Elysia spent some time with Lian in his newly renovated room, chatting with him in her lively way, sharing stories and recounting recent events. The two had grown up together, and it was natural for her to feel at ease in his presence, spending much of her time with him. Though she was happy to be by his side, she sensed that Lian needed rest after his recovery, and so, after a little while, she gave her goodbyes and left him to recuperate.

Once alone, Lian felt a sense of mental fatigue. Though it was not the same overwhelming force that had always drawn him into sleep, this tiredness felt manageable, allowing him to rest on his own terms. Feeling in control of his mental state for the first time in a long while, Lian drifted into a peaceful sleep, knowing that tomorrow was full of plans and opportunities. It felt liberating.

The following day, Lian left the small building where he had been staying, which was beside the mansion, and ventured into the bustling streets of Elandor. Though Elandor was a relatively small city, it was prosperous, nestled in the verdant hills of southern Valeryn. The city's fertile land made it a hub for agriculture, trade, and small-scale industry, filling its streets with energy and commerce.

As Lian made his way through the crowded streets, he passed by numerous vendor stalls and shops, their colorful signs advertising various goods. The city thrived on the abundance of resources around it, and its location made it a key trade center. Lian navigated the busy roads until he stopped in front of a large, well-decorated shop. The placard outside read 'Skill Depository,' signaling that this shop specialized in skill books.

Lian entered the store, where he was greeted by an attendant, a young man who seemed to be in his early twenties. The interior of the shop was expansive and beautifully furnished, with tall shelves lined with books and scrolls. Several customers were already browsing the rows, searching for the skills they needed.

The young attendant, though polite, had a slightly tired and bored expression. It was clear he had been working for some time already, despite the early hour. "Hello, young guest," he said, his voice flat. "What brings you here today?"

Lian paused for a moment, collecting his thoughts. "I came to buy some skill books," he replied.

The attendant's gaze shifted slightly as he looked Lian over. "What kind of skill book are you looking for?"

Lian thought for a moment before answering. "Something focused on body refinement."

The attendant raised an eyebrow, noting Lian's round, chubby figure, and seemed to make a quick assumption about his choice. After a brief pause, he nodded and gestured toward a section of the shop. "Body refinement techniques are over there—first corner, top shelf on the left side. You can take a look and choose what you need."

Lian nodded. He made his way to the corner of the shop and began browsing through several skill books and scrolls, all centered around body refinement techniques. He picked up one book, glanced at the name, and flipped to the first page, squinting thoughtfully at the brief introduction. After quickly skimming it, he placed the book back and repeated the process with another. Time passed as he browsed through several books, noticing that while the techniques were varied, they all focused on basic methods for body strengthening.

In this world, body refinement was one of the recognized paths to enhancing one's strength, alongside mastering aura. However, body refinement was not as widely practiced because mastering aura naturally enhanced the body to a certain extent, and many believed it was enough. Those who trained in aura usually grew stronger simply by tapping into its power, making their bodies more resilient without needing additional refinement. As a result, only a few dedicated individuals pursued body refinement seriously, as it required dividing their attention between aura mastery and physical training, which many thought would slow their progress.

Most of the body refinement techniques available in the shop were general knowledge—basic practices that anyone could use to strengthen themselves. Lian noted that while these methods were helpful, they weren't particularly profound or advanced. He knew that more unique, high-level body refinement techniques were often guarded by powerful sects or organizations and wouldn't be found in a public shop, especially in a smaller city like Elandor. Still, the basics were enough for him, as his immediate goal was to strengthen his body to handle the boundless light power he had gained.

After browsing for some time, Lian found himself contemplating which technique to choose. Each of the books seemed similar, and none stood out as truly unique, which made his decision difficult. He turned his attention to some of the scrolls, which, though less polished, contained intriguing variations on the general body refinement practices. It was then that one particular scroll caught his eye—'Heavenly Steel, Heavenly Pillars.'

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This scroll, unlike the others, seemed much older and more distinct in its approach. The title alone piqued Lian's interest, and as he read through the introduction, he found the concept both amusing and intriguing. The author claimed that, through dedicated refinement, one could make their body as strong as heavenly steel and powerful enough to support the heavens like a pillar.

While Lian found the idea quite far-fetched—strengthening one's body to such an extent seemed impossible—he couldn't help but appreciate the author's boldness and creativity. The text was filled with the author's personal research, experiments, and ideas, deviating from the more standard methods Lian had seen so far.

Though skeptical of some of the grand claims, Lian respected the author's willingness to challenge conventional wisdom and explore new ideas. After all, Lian himself wasn't exactly normal—he had gained the ability to harness the boundless light, a power that could replace spiritual energy. With his unique situation, he didn't mind training with a technique that defied the norm. In fact, the unconventional nature of the scroll intrigued him further.

Satisfied with his choice, Lian took the scroll to the front of the shop and placed it on the counter. The young attendant glanced at the scroll, a thoughtful look crossing his face as he processed Lian's choice. He seemed on the verge of saying something but hesitated. Instead, he simply said, "That will be five Silvers"

Lian handed over five Silver coins, took the scroll, and left the shop.

After he purchased the body refinement scroll, he headed straight to his small house and entered his room. Without wasting any time, he squatted on the floor and took out the scroll from his side bag. He carefully unrolled it and began to immerse himself in its contents. First, he read through the introduction, ensuring he understood every detail before diving into the main text.

The body refinement scroll was divided into several stages, the first of which was called 'Foundation Layering.' This stage focused on building a stronger foundation through a series of physical exercises. It was all about creating a resilient base that could support further growth and strength.

The exercises in the first section of Foundation Layering were designed to be intense. They targeted the entire body, especially the muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Each movement aimed to tear down the body's weaknesses and rebuild it stronger. These exercises required core strength, flexibility, and endurance. They were not just about training individual muscles but about transforming the body as a whole.

Lian studied the illustrations of the exercises and familiarized himself with the postures. Even from the pictures, he could tell how demanding they would be. It was clear the author of the scroll had taken his vision of becoming a 'heavenly steel' seriously. The exercises were pushed to their extreme limits. Lian couldn't help but wonder if he could endure them.

The poses were tough, the movements grueling, and the durations long. Every figure illustrated in the scroll seemed etched with pain and anguish, as if the author wanted to convey the intensity of the process through their strained expressions. Lian shuddered slightly as he took it all in.

Despite the daunting challenge ahead, the promise of transformation—of harnessing the Boundless Light—drove away his doubts. He knew that if he wanted to change his state, this was the path he had to walk. Determined, he stood up, pushed open the door, and stepped outside. The afternoon sun beat down heavily on the earth, casting long shadows. He left his small house and made his way to the training center, a large and bustling area that was well-known in the city.

The training center was a popular place, frequented by those who aspired to become warriors, as well as those who simply sought to improve their physical fitness. As Lian approached the entrance, he noticed the burly middle-aged guard who stood there, arms crossed. The guard extended a hand toward Lian, clearly recognizing him from his previous visits. Lian handed over a payment of two silvers and the guard stepped aside, allowing him to enter.

Once inside, the scale of the training center became evident. It was a sprawling complex, far removed from the bustling streets outside. The grounds stretched across a vast expanse of land, demarcated from the city by natural borders such as small hills and rocky outcroppings. In one section of the center, there were areas designed for sparring, where groups of people engaged in mock combat. In another, large plots of land were set aside for solo training, some with open fields and others surrounded by structures designed for various physical challenges.

The most prominent feature was the equipment area, where a range of tools and devices were available for strength and endurance training. There were massive wooden dummies, weighted poles, and stone anvils for striking practice, as well as elaborate climbing walls and balance beams for agility and coordination. Nearby, rows of punching bags and reinforced steel plates bore the scars of countless training sessions, their surfaces cracked and dented from repeated blows.

Around the entire training ground, a series of low, jagged walls marked the boundaries. These walls had taken on a unique appearance over time, as cracks and deep punch marks could be seen etched into them, left by those who had trained here, testing their strength against the stone. Some areas even had faint handprints embedded in the rock, reminders of the immense power unleashed by past trainees.

Lian found a relatively quiet and isolated corner of the training area, away from the crowd. Here, the ground was firmer, and the walls were marked with fewer cracks, indicating that it wasn't as frequently used. He sat cross-legged on the ground, pulling out the scroll once more. Before starting, he cross-checked the illustrations again, locking onto one of the depicted poses. The exercises in Foundation Layering were meant to engage every muscle, and Lian knew he needed to be precise.

As he positioned himself into the first pose, he noticed something unusual about the air around him. The training center wasn't just a simple facility—it had been enhanced by spiritual energy formations. At each corner of the training grounds, subtle but intricate formations hummed softly, their purpose to gather and condense spiritual energy in the area. These formations created a dense, misty atmosphere that was meant to aid warriors and aura users in their training, making the spiritual energy more accessible.

While Lian couldn't sense spiritual energy himself, he still felt a strange pressure in the air, a stuffy sensation pressing down on him. The misty atmosphere, heavy with condensed energy, gave the entire training area an almost mystical feel, as if the environment itself was alive, quietly observing and aiding those who trained here.

With his body tense and his mind focused, Lian began imitating the first illustrated pose, pushing his body into the tough posture.