The Suffocating Power, Long Xingyu's Special Training

No Edge moved.

A blood-red aura instantly swept from the Shadow Instructor toward him.

Long Haoyu stood rooted to the spot. He had seen the Shadow Instructor use Internal Spiritual Power in actual combat to perform Knight Skills many times before.

But now, the Shadow Instructor's plain, unremarkable downward slash gave him an entirely different experience.

It was just like when he had first felt the Shadow Instructor simulate the sensation of activating his bloodline power.

Watching the Shadow Instructor swing No Edge at him, Long Haoyu also wanted to raise No Edge and meet the attack.

But beneath that suffocating power, No Edge in his hand seemed to weigh a thousand tons. He did not even have the strength to lift his head.

In his vision, the No Edge in the Shadow Instructor's hand grew larger and larger, drawing ever closer.

Long Haoyu's eyes widened as he watched helplessly as No Edge cleaved down from above.

A Blood Lotus bloomed within the Shadow Space.

Just like all the times he had been cut down before, Long Haoyu gave a remarkably clean performance of dying on the spot.

Using the peculiar properties of the Shadow Space, he was quickly revived once more.

His body was whole, without a single trace of having been slain.

But unlike his previous on-the-spot deaths, where he would revive at full strength and everything that had happened felt like a dream—

This time, after being revived, Long Haoyu looked at the Shadow Instructor, who was still maintaining the Perfect Self state.

The chill in his heart had not faded. The feeling of being shrouded by death was still raging within him.

"So this is the power of my most perfect state?"

"Under such power, the current me does not even have the strength to fight back."

"And even though I've already died once, after reviving, I can still feel that same suffocation."

Long Haoyu muttered in a low voice.

Only after personally experiencing it once did he realize just how terrifying the power dormant within him truly was.

According to what he knew from his original memories,

his grandfather was the current emperor of the Heaven-Defying Demon Dragon Clan, the Demon God Emperor of the Demon Race.

The only being in the world who had surpassed Million Spiritual Power!

But he had only learned such things from books. He merely knew that Million Spiritual Power was incredibly exaggerated.

Even the fact that the Heaven-Defying Demon Dragon Clan was born at the Seventh Order and reached the Eighth Order upon adulthood was something he had learned in the same way.

He had never possessed any truly tangible basis for comparison.

But now...

He understood that terror, and he understood just how powerful such strength truly was.

At the same realm, releasing the power within his bloodline gave him an increase far beyond what conventional cultivation could provide.

"Now then, are you certain you still want me to remain in this state and fight you from now on?" the Shadow Instructor asked at that moment.

Long Haoyu grinned. "Though I died quite cleanly, combat in this state is exactly what I need most."

"After all, I intend to walk the path of a Retribution Knight. If I retreat just because I feel the vast difference in strength and fear, how could I still have the nerve to call myself a Retribution Knight?!"

The Shadow Instructor understood Long Haoyu's meaning and nodded slightly. "Then all future combat training will proceed this way!"

"I hope you can persevere as you always have and climb to the true pinnacle!"

Long Haoyu nodded solemnly.

He did not remain in the Shadow Space as he had before.

Although he had only died once, which was far too little compared to the dozens or hundreds of times in the past,

this death on the spot had left him feeling truly exhausted.

There was no point in remaining in the Shadow Space any longer.

Returning to reality, Long Haoyu opened his eyes, his forehead already covered in a fine layer of sweat.

"Little Coal Ball, did anything change about me just now?" Long Haoyu asked.

No Edge replied, "Yes. Master, you stimulated the power of the bloodline within your body. In that state, you gave off a dangerous, suffocating feeling."

Long Haoyu thought that was indeed the case. He glanced toward Long Xingyu and Bai Yue's room and only relaxed after seeing that nothing was amiss.

"Got it. Go back for now! You'll need to keep watch and help me with this kind of cultivation from now on." Going by feel, Long Haoyu grabbed the Wu Feng Sword Spirit, rubbed it, then pressed it toward No Edge.

The Sword Spirit slowly merged with No Edge. Only after a long while did a mutter emerge: "Master, I have a name. I'm not called Little Coal Ball."

Long Haoyu smiled faintly, wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, and finally began meditating to cultivate.

The next day.

Long Xingyu honored the bet. After finishing the morning chores and preparing breakfast, he brought Long Haoyu and Long Haochen to Mount Odin.

Seeing that there were no more iron cages holding Magic Beasts, confusion flashed through both Long Haoyu's and Long Haochen's eyes.

"Dad, aren't we fighting Magic Beasts today?" Long Haochen asked.

Long Xingyu nodded. "That's right. You won't be fighting Magic Beasts. After yesterday's training, I observed the problems you two have."

"Haochen, because your brother is here, you are somewhat constrained. So starting today, I still plan to have you cultivate alone in the Owl Ant Nest."

"And the Owl Ant Nest's training is no longer of much help to your brother, so I am arranging different Special Training for him."

Long Haochen was the typical obedient child. Seeing Long Xingyu's arrangement, he reflected on his training from yesterday.

"Dad, I understand. I'll work hard to catch up to my brother!" Long Haochen promised.

Long Xingyu smiled faintly, then turned his gaze to Long Haoyu.

"Haoyu, today I'll be putting you through Special Training. Are you prepared?" Long Xingyu asked.

Long Haoyu asked in return, "What kind of Special Training?"

"Actual combat!"

Long Xingyu said, "I will suppress my strength to your current level and use this method to teach you genuine combat techniques."

Long Haoyu suddenly understood. He seemed to have figured out why his cheap old man had abruptly decided to change the training method.

Combined with what had happened last night, his old man still had not given up on making Long Haochen walk the path of a Retribution Knight.

Separating their training—wasn't it obvious that he was worried Long Haochen would continue being led astray by him?

This old man was really petty.

"Haoyu, do you have any objections?" Seeing that Long Haoyu did not immediately agree, Long Xingyu asked again.

Long Haoyu shook his head. He removed No Edge, took a step back, and assumed a stance ready to undergo actual-combat Special Training at any moment.

He had seen what his true Perfect Self state was like in the Shadow Space, and his battle with the Scorpion Tail Lizard yesterday had also brought him some insight.

The actual-combat Special Training arranged by his petty old man happened to suit all his current needs.

Besides, the practical combat techniques of a Divine Seal Knight were certainly worth learning.

And beyond that, he also wanted to see just how many Divine Seal Knights of the Same Realm his Perfect Self could measure up to.

Long Xingyu was somewhat surprised. Seeing that Long Haoyu had no objections to these arrangements, the worry in his heart slowly eased.

But when he met Long Haoyu's eager eyes, his heart inexplicably skipped a beat again.

Is this kid plotting something again?

Why did he become so eagerly excited the moment he heard about actual-combat training?!