Devil Training

Devil Training

"Explorer Academy? Ningdong University has a major like that?"

"Yes. It's an educational institution established by Dawnland's government and the Yuan Cultivation Society to recruit talented people. It is generally affiliated with renowned domestic universities. Including Ningdong University, five schools offer this major... Of course, unlike ordinary majors, Explorer Academy is directly administered by the Yuan Cultivation Society and managed separately from regular students. It mainly teaches knowledge related to Vital Energy and exploring Different Worlds."

"Besides the unstable Chaos World, which periodically summons Vital Energy Cultivators, the Main World is also connected to many Different Worlds with vastly different styles. To enter those worlds, one must pass through 'gates' located throughout the Main World. Other than Treasure Tools obtained from the Chaos World, no items can pass through these gates. So when exploring other worlds, aside from our limited Treasure Tools, we can rely only on our own strength."

"The original purpose of cultivating Vital Energy was to help humanity explore other worlds. Explorers secretly learn technology and acquire knowledge from those worlds, helping human society develop and advance. They monitor the movements of otherworldly civilizations and monsters, ensuring the Main World's stability and peace... Every year, in Dawnland alone, hundreds or even thousands of Vital Energy Cultivators die exploring other worlds. They are heroes unknown to the public."

"Explorer Academy is where such heroes are trained."

A hero's profession, huh...

Luo Jun looked at the Admission Ticket in his hand, his eyelids gradually growing heavy. Half-asleep, he heard Old Yuan's final addition by his ear:

"We won't treat heroes poorly, either. Even entry-level explorers earn a monthly salary of thirty thousand, with six types of insurance and two pension funds. There are bonuses for meritorious service as well..."

"Hehehe..."

In his sleep, the corner of Luo Jun's mouth curled upward unconsciously.

Over the following days, Luo Jun went to Ningyuan Mountain every morning at dawn to undergo his master's Devil Training.

First came combat training every morning.

Old Yuan had installed a Mechanical Puppet in an open area near the pavilion. Powered by a "battery" that stored Vital Energy, it looked humanoid, but had three heads and six arms. Every joint in its body could rotate in all directions. In battle, it could perform every human technique, imitate many inhuman monsters, and even execute movements beyond biological limits.

Facing such an omnidirectional sparring partner with no blind spots, Luo Jun spent nearly every morning getting beaten up...

Of course, his master had not taught him nothing. He drilled basic knowledge into Luo Jun's head—techniques for exerting force, movement details to prevent injury, and methods for circulating Vital Energy. But the ever-changing techniques of actual combat could only be comprehended through experience.

At noon, Old Yuan would bring Luo Jun food and use a Treasure Tool to treat his injuries. It was a rare-level device resembling a portable electrocardiogram. As long as his bones and tendons were not injured, once connected to it, all the aches and injuries across his body would recover completely within half an hour.

After a brief but wonderful lunch break came the afternoon's activity—the Trial Stone Steps!

With the Overseer Belt around his waist, he struggled to maintain the circulation of Vital Energy within his body as he climbed endlessly, again and again. It was a test of stamina and perseverance.

The intensity of this training made Luo Jun feel that if he had worked this hard earlier, getting into Ningdong University through studying would not have been a dream...

Of course, now that he had taken Old Yuan as his master, Old Yuan would not let him return to school.

According to Old Yuan, Ningdong Explorer Academy recruited students every year. Admission Tickets began to be issued after the New Year each year, with the Yuan Cultivation Society Ningdong Branch responsible for their distribution. Candidates only needed to be between fifteen and thirty years old; all other restrictions were practically nonexistent.

These Admission Tickets were generally divided into two portions. One was kept at the Ningdong Branch headquarters, where anyone meeting the age requirement could register. Since anyone who knew about this exam would certainly understand Vital Energy and Different Worlds, people within the circle could obtain eligibility after a simple review. If they ran out of Admission Tickets, they could simply print more.

The remaining portion was issued to Ordinary People.

Because the existence of Different Worlds and Vital Energy was concealed from the public, this exam could not be widely announced. The Yuan Cultivation Society essentially had the final say in reviewing qualifications.

The organization selected outstanding talents from all walks of life, from schools and society alike. As long as they believed someone possessed excellent qualities suited to the explorer profession, they would make contact. After explaining the stakes, they would issue an Admission Ticket to anyone willing to give it a try. Those unwilling to participate would have the relevant memories erased.

When exploring other worlds, besides martial strength, an intelligent mind, a calm temperament, adaptability, specialized skills, and more could all play important roles. By comparison, Vital Energy was a required course after enrollment. It would not be too late to learn it after getting in, so it was not a particularly important factor in the exam.

That was why age was the only requirement. Those under fifteen had not fully matured physically and could not endure high-intensity training. For those over thirty, it was already somewhat late to cultivate Vital Energy and learn skills.

After all, they might be forced into retirement in another five years...

Basically, after half a year of distributing tickets, more than a thousand people took Ningdong University's explorer entrance exam every year. Of those, only around twenty percent typically stood out and enrolled successfully.

According to Old Yuan, other than his physical fitness, Luo Jun had basically no special talents. To pass the exam, he could only maximize his own advantages!

So the training had to be arranged!

And so, after a week, Luo Jun finally began adapting to the intensity of the training. His sparring matches against the Mechanical Puppet went from one-sided beatings to actual exchanges, and the injuries on his body at noon became fewer and fewer. As for the Trial Stone Steps, he could already climb all the way to the small pavilion in one go without triggering the belt's punishment!

This was not merely because his Vital Energy reserves had increased. More importantly, Luo Jun's control over Vital Energy had grown stronger. The Vital Energy that had once been easily drained away and dispersed could now be firmly confined within his body, producing the greatest effect with the least consumption.

Feeling himself grow stronger, Luo Jun became increasingly confident, his eyes shining brightly.

"Looks like the recent training has been effective."

That morning, Old Yuan stood in the clearing, watching the confident Luo Jun warm up. He walked behind the Mechanical Puppet, opened its armor plating, and fiddled with something inside.

"Come on, be careful!" After finishing the adjustments, Old Yuan stepped out of the clearing and smiled faintly at Luo Jun.

"What's there to be careful about?" Luo Jun watched the Mechanical Puppet charge toward him. We've been old acquaintances for so many days. Who doesn't know the other by now?

But the moment the Mechanical Puppet closed in, its speed suddenly increased sharply. At the same time, its waist twisted at a bizarre angle as it attacked in a posture Luo Jun had never seen before!

"A new move?" Caught completely off guard, Luo Jun hurriedly raised a defense in panic. But he felt a tremendous force strike him, sending his entire body flying. He spun twice mid-air, crashed into a tree, then bounced off and fell to the ground.

Luo Jun climbed to his feet, covered in dirt. He moved his joints and stared at the Mechanical Puppet in the clearing with a stunned expression.

Something's wrong. Something was definitely wrong!

Seeing how bedraggled he looked, Old Yuan gave a cold laugh. "Didn't I tell you? The Mechanical Puppet's difficulty setting can be adjusted. It was on level one before. Now it's on level two."

"This is level two?" Luo Jun swallowed. "That's a pretty huge difference... How many levels are there altogether, Master?"

Old Yuan smiled faintly and held up five fingers.

"I'm not asking much of you. As long as you can last through level three before the exam, you'll be considered qualified!"

"Who are you looking down on?" Luo Jun gritted his teeth. "I'll definitely make it through level five for you to see!"

After making that bold declaration, Luo Jun charged back into the clearing. Three seconds later, he flew out again...

After barely enduring the morning's training, lunch and recovery finally brought him to the beloved stair-climbing portion of the day.

The Trial Stone Steps that had filled Luo Jun with dread a week ago were no longer much of a challenge. Maintaining an even breath and steady pace, he climbed all the way to the small pavilion, only to find that Old Yuan had not left today.

"Master, you have so much free time today." He greeted him while turning to head back down the mountain.

"Wait..." Old Yuan suddenly stopped him. "Today's training has changed."

As he spoke, he pointed behind him at the stone steps extending all the way to the mountaintop. "Keep climbing!"

"Huh?" Luo Jun froze, raising a hand to point at the steps beyond the small pavilion. "Don't tell me..."

Old Yuan nodded. "When did I ever tell you the Trial Stone Steps ended at the pavilion?"

The light in Luo Jun's eyes vanished completely...

The stone steps above the small pavilion offered even greater resistance. Luo Jun once again experienced the Overseer Belt's punishment and the agony of his muscles giving out...

(End of Chapter)