Aron finally accepted that the mysteries of Emperor's Breath were beyond him for now. Instead of forcing it, he shifted focus to the two martial arts from his previous life − Power Punch and Swift Steps. He knew them well… but this body didn't. He needed compatibility.
After a few rounds in the training ground, he realized something important − he needed real combat to understand his new strength.
And he knew exactly where to go.
Beneath their house lay a hidden dungeon only a few in the clan knew about. Thirty brutal floors. Perfect for testing the foundation realm.
Aron descended into the basement, found the familiar stone, and pressed it. The wall trembled and slid aside.
A faint warning glowed on the entrance:
Only those who seek death may proceed.
Aron stepped inside without hesitation. He had cleared this dungeon countless times in his previous life.
1st Floor: Goblins
The moment he entered, crude shrieks echoed. A hoard of goblins charged.
Aron activated Swift Steps, instantly closing the distance. His fist tightened, energy concentrating into it.
Power Punch.
One punch − one kill.
A second goblin came. Then a third. All fell in a single blow.
But he frowned.
Too much energy… I need control.
Two more goblins leapt at him. This time he used less force. Single punches again. Perfect kills.
With each enemy he dropped, his refinement improved. His steps became sharper. His punches cleaner. By the time he reached the end of the floor, his breathing was steady.
Goblin Leader Battle
The Goblin Leader stood at the exit, taller and thicker than the rest. A Homo-goblin. Stronger and faster than an average foundation realm cultivator by a few points.
A perfect matchup.
Aron dashed forward with Swift Steps and threw a Power Punch. The leader blocked, snarling. Aron attacked again, faster... but the creature sensed him and countered.
Their fists collided, shockwaves bursting. Aron slid back several steps.
He gritted his teeth and launched again.
Swift Steps.
Power Punch.
Blocked.
Again.
And again.
More than a hundred rapid movements later, Aron finally saw it−a tiny gap in the creature's guard.
He slipped in and pierced the goblin leader's heart.
The monster collapsed.
Aron exhaled slowly. His control over both martial arts had risen sharply. His confidence grew with it.
A normal person would rest after such exertion.
But Aron wasn't normal.
Aron vs Rina
He returned to the training ground and called out:
"Rina. I want a duel."
Rina blinked in surprise but nodded, grabbing her wooden sword.
The match began instantly.
Rina swung the first strike. Aron dodged. Then a second. Then a third. Her footwork pressed him, pushing him back as she rotated into a sweeping strike.
Aron blocked, channeling energy into his hands, but the force still pushed him off balance.
Without giving him a moment, Rina thrust forward. Aron dodged the stab
Only to realize too late it was a feint.
Before he moved, the wooden sword halted at his neck.
Aron froze.
"I lost," he admitted.
Rina lowered her sword, eyebrow raised. "How did you get this good?"
"Just luck," he lied, but Rina didn't believe him for a second.
She gave him direct pointers. "You have good perception but dull movements. Fix that."
Aron agreed silently.
Both returned to their rooms as night fell.
Aron lay down, satisfied. He had lost the duel, but he could feel the growth. Rina held back, but even so... he had dodged many of her attacks earlier. This body was improving. Fast.
He closed his eyes and began using Emperor's Breath again, letting its energy flow through him as he drifted to sleep.
Aron woke up early, the duel with Rina replaying in his mind.
She was right.
His movements were stiff, predictable. If he wanted to survive in this world, he needed sharper footwork and cleaner strikes. But while thinking of martial arts, another thought struck him.
"My realm progress… I must keep it steady and balanced."
He checked his cultivation panel.
Emperor's Breath: Mastery — 0.21
A heavy silence filled him.
"Why so slow? What am I missing?"
Something important was slipping through his fingers. He could feel it but not grasp it. So he sat down and closed his eyes.
"I need to go through the EB manual again."
Aron submerged himself in his thoughts, entering a rare flow state. Every memory from his past life and this life surfaced - every line, every symbol, every forgotten insight.
Become one with EB.
But what did that truly mean?
"Do I erase myself… or do I simply breathe? What am I ignoring?"
He forced himself to think deeper.
All life starts with breath. All life ends with its last breath.
Breathing is the origin of life. To breathe is to exist. To exist is to be connected — to air, to insects, to trees, to the silent flow of time itself.
He opened his eyes slightly.
"I am just an observer. Nature moves on her own. The river flows, winds shift, time never stops. Nothing can be controlled."
Then
Shoosh.
Something clicked.
A sudden enlightenment burst through him. Aron felt the entire mansion as if it lived inside him. He could tell the identity of every person simply from the rhythm of their breathing.
EB's color shifted inside his consciousness, changing from mild red to a deep, heavy crimson.
Merl: "Congratulations to host.
Host has broken through mid and advanced in one go.
Current stage — Peak of Foundation Realm.
Power points +50."
Aron sat still, overwhelmed. There was something deeper here, something far more ancient than realms and power points. EB was touching the laws of nature itself.
"Merl… what is my mastery now?"
Merl: "One percent."
"One? Just one?"
Even with only one percent, his entire world had changed. His senses, his thoughts, his awareness - everything felt sharper, almost otherworldly.
Merl: "You have finally touched the essence of EB. This technique is the fundamental breathing pattern that emerged with the first life forms in this world. Even almighty warriors and immortal dragons fail to comprehend it fully. Let's see how far you can go."
Aron looked confused, but also strangely calm.
Whenever he used EB, he felt something vast… something beyond this world watching back at him.
This technique… it's not simple.
Aron walked toward the training ground, eager to test the changes in his body.
"Let's see what I've actually gained."
Every step felt different. He could sense the faint flutter of wings from birds perched on the roof… even tiny flies moving through the air.
His head throbbed a little.
"This will take time to get used to."
When he reached the training ground, he stopped.
Rina was practicing her sword again.
But now
Her movements were clearer than ever. Aron could see the flow of her blade, the future path of each strike, the natural rhythm behind her footwork. It was as if her entire technique was slowed down and highlighted for him.
"She really loves the sword," Aron thought with a small smile.
He inhaled slowly and began performing Emperor's Breath alongside Swift Steps again.
The change was instant.
His speed sharpened.
His movement blurred.
And for a moment-his presence vanished completely.
Rina, still training, froze mid-swing.
"What did you just do?" she asked sharply.
Aron blinked. "What do you mean?"
"You disappeared." She stared at him, half shocked. "Are you an assassin or something? For a few seconds, you were gone. No presence, no sound."
"Really?" Aron tried again, focusing on EB.
This time Rina managed to track him, but barely. Her eyes narrowed as if she were staring at a ghost.
"Did you obtain some primordial treasure or secret manual?" she demanded. "How are you growing faster than your own sister?"
Aron shook his head. "I'm still far behind you."
Rina smiled and went back to training.
"Fine. But I won't lose to you."
Aron watched her swing with renewed determination.
He wasn't just improving
He was becoming someone who could push others to grow as well.