run hundreds of thousands of steps, my body feels great.
In fact, it only takes a few seconds for that fatigue to clear and for the newly absorbed energy to merge with my core and become one.
My awareness sharpens, turning inward. I can feel everything more clearly now—the rhythm of my breath, the steady beat of my heart, the faint hum of energy moving through me.
Everything is so clear.
My hearing is so attuned to everything around me, I can hear every sound within a hundred step radius—the way specks of sand are moved by the wind, or the even breaths of the other competitors as they sleep in their quarters.
My vision too is much improved. The light is dim, but I see everything as clear as if it were thoroughly illuminated by a large source of light.
All my senses seem to have been augmented. Perhaps now they’re on the same level as Moe’s. For an immortal, this isn’t that great, but it’s a start. I should have gained these abilities thousands of years ago. In fact, considering I only recently opened my meridians and only absorbed a little energy—albeit strong from the embryo and pure from the soul—I managed to do what others do in one year in only a few days.
That alone makes me feel quite pleased with myself.
My body feels the changes, too.
The tension that once clung to my muscles has eased. The lingering pain has dulled to something distant, almost insignificant. The last remnants of the injuries I incurred during my fight have now completely healed. There are no scars left behind.
Finally, my healing has reached its optimal state.
I can still be injured, quite critically so. If during a fight my energy reaches low levels, my healing will be much slower. It only takes one deadly blow then to bring about my death.
Damn it! I must grow stronger, still.
I move my hand and my fingers respond instantly, without delay, without resistance. My legs, too and all my toes. My reflexes seem to be immediate.
I’m not sure how my speed and strength have changed yet, but I’m so curious I can’t help but tiptoe my way out of the room and into the wilderness.
The first thing I do is to run at full speed towards the area where the obelisk had been at yesterday. Though it’s no longer there, my progress is visible.
Whereas yesterday it took us nearly twenty minutes to reach that area, now I can do it in half that time.
My strength too is so much different than before. I can even lift a boulder.
I’m running around like a madman as I push my newly found abilities to the maximum.
Despite this clear improvement, I’m nowhere near level one.
I purse my lips, a little annoyed but trying to tell myself that with how I’ve grown in the last few days, it shouldn’t take me too long to reach the much desired level one—and finally get a domain all of my own.
Wistfully, I look forward to it.
I need to check out a book on domains next, since I only know about a few of them.
A terrified scream jolts me out of my thoughts.
I look around but don’t see anything or anyone. Still, the sound persists. I follow that pained cry to an area right behind a row of broken columns.
A female backing away toward the root of a broken column. Four males dressed in all black, with their faces covered to hide their identities, advance toward her.
