Leo sat cross-legged at the center of the training courtyard, eyes half-lidded, breathing steady.
The early morning sun filtered through the transparent glass roof of the private training hall, painting golden patterns over the dark marble floor.
A calm wind passed, stirring the leaves of the ornamental trees standing guard around the edges.
The natural aura here was dense—rich with untamed life and primal vitality—and Leo could feel every bit of it.
This was the first time he had begun to cultivate in earnest using the new technique: Nature Vein Overdrive.
As he guided his breathing, the natural energy around him began to stir. It responded to his presence—not with resistance, but with subtle warmth, as though welcoming him.
Each inhale pulled that energy into his body, where it was slowly refined and assimilated.
His skin began to emit a faint glow, his veins pulsing with power that felt more alive than anything he had experienced before.
A soft breeze brushed against his hair as his mind sank deeper into meditation. But just as Leo started to lose himself in the rhythm of cultivation—
Ding!
[System Notification: Host, the Constitution Strengthening Pill is still present in your inventory. Would you like to use it now?]
Leo blinked. His trance broken, he let out a breath and opened his eyes slowly.
"The Constitution Pill... Right, I almost forgot about that."
With a flick of thought, he responded to the system.
"Yes. Use it."
The pill materialized in front of him, levitating with a gentle hum.
It was unlike anything he had seen before—a kaleidoscope of colors swirled across its surface: fiery red, ocean blue, deep forest green, and sparkling silver.
Before hesitation could find him, Leo reached out and swallowed the pill in one gulp.
It tasted sweet—strangely sweet—but the sweetness didn't last long.
Almost instantly, his entire body felt like it was set on fire.
A searing pain spread through his bones, followed by loud cracking sounds as they broke and reformed.
His skin itched, then burned, then screamed as if being torn apart and stitched back together at once.
Leo gritted his teeth, but couldn't stop the cry of agony that escaped him.
Sweat drenched his clothes. It poured off him in waves, thick and foul-smelling, carrying the impurities that had been buried deep inside his physique.
Minutes passed. Then half an hour. Then an hour.
Ding!
[System Notification: Constitution Strengthening Pill has fully merged with Host's body. All impurities have been eliminated.]
Leo slumped onto the floor, gasping.
"System!" he shouted hoarsely. "You piece of—couldn't you have warned me that it would feel like I was being skinned alive?!"
The system remained completely silent.
Leo rolled his eyes and stood up, wobbling a bit from exhaustion. Then he caught a whiff of himself and immediately recoiled.
"Ugh—disgusting."
Without another word, he stumbled into the luxurious bathroom beside the training chamber and stepped under the steaming waterfall shower.
Warm water washed away the grime, the sweat, the pain—leaving behind something new.
When he stepped in front of the mirror, Leo's breath caught.
His silver hair had grown slightly longer and now shimmered under the light with an almost mystical luster.
His face had changed—not drastically, but with a refinement that made it feel as though he had been carved from marble.
A sharp jawline, high cheekbones, and a pair of deep blue eyes that seemed to draw in the world around them.
But that wasn't all.
He glanced down, running his hand over his torso.
"Where the hell did this come from?"
His formerly soft and slightly chubby figure had been replaced with a perfectly chiseled frame—eight defined abs, sculpted arms, and the kind of lean muscle that looked effortless but hinted at pure power.
He looked like he had walked straight out of a divine bloodline training manual.
Leo couldn't help but smile.
"This... I like."
---
Meanwhile, across the city, a storm was slowly beginning to gather.
Lucas Aetherwind sat in his private study, staring at the report in his hand.
"Leo is with Elena?"
His brows furrowed deeply. His voice was low and unreadable.
Sophia stood in front of him, her expression tight. "I didn't expect him to go to her. It's my mistake. I should go and bring him back."
But Lucas raised a hand, cutting her off.
"No."
He picked up his phone and called Elena directly. After a few rings, the line connected.
"Elena."
Her voice came through, clear and cold.
"If you're calling about Leo, don't bother. He came to me of his own will. And unless he wants to return to you, I suggest you stay far away from him."
Lucas opened his mouth to respond, but she added:
"He is my son. Not ours. You lost that right the moment you turned your back on him."
Click.
The call ended.
Lucas sat in silence. Even Sophia didn't speak.
---
Elsewhere, Alex was out walking through the city's bustling market district.
The morning crowd surrounded him, but he couldn't shake a strange feeling—like someone was watching him.
He glanced around.
No one suspicious.
He scratched his head. "Weird. Must be my imagination."
Then, suddenly, he sneezed.
"Ha! Is some beauty thinking about me?" he said with a wide grin. "Is it Sophia? Or maybe... Selena?"
A few bystanders looked at him oddly.
Far above, on a rooftop, two cloaked figures observed the scene.
One turned to the other and whispered, "Is this guy really the chosen one?"
The other shrugged. "He talks like a delusional narcissist."
They both fell silent, watching Alex continue his stroll, unaware that every step he took was now under the eyes of Leo's Shadow Force.
---
Back in his private hall, Leo had returned to cultivating, the new strength in his body helping him harness the Nature Vein Overdrive technique with far greater ease than before.
Each cycle felt cleaner, more efficient. His entire body hummed with new vitality.
He was changing—fast. And the world? It hadn't noticed yet.
But soon, it would.
---
Chapter 8 ends
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Author's Note:
Loving the journey so far?
Please support with a Power Stone!
Your votes help this fanfic grow—and as a thank you, there will be bonus chapters for Power Stone milestones!
Got suggestions or wild ideas?
Drop them in the comments—I'd love to include your thoughts as we shape Gojo's path together.
Let's keep pushing forward—no regrets, just pure hype!
– azuredragonx
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