Chapter 26: Leaving the Heavens Arena
Heavens Arena 200th Floor, Room 2079.
Leo sat cross-legged in the center of the training room, eyes slightly closed, his breathing steady and long.
Nen lingered around him like a thin mist, flowing slowly with his exhalations and inhalations.
Seven days had passed since that exhilarating spar with Wing. During this time, aside from participating in one match, he had spent the rest of his days consolidating the Four Major Principles.
Tap, tap, tap.
A light, brisk knocking sounded at the door.
Leo opened his eyes, withdrawing his Nen into his body.
He stood up and walked to the door. The moment he grasped the doorknob, his movements paused slightly—the aura coming from outside the door was very peculiar, condensed and restrained, yet vast as the deep sea.
He pulled the door open.
Outside stood a golden-haired girl with twin ponytails.
She wore an exquisite pink princess dress, delicate lace cuffs revealing slender wrists. Her large pink eyes blinked, a perfectly appropriate shy blush on her face.
"Hello, Mr. Leo."
The girl's voice was clear and pleasant. Her hands were clasped in front of her, appearing timid and shy.
"I'm your fan, your matches are so amazing! May I... have your autograph?"
Leo's hairs stood on end, a cold sweat instantly breaking out on his back.
The "girl" before him was undoubtedly Biscuit herself—that doll-like delicate face, those seemingly innocent yet unfathomably deep eyes, and that iconic princess dress.
Damn.
Her mischievous, playful side was acting up.
Leo knew very well that exposing this person's disguise to her face would be asking for trouble. Especially when she was having fun.
"He... Hello!"
Leo forced a smile, his voice somewhat dry.
He could feel Biscuit's gaze sweeping over him without restraint—it wasn't the look of a fan admiring an idol, but that of a Hunter scrutinizing prey.
He took a deep breath, forcing himself to relax, lifting the corners of his mouth into a more natural curve.
"Having such a beautiful young lady as my fan is my honor."
A flicker of amusement passed through Biscuit's eyes.
The moment the door opened, she had caught the subtle fluctuations in Leo's gaze and expression—that instant of surprise, though quickly concealed, couldn't escape her notice.
This kid knows me.
Biscuit instantly lost interest in continuing the act.
She shrugged, naturally sidestepping past Leo into the room, her skirt brushing against the doorframe.
"Your acting is too poor, not fun at all."
Her voice remained that clear, girlish tone, but her demeanor had changed, carrying a casual, condescending air.
"Speak, what matter requires a commission? My time is very precious."
Leo closed the door, turning around with an appropriately embarrassed expression.
"My apologies, Sister Biscuit, for ruining your fun."
He picked up a small velvet pouch from the nearby cabinet, untied the drawstring, and poured out a pigeon-egg-sized red gemstone.
The gem refracted brilliant light under the room's illumination, the flame-like patterns inside seeming to slowly rotate.
"This is the commission's reward."
Biscuit's attention was instantly captured by the gemstone.
She took the "Red Storm," holding it in her palm for careful examination, her blue eyes shining remarkably bright.
"Color pure, clarity perfect, cut is a master's work... The storm texture inside is naturally formed, every strand of flow unique."
She murmured to herself, as professional as a gemologist.
After a moment, she looked up, her face revealing unconcealed excitement.
"It's absolutely beautiful! Truly worthy of being called Red Storm!"
Biscuit pressed the gem against her cheek and rubbed it, looking utterly enchanted.
"From now on, I'll call you Little Red Red!"
Leo watched this scene and inwardly breathed a sigh of relief—appealing to her tastes, this move was correct.
Biscuit played with the gem for a while before turning her attention back to Leo.
She walked up to Leo, looking up at the young man who towered over her by two heads.
"I know that besides your striking beauty, your strength is also formidable."
Leo bowed slightly, his tone sincere.
"I would like to ask you to guide me in my training for a while. Would that be convenient?"
Biscuit did not answer immediately.
Before coming, she had already met Wing and had learned roughly about Leo from her disciple—formidable strength, clean and efficient fighting style, with two wins already secured on the 200th floor.
"How much do you know about Nen? How long have you been training?"
Biscuit asked, her eyes still fixed on the gem.
"Regarding Nen, I have a basic understanding of its system. As for the duration of my training..."
Leo paused.
"Less than two months."
Biscuit's fingers twitched slightly.
She set the gem down, turned around, and began scrutinizing Leo seriously.
Her pink eyes were now sharp as knives, as if trying to pierce through skin and flesh to examine every detail of his bones and meridians.
Leo stood calmly, allowing her to inspect him.
His breathing was steady, his gaze frank.
Only two months of training?
Biscuit was inwardly astonished.
She could sense a solid foundation from Leo, but judging solely from his aura, he already far surpassed an ordinary beginner.
More importantly, this body—perfect muscle definition, every inch brimming with explosive power.
There were many faded scars on his skin, proof of countless real battles.
To reach this level in just two months?
Either he was a monstrous talent, or... he had encountered special opportunities.
Biscuit leaned toward the latter.
There were no shortcuts in Nen Ability training; even the greatest talent required time and sweat.
But she also understood that there were always beings in this world that defied common sense.
"Since you're so sincere..."
After a moment, Biscuit spoke, a satisfied smile appearing on her face.
"I accept this commission."
Leo's eyes lit up, and he bowed solemnly.
"Thank you very much."
He straightened up, walked to a nearby cabinet, pulled open a drawer, and took out several exquisitely packaged books.
The covers were made of glossy art paper, reflecting the light slightly under the lamp.
Biscuit's gaze swept over the covers—several shirtless, well-muscled handsome men were depicted in various dynamic poses, their abs, chest muscles, and biceps gleaming with a healthy sheen under the photographic lighting.
Her eyes instantly widened, stars seeming to sparkle in her pupils.
"This is a token of my gratitude. Please accept it."
Leo handed the books over.
Biscuit practically snatched them, quickly flipping through a few pages, her eyes growing brighter with each turn.
"Diary of a Hunk's Fitness Journey... The Aesthetics of Muscles... The Fusion of Strength and Beauty..."
She murmured the titles, her smile growing wider and wider.
"Excellent! You even investigated what I like so thoroughly!"
Biscuit hugged the book tightly to her chest, looking up at Leo with eyes full of appreciation.
"Good kid, I'm liking you more and more."
Leo smiled faintly.
He knew perfectly well—when you need someone's help, you have to cater to their preferences.
Only by pleasing her could he get her to guide him seriously.
"Alright, enough chit-chat."
Biscuit carefully placed the gemstone and book on the table, her expression turning serious again.
"You're Enhancement Type, right? Show me your 'Ren.'"
Leo nodded, took a few steps back, and stood in the center of the training room.
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
The next moment—"Boom!"
Nen erupted from Leo's body like a volcano!
White currents instantly filled the entire training room, stirring the air into visible vortices.
Leo's hair and clothes billowed upward, his entire body enveloped in a dense, glowing aura.
Biscuit crossed her arms, watching calmly.
Time passed minute by minute.
Five minutes, ten minutes, fifteen minutes... Sweat began to bead on Leo's forehead, and his breathing grew heavier.
The Nen aura around him remained stable, but the strain of maintaining it was evident.
Twenty minutes... Leo's body began to tremble slightly, his teeth clenched, veins bulging on his forehead and neck.
Twenty-four minutes.
"Ha... Ha..."
Leo finally couldn't hold on any longer, and his Nen receded like a tide.
He gasped for breath, sweat dripping from his chin onto the floor, spreading into dark, wet patches.
Biscuit's gaze remained calm.
"Twenty-four minutes—far from enough."
Her voice was flat.
"A qualified Nen User should be able to maintain it for at least half an hour. In combat, you'll need to use 'Ken' frequently, which demands even greater endurance for 'Ren.'"
Leo wiped the sweat from his face, nodding as he caught his breath.
"However..."
Biscuit's tone shifted, a flicker of approval in her eyes.
"You've only been training for two months. For that level, it's passable."
She walked up to Leo.
"What about your ability? Can you show it to me?"
Leo steadied his breathing and spoke slowly.
"I haven't developed my ability yet. I want to solidify my foundation first before considering constructing a unique ability."
Biscuit's eyes showed a pleased expression.
"Good, that's a smart way of thinking."
She stood up, clasped her hands behind her back, and began pacing around the training room, her tone shifting to that of a lecture.
"Enhancement Types don't really need flashy, fancy moves. The body itself is the greatest advantage of Enhancement. Just master the Four Major Principles—Ten, Ren, Zetsu, Hatsu—"
"—to their absolute limits, and no one can stand against you head-on."
She stopped and turned to look at Leo.
"Of course, if you have specific needs, you can develop an ability. But remember, Enhancement abilities work best when they're simple and direct. The simpler the restriction, the more effective it tends to be."
Leo listened attentively, committing these words to memory.
"I'll guide your training properly."
Biscuit walked over to the table, picked up the gemstone and the book of handsome men, a smile returning to her face.
"As for how far you can go, that depends entirely on your own effort."
She headed toward the door and, before pulling it open, glanced back.
"Pack your things. We're leaving Heavens Arena in three days."
Biscuit's gaze swept across the spacious but ultimately limited room.
"This training ground isn't quite suitable for your specialized training."
The door closed softly.
Leo stood in place, watching the room return to silence, a slow smile spreading across his lips.
The specialized training was about to begin.
He walked to the window and looked out at the crowds and vehicles flowing like ants beneath Heavens Arena.
This colossal tower had witnessed his growth, and now he would temporarily leave for a broader training ground.
The dark red tattoo on the back of his hand glowed faintly beneath his sleeve.
[Level: 27 (91%)] – just a bit more to level up.
But compared to leveling up, the systematic training that lay ahead was the true key to solidifying his foundation.
Leo turned and began packing his belongings.
He knew Biscuit's training wouldn't be easy—he could guess as much from the complex expression on Wing's face.
But he wasn't afraid. No matter how grueling or exhausting, as long as it made him stronger, he would embrace it willingly.