Growing Stronger Again

Ning Rongrong's anxious voice rang out. "Yu Ling, how are you?"

Qian Yuling came back to her senses, practically bursting with excitement as she shook Ning Rongrong nonstop. "I'm fine, Rongrong. I gained so much this time."

Ning Rongrong was getting dizzy from the shaking. "Yu Ling, if you don't stop, I'm the one who'll be in trouble."

"Ah. Sorry." Qian Yuling stopped and continued, "Rongrong, do you know what Qing Qian gave me just now?"

Ning Rongrong shook her head.

"That piece of wood she gave me greatly increased both my Spiritual Power and Soul Power. My Soul Power is already at level forty-nine." Qian Yuling smiled as she spoke. Given the current density of Qian Yuling's Soul Power, raising it by four levels could absolutely be called a tremendous increase.

Ning Rongrong's expression became exaggerated. "Yu Ling, you're eleven this year, right?"

Qian Yuling nodded.

"Eleven years old, level forty-nine. One more level, then another Soul Ring, and you'll be a Soul King... emmm..." Ning Rongrong sighed toward the sky. Why was the difference between people so huge?

"Relax, relax. We're classmates, after all."

"Yu Ling, I'm so jealous." Ning Rongrong stared hungrily at Qian Yuling.

"Let's go soak in the hot springs." Qian Yuling changed the subject and took the lead, with Ning Rongrong quickly following after her.

Although Qian Yuling's Spiritual Power and Soul Power had both increased, the thing that made her happiest was actually something she had not mentioned.

The Jieyi Gong Kirin had taught her had already broken through to the second stage. Compared to the first stage, the second stage greatly enhanced Qian Yuling's offensive and defensive abilities. The two stages were simply not on the same level.

Moreover, she felt that her martial soul seemed to have become complete.

Qing Qian was definitely not simple.

But right now, the most important thing was obviously soaking in the hot springs.

Before entering the hot springs, Ning Rongrong gave the owner some extra Gold Soul Coins to reserve the whole place. She did not want to hear anyone else making noise.

After Qian Yuling and Ning Rongrong took off their clothes, Ning Rongrong was the first to step into the hot spring pool. "Yu Ling, come down."

"Mm." Qian Yuling slowly entered the hot spring as well.

"Ah~" Qian Yuling let out a moan. Soaking in the hot springs felt far too good.

"Yu Ling, that sound was way too seductive." Ning Rongrong teased.

Qian Yuling's pretty face flushed red. She turned away and ignored Ning Rongrong.

But Ning Rongrong had no intention of letting Qian Yuling off. She pounced on her directly, and the two began to play around.

Night fell.

After soaking in the hot springs, the two sat on Little Fire Dragon Fleet's back and flew swiftly toward the academy.

Because the hot springs had felt so comfortable, Qian Yuling had completely forgotten about making Ning Rongrong run with her.

After arriving at the academy, Qian Yuling suddenly remembered and looked at Ning Rongrong. "Rongrong, are we still running? Class is about to start."

Ning Rongrong shook her head. "No more running. Wait for me, I'm going to tell Oscar something."

"Okay." Qian Yuling stayed where she was and waited for Ning Rongrong.

Not far away, Flender watched the two with mixed surprise and concern, then sighed and shook his head.

Why had he chosen to trust Qian Yuling? Still, at least the two had not encountered any danger, which made him breathe a sigh of relief.

But that girl Qian Yuling had actually broken through to level forty-nine. She had probably encountered some kind of fortunate opportunity. However, she had failed to complete the task he assigned and had left the academy without permission, so she would have to receive the punishment she deserved.

Before long, Ning Rongrong returned, with Oscar following beside her.

At that moment, the bell of Shrek Academy rang.

Qian Yuling, Ning Rongrong, and Oscar hurried to the academy's training grounds. Before long, Flender and the other five students arrived as well.

Flender stood on the large training grounds, looking at the eight students before him.

Dai Mubai, Tang San, Xiao Wu, Ma Hongjun, and Zhu Zhuqing all looked energized and ready for the evening class.

However, Flender's attention was not on those five. It was on Oscar, Ning Rongrong, and Qian Yuling.

"Oscar, have you finished running twenty laps?" Flender's gaze was sharp enough to make people afraid to meet his eyes.

Oscar coughed and nodded. "Dean, I finished."

Flender snorted coldly. "I asked whether all of you did, not whether you did."

Oscar looked toward Ning Rongrong and Qian Yuling. Ning Rongrong was looking at him too, her large eyes filled with innocence. Qian Yuling's gaze was also on Oscar, but her eyes darted away slightly, and her pretty face was still somewhat red, making her seem embarrassed.

Oscar gritted his teeth, nodded, and said, "Yes, we all finished."

Flender smiled, but it was an exceedingly sinister smile.

"Very good, Oscar. I didn't expect you to have such a spirit of friendship. Come here." Flender pointed to the spot in front of him.

A bitter smile appeared on Oscar's face. Without looking at Ning Rongrong and Qian Yuling again, he strode over and stopped before Flender.

Flender slowly raised his right hand and lightly patted Oscar's shoulder. "I admire your spirit of friendship. Since that's the case, go run another twenty laps and let me see just how deep that spirit of friendship runs. You are not allowed to eat until you finish. I have already sealed your Soul Power, so don't even think about undoing it. Go."

Oscar turned and ran into the distance.

Flender looked at the other five and said, "Do you not understand why I did this? Why I'm making him keep running?"

Tang San, Xiao Wu, and Zhu Zhuqing nodded, while Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun silently watched Flender. Zhu Zhuqing had a feeling that Qian Yuling and Ning Rongrong might be punished.

Flender continued, "Because he lied. No matter the reason, a lie is still a lie. You are all still children, and lying is the worst kind of character flaw. So I do not want any of you to lie."

After speaking, Flender turned his gaze to Qian Yuling and Ning Rongrong. "Yu Ling, Ning Rongrong, tell me. Did you complete the task?"

Qian Yuling shook her head. "No."

Ning Rongrong said, "Neither did I. The distance was too long, and I was hungry, so I couldn't keep going."

Flender smiled faintly. "So you went to Suotuo City to have fun, only returning after dark to find Oscar. Is that right?"

Qian Yuling nodded slightly. "I'm sorry."

Flender's furrowed brows relaxed, but he still shook his head. "You do not need to apologize to me. You have not wronged me; you have wronged yourself. You have wronged your talent. However, admitting your mistake is enough. I hope you won't make it again in the future. Go. Run another twenty laps, just like Oscar."

Qian Yuling nodded, turned around, and ran off.

Flender was somewhat surprised. He had not expected Qian Yuling to admit her mistake. To recognize one's errors and correct them was the greatest virtue.

But Ning Rongrong's eyes widened. "You were spying on us?"

Flender's relaxed brows tightened again, and his expression instantly turned cold. "As the dean, I must be responsible for every student. If Oscar lied because he could not bear to see you punished, that is somewhat understandable. As for Yu Ling, she only went to Suotuo City with you because you urged her to, but it takes two to make a quarrel. She was indeed at fault and not innocent at all. But you—you encouraged Yu Ling to skip class with you and made an upperclassman lie for you. Every single one of these is a mistake no outstanding soul master should make. If this were a battlefield, there would be only one outcome for you: punishment under military law. Death, nothing more.