Only I Am A Reader

Unlike what one would expect when getting stronger, Leo's daily sparring routine only got harder after his advancement.

Even before that, Leo didn't have it easy with an opponent like Cheon Chang. Once he slightly got used to his fighting style, his senior brother would suddenly change things up, making it as if he was battling a different person every day, but things only got worse following that!

As someone who had to suppress his Internal Energy to the lowest possible level, even the Absolute Spear wasn't capable of showing his true capability. It was enough to keep Leo at bay, but it wasn't what someone like him could achieve.

This wasn't even related to the skills that he tailored to suit Leo's level, rather, what he could achieve with these skills. Whether it was body coordination on an inhuman level or skillful Internal Energy manipulation, Cheon Chang was mindful enough of Leo to limit himself to a true 3rd rate Martial Artist. However…

Thud! Thud! Thud!

'It's not even a peak, but…'

Although Cheon Chang's skills still matched that of Leo, he was now fighting as a well-versed 2nd rate Martial Artist. The characteristics brought by his advancement that Leo hadn't even gotten to grasping them himself were being used at ease by his opponent! The 'clone' was no longer just an experienced one!

'It's unreachable.'

Let alone a whole day of sparring, Leo got floored at intervals ranging from a dozen minutes to slightly over an hour. It was just a quick taste, but Leo firmly got to understand that a breakthrough wasn't as simple as a cartoonish power up, it was a complete elevation of capability!

Such details were often omitted in most novels, including the current one, so it was something that he could only learn by experience. If anything, his only other 'True Reading' experience had set up a bad example with how limited the effect of an Ascension was…

'In the end…'

It was only now that Leo understood that he shouldn't have pushed ahead with his secret project just yet. As his first opponent was someone still at the beginning of the level just like him, he failed to grasp the need to master his new level of strength, putting away what should have been a priority.

'I was too hasty.'

"You can take tomorrow as a break."

Cheon Chang obviously understood that, but he didn't have to explain with words as he already did so with actions. However, he gave Leo some time to digest his 'teachings', something that Leo greatly appreciated.

'I need to go about it in another way.'

Even then, as soon as recovered enough through meditation, he sprang up with a sword in hand to practice Soaring Roc, the martial art that he had been practicing earlier. It was indeed not the correct option to focus on developing his martial arts and skill while ignoring the basics, but that didn't mean they couldn't go in parallel!

Since he was required to master his elevated characteristics, Leo decided to do so by utilizing his new skills. While that meant that it would take longer to master either, it would still be a better time investment than mastering one thing at a time!

'It should be possible…'

The current Leo didn't exactly lack time, but he couldn't do anything as he liked just yet. He undeniably had more freedom than the rest with Cheon Chang being his instructor, but he couldn't carelessly do what he liked.

Although he would have to eventually reveal what he developed at one point, using more and more martial arts from the library in front of this stiff senior brother might result in their relationship going south. As such, the best time to work on harvesting the benefits of the library was still the time that Leo had for himself. For such a time-extending project, blending it with daily familiarity training was still better than compressing it within a tight schedule!

Using his first proper break day as a buffer, Leo's endless cycle of training began!

`~~~`~~~`~~~`

Following the monthly training that he made an appearance in, Leo restarted his absence streak, all of his time was spent either in his cave or in the individual training hall.

As a result, the expected battle between him and Yeon didn't come to take place. Cheon Yong's rematch was also put on hold as their old battle went back into repeat once more…

Day after day and month after month went by as training in the Heavenly Furnace went into track. Before long, the last batch of trainees made it to the second phase as the rest of them lost the chance to become part of the Heavenly Strength Society's core, thus announcing the end of the filtration process!

As the more normal instructors took in these students, the individual training halls were in use completely in use most of the time. Not every had talent in every aspect, but the more promising ones had successfully bloomed. Starting with Cheon Sohee, a fraction of the students successfully made it to the next level, adding variety to the monthly meetings' internal battles.

Although it only changed from an intense battle that always ended in Yeon's favor to a battle of seniors beating juniors, the scale didn't remain the same for long as everyone showed a certain degree of progress. Without fail, the harsh selection process that the Heavenly Strength Society adopted was showing its effectiveness!

Just when things were starting to calm down, Yeon followed up on her list of achievements, directly rising to become a 1st rate Martial Artist. Just like that, the first person to accomplish the minimum target of the second phase had emerged, earning the instructors' recognition.

On the other hand, the resonant name of Cheon Baekho began to slightly fade away. No one dared to underestimate him after he had proved himself against Cheon Yong, but another year of silence had changed everyone's perception. Nothing was set in stone forever…

'Soon.'

Unbeknownst to them, a certain tiger was lying in wait, calmly awaiting his chance to emerge!