First Lesson of the New Term

It was another new day, and the sun's rays pierced the darkness.

Wang Xiaofeng finished cultivating and returned to the dormitory to wash up. The moment he opened the door, he heard Oscar snoring away.

Sure enough, Oscar was fast asleep. Wang Xiaofeng felt rather helpless. It looked like this guy's laziness had spread through his entire body. He was beyond saving—just wait for death.

After bathing, Wang Xiaofeng felt refreshed all over. Just then, a loud clang-clang-clang suddenly sounded outside.

Was that the class bell? Wang Xiaofeng did not dare take it lightly. He grabbed Oscar and shook him desperately. "Oscar, wake up! I think the class bell is ringing."

However, Oscar only responded with more snoring.

With no other choice, Wang Xiaofeng circulated his Soul Power, slung Oscar onto his back, and ran toward the Training Field.

By the time Wang Xiaofeng arrived at the Training Field carrying Oscar, several people were already standing there.

Not only had the two headmasters, Flander and Zhao Wuji, arrived, but several other academy teachers had also gathered on the Training Field.

"Where are Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun?" Flander frowned as he looked at Wang Xiaofeng and the bewildered Oscar behind him.

"They... are on their way." Wang Xiaofeng scratched his head and decided to cover for them.

"Never mind them for now. Let me introduce the academy's teachers." As he spoke, Flander pointed to the old man Wang Xiaofeng had seen before, whose Martial Soul appeared to be a chessboard. "This is Teacher Lu Qibin. His Martial Soul is Star Luo Chess, and he is a level sixty-six Soul Emperor."

He pointed to the second, slightly younger old man, who still appeared to be over sixty. "This is Teacher Li Yusong. His Martial Soul is the Dragon Pattern Staff, and he is a level sixty-three Soul Emperor."

Finally, he pointed to Shao Xin at the side and introduced him. "This is Teacher Shao Xin. His Martial Soul is Sugar Bean, and he is a level sixty-nine Soul Emperor. A Food System Soul Master. Among the Food System Soul Masters I know, Teacher Shao is absolutely one of the top five experts."

After Flander's introduction, the three teachers all nodded at Wang Xiaofeng and Oscar. The difference was that Shao Xin's gaze remained fixed on Oscar the entire time, even carrying a hint of obsession.

That undisguised stare scared Oscar awake considerably.

After introducing the teachers, Flander said to Wang Xiaofeng and Oscar, "Everyone has their own cultivation method. Different Martial Souls require vastly different methods of cultivation. However, there are still some little tricks in meditation that can help you cultivate." As he spoke, he took two books from his Soul Tool.

"These were compiled by a friend of mine, who drew upon the Meditation Methods and cultivation techniques of many factions to summarize some Soul Power cultivation techniques."

"Although Soul Power is cultivated by meditating and circulating your own Soul Power, there are countless techniques involved. Which circulation routes are more conducive to increasing strength, and which Martial Souls are best cultivated in what environments—it is all recorded here in detail."

Wang Xiaofeng solemnly accepted the book from Flanders. With this book, his cultivation speed could rise another level. Knowledge was power. The ancestors really had not lied to me.

"Alright, put the books away. Oh, it seems neither of you has a Storage Soul Tool yet, right?" Flanders asked as he looked at the two clutching their books.

Both Wang Xiaofeng and Oscar said they did not have the money to buy something so expensive.

A glint flashed through Flanders's eyes as he pulled two bracelets from his robes. "These are Storage Soul Tools. Each has half a cubic meter of space inside."

Wang Xiaofeng's eyes lit up. He had wanted a Storage Soul Tool for a long time. He could not reveal the Martial Soul Space to others, and storing or retrieving things was inconvenient every time.

"Headmaster, are you giving these to us?"

Oscar impatiently put a bracelet on his wrist and asked excitedly.

"Giving them to you? Of course not." A startling gleam reflected off Flanders's glasses. "This Soul Tool is worth five hundred Gold Soul Coins. Of course, if you have no money, you can take out a loan. You only need to pay ten percent interest. At your cultivation speed, you should be able to pay it off by around age fifteen."

Wang Xiaofeng's right eyelid twitched. As expected of Shrek's stingiest man. He had them completely wrapped around his finger, and they were too embarrassed to refuse, since these things really were useful.

"Alright, Headmaster. We'll take them, and we'll pay as you said." Wang Xiaofeng gritted his teeth as he spoke, took the Soul Tool, put it on his wrist, and stored the book in his hand inside it. Still, expensive things really did feel comfortable to wear. The resentment in Wang Xiaofeng's heart faded somewhat.

Seeing Oscar nod in agreement as well, Flanders revealed a satisfied smile. "Alright, now the first lesson begins."

Flanders led the two toward the Village Entrance while imparting some experience along the way. "As a support-type Soul Master, running away is an essential quality. A Support System Soul Master who cannot run away is not a good Soul Master."

"Wang Xiaofeng, Zhao Wuji told me that during the assessment, you passed by relying on hiding. That was a very good approach. So what do you think is most necessary for escaping?"

After thinking briefly, Wang Xiaofeng replied, "First, you need a soul skill that can hide you. Then you also need a strong physique."

"Mm, that answer is very close." Flanders nodded in satisfaction. "Without suitable soul skills, what you need to escape is sufficient stamina. Although you are Soul Masters and have the support of your own Soul Power, your physical condition is somewhat stronger than that of ordinary people.

"However, the enemies you may face could be Battle Soul Masters. Therefore, as Support System Soul Masters, you also need physical training. At a critical moment, perhaps taking one more step than your enemy will let you survive."

Seeing Wang Xiaofeng and Oscar nod in agreement, the smile on Flanders's face grew wider.

"Then this morning's lesson is to run two laps around the village." Flanders patted them on the shoulders. Wang Xiaofeng suddenly lost all sense of his own Soul Power. When he looked at Oscar, he found the same shocked expression on his face.

"I have sealed your Soul Power. Once you finish running, I will naturally remove it for you." Flanders casually left those words behind, then vanished with a whoosh.

With no other choice, Wang Xiaofeng and Oscar began running around the village.

Wang Xiaofeng had begun training his physique from a young age, and years of training had given him a good body. Moreover, after obtaining his Second Soul Ring, his physical strength had gradually begun approaching that of Battle Soul Masters of the same rank. To him, this sort of training was merely an appetizer.

But Oscar was different. He had never trained his body. Although the power of his Soul Rings had made his physique far superior to that of ordinary people, they had already been running for twenty minutes after leaving the Village Entrance and still had not completed a single lap. Oscar's resolve began to waver.

"Xiaofeng, just how far is this lap?"

Oscar asked helplessly.

"About six kilometers. What's wrong?" Wang Xiaofeng answered as he looked at Oscar, who had begun panting.

"Six kilometers, and we can't use Soul Power or Martial Souls? This is going to kill me!" Oscar shouted bitterly.

"It's not that bad." Wang Xiaofeng said that he ran several laps after every cultivation session. If he ran quickly enough, he could even make it back for a hot breakfast.

"Xiaofeng, I think I'll die of exhaustion before I finish." Oscar sat down on the ground, wanting to give up. But Wang Xiaofeng grabbed him and hauled him back up, not letting him succeed.

"Oscar, think of it this way. Since the headmaster assigned us this task, he is definitely watching us. If you want to be punished, then stay here."

After Wang Xiaofeng analyzed the pros and cons for Oscar, he successfully reignited Oscar's fighting spirit. Of course, perhaps he was simply afraid of punishment. Then Oscar gritted his teeth and followed Wang Xiaofeng to finish the two laps.

"You performed quite well." Looking at Wang Xiaofeng, who had only sweated a little, and Oscar, who lay on the ground utterly exhausted, Flanders appeared before them like a ghost and removed the seal.

Feeling his Soul Power return, Oscar quickly summoned a sausage and swallowed it in one bite. The fatigue in his body gradually disappeared, and he was so happy he nearly cried.

"Oscar, your body is far too weak. From now on, get up early and train with me." Wang Xiaofeng spoke with exasperation.

"Next time for sure, next time for sure." Oscar hurriedly refused. Wasn't sleeping in nice? Why would he seek out suffering?

Flanders smiled. "Alright, that's it for today's lesson. Arrange the rest of your time yourselves, as long as you do not do anything bad. Tonight is Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun's lesson. You may come observe if you wish. Just gather at the Training Field at dusk."

After Wang Xiaofeng and Oscar went to the Cafeteria and finished breakfast, they went their separate ways to do their own things.