I was back at the training field again, sweat pouring from my body like I was made of leaking pipes.
Running.
Again.
You might wonder—"Why not just grab the damn cultivation manual already?"
Simple.
Because the secret room it's hidden in… has a narrow entrance.
A very narrow entrance.
And this body, this pig-shaped disgrace, would get stuck. Literally.
Imagine dying inside a secret chamber because your belly couldn't fit through the hole.
Yeah. That's not the kind of legendary death I want.
So, I have to slim down first. Build my foundation.
This body needs to be ready before I go digging into forbidden ancestral secrets.
And i continued my runs.
And during breaks, I began compiling a mental list of all the artifacts I planned to "retrieve" in the future.
I mean, they're just lying around waiting for a worthy user, right?
And who's more worthy than me?
Not Adam, that's for sure.
And then… it finally arrived.
The elixirs.
The butler Albert delivered them in a black velvet box, sealed with my father's personal crest.
I opened it slowly.
Three vials glimmered inside.
I recognized them instantly.
From the novels I used to obsess over, I knew these were the real deal.
[Flameheart Essence]
[Azure Root Extract]
[Silent Moon Dew]
Alone, they were powerful.
But when combined, they created a rare alchemical mixture Violet Vein Elixir.
A terrifying concoction that purged impurities, cleared mana circulation, and, most importantly, opened up Qi pathways.
That last part was crucial.
The Blackthorn family was known for mages, not martial artists.
So Adam's body wasn't naturally suited for Qi cultivation.
But with this…
I could cheat fate.
I quickly mixed the three elixirs together. The liquid turned deep violet, almost glowing.
It looked poisonous.
I stared at it. "This might kill me…"
But I shrugged. "Or it might make me awesome."
Just to be safe, I'd already warned Celine not to enter my room no matter what she heard, screams, explosions, or wild animal noises.
I held my breath.
"Bottoms up."
And gulp.
The elixir burned down my throat like drinking liquid fire.
Then the pain began.
It hurt.
It really hurt.
Not like getting a paper cut. Not like a twisted ankle.
No, this felt like a pack of wild dogs gnawing on every inch of my body.
And I know how that feels, by the way.
I've been bitten by a dog before.
But this?
This was like getting chewed alive by an army of them.
My hands trembled. My whole body convulsed.
I wanted to scream. I needed to scream.
But I didn't.
If I did, Celine would come running, and probably report to my parents that I was doing some bizarre occult ritual in my room.
No thanks.
I clenched my teeth, swallowed my cries, and focused on the pain.
Then I felt it.
Something inside me snapped, like a lid being torn open.
Right in my gut, a warmth exploded.
A swirl of energy, raw and wild, spiraled up from my core.
It wasn't mana.
This was… different.
It was Qi.
My Qi path was opening.
The pain reached its peak, and then—
Blaargh!
I vomited blood onto the floor.
Thick. Black. Bitter.
As if that wasn't enough, my pores oozed out foul, sticky muck, slimy black toxins reeking like rotten eggs mixed with week-old sewage.
I nearly puked again from the stench.
"Gods, why didn't I do this in the bathroom?"
I forced myself up, legs shaking, and stumbled toward the mirror.
My face was pale. My lips dry.
But… my stomach was smaller.
Not flat, no. Still round.
But noticeably less round.
I grinned. "I'll take that."
It was working.
I was cleansing years of trash from this cursed body.
And I could feel the difference. My breath was easier. My steps lighter.
Maybe now I could try push-ups without my arms snapping in half.
Why not take the elixir again, you ask?
Because it only works once per person.
After your Qi path is awakened, taking more is useless. The body adapts. Rejects it.
Besides, that stuff costs more than a small mansion.
Good thing my family's loaded.
Thanks, Dad.
The next morning, I was back on the training field.
Same ground. Same routine.
But this time… something felt different.
I wasn't dragging my body like a dead pig anymore.
No, my steps were lighter. My lungs clearer.
Every breath I took felt like a reward for surviving yesterday.
"Elixir and wealth. Best combo ever."
Whoever said 'money can't buy happiness' definitely never drank a high-grade Qi elixir.
If I ever meet that person, I'll smack them in the face with this glorious butt of mine.
And so, I trained.
Every day.
Push-ups. Sit-ups. Squats. Running laps until my legs begged for mercy.
Three. Straight. Months.
No skipping.
And my father? The ever-loving walking gold mine?
I just asked him for more cultivation materials, and boom. He got me everything without asking why.
A man truly blinded by parental love.
I love him.
With each passing week, the fat melted away.
The man in the mirror wasn't that soft, round blob anymore.
He had sharp crimson eyes, black hair slicked with effort, and lean muscle tracing his arms and chest.
I had a V-line, dammit.
I looked like someone ripped out of a hero gacha game.
I touched the mirror and grinned. "You did good, Adam. You did good."
But this wasn't the end.
No.
Tonight… I would finally move.
The manual I had been waiting for, the hidden gem tucked deep in the estate's forbidden chamber.
A manual only someone thin could reach.
That person was finally me.
Tonight… I make my move.