Half a Year of Training, Spear Like a Dragon

Winter in Shrek City always carried a crisp chill in the air, mingled with the distinctive ozone scent produced by operating Soul Tools. Yet at the Xiao Family's private training grounds on the outskirts, the changing seasons seemed to bring not the slightest slackening. Instead, they made the atmosphere of hard work even more palpable.

But inside the dedicated cultivation chamber beneath the Xiao Family villa, the temperature remained as constant as spring. Only the faint scorched smell left behind by air torn apart through high-frequency vibrations showed that this place had just endured a brutal ordeal.

The morning mist had long since dispersed, replaced by the rising heat generated by intense exertion.

The practice room's heavy alloy doors slid open soundlessly. A small figure stood in the center of the room, like an eternal statue, yet also like a fully drawn bow ready to loose its arrow.

Xiao Cheng.

At six years old, he was still slender, even carrying a hint of gauntness unfitting for his age. Yet the instant he settled into a firm horse stance, dropped his shoulders and elbows, and loosely gripped the air with both hands, an indescribable presence spread from his slight body. This was not the oppressive force created by released Soul Power, but a concentration born purely from a martial artist's essence, spirit, and vitality.

Azure Sky Divine Spear!

Azure light flowed as the Azure Sky Snake Martial Soul that had accompanied him for half a year no longer coiled around his arm. Instead, it twisted, stretched, and hardened in a visually striking transformation. Its body became the shaft, its scales became fine patterns along the spear, and its raised head opened its jaws, from which a gleaming, icy spearhead extended as if it could pierce the void itself.

A beast Martial Soul becoming a weapon! This was the Azure Sky Snake Martial Soul's uniquely bestowed talent. It broke free from the limitations of beast Martial Souls merely strengthening the body and weapon Martial Souls merely emphasizing technique, perfectly merging power and skill.

"Hu—"

Xiao Cheng slowly exhaled a breath of stale air. White mist spread through the temperature-controlled chamber, carrying a faint trace of rust. He did not rush to attack, instead taking the most fundamental stance—and the one that killed a thousand enemies at the cost of eight hundred to himself: the level spear stance.

The spearhead lowered at a forty-five-degree angle to the ground. It looked completely unguarded, yet in truth sealed off every vital point around him.

"Thrust!"

His low shout exploded through the vast, deathly silent practice room, sharper even than the sound of the spearhead ripping through the air.

Whoosh!

The spear shaft trembled slightly, driving the spearhead forward like a venomous snake flicking out its tongue, shooting straight at a thick hardwood post three feet away. The first thrust missed by half an inch. The tip scraped past the edge of the post with a sharp hiss, leaving behind a shallow, scorched mark.

Xiao Cheng frowned slightly, not because of the failure, but because of the deeply ingrained sense of unfamiliarity in this body.

In his previous life, he had been a renowned martial arts grandmaster. His spear techniques might not have reached the realm of divine mastery, but they were certainly superb. Man and spear had become one; he was the spear, and the spear was him.

But now, though his soul carried the memories of two lifetimes, this six-year-old body was like a blank sheet of paper that had never been written upon.

His muscle memory needed to be reshaped, his neural reflexes rebuilt, and even the rhythm of his breathing had to be adjusted to the lung capacity of this young body.

Every thrust felt as though he were separated by a thick pane of frosted glass, unable to achieve the smooth, effortless control he once possessed.

"Again!"

He gritted his teeth and withdrew the spear. Power surged through his waist and hips as he slowly sank the breath from his dantian into the soles of his feet. It felt like trying to use the Soul Tool core of an interstellar battleship to power a tiny skiff—too much force, yet impossible to control with precision.

The second thrust, the third thrust... The sounds of air tearing grew increasingly dense, changing from initial whooshes into a continuous humming tremor. The spear shaft drew afterimages through the air, leaving layer upon layer of dense spiral marks on the wooden post.

Thick calluses had long formed between his thumb and forefinger. Now, repeatedly rubbed by the spear shaft, they burned with piercing pain. Yet he clutched the shaft tightly, his knuckles whitening from exertion, unwilling to relax even slightly.

Rustle, rustle...

The fine sounds of the spear shaft rubbing against his palm seemed like the language through which he conversed with this body. Sweat rolled down from his temples and struck the cold shaft, instantly shattering into droplets before rapidly evaporating from the heat generated by the high-speed movements.

Suddenly, he closed his eyes and stopped looking at the wooden post. What emerged in his mind were no longer stances, but scenes from his past life—countless moments when he had wielded his spear at the edge of life and death, and the path of blood and qi surging like rivers when the Dragon Transformation Sutra circulated. The Azure Sky Divine Spear in his hands was no longer merely a weapon. It seemed to become an extension of his limbs, a part of his bones.

The spear swept horizontally like an iron chain barring a river—unmatched in strength, carrying the momentum of Sweep Across the Army. Then it suddenly rose like a startled swan skimming over water, light and agile, its tip tracing a graceful arc through the air.

With his eyes closed, he felt every subtle vibration transmitted through the shaft. It was as though he could touch the faint currents flowing through the air through the cold spear body itself, and sense the rhythm of bamboo leaves drifting down beyond the window.

Bang!

The butt of the spear suddenly halted and smashed heavily into specially made blue bricks, making the floor tremble as a deep boom rang out. Xiao Cheng opened his eyes, a sharp glint flashing through them like lightning splitting the night sky. When he looked again at the wooden post, the spearhead had stopped steadily at its center. The spear tassel hung down without the slightest sway.

Letting out a long breath, Xiao Cheng felt the blood and qi throughout his body circulate with the spear's momentum, leaving him thoroughly exhilarated. The shaft in his palm still held residual warmth, as though what had danced with the spear just now was not flesh and blood, but his extended sinews and bones.

"Father's spear techniques emphasize unpredictability. Using the spatial attribute of the Azure Sky Snake Martial Soul, he often kills with a single strike."

Xiao Cheng murmured to himself as he withdrew the Azure Sky Divine Spear, returning it to its Azure Sky Snake Martial Soul form around his arm. The little snake seemed somewhat tired from the earlier exertion, its scales gently rising and falling. "The spear techniques from my past life, meanwhile, place greater emphasis on intent and force—coiling, twisting, killing, and ever-changing transformations. Now, I need to fuse the two. The Power of Empty Green is the key binding agent."

For the past half year, he had barely stepped outside, pouring all his energy into this hellish training.

He also cultivated the Dragon Transformation Sutra every night. Day and night, it nourished the Azure Sky Snake Martial Soul, making it increasingly solid. The once-illusory snake silhouette now faintly exuded the majesty of a true dragon, while the azure light upon its scales grew deeper and deeper.

And Xiao Ran, a Rank 97 Super Douluo and a master of spear Martial Souls, had taught him everything he knew without reservation.

"Cheng'er, watch carefully." In his memories, Xiao Ran had once held a specially made Soul Tool spear while standing in a courtyard ravaged by a blizzard. Without using a single soul ring skill, he merely delivered an ordinary thrust.

Screech—!

The spearhead tore through the air with a piercing shriek, as though even space had been split apart. Xiao Cheng could even see the air before the tip compressed into a visible cone-shaped ripple, instantly piercing through an alloy target half a meter thick from a hundred meters away! A smooth, mirror-like hole appeared in the center of the target, yet there was not the slightest deformation around it, demonstrating just how concentrated the force had been.

"This is the ultimate enhancement the Power of Empty Green grants to physical attacks. The swiftness of wind and the penetration of space, fused into one—nothing can withstand it." Xiao Ran withdrew his spear, his tone as calm as if he were merely commenting on the pleasant weather. "Your body cannot yet withstand an eruption of that intensity, but you can use the principle to improve the speed and sharpness of your thrusts. Remember: speed is not the goal. Accuracy is the foundation."

Thus began these tedious yet crucial basic drills every morning. Even the slightest improvement required tens of thousands of repetitions.

Beyond spear techniques, Xiao Ran also taught him to spread the Power of Empty Green over his entire body, forming an invisible "domain" or "barrier." This could not only strengthen his defenses, but also greatly improve his reaction speed and evasion ability.

Perhaps Xiao Cheng's Spirit Connection Realm spiritual power of 239 provided him with tremendous calculation and control abilities. His progress in this area was rapid, and he had even independently grasped how to perform short-range spatial Teleportation within a ten-meter radius around himself. Though each use consumed a great deal of Soul Power, pouring away like floodwaters through open floodgates, it was an extraordinary technique for preserving his life or launching surprise attacks.

As for cultivating his Body Martial Soul, Mu Wan's method was far simpler and rougher—train! Train until he dropped!

It was not merely Soul Power cultivation, but the pure tempering of physical fitness. Weighted cross-country runs, strength training, agility drills... all kinds of bizarre training equipment.

Mu Wan wore a tight training outfit that outlined her graceful figure, but her bearing was several degrees more solemn than usual. She held several items in her hands: a smooth white jade vial and a sealed amber-colored jar that emitted a faint fishy smell.

Mu Wan's voice was calm, but it carried unquestionable authority. "A Body Martial Soul is about uncovering one's own potential. Soul rings and soul spirits are external forces. A powerful body is the foundation."

Although Xiao Cheng's physical strength would also grow as he cultivated the Dragon Transformation Sutra, that was far too slow. The body-tempering methods from his previous life's martial world—bone forging, tendon cleansing, blood tempering, marrow purging, and the like—required practitioners to be at least fifteen or sixteen years old, and to possess sufficient physical strength.

At only six years old, Xiao Cheng had not yet reached the age to cultivate martial arts in his previous life's martial world. Although the existence of Martial Souls on the Douluo Continent meant one did not necessarily have to wait until fifteen or sixteen to cultivate, six was still far too young.

The various high-intensity training programs Mu Wan taught Xiao Cheng were also experiences accumulated by the Body Sect over ten thousand years of body tempering, more than enough for the current Xiao Cheng.

The Mystic Water Pill, Millennium Whale Glue, and other spiritual treasures capable of cleansing tendons, purging marrow, and greatly replenishing pure yang energy had long been prepared. The dark green medicinal liquid brewed from numerous rare herbs emitted a rich medicinal fragrance, along with an ache-inducing sting.

While soaking in the medicinal bath, Xiao Cheng often grimaced in pain, feeling as though every pore in his body was being pierced by needles of medicine. But the results were equally obvious. His physical strength improved at a visible rate, and beneath his skin flowed a faint jade-like luster.

What came with it was a visibly stronger physique and terrifying core strength. Today was the day to test the results of these six months of hellish tempering.

The practice room doors slid open once more, and Xiao Ran and Mu Wan entered side by side. In half a year, Xiao Cheng had clearly grown a little taller. His eyes had also become deeper and brighter, as though they held a sea of stars. His every movement carried less childishness and more composure and power than his age should have allowed.

"Father, Mother." Xiao Cheng's movement as he withdrew the spear flowed as smoothly as clouds and water. His spear techniques could now barely be considered to have entered the hall.

Xiao Ran looked his son up and down, his eyes full of satisfaction. Naturally, he could see the hard work Xiao Cheng had put in over the past half year. The dense spear marks on the wooden post, which had nearly cut it in half, were the best proof. He stepped forward and placed his right hand on Xiao Cheng's shoulder. A stream of pure, gentle Soul Power entered Xiao Cheng's body and traveled once through his meridians.

"Level fifteen." Xiao Ran withdrew his hand and nodded, a trace of undisguised amazement in his voice. "The density of his Soul Power is at least five times that of an ordinary Level 15 Soul Master. His foundation is solid—far beyond expectations."

Mu Wan smiled as well. She stepped forward gently and wiped the sweat from her son's forehead with a warm towel. "You've worked hard, Cheng'er. Over the past half year, you've barely rested for a single day."

Xiao Cheng grinned, revealing a row of small white teeth and a hint of innocence belonging to a six-year-old child. "It wasn't hard! Once my body got used to it, it was fine. Father, Mother, can I go to the Spirit Ascension Platform today?"

He had been impatient for a long time. His hands had gone numb from striking wooden posts. If he did not fight something alive soon, he would forget what battle felt like.

Xiao Ran and Mu Wan exchanged a glance, complicated emotions flashing through their eyes. There was gratification at their son's growth, as well as worry at sending a fledgling eagle from the nest. He nodded and said solemnly, "That's right. It's time for you to see blood and experience real combat.

The Spirit Ascension Platform is not a practice room. Although the soul beasts inside are energy-formed illusions, the pain and neural feedback are one hundred percent real. Once you enter, you have only one goal—survive, while familiarizing yourself with battle as much as possible. Remember, your Azure Sky Snake soul spirit can provide support, but do not rely on it too heavily. Your spear techniques, your Power of Empty Green, and the physique of your Body Martial Soul are the foundations that will let you stand firm."

"Also," Xiao Ran added, a sly glint flashing through his eyes as his tone softened slightly, "if you encounter a particularly dangerous situation, you can call out 'Father.' Although the Spirit Ascension Platform has safety mechanisms, I left an extra safeguard over there. I'll pull you out immediately. Of course, I hope you never need to use it."

Upon hearing that, Xiao Cheng's little face stiffened. He clenched his small fists and declared with complete conviction, "Don't worry, Father! I definitely won't call for you! That would be too embarrassing!"

What a joke. He was a veteran with the experience of two lifetimes. What great scenes had he not seen in his past life? Even if he could not win, he still had Teleportation. He could always run away.

"Let's go. We're setting off."

Xiao Ran waved a broad hand and led his wife and son out of the cultivation chamber.

The Soul Tool flying car started up again, this time heading for—the Spirit Ascension Platform.

The Spirit Pagoda's Spirit Ascension Platform stood at the very center of a completely silvery-white tower base. The entire structure resembled a gigantic milky-white crystal egg overturned upon the ground, its surface flowing with pale-blue Soul Tool energy patterns. Fine threads of light slowly moved across its hemispherical dome. From afar, it looked like a river of stars frozen in midair.

Here, Xiao Cheng would display the results of his half year of diligent cultivation.