Zhou Zilong nodded, put on his safety helmet, and prepared to begin a new round of training.
The construction site machinery roared, and workers busily transported materials. Zhou Zilong stood by, observing their working methods. He took a deep breath, sensing the dust and sweat in the air—a completely new experience for him, but he knew it was a necessary step for growth.
He picked up a shovel and began to scoop up the dirt from the ground. He swung the shovel with force, shoveling the dirt into the wheelbarrow. With each swing, he felt his strength gradually increasing.
As time passed, Zhou Zilong's clothes were soaked with sweat, and his face was covered in dust, but his eyes gleamed with determination. He continued to shovel dirt and push the wheelbarrow, repeating this seemingly simple action. His hands were raw and red, but he did not stop. Because he knew that only through unremitting effort and perseverance could he become a true warrior.
Master Roshi stood by, quietly observing Zhou Zilong, then secretly discussed something with the foreman.
As time passed, Zhou Zilong gradually adapted to the pace of the construction site. His shoveling speed became faster and faster, and his wheelbarrow pushing became steadier and steadier. Eventually, the foreman gave Master Roshi a 6-person daily wage.
At 5 PM, when the last brick fell on the construction site, Zhou Zilong followed Master Roshi to a tranquil lake. The afterglow of the setting sun bathed the island, and the golden light dappled the lake's surface with shimmering waves.
Master Roshi pointed to the opposite bank of the lake and said to Zhou Zilong, "Zilong, you've sweated enough today." Master Roshi stroked his white beard, a satisfied smile on his face. "The next part of your training is swimming. This will not only build your physical strength but also enhance your endurance and perseverance. Swim to the other side and back—do that ten times!"
Zhou Zilong nodded. He was already accustomed to Master Roshi's strict training. He took off his outer clothes, revealing his strong 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, each stroke feeling like a struggle against his own limits.
The training in the lake was not easy, and Zhou Zilong quickly felt exhausted. But he did not give up. He knew this was Master Roshi's test for him. He gritted his teeth and continued to swim forward.
As time passed, Zhou Zilong gradually adapted to the lake environment. His speed became faster and faster, and his stamina gradually recovered. He felt as if he had merged with the water, each breath filled with power.
Just then, he suddenly felt a strong sense of danger. He looked up and saw a huge shark swimming towards 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, adjusted his breathing and rhythm. He no longer swam desperately as before, but cleverly dodged the shark's attacks by utilizing the current's strength and the shark's movement trajectory.
The shark seemed to be enraged by Zhou Zilong's actions. It increased its speed and launched even fiercer attacks at Zhou Zilong. But Zhou Zilong was fearless. He used his wisdom and courage to dodge the shark's attacks again and again. He felt his heart filled with power, as if he could overcome any difficulty.
Just then, Master Roshi's voice echoed in Zhou Zilong's ear: "Zilong, remember, a true warrior must not only possess great strength but also a calm mind and unwavering conviction. Only then can you remain undefeated when facing a powerful enemy!"
Zhou Zilong heard Master Roshi's words, and his heart stirred, as if he understood something. He took a deep breath, then swam forward fiercely. He no longer dodged the shark's attacks but charged towards it. He struck the shark's head hard with his fist. The shark let out a scream and then sank to the bottom of the lake.
After the swimming training, Master Roshi led Zhou Zilong to a large tree. This tree soared into the clouds, its branches and leaves lush, 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 last training session 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 the rope's movable range!"
Zhou Zilong's heart tightened upon hearing this. He knew that this type of training seemed simple but was extremely difficult in practice. He needed to remain constantly vigilant and react quickly, otherwise, he would be pricked by those tiny needle tips. Although Xiao Ling had granted him the ability of a steel body, he didn't know how much resistance his current steel body could provide.
Master Roshi saw Zhou Zilong's nervous expression, smiled slightly, and then quietly walked to the base of the tree. He lightly leaped onto a branch, then struck with force, knocking down a hornet's nest from the tree.
"Buzz—"
A piercing buzzing sound arose as a large swarm of angry hornets flew out of the nest, their target precisely Zhou Zilong, who stood in place.
Upon seeing this, Zhou Zilong immediately focused his mind, preparing to deal with this sudden attack. He clenched his fists tightly, his eyes fixed on the approaching hornets.
However, just as he was about to counterattack, he suddenly realized that the hornets were incredibly fast and numerous, making it impossible to knock them all down at once. His heart tensed, wanting to move quickly to dodge the attack, but the rope around his waist restricted his range of movement.
"Calm down! Calm down!" Zhou Zilong admonished himself. He took a deep breath and then began to slowly move his body, attempting to dodge the hornets' attacks by adjusting his posture and footwork.
However, this was not an easy task. The hornets' attacks were very dense and swift, and Zhou Zilong would be stung if he was even slightly careless. Although it wouldn't cause damage, it was very annoying. He could only constantly adjust his body posture and breathing rhythm to cope with these attacks.
During this process, Zhou Zilong's reaction speed and body coordination were greatly exercised. He gradually became able to accurately judge the hornets' attack trajectories and speeds, and he could quickly make decisions to dodge the attacks.
Finally, after half an hour, Zhou Zilong successfully dodged all of the hornets' attacks. He felt his body become lighter and more agile. He looked up towards the branch where Master Roshi was, and saw Master Roshi smiling at him.
"Excellent! Zilong, you did very well!" Master Roshi praised loudly. "You have successfully completed today's training mission!"
The next day, Zhou Zilong once again embarked on the same training path as yesterday, but this time, Master Roshi made him carry a turtle shell weighing approximately 20 pounds.
