Three months passed just like that.
During this time, the MC tempered his body relentlessly. Every day, he ventured deep into the wilderness, hunting wild beasts and fighting for survival. Sometimes he emerged victorious. Other times—
Boom!
"Cough—cough—ahh! My hand again!"
Blood dripped down his arm as he staggered backward. Before him lay a defeated beast, its massive body finally collapsing to the ground.
The MC walked closer, breathing heavily.
"This wasn't an easy win… but at least I can still move my hand."
He slowly raised his arm. A sharp pain surged through his muscles and bones, forcing him to grit his teeth.
"I still can't use it a second time. The damage is severe."
His golden eyes swept across the surroundings, alert and cautious.
"Let's leave quickly… before a stronger monster comes."
Grabbing the corpse, he activated Phantom Art. His body blurred as he moved through the forest, carrying the prey on his back. Afterimages flickered behind him as he crossed uneven terrain, his figure appearing and disappearing among the trees.
Only through constant movement did Phantom Art improve.
By the time he reached his cave, his breathing was ragged. He dropped the prey and leaned against the stone wall, his legs trembling.
"Hah… hah…"
His entire body felt heavy, as if all strength had been drained from him.
"With the help of these newly awakened golden eyes," he muttered,"I can now maintain Phantom Movement for one full minute."
A faint smile appeared on his exhausted face.
After eating his fill, he sat down to rest.
Another three months passed in the same brutal manner.
This time, however, the change was unmistakable.
During these months, the MC repeatedly used Phantom Art while hunting, escaping, and transporting prey. At the same time, he paid a terrifying price to strengthen his eyesight.
He consumed the same strange plant again and again.
Each time—
"Aaah!"
A piercing pain tore through his eyes, as if molten fire was being poured directly into them. His vision blurred, blood vessels bursting as he screamed in agony.
"This pain…!"
It felt as if his eyes were being destroyed from the inside.
Many times, he nearly gave up.
But he endured.
Finally, during one hunt, as he activated Phantom Art and sprinted through the forest, something changed.
A burning warmth surged into his eyes.
His vision sharpened instantly.
When he stopped and looked at his reflection in a pool of water—
His eyes had turned golden.
From that moment on, the world became different.
Now, he could clearly see the flow of spiritual energy in the environment—and even within spiritual beasts themselves.
Yet despite this—
"My cultivation level is still the same."
He let out a bitter laugh.
"I'm still a mortal."
For months, he cultivated every day, but all the spiritual energy he absorbed was devoured by the mysterious land inside his body. That land had grown enormous, now covering an area equivalent to ten football fields.
"This time…"
His expression hardened.
"I'll cultivate the cell on my forehead."
The moment he began—
"Aaah!"
Explosive pain erupted in his head. His body trembled violently as veins bulged across his skin.
"This is unbearable!"
Sweat poured down his face.
"Just a little more… I can't stop now!"
A brilliant glow burst from his forehead. Sky-blue energy surged outward, wrapping around his entire body.
Finally—
Phew…
He collapsed to one knee, breathing heavily.
"It's done."
A calm smile spread across his face.
"The fifth one."
"I now have five Immortal Cells."
Over these months, he had discovered something astonishing.
The Immortal Cells could now cultivate on their own.
"It feels like my skin itself is cultivating," he murmured."Just like the Rhino Beast."
Spiritual energy flowed into his body rhythmically, as if his skin were breathing.
"But if I rely on this alone…" he shook his head."It would take tens of thousands of years to cultivate billions of cells—and the energy requirement is terrifying."
Still, one thing was certain.
"Once an Immortal Cell is cultivated… it never disappears."
"When I first used one to heal, I thought it was gone," he said quietly."But after my eyesight evolved, I could sense it again—still existing inside my right hand."
That Immortal Cell was cultivating independently, absorbing spiritual energy from the surroundings without his focus.
The MC stood up.
"Now… it's time to hunt again."
This time, his destination was clear.
"The Rhino Cave."
"If I want to strengthen my body further, I must challenge stronger opponents."
Standing before the cave, the MC bent down and lifted a massive boulder—twice his own size—using the power of his Immortal Cells.
"Haha… Immortal Cells really are amazing."
Power surged through his body.
"If I activate two cells, my physical strength doubles."
He hurled the boulder into the cave.
BOOM!
Moments later, violent tremors shook the ground.
The White Rhino charged out, fury blazing in its eyes.
The MC's golden eyes gleamed calmly.
The rhino lunged, horn aimed straight at him—
—but the MC dodged effortlessly.
"Too slow."
"Immortal Punch."
The Immortal Cell in his right hand activated. Sky-blue light erupted from his fist.
BOOOOOOM!
The collision blasted both of them apart. The rhino crashed into the ground, its body shattered and covered in deep bruises.
From the smoke, the MC walked out slowly.
"Cough… cough…"
Pain surged through his body.
"That still hurts."
He closed his eyes.
"Release vitality… from the mysterious land."
Green light wrapped around him, rapidly healing his wounds.
"That's enough for today," he said calmly."I don't kill without reason."
Suddenly—
CRUNCH.
A massive shadow descended.
The Two-Headed Serpent appeared, far larger than before. It swallowed the injured rhino whole.
"Oh shit…"
The MC's eyes widened. Killing intent surged from his body.
The serpent stared at him and swung its massive tail.
The MC smiled.
His golden eyes shone fiercely.
"You think I'm still afraid of you?"
He activated Phantom Art, his body vanishing forward. Immortal Cells surged through his legs, launching him into the air.
Mid-air, the Immortal Cell in his right hand activated once more.
The serpent's tail—
The MC's glowing fist—
Both rushed toward each other.