Four Gates × Breaking the Mirror

Clearly, the use of the chakra stream just now was so crude that a large portion of the chakra energy leaked out and was wasted.

The result was the floor cracking once again.

"So, does the qualitative change happen at the fourth gate?"

Nara Dan's expression was resolute. By now, he had instantly grasped the mysteries of the first three gates, and they were no different in essence from his previous Taijutsu research.

"Fourth Gate, Gate of Pain, open!"

After passing the first three gates, his body's perception of pain should have been significantly dulled, as the purpose was to bypass the human body's inherent protective mechanisms.

Yet, Nara Dan still clearly felt a tearing sensation from within his body—even with his physique.

"As expected, the fourth gate is the beginning of true danger."

"Theoretically speaking, if one's physique is not sufficiently trained to fully adapt to the side effects of the first three gates, then at this gate..."

"...one would be torn to shreds by the torrent of uncontrolled chakra."

"But that is only the surface."

Nara Dan watched the torrent of chakra around him rapidly shift from blue to the green that represented life.

"If the first three gates were merely opening the body's protective mechanisms step by step—that is, narrowing the mesh of a fishing net—"

"...then the fourth gate is truly like electrofishing!"

"The essence of the fourth gate is the direct burning of life force!"

At this moment, every pore on Nara Dan's body opened, but instead of absorbing energy from the outside in, he was constantly pouring out his own life force!

A certain green energy, representing the essence of life, was pouring out frantically, as if Pandora's Box had been opened!

Even his sixth sense was constantly sounding alarms; this was an extremely dangerous act that threatened his life—something that "Liberation" could not achieve.

Nara Dan felt his own life force weakening with absolute clarity.

If the side effects of the first three gates or "Liberation" were merely direct physical trauma to him—

—such as muscle strains, meridian damage, or internal organ ruptures—

—then relying on the purple trait Metal-Devouring, recovery would only be a matter of time, and he could even avoid any lasting damage.

But the fourth gate of the Eight Inner Gates was different; it was power exchanged at the cost of burning the very essence of life.

Even if Nara Dan were to use it repeatedly over a long period, he would likely shorten his lifespan and die prematurely, beyond any hope of salvation.

"However..."

Yet, Nara Dan felt no disappointment toward the Eight Inner Gates, nor panic at the loss of his life force; instead, he was filled with joy regarding the essence of life.

"Although the passing of my life force makes me feel weak, I have never felt the essence of life so clearly!"

"The throbbing of every capillary, the operation of every organ, even the division of labor among cells..."

"...under the burning of life force, in the interval between life and death, everything is incredibly clear!"

"As clear as the lines on my palm!"

Thinking of this, Nara Dan looked at his cheat.

The color of the Taijutsu Mastery trait finally, thoroughly, and slowly turned into a pure purple!

(Purple) Taijutsu Expert: You have understood the profound meaning of life between life and death; the human body no longer holds any secrets for you. In some worlds, you could be called the Sea Emperor; in others, you could be called an Expert. But the most fitting title is—

God-Seeing Indestructibility!

Immediately following the change in the trait, the life force that had been pouring out of Nara Dan's body suddenly stagnated.

It was not that Nara Dan had closed the Eight Inner Gates.

Rather, relying on the mysterious inspiration found between life and death, Nara Dan had directly taken control of his life force, preventing it from flowing away uncontrollably!

In other words, Nara Dan had maintained this strange, transcendent state, completely mastering his own life essence!

"Or perhaps, God-Seeing Indestructibility is more fitting."

"Could this be what the Taoists refer to as 'swallowing a golden elixir into the belly, my fate is determined by me, not by heaven'?!"

The so-called golden elixir perhaps refers to the body's life force, the essence of life.

Nara Dan's expression was filled with irrepressible joy and excitement.

This was a sublimation of his realm, a sublimation of his life essence; it was the great joy of life! The great excitement!

If he still possessed some shred of reason, Nara Dan would have laughed uncontrollably!

Now, Nara Dan savored this moving experience of life. Not only were internal changes taking place, but external ones as well.

His body shrank rapidly, like a punctured balloon.

Compared to his previous muscular physique that resembled a bodybuilder, Nara Dan now appeared merely lean and strong after shrinking.

But unlike the outward display of strength from his life force before, Nara Dan's body was now like a diamond stripped of its impurities—crystal clear and bright.

Not only his skin, but even his bones revealed a crystalline luster.

All the scars on his skin and the calluses from training fell off like withered leaves.

In correspondence with this, the gathered life force was actively and continuously nourishing the hidden injuries and wear and tear that Nara Dan had previously been unable to perceive, even strengthening his internal organs and bone marrow!

"So this is what they mean by 'breaking then establishing'; the great opportunity found between life and death is nothing more than this."

He felt his immense life force completely under his own control; the passage of his life was reduced to a minimum, all his pores were sealed, and his fine body hair fell out one by one, no longer radiating heat outward.

This was what the Taoists called closing the pores, Subduing the White Tiger!

"Now, I can be like those Sea Emperor and Master figures, remaining full of vitality even at a hundred years old, with my strength not declining by even a fraction!"

"I can even enter a state of 'suspended animation' where no life force is lost, whenever I wish."

"Just like that scumbag Sea Emperor."

"The God-Seeing Indestructibility mentioned in the trait is exactly this: being able to control one's own body like a god is 'God-Seeing'."

"Being able to repair one's own injuries with meticulous care like a god is 'Indestructibility'!"

Thinking of this, Nara Dan's figure flashed, and he instantly appeared a hundred meters away.

This was the extreme speed he could previously only reach by activating Release—Limit State! But now, it was like Shrinking Ground to an Inch, achievable without a trace of effort.

With a light lift of his arm, almost devoid of any preparatory movement, Nara Dan's slender, callus-free palm had already lightly pressed against the giant boulder in front of him, as if he were merely caressing the stone.

And the moment Nara Dan's palm pulled away, the entire boulder, several meters high, collapsed with a roar!

It did not shatter or explode; rather, it turned into fine powder, as if it had been pre-ground by a machine.

This was the result of power at its peak, combined with meticulous chakra control, manifesting as a force that destroyed the boulder from within.

Nara Dan looked at his palm, speechless for a long time.

"It is far more powerful than Release—Limit State."

"Or rather, it is simply not on the same level at all."

Everyone, I beg of you, I beg of you.

The trial period is starting; the life and death of this book depend on you, my fellow readers!