Power

Strength

He measured his chest, waist, and arm circumference. All had increased. After taking a few photos, he found that his body fat had continued to drop. Although his abs still did not show a clear eight-pack, his overall muscle mass had noticeably improved.

He did a few push-ups and found them indeed much easier than before. He managed seventy standard push-ups in one go without feeling like he had reached his limit.

However, he did not continue. Instead, he stopped and used his phone to look up the nearest gym.

Bodyweight exercises like push-ups could show the extent of his improvement when his basic strength was still relatively poor. But once his base strength reached a certain level, they became harder to quantify—or required too much time.

By comparison, gym equipment could provide a more specific, data-based assessment of his physical strength.

After Xiang Kun arrived at the gym, he asked to get a half-week pass or a monthly pass to try it out first. The young salesman who received him simply gave him a three-visit trial card and told him that if he still could not decide whether to get a membership after those three visits, he could give him another three-visit card to continue trying it out before making a decision.

The young salesman personally showed Xiang Kun around the equipment. In fact, Xiang Kun had gone to his university gym for two semesters back in college, led there by his roommate. That roommate had been a fitness enthusiast, and under his guidance, Xiang Kun had become proficient with most of the equipment. His form and muscle engagement during training were also basically standard.

After a while, the young salesman received a call and told Xiang Kun to try things out on his own before leaving.

It was not yet three in the afternoon, and it was a weekday, so there were not many people in the gym. After warming up on an elliptical for a while, Xiang Kun began bench pressing.

At first, he only added one 15-kilogram plate to each side, wanting to get a feel for the movement. After all, he had not set foot in a gym or used this equipment since graduating.

Before long, a burly personal trainer nearly 1.9 meters tall walked over to Xiang Kun. After watching him finish a set and add more plates, he said, "Your form isn't quite right. You need to be careful when training. It's best to have someone watch you from the side so you don't get hurt. And if you keep training like that, I'm afraid you'll mess up the shape of your chest..."

Xiang Kun was a little speechless. If he had not undergone the physical mutation caused by X, and had simply come here to work out and shape up, he might really have been intimidated by those words.

But now, Xiang Kun adjusted his bench press form instinctively according to the sensation of each muscle group exerting force. To him, it was the most suitable way to generate power.

Xiang Kun naturally knew that the trainer's ultimate goal in striking up a conversation was to sell personal training sessions. If he rejected him outright, other trainers would probably come over before long. So he said, "How about we make a bet? We compare our maximum bench press. Whoever presses the heavier weight wins. If you win, I'll buy twenty sessions from you. If I win, you make sure no other personal trainers come over to chat me up at this gym. How about it?"

The trainer gave Xiang Kun a strange look. Could it be that this guy had been cautiously benching 50 kilograms earlier because he was pretending to be weak?

Still, he estimated Xiang Kun's weight. He looked to be under 1.8 meters tall and probably weighed no more than 85 kilograms. The trainer himself weighed 97 kilograms and had kept up regular training. He should be certain to win in a strength contest, so he agreed to Xiang Kun's wager.

Xiang Kun started by adding two 15-kilogram plates to each side. Including the bar, the total came to 80 kilograms. Under the trainer's spot, he smoothly completed one rep. Then it was the trainer's turn. He added 5-kilogram plates to each side for a total of 90 kilograms and completed one rep as well.

Then it was Xiang Kun's turn again. The weight rose to 100 kilograms. That was already considered quite heavy in a gym. Almost no one used that much weight for regular sets, and not many could reach it even as a one-rep maximum.

In truth, Xiang Kun himself did not know what his current maximum bench press was. But after waking up today, he had clearly felt a significant increase in strength. At the very least, 80 kilograms had felt extremely easy earlier.

Under the trainer's spot, he completed 100 kilograms cleanly and decisively.

The trainer's expression immediately turned unpleasant. Clearly, Xiang Kun was no novice, and he was remarkably strong.

From there, they began adding 2.5-kilogram plates to each side. Starting at 105 kilograms, the trainer was already visibly struggling, and Xiang Kun began standing behind him to spot.

Yet at 110 kilograms, Xiang Kun lifted it again as though it took no effort at all.

115 kilograms...

120 kilograms...

125 kilograms...

By then, two or three other gym members had gathered nearby. They were all interested in watching someone compete with a trainer in bench press weight.

When Xiang Kun pressed 130 kilograms as well, the trainer looked at the barbell adjusted to 135 kilograms, his face turning dark.

His usual limit was actually more than 135 kilograms. But after lifting so many heavy weights in succession, even with breaks to rest in between, his muscles had not fully recovered.

If he had known, he would have gone straight for his maximum weight. At the time, though, he had thought he could win easily without even reaching 100 kilograms. He had not expected Xiang Kun to be so strong, nor that Xiang Kun had clearly pressed every weight more easily than he had.

Finally, when the trainer had pushed 135 kilograms halfway up, he ran out of strength and could not lift it any farther. Fortunately, Xiang Kun was spotting from behind and helped him rack the barbell.

Then it was Xiang Kun's turn. Rather than attempting 135 kilograms directly, he raised the weight to 150 kilograms.

Although they were competing, the trainer still spotted seriously from behind the barbell. If Xiang Kun slipped up and got injured during their bet, the trainer would certainly bear responsibility as well.

Xiang Kun adjusted his grip width, then unracked the barbell and lowered it slowly until it lightly touched his chest before pressing it steadily upward. The entire movement still appeared effortless.

However, after racking the barbell, Xiang Kun let out a long breath.

He had looked steady enough, but in truth, he could already feel his strength nearing its limit. He estimated that he might still be able to press 160 kilograms, but his form would inevitably break down and require using momentum.

After Xiang Kun rose from the bench, the trainer gave him a thumbs-up and said admiringly, "Impressive! You're seriously an expert. That strength is no joke. One hundred and fifty kilograms is probably nowhere near your limit, right? Brother, don't tell me you train powerlifting?" When he was in good condition, he had barely managed to press 150 kilograms himself. But compared to Xiang Kun's calm, seamless lift, he was far behind. Moreover, he had increased the weight all the way from 100 kilograms, and Xiang Kun had done the same. Xiang Kun had clearly crushed him in both absolute strength and endurance, leaving him completely convinced.

"No. I just work out to lose some weight." As Xiang Kun spoke, he headed over to the squat rack, preparing to test his squat limit.