The muscular old man was right.

It was as if he could see Huai Shi's every flaw and problem, effortlessly detecting even the most subtle sense of discord or discomfort.

Huai Shi now truly felt that using weapons had become increasingly awkward.

There was no error whatsoever in the drawbacks Luo Lao pointed out.

Without the Stigma of Naga, the Dual Sword Technique of Theravada Tantra was just an ordinary set of skills. Lacking the underwater environment, the Naga's unique multiple arms, and the Stigma's assistance, it could only exert the most basic effects and was nothing extraordinary.

The old-style Sword Art of Van Essen from the Tribunal was indeed profound, but this depth was tailored to Van Essen's own muscle groups, the unique speed of a Vampire, and years of experience.

When Huai Shi copied it exactly, errors occurred; compared to his vampire state, he fell far short.

This wasn't a difference in strength or speed, but an accumulation of countless, almost imperceptible details: arm length, stride length, and differences in height and weight. To make the necessary modifications would take five or six years of painstaking effort.

Rome Dagger Combat, while simple and straightforward, was a technique passed down in the military. It was intended for rapid improvement and the simplest teaching methods, leaving little room for subtle variations.

It was perfect for beginners, but Red Gloves's memories did not retain more advanced techniques.

This old man's discernment is indeed deadly sharp.

However, it wasn't this that shocked him most, but his own realization: he had always thought Raven's worries were needless. With the Book of Fate in hand and a wealth of records to learn from, he felt he could master everything on his own, without needing a teacher.

But now he had gained a deeper insight.

The Heavenly Kingdom had compiled countless original souls and the essence of innumerable records, arguably exhausting all worldly wisdom and experience. Yet, this failed to produce the outcome Utopia truly desired, ultimately leading to its downfall.

Even if one could experience it a million times in records, without actual practice, there would be no gain.

Other people's records are, after all, other people's. They can serve as a reference, but if one doesn't grasp the fundamental points and rely on them as a foundation, contradictions will unconsciously be sown from the very beginning.

"Seems like you've finally figured it out?" Luo Lao raised an eyebrow.

"I understand, but what can I do about it?" Huai Shi sighed. "To be honest, I've gotten used to them over such a long time. It's not like I can just stop using them, right?"

"No, you're getting hung up on the wrong things again." Luo Lao shook his head. "Isn't this where the true meaning of a teacher lies?"

"What do you mean?" Huai Shi was puzzled.

"What I mean is, if you want to use them, then use them. Use them with confidence, use them boldly. Even if you retain the original flaws, it doesn't matter. Just go ahead," he said, stroking the spikes on the Wolf Fang Club in his hand and grinning wickedly. "And I will be responsible for ruthlessly tearing it all down, breaking all your bad habits... helping you start anew."

"..."

Huai Shi's expression twitched.

Is this starting anew or being reborn from scratch? In the end, you just want to beat up a noob, don't you? Someone come quick, drag this crazy old man away!

But upon further thought, it seemed... there really was no other way.

"Alright then..." Huai Shi took a deep breath and got up from the ground. He looked at the glinting Wolf Fang Club in the old man's hand and felt a chill run down his spine. But there was no choice; this was the class he'd chosen, and he had to see it through, even if it meant crying.

Besides, it's just getting beaten up, right? He was used to that by now!

"Before we start, can we negotiate a bit?" Huai Shi summoned his axe and asked cautiously, "Can we take it slow and steady?"

"Sure." Luo Lao still wore that grin that unsettled Huai Shi. He stroked his trusty Wolf Fang Club, which, under the Drummer's power, vibrated wildly, emitting a screech that set one's teeth on edge. "Don't worry, even the lowest setting is enough to make you cry..."

Somebody help, there's a maniac here!

Before he could run for help, the muscular old man charged at him to the sound of "YOUNG MEN," swinging the Wolf Fang Club!

A nightmarish day began.

.

.

.

"Who am I?"

"Where am I?"

"What the hell am I doing?"

Huai Shi lay sprawled on the gym floor, numbly lifting his arm as metal coalesced into the Silver Blood Potion. He applied it to the bloody holes on his arms, but it failed to conceal all the bloodstains on his body.

Luo Xian was squatting beside him, bandaging his minor wounds. As she worked, she sighed with feigned regret, "Father really doesn't know how to hold back. If you want to train, you can ask me next time, you know."

"No way!" Huai Shi was on the verge of tears. "You and your father are two of a kind!"

Luo Lao, at most, enjoys beating up noobs. You're different; you enjoy the slaughter... Huai Shi didn't want to risk accidentally capsizing his boat; he was quite keen on maintaining his 100% win rate against Luo Xian. Well, even if he cheated and was a level above her. But a win is a win. He couldn't give her a chance to turn the tables...

At that moment, Huai Shi's torso and limbs were almost entirely covered in a thin layer of silver. This was the excess Silver Blood Potion that his flesh couldn't temporarily absorb, forming iron-like scabs.

Later, after Huai Shi had recovered a bit, he would have to forcibly tear them off and apply a fresh layer.

It just went to show how effective the Silver Blood Potion was. These purely muscular wounds from the Wolf Fang Club's barbs, once the potion was applied, sealed up as if with superglue. They quickly re-adhered, were absorbed by the Stigma, and transformed into flesh and blood.

Although it would take some time for his metabolism to adjust and his body's metal content would be excessive, for the extremely poison-resistant Huai Shi, it wasn't a problem at all.

Being able to craft those red potions by hand is such a blessing.

At this thought, Huai Shi was so moved that tears welled up in his eyes.

This afternoon alone, he had wasted millions worth of red potions. It just showed how vicious that muscular old man's methods were. Not only were his attacks brutal, but his intentions were also malicious.

In a single afternoon, Luo Lao had completely dismantled all of Huai Shi's stances.

No matter what techniques Huai Shi employed, they were all effortlessly crushed by a mere swing of the Wolf Fang Club. Under this seemingly endless wave of negative feedback, the fighting spirit, thought processes, techniques, and even muscle memory he had built over a long time were all shattered.

He had been razed to the ground by the most brutal methods, ready to start from scratch.

If not for his tenacious nature, Huai Shi might have already lost the courage to wield a sword or axe.

"If you ask me, that Volcano Burning Farm move you used today, and that one... what was it, the Tyrannosaurus Rex something?"

"Tyrannosaurus Rex Skeleton Carrying Away the Dodo Bird..." Huai Shi repeated weakly, wondering how he even came up with such ridiculous names.

"Right, those two moves weren't half bad. At least they had some originality."

Luo Xian smiled, reached over, and turned him onto his stomach. Her slender fingers applied ointment to Huai Shi's back, bringing a searing pain.

It felt like fire.

But it was highly effective; the shallower wounds had already begun to scab over.

Huai Shi was somewhat touched.

At least Big Sis is pretty good to me!

"If it feels like it's burning, it's probably because I didn't wash the wok properly after stir-frying chili peppers. Just bear with it for a moment, okay?" Luo Xian said with a sweet smile, making Huai Shi's heart sink into despair.

Please, give me back my gratitude... You and your father are cut from the same cloth!

Just as he finally caught his breath and struggled up from the ground, he heard a knock at the door.

"Excuse me, is this Orchard Gym?"

A deliveryman in what looked like yesterday's courier uniform stood at the door, peering inside. "There's a package here for Mr. Huai Shi."

"Hmm?" Huai Shi paused. "A package? For me? Who's it from?"

He was cautious. He was afraid Green Day might have sent him a bomb.

"Let me check..." The deliveryman glanced down at the document bag in his hand. "It was sent directly to you by a Ms. Raven from Xinhai."

That damn Ms. Raven. Alright then. Let's see what kind of nonsense she's cooked up this time.

Huai Shi shook his head, signed for it, and tore open the envelope. A beautifully decorated card and a black iron identity badge fell out.

"What's this?" Huai Shi was startled. He unfolded the card and saw the handwritten message inside: "Esteemed Mr. Huai Shi, we recently received your application for the competition.

We are greatly honored by the participation of a Legendary Investigator, an exceptionally rare Disastrous Musician, and an apprentice Chef Demon. We have expedited your registration and sincerely wish you great success in this year's Asia Rookie Competition.

—Tomorrow News Competition Organizing Committee."

"...God damn Disastrous Musician," Huai Shi muttered, dumbfounded. Has word spread across the entire world this quickly?!

"Huh? You've become a Disastrous Musician?" Luo Xian, beside him, exclaimed in surprise. "I heard that certification is quite difficult to obtain; there are only a little over a hundred people in the entire world who have it... But I suppose it's not too hard for Tomorrow News to find out, with their intelligence network."

"..."

Huai Shi's expression twitched as he looked down at the iron badge in his palm. "What about this one? What's this?"

"It's a main competition entry pass," Luo Xian explained. "It lets you skip the preliminary rounds and go straight to the main event. Usually, only Third Stage Sublimators can get this kind of pass. But for a Legendary Investigator, it's pretty standard treatment."

"Sis, can you please not bring that up?" Huai Shi was close to tears.

First, I mysteriously became a Legendary Investigator, then an apprentice Chef Demon, and now, out of nowhere, some damn Disastrous Musician. My level hasn't even increased that much, but it feels like I'm on the fast track to collecting certifications for every level of Hell. Now, even I see myself as a juicy target, a walking experience pack that could make someone famous overnight if they killed me.

"Don't worry, it's basically impossible for an average joe to take you down now," Luo Xian reassured him, adding with a smirk, "To kill you, they'd need skills at least on par with mine, right?"

At that moment, the deliveryman returned.

"Oh, right, I nearly forgot..." He looked up and said, "There's also a package from the Jinling Great Cousin for Ms. Luo Xian."

As he spoke, he pulled a folder identical to the one in Huai Shi's hands from his pocket.

In that instant, Huai Shi felt the world's profound malice directed squarely at him.

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