Bai Ge's Overwhelming Victory

The next day, after breakfast, everyone arrived at the training ground.

Grandmaster was already waiting there.

Grandmaster looked at the Shrek Seven Devils. "First subject: seven against one. You will face Bai Ge.

"Bai Ge will not use his martial soul, and Tang San will not use Hidden Weapons.

"If you can force Bai Ge to use his martial soul, you will pass."

Dai Mubai's eyes widened. "No martial soul? Doesn't that mean he can't use Soul Skills either?

"How is that possible?"

Bai Ge chuckled. "If you don't believe it, why not give it a try?"

"Fine! You said it!" Dai Mubai roared. "Second Soul Skill, White Tiger Fiery..."

"Fiery my ass. You're dead."

Before Dai Mubai could activate his skill, a Hundred Refined Steel longsword was already pressed against his throat.

No one saw when the sword had left its sheath.

Only Tang San's pupils contracted. Bai Ge reminded him of those peerless swordsmen from his previous life.

Ning Rongrong cried out, "Careful! I forgot to tell everyone that, when it comes to swordsmanship alone, Brother Xiao Bai isn't much worse than Sword Grandfather!

"The two of them mutter mysterious things all day, talking about the way of the sword.

"I don't understand it, but it sounds really impressive!"

"Rongrong, why didn't you tell us something so important earlier? Ah!"

Accompanied by a scream, Oscar was sent flying by a kick!

"Little Ao!" Seeing this, Ma Hongjun hurried over to help. However, Bai Ge's Swimming Dragon Steps of the Heavenly Strategy were incredibly fast. The fat man only felt his vision go black before he plunged face-first into the ground.

As it turned out, Bai Ge had struck the back of the fat man's neck with a heavy chop, knocking him unconscious on the spot.

If Ma Hongjun had flown into the sky and breathed fire, Bai Ge, unable to use his martial soul and unwilling to hurt him, would have had to put in some effort.

But Ma Hongjun was too eager to rescue Oscar. Wasn't he practically delivering himself to Bai Ge?

Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing charged forward, but the Heavenly Strategy's Swimming Dragon Steps had been born on the battlefield.

Whether it could fly high or not was another matter, but its evasiveness was maxed out.

Thus, one person, one finger each, struck the two girls' Sleeping Acupoints.

All right, only Tang San remained.

Bai Ge directly used Teleportation, his longsword aimed straight at Tang San's throat.

Tang San could only smile bitterly.

No one knew better than him how terrifying a swordsman with sword intent could be.

Moreover, Bai Ge pressed forward at every step, giving them no chance to activate their Soul Skills at all.

Bai Ge versus the Shrek Seven Devils, result: complete domination.

Grandmaster sighed. "Though I guessed they would lose, I never expected the gap to be this vast."

Then Grandmaster turned to the Seven Devils. "Is this what you call monster geniuses? Your performance today has greatly disappointed me.

"Every one of you made unforgivable mistakes.

"You were actually suppressed so thoroughly under someone else's restraint that you did not even have a chance to fight back?

"Now, all of you will be punished.

"Run, and supervise one another. You may not use Soul Power.

"Run from the academy to Suotuo City, then run back. Before lunch, I require you to complete ten round trips.

"You will eat only after you finish running. Move immediately. Begin."

Tang San was the first to run out, followed closely by Xiao Wu, Dai Mubai, Oscar, and Ma Hongjun.

Even Grandmaster had punished Tang San. What was there left to say?

Besides, the mistakes Grandmaster had pointed out were indeed grave errors for them.

"At the academy gate, there are prepared rocks. Each of you will carry one on your back while you run.

"Remember, you are a team. If any one of you fails to complete the punishment, then none of you will eat."

Grandmaster added that emphasis.

Although they could not use Soul Power, they were all soul masters. Years of Soul Power tempering had made their bodies far stronger than those of ordinary people. If they were merely running, it would not achieve Grandmaster's purpose.

The distance from the academy to Suotuo City was not too far, but it was still around three or four kilometers. Ten round trips meant roughly sixty or seventy kilometers.

With added weight, it was absolutely no easy task.

When the seven arrived at the academy gate one after another, they discovered that Grandmaster's punishment had been tailored differently for each of them—or rather, that it had been prepared in advance.

Seven bamboo baskets, each woven from bamboo and containing stones of varying sizes, had been laid out. Every basket had shoulder straps and a name written on it.

Among them, the stones in Tang San, Dai Mubai, and Ma Hongjun's baskets were the largest. Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, and Oscar's were next, while Ning Rongrong's basket held the smallest stones.

When Ning Rongrong saw the stones in her basket, the dissatisfaction in her heart immediately lessened somewhat. This Grandmaster isn't completely unreasonable after all.

As Grandmaster watched the seven run off with the bamboo baskets on their backs, a faint smile could not help appearing on his face.

"Making them run long distances with weights on their backs without using Soul Power—isn't that punishment a bit too harsh?

"That's dozens of kilometers.

"They probably won't finish even by nightfall, much less noon. I never expected you to be harsher than me."

Flender had somehow appeared beside Grandmaster, speaking with some concern.

Grandmaster replied calmly, "Only by enduring the bitterest hardships can one rise above others.

"I have carefully calculated their physical condition. They will not be exhausted beyond their limits.

"Besides, do you think they ate such a good breakfast for nothing?

"If they do not go through a stage of sharing hardship and joy, how can they become true partners who can entrust their backs to one another?"

Flender raised both hands in surrender. "Fine, we'll do it your way. Handle it as you see fit.

"I know you value these children even more than I do.

"However, I have to remind you again that the academy's funds are limited."

Grandmaster snorted. "Will a living man let himself be suffocated by piss?

"Do you think I'm like you? A mighty Soul Saint-level expert who cannot even secure funding for an academy."

Flender said angrily, "It's only because I don't want to grovel and rely on others. Otherwise, with my strength, gaining great wealth and status would not be difficult.

"I'd like to see how you solve this problem. Your skin is far thinner than mine."

Grandmaster gave Flender a sidelong glance. "Then just wait and see."

With their bamboo baskets on their backs, Tang San and Dai Mubai took the lead and sprinted ahead. Only once they started running did they realize just how severe this punishment truly was.

If they could use Soul Power, covering sixty or seventy kilometers in half a day would not be a problem for them. They could even complete it easily.

However, without Soul Power and while carrying weights, it would not be easy to finish.

"Mubai, let's stop for a moment." Tang San abruptly halted while running.

They had not run far yet, but a light sheen of sweat had already appeared on his forehead.

Although both of them had expended Soul Power earlier, they were now running without using it. In terms of physical strength, they were clearly the best among the Shrek Seven Devils.

At this point, Xiao Wu, Ma Hongjun, and Oscar had already fallen several hundred meters behind. Zhu Zhuqing, who had been behind them, had caught up, while Ning Rongrong trailed at the very end. Bai Ge quietly followed behind.