The three new direct disciples sat stiffly around a single long table in a smaller training room.

The covered corpse in front of them made the whole place feel heavier.

Dahlia stood at the head of the table with her hands on her hips.

Arden stood beside her, holding a notebook and trying to look confident.

Valtor leaned forward, eyebrows tight.

"Alright, Senior Sister… What the hell are we learning here? Why do we need to learn the body?"

He crossed his arms.

"I came here to get stronger. Not to become some scholar. And definitely not a doctor."

Seira nodded slowly.

"I agree. Cutting apart a corpse… it feels wrong. Isn't this something a demonic sect would do? Aren't we supposed to be a righteous sect?"

Dahlia smirked, waving her hand.

"First of all, we're not a demonic sect. But we're also not a righteous one. Just think of the God Gym as… neutral. We do whatever works."

She tapped the corpse on the table.

"Second, this guy was a bandit. A terrible one. So don't pity him. He's more helpful now than when he was alive."

Valtor made a face. "That's… a weird way to put it."

Arden stepped forward.

"And third, this lesson is important. You're body cultivators now. If you don't understand the human body, how can you call yourself a body cultivator?"

He pointed at Valtor directly.

"I know your Vulkran Clan is also a body cultivation clan. But the God Gym is different. That's why it shot up to the top sect level in such a short time."

Valtor frowned. "Different how?"

Arden's voice grew firm.

"You'll understand soon. For now, shut up and learn. If our training doesn't change your strength at all, THEN you can complain."

Valtor blinked. "…Did you just tell me to shut up?"

Dahlia giggled. "Yep. Arden entered his 'serious mode.' It doesn't happen often, so enjoy it."

Arden cleared his throat, embarrassed.

Seira crossed her arms. "Fine. If this is necessary for strength, I'll learn it. But it still feels strange."

Dahlia nodded. "It felt strange to me too at first. You'll get used to it."

Mersha, who had been silent the whole time, tilted her head as she inspected the corpse. Her fingers brushed the cloth lightly.

"This is… a bit different from the ones I used in my family."

All of them turned to her at once.

Arden blinked. "Wait. The ones you used? What do you mean?"

Valtor raised a brow. "Your family used corpses?"

Seira's cold expression cracked slightly. "What kind of family are you from?"

Mersha smiled softly, adjusting her glasses.

"My family deals with poison. So… we experiment on corpses. Sometimes on living humans too."

Valtor choked on his own spit. "WHAT!? Living?!"

Seira's eyes widened. "Is your family… a demonic one?"

Mersha blinked at her innocently. "Hm? I don't think so?"

Arden stared at Dahlia, pale. "Senior Sister… what kind of junior did Master give us?"

Dahlia waved her hands.

"Relax, relax! No matter where she's from, she's a God Gym disciple now. That means she's part of our family."

Valtor let out a long breath. "A very… dangerous family."

Seira nodded. "But still a family."

Mersha looked between them, her smile turning small. "Thank you."

Arden softened a little. "Um… yes. Welcome, Junior Sister."

Dahlia clapped her hands once. "Good! Now that we're all on the same page, let's look at this cadaver."

She pulled the sheet back, revealing the bandit's body. The juniors tensed again.

Dahlia pointed at the chest. "See this? Master treated the body so the muscles and organs are easier to study."

Mersha leaned closer. "Ah… that explains it. It's cleaner. And it doesn't smell."

Valtor pinched his nose anyway. "Still feels weird…"

Seira crouched beside the table, eyes sharp.

"But I see what Senior Sister means. The lines are… too perfect. This was prepared."

Arden nodded. "Master prepares everything himself. He wants us to learn fast."

Mersha touched her chin thoughtfully. "I wonder what I can learn here…"

Dahlia smiled as she handed each of them a small scalpel.

"Alright. Plenty to learn today! We'll start with something simple, naming all the organs and what they do."

Valtor looked at the scalpel like it might bite him.

"Wait, wait... simple? Organs? I thought we were going to learn muscles or something cool first."

Seira crossed her arms tightly, brows narrowing.

"I only know basic anatomy. Heart, lungs, whatever. Nothing more."

Mersha raised her hand slightly. "I know some parts… but only the ones related to killing."

She tapped her chin. "Like the spot that stops breathing. And the one that makes someone faint."

Valtor slowly turned toward her. "…How old are you again?"

Mersha smiled. "Twelve."

Valtor's eye twitched. "Twelve. Right."

Dahlia clapped once. "Good! So all three of you are basically beginners. That makes this easier."

Arden stepped beside her.

"Um… yes. Master says body cultivators must understand everything inside the body. From bones to muscles to how blood moves."

Valtor frowned. "Blood moves? I thought it just… stayed in there."

Arden stared at him for a moment.

"…Junior Brother, please don't say that outside. You'll embarrass the entire dorm."

Dahlia held back a laugh. "Alright, enough talking. Let's start."

She pulled back the sheet covering the cadaver again. The pale chest was exposed. The three juniors tensed at the same time.

Seira stepped closer first. "What organ are we starting with?"

Dahlia pointed at the center of the chest. "The heart."

Valtor leaned over, squinting hard. "That little thing? That's the heart? It looks smaller than I imagined."

Arden shook his head. "It's normal size. Your clans just make everything dramatic."

Seira nodded. "I expected it to be… bigger."

Dahlia chuckled. "The heart doesn't need to be big. It just needs to pump fast and strong, like Master says, 'a good engine'."

She tapped it gently. "This pushes blood everywhere in your body. Without it, you drop dead. Simple."

Valtor raised his hand. "So… if someone punches the heart, does it explode?"

Arden's face went pale. "No! Don't do that. That's not how it works."

Dahlia sighed. "Junior Brother Valtor… please don't ask things that sound like Rynor."

Valtor huffed. "I was just curious."

Seira tilted her head. "What happens if someone freezes the heart?"

Mersha added softly, "Or if poison enters it?"

Arden held his forehead. "Why are all your questions violent…?"

Dahlia waved a hand. "Anyway, let's continue."

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