In front of the Martial Soul Department's freshman teaching building, at Shrek Square.
Mu Jin, Wang Yan, and another sturdy-looking middle-aged male teacher stood at the center of the square.
Two yellow, two purple, and three black soul rings—seven in total—circled slowly around this middle-aged teacher, the deep glow of his sixth black ring flashing faintly.
Under his control, a dense earthen-yellow light covered the entire outer area of Shrek Square. The very space in this zone seemed to twist.
Freshmen of Class One, clad in white uniforms, were running laps along the square's outer perimeter.
Most were drenched in sweat, their steps staggering.
Droplets fell thickly onto the track, and several girls of weaker constitution collapsed with heavy thuds. They struggled to rise, but couldn't.
In the end, it was Mu Jin who intervened, pulling them from the gravity-enhanced track.
Wang Yan, meanwhile, kept his head lowered, jotting notes into the folder in his hands.
Every outer court class had a physical training lesson once a week, and Class One of the freshmen was no exception.
Now, with the semester nearing its end, today's physical training served as a simple assessment. Its results weren't as critical as the advancement exam, but they were still one of the factors determining whether these first-years could advance to the second year.
This was especially significant for Class One and Class Two.
Between them, the two classes encompassed nearly all combat soul master types. Shrek Academy, with its tradition of cultivating true soul masters, placed first priority on physical foundation—a stark contrast to the Sun Moon Empire, which valued only soul power levels among their soul engineers.
Having strong physical fitness did not guarantee becoming a peak powerhouse, but a weak body almost always meant one would never reach such heights.
As more and more reached their limits and were pulled out by Mu Jin, of the over sixty students in Class One, only a dozen remained.
At the front, standing tall and composed, was Xu Zihuang. Compared to the others, he seemed far more at ease.
As a core disciple of the Martial Soul Department, he enjoyed top-grade meals daily, his nutrition plentiful. After eight months, his frame had grown taller, his shoulders broader—not exaggerated muscle, but hidden strength.
The greatest proof lay in the density of his bones and muscles, far surpassing his peers. His physical fitness was already stronger than that of most Soul Emperors. Moreover, after consuming the Soul Ascension Pill and eight months of hard cultivation, his soul power had reached the peak of rank 37.
At the Soul Elder level, going from rank 35 to rank 37 in just eight months seemed impressive.
But it had to be noted—after Elder Mu's baptism with light at Sea God's Island, he had leapt nearly a full level, already sitting at the peak of rank 35. Then, upon consuming the Soul Ascension Pill, he had directly broken through to rank 36.
In truth, in these eight months, his soul power had risen less than two ranks—even with the aid of the silver scale.
This was the unavoidable bottleneck faced by Ultimate-attribute soul masters between rank 30 and rank 70.
Close behind him was Dai Huabin, second strongest in cultivation among the freshmen of Class One.
Unlike Xu Zihuang, Dai Huabin was untroubled by the drawbacks of an Ultimate martial soul. His soul power had risen swiftly in these months—back during the freshman assessment he had been rank 32, and now he had already reached rank 35.
His burning eyes locked on Xu Zihuang's back. Ever since that crushing defeat, he had buried his unwillingness deep inside, training desperately, longing for the day he could surpass him.
Though he had been utterly suppressed by Xu Zihuang's personal strength, he could not deny that Xu Zihuang was indeed stronger.
That defeat, for him, was not entirely a bad thing.
Behind Dai Huabin came Wang Dong, Tuoba Yu, and Wu Feng.
If the Class One freshmen were ranked by talent, Xu Zihuang was clearly in a league of his own. Second-tier were Dai Huabin and Wang Dong.
Wang Dong's second soul ring was a millennium ring, marking his talent as even higher than Dai Huabin's—only his soul power level was a bit lower.
Tuoba Yu's White Armored Earth Dragon martial soul wasn't as strong as Dai Huabin's White Tiger, nor Wang Dong's Bright Goddess Butterfly. But his cultivation had reached rank 29, only behind Xu Zihuang and Dai Huabin.
His rapid rise—five levels in just eight months—wasn't just due to the Waterfall Elixir and Soul Ascension Pill. Sharing a dorm with Xu Zihuang, he had long benefited from the dense heaven-and-earth energy surrounding him.
He had begun to suspect this was the reason for his accelerated growth. But since Xu Zihuang never mentioned it, he too stayed silent.
After a year together, he had undeniably come to regard Xu Zihuang as a true friend—accepted from the heart.
Wu Feng's cultivation was close to Tuoba Yu's, her Red Dragon martial soul superior in quality to his Earth Dragon. But the difference in physical enhancement was negligible.
Overall, the three were evenly matched in speed.
Further back were Huang Chutian, Cao Jinxuan, Zhou Sichen, Zhu Lu, Cui Yajie, and Xiao Xiao—students whose cultivation ranked higher in class.
And last of all, still staggering forward, was Huo Yuhao, at only rank 14.
Unlike the others, he was simply forcing himself not to fall, each step painfully heavy.
Mu Jin frowned and came to his side, her voice gentle.
"Huo Yuhao, if you've reached your limit, there's no need to push. Continuing will only harm your body."
She had never shown bias against Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, or Xiao Xiao for being chosen as Zhou Yi's seed team. On the contrary, she treated all equally.
Though Huo Yuhao's willpower was tough, talent was not something effort alone could bridge.
No matter how much he pushed himself in this test, without reaching rank 20, he could never pass the advancement exam.
His vision darkened, his chest felt aflame, his throat parched. His sweat-drenched body felt unbearably heavy.
Yet he firmly shook his head.
Seeing his stubbornness, Mu Jin could only relent.
Turning, she signaled to the middle-aged teacher.
The man adjusted his soul power, raising the gravity once more.
Cracks sounded through Huo Yuhao's bones. His eyes rolled back as he collapsed unconscious.
His stubbornness was meaningless.
Before he hit the ground, Mu Jin waved her right hand, pulling him free of the gravity-enhanced track.
Other Class One students, resting at the sidelines, sneered.
"I thought Huo Yuhao was something special. Turns out he was just pretending."
Aside from a few calm ones, most echoed the jeer.
Though their soul power was far higher, they had fallen out earlier—how could they admit they were weaker than him?
Huo Yuhao, the weakest in class and withdrawn in personality, earned no defense. Even those who admired his willpower would not speak up and offend the class over someone doomed to fail the advancement exam.
Such was reality.
Moments later, the middle-aged teacher raised the gravity again.
Xu Zihuang had once faced a Star Luo squad captain with this skill, but back then it had only been a thousand-year ring. Now, as a ten-thousand-year skill, the power was far greater, the control more precise.
Among the remaining eleven, Xiao Xiao, Cui Yajie, and Zhu Lu soon collapsed.
Next were Huang Chutian, Zhou Sichen, and Cao Jinxuan.
Zhou Sichen even cried out, "Teacher Mu, I—I can't go on, quick—"
For some reason, Mu Jin didn't soften his fall, letting him slam heavily onto the ground.
Cao Jinxuan, beside him, chuckled under his breath and said something, laughing until he fell over himself. Zhou Sichen's face stiffened in realization, glancing fearfully at Mu Jin.
In the field, Wang Dong, Tuoba Yu, and Wu Feng reached their limits.
Tuoba Yu held on, but Wang Dong's eyes were full of unwillingness. Losing to Xu Zihuang he could stomach, but with Dai Huabin ahead too, his pride burned.
Wu Feng, usually fiery, was eerily quiet. Her dark red eyes were dull, fixed blankly on Xu Zihuang at the front.
Even as she stumbled, pulled out by Mu Jin, her gaze never left him.
Xu Zihuang's breath, too, grew heavy. Unlike the others, he never used soul power in these lessons, forcing his body to the edge.
Each time, pushing his limits improved his cultivation that night.
After another quarter hour, the crushing force suddenly vanished. Xu Zihuang stopped and turned back. Dai Huabin was behind him, gasping, the only one still standing.
Then, the air around Xu Zihuang twisted.
None of the others felt it, but he knew at once—the space froze, a massive pressure locking him down.
He looked instinctively to the center, where Teacher Li's fifth black ring shone.
That soul skill was for single targets, and its pressure was far beyond before. Already near his limit, Xu Zihuang instinctively unleashed his soul power.
And at that instant, something inside shattered. His surging soul power slowed, then burst forth, raging through his meridians before settling.
A flash lit his violet eyes. The exhaustion vanished.
From the peak of rank 37, he had broken through—to rank 38.
Bowing respectfully to Teacher Li, he received a smile and nod in return before the man flickered away, gone.
This was an inner court teacher, visiting at Wang Yan's request to help evaluate the class. Xu Zihuang had seen him before—inner court teachers regularly instructed him as a core disciple.
Noticing Xu Zihuang's bottleneck, the man had applied pressure. Coincidentally, it sparked his breakthrough.
Wang Yan recorded the result and turned to the class.
"Don't be discouraged. This test isn't decisive for advancement. The term break is near, but keep preparing for the next advancement exam. Wang Dong, take Huo Yuhao to the infirmary. The rest of you are dismissed."
He then approached Xu Zihuang.
"Zihuang, Teacher Li said you just broke through another level?"
"Thanks to Teacher Li giving me the chance," Xu Zihuang smiled. Wang Yan, gentle as always, patted his shoulder warmly.
"Keep it up. Next term, the academy will select a reserve and official team from the core disciples to join the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament. With your strength, you have a real chance at a spot."
With that, he and Mu Jin left.
Freed from their presence, the square buzzed with chatter.
Stretching, Xu Zihuang relished the new power coursing through him.
Even with the slower progress of an Ultimate martial soul, he was confident he could challenge the rank 40 bottleneck within a year.
"Yu Tianhuang."
A crisp, melodious voice called from the side of the square. The noise stilled, then roared louder in teasing.
Looking over, Xu Zihuang saw Ning Tian of Class Three, waving with a bright smile.
Eight months had passed, and she had grown even taller, her figure graceful.
Under everyone's eyes, Xu Zihuang returned her smile and walked toward her.
Nearby, Zhou Sichen smacked his lips enviously.
"Lucky guy. To be chased by a rich beauty."
"Wake up," scoffed Cao Jinxuan, kicking him. "Do you have the monitor's talent? Or his looks?"
Tuoba Yu approached, nodding seriously. "Didn't think you had such clarity, Cao Jinxuan."
After eight months together, small cliques had naturally formed. For Xu Zihuang and Tuoba Yu, their closest companions were Cao Jinxuan and Zhou Sichen.
Of course, Xu Zihuang was well-liked by nearly everyone.
Across the square, Wu Feng silently watched Xu Zihuang and Ning Tian chatting, her chest aching despite having seen it many times before.
But she could do nothing.
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