There was a distinct sensation of heat coming from his flesh, a bit swollen, a bit itchy, a bit sore, like the visible improvement of one's power.
At the same time, Xiao Zhan felt a wisp of black energy within his Spiritual Sea.
He knew this was the breath of death.
This feature was exclusive to the Life and Death Contract.
The other two contract modes, when receiving feedback from the Artifact Spirit, only manifest in the most direct and concrete ways on the body.
Stronger power, faster speed... and so on.
However, the Life and Death Contract offered more, with abstract attributes during feedback.
These were the attributes of the Artifact Spirit.
Such as fire, ice, healing, lightning... and so on.
Ye Youlong's Death Demon Scythe carried the aura of death!
So when Xiao Zhan trained with her, he naturally acquired this aura.
The combat attribute of the Death Demon Scythe was that as it harmed enemies, the residual death aura on the wound would further devour their vitality, delaying the healing of the wound.
Meanwhile, the devoured vitality would transform into a portion of strength, feeding back to the Spirit Master and Artifact Spirit.
And Xiao Zhan had this attribute.
So in battle, his and Ye Youlong's attributes would overlay, and the manifested devouring effect would be at least doubled!
This was something other contract modes could not possess!
It was a benefit exclusive to the Life and Death Contract!
Soon, the one-hour training session ended!
Xiao Zhan finished his training, a black flash flickering in his eyes as he clenched his fist, feeling the distinct change in his physique.
This was the feeling of having power!
"Half an hour for breakfast, dismiss!"
At the officer's command, everyone dispersed to have breakfast.
In the General Mansion, mealtime was fixed and unified, even for Ye Wudi.
The only difference was the standard of meals.
Of course, this was not just because of his status as a General, but also due to his body's energy needs.
When one's strength grows, the consumption needs increase as well.
The food had to be special.
And what he ate were those benignly mutated fruits, as well as the Demon Beast Meat they hunted!
Demon Beast Meat was a great supplement.
Ye Youlong and Xiao Zhan naturally dined with Ye Wudi, which was far better than what he ate at school.
After eating, the soldiers continued their training, but Xiao Zhan and the others did not need to.
Their current physique could not sustain the extreme training of soldiers.
Ye Wudi called Xiao Zhan and Ye Youlong to the study, then took out a leather-bound notebook and handed it to Xiao Zhan.
"This notebook was left by Youlong's father, containing his insights on the Death Demon Scythe and some methods for skill development. I thought it would be useless, but didn't expect Youlong to inherit her mother's Artifact Spirit, so this notebook is now useful."
"Since you signed a Life and Death Contract with Youlong, this notebook undoubtedly should be given to you. I hope you study it seriously."
"Although this research focuses only on the Death Demon Scythe, if leaked, just the cultivation insights recorded would be sought after by people, so you must keep it safe, understand?"
Xiao Zhan solemnly accepted the notebook, "Understood!"
At the same time, Xiao Zhan felt a growing curiosity about Ye Youlong's father.
Who was he?
Even a General like Ye Wudi seemed to hold him in high regard.
Why didn't he come himself to give it to me?
Moreover, with something as significant as a Life and Death Contract involving his daughter, he didn't come to show any concern?
Too mysterious.
Then, Ye Wudi added, "Your enrollment paperwork will be ready today, and you can head to the academy."
"But Youlong, your cousin knows you're back and is already on his way from the frontier. It's been a while since our family had a meal together. Once he returns, let's have a reunion dinner before you leave, okay?"
"Alright." Ye Youlong nodded.
"Good, you're free to do as you please now. I have other matters to attend to, so I won't accompany you." With that, Ye Wudi left.
Xiao Zhan looked at the notebook in his hands, and then at Ye Youlong.
"Do you want to read it?"
"No need. Since my father left it for you, it's not much related to me."
"Who is your father? Is he not home?"
Hearing this question, Ye Youlong's expression changed slightly, showing stiffness, but she quickly composed herself, "You'll find out later."
"Have you rested enough, ready to continue training?"
"Just what I wanted."
Xiao Zhan kept the notebook, then went with Ye Youlong to the dedicated training room.
They closed the door.
Xiao Zhan sat cross-legged.
Ye Youlong suddenly asked, "Did you feel it?"
Xiao Zhan was puzzled for a moment, but then understood what she meant and smiled slightly, "If you can feel it, I definitely can too."
"What do you think is the reason?"
Xiao Zhan frowned, bowing his head in thought, and finally shook it, "Apart from talent advantage, I can't think of any other reason."
Ye Youlong said, "But it's definitely not because of talent."
"Why?"
"Because my parents have the same talent as us."
Xiao Zhan was amazed, not expecting her parents to both have SSS-level talent.
But then his expression became even more confused, "If not talent, then I really can't figure it out."
Ye Youlong contemplated for a while, "Let's train first."
"Yes, let's train first. Maybe over time, we'll figure it out."
Xiao Zhan also nodded.
Then, the two of them immediately began training.
Once in the zone, that growing sense of physical empowerment surged through Xiao Zhan again.
This time, Xiao Zhan directed part of his spiritual power to research and observation.
The conversation he just had with Ye Youlong was about that peculiar feeling of getting stronger. Of course, for him, it was a phenomenon known as feedback enhancement, while for Ye Youlong, it was called tempering enhancement.
The crux of their curiosity was the intensity of the sensation during their enhancements.
According to the academy's teachings and what's recorded in books, for most Spirit Masters and Artifact Spirits, the increase in body strength and attributes during training wasn't supposed to feel that apparent.
It's like how fine rain moistens everything silently, water flowing without a trace, growing gradually unnoticed.
It's the accumulation over the long term that leads to an increase.
No noticeable changes in a day or two, then suddenly one looks back after some time and finds they've made so much progress.
Of course, this was typical for most Spirit Masters and Artifact Spirits during cultivation.
Everyone's talent varies, and the reactions differ, generally speaking, the higher the talent, the more pronounced the sensation.
But Xiao Zhan and Ye Youlong felt it was too obvious, nothing like what was described in the books.
If the books described the sensation as a drizzle, their experience was at least a mid-level rain. Clearly evident, as if feeling every cell in their bodies strengthen.