Chapter 541: Chapter 342: The Newcomer of Special Interest
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Finally, after passing through several gardens, buildings, and terraces, the servant leading Yan Xiaobao reached the outskirts of the castle, where the vast green fields stretched far and wide. Thousands of humanoid beasts stood in the cold morning air, divided into different groups.
When they stared at the figure leaning against a tree, all their faces were filled with amazement and confusion. The tree acted as a barrier around the practice grounds.
As they approached, Yan Xiaobao immediately recognized the figure—it was Wan Qiao. Somehow, he recalled the slap she had given him the day before when he had thanked her for the green pearl that healed him, causing his spine to shiver. If not for her, he would likely have been seriously injured and bedridden for months.
But she was here, and the moment his foot stepped onto the grass, a ripple of energy spread outward. In less than a second, the woman leaning against the tree found herself standing directly in front of the young man.
Seeing this, all the guards’ attention shifted entirely to Yan Xiaobao now—the newcomer under special scrutiny, someone they instinctively disliked.
"You made it on time. Although Lan Feng might know what’s going on, I’m amazed to witness it myself," the woman said with a smile on her face. With a wave of her hand, she produced a vest, two leg guards, and two arm guards.
"Put these on. They will increase your weight. For the next four weeks, unless I specify otherwise, you are not allowed to use your Inner Energy," she said. Yan Xiaobao, although confused, nodded and took off his shirt, accepting the weights without hesitation. The moment the heavy gear touched his body, it felt as if all his internal energy had completely halted. While he could still refine energy passively, he had no control over it at all.
Seeing the determined look in Yan Xiaobao’s eyes, Wan Qiao was very pleased. She knew, however, that while some people might have resolve in the beginning, it didn’t mean they were prepared to endure all that was required by the training.
Without the rotation of Inner Energy, Yan Xiaobao felt as though he were living exactly as he had on Earth. If he hadn’t spent so many years living on Earth, he was certain that this sensation would feel completely foreign.
Noticing Yan Xiaobao suddenly neglected his focus on energy, Wan Qiao silently approved of his reaction, though she didn’t show this outwardly. With a bark of command, she told Yan Xiaobao to run as far as possible. At the very least, he was not allowed to stop for the first two hours, though she hoped he could run for even longer.
Running was something Yan Xiaobao was accustomed to doing while training Martial Arts back on Earth. At present, his physical body was far stronger than it had been back then. Even if he couldn’t use his Inner Energy, his body had been transformed over years of energy immersion. Now he could run faster and longer than ever before.
Nevertheless, Yan Xiaobao chose a steady pace. If he had been training specifically for Martial Arts, he might have picked a faster stride, but he adjusted his pace due to the additional weight he carried.
For the first ten minutes, he felt nothing. The next half hour slowly turned into a disaster, and by the end of the first hour, his body was crushed under the strain of fifty kilograms: ten per leg, five per arm, and twenty on his chest. Sweat soaked his body.
After completing the first hour, Yan Xiaobao felt somewhat satisfied, but he reminded himself of Wan Qiao’s order to run for at least two hours. Gritting his teeth, he kept moving forward. At this point, every muscle in his body burned, his legs felt like jelly, yet Yan Xiaobao forced himself onward. One more step—that’s what he kept telling himself as he ran.
At some point, Yan Xiaobao entered a trance-like state, his legs continuing to move, driving him forward, while everything else faded from consciousness. His sole focus was his body and the act of running. He no longer felt the heaviness; instead, he was light, suffused with inexplicable energy.
As for how long this trance-like state lasted, Yan Xiaobao didn’t know, but suddenly he found himself in an area densely packed with guards. He couldn’t comprehend how he ended up there. When his mind returned to reality, his legs throbbed painfully, barely able to support him as he dragged himself back to Wan Qiao, who stood smiling pleasantly.
"You did great!" she said with a smile. Yan Xiaobao’s trance-like state far exceeded her expectations. To be truthful, he had kept the weights on his body for over three hours—something only possible because he had entered a perfect training-induced trance.
"Follow me," Wan Qiao said as she began walking toward her office. Yan Xiaobao pushed his unbearably sore legs to follow her, though he lagged slightly behind.
Lagging behind was unfortunate, as Wan Qiao showed no signs of slowing or waiting. Feeling entirely lost about his destination, Yan Xiaobao was eventually compelled to pick up his pace and rejoin her.
The walk back felt far longer than it had when he first arrived at the grounds. However, Yan Xiaobao had no choice but to chase after the eagle-like woman in front of him. When they finally reached her private quarters, Yan Xiaobao wondered if he was about to receive another slap.
Thankfully, that wasn’t the case—Wan Qiao simply smiled at him. Her smile appeared somewhat sadistic, and a gleam of schadenfreude flickered across her expression as she gazed at him.
"Yesterday you said the beast within you would increase your strength. I very much look forward to seeing you unleash that beast. Don’t worry—I’ll keep you in check. Of course, if you become too wild, I can’t promise I won’t kill you, but I’ll do my best," she said.