"Haa!"

Long Tian push himself off the ground with great difficulty. A golden statue of a smiling Buddha sat on his back, weighing him down. To Long Tian, he felt that he was holding up an entire world. Even his Divine Physique was unable to provide any help.

"Hmph, keep it up. You have 11 more to go."

Kwan-Ti had four of his arms crossed as he oversee the training. The training session was a requirement for all Heavenly soldiers, and it was often considered the worst as the training emphasizes endurance.

With trembling arms, Long Tian slowly lowers his entire body near the stone floor. Barely touching the floor, Long Tian heaves and pushes himself up from the floor.

"Gah... Ah..."

He slowly and painstakingly repeated these same steps 10 more times. Each one seemingly added more weight to the golden Buddha statue. When he was done, the golden statue lost its shine and Long Tian felt the weight lifting off of him. He collapses face first onto the floor and pants.

"Get ready, in a few moments you will be fighting a puppet that is tailored to fight at your level."

"Y-yes..."

Long Tian slowly caught his breath and let the flow of divine energy circulate through his entire body. The divine energy came from his heart, or what was once his heart. It flows throughout his entire body quickly, numbed his sore muscles, and rejuvenates his body. This technique was taught to all recruits that joined the Heavenly Army.

Kwan-Ti lifts up a wooden puppet that stood straight alongside identical-looking puppets and props it a few meters away from Long Tian.

"This puppet is impossible to beat. The only way to defeat this puppet is to advance to the next stage of your Divine Physique. You are to fight this puppet until you achieve a breakthrough, then we'll take a break!"

Long Tian stood up and loosened his body. He nodded at Kwan-Ti to show that he understands and raised his guard.

"Very well, begin!"

The wooden puppet's wood grain turned red and the entire puppet suddenly was engulfed in a crimson color aura. Its hollowed eyes lit up as well and stares at Long Tian before charging toward him.

Long Tian met the puppet head-on, their fists connected with each other sending them both spiraling back.

Long Tian regain his senses only to see a blurred foot aimed at his head. The kick sent Long Tian flying several meters and he landed on the cold floor, tumbling.

He picks himself up from the floor just in time to see a roundhouse kick aimed at his head again. Long Tian ducks as the kick flew past him. The momentum of the kick causes the puppet to awkwardly turn its back towards Long Tian, completely exposed.

Long Tian grins and swings his arm at the puppet.

However, the puppet stomped its foot down and sent a backward kick aimed square into his chest.

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"Puah!"

Long Tian was sent flying again and fell on his back. He quickly circulates the divine energy from his heart to heal himself from the powerful kick.

The puppet launches itself at Long Tian, hands outstretched. Long Tian uses his arms and legs to push himself back before sending a foot out into the puppet's head. The impact snaps the puppet's neck back and causes it to collapse on the floor.

Despite having its neck snap, the puppet uses its two hands to grab both of his legs. The puppet's grip was strong, causing Long Tian to grimace. He brought his fist down on the puppet's head causing it to release him.

The red aura surrounding the puppet intensified. It swiftly recovered from all damage and stood up.

Long Tian also stood up and prepare to meet the puppet head-on. The two rushed at each other again and clashed viciously. The blows were heavy and swift, with none being able to overcome each other as the exchange was equal. They both disengaged to recover.

The puppet's red aura brighten before dulling, while Long Tian took a deep breath and channeled his inner vitality.

Long Tian put most of his power on his hind legs and pushed off the floor. He blurred towards the puppet and ducked as it swung its right arm at him. Long Tian brought his fist upward connecting to the puppet's jaw if it had one, sending it flying into the sky.

Long Tian launched himself upward to finish the puppet, but just when he was within a few feet from it. The puppet blurs and Long Tian saw a fist descending towards his forehead.

BANG!

Long Tian was sent down to the hard floor. His head was in a daze and his vision was blurred, but he could make out the red aura.

The puppet smashed into the floor barely missing Long Tian. It grabbed Long Tian by the shirt and pulled him towards itself. It made a fist and sent it towards Long Tian's stomach.

However, Long Tian regained his senses and palmed the puppet in the chest sending it flying. He stumbled as the puppet's grip on his shirt pulled him with it. He landed on the floor and quickly stood up while circulating energy throughout his entire body.

The puppet also stood up and glowed brightly before dulling. Both sides paused, studying each other before they blurred and collided with each other.

The cycle repeated itself, either the puppet or Long Tian gets an upper hand before getting countered. They then disengaged from each other to recover. By then, Long Tian became increasingly frustrated as the puppet constantly countered his attacks, or recovered causing all his effort to be wasted. Again, they both lunged toward each other with neither side having an advantage over the other.

As the fierce battle drew out, Long Tian began to realize that the puppet could not increase its strength and speed. Each time they exchanged blows, Long Tian strained his entire body to execute a powerful attack in hopes of putting the puppet down for good. A gap was starting to become apparent.

Kwan-Ti also stated that it was impossible to beat it at his current level...

Long Tian had to push his body to the limits!

"Ha... Ha... I got it..."

Long Tian and the puppet disengaged once again to recover. This time, Long Tian let the divine energy slowly course into his muscles and bones. His recovery was slower than the puppet's who had finished. It stares at Long Tian before rushing him. Long Tian met the charging puppet with both of his hands. The puppet's fist was caught by Long Tian and the two were locked in a stalemate. Both sides were on equal footing.

Long Tian closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He began to put all his focus on his inner body.

The puppet started to tremble as Long Tian slowly started to overpower it. He was slowly pushing the puppet back, its arm started to strain and loosen.

However, the puppet's aura suddenly expanded causing it to halt Long Tian's advantage. But Long Tian was not deterred.

He strained against the puppet's aura and soon the puppet faltered. Long Tian's eye shot open and he let out a roar. His entire body crackling with golden energy. He pushed against the puppet causing it to lose its stance. It fell onto the floor with a loud crack followed by Long Tian's fist smashing into its chest.

A gust of wind in the shape of a ring erupted from the impact.

BOOM! CRACK CRACK!

The red aura wavered and dissipated from the puppet. The wood grain also lost its red color and faded to dark brown, and the puppet stopped moving, going limped.

Breathing heavily, Long Tian slowly stood up and caught his breath. Despite looking exhausted, Long Tian actually felt stronger.

"Well done!"

Kwan-Ti clapped with all four hands and patted Long Tian on the back.

"T-thank you. General..."

"You earned a break, but remember that we're not finished."

"..."