Chapter 15: Training

Chapter 15: Chapter 15: Training

Sitting on the sofa, which he’d covered with a clean sheet and a soft cushion, Xu Mo faced a large food container lid serving as a plate. It was mounded with steaming hot white rice, flanked by slices of soy-braised beef and marinated pig ears. The rich aroma of meat mingled with the delicate scent of rice, forming the most extravagant feast of the apocalypse.

To top it off, Xu Mo even indulged in the luxury of pouring himself a small cup of white liquor. The clear liquid swirled gently in the cup, emitting a mellow, grainy fragrance.

He picked up a large slice of the braised beef with his chopsticks. Its muscle fibers were saturated with an amber-colored sauce. The moment he put it in his mouth, a savory, mellow flavor exploded on his taste buds, and the substantial texture of the meat brought an unparalleled sense of satisfaction. He followed it with a large mouthful of fluffy, fragrant white rice, chased by a piece of crisp, marinated pig ear. Finally, he took a small sip of the white liquor, which was sharp on the tongue but had a sweet aftertaste... This long-forgotten feeling of fullness and joy—a feeling from a normal life—was so overwhelming that Xu Mo nearly broke down in tears.

This was a world of difference from when he had first arrived!

Xu Mo’s mind drifted back to the time of his arrival. It was this very same town, yet back then, he had been like a terrified rat, dragging his weak, fever-wracked body into this dilapidated building.

Back then, his throat felt like it had been scoured with sandpaper; every swallow was agony. His forehead burned hot enough to fry an egg, and his consciousness drifted in a haze between delirium and clarity. His stomach was completely empty, and his life hung by a thread, sustained only by a few stale crackers and sips of filthy water. The fear of the unknown, the terror of zombies, the despair over his sickness—it all washed over him like an icy tide, threatening to drown him. Each night was an endless, agonizing ordeal. He would press himself against a cold wall for a sliver of relief, convinced he could die quietly in this forgotten corner at any moment.

And now...

Xu Mo glanced around. The corner was piled high with food, drinking water, and life-saving medicine. A sharp Bone-Cutting Knife lay within reach. He sat on a clean, soft bed. His body was not only fully recovered but stronger than ever, thanks to his Pile Training. Most importantly, he had figured out how the "Door" worked—he had found the key to proactively acquiring resources!

This stark contrast, like going from hell to earth, made Xu Mo appreciate the importance of his own strength more profoundly. His outlook on the future had quietly shifted from simply ’surviving’ to something more.

After eating his fill and briefly cleaning up, Xu Mo didn’t immediately begin his Posture Stance or rest as he usually did. He leaned back on the sofa, his gaze clear, and began to seriously plan for the future.

’I’ve figured out the rules,’ Xu Mo analyzed calmly. ’As long as I’m careful about choosing the type and markings of the ’Door,’ my supply of food and basic resources is pretty much stable. Since the pressure to survive has been drastically reduced for now, the plans I couldn’t pursue due to my condition must be put on the agenda.’

His gaze sharpened, landing on the Cultivation Technique in his mind: the Thirteen Grand Protectors’ Cross Training.

Previously, while he was still weak from his recent illness and unable to get enough energy from food, he could only perform the most basic, low-energy Pile Training. It was more like a form of recovery training and a preliminary exercise to sharpen his senses. But now, things were completely different.

The Thirteen Grand Protectors, as the name suggested, was the ultimate form of External Hard Skills. His second great-uncle used to boast about it to high heaven, but Xu Mo still remembered its core tenet: to temper one’s tendons, bones, and skin. It was a process that worked from the outside in, seeking unparalleled physical might. It was definitely not something that could be mastered by simply standing still.

The true Thirteen Grand Protectors’ Cross Training required:

Resistance to impact training. This involved using specific techniques, sometimes with tools, to slap and strike all parts of the body. The goal was to stimulate the skin, fascia, and even the bones, making them tougher and denser to gradually achieve the defensive capabilities of the Cowhide Realm and beyond. This process would inevitably involve pain and minor injuries, requiring ample nutrition and rest for repair and reinforcement.

High-intensity strength and conditioning. Without a foundation of immense power, everything else was just empty talk. This meant pushing the limits with squats, running, weighted exercises, and striking drills to completely drain his stamina and break past his limits. Only then could he unlock his body’s potential and cause his strength to skyrocket.

Whether it was repairing the micro-injuries from resistance to impact training or rebuilding and strengthening muscle fibers after high-intensity workouts, both required vast amounts of energy and high-quality protein as ’building materials.’ Before, Xu Mo couldn’t even get enough to eat; such training was an impossible dream. But now, he had rice and meat, and he might even be able to get more high-energy food and nutritional supplements through the ’Door’ in the future.

Pile Training was merely the Foundation Establishment—the first step to awaken his bodily awareness, regulate his breathing, and stabilize his core. It was the ’Static Cultivation’ component of this Horizontal Training. But now, Xu Mo had stockpiled enough provisions, and his body was conditioned to its peak. It was time to begin the true, ’active’ part of his training!

’I’ll start today!’ Xu Mo shot to his feet, a determined fire burning in his eyes.

He was no longer content with just struggling to survive in the apocalypse. He would use his unique ability and this Cultivation Technique, which might hold the key to a miracle, to proactively arm and strengthen himself.

Xu Mo yearned for enough power to no longer fear the night or the zombies. He wanted to be able to explore this world with confidence, and maybe even... find the source of this entire catastrophe?

That goal seemed distant, but right now, the first step on the path toward it lay clearly before him.

Walking to the center of the room, Xu Mo didn’t immediately launch into strenuous exercise. Instead, he slowly settled into the stance for his Pile Training. He intended to first use the Posture Stance to get into optimal condition, calm his breathing, and focus his mind.

A quarter of an hour later, Xu Mo slowly broke his stance, the sharp glint in his eyes softening.

Next, he pulled off his somewhat tattered T-shirt. Recalling how his second great-uncle had taught him to strike the body in conjunction with medicinal liquor, he began to rhythmically slap himself, starting lightly and gradually increasing the force. He struck his arms, chest, abdomen, back, and even his legs.

SLAP! SLAP! SLAP!

The sharp, slapping sounds echoed in the silent room. At first, his skin merely reddened. Soon, however, currents of heat began to course through his body with each strike, his muscles vibrating slightly and producing a peculiar sensation that was a mixture of soreness, numbness, and aching.

Once he finished the striking portion, Xu Mo stretched briefly before starting his basic strength training: squats, push-ups, and sit-ups. He pushed every set to utter exhaustion, draining the last dregs of his strength. Sweat poured from his body like a river, leaving dark stains on the floor. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ

The exhaustion from the high-intensity training was immense. Yet, whenever he hit his limit, Xu Mo could feel the rice and meat he’d eaten transform into a surging current of heat, fueling his exertion and nourishing his muscles.

Train, refuel, rest, repeat...

Xu Mo knew this would be a long and arduous path, far more tedious and painful than simply scavenging for supplies. But he also knew, with even greater certainty, that in this world, the only true foundation for survival was power that he himself possessed—power that no one could ever take away.