Chapter 40: Third Layer

From January 2, Year 57, Zhou Yang's special training plan officially began!

Each morning he first goes to the ancient civilization gravity chamber and uses up the one hour of chamber time that Teacher Dong Dao exchanged for him.

During that one hour in the gravity chamber, he does only one thing!

That is to swing the spear and thrust with a single‑minded focus.

While swinging the spear, his spirit is highly concentrated, repeatedly recalling the feeling of dark force bursting when using the "World Annihilation" spear technique, deepening his muscle memory.

Under tenfold gravity, each exertion and every movement bears enormous pressure.

His entire physical and mental energy is wildly consumed, quickly approaching the limit.

And whenever this happens, at the spot of the Meteor Tear on his chest, mysterious clear streams continuously flow out.

These streams seep into his muscles, bones, genes, and even his Consciousness Sea.

They quickly relieve his fatigue and keep his consciousness in a clear, empty state.

Through repeated squeezing and recovery, the limits of his bodily indicators keep rising!

After the hour of gravity‑chamber cultivation, it's time for Teacher Dong Dao's spear‑technique training.

Teacher Dong personally leads him into the interior of the wilderness area, assigning him individual kill targets.

These targets are sometimes lone high‑rank beast generals, other times monster hordes with many low‑ and mid‑rank beast generals.

According to Teacher Dong's requirement, Zhou Yang may not use Spiritual Thought Power, only the spear technique for combat.

Through repeated real battles, he continuously grasps the true essence of the spear technique.

"Condense, condense! Concentrate attack power into a single point at the spear tip; a perfectly condensed thrust is far more lethal than you randomly thrusting ten spears!"

"Hey kid! Why are you so stubborn? When a single move can't finish it, don't just charge straight ahead!"

"Do you understand the blend of void and reality? The spear tip should be like a rattlesnake's tail—coiled but unstruck—seeking the chance to strike the enemy amid deterrence and maneuver!"

"Forms are dead, people are alive; now you must gradually comprehend a style and traits that suit you!"

"Beyond specialization lies completeness; beyond completeness lies artistic conception, and each person's conception is different."

During this process, the irritable old man's booming voice continuously assaults Zhou Yang's eardrums.

Repeatedly pointing out his current shortcomings.

Through repeated battles and constant urging, Zhou Yang's understanding of the spear technique soars rapidly like a bird in flight.

Evening of February 28, a crescent moon hung in the west.

An old man and a youngster entered the Elite Training Camp's main gate.

"Alright, arrange the remaining time yourself; I, the teacher, need to take a break."

Teacher Dong, looking like an old man, called out to Zhou Yang, then crossed his arms and left.

Walking while sighing, "Old fool, your spirit's not great."

Zhou Yang watched the teacher depart, a amused smile on his face.

That Teacher Dong, clearly a war‑god‑level powerhouse, nevertheless always pretends to be an ordinary old man.

"There's still time now; let's go practice the spear again."

He shook his head, didn't head straight back to Jiangnan Pavilion, but instead carried his Long Spear toward an outdoor training ground in the camp.

After two months of special training with Teacher Dong, Zhou Yang's physical condition and combat experience both improved at a rapid pace.

Especially regarding the power‑generation technique of the third layer of "World Annihilation", he has begun to sense some insights.

"If I can master the third layer, my combat Amplitude can rise to 12.4, and then I'll meet the first reward condition of the limited‑time contract!"

Thinking of the huge reward in the limited‑time contract, his mood stirred, and his steps quickened a few paces.

However, as he approached the training ground, he faintly heard a series of wind‑breaking sounds coming from ahead.

"Huh, someone?"

In recent days, trainees on leave have begun to return one after another, and the camp has become lively again.

"Looks like everyone's quite diligent; I must work even harder!"

He slowed his pace, strolling forward slowly.

Soon, the scene on the training ground entered his view.

Under the hazy moonlight, a slender figure flickered and drifted continuously.

The figure held a curved blade in each hand, and both curved blades swung at the same time.

Bathed in moonlight, silver blade light instantly blossomed.

The blade light continued unbroken; as the first slash fell, the second was already gathering momentum.

The blade light sometimes fell like a silver river, other times like snow piled on a tide's crest—wave after wave, the momentum swelling ever higher.

At one moment, the momentum on the blade condensed to its peak!

A silver streak, several times faster, burst forth instantly, and a faint explosive sound echoed from the blade.

Zhou Yang, standing outside the training ground, vaguely sensed an indescribable hazy artistic conception within the continuous blade shadows, and his gaze involuntarily sank into it.

And at the instant the silver streak blossomed, a layer of mental fog in his mind seemed to be sliced apart instantly!

"So it turns out… it can be like this."

He slightly closed his eyes, and his Long Spear began to move slowly.

"Continuous… tide."

"The tide recedes to store stronger power; repeated accumulation eventually creates an earth‑shaking tsunami."

"What about the spear technique? Isn't retrieving the spear also a form of defense and energy storage?"

His mind churned continuously, and his Long Spear, guided by his will, kept thrusting out, withdrawing, and thrusting again.

"Continuously storing energy, storing, storing, until it reaches the limit."

"That is the moment of the greatest explosion!"

At a certain moment, a bolt of lightning seemed to fall in my mind, instantly splitting the lingering confusion!

At the same instant, the Long Spear in his hand, already retracted to near his chest, thrust out in an instant!

The stored power in his body erupted simultaneously, three consecutive dark forces flowing along his arm into the Long Spear.

The Long Spear, which had been thrust out smoothly, suddenly accelerated—accelerated—accelerated!

"Chi!"

The Long Spear seemed to pierce the air, and a muffled sonic boom exploded at its tip!

Zhou Yang's heart was instantly filled with ecstatic joy!

World Annihilation, Third Layer—completed!

"Third Layer power? You are that Zhou Yang? As expected, a youthful prodigy!"

At that moment, a cool voice sounded by his ear, and Zhou Yang, overwhelmed by joy, snapped to clarity.

The figure that had been on the training ground had already vanished.

In front of him appeared a woman with a cool complexion.

She seemed not much older than him, tall‑slim, dressed in a light‑purple training robe.

The waist, bound by the robe's belt, was flat and slender, yet it accentuated the proud view of her chest.

"Teacher Jiang!"

Zhou Yang recognized the woman at a glance.

This is the beautiful teacher of Luo Feng in the original work, Teacher Jiang Fang.

The reason Zhou Yang could recognize her is that she is extremely famous.

Strong in power, great figure, beautiful, and still single.

In this Elite Training Camp, many male teachers and even trainees have been courting her.

Zhou Yang had just been moved by the profound conception in her sword technique, unintentionally swinging his spear on the spot, and by chance grasped the power‑exerting technique of World Annihilation, Third Layer.

Now his heart was half thrilled, a little embarrassed.

After all, spying on someone's sword practice and getting caught was indeed awkward.

"Um, Teacher Jiang, sorry, I also just happened to want to practice my spear here, didn't expect—"

Zhou Yang awkwardly scratched his head, trying to explain.

"Never mind, you have attained insight; we teachers are naturally pleased—congratulations."

Jiang Fang had no intention of pursuing the matter.

"Continue your cultivation."

She gave Zhou Yang a gentle nod, then turned and left.

Not long after, her graceful figure vanished into the hazy moonlit distance.

"Haha!"

At this moment, Zhou Yang could no longer restrain his excitement and threw a heavy fist swing.

"Limited-time reward, finally in my hands!"

(End of chapter)