Flender's Teaching Methods

When Flender called his name, Oscar's face quickly fell. Reluctantly, he walked up to Flender and bowed. Ning Rongrong and Qian Yuling followed right after him. Only when Oscar saw that Ning Rongrong and Qian Yuling were accompanying him did his expression improve considerably.

Flender waved a hand. "The rest of you may go back and rest. Remember, get yourselves into peak condition before nightfall. Don't blame me for not warning you. This academy teaches differently from other academies. You may even face mortal danger."

Zhu Zhuqing left without looking back, and this time Dai Mubai did not follow after her.

Because of Qian Yuling, Ma Hongjun did not leave. To him, even getting one more look at Qian Yuling was worthwhile.

Tang San was not in a hurry to leave either. He wanted to see how the dean before him taught. Oscar and Ning Rongrong had support-type martial souls, while Qian Yuling's was of the summon type. She only needed to summon a Summoned Beast to help her fight, so she could also be considered a support-type Soul Master. Though she could not grant her teammates any enhancements, and her own combat ability was certainly inferior to that of a Battle Soul Master of the same rank. However, Tang San had clearly forgotten that during the test with Zhao Wuji that day, Qian Yuling had dismissed her Summoned Beast and won through her own speed and fighting methods.

So that should have been why they did not need to attend class that night. What Tang San found curious was why the teaching had to take place at night.

Since Tang San was not leaving, Xiao Wu naturally would not leave either. She stood quietly beside him and watched.

Flender did not mind. He said to Oscar, Ning Rongrong, and Qian Yuling, "Everyone has their own method of cultivating their martial soul. Different martial souls require different methods. On the continent, there are practically no two martial souls that are exactly alike. What the academy teaches you is not how to cultivate your martial souls, but how to use them—how to better protect yourselves and assist your comrades in the future."

Flender's words sounded familiar to Tang San. It seemed that the Master had said something similar before, though the Master had explained it in far greater detail.

Oscar had heard Flender say this before, while Ning Rongrong and Qian Yuling nodded in deep agreement.

But Qian Yuling suddenly realized something and hurriedly said, "Dean, I'm not a Support System Soul Master."

Flender raised a brow. "Of course I know that. But let me ask you this: among your soul skills, do you have any offensive or defensive soul skills that rely on yourself?"

Qian Yuling shook her head at his words.

Flender immediately said, "Then there you have it. Without offensive or defensive soul skills that rely on yourself, you belong to the support category of Soul Masters."

Qian Yuling nodded, indicating that she understood what Flender meant.

Flender continued, "Yu Ling, from now on, you are a Support System Soul Master. Don't say you're some kind of Summon System Soul Master anymore."

Qian Yuling nodded rapidly like a pecking chick.

Flender continued, addressing Qian Yuling, "You have the best talent among the three Support System Soul Masters. Tell me, what is the true essence of a Support System Soul Master?" After speaking, Flender looked forward to Qian Yuling's answer.

Qian Yuling thought for a while, then declared boldly, "Improve your own strength and knock all your opponents down, then you can support your teammates without worry." After saying that, Qian Yuling even planted her hands on her hips, looking utterly adorable.

Flender's face darkened. He shouted at Qian Yuling, "Nonsense! Who taught you that? I already told you that you're a Support System Soul Master from now on. Stop thinking about doing the things Assault System Soul Masters do."

Flender's loud rebuke frightened Qian Yuling a little. She lowered her head and rubbed the index fingers of her two hands together. Everyone present was stunned by her domineering words. Ma Hongjun even burst out laughing, but the fierce glint in Qian Yuling's eyes made him freeze, and he stopped laughing.

Flender continued, "You three Support System Soul Masters each have your own role. Ning Rongrong enhances her teammates' attributes, Oscar is a Food System Soul Master, and Yu Ling summons Summoned Beasts to assist her teammates in battle. Soul Masters like you need the protection of companions by your side, whether on the battlefield or in daily life. Otherwise, it will be difficult for you to survive. Oscar, tell me: as a Support System Soul Master, how can you better protect yourself on the battlefield?"

Oscar answered without hesitation, "Hide behind your companions as much as possible, and use every piece of terrain you can to avoid dangerous areas."

Flender nodded. "Very good, but there's one point you left out. As a Support System Soul Master, fleeing is an essential quality. A Support System Soul Master who cannot run away is not a good Soul Master. And what does running away require? Stamina. Although you Soul Masters have Soul Power to assist you, making your physical condition somewhat better than that of ordinary people, when you encounter Battle Soul Masters of the same rank, your physical condition will be nothing in their eyes. Therefore, you must train your stamina. Perhaps taking one more step will allow you to survive."

Qian Yuling scratched her head. My physical strength doesn't seem any weaker than a Battle Soul Master's, does it? Even Brother Kirin said my physical strength and Soul Power density were excellent back then.

Flender noticed Qian Yuling's movement and asked, "Do you have a question?"

Qian Yuling hurriedly lowered her hand. "No."

Oscar knew Flender well. Listening to the dean in front of him speak so righteously, he smiled bitterly to himself. It's over. There's no escaping today.

Sure enough, after his lengthy speech, Flender nodded at Oscar, Ning Rongrong, and Qian Yuling. "Your lesson today is stamina training. Starting now, run twenty laps around the entire village. If you have not returned before lunch, then you will not be eating lunch. Oscar and Ning Rongrong may use your martial souls to assist yourselves, but Yu Ling, you may not summon a Summoned Beast to assist you. Set off now. Oscar will lead the way."

"Yes." The three answered in unison and ran off without hesitation.

Although the village where Shrek Academy was located was not large, Oscar understood that when Flender referred to the entire village, he included the village's farmland. One lap was at least three kilometers. Twenty laps was a truly terrifying number.

Watching the three of them run off, Flender pointed at Tang San. "You, come with me."

Tang San gestured to Xiao Wu, then followed with long strides.

Xiao Wu and Ma Hongjun also returned to their respective dormitories to cultivate.

Outside the academy, Oscar's group was running with all their strength.

"Oscar, just how far is one lap?" Ning Rongrong's voice was filled with helplessness.

At first, she had been brimming with confidence. Although she was a Support System Soul Master, her father had always made her train her body at home, saying exactly the same things Flender had said earlier. Therefore, her physical condition was not poor. Though she could not compare to a Battle Soul Master, her long-term training had not only given her a healthy physique, but also made her especially skilled at running.

However, from the moment they left the academy until now, Ning Rongrong and Qian Yuling, led by Oscar, had not even completed a single lap. At this pace, they might not even make it back for dinner. Moreover, Ning Rongrong and Oscar's stamina was steadily declining, so there was no way they could maintain this speed forever.

Only Qian Yuling was an exception. She was somewhat disappointed by Flender's training. With her current physical condition and speed, let alone twenty laps, even two hundred would not pose the slightest problem. Therefore, whether she completed the task was not important to her. She simply accompanied Oscar and Ning Rongrong, running along at their slow pace.