Su Yuntao's Moment in the Spotlight

Teacher Yu Xiaogang watched the two dirt craters Wang Dachui had smashed into the ground, the corner of his eye twitching. He had originally planned to give Wang Dachui a passing grade, then use Mental Power to erase it and rewrite: Fail—poor soul power control! The commotion Wang Dachui caused had the boys from the Elite Class cheering. They thought his backflip landing had looked incredibly cool! It made Wang Dachui rather embarrassed. Teacher Yu Xiaogang sighed helplessly and said to him:

"Wang Dachui, your soul power control is far too poor. Look, you even shook the bark into powder. A qualified Soul Master must control every trace of soul power in their body. Just now, you relied entirely on brute force to control the circulation and output of your soul power to achieve your goal, didn't you? Look at yourself—your legs are trembling slightly, and your face is pale. Is your soul power nearly depleted? Next time, know your limits! Therefore, you fail! Go down. I hope you can pass the next assessment. Next, Su Yuntao!"

Wang Dachui had been quite happy when the Elite Class students cheered for his landing posture, but after hearing Teacher Yu Xiaogang's criticism, he lowered his head more and more. Still, Teacher Yu Xiaogang encouraged him at the end, so this simple-minded fellow did not overthink it and replied directly:

"Got it, Teacher! I'll definitely work hard and pass the assessment next time! Just don't tell my dad about this assessment! Otherwise, he'll smack my butt again."

Hearing Wang Dachui's foolish words, Teacher Yu Xiaogang could not help rubbing his forehead in exasperation. He could only wave him back into the line. What he meant was for Wang Dachui to focus on training and pass the next assessment, not to avoid getting his butt smacked by his father! As Wang Dachui returned to the group, he patted Su Yuntao on the shoulder, gave him a thumbs-up, and encouraged him, "Go, Su Yuntao! My boss said we can't let ourselves be outdone by Sister Si Si and the others! I'm going down to recover my soul power first!"

After saying that, Wang Dachui gave Su Yuntao's skinny shoulder a hard slap, then went straight back to the Elite Class line and sat cross-legged to recover his soul power.

Su Yuntao was a little distracted, but the moment he met Si Si's searching gaze, he immediately perked up. He did not want to embarrass himself in front of his goddess. After bowing to Teacher Yu Xiaogang, he began the tree-climbing assessment.

Su Yuntao stopped before the tree where Wang Dachui had left those huge footprints. He took a deep breath, concentrated, and controlled his not-so-abundant soul power, circulating it to the soles of his feet. He stepped onto the trunk, keeping Teacher Yu Xiaogang's warning to Wang Dachui firmly in mind.

Su Yuntao did his best to control every trace of soul power, wasting as little as possible as he slowly climbed the tree. Every step he took was steady.

Teacher Yu Xiaogang watched from the side and nodded inwardly. Su Yuntao had not amounted to much in the original story, merely a named extra, but his perseverance was strong, and he could endure physical pain and grueling training. Teacher Yu Xiaogang had a very good impression of him. Let me see just how far you can go with the cultivation technique and pills I've given you, Su Yuntao!

Su Yuntao focused all his Mental Power on controlling the circulation of his soul power. He had completely shut out all information from his surroundings. All that remained before his eyes was the passing mark carved into the tree by Teacher Yu Xiaogang.

Even when Su Yuntao was exhausted to the point that his entire body shook and his soul power was nearly depleted, he did not give up. Step by step, he advanced toward the passing target. The instant both feet stepped onto the blade mark Teacher Yu Xiaogang had left behind, perhaps because Su Yuntao's Mental Power was so focused, his soul power actually broke through during the assessment. The lingering medicinal effects in his body were triggered and merged into the circulation of his soul power, allowing him to break through in one stroke and reach Soul Power Level 7.

The moment Su Yuntao met Teacher Yu Xiaogang's assessment standard, the tension in his heart eased. His Mental Power scattered, and he fell weakly from the trunk, drawing cries of alarm from the Elite Class students.

Fortunately, Teacher Yu Xiaogang had been ready to use Mental Power to catch him the moment Su Yuntao's soul power became unstable, preventing him from falling from a height of ten meters. Otherwise, with Su Yuntao's physique only just beginning to improve, he would have had to lie in bed for several more days.

Through the connection with Yun Lan, Teacher Yu Xiaogang slowly injected the Blue Silver Grass's Life Soul Power into Su Yuntao's body. Su Yuntao had felt as though he was about to pass out from the pain coursing through his body, but then Teacher Yu Xiaogang placed a hand on his back, and a particularly warm stream of soul power entered him.

Su Yuntao immediately felt comfortable all over. The damage to his meridians caused by forcing his breakthrough was also repaired by that Life Soul Power.

Feeling that he could move again, Su Yuntao immediately got up and respectfully bowed to Teacher Yu Xiaogang.

"Thank you, Teacher, for helping me repair my body's meridians. I just forced a breakthrough to Soul Power Level 7! Teacher, how did I perform just now? Did I pass the assessment?"

Facing Su Yuntao, who looked like a child desperately seeking praise, Teacher Yu Xiaogang could only put on a stern expression and say seriously, "Su Yuntao, you passed this assessment! But it was very dangerous. Completely exhausting both your soul power and Mental Power is very harmful to the body! You were draining your own life potential! If not for the effects of the previous Medicinal Bath and the Life Soul Power I just obtained, you might have been bedridden for several days!"

Hearing the criticism in Teacher Yu Xiaogang's tone, Su Yuntao could not help lowering his head. Teacher Yu Xiaogang used Mental Power to set him down, then stepped forward and placed a warm hand on Su Yuntao's spiky hair. Smiling warmly, he continued, "Su Yuntao, you did well this time! You don't have to pass an assessment in one try. If you can't do it this time, there's always next time! No matter how hard you train, you must protect your body, understand? These are pills I just developed. They are very effective at repairing and nourishing the body's meridians. Take them back, eat them, and stabilize the soul power level you just broke through to. Go down now! Don't hold up the other students' assessments!"

As he spoke, Teacher Yu Xiaogang took out a container of pills refined with Yun Lan's Life Soul Power from his Storage Soul Tool and used Mental Power to float it before Su Yuntao.

Su Yuntao accepted the pills Teacher Yu Xiaogang offered with slightly trembling hands and clutched them tightly in his palm.

Apart from his parents, Su Yuntao had never felt anyone care for him so much. His eyes began to redden as he held Teacher Yu Xiaogang's hopes and concern in his hand. Su Yuntao made up his mind that he would serve at Teacher Yu Xiaogang's side from now on.

Then, Su Yuntao suddenly dropped to his knees and kowtowed three times to Teacher Yu Xiaogang. When he raised his head, tears filled his eyes. Under Teacher Yu Xiaogang's astonished gaze, he said, "Teacher, I know my talent is poor, but being able to become your disciple makes me feel incredibly fortunate! Teacher, I will cultivate seriously from now on! I won't disappoint you!"

Teacher Yu Xiaogang felt that this was what a truly sincere person was like—one who repaid kindness. He then used Mental Power to lift Su Yuntao to his feet and removed the dirt and grass leaves from his body.

Then, meeting Su Yuntao's sincere and expectant gaze, Teacher Yu Xiaogang said, "Su Yuntao, aren't you already my disciple? I now know how firm your will is. Go down and rest well. Your soul power is still unstable after your breakthrough. The other students still need to take their assessments."

"Yes, Teacher!"