Physique Enrichment Stage!

Just when he pondered how to exit this magical place, his awareness reverted to his body.

Noticing he's back, Gin once again tried to enter the magical place. This time, when he used the formless energy there's no suction force so he easily reached the magical space.

Using the formless energy, he found out where this magical space has been located in his body – inside his heart, a sparkling object, the size of a fingernail could be seen.

'So, this is where it's hiding!' Gin thought.

After confirming everything is fine and making sure nothing's out of ordinary, Gin slowly opened his eyes.

Yirene, Athusa, and Emeera stood before Gin and were eyeing him like he was some kind of unusual creature. When they saw Gin open his eyes, they quickly looked away.

Gin got embarrassed, feeling the stares of three ladies. Only then he noticed, his entire body seemed pure as crystalline, luminescent and untainted.

Even he was surprised by the changes as he doesn't know the evolution process, unlike the ladies before him, who witnessed everything.

"What happened?" Gin asked.

"Mister Gin, what kind of cultivation technique you were practicing?! A few minutes back, you were embraced in a golden light." Emeera said while Athusa nodded her head.

Leaving Gin alone with Yirene, both of them went to collect the remaining herbs.

'Me? covered in golden light?' Gin was confused and also noticed Hammer and Astro were still cultivating. 'Looks like I am the first.'

"You have awakened soul energy?" Yirene asked once Emeera and Athusa were out of earshot.

"Eh? Soul energy... what's that?" Gin asked back, puzzled by Yirene's question.

"Its the formless and shapeless energy that you controlled with your mind," Yirene said.

Gin was taken back, 'how did she know?'

Presuming Gin's thoughts, Yirene continued: "That special energy is described as 'soul energy' or you can also call it 'spirit energy'. Consider yourself lucky, because only one in a million has this gift."

"Like the martial path, soul energy can also be improved. Everyone who trains in the soul energy goes by the title called 'Soul Masters'."

"Soul masters are terrifying peoples, as they have the ability to directly attack and destroy your soul with a thought. They are very respected, honored and admired people all over the world."

"Apart from that, professions like Alchemy, Crafting, Blacksmith, Formations... and many different fields require one to be soul master."

"Like you, I am also a soul master that's why I was able to sense your soul energy when you used it," Yirene explained.

"Oh my god! I didn't know anything about soul energy and soul master. Haha, Looks like I am a natural-born genius." Gin praised himself, listening to Yirene's words.

Yirene distanced herself from Gin, witnessing his narcissistic side while Gin chuckled.

"It's better if you don't tell anyone about awakening soul energy. Even though you will be respected by many, some will try to kill you at all costs."

"You will understand in the future, and it will also serve as a good trump card for you in difficult situations." Yirene solemnly spoke.

"Mn. I understand." Gin responded, seeing Yirene's solemn expression.

"How do you feel as you have already broken through to a 7-star level?" Yirene asked.

"I feel great like I have been liberated from unseen shackles which were binding me." Gin replied with spirit.

He could sense his entire body is filled with vitality and immeasurable strength - his flesh, bones, and blood were brimming with the essence energy of heaven and earth.

"I didn't think that one day I will also reach an Advanced Ranker stage." Gin beamed.

"Don't be full of yourself. You have only taken the first step in your martial path." Yirene words were like cold water spilling on Gin's head.

"Can't I at least be happy for few seconds,"

"No, you are just ignorant." Yirene coldly said.

"Did you know of Supreme Rankers?" Yirene asked.

"Yes,"

"Then congratulations, you now officially have the strength of 1-star Supreme Ranker," Yirene spoke.

"I don't understand," Gin was puzzled. 'I just advanced to Advanced Ranker stage, why are you saying I reached the Supreme ranker stage?'

"Actually, only peoples in Ranker division use the terms – Rankers and Supreme Rankers; It's just pure nonsense furnished by Ranker division."

"Have you ever heard the term 'Physique Enrichment'?" Yirene asked.

"Yes, but my knowledge is limited. Lady Yirene, sorry for being dumb. Please teach me everything about cultivation." Gin surrendered himself.

Yirene snorted and explained again, "Physique Enrichment stage, as the name implies it's all about enriching and enhancing one's physique. It's the true starting point of the martial path."

"Right now, you are on the first level of the 'Physique Enrichment' stage. In this stage, every level would have a huge strength difference."

Yirene stopped and looked at him weirdly,

"What?" Gin asked.

"Because the Physique Enrichment stage is all about discovering hidden seals in your body, as your strength improves. But, only persons with 'spirit seal' will have seals hidden in their body."

"What?" Gin was dumbfounded. "Then how am I supposed to find the hidden seals, if I don't even have them in the first place."

"I'm also confused about it. I think it's related to the weird cultivation technique you were practicing." Yirene said.

"Hidden seals were restraints or you can say hidden chains confining you from transcending the limits of a mortal."

"Only by finding and destroying these hidden seals, you will be able to transcend."

Gin was tongue-tied hearing this but he wasn't afraid of his path being blocked as he knows the might of the technique he's cultivating.

"How many hidden seals have you discovered till now?" Gin asked.

"I already uncovered 4 hidden seals and reached the 4th level of Physique Enrichment stage" Yirene replied with no trace of haughtiness.

"Good heavens, Yirene, you have hidden deep! I thought you would at most reached the 2nd or 3rd level."

"It means, you haven't met any true geniuses at all. Normally, everyone starts there training at the age of 14 to 15 as it was the best time to enhance one's physique."

"In core regions of the continent, the geniuses of our age have already reached the peak of physique enrichment stage and there are few who even surpassed this stage," Yirene said with longing.

Gin clenched his fist, the first memory which came to him hearing the word geniuses was that arrogant young man, he met during his ranker exam. 'I will reach that stage one day!'

"What's comes after the Physique Enrichment stage?" Gin asked, calming himself.

"Seal Opening Stage!"

'Sigh, I better don't ask any more questions. Ignorance truly is bliss! If I come to know more, it will only make me more anxious for strength' Gin thought and stopped asking any more questions to Yirene.

"Mister Gin, Miss Yirene, We have collected most of the precious herbs leaving some young ones." Emeera and Athusa came back and said.

"There are at least 70 herbs here, while most of them are more than 500 years old. It will fetch a good price." Emeera excitedly told. "I will ask the Ranker Division judge the herb prices and send you guys the fair amount."

"No problem," Gin replied.

"I will remind two again, don't speak a word about anything we discovered in the cave aside from the herbs and magical fruit. Otherwise, you will feel my wrath." Yirene warned Emeera and Athusa.

"Of course, Miss Yirene. You don't need to worry about it." Emeera promised while Athusa too gave her word. Just the thought becoming Yirene's enemy terrified them.

"Good!"

"Miss Emeera, we will leave once my friends finish their cultivation." Gin said.

"No problem," Emeera said.

After ten or so minutes, Hammer punched the empty air and stood up with excited expression.

"I finally reached the Physique Enrichment stage!" Hammer spoke.

"You cheat, you know about the various martial stages all along?" Gin shouted with false anger.

"Haha, buddy, just a few days back you were struggling to reach a 3-star level. I just don't want to be the person who destroyed my friend's goal." Hammer innocently said.

"Whatever,"

"Astro is still cultivating?" Hammer asked.

"Yes, since he got himself a good technique, he needs some time to familiarize himself with it." Gin said.

After 30 mins, Astro finished his cultivation. He walked over to Gin and said, "Brother Gin, I reached the 6-star level. I will be able to help you guys from now on."

Astro hated the feeling of watching his friends fight as a spectator. Now, he wants to repay it back.

Gin, Yirene, and Hammer were startled by his words and warmly smiled at Astro's enthusiasm to improve his strength so that he could help them.

"Good, keep it up, brother." Gin encouragingly spoke.

"Ok, everyone, shall we leave?" Gin asked while everyone nodded.

Soon, they departed the cave and began their return journey. As the distance is long, they had taken some breaks inbetween their trip.

At around seven in the evening, they camped and rested for the night. Next day, they reached the District 13 around noon. From there, they easily reached District 7.

Gin's team eventually completed their escort mission, successfully. Even though the mission was dangerous, they gained valuable experience.