Chapter 31 Hellish Military Training: Why Does This Instructor Have a Hypnotic Touch?
The first ray of morning sunlight filtered through the floor-to-ceiling windows of Cloud Top Villa, spilling onto the custom-made oversized bed that occupied most of the bedroom.
Jiang Chen opened his eyes slowly. Instead of the refreshed feeling expected after a good night's sleep, his entire body ached as if he had been taken apart and reassembled.
His back and limbs, in particular, felt a faint, tingling numbness, as if countless tiny electric currents were coursing under his skin.
"This isn't special training; it's practically one-sided abuse..."
Jiang Chen sat up, grimacing, and glanced at his arm.
To his surprise, beneath his originally fair skin, a layer of faint purple light was flickering.
That was the residual lightning essence remaining in his body after the "Thunder Spirit Pearl" had been completely digested.
【Ding! Congratulations to the host for completing "The Empress's Special Training (Phase 1)".】
【Physique enhancement complete: Lightning Resistance +30%, Explosive Power +50%.】
【Acquired passive skill: Touch of Paralysis (15% chance to cause 0.5 seconds of stiffness upon contact with an enemy).】
【Current Realm: Bone Forging Realm Fifth Stage (Progress 99%).】
"Although the process was a bit painful, the effect is indeed immediate."
Jiang Chen clenched his fist, and a crisp explosion rang out in the air.
Overnight, his Physical Body strength had improved by more than one level.
If he were to encounter General Lei Hu now, he probably wouldn't need to use leverage to deflect his strength; he could likely send him flying with a single punch in a head-on collision.
"Beep—!"
The smart communicator on his wrist suddenly vibrated, emitting a rapid, piercing alarm sound.
"Attention all freshmen! Attention all freshmen!"
"Immediately proceed to the North Campus 'Shura Playground' to assemble! Those who do not arrive within ten minutes will have ten academic credits deducted directly, and their enrollment qualifications will be canceled!"
The voice in the broadcast was cold, stern, and carried an unquestionable aura of Killing Intent.
"It's starting already? Not even giving us time to laze in bed."
Jiang Chen sighed, climbed out of bed extremely reluctantly, washed up briefly, grabbed the dark blue training uniform, put it on, and sauntered out the door.
...
Shura Playground.
It would be more accurate to call this a giant ancient Roman coliseum rather than a playground.
The ground was paved with black basalt, and towering walls stood all around, covered in sword marks and blade holes—remnants of battles from previous years' students.
By now, over three thousand freshmen had arrived one after another.
Most of them hadn't recovered from the excitement of yesterday, their faces etched with exhaustion and panic.
Only Jiang Chen, hands in his pockets, eyelids drooping, looking like he was "sleepwalking," mixed in at the very back of the crowd.
"Quiet!"
A roar like thunder exploded over the playground.
A terrifying pressure descended from the sky, instantly enveloping the entire field.
The noisy crowd immediately fell silent; everyone felt as if a giant boulder were pressing on their chests, making it difficult to breathe.
On the high platform, a middle-aged man in a dark green military uniform stood with his hands behind his back.
He was burly, with a hideous scar extending from the corner of his left eye to the corner of his mouth, and his single eye flashed with a chilling cold light.
"I am your Chief Instructor, Chief Instructor Shen Yan."
The man's voice was not loud, yet it clearly drilled into everyone's ears. "In the next month, I will make you understand what true Hell is. Here, there are no Geniuses, only the living and the dead!"
"A War God-level expert!"
Someone in the crowd exclaimed.
This pressure was undoubtedly a tangible Killing Intent condensed from countless life-and-death battles.
Chief Instructor Shen Yan's gaze was like a knife, sweeping across the crowd: "Now, everyone, stand in military posture for two hours! Anyone who dares to move or faints, get out!"
"Huh? Two hours? It's just starting!"
"The sun is so harsh..."
Before the complaints could spread, Chief Instructor Shen Yan snorted coldly, and the pressure intensified again.
"Shut up! Start timing now!"
The blazing sun was overhead, with no cover whatsoever.
Coupled with the pressure from a War God-level expert, this was not just a simple military stance; it was an extreme test of willpower and physical stamina.
In less than ten minutes, several physically weaker freshmen began to tremble, cold sweat streaming down.
Twenty minutes later, the first person fainted and was dragged away by the nearby medical team like a dead dog.
This cruel scene made the remaining freshmen grit their teeth and hold on for dear life.
However, in this tense and murderous atmosphere, a bizarre scene appeared in the corner of the formation.
Jiang Chen stood straight.
Truly straight, like a javelin.
But if one looked closely, they would notice his eyes were tightly closed, his breathing long and rhythmic, and even... a small bubble occasionally appeared from his nostril.
【Ding! High-intensity pressure environment detected.】
【Environmental Rating: S-Rank (Mental pressure induces sleep).】
【Judgment: The instructor's Killing Intent is like a thick wool blanket, providing excellent security.】
【Entering "Standing Deep Sleep" mode... AFK efficiency +300%.】
He was truly asleep.
This technique of maintaining balance by instinct was exactly the "Sleepwalking State" bestowed by the System.
On the high platform, Chief Instructor Shen Yan's gaze had been patrolling the crowd when suddenly, his single eye narrowed slightly, locking onto Jiang Chen.
"Hmm? This kid..."
As a War God-level expert, Chief Instructor Shen Yan's perception was incredibly sharp.
He could clearly sense that other students were desperately resisting his pressure, but only this student, not only did not resist, but treated his pressure as... a massage?
That trace of Killing Intent poured into Jiang Chen's body like a clay ox into the sea, disappearing in an instant.
"Interesting. Daring to sleep right under my nose."
A cruel sneer curled up on Chief Instructor Shen Yan's lips.
He flicked his finger, and an invisible force mixed with biting murderous intent shot toward Jiang Chen's knee joint like a bullet.
If this hit directly, an ordinary person would have to kneel for at least three days.
"Whoosh!"
The force broke through the air.
Just as it was about to hit, Jiang Chen, in his sleep, seemed to perceive something; his knee bent naturally, and then his whole body leaned forward, performing a "stepping" motion.
Pfft!
The force grazed his trouser leg and hit the floor behind him, leaving a deep hole.
And Jiang Chen, after taking that step, actually shifted his center of gravity, continuing to maintain that strange balance, and even went a step further by tilting his head to the other side, as if changing positions to continue sleeping.
"Huh? Dodged it?"
The look of surprise in Chief Instructor Shen Yan's eyes deepened.
Coincidence? Or instinct?
Unconvinced, he flicked his finger repeatedly again.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Three blasts of force sealed off Jiang Chen's upper, middle, and lower paths.
This time, Jiang Chen's body moved.
He twisted strangely in place, like a willow catkin in the wind, without any pattern, yet perfectly avoiding all attacks.
While dodging, he even scratched his back and mumbled:
"Stop it... so many mosquitoes..."
The whole scene was dead silent.
The surrounding freshmen were stunned.
They were here struggling and sweating, while this guy was dancing with his eyes closed?
And he even dodged the "Living Yama's" sneak attack in full view?
Chief Instructor Shen Yan's face turned black.
He took a deep breath and slowly withdrew his hand.
As the Chief Instructor, testing a freshman in public was already a bit beneath him; failing to hit him was simply embarrassing to the extreme.
"That freshman with number 9527!" Chief Instructor Shen Yan suddenly roared.
Jiang Chen opened his eyes abruptly, his gaze dazed: "Huh? Is it time to eat?"
"Pfft..." A burst of stifled laughter came from the side.
The veins on Chief Instructor Shen Yan's forehead throbbed: "Step out! Since you have so much energy, set an example for everyone. Everyone run fifty kilometers with weight, and you, one hundred kilometers! No eating until you finish!"
Jiang Chen froze for a moment, glanced at the blazing sun overhead, then at Chief Instructor Shen Yan, and suddenly revealed a bright smile.
"Instructor, can I make a request?"
"Speak!"
"Can you... let me run with my blanket? I'm a bit afraid of the sun."
Chief Instructor Shen Yan: "..."
All freshmen: "..."