"This is the East Sea Legion's Black Iron Puppet."
Long Xiuyuan patted the metal device's outer shell. "It has no soul skills, but its reaction speed, strength, and combat experience all simulate the fighting techniques of military elites."
Situ Xuan's gaze narrowed slightly. He could sense the threat contained within the Mecha, like a slumbering savage beast.
"What you need to do is make it stop functioning within three minutes without using Soul Power."
Long Xiuyuan tossed him a restraint band. "Put this on. It'll restrict the flow of your Soul Power and ensure you can only use physical strength."
Situ Xuan took the restraint band and wrapped it around his wrist without hesitation. The metal clasp snapped shut with a click, and the Soul Power in his body rapidly receded like a tide.
"Three minutes."
Long Xiuyuan pressed the activation button. "Begin."
The Black Iron Puppet's eyes suddenly lit up with scarlet radiance. Its joints stretched with grinding mechanical clicks, and in the next second, it stomped the ground and charged at him like a cannonball!
Situ Xuan twisted aside. The puppet's fist grazed his cheek as it thundered past, instantly denting the metal wall behind him and leaving a clear fist mark.
"So fast!"
Situ Xuan's heart tightened. He immediately adjusted his breathing, and the breathing technique of the Fist of the North Star began circulating within him, further sharpening his muscular reflexes.
The puppet gave him no chance to catch his breath. Its next punch shot straight toward his abdomen!
Situ Xuan crossed his arms to block it. Bang!
The heavy blow sent him sliding back half a meter. His feet even left two shallow pits in the metal floor.
"Its strength is at least three times that of an ordinary one-ring Soul Master!"
Sweat dripped from Situ Xuan's forehead, yet his eyes only grew sharper.
The puppet's attack rhythm was incredibly fast. It shifted between fists, elbows, and knees without the slightest pause, like a perfect killing machine.
Situ Xuan continuously dodged and maneuvered through the dense barrage. His skin faintly burned amid the sparks from colliding with metal.
Thud!
Another heavy punch slammed into Situ Xuan's raised arm. He used the force to leap backward, adjusted his posture in midair, then surged forward the instant he landed, sweeping a low kick viciously at the puppet's knee joint!
However, the puppet reacted with astonishing speed. Its right leg pulled back slightly, causing Situ Xuan's kick to miss completely. It then smashed him across the shoulder blade with a backhanded punch!
"Ungh!"
Situ Xuan grunted and rolled to dissipate the force, but before he could regain his footing, the puppet had already leaped high into the air, its knee crashing down like a warhammer!
Bang!
Situ Xuan crossed his hands and took the blow head-on. The impact drove him to one knee, and spiderweb cracks even spread across the floor of the Training Room!
His arms throbbed with agony, and his chest heaved violently, but the fighting spirit in his eyes only burned hotter.
"Two minutes remaining."
Long Xiuyuan's voice sounded from the edge of the Training Room, completely devoid of emotion.
Situ Xuan gritted his teeth and abruptly raised his head. The puppet's second wave of attacks was already upon him!
I can't fight it head-on...
Images of his battle with Long Xiuyuan flashed through Situ Xuan's mind. Every one of Long Xiuyuan's attacks had avoided direct confrontation, seeking blind spots.
In that case—
Situ Xuan suddenly abandoned defense. His legs sank, lowering his center of gravity. The instant the puppet's fist was about to strike his face, he lunged forward in a crouch!
Whoosh!
The fist swept past his hair. Situ Xuan's arms clamped around the puppet's wrist like iron pincers, and he flipped with the momentum before flinging it away!
Boom!
The puppet was smashed into the floor by the powerful throw, its metal shell screeching harshly against the metal ground.
Yet it did not pause for even a second. It immediately rolled upright and kicked at Situ Xuan's chest!
Bang!
Situ Xuan was sent flying, his back slamming violently into the wall. A trace of blood rose in his throat. But he did not fall. Instead, the instant he landed, he sprang back up, his eyes flashing with a nearly bestial ferocity.
"One minute remaining," Long Xiuyuan's voice came.
Situ Xuan's chest rose and fell violently, sweat dripping from his chin, but he had no chance to rest. The puppet was already closing in again.
This time, he did not blindly clash with it. Instead, he watched every minute motion of the puppet—when its shoulders dipped slightly, it meant a punch; when its hips lifted faintly, it meant a change in leg technique.
I can see through it!
A sharp gleam flashed in Situ Xuan's eyes. The instant the puppet threw its right fist, he shifted aside like lightning. His left hand became a blade, chopping precisely at the puppet's wrist joint.
Crack!
The mechanical joint took a heavy blow, and the puppet's movements stalled slightly. Situ Xuan pushed off with his left foot, his right leg whipping into its head like a lash!
Boom!
The puppet staggered back, but quickly regained its balance and charged again.
"Thirty seconds remaining!" Long Xiuyuan's voice grew heavier.
Situ Xuan stared fixedly at the puppet, fighting spirit blazing in his eyes. In the next second, he took a deep breath and shot forward like an arrow released from a bow!
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Sparks from fists and elbows colliding exploded throughout the room. Situ Xuan's body seemed to turn into a weapon, every strike landing precisely upon the puppet's mechanical joints. Though both his arms were already bruised purple, his movements did not stop in the slightest.
"Ten seconds!" Long Xiuyuan called out the time.
Boom!
With his final punch, Situ Xuan's fist struck directly into the puppet's chest, hitting its Soul Guidance Core!
Crack—
A fissure split open across the core. The puppet's movements abruptly froze, its scarlet eyes went dark, and it finally crashed to the ground.
"Time's up," Long Xiuyuan said flatly.
Situ Xuan staggered back two steps. In his bedraggled state, he hardly looked like the victor at all.
But that tangible sensation—the savagery of battle, of slaughter—filled him with incomparable exhilaration!
This... was real battle!
"Can we go again?"
Before Long Xiuyuan could speak, Situ Xuan raised his head and asked with a fierce glint in his eyes.
That look was not directed at Long Xiuyuan. Rather, amid the battle, the vicious energy hidden in Situ Xuan's chest was being unleashed, while the desire rooted deep in his bones roared!
"Hmph."
Long Xiuyuan stared steadily at this youth who resembled no youth at all, whether in height, build, or temperament. Then he nodded. "Then we'll do it again."
Long Xiuyuan simply and roughly tore out the Soul Guidance Core from the puppet's chest. After replacing it with a new one, he clapped his hands. "From now on, you may use every means at your disposal to defeat it."
After saying that, perhaps because Long Xiuyuan had done something, the Soul Guidance Core—which should have had no protection at all—was now surrounded by a thin membrane of Soul Power. This meant its former weakness no longer existed...
"Just what I wanted!"
Situ Xuan bared his teeth. The surging fighting spirit made him feel unrestrained, while the rushing Blood Qi filled him with delight!
Only battle! Only violence! Never hold back!
"Fight!"
Situ Xuan let out a low roar. Every muscle in his body tightened like steel cables, and the metal floor beneath his feet trembled with a hum. He waited no longer, suddenly bursting forward, every step crushing a dent into the ground—at this moment, he had completely shattered the shackles restraining his hidden fighting spirit!
The Black Iron Puppet's scarlet eyes locked onto him. It spread its arms and met him head-on!
Bang—!
The collision of fist against fist sent a visible shockwave rippling outward.
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