Lian gasped, his chest heaving as he lay on the bed, pain still coursing through his body like fire. Each breath felt heavy, and every inch of him throbbed with agony, as though needles had pierced his flesh and pulled taut under his skin. The sensation was so intense that it blurred his vision, and blood trickled from the corner of his mouth as his consciousness wavered. He felt as if his soul itself had been torn apart.

But just as he teetered on the brink of losing consciousness, Lian forced his mind to steady. He gulped air, forcing himself to remain present, and slowly, agonizingly, the searing pain began to subside. His body, drenched in sweat, felt like it had fought a battle it wasn't prepared for—a battle of survival. His bloodshot eyes reflected the torment he had endured, and even as the pain faded away, he couldn't shake the feeling that something had almost broken inside him.

Lian lay still for a while, his breath ragged. His mind reeled, trying to grasp why this had happened. Everything had been going smoothly. He had finally sensed energy, the Boundless Light within him. He was certain he had done everything right, following the normal practices of channeling spiritual energy as he had learned. So why had it turned against him, nearly killing him the moment he tried to harness it?

His thoughts swirled with confusion. The Boundless Light was supposed to be a substitute for spiritual energy, just like the system had told him. How could this substitute act like poison to his body? Was it the nature of the energy itself? Or was there something about his body that rejected it? He quickly summoned the system window, his face tense with worry, and searched for any additional information about the Boundless Light, but all he saw was the same brief description he had read before.

Frustration welled up inside him. Was this how it was supposed to work? Could he even trust the system now? His excitement over gaining new abilities had faded, replaced by dread. If this energy had almost killed him the first time, what was to stop it from doing so again? He couldn't bear the thought of experiencing that level of pain again—it was beyond words, a torment that rattled his very soul.

"Something's wrong," he muttered, running a hand through his damp hair, his thoughts racing. He wanted answers. He wanted to ask the Heaven's Devourer, the old man, but he had been silent throughout, ignoring him even now. Lian clenched his fists in frustration. He had no one to rely on but himself, and his thoughts kept returning to a single possibility.

"Is it me?" he whispered, glancing down at his own body. His eyes traveled over his plump frame, noting the softness of his limbs. He had always been heavier than others, and despite his attempts to be stronger, his physique had never been impressive. Could it be that his body simply wasn't strong enough to handle the Boundless Light?

The more he thought about it, the more it made sense. If this energy was similar to divine power—stronger and more dangerous than spiritual energy—then it would require a body capable of withstanding its force. Divine power had always been described as needing a strong vessel to channel it. Could it be that his weak body was the real issue, unable to properly harness the Boundless Light without risking destruction?

As these thoughts solidified, a dark chuckle suddenly echoed in his mind.

"Kid, I have to admit, you're not entirely foolish," the familiar voice of the Heaven's Devourer boomed in his head, laced with condescension. "Well, it's a relief that you're not a total idiot, at least."

Lian's eyes widened as the voice continued, dripping with amusement.

"Did you really think you could harness that light power with this weak, trashy body of yours? You must be dumber than I thought," the old man sneered. "You caught on quickly, though. This energy isn't like that common spiritual nonsense the weaklings in this world toy with. This is a power for the strong, for those who can handle it. And you, boy, are far from strong."

Lian swallowed hard, a sinking feeling settling in his stomach as the Heaven's Devourer spoke. He had been right. His body was the problem. But now, hearing it from the old man's own mouth made it all the more real. The boundless power inside him wasn't something he could handle—not yet.

"Does this mean... I can't use it at all?" Lian asked, his voice low.

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"Oh, you can use it, boy. If you don't mind dying in the process," the old man's voice mocked. "But if you want to survive, you'll have to change. That weak body of yours? It's going to need a serious upgrade if you want to keep up."

Lian nodded slightly, his thoughts deepening as he reflected on what the Heaven's Devourer had said. He realized now that he had never given much attention to his body, always believing that once he could master spiritual energy, his physique would naturally follow.

From a young age, he had been soft and not particularly strong, but this never concerned him. His primary focus had always been on the path of spiritual cultivation, and everything else seemed secondary. After all, with enough spiritual energy, one could train their body later—there were techniques that made strengthening one's physique easier once the energy was flowing.

But now, after what the Heaven's Devourer had revealed, he understood that his body wasn't just secondary. It was foundational. If this Boundless Light was similar to divine power, something that required a strong vessel, then he couldn't afford to ignore his physical condition any longer. And the realization that he could now finally sense energy made him excited. If he could gather spiritual energy, training his physique should be within his grasp, perhaps even easy. He knew what he had to do.

His excitement, which had been dulled by the pain he experienced earlier, started to build again. The idea of working on his body no longer seemed like a distant afterthought but an immediate priority. He smiled faintly as he imagined himself growing stronger, reshaping his body to be capable of wielding this immense power. However, his excitement was tempered by the fact that he was still recovering. The intense pain he had gone through had left him drained, and he knew he'd need a few days to fully heal before he could begin this new phase of training.

He sighed, his mind drifting. "Old man, you seem pretty enthusiastic about this Boundless Light. Are you sure it's as powerful as you say?" he muttered, hoping to draw more information from the Heaven's Devourer.

But there was no answer. The old man had retreated into silence, leaving Lian to his thoughts. He couldn't help but sigh again. It seemed the Heaven's Devourer spoke only when it suited him, leaving Lian to figure things out on his own most of the time.

"Well, I guess my focus should be on my body for now," Lian murmured. In a way, this new goal felt natural to him, despite his past neglect of physical training. People often mocked his plump, round figure, calling him lazy and assuming he enjoyed indulgent feasts while neglecting hard work. But the truth was far from that. Lian wasn't a glutton, nor was he lazy. His roundness came naturally, no matter how little he ate. Even when he focused on spiritual practices, the weight never seemed to shift. He had learned to ignore the comments and judgments, focusing on his true goal—sensing spiritual energy.

Now, though, things had changed. Training his body would not only help him wield the Boundless Light, but it would also change how people saw him. No longer would they mock him for being lazy or out of shape. He imagined the day when his physique would match the power he could wield, when those who ridiculed him would be forced to eat their words. His strength, his power, and his new appearance would silence their mockery once and for all.

As these thoughts filled his mind, a new anticipation stirred within him. He could feel it building—the excitement, the eagerness to transform himself. His eyes brightened with the thought of healing quickly so that he could begin his training. He wasn't the type to be impatient, but now, he could hardly wait.

Time passed slowly as Lian recovered, and the next day, Elysia came to visit him. She brought fruits, feeding him with her usual liveliness and joy. Her presence filled the infirmary with warmth and energy, pulling Lian out of his boredom. She stayed with him for almost the entire day, and her happiness was infectious as she celebrated his recovery. A couple of days later, Lian's injuries had fully healed.

Perhaps it was his eagerness to start training, or maybe the Boundless Light that had been coursing through him, but his body had healed far faster than expected. The infirmary attendants were astonished as they examined him, their magical devices confirming that his wounds had totally healed. Lian was thrilled by his rapid recovery, and it wasn't long before he was discharged. Elysia was present and by his side, along with a maid. Together, they prepared to leave the infirmary.

Elysia had come with a simple chariot this time, one drawn by a black beast resembling a giant wolf with striking blue eyes. Unlike the extravagant one they had rushed him in with, this chariot was more modest, designed for traveling through the city. Lian stepped inside, followed by Elysia, and as the chariot sped into the distance, he felt a sense of calm return. The ride brought him back to a small building beside the Grand Mansion, and as he entered his room, he was met with an unexpected surprise.

His once simple living space had been transformed. The room had been renovated, and everything—from the furniture to the decorations—was new. What was once a modest and well-kept space had now become extravagant, beautifully furnished with high-quality materials. Lian stood there in awe, taking in the remodeled surroundings. It felt like a completely different place, far beyond what he had ever imagined or expected.

Elysia watched him, smiling softly, her face glowing like a beautiful moon. "Did you do all this?" Lian asked, still shocked by the transformation.

Elysia's smile widened, and she replied in her soft, fairy-like voice, "No, it wasn't me. Mom had been planning this for a while as a birthday surprise for you. But with everything that happened, she thought it was the perfect time to do it while you were recovering in the infirmary." Her voice was warm, and the kindness behind the gesture touched Lian deeply.

The thoughtful act of the Countess and her family, who had become like his own, stirred a wave of emotion within him. Ever since growing up without a mother, Lian had often felt alone, but the Countess and Elysia had been a ray of light in his life. They had given him a sense of belonging, a family when he needed it most. Gratitude swelled in his chest as he realized how much they had done for him. He knew he had to find a way to repay them for their kindness, though he wasn't sure where to start.

Feeling overwhelmed, Lian's emotions showed in his eyes. Elysia noticed and quickly wrapped him in a warm hug. Lian hugged her back gently, whispering, "Thank you."

She smiled as she pulled away, her voice still soft and full of warmth. "No problem, Lian. You're important to me. We're family, so it's only natural to help each other, right? Don't think of it as a big favor—you're part of our family."

Lian smiled at her words. "Alright."

'I have to go offer my thanks to her too,' he thought, gazing out the window at the Grand Mansion. His heart swelled with gratitude, knowing how lucky he was to have them in his life.