After a month of recuperation, Ning Rongrong was unable to return to Shrek Academy to continue her studies. Due to the severe damage to her Martial Soul, she couldn't even use her Soul Skills.
She could only stay at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School to recuperate. Ning Fengzhi also made several trips to the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace this month.
Each time he returned, he was beaming with joy. Evidently, the plan for Ning Rongrong to marry and become the Crown Princess had been settled.
Although Ning Fengzhi had kept it from Ning Rongrong, he believed that once Ning Rongrong knew, she would understand her Dad's painstaking efforts.
This was all for the future of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School.
...
With Ning Rongrong's departure, the Shrek Seven Devils were missing a member again, becoming the Shrek Six Monsters once more.
Since they couldn't form a complete team, they had to randomly pick someone from Shrek Academy. Tai Long, a stubborn individual unwilling to leave, temporarily filled the spot to complete the team.
At this moment, on the Shrek Academy training ground.
Yu Xiaogang stood before the newly formed Shrek Seven Devils, full of vigor. Perhaps becoming a Soul Emperor had restored his confidence.
Looking at the seven individuals before him, he nodded in satisfaction and praised, "Very good, very spirited."
After speaking, he feigned profundity, took out a small booklet, and pretentiously said, "Now, your strength has greatly improved, but you still cannot let your guard down."
"The Soul Master Competition a year from now, the championship, we are determined to win! What we, Shrek, want is the championship!"
Yu Xiaogang spoke with such passion that it made the Shrek members, already immersed in the joy of their increased strength, feel elated.
"Shrek, sure to win!"
However, at the peak of the exhilarating atmosphere, Yu Xiaogang, the master of toxic encouragement and brainwashing, suddenly cleared his throat.
His expression turned serious, reverting to his usual blank face. His tone became indifferent and stern as he reprimanded, "The championship isn't just about talk."
"With your current strength, participating in the Soul Master Competition would merely be a symbolic participation."
Upon hearing Yu Xiaogang's words, the Shrek Seven Devils immediately looked at him with indignation, their eyes seemingly questioning him.
Didn't this useless person just say he wanted to win the championship? Is it wrong to agree with you now?
"Hmph, it seems you still don't believe me."
Yu Xiaogang's calm tone held a hint of disdain as he struck them down, "I heard that the Seven Star Battle Team formed by Spirit Hall this time, the lowest among them are Soul Emperors. You only have two Soul Kings and four Soul Emperors."
As he spoke, he cast a scornful glance at the newly joined Tai Long, saying with some boredom, "And a newly joined Soul Emperor. Registering is just going to send yourselves to your deaths and disgrace Shrek Academy."
"You think you are strong, but there are countless geniuses on this continent. I heard that Shenfeng Academy also has all Soul Emperors, and their captain, Feng Xiaotian, has recently made rapid progress, already reaching Soul King cultivation. As far as I know, this Feng Xiaotian has also created a Soul Skill of his own, and its power is extraordinary."
"Now, do you still have the right to be proud? What right do you have to be proud?"
After being so severely reprimanded by Yu Xiaogang, all of the Shrek Seven Devils, except for Tang San and Dai Mubai, lowered their heads in shame.
Tang San, at this moment, was incredibly confident. In his previous life, they had consumed Immortal Herbs and had overcome all obstacles.
In the end, he even went all out, defeating the Spirit Hall team, capturing everyone's attention, and acquiring three top-grade Soul Bones. Finally, under the cover of his Dad, Ritian Douluo, he safely departed.
He had directly made his name resound throughout the continent. Even if those three from Spirit Hall broke through to Soul Emperor now, what of it? He was currently absorbing the Life force of "evil" Soul Beasts.
Within a year, he would also reach Soul Emperor. At that time, even if his Eight Spider Lances were gone, he could still easily win battles by using his Tang Sect unique skills.
Yu Xiaogang, after finishing his lecture, slowly spoke, "Starting today, on the first day of every week, you must carry these stones and run a hundred laps around the training ground!"
As soon as Yu Xiaogang's words fell, the Shrek Seven Devils' eyes turned to him. They looked at the baskets full of stones, then at the vast training ground.
Then they looked back at the determined Yu Xiaogang, confirming that he wasn't joking. They immediately exclaimed, "Master, are you serious? If we run a hundred laps, won't we be exhausted to death?"
"It's just a hundred laps. You can't even endure that?"
Yu Xiaogang said dismissively. These were training plans he had meticulously calculated based on the individual physical aptitudes of the Shrek Seven Devils.
The weight of the stones in each person's basket also varied: Beast Martial Souls carried more, Tool Martial Souls less, and Auxiliary Martial Souls even lighter.
However, the Shrek Seven Devils now had a mix of Tool Martial Souls and Beast Martial Souls, so most of them carried stones of similar weight. Only one special basket was prepared for Oscar.
"Master, you say it so easily, why don't you try it yourself?"
Ma Hongjun had long been annoyed by Yu Xiaogang, with his short hair, dead fish eyes, and blank face, always putting on airs. If he dared to make this fat man run today, he'd dare to make him crawl tomorrow.
Why should a useless person like you act so arrogantly in front of us geniuses?
Even Tai Long, the weakest among them, was four levels higher than the useless Yu Xiaogang.
"Hmph, am I the one participating in the Soul Master Competition?"
Yu Xiaogang glanced at Ma Hongjun, somewhat irritated. This fatty actually dared to question his professionalism.
It seemed he was also Flander's disciple, which further fueled Yu Xiaogang's anger. He immediately said coldly, "At Shrek, you will honestly follow my arrangements. If you're unwilling, go find Flander and see what he says."
"Heh."
Upon seeing this, Ma Hongjun let out a scoff and then ignored Yu Xiaogang, the mere clown. Just a few days ago, he looked down on Flander, but today he was using Flander's name. A person who relies on others' power, without Liu Erlong and Flander, Ma Hongjun wouldn't even give this innate half-level Soul Power useless person a second glance.
"Alright, now go run. After you finish running, rest for four days. The remaining two days, go to the Dou Hun Arena for competitions to hone your teamwork."
Yu Xiaogang's expression was serious. He then looked at Liu Erlong behind him and gave her a meaningful glance.
Liu Erlong immediately understood. She came to Yu Xiaogang's side and loudly shouted at the Shrek Seven Devils, "Now go train! You're not allowed to eat until you finish running! Go quickly!"
This was the only thing Yu Xiaogang had accurately calculated: the Shrek Seven Devils would be fine even if they starved for three days. It was the only accurate data he had.
Facing the aggressive Liu Erlong, the others could only reluctantly accept. Tang San also picked up the basket full of stones. Although this method was clumsy, it could indeed improve physical fitness.
Moreover, with Yu Xiaogang's medicinal bath, there shouldn't be any major problems. If there were any injuries, he could also hunt "evil" Soul Beasts to replenish his Life force.
However, the others immediately started complaining. This was clearly suffering! If they had known this, they shouldn't have resold the gravity device Ning Rongrong gave them to fill Flander's coffers.
Now, they all had to carry stones and run around the training ground. One hundred laps, one hundred laps! They couldn't finish it in a day and a night, and the main thing was, there were another hundred laps tomorrow!