Chapter Forty-Two: Exhilaration!

“Instructor Luo, I’ve been trained in the power of demon spirits. I can endure it.”
Du Huaishan saw himself bound head to toe in electric wires and chains, instantly realizing this was meant to temper his demon-human fusion.
Luo Zongwen produced a vial of crimson marrow medicine. “My method differs somewhat from what you experienced in the demon spirit training grounds. Du Huaishan, tell me, in today’s world, why do people practice martial arts?”
Du Huaishan pondered a moment. “To strengthen the body and more rapidly increase the fusion rate of demon-human transformation.”
“And why increase the fusion rate?”
“To fight—to slay demon spirits!”
“Exactly!”
Luo Zongwen’s heterochromatic eyes flickered, hostility radiating. “Whether it’s martial arts or guardian spirits, at their core, they exist for battle—to annihilate demon spirits!”
“So, not only will I train your fusion with demon spirit power, I will further hone your ability to kill in true combat while transformed!”
Combat killing?
Du Huaishan’s eyelid twitched; suddenly, comprehension dawned.
From a gaming perspective, demon-human transformation was merely a doubled attribute buff; aside from the special skills awakened at each ten percent breakthrough, it offered no additional attack methods.
Ultimately, one must rely on the martial techniques honed in everyday training.
Currently, new recruit training separated physical conditioning from demon-human transformation training.
“The fusion of demon spirit power is best triggered in life-or-death combat. If you fight under electrical stimulation and the effects of the crimson marrow medicine, fusion will accelerate!”
“Moreover, electricity excites the muscles and mind, heightening your grasp of martial killing. In demon-human form, your bones and muscles harden like iron, your self-healing abilities are enhanced—it allows me to temper your body externally, come, let me see what you’ve learned with An Du.”
With that, Luo Zongwen handed him the crimson marrow medicine.
After training was relocated to Luo Zongwen, Chang Sui’an also transferred the supply of the marrow medicine.
Listening to Luo Zongwen’s training philosophy, Du Huaishan couldn’t help but marvel at his insight.
Though Luo Zongwen didn’t understand science as deeply as Du Huaishan, many of his methods echoed scientific principles.
For example, electrical training of the body.
In modern times, this is often regarded as a form of “devil’s training,” since the essence of muscle control is the transmission of electrical signals from the brain.
Bruce Lee once used electric stimulation for muscle training.
In demon-human form, one’s endurance is greater; through combat, as Luo Zongwen described as “tempering,” not only are techniques refined, but also one’s resistance to blows.
When muscles and bones are struck, micro-injuries are created; once healed, they become stronger and tougher—a phenomenon known as Wolff’s Law.
In the nineteenth century, surgeon Julius Wolff found that repeated damage to bones increased calcium deposits, making the bones denser and harder, and muscles more resilient.
In modern martial arts, this is called “conditioning for impact.”
In traditional martial arts, practitioners use boards, sand, iron, or stone as tools—a practice called “hard external training.”
Another method has masters striking the student’s body directly, precisely controlling the force—this is called “tempering.”
Such methods greatly enhance physical attributes, and, in turn, further boost fusion with demon spirit power.

Repeatedly, again and again.
Good grief, this is like exploiting a bug in the system!
Instructor Luo was consolidating everything Du Huaishan had learned in a single session—bringing it all together.
Stretching, nutrition, demon spirit training, martial techniques—everything aimed at one purpose: combat!
Du Huaishan drank down the crimson marrow medicine in one gulp.
Even before electricity coursed through him, excitement surged within.
Seeing him prepared, Luo Zongwen strode to the machine and pressed the switch.
Buzz!
The instant the current flowed, a powerful sense of peril forced Du Huaishan to summon his guardian spirit. With a flash of black-red light, the guardian spirit poured into his heart, completing the demon-human transformation.
Twin black-red demonic horns sprouted from his brow, his eyes glowed dark red, veins bulged across face and arms, muscles thickened around thighs and waist, and his nails became razor-sharp.
Three percent!
“A fusion type, plague attribute—rare.”
Luo Zongwen saw with perfect clarity how swiftly Du Huaishan completed the transformation.
He adjusted the current, adding ten milliamps, then faced Du Huaishan like an iron tower, voice deep: “Training begins.”
Du Huaishan gritted his teeth against the electric sting. Noticing Luo Zongwen wasn’t entering guardian spirit form, he realized—instructor had completed four “spirit awakenings,” and even with only his physical strength, his power far surpassed ordinary men.
“My apologies, Instructor Luo!”
Barely had he spoken when Du Huaishan lunged forward, his lead foot thrust out, rear foot pushing off, body sliding toward Luo Zongwen. He twisted his waist, swung his left arm down in a chopping strike!
Under demon spirit power, his nails were sharp as scalpels.
One hit would split flesh and skin.
But—
Luo Zongwen neither dodged nor flinched; his four-colored eyes flashed cold, brimming with killing intent.
Du Huaishan felt darkness descend, clouds closing overhead, as if all the world was blotted out. With his enhanced dynamic vision, he saw only blurred shadows, then his left arm, chest, and abdomen were struck—one block, two punches.
He staggered back, nearly slamming into the wall.
“Cough…”
Such precise control!
Even in demon-human form, Du Huaishan’s blood surged wildly, nearly knocked unconscious. Muscles in his chest and abdomen twisted into a knot, but swiftly, under the triple stimulus of electric current, demon spirit power, and marrow medicine, they healed, swelled, and grew stronger.
“Too slow; you’re too hesitant. Don’t treat me as your instructor—see me as your enemy, as a demon spirit!”
Luo Zongwen shook his head, disappointed by Du Huaishan’s opening move.
“Yes, Instructor Luo.”

Having tasted the sweetness of tempering, and with his mind agitated by demon spirit influence, Du Huaishan excitedly licked his lips and resumed his Xingyi three-body stance.
From their first exchange, he’d already gauged Instructor Luo’s depth—unfathomable!
It meant, no matter how much force he used, Luo Zongwen would not be harmed; instead, he could deliver the highest level of counterattack Du Huaishan could withstand.
In that case—let loose!
Swift!
Du Huaishan slid forward with a dragon’s tail, burst forth in a leap, crossing several meters in an instant. The demon spirit fist shot toward Luo Zongwen’s chest.
“Too slow!”
Luo Zongwen’s voice thundered in his ears; his palm turned to a blade and cleaved through Du Huaishan’s attack.
Missing his mark, Du Huaishan pivoted on his forward palm, using the momentum to slip sideways, twisting his waist. Left hook to the ribs, right straight punch—straight, straight, hook, swing!
A barrage of combination blows!
Slap, slap, bang!
Luo Zongwen blocked them all, a hint of curiosity in his eyes, then countered with a punch of his own.
Du Huaishan crossed his arms in defense, absorbing the tremendous force, then quickly retreated, nimble on his feet, using Xingyi’s three-body stance to dissipate the impact through his thighs.
Watching his light-footed jumps across the floor, Luo Zongwen remarked with surprise: “Western boxing footwork?”
“Who cares what style—it wins, it’s good!”
Du Huaishan was now completely lost to frenzy.
As the word “boxing” left his mouth, he attacked again. Left fist swung, blocked; right arm hooked, three rapid blows hammered in succession. As Luo Zongwen dodged, Du Huaishan’s left fist darted forth like a venomous snake, striking relentlessly.
Luo Zongwen’s strength far outmatched his.
Every block sent pain shooting through Du Huaishan’s arms, but the agony soon faded, replaced by tingling as demon spirit power restored him.
Du Huaishan threw caution aside, attacking with wild abandon—a storm of blows, a catharsis of violence.
Striking, being struck, striking again, being struck again.
His fusion with demon spirit power continued to climb!
It had been ages since Du Huaishan felt such exhilaration in combat—“Ha! Wonderful!!”
Bang!
With a final punch, Luo Zongwen drove his fist into Du Huaishan’s abdomen, pinning him against the wall.
He nodded. “Not bad; you’ve learned much, yet not in a muddled way. You basically grasp the use of unified force, your core power remains consistent, you know which techniques to use, and when, to gain the greatest advantage… but—there’s one thing missing!”