"Teacher, are you almost ready?" Han Yu asked weakly.
"Where are you? You need to hold on!" Du Bu Si's emotionless voice replied. In the next moment, he gripped Han Yu's neck and plunged him back into the deep sea.
As he sank, the little strength Han Yu had regained quickly faded. The extreme lack of oxygen and the crushing pressure of the water blurred his consciousness. When Du Bu Si finally released him, Han Yu instinctively paddled, fighting for survival.
This time, the pressure felt more intense than before, and soon he lost consciousness again.
"Wake up!" Du Bu Si's voice cut through the darkness as a green light flowed from his hand into Han Yu's body.
Han Yu jolted awake, only to be met once more with overwhelming pressure, suffocation, and pain. "No! I have to hold on!" he thought, biting his tongue to stay focused.
Drawing on his determination, he fought against the crushing weight surrounding him. The scarlet Sharingan flickered to life, radiating a cold aura that spread through the water.
Han Yu felt an overwhelming surge of negative emotions flooding in, filling his eyes with madness and violence. "I must overcome this! I will never give up!" he resolved, determination hardening his gaze as he gritted his teeth and pressed on.
The crushing pressure combined with the emotional turmoil was excruciating, but he clung to the memory of his near-death experience, fueled by a fierce unwillingness to succumb. Despite the pain, he fought to maintain control.
Du Bu Si watched in surprise, realizing Han Yu was honing his ability to manage his emotions under immense pressure. This boy's potential exceeded his expectations, and he still had plenty of room to grow. After all, true strength is forged through adversity.
A peculiar smile crossed Du Bu Si's face, followed by a strange laugh.
Eventually, when Han Yu resurfaced, he was utterly spent, his face as pale as paper. His mind was blank, his eyes vacant, and he looked as if he had been thoroughly tortured. As he felt his body lighten, he was caught in the arms of Du Bu Si. Darkness enveloped him again as he fainted.
"Teacher, please just end this! It hurts so much!" For a brief moment, Han Yu truly wished for an escape from the pain.
As Han Yu slept, time passed, and soon morning arrived. He found himself feasting on a strange deep purple prawn. The shrimp meat was also dark purple, an unusual sight.
Taking a bite, a rich umami flavor burst in his mouth, sending waves of warmth through his limbs. His previously pale face began to regain color.
"Teacher, can't we take it a bit slower?" Han Yu asked Du Bu Si, a hint of regret in his voice. The previous day's experience had been incredibly uncomfortable; he felt as if he couldn't breathe, his bones compressed as if they might break.
Du Bu Si's eyes twinkled with amusement as he maintained a serious tone. "What happened to yesterday's bravado?"
Han Yu shrugged, feeling a bit sheepish. "But you were too intense! I just can't handle it all."
"Enough with the excuses. Finish eating, then we'll get back to practice," Du Bu Si replied before vanishing in an instant.
Han Yu smiled bitterly. His earlier complaint was mostly in jest. While the process had been painful, he could sense the immense benefits it brought him. He simply couldn't help but voice his discomfort.
Surprisingly, Han Yu found that under the intense pressure, his control over the Sharingan became easier. He believed that if he continued like this, he would soon be able to fully harness the three tomoe state of the Sharingan.
Settling down cross-legged, he quickly entered a trance. To his astonishment, he realized that his soul power had reached the thirteenth level—earlier than he had anticipated. The food he consumed earlier had proven to be an exceptional supplement, benefiting both his body and soul power cultivation.
As his physical potential was squeezed, the energy from the food surged within him, enhancing his body. Great pain, it seemed, was leading to all-around improvement. Han Yu understood that this was the nature of cultivation in the original body: rapid progress accompanied by unbearable pain.
"The next step is to practice the shadow clone technique," he thought. "It can allocate half of my soul power. With my current strength, I can only create one clone, but it can't replace physical training."
However, he realized it could be useful for practicing swordsmanship and combat skills. As for the technique's origin, he planned to explain to Du Bu Si that it stemmed from his mental power and the secret methods of the body.
Han Yu considered whether Du Bu Si would believe him; he felt confident he would, given that he had presented tangible results. He intended to reveal this to his teacher when Du Bu Si returned, eager to see his reaction.
The next morning, Han Yu approached Du Bu Si with a hint of excitement.
"That's it, teacher! I used my mental power to separate my soul power and create a clone." He pointed at the shadow clone beside him, his big black eyes wide with innocence.
Du Bu Si circled around the shadow clone, his expression shifting from curiosity to surprise. "What a magical clone technique! Most soul skills only produce afterimages without any attack power, but yours seems different."
"Yes, teacher," Han Yu explained eagerly. "The shadow clone has half of my soul power and can use all my abilities. It can cooperate with me for attacks. If it takes a stronger hit, it will dissipate, but the soul power returns to me."
Seeing Du Bu Si buy into his explanation, Han Yu felt a wave of relief. Crafting that story had been challenging, but it aligned perfectly with his unique martial soul.
"Go ahead, then. Attack me with your shadow clone," Du Bu Si instructed, a spark of interest in his eyes.
Han Yu exchanged a determined look with his clone. This was the perfect opportunity to test its combat capabilities.
"Okay, teacher, but let's stick to the old rules: suppress your strength to match mine and don't use soul power. Otherwise, I won't stand a chance."
Han Yu's eyes sparkled with excitement as he looked at Du Bu Si. "Don't worry! Even if you suppress your strength, I'll still give it my all."
Du Bu Si paused, a knowing smile on his face. "Just remember, even if I hold back, you're still facing a Super Douluo. My suppression is only on soul power; my physical abilities and combat experience remain unmatched."
Han Yu nodded, understanding the weight of those words. "But I've changed. I'm not the same as before." He felt a surge of confidence, ready to prove himself against his formidable teacher.