16 Increase in Strength

On the way home, Wang Chao suddenly turned to Ivan and said, "I met a woman named Tang Zichen in the park today. Her martial arts skills are unlike anyone else's. I'm thinking of asking her to teach me. Tomorrow, will you come with me to meet her?"

"Sure, no problem," Ivan agreed without hesitation. Learning the most powerful martial arts had been his goal since arriving in this world, and seeing what Tang Zichen, the heroine of the Dragon and Snake Romance, looked like was a bonus he couldn't refuse.

Early the next morning, Wang Chao led the way, and the two quickly arrived at the park. Ivan spotted a woman dressed in capable attire, exuding a sense of heroic beauty.

She was like a national goddess, radiating a royal charm. Ivan couldn't help but be captivated by her natural beauty. In the future, she will undoubtedly become a superstar with her unique appeal and stand out from the crowd.

Despite knowing that this was just a fictional world, Ivan couldn't help but cheer in his heart. Tang Zichen truly deserved to be the heroine, and her charisma was undeniable. Even though Ivan knew it was an illusion, he couldn't help but be moved.

Wang Chao initiated the conversation with Tang Zichen, while Ivan quietly observed from a distance, deep in thought. Tang Zichen occasionally glanced in Ivan's direction, her curiosity piqued and her guard up. Ivan could sense her thoughts but paid them no mind.

For seven consecutive days, Ivan remained silent, and Wang Chao didn't question him. He understood that Ivan would speak when the time was right.

On the eighth day, as Wang Chao practiced, Ivan suddenly interrupted, offering instructions and guidance on various techniques. Tang Zichen grew increasingly frustrated, but Wang Chao trusted Ivan implicitly and followed his advice, even disregarding Tang Zichen's objections.

Tang Zichen's frustration deepened as she watched them, expecting Wang Chao to realize that Ivan's methods were ineffective. However, the unexpected happened. Ivan, despite his lack of martial arts knowledge, possessed a deep understanding of the human body. He combined this knowledge with martial arts principles and developed scientific training methods that not only accelerated Wang Chao's progress but also resolved some of Tang Zichen's own martial arts dilemmas.

Tang Zichen, initially disdainful and skeptical of Ivan, gradually became astonished. Ivan's methods surpassed her own, providing a fresh perspective on her martial arts. She found herself experiencing moments of profound insight.

In the following days, Ivan and Tang Zichen began to collaborate, discussing Chinese martial arts extensively. Ivan gained advanced knowledge from Tang Zichen, deciphered martial arts secrets, and reciprocated by teaching Tang Zichen.

Although many of Ivan's techniques weren't suitable for Tang Zichen, they still greatly benefited her. Her strength increased rapidly, approaching the legendary realm of Breaking the Void and the supreme God-like indestructibility.

Tang Zichen's initial disdain, curiosity, surprise, and shock had now become a sense of awe and gratitude. Every day brought new revelations.

Likewise, Ivan was delighted. Using Tang Zichen as a testing ground, he refined his ideas and developed the most suitable martial arts training method for himself.

Three months flew by. As Wang Chao concluded his daily practice, Ivan approached them and said, "I'm leaving."

"Leaving? Where are you going, Ivan?" Wang Chao asked, bewildered.

Ivan sighed, "Even though I know this is an illusion and everything is unreal, I can't linger here indefinitely. Otherwise, you might never wake up."

Wang Chao, puzzled and worried, asked, "What are you talking about? Illusion? Unreal?"

Ivan chuckled, "This world is a creation of the real gem—where real and fake intertwine. People can't distinguish between them, and parting is difficult. But I must say goodbye."

With those words, the scenery around them shattered like a broken mirror, and Ivan found himself back in his bedroom, holding the red reality gem.

Coming to his senses, Ivan checked the wall clock. It was exactly 2:00 AM, which meant that he had spent three months in the fantasy world while only an hour and a half had passed in reality. His mind was now brimming with three months' worth of experiences condensed into an hour and a half.

Most people would suffer from severe headaches when subjected to such an information overload, but Ivan's highly developed brain handled it with ease. His brain development level had increased from 27% to 27.3%, a minor but noteworthy improvement.

However, Ivan realized that further brain development could lead to a state of absolute rationality, akin to a computer program. He didn't want to lose his humanity, so he pondered his next steps.

Unable to create his martial arts in this world, Ivan decided to explore an alternative method to boost his strength quickly. He remembered his newfound ability to absorb energy, similar to the Divine Art. This energy absorption ability allowed him to absorb various forms of energy and enhance his body.

However, Ivan lacked knowledge of the body's meridians and the legendary internal strength methods. To acquire this knowledge, he decided to return to the illusory world.

To avoid excessive brain development, Ivan planned to collect simpler techniques such as Golden Bell and Iron Cloth, which were unsuitable for others but perfect for him due to his energy absorption ability.

Ivan placed his hands on the reality gem again, and with a flash of red light, he re-entered the illusion. This time, he only spent about seven minutes inside before opening his eyes, excitement evident on his face.

As the owner of the Reality Gem, Ivan knew that everything he witnessed in the illusion had been transformed by the gem. The collected techniques were tailored to his needs and aligned with the rules of the world. They were more suitable for his cultivation.

Suppressing his excitement, Ivan checked his brain development level, which remained within acceptable limits. Satisfied, he put away the reality gem, locked the laboratory door, and left the room.

With a new way to enhance his strength, Ivan couldn't wait to put his plan into action.