Because of his severe injuries, Ash was taken away by Gotoh's men for treatment.
Noah only later learned why Ash ended up in such a state: after Noah surpassed both Ash and Hofft, Ash suddenly erupted, using all his strength to kill Hofft in a matter of seconds. Then, dragging his heavily injured body, he reached the finish line before the people behind him could catch up.
"Although you have passed the test, you are currently still unqualified as probationary butlers of the Zoldyck family. You have one month to prove yourselves. After one month, the two of you will face the remaining five people. You will either kill them or let them kill you."
Noah had already returned to the wooden house where they had started, lying on his bed, the words Gotoh had left echoing in his ears.
Face the other five people? Becoming a Zoldyck butler is certainly not easy, and this is only for a probationary position.
Noah clasped his hands behind his head, his sky-blue eyes fixed on the ceiling, deep in thought.
But he couldn't give up. Not to mention whether he could even leave the Zoldyck family if he gave up now, even if he could, where would he go afterward? Just find a random place and live out his life?
Lost in thought, Noah suddenly sat up from the bed, got down, and went to the window, staring at the bright moon in the sky, so different from Earth's.
Master had said that the path to becoming stronger is always about moving forward; retreating is an insult to oneself.
The Zoldyck family's rules, though cruel, align perfectly with the law of the jungle. Moreover, here, he would have the opportunity to come into contact with Nen abilities.
Thinking of the unique Nen abilities in the Hunter world, Noah couldn't help but clench his fists, a flicker of excitement in his eyes.
He wondered if Nen abilities and what he had learned were compatible.
Standing by the window, bathed in moonlight, a faint wisp of smoke seemed to rise from Noah's body.
The next day, Noah woke up promptly at 7 AM and began his training.
Gotoh had only given him one month and told him to live in this wooden house, with no other instructions. However, Noah understood Gotoh's meaning. Everything in this wooden house, including the doors, windows, chairs, teacups, kettles, and so on, was 'heavy-duty.' Compared to everyday items used by ordinary people, the household items here were about ten times heavier.
In addition, the warehouse also contained weighted vests, boots, and wrist guards.
"So, living here means being in weighted training all day long." After finishing the breakfast prepared in the fridge, Noah patted the black weighted vest he was already wearing, producing dull thuds.
But then again, my luck is really good. The basic physical qualities of this body are simply perfect, and it's a young body with infinite potential. With such a foundation for qi refining, I wonder what kind of effects it will have.
Thinking this, Noah walked out of the room and began jogging slowly around the wooden house.
Although Gotoh hadn't given specific instructions, Noah had guessed his intentions. It was simply to test him: given ample food and equipment, could he raise his strength within a month to a level where he could deal with those five people?
The eight people who participated in the butler assessment, even if their strengths differed, wouldn't be too far apart. To face multiple enemies simultaneously, he would have to improve his own strength.
If it were an ordinary person in Noah's position, trying to raise their strength in one month to a level where they could simultaneously face five people of similar strength would probably be quite difficult, especially without a reasonable and systematic method.
Jogging, weightlifting, chopping wood, body balance training... Night slowly fell.
Noah walked out of the bathroom shirtless and returned to his room.
After a day of high-intensity training, this body's muscles were groaning; every part of him urged Noah to rest immediately.
Ignoring the messages his body sent to his brain, Noah sat cross-legged on the bed, his eyes slowly closing.
Long, steady breaths emanated from Noah's nose.
Ten seconds later, Noah's breathing gradually stabilized and became rhythmic. At the same time, a faint mist, like clouds, emerged from Noah's mouth and nose with each breath, lingering around his head.
Not only that, but the same white mist gradually seeped from the pores of Noah's skin, enveloping his entire body like a fog, making his figure gradually blur.
Noah was confident that he would definitely pass the final test a month later, and this confidence stemmed from what he was doing at this moment.
This was Noah's trump card, a cultivation method called 'Qi Refining.'
High-intensity training causes the body to enter an overloaded state. At this time, a characteristic within the human body called 'Spiritual Perception' awakens. Using this characteristic, impurities and fatigue within the body are expelled in a boiling manner—this is the 'Qi Refining' that Noah mastered.
After each 'Qi Refining,' physical strength, coordination, nerve reflexes, and muscle control all significantly improve.
Morning light streamed through the window onto Noah's body. The white mist that had surrounded him had long since disappeared.
Noah slowly opened his eyes, and a flash of lightning seemed to pass through his blue pupils. Although he hadn't slept, Noah felt better than if he had.
After a night of 'Qi Refining,' the feeling of fatigue had vanished, replaced by a surge of strength throughout his body.
He clenched his fists, clearly feeling the changes in his body, and Noah couldn't help but smile excitedly.
I can do it! Moreover, this body's basic qualities far exceed my imagination. If I continue like this, reaching Master's realm is not impossible.
Putting on the weighted vest placed at the head of the bed once more, Noah walked out of the wooden house and began his second day of running training.
Speaking of which, if I remember correctly, the manifestation of Nen abilities in the Hunter world also seems to be in the form of 'qi.' I wonder if there will be similarities with what I've learned?
As he ran, Noah recalled some information about Nen abilities, and a thought surfaced in his mind.
To know if Nen abilities and what he had learned were similar, he would have to learn Nen. To learn Nen, becoming a Zoldyck butler was undoubtedly the most convenient path before him.
He must pass the test a month later and become a probationary butler of the Zoldyck family!
Thinking this, Noah's training enthusiasm grew even stronger.