"And it also sharpens our combat instincts," Thor added.
"Without relying on the Laws, we're forced to trust our intuition and experience."
"More importantly..."
Leon spoke with deeper understanding.
"It makes us rethink the very essence of combat."
"Technique and strength are important, but true mastery comes from understanding battle itself."
"Excellent."
Seiun nodded with satisfaction.
"Your comprehension is impressive."
"But this is only the beginning."
"The real training starts now."
"There's something even harder?"
The three asked in unison.
"Of course."
Seiun smiled mysteriously.
"Right now, you've only managed to land a hit on Bobo."
"You still haven't truly defeated him."
"The real challenge is to completely suppress him without using any Law power."
"Completely suppress him?"
Thor swallowed nervously.
"That sounds... much harder."
"It is."
Seiun encouraged them.
"But it isn't impossible."
"The key is finding the method that suits each of you."
"Bobo is powerful."
"But even he has weaknesses."
"What weaknesses?"
All three immediately leaned forward.
"You'll have to discover them yourselves."
Seiun deliberately refused to answer.
"Every warrior fights differently."
"The weakness each of you can exploit may not be the same."
The following training sessions became far more intense.
The three took turns challenging Bobo, each attempting to uncover a new breakthrough.
This time, Bobo stopped holding back.
He displayed far more of his true strength.
After countless battles, they gradually discovered that even the seemingly invincible Void Rhino had flaws.
Although his speed and agility were extraordinary, prolonged high-speed movement eventually exhausted him.
His attacks were highly unpredictable.
Yet under certain circumstances, he always responded in the same way.
"I noticed something."
Rowan shared his observations.
"Whenever he changes direction, there's an incredibly brief pause."
"It's less than a tenth of a second."
"But it's enough to seize an opportunity."
"I found something too."
Leon nodded.
"When facing attacks from multiple directions, his priorities never change."
"He always deals with the threat directly in front of him first."
"And one more thing."
Thor grinned.
"His stamina isn't limitless."
"If we keep him fighting long enough, his speed starts to drop."
Using those discoveries, the three began developing new strategies.
Instead of fighting separately, they coordinated their attacks, exploiting Bobo's weaknesses together.
"Working as a team certainly improves your chances."
Seiun observed quietly.
"But you still haven't understood the true purpose of this training."
"The true purpose?"
The three stopped and looked toward him.
"This exercise was never about defeating Bobo."
Seiun explained patiently.
"It exists so you can rediscover your own bodies."
"And awaken your instincts."
"When you can fight using nothing but your body's natural intuition..."
"You'll be capable of displaying extraordinary strength, even against opponents far stronger than yourselves."
He was right.
After several days of training, all three could clearly feel the difference.
Without using a single Law...
Their reactions had become sharper.
Their predictions more accurate.
Their coordination smoother.
"I haven't felt like this in years."
Rowan looked at his hands thoughtfully.
"It's like returning to the day I first began practicing martial arts."
"Back then..."
"There were no complicated techniques."
"Only the pure joy of battle."
"Now you understand."
Seiun smiled warmly.
"The highest realm of martial arts isn't mastering countless complicated techniques."
"It's returning to the origin."
"And using the simplest methods to unleash the greatest strength."
The principle sounded simple.
Actually achieving it was anything but.
Modern warriors obsessed over increasingly profound Laws and sophisticated techniques.
In doing so...
They had forgotten the very foundation upon which everything else had been built.
"So..."
Thor scratched his head.
"Does this mean we've passed the training?"
"Almost."
Seiun chuckled.
"There's one final challenge."
"The three of you together."
"Without using any Law power..."
"Make Bobo surrender willingly."
"Willingly surrender?"
Leon blinked in confusion.
"How do you make someone surrender voluntarily?"
"That's for you to figure out."
Seiun smiled mysteriously.
"Here's a hint."
"A true powerhouse doesn't conquer an opponent through force."
"He earns their wholehearted respect."
That final challenge left the three deep in thought.
If Bobo had to surrender willingly...
Then brute force was clearly not the answer.
They gathered around the pavilion, sipping cups of Enlightenment Tea while brainstorming every possibility they could imagine.
"We can rule out overpowering him."
Rowan spoke first.
"Senior Seiun already told us."
"A true powerhouse earns respect."
"He doesn't force submission."
"Then we need to discover what Bobo truly values."
Leon analyzed calmly.
"Every living creature has desires."
"If we can identify his deepest weakness..."
"We may not need to fight at all."
"But he doesn't seem to lack anything."
Thor scratched his head helplessly.
"This place is practically paradise."
"He has endless grasslands."
"Fresh water."
"Senior Seiun takes great care of him."
"He doesn't seem to want for anything."
That was true.
Life inside the sanctuary was peaceful.
Bobo roamed vast fields whenever he pleased.
He drank from crystal-clear streams.
He lived under Seiun's careful care.
At first glance...
He seemed to have everything.
"Let's observe him."
Rowan proposed.
"Not during battle."
"During his daily life."
"Maybe we'll find something hidden in the details."
The three returned to the Spirit Beast Garden.
This time they weren't there to fight.
They concealed themselves at a distance and quietly watched Bobo's every movement.
The giant rhino wandered lazily through the meadow.
Occasionally he sniffed flowers.
Sometimes he gazed at the sky.
Every so often he played with smaller spirit beasts.
Watching his peaceful behavior, it was difficult to believe he was the same terrifying opponent from the battlefield.
"He looks perfectly normal."
Thor whispered after a while.
"I don't see anything unusual."
"Let's keep watching."
Leon remained patient.
"There has to be something."
At that moment...
Seiun's voice echoed from afar.
"Bobo."
"It's snack time."
Everything changed instantly.
The relaxed rhino's eyes lit up with excitement.
His entire body trembled eagerly.
Then he exploded into motion.
His speed surpassed anything they had witnessed during training.
"I've never seen him move that fast."
Rowan stared in amazement.
"He's even faster than when we fought him."
"And look at his expression."
Leon narrowed his eyes.
"He's completely different."
"He's excited."
"No..."
"He's desperate."
Seiun took out an elegant little pouch.
From inside, he produced several thumb-sized golden fruits.
Each fruit glowed with a gentle golden light.
Their fragrance drifted through the air.
Even from over a hundred meters away, Rowan and the others could smell them clearly.
"What kind of fruit is that?"
Thor whispered.
"The aroma reaches all the way over here."
The scent was incredibly alluring.
Merely smelling it filled them with a sense of happiness and peace.
The moment Bobo saw the fruit...
He transformed into an excited child seeing his favorite toy.
He circled Seiun repeatedly.
Soft, eager rumbles escaped his throat.
His eyes never left the fruit.
Drool nearly dripped from his mouth.
"Here you go."
Seiun laughed.
"You little glutton."
He handed over one fruit.
Bobo accepted it with incredible care.
Then he eagerly devoured it.
His expression radiated pure bliss.
After finishing the first fruit...
He looked back at Seiun expectantly.
Clearly wanting more.
"Only three."
Seiun shook his head firmly.
"Any more would be bad for you."
He handed over two additional fruits.
Finally satisfied...
Bobo lay comfortably on the grass.
He slowly savored every bite as though tasting the greatest delicacy in the universe.
"We found it."
Rowan's eyes lit up.
"Bobo is an absolute foodie."
"And he's completely obsessed with those golden fruits."
"Without question."
Leon nodded.
"His reaction gave everything away."
"Nothing matters more to him than those fruits."
"Then our strategy is obvious."
Thor grinned.
"If we can get some of those fruits..."
"Bobo will surrender on his own."
Unfortunately...
A new problem immediately appeared.
Only Seiun possessed those fruits.
And judging by his careful treatment of them...
They were extraordinarily precious.
Obtaining them might prove even harder than defeating Bobo directly.
"We can't exactly ask Senior Seiun for them."
Leon frowned.
"That would defeat the purpose of the challenge."
"And since he gave us this challenge..."
Rowan thought aloud.
"He definitely won't simply hand them over."
"We'll have to solve this ourselves."
"There's only one way."
Thor lowered his voice.
"We steal them."
"Steal?"
Leon hesitated.
"That doesn't feel right."
"Senior Seiun has treated us so kindly."
"Not really stealing."
Rowan quickly clarified.
"It's another challenge."
"If Senior Seiun created this test..."
"He must have anticipated we'd think of this."
"It's probably part of the training."
That made sense.
With Seiun's wisdom...
There was no way he hadn't known Bobo's greatest weakness.
If he allowed them complete freedom...
Then every possible solution must already be within the rules.
"But stealing something from Senior Seiun..."
Leon sighed.
"That sounds even harder."
"His cultivation is unfathomable."
"I doubt anything escapes his perception."
"Exactly."
Rowan smiled.
"That's what makes it a challenge."
The three began carefully planning.
First...
They observed Seiun's daily routine.
They needed to identify the moment when his guard was at its lowest.
Next...
They had to determine where he kept the fruit and how much he carried.
Finally...
They devised a detailed operation.
After an entire day of observation, they discovered Seiun's schedule was remarkably consistent.
Every morning he tended the flowers and plants.
At noon he took a nap inside the pavilion.
During the afternoon he organized the library.
Every evening he meditated quietly beside the lake.
"Noon is our best opportunity."
Rowan concluded.
"That's when he appears the most relaxed."
"And he always leaves the fruit pouch beside him."
"But even while sleeping..."
Leon warned.
"I doubt his awareness disappears."
"We'll have to move perfectly."
"And we'll only get one chance."
Thor added.
"If we fail once..."
"He'll definitely become more cautious."
Their plan was complete.
All that remained was waiting.
The next afternoon...
Seiun lay peacefully inside the pavilion as usual.
The small fruit pouch rested on the stone table beside him.
His eyes were closed.
He appeared completely asleep.
"This is it."
Rowan silently signaled the others.
The three advanced carefully.
Every step was calculated.
Not a single sound escaped their feet.
Thanks to several days of training, their control over their bodies had improved tremendously.
They moved almost silently.
When they reached ten meters away...
Rowan suddenly stopped.
A strange pressure filled the air.
It felt as though invisible eyes were watching them.
Yet Seiun remained perfectly still.
His eyes stayed closed.
"Am I imagining it?"
Rowan wondered.
Even so...
He continued forward.
Five meters away.
The feeling intensified.
Only then did Rowan realize...
Even while resting...
Seiun's awareness still enveloped the entire area.
Sneaking past him unnoticed...
Was practically impossible.
But retreating now wasn't an option.
The three gritted their teeth and continued.
Just as Rowan reached for the pouch...
Seiun slowly opened his eyes.
"You want this?"
He smiled warmly while casually picking up the fruit pouch.
There wasn't the slightest trace of anger on his face.
"Senior..."
Rowan froze awkwardly.
"We..."
"No need to explain."
Seiun chuckled, interrupting him.
"I already understand."
"You discovered Bobo's weakness."
"And you wanted to use these Star Spirit Fruits to make him surrender."
"Star Spirit Fruits?"
It was the first time any of them had heard the name.
"They're extremely precious spiritual fruits."
Seiun explained.
"They contain pure stellar essence."
"They taste wonderful."
"And they're excellent for cultivation."
"Bobo has adored them ever since he was little."
"You could say they're his greatest weakness."
The explanation both excited and embarrassed the trio.
Their deduction had been correct.
Unfortunately...
They had also been caught red-handed.
"Senior..."
Leon spoke sincerely.
"We never intended to steal from you."
"We only wanted to complete your challenge."
"I know."
Seiun laughed without the slightest concern.
"That was part of the challenge from the very beginning."
"If you wanted the Star Spirit Fruits..."
"You had to take them from me."
"And believe me..."
"That challenge is far more difficult than defeating Bobo."
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