Heretic Trainer: The Gym Is My Cultivation Method-Chapter 401: Do You Dare… or Stay Behind?

Garion walked beside Aveline with his hands in his pockets, glancing at her casually. "So... who exactly are we meeting?"

Aveline kept walking, calm as ever. "Leaders of other top clans."

Garion raised a brow. "That already sounds troublesome."

She gave him a small look. "You are a Grand Faction leader now. You can’t avoid this."

Garion sighed. "I preferred training in the gym."

Aveline didn’t reply.

She stopped in front of a large wooden door and pushed it open. "We’ve arrived."

Garion stepped inside, but the moment he saw the people in the room, he slowed down.

Two figures were already standing near the center of the room.

His eyes moved over them carefully.

One had red hair, a tall and muscular build, and a fierce, almost burning gaze.

The other had ice-blue hair, her posture straight and composed, her eyes sharp and cold.

Garion blinked once as they looked really familiar to him.

His eyes narrowed slightly as realization started to form. "...Don’t tell me."

The red-haired man stood up first, grinning widely.

The red-haired man stood up first, grinning widely. "Hello, Sect Master Garion! I am Vargan Vulkran."

He crossed his arms proudly. "Valtor’s father."

Garion stared at him for a moment. "Ah... that explains a lot."

Vargan laughed loudly. "Of course it does!"

Then the woman stood gracefully. "Hello. I am Sarona Shivera. Seira’s mother."

Garion looked between them, slightly amused. "To think both of you are here... that’s surprising."

He tilted his head. "From what I heard, you two aren’t exactly friendly."

Vargan snorted. Sarona’s eyes narrowed slightly.

"Who said we came together? " they said at the same time.

Garion blinked once, then nodded like he understood everything. "I see."

He slipped his hands back into his pockets. "Then why are you here?"

Vargan stepped forward, his tone turning serious. "My Vulkran Clan focuses on body cultivation."

He tapped his chest. "It’s painful and brutal. Most quit halfway."

Garion nodded. "So you got curious about my path."

"Of course," Vargan smirked. "So I sent my son here."

Garion tilted his head. "To test it? If it’s good, then steal it?"

The room fell quiet for a brief second.

Vargan frowned slightly. "...So you knew."

Garion smiled lightly. "Your son isn’t subtle."

Vargan rubbed the back of his neck, looking a bit awkward for a moment. "I see."

He sighed once, then straightened again. "Don’t misunderstand. I was being cautious. If your path was flawed, my son would leave."

Garion shrugged. "And if it was good?"

This time, Vargan didn’t dodge it. "Then I would have studied it."

Sarona let out a soft, cold breath from the side. "You mean steal it."

Vargan shot her an annoyed look. "Can you let me finish?"

Sarona didn’t respond.

Garion waved a hand. "Relax. Now that you’re here, I assume you’re not planning that anymore."

Vargan nodded honestly. "No."

He looked serious now. "After seeing your disciples... and after Raviel beat me... I know better."

Garion raised a brow. "He beat you?"

Vargan grunted. "Twice."

Sarona added calmly from the side, "He didn’t even look tired."

Garion let out a small laugh, clearly pleased. "Good. That means the training is working."

Vargan shook his head slowly, still processing it. "Your God Gym... it’s not just another sect."

He looked straight at Garion. "Your body path isn’t reckless like ours. It’s refined."

Garion didn’t reply, but the corner of his lips lifted slightly.

Then he turned his gaze to Sarona. "And you?"

Sarona stood straight, her expression unchanged. "I am here for my daughter."

Garion nodded. "Seira."

Her eyes softened just a little at the mention. "You already know her mission. She was sent to observe Valtor."

Vargan snorted from the side. "Spy."

Sarona ignored him completely. "I came for the same reason. To see what kind of place this is."

She paused for a moment, then continued. "But after sparring with Aveline..."

Garion’s brow lifted. "She beat you too?"

Sarona met his gaze calmly. "Yes."

Vargan immediately burst into laughter again. "You went down faster than me!"

Sarona’s cold gaze slid toward him. "At least I did not charge blindly."

Vargan coughed lightly. "That was strategy."

Garion crossed his arms, clearly amused by the two of them.

"So both of you came to check on your children... and both of you got beaten by my elders."

Neither of them denied it.

Garion nodded slowly. "And now?"

Vargan grinned, his eyes lighting up again. "Now I’m interested."

Sarona added quietly, "Very interested."

Garion looked between them for a moment, then nodded once. "I see."

His expression became a little more serious as he spoke again. "So now that you’re interested... I have one question."

Both Vargan and Sarona focused on him.

Garion didn’t smile this time.

"Do you dare," he asked directly, "to do what Avenora and Revalis did?"

Vargan frowned slightly. "What do you mean?"

Garion leaned back a little, still calm. "You already know. They’re not just top clans anymore."

Sarona’s eyes narrowed slightly. "They became... God Clans."

Garion nodded. "They serve under God Gym. Officially."

Silence filled the room.

"That’s why they’re growing so fast," Garion continued, his voice steady.

"They get access to better training systems, better resources, and direct guidance."

He tapped the table lightly with his finger. "But in exchange... they acknowledge God Gym as their superior."

Vargan’s jaw tightened a little. "You’re asking us to become your vassals."

Garion didn’t deny it. "I won’t go around it. Yes."

Sarona’s fingers tapped lightly against her armrest once. "And if we refuse?"

Garion shrugged casually. "Then nothing changes. You stay top clans."

He looked at both of them steadily. "But don’t expect to keep up."

Vargan let out a slow breath, staring at him. "You’re confident."

Garion nodded once. "Very."

Sarona studied him for several seconds without speaking. "You speak as if it’s inevitable."

Garion gave a faint smile. "It is."

Vargan suddenly laughed again, shaking his head. "You really are bold."

Garion tilted his head slightly. "You prefer hesitation?"

Vargan shook his head. "No."

Sarona spoke calmly, cutting in. "Becoming a vassal is not a small decision."

"I know," Garion replied.

"It means our pride takes a hit," Vargan added.

Garion shrugged again. "Pride doesn’t increase muscle mass."

Vargan blinked once... then burst out laughing again.

Sarona didn’t laugh, but the corner of her lips moved slightly. "You’re blunt."

Garion leaned forward slightly, his gaze sharpening.

"So I’ll ask clearly."

He looked at Vargan first. "Do you dare?"

Then his eyes shifted to Sarona. "Or not?"

The two patriarchs fell silent.