"This is the East Sea Legion's 'Black Iron Puppet'."
Long Xiuyuan patted the cold metal shell of the device. "It has no Spirit Abilities, but its reaction speed, strength, and combat experience all simulate the fighting techniques of military elites."
Situ Xuan's eyes narrowed slightly. Even dormant, he could feel the threat contained within that mecha. It radiated danger, like a sleeping Vicious Beast waiting to wake.
"What you need to do is make it stop functioning within three minutes without using Spirit Power."
Long Xiuyuan reached into his pocket and threw over a metal band. "Put this on. It is a restraint band. It will restrict your spirit power flow, ensuring you can only use physical strength."
Situ Xuan caught the restraint band and wrapped it around his wrist without hesitation. The metal buckle closed with a sharp 'click,' and the spirit power circulating in his body receded rapidly like a tide, leaving him feeling heavy and grounded.
"Three minutes," Long Xiuyuan stated, his finger hovering over the control panel. "Begin."
He pressed the start button.
The Black Iron Puppet's eyes suddenly lit up with a menacing crimson glow. Its internal gears engaged, its bones emitting a 'clatter' of mechanical friction as they extended to combat length. In the next second, it slammed its metal foot against the ground and charged like a cannonball!
Situ Xuan dodged to the side instinctively. The Puppet's fist brushed past his cheek, the wind of it stinging his skin. The metal wall behind him instantly dented with a loud clang, leaving a clear, deep fist print where his head had been a second ago.
So fast!
Situ Xuan's heart tightened. He immediately adjusted his breathing. As the Big Dipper Divine Fist's breathing method circulated, the sensitivity of his muscle reactions improved once again, sharpening his senses.
The Puppet gave him no chance to catch his breath. Its next fist slammed straight toward his abdomen!
Situ Xuan crossed his arms to block.
Bang!
The heavy blow sent him sliding back half a meter. The metal floor beneath his feet groaned, his boots carving two shallow pits into the steel surface.
"Its strength is at least three times that of an ordinary One-Ring Spirit Master!"
Sweat dripped from Situ Xuan's forehead, stinging his eyes, but his gaze grew sharper. The Puppet's offensive rhythm was extremely fast. Transitions between punches, elbows, and knees occurred without pause. It was a perfect killing machine, incapable of fatigue or hesitation.
Situ Xuan constantly shifted and dodged amidst the dense offensive. His skin grew hot from exertion, illuminated by the sparks flying from the metal collisions.
Thud!
Another heavy punch smashed into Situ Xuan's blocking arm. He used the force to leap backward, adjusting his posture in mid-air. Upon landing, he suddenly lunged forward, a low sweep kick striking hard at the Puppet's knee joint!
However, the Puppet's reaction was terrifyingly fast. Its right leg retreated slightly, causing Situ Xuan's kick to miss by a fraction of an inch. Before he could recover, he was struck on the shoulder blade by its backhand punch!
"Ugh!"
Situ Xuan let out a muffled groan, rolling on the floor to dissipate the force. But before he could stand firm, the Puppet had already leaped high into the air, its knee smashing down toward him like a warhammer!
Bang!
Situ Xuan crossed his hands above his head to take the hit head-on. The force smashed him down onto one knee. The floor of the training room cracked with spiderweb-like fissures under the impact!
His arms were screaming in severe pain, and his chest heaved violently as he gasped for air. But the Battle Intent in his eyes grew increasingly fiery.
"Two minutes left."
Long Xiuyuan's voice rang out from the edge of the training room, cold and devoid of any emotion.
Situ Xuan gritted his teeth and suddenly looked up. The Puppet's second wave of attacks had already arrived!
I can't face it head-on...
Images of his fight with Long Xiuyuan earlier that day flashed through Situ Xuan's mind. Every one of the teacher's attacks had avoided his strength and sought out his blind spots.
In that case—
Situ Xuan suddenly abandoned his defense. His legs sank, lowering his center of gravity. At the exact moment the Puppet's fist was about to smash into his face, he dove forward!
Whoosh!
The metal fist grazed past his hair. Situ Xuan's arms clamped onto the Puppet's wrist like iron pincers. He used the machine's own forward momentum to flip his body, throwing it with all his might!
Boom!
The Puppet was slammed into the ground by the powerful throw. Its metal shell screeched against the floor, sending up a shower of sparks.
However, it didn't even pause for a second. It immediately flipped up, kicking toward Situ Xuan's chest with lethal precision!
Bang!
Situ Xuan was kicked flying. His back slammed hard against the wall, knocking the wind out of him. A trace of blood welled up in his throat, tasting of copper. But he didn't fall. Instead, he bounced back the moment his feet hit the ground, a feral light flickering in his eyes like that of a wounded wild beast.
"One minute left," Long Xiuyuan's voice came again, marking the time.
Situ Xuan's chest heaved violently, and sweat dripped from his chin in a steady stream. But he had no time to catch his breath as the Puppet closed in again.
This time, he didn't blindly clash head-on. He stared at every subtle movement of the machine. When its shoulder sank slightly, it meant a punch. When its hip rose slightly, it meant a change in leg technique.
I can see through it!
A sharp glint flashed in Situ Xuan's eyes. The moment the Puppet's right fist struck out, he shifted sideways like lightning. His left hand chopped down like a blade, accurately striking the Puppet's wrist joint.
Crack!
The mechanical joint took a heavy hit, and the Puppet's movement faltered slightly. Situ Xuan pushed off with his left foot, his right leg whipping around to strike against its head!
Boom!
The Puppet staggered back, its internal gyroscopes spinning to compensate. It quickly steadied itself and charged again.
"Thirty seconds left!" Long Xiuyuan's voice grew heavier, adding pressure.
Situ Xuan stared intently at the Puppet, Battle Intent burning in his eyes like a furnace. In the next second, he took a deep breath and charged forward like an arrow released from a bow!
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Sparks from the clashing of fists and elbows exploded in the room. Situ Xuan's body seemed to turn into a weapon. Every strike accurately hit the Puppet's mechanical joints, weakening its structure. Even though his arms were already bruised and purple, his movements didn't stop for a moment.
"Ten seconds!" Long Xiuyuan's countdown rang out.
Boom!
With the final punch, Situ Xuan's fist smashed directly into the Soul Guidance Core on the Puppet's chest!
Crack—
A fracture appeared in the core. The Puppet's movements suddenly froze mid-strike. Its crimson eyes flickered and went out, and it finally crashed to the ground, a heap of silent metal.
"Time's up," Long Xiuyuan's voice rang out faintly.
Situ Xuan staggered back two steps, clutching his bruised arm. His disheveled appearance, soaked in sweat and grimacing in pain, made it look as if he weren't the victor at all.
But that tangible feeling... the wildness in the middle of combat and slaughter... it made him incredibly joyful!
This... is a real battle!
"Can we go again?"
Without waiting for Long Xiuyuan to speak, Situ Xuan looked up and asked. There was a fierce, hungry light in his eyes.
This wasn't a look directed at Long Xiuyuan as a teacher. It was the pent-up frustration hidden in his chest being vented during the fight. It was the longing from his very bones roaring for more!
"Hmph."
Long Xiuyuan stared fixedly at this youth. Whether in height, build, or personality, Situ Xuan didn't seem like a youth at all. He nodded slowly. "Then let's go again."
Long Xiuyuan walked over and roughly pulled out the damaged Soul Guidance Core from the Puppet's chest. After replacing it with a new one, he clapped his hands. "From now on, you can use all your means to defeat it."
After saying that, Long Xiuyuan adjusted something on the control panel. The Soul Guidance Core, which should have been unprotected, now emitted a thin film of spirit power shielding. This meant that the original weakness no longer existed.
"Just what I wanted!"
Situ Xuan grinned, his teeth white against his flushed face. The surging Battle Intent made him feel refreshed, and the racing blood made him joyful!
Only battle! Only violence! Must not be forsaken!
"Fight!"
Situ Xuan let out a low growl. His muscles tightened like steel wires, and the metal floor beneath his feet hummed and vibrated with his gathered energy. He no longer waited. His figure suddenly burst forward, every step denting the ground.
At this moment, he had completely unlocked the hidden shackles of his Battle Intent!
The Black Iron Puppet's crimson eyes locked onto him. It spread its arms and met him head-on!
Bang—!
The collision of fists sent out a visible wave of air, shaking the room to its core.