The Turtle Hermit School's Training (End)

Zhou Zilong nodded, put on his hard hat, and prepared to begin his new training.

The construction site roared with machinery as workers busily hauled materials. Zhou Zilong stood to the side, observing their methods. He took a deep breath, sensing the scent of dust and sweat permeating the air—an experience he had never known before, yet he understood this was a necessary path for growth.

He picked up a shovel and began to scoop up the dirt on the ground. He swung the shovel with force, tossing the soil into a wheelbarrow; each swing made him feel his strength gradually increasing.

As time passed, Zhou Zilong's clothes became soaked with sweat and his face was covered in dust, but his eyes shone with a resolute light. He shoveled and pushed the cart, repeating this seemingly simple motion. His hands were rubbed raw and red, but he did not stop. He knew that only through unremitting effort and persistence could one become a true warrior.

Master Roshi stood to the side, watching Zhou Zilong quietly, before secretly discussing something with the foreman.

As time wore on, Zhou Zilong gradually adapted to the rhythm of the construction site. His shoveling speed grew faster and his wheelbarrow handling became steadier. In the end, the foreman gave Master Roshi a day's wages for six people.

At 5:00 PM, when the last brick was laid at the site, Zhou Zilong followed Master Roshi to the side of a tranquil lake. The sunset's afterglow bathed the island, and the golden light made the surface of the lake shimmer.

Master Roshi pointed to the opposite bank and said to Zhou Zilong, "Zilong, you have shed enough sweat for today." Master Roshi stroked his white beard, a satisfied smile on his face. "The next training is swimming. This will not only exercise your physical strength but also improve your endurance and perseverance. Swim to the other side and back—ten laps of that!"

Zhou Zilong nodded; he was already accustomed to Master Roshi's rigorous training. He took off his outer shirt, revealing his sturdy muscles, took a deep breath, and plunged into the lake.

The lake water was crystal clear, and Zhou Zilong felt as if he had entered a brand-new world. He swam forward with all his might, every stroke feeling like a struggle against his own limits.

The training in the lake was not easy, and Zhou Zilong soon felt exhausted. But he did not give up; he knew this was a test set by Master Roshi. He gritted his teeth and continued to swim forward.

As time passed, Zhou Zilong gradually adapted to the environment in the lake. His speed increased and his stamina began to recover. He felt as if he had merged with the water, every breath filled with power.

Just then, he suddenly felt a strong sense of crisis. He looked up and saw a giant shark swimming toward him.

Zhou Zilong was startled, but he quickly calmed down. He knew this was a test intentionally arranged by Master Roshi. He took a deep breath, adjusting his breathing and rhythm. He no longer swam desperately as before, but instead used the force of the currents and the shark's trajectory to skillfully dodge its attacks.

The shark seemed provoked by Zhou Zilong's movements; it accelerated and launched even more ferocious attacks. But Zhou Zilong was not afraid. Using his wit and courage, he dodged the shark's attacks time and time again. He felt his heart filled with strength, as if he could overcome any difficulty.

At that moment, Master Roshi's voice rang in Zhou Zilong's ears: "Zilong, remember, a true warrior must not only have powerful strength but also a calm mind and firm conviction. Only then can you remain undefeated when facing a powerful enemy!"

Hearing Master Roshi's words, Zhou Zilong felt a stir in his heart, as if he had understood something. He took a deep breath and lunged forward. He stopped dodging the shark's attacks and instead charged straight at it. He struck the shark's head hard with his fist; the shark let out a pained cry and sank to the bottom of the lake.

After the swimming training ended, Master Roshi led Zhou Zilong to a large tree. The tree towered into the clouds, its branches lush and thick, as if it were a guardian of nature. Master Roshi untied a very thick rope from his waist and tied one end to Zhou Zilong's waist.

"Zilong, this is the final training for today," Master Roshi said, pointing to the rope. "This rope will limit your range of movement, and your task is to effectively dodge the enemy's ten thousand needle attack within that range!"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Zilong's heart tightened. He knew that while this training seemed simple, it was exceptionally difficult in practice. He needed to stay vigilant at all times and react quickly, otherwise, he would be stung by those tiny needle-like points. Although Xiao Ling had granted him the ability of a steel body, he did not know to what extent this current steel body could withstand such things.

Seeing Zhou Zilong's tense expression, Master Roshi smiled slightly, then quietly walked to the tree. He gave a light leap, jumped onto a branch, and struck the tree with force, knocking down a hornet's nest.

"Bzzzz--"

A harsh buzzing sound erupted as a large swarm of angry hornets flew out of the nest, their target being none other than Zhou Zilong, who stood rooted to the spot.

Seeing this, Zhou Zilong immediately focused his mind, preparing to deal with this sudden attack. He clenched his fists tightly, his eyes locked on the incoming hornets.

However, just as he prepared to counterattack, he discovered that the hornets were incredibly fast and numerous; it was impossible to knock them all down at once. He grew anxious, wanting to move quickly to dodge the attack, but the rope at his waist restricted his range of motion.

"Calm down! Calm down!" Zhou Zilong admonished himself in his heart. He took a deep breath and began to move his body slowly, attempting to dodge the hornets' attacks by adjusting his posture and footwork.

However, this was no easy task. The hornets' attacks were dense and rapid. If Zhou Zilong was even slightly careless, he would be stung. Although it wouldn't cause damage, it was incredibly annoying. He could only constantly adjust his body posture and breathing rhythm to cope with these attacks.

In the process, Zhou Zilong's reaction speed and physical coordination were greatly exercised. He gradually became able to accurately judge the trajectory and speed of the hornets' attacks and make quick decisions to dodge them.

Finally, after half an hour, Zhou Zilong successfully dodged all the hornets' attacks. He felt as if his body had become lighter and more agile. He looked up toward the branch where Master Roshi was, only to see the master watching him with a smile.

"Not bad! Zilong, you did very well!" Master Roshi praised him loudly. "You have successfully completed today's training mission!"

The next day, Zhou Zilong began the same training path as the day before, but with one difference: this time, Master Roshi made him carry a turtle shell weighing about 20 pounds on his back.