Larva Metamorphosis

Thanks to the help of his original body's memories, Qin Mu learned quickly, and his punching power also improved significantly.

After a full day of repeated trial and error, his best punch test result was 786kg, and his speed was 25.26m/s.

Compared to the original body's best performance before, this result increased strength by about 30kg, and speed had already reached the minimum requirement for a Pre-warrior.

The original body was naturally good at speed, and was only a hair's breadth away from the Pre-warrior requirement.

"My punching power has indeed increased a bit, and speed has already met the standard. It's a pity the injuries on my body haven't healed yet; otherwise, the results could be even better."

Qin Mu was quite satisfied. Although it was only a 30kg increase in strength, it meant that his power had genuinely improved.

He sensed the larva still eating nonstop at home.

"After the Zerg larva evolves into a Worker Bug, the strength feedback will give me a boost. Reaching 900kg isn't out of reach."

Qin Mu's heart burned with anticipation.

However, this test also revealed a very serious problem.

That was, after his transmigration, although he had inherited all the original body's memories, in his previous life he was just an ordinary person without any training.

Coupled with the influence of hidden injuries in his body, his movements always ended up deformed.

Simply put, his brain knew how to do it, but his body didn't.

And this was just for simple punching and force application.

Footwork, spear techniques—these more complex things would probably be even worse.

As for the solution to this problem, there was only one: practice, repeated practice, until it became instinct.

"I have to get familiar with Force Application, footwork, spear techniques, and so on as quickly as possible during this time."

Qin Mu absolutely would not allow himself to meet the physical requirements by then, only to be eliminated because his fundamentals were too poor to execute properly.

He didn't test strength or speed anymore.

As for neural reaction speed, he knew without testing that it would definitely be terrible, so Qin Mu planned to practice spear techniques and footwork first, and test after he got familiar.

He walked to the weapon room door beside the training hall.

Pushing the door open and entering the weapon room, he saw a large array of weapons laid out inside: sabers, spears, swords, halberds, axes, hammers, and all eighteen kinds of arms on display.

Each type of weapon was further subdivided into various kinds. For example, spears included flower spears, great spears, double spears, double-headed spears, hook-sickles, and so on.

The original body trained with the spear.

Following his memory, Qin Mu picked up a spear he used to use often.

This was a Po Jun 2 Series long spear. The entire spear was forged from a special alloy, with a very hard shaft that also had some flexibility.

Qin Mu was 182cm tall, and this long spear was slightly taller than him.

Of course, this wasn't a real Po Jun 2 Series long spear, just a replica. It was similar in weight and appearance, and although it couldn't be used in actual combat, it was excellent for practice.

The spear is the king of a hundred weapons. As a long weapon, it has a great advantage when dealing with monsters, making it the first choice for many martial artists.

Even Hong, the world's number one powerhouse, used a spear as his weapon.

Picking up the Po Jun Spear, Qin Mu swung it a few times, and excitement surged in his heart.

As a man, who could resist a cold weapon like this?

Following the methods in his memory, Qin Mu began to practice.

Spear techniques have many varieties. The basics include thrust, stab, whip, strike, wrap, circle, block, seize, pounce, point, flick, and flower spin.

Among these, block, seize, and thrust are the main ones—the fundamental actions of spear arts.

Qin Mu practiced these three: block, seize, and thrust.

In his memory, the voice of the martial arts school instructor rang in his ears.

"A thrust must be level, fast, straight in and straight out, with force reaching the spear tip. The spear should thrust in a line, emerging like a hidden dragon leaving water, and withdrawing like a fierce tiger entering its cave."

After practicing for a while, Qin Mu still felt very rusty.

Although he had merged with the original body's memories and knew what to do in his head, his hands and feet just couldn't keep up. His movements always deformed, giving him a very awkward feeling.

"'A month for the staff, a year for the saber, a lifetime for the spear.' It really isn't easy to master the spear."

As he continued to practice, Qin Mu slowly began to find a bit of a feel for it.

"Oh? Mu-ge, long time no see at training. Are your injuries better?"

As time passed, some familiar students came over to practice and saw Qin Mu training hard.

Qin Mu looked up, withdrew his spear technique, and smiled back.

"A bit better. I haven't trained much for too long, so I've gotten rusty."

Half a year ago, when Qin Mu was training at the Limit Martial Arts School, he overdid it and was taken away by an ambulance—almost everyone knew about it.

After that injury, since he couldn't train, the original body rarely came to the Limit Martial Arts School anymore.

The newcomer didn't mind. After a few casual words, they each went off to their own training.

After a full day, aside from a few familiar faces who saw Qin Mu and expressed some concern, he threw all his energy into training without encountering any face-slapping or drama.

During training, his body still felt uncomfortable, but as long as he didn't go all out, it was bearable.

By evening, utterly exhausted, Qin Mu finally returned home.

After a quick wash and a bite to eat, he collapsed onto the bed.

"So satisfying."

Though his body was worn out, Qin Mu's heart was racing with excitement.

That feeling of wielding power was utterly intoxicating, especially the gradual strengthening—it was thrilling.

The Zerg larva's devouring progress was also pleasing; most of the three hundred jin of Unicorn Wild Boar meat had been eaten. The Worker Bug's energy accumulation had reached 3 points.

At this rate, by tomorrow morning, enough energy would be stored for its transformation.

Carried by excitement, Qin Mu drifted into sleep.

The next day, he woke up before five, even before his alarm went off.

"Phew, just as I thought, enough energy has accumulated to transform into a Worker Bug."

The three hundred jin of Unicorn Wild Boar meat was nearly gone, and the arm-sized larva's belly was slightly swollen.

The flesh had been devoured and converted into a high-density liquid energy stored inside its body.

Now, with just a command, the larva, which had accumulated 6 points of energy, could transform into a Worker Bug.

Bringing the larva to the living room, Qin Mu cleared out a spacious area and eagerly began the incubation.

"Incubate into a Worker Bug."

With a thought, the larva's body began to swell rapidly.

Like inflating, it turned into a pupa, pulsing like a heartbeat.

With each pulse, the pupa grew visibly larger.

In just fifteen minutes, the arm-sized larva became a giant pupa one and a half meters tall and nearly a meter wide.

With a cracking sound, a strange bug curled inside crawled out.

This bug resembled a giant ant, its face ferocious and terrifying, nearly two meters long, with six legs, a pair of pincers on its mouth, and a thick carapace on its back.

This was the Worker Bug, the most basic unit of the Zerg—a support unit for gathering resources and incubating various Zerg structures.

Though not a combat unit, the Worker Bug still possessed considerable strength.

Weighing over three hundred jin, its carapace could withstand light firearms, and its strength could easily lift objects dozens of times its own weight. Its speed was somewhat lacking, but its overall strength was at least H-class monster level.

The moment the Worker Bug broke out of its pupa, Qin Mu clearly felt a strong surge of warmth flowing through his body, spreading to every limb and bone.

"Incubation successful. My strength has indeed increased, and my injuries are much better."

Qin Mu clenched his fist, feeling the power within, his heart surging with excitement.

"I'll head to the martial arts hall later to test if I've reached the Pre-warrior level."

A smile spread across Qin Mu's face.

"But for now, I need to buy some meat first. The Worker Bug needs enough energy to incubate into a Mother Nest."

"Once the energy is stored up, I can have the Worker Bug use its innate ability to pupate and disguise itself as a monster egg. After I become a Pre-warrior, I'll take it outside the city."

"According to the Worker Bug's memories, transforming from a Worker Bug into a Nest requires 500 points of energy. That means the Worker Bug needs to devour at least 50,000 jin of ordinary pork, or 25,000 jin of Unicorn Wild Boar meat, to incubate into a Mother Nest."

Qin Mu did a quick calculation and couldn't help but wince.

Even if he bought cheap ordinary pork, 50,000 jin—that's 25 tons—would cost at least six or seven hundred thousand even at wholesale prices.

If he bought Unicorn Wild Boar meat, it would be over two million.

With that math, his current funds were nowhere near enough.