Special Training Begins

After Xue Qinghe, Suo Tuo Library received no more visitors, leaving Fu Hua with some rare leisure. Since returning from the Star Dou Great Forest, she had not yet properly examined her gains.

Aside from the awakening of the Honkai genes within her body, there was also her improvement as a soul master. Her Soul Power had not merely risen by one level—it had increased by a full nine levels. In other words, Fu Hua's Soul Power now surpassed even Dai Mubai's: thirty-ninth rank Soul Elder at twelve years old.

Because she had concealed her Soul Power so flawlessly, even Zhao Wuji, whose rank was higher than hers, had not noticed it at first.

This was not without precedent. After Fu Hua independently generated her first Soul Ring, her Soul Power had already been full at rank twenty. After that, she had become a two-ring Soul Grandmaster without the slightest obstruction.

Up to now, she had remained at the thirtieth-rank threshold for five years. If not for her extraordinary control over her own Soul Power, the situation would have looked entirely different.

Setting Soul Power aside, the one thing that truly surprised Fu Hua was her third Soul Ring. Unlike the color of Soul Rings normally absorbed by soul masters, a thirtieth-rank Soul Ring should still have been a deep yellow. Tang San, meanwhile, had absorbed a thousand-year Soul Ring beyond his rank.

Fu Hua's, however, was a white Soul Ring, just like that of a ten-year Soul Beast. Within an inconspicuous area on its inner side, threads of purple flowed faintly. Unless one looked closely, one would only assume she had absorbed a ten-year Soul Ring.

Its Soul Power was calm, so faint it was almost nonexistent, making it all the more deceptive. Yet when it truly displayed its might, one would come to deeply understand what it meant to judge someone by appearances.

As for this third soul skill, let's leave that as a surprise for now. Only by catching someone off guard could it achieve an unexpected effect, wasn't that right?

Sitting on the second-floor balcony, Fu Hua's thoughts drifted as she sorted through her many gains. She reached for the teacup before her and took a light sip. Its fragrance spread freely as her eyes gazed into the distance, toward the faraway horizon.

Perhaps she was looking beyond this layer of sky, toward somewhere even farther away.

A day was not long. With everyone occupied by their own interests, it quickly passed. The next day, before dawn had even broken, Fu Hua set off for Shrek Academy.

After all, Master's words still had to be taken seriously. Fu Hua was curious about what Master's punishment might be, but that did not mean she was a masochist.

The journey passed quickly. As the sky gradually brightened, white smoke was already rising from the dining hall chimney, carrying waves of meaty fragrance. The long-missed scent made Fu Hua's mouth water. It seemed that ever since arriving at Shrek, she had not had a proper meal.

She had either been busy improving her Soul Rings or spent her time cultivating. Even when she returned to Suotuo City, she had been busy with the library. She could truly be called a busy person. Now that she stopped, she genuinely felt that she had neglected herself.

Fu Hua was starting to miss Mei's cooking.

When she arrived at the dining hall, there were already people inside.

"Master, Tang San, good morning."

"Morning, Fu Hua."

"I didn't expect Fu Hua to be so punctual too!"

A hint of a smile appeared on Master's stiff face. Looking at the two small figures who had arrived, he ladled out two bowls of meat soup, then took two eggs and two steamed buns from the baskets beside him and placed them on separate plates.

"Eat. You children are still growing, so you must have sufficient nutrition. The body is the foundation of cultivation. Without a strong body, how could you endure such immense Soul Power?"

Fu Hua strongly agreed and reached out to accept the bowl and plate.

Though the meal was simple, her stomach, long "oppressed," could no longer endure it. Looking at the small chunks of meat that had long since been stewed soft in the bowl, Fu Hua and Tang San exchanged a glance, then both hurried to the table and began wolfing down their food.

The meat melted in their mouths, making it easy to imagine how long it had been stewed. Along with the scent of meat, the soup carried a faint medicinal fragrance. The warm soup and steamed buns satisfied their long-starved stomachs.

Waves of warmth spread from their stomachs through their limbs and bones. Their newly awakened bodies had still been somewhat stiff, but after the warmth passed through them, they seemed to come alive once more.

Not as good as Mei's, but still delicious.

With that conclusion, Fu Hua's breakfast vanished in an instant. At that moment, Xiao Wu's voice came from outside.

"It smells so good! Looks like we have something tasty today."

Two figures appeared at the entrance: Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong.

"Greetings, Master!" Xiao Wu said, bowing respectfully.

Master nodded.

Ning Rongrong's nose twitched. Though her eyes were still hazy with sleep, the aroma of the meat had awakened her.

Master then served each of them a bowl of meat soup, with eggs and steamed buns as well.

"Eat quickly. There's more if it isn't enough."

As soon as Master finished speaking, Fu Hua appeared before him, holding an already empty bowl.

The body was one's capital. Cultivation required a great deal of energy. Eat more and play fewer games if you wanted to grow stronger.

Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong had also had their appetites stirred by the fragrance of the meat soup. They immediately began eating their breakfast.

One after another, the others also arrived at the dining hall. All of them were overwhelmed by the rich aroma of meat. Their slightly bleary eyes, dulled by waking early, instantly widened as they wolfed down the food before them.

Breakfast lasted one hour and soon ended. When the bell rang, everyone gathered on the training field. Though the eight students were all different, none could conceal their youthful vigor or the dense Soul Power fluctuating around them.

Today, Master stood alone on the training field before Shrek's little monsters. His stiff face was exceptionally stern, and his imposing eyes swept across them as he slowly spoke.

"Today was not bad, but I hope that from now on, you will appear in the dining hall even earlier. After eating, you need time to digest. You cannot immediately engage in intense exercise. If you have not arrived within half an hour, then you need not eat."

Other than Tang San and Fu Hua, no one truly took Master's words to heart. They still wore lazy expressions, though their demeanor changed completely once class began.

Even someone as arrogant as Dai Mubai had become an obedient student.

Master naturally saw through their thoughts, but he did not stress the matter further. His stern gaze swept over them as he said in a rigid voice.

"I roughly understand your martial souls. Starting today, I will be conducting your intensive training. Dai Mubai, step forward."

Dai Mubai stepped forward.

"I have a task for you. From now on, without injuring their muscles or bones, defeat the other seven one by one."

Dai Mubai was startled, his gaze sweeping across Tang San and Fu Hua.

Master spoke again. "You're rank thirty-seven. Can't you even defeat those at rank thirty?"

Dai Mubai really wanted to say, I really can't beat her. Who the hell starts challenging a level thirty-seven Soul Elder at level thirty like Fu Hua?

Master gave Dai Mubai no chance to argue, then turned his gaze to Tang San.

"Tang San, step forward."

Tang San stepped out with a straight posture, his eyes stern.

He had long since become familiar with Master's temperament and training methods, so naturally, he had nothing to say.

"You may not use your Third Soul Skill or those special weapons of yours. You may begin."

"Wait."

It was Dai Mubai who spoke.

"Master, this isn't fair. If Tang San can't fight at full strength, what's the point of this match? His level is already lower than mine, and if you restrict his Soul Skills as well, I'd be taking too great an advantage. Although Tang San's third Soul Ring, the Man Faced Demon Spider, is incredibly formidable, I have confidence in myself."

If he were facing Fu Hua, he might have given it some thought. But against Tang San, even though Tang San possessed many methods, Dai Mubai remained confident that he could defeat him.

Master replied calmly.

"If he uses his third Soul Ring, you won't stand any chance. Before encountering a Martial Soul that counters them, Control System Soul Masters are the strongest in one-on-one combat. Of course, there are exceptions, but they are few—and you are not one of them. Since you insist, Tang San may use his third Soul Ring. As companions, you also need to understand each other."

The others all stepped back a few paces, making room for Tang San and Dai Mubai. Master was no exception.

Soul Elders above level thirty already possessed considerable power, and they still could not control their Soul Power as easily as their own limbs. It was easy for them to accidentally injure others.

As for Fu Hua? Sorry! She was not among ordinary people.

Dai Mubai's evil eyes suddenly turned red. Though Tang San was six levels below him, he knew that the person before him was also a monster, so he naturally did not dare to be careless.

"Little San, be careful. I won't hold back."

Tang San nodded.

His entire aura tightened as he prepared for Dai Mubai's attack.

A pale white light flared brilliantly, spreading from Dai Mubai's body. Both his arms swelled at once, his bones crackling, and his entire body expanded by a full circle.

It was Martial Soul Possession.

On the other side, a dark blue light emerged from Tang San's body. Slender Blue Silver Grass slowly grew forth. After his leapfrog absorption, the altered Blue Silver Grass appeared even easier to tear apart, but only those who truly tried would understand that breaking it was utterly impossible for someone of the same level.

Tang San suddenly said, "Mubai, if you can break my Third Soul Skill, then you win."

Tang San remained full of confidence in his Soul Skill.

Dai Mubai's spirits lifted. The others were even more focused, all staring intently at Tang San, wanting to see just how powerful this Third Soul Skill was. Fu Hua was no exception.

Her eyes narrowed as she concentrated Soul Power in them, allowing Fu Hua to see even more—for example, how Soul Power circulated through the meridians within the body and passed through certain acupoints.

If used against an enemy, it would be a devastating weapon.

The twin pupils in Dai Mubai's evil eyes instantly merged. Without the slightest hesitation, his third Soul Ring lit up.

A crystalline purple glow burst forth.

Third Soul Skill: White Tiger Vajra Transformation.

His body expanded once more, the contours of his muscles becoming distinct as black stripes surfaced. Blades extended again from his tiger claws, while blood-red light gleamed in his eyes with a thirst for blood. His entire body radiated the domineering presence of a king among beasts.

"Be careful."

The Blue Silver Grass beneath Tang San's feet sprang into action instantly. Countless vines surged out, some soaring through the air, some sliding along the ground, and some circling around from the sides.

They rushed toward Dai Mubai from every direction.

Dai Mubai did not hesitate in the slightest. Taking one step forward, he charged straight at Tang San's Blue Silver Grass.

First Soul Skill: Entanglement.

It instantly rendered him unable to move.

The toxins carried by the Blue Silver Grass invaded his body, only to be stopped at Dai Mubai's skin.

As his hands danced, ten blades slashed through the vines, yet they could not cut them apart immediately. That brief delay was just enough for Tang San to activate his Third Soul Skill.

Spider Web Restraint.

A massive spider web descended from above. Although Dai Mubai had already tried to dodge, he still failed to escape the range of the Soul Skill.

In an instant, the spider web bound Dai Mubai's body tightly. No matter how he used his blades to cut it, he still could not sever it.

A violent burning and numbing sensation struck him at once, causing Dai Mubai's hands to stiffen. He could no longer continue cutting, while the intense stickiness wrapped his body up like a dumpling.

The spider web continued to tighten. Though Dai Mubai activated his Soul Power with all his strength and tried to break free, he only grew weaker and weaker.

Worse still, the web binding his body tightened further and further.

The numbness became even stronger, naturally weakening the Soul Power he used to resist. The spider web, gleaming blue-green, kept constricting, and Dai Mubai's bones began to crackle.

"That's enough."

Master's words were like an order. Tang San immediately stepped forward and wiped his hand across it, causing the spider web to vanish instantly. The Blue Silver Grass wrapped around Dai Mubai also turned into streams of light and disappeared.

"This is my Third Soul Skill, Spider Web Restraint."

As Tang San helped Dai Mubai up from the ground, he explained it to him. At the same time, the hand supporting Dai Mubai drew the spider web's toxins back into his own body.

Master stepped forward, his tone calm.

"Control is an ability unique to Control System Soul Masters. Generally speaking, Control System Soul Masters have very weak attacks, but their control abilities are exceptionally powerful. Below level sixty, an outstanding Control System Soul Master can completely restrain opponents within ten levels of themselves. Aside from martial souls capable of countering Control System Soul Masters, the best way to deal with one is to deny them the chance to control you. And as a strength-based assault-type Soul Master, Control System Soul Masters are precisely your nemesis. In such circumstances, you must widen the distance between yourself and the Control System Soul Master."

"Every Soul Master has their own strengths and weaknesses. There are no perfect Soul Masters in this world, but... there are perfect teams.

"An individual's strength cannot reach absolute heights, but through seamless cooperation, a team can achieve perfection. By complementing one another's abilities, they can face enemies of any attribute.

Tang San's third soul skill had powerful control, but it also had obvious weaknesses: limits on the number of times it could be used, as well as the range of its control. If you are an Agility Attack System Soul Master, as long as you pay close attention when he makes his move and leave his attack range as quickly as possible, even the strongest spiderweb will be unable to bind you.

"You are a whole. When facing enemies together, the first thing you must do is make up for each other's weaknesses and fully bring out every person's strengths. Then, you will become invincible among those of the same rank. Dai Mubai, continue today's lesson. Next, you will face Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong as a team, followed by Oscar and Ma Hongjun as a team."

"As for Fu Hua, she will face all seven of you alone, but... she is not allowed to use any power other than Soul Power."

After Master finished speaking, cries of surprise erupted from Dai Mubai and the others.

Fu Hua's greatest strength was her own physical prowess. Without using Soul Power, she could already fight a Soul King. But whether she would still possess such power after using Soul Power made everyone hesitate. No matter what, her Soul Power was still only in the thirties. How could she possibly withstand the combined attacks of all seven of them at once?

PS: Today, I, Lady Fu Hua, will take on seven by myself.