Three days.
Three days of grinding. Of learning. Of mastering what others would call **impossible**.
But for me?
It was just the beginning.
---
### **Back in the Training Grounds**
Luo Cheng watched me intently as I stood, feeling the steady pulse beneath me, grounding myself.
"Do you feel it, Zin?" he asked, his voice calm, but with a hint of pride.
I nodded. "Yeah, I do."
He raised an eyebrow. "Then what will you do with it?"
That question sent a shiver down my spine.
Because at that moment, I realized something profound.
I wasn't just a monster because of my **raw power**. I was a monster because I could adapt. I could **change the game**.
---
### **The Elite Grounds Opening**
The **Luo Family's Elite Training Grounds** had always been reserved for the most talented—those who had proven themselves worthy of the highest level of training.
Normally, no one under **age 12** was allowed to step foot in that area. But this time, I was an exception.
Luo Cheng had seen something in me that others hadn't. I was different.
"Today," he said, his voice filled with authority, "we'll see if the Elite Grounds live up to their name."
I cracked my knuckles. "Let's see if these so-called elites are as good as they think they are."
---
### **The First Challenge: Speed**
My first test was **speed**—how fast I could react and adapt to opponents who were far more skilled than I.
The training grounds were vast, filled with **hidden traps** and **complex obstacles**.
My opponents were **Luo disciples**, ranging from **Body Refining** to **early Qi Gathering** levels. They were fast. They were skilled. But none of them had **me**.
I dodged the first strike, then the second, my feet moving faster than I thought possible. The earth beneath me was my ally, helping me **spring** forward with the ground's support.
Each move felt like it was part of the earth's natural flow. I didn't need to think. I just reacted.
**BOOM.**
A disciple lunged at me, but I sidestepped and used the momentum of the strike to **slam them into the ground**. The earth beneath us shattered, but it didn't matter. They were already out.
I stood, looking down at them. "Pathetic."
The other disciples watched, stunned. Luo Cheng only nodded, as if confirming something he already knew.
---
### **The Second Challenge: Strength**
The second test was a **strength challenge**—who could hit the hardest, who could break the most obstacles.
I was paired against one of the most powerful disciples, a **Qi Refining** level fighter. He was known for his **unbelievable power**.
But me? I didn't need to be **stronger** than him. I just needed to be **smarter**.
When his fist came down like a hammer, I **absorbed** the shock, using the earth beneath me to **redirect his strike**. His punch barely made a dent in the ground, while I **countered** with a clean, precise blow to his chest.
He staggered back, unable to keep his balance. I **dropped him** with a single kick to the ribs.
---
### **The Third Challenge: Endurance**
The third test was an **endurance trial**—who could last the longest against multiple opponents.
I was up against **three elite disciples**. They came at me from all angles, with fists, feet, and weapons.
But the **Earth Shattering Hand** wasn't just for show.
Each time they struck, I **felt the earth beneath me respond**, guiding my movements, redirecting energy. I dodged, blocked, and countered with **incredible efficiency**.
I could have taken them all down in an instant, but I didn't. I was learning. I was practicing my control, letting them think they had a chance, only to watch their confidence crumble.
The longer the fight went on, the more they tired. Their attacks grew weaker. My strength didn't fade, but theirs did.
Finally, with a **final strike**, I sent all three of them flying, crashing into the walls of the training grounds. They were **defeated**.
---
### **The Elder's Approval**
Luo Cheng stepped forward, his face unreadable. The other elders, who had been watching from the sidelines, were silent.
"You've done well," Luo Cheng said. "Better than anyone expected."
I smirked. "Expected? This was easy."
One of the elders, Luo Bai, spoke up, his voice full of admiration. "It's not just your strength. You've mastered the flow of earth. You're already beyond many in this family. You're a force of nature, Zin."
I stood tall, absorbing the praise. "And I'll keep getting stronger."
---
### **The Earth's True Power**
But even as I stood victorious in the Elite Grounds, I knew this was just the beginning.
I had mastered **the Earth Shattering Hand**, but the earth held far more power than I had ever dreamed of.
As I looked down at my hands, still tingling with energy, I knew one thing for sure:
I wasn't just going to **conquer** this world. I was going to **reshape** it.
---
### **Ending Hook**
But power isn't everything.
In the coming days, I'd face a new challenge—one that would test not my strength, but my **mind**.
And when that time came…
The world would tremble.
Find out in **Chapter 22: A Demon's Strategy!**