Heretic Trainer: The Gym Is My Cultivation Method

Paren’s cardio journey through the [Disaster Zones] began with running.

Just simple running.

At least, that was what Garion called it.

In reality, Paren was sprinting across cracked stone valleys while violent wind pushed against his body, gravity shifted without warning, and armored beasts chased him like he owed them money.

ROOOOAAAR!

A massive horned beast smashed straight through a boulder behind him.

Paren glanced over his shoulder and cursed. ”Why is that bastard beast still chasing me?!”

Garion jogged beside him with both hands casually shoved into his pockets. ”Because you look delicious.”

Paren snapped back in fury, ”That’s not fucking helpful!”

Garion looked completely unbothered. ”Run faster, then.”

The glowing route ahead suddenly bent toward a wide field of floating stones suspended over a deep ravine.

Paren jumped onto the first one.

The moment his foot touched the surface, the stone sank sharply beneath him as gravity suddenly doubled.

His knees almost buckled.

Garion’s voice came from just behind him. ”Control your breathing. Don’t waste energy fighting the gravity head-on. Adjust your steps and move with it.”

Paren gritted his teeth and forced his body forward.

One stone.

Then another.

The floating platforms carried him across the ravine while violent purple lightning flashed below.

CRACKLE!

A bolt suddenly shot upward.

Paren twisted his body in midair and barely avoided it.

Garion nodded approvingly. ”Good reaction.”

Paren landed hard on another floating stone and almost slipped. ”I am not doing this for praise!”

Garion laughed and continued following him without showing the slightest sign of strain.

The next section of the route was even worse.

A storm corridor.

Black clouds gathered overhead while razor-sharp wind blades tore through the air from every direction.

Paren had to keep running while protecting his body with energy, maintaining his balance, and avoiding invisible gravity holes scattered across the ground.

One wrong step immediately sent him sliding sideways. ”Shit!”

Garion casually reached out and grabbed the back of Paren’s collar before he was thrown directly into a spinning dust vortex nearby. ”Careful.”

Paren looked at the vortex, then slowly turned toward Garion with a pale face. ”That thing would have killed me.”

Garion studied it for a second. ”Probably not.”

Paren’s expression twisted. ”Probably?!”

Garion released his collar. ”You’re fine, aren’t you?”

Paren’s face twisted even more. ”That is not the point!”

The final section of the first lap led through a heated canyon where the ground glowed dark red beneath Paren’s feet.

Heat waves rolled through the narrow passage while unstable energy burst from cracks in the stone.

Paren’s legs were already screaming from the morning’s leg training, but stopping was not an option.

Unfortunately, the situation behind him had also become worse.

The horned beast chasing him had somehow picked up two friends.

Three massive armored beasts now charged through the canyon, roaring like angry mountains while smashing through anything in their way.

Garion glanced behind them. ”Nice. Your pacing has improved.”

Paren was already gasping hard. ”How the hell is this pacing?!”

Garion looked at him calmly. ”You’re still alive.”

Paren nearly stumbled from pure anger. ”That is the lowest standard possible!”

Garion gave a small shrug. ”A standard is still a standard.”

By the time Paren finally completed the first lap, his robes were torn, his hair was a complete mess, and his breathing sounded like an ancient machine desperately trying to die with dignity.

He stumbled across the finish point before collapsing onto one knee, one hand pressed against the ground.

Garion stopped beside him. ”Good.”

Paren slowly raised his head, exhausted hope appearing in his eyes. ”It’s over?”

Garion’s expression became almost cheerful. ”One lap is over.”

Paren froze.

His gaze slowly moved toward the glowing route.

The entire path had already reset.

Garion pointed toward it. ”Nine more.”

For several seconds, Paren simply stared at him without saying a word.

Pure hatred gradually filled his expression.

Finally, he whispered, ”God Gym is evil.”

Garion laughed. ”Welcome to my special cardio, Paren.”

---

By the time Paren finally completed the tenth lap, he no longer looked anything like the dignified manager of Astral Cosmic Terminal One.

He looked dead.

Not actually dead, unfortunately for him, but close enough that the difference felt meaningless.

His clothes were torn, his hair was covered in dust, and his legs had completely stopped cooperating with him.

The moment he crossed the glowing finish line, Paren collapsed flat onto the ground.

THUD!

He did not move.

Garion walked over and looked down at him. ”Good job.”

Paren’s fingers twitched weakly.

Somehow, he still managed to raise one hand and point his middle finger directly at Garion. ”...Fuck... you...”

Garion nodded approvingly. ”You still have enough energy to curse. That means you’re fine.”

Paren no longer had enough strength to glare at him.

Garion waited for a few seconds before finally realizing that Paren genuinely could not stand. ”Alright, alright.”

He bent down, grabbed Paren, and casually lifted him over one shoulder like a sack of grain.

Paren let out a weak groan. ”Put me... down...”

Garion kept walking. ”You can’t even walk.”

Paren tried to argue despite barely having enough breath left to speak. ”That doesn’t mean... you have to carry me like this... it’s fucking embarrassing...”

Garion completely ignored him and continued heading back toward the [Divine Cafeteria].

A short while later, Paren was dropped into a comfortable chair while plates of recovery food quickly appeared across the table in front of him.

Grilled beast meat, star-grain rice, recovery soup, roasted marrow, fresh fruits, and several energy-rich drinks filled almost every available space.

Paren barely moved at first.

The moment the first spoonful of hot recovery soup entered his stomach, however, a soothing warmth immediately spread throughout his exhausted body.

His eyes slowly regained some life.

He took another spoonful.

Then another.

Soon, Paren began eating properly, and by the end of the meal, he could finally sit upright again without looking like his soul was trying to leave his body.

He released a long breath. ”I’m alive.”

Garion nodded. ”Good.”

Paren immediately felt suspicious.

Garion reached beneath the table and placed another dark bottle in front of him. ”Now drink this.”

Paren froze.

His eyes slowly dropped toward the label.

[Star Protein Pro Max]

His expression became deeply suspicious. ”What is that?”

”Special protein supplement.” Garion tapped the bottle with one finger. ”Helps rebuild your muscles and improves recovery after training. This Star Realm version works much better with a body at your cultivation level.”

Paren continued staring at the bottle.

More specifically, he stared at the final two words written on the label.

Pro Max.

His face slowly darkened. ”Does it taste like the last one?”

Garion’s lips twitched upward. ”Hehe.”

Paren frowned deeply. ”That laugh already answered my question.”

Even so, he reluctantly picked up the bottle, opened it, and took a cautious sip.

His entire face immediately twisted in horror.

Paren jerked the bottle away and tried to spit it out.

Garion’s hand shot forward and clamped his mouth shut before he could. ”Swallow.”

Paren glared at him with murderous eyes.

”MMPH!”

Garion casually tilted the bottle higher. ”Come on. Recovery first, complaints later.”

Paren struggled uselessly for a few seconds before being forced to swallow.

The taste was somehow thick, metallic, bitter, and strangely sweet at the same time.

It was fucking horrible.

Garion looked completely satisfied.

Paren could only keep swallowing while mentally adding yet another reason to hate God Gym.