"Without weathering wind and rain, how could one see a rainbow? No one succeeds so easily..."
"These Little Monsters are getting more energetic the more they train! Are they challenging us?" Flender listened to the song the Little Monsters were singing, and an involuntary smile appeared on his lips.
"I think this is quite good." Yu Xiaogang watched the Shrek students beside him with a calm expression. "My original goal was to let them understand the strength of teamwork. Now that they've come to understand it through this song, the purpose of the training has been achieved."
Flender looked at Yu Xiaogang and asked, "Then what's next?"
With his hands behind his back and a proud look on his face, Yu Xiaogang said, "Now we must train their teamwork. First, they need to understand that they are a team. Only then can we proceed with the following training."
Flender nodded as he listened, then looked at Yu Xiaogang and asked, "Right, what are you planning to do about Zi Long?"
Yu Xiaogang frowned slightly and said, "He is indeed somewhat rebellious, but he is also a rare genius. Perhaps he was right, but making me, Yu Xiaogang, bow my head will not be so easy."
Flender sighed. "Fine. I've already handed the training over to you, so deal with it yourself."
Several hours later, everyone had run fifty laps. They were so exhausted that they could barely stand, while Zhao Zilong, though his stamina was better than theirs, was still struggling after fifty laps. He braced his hands against his knees and panted continuously.
Flender came over at that moment. "All right, Little Monsters, go eat first! Zhao Zilong, keep running. You are not allowed to eat until you finish the remaining fifty laps."
"You've got to be kidding, Headmaster. Are you trying to kill me?" Zhao Zilong immediately complained.
A smile curled across Flender's lips. "Weren't you singing quite happily just now? Without weathering wind and rain, how could one see a rainbow? No one succeeds so easily. Since you know success does not come easily, train hard. How can you become strong without training hard? Get running."
Zhao Zilong gritted his teeth and started running again. Talking big had felt great at first, but once he was actually punished, the exhaustion in his body left his mind somewhat hazy. He cursed inwardly, My Soul Power is only at innate level 3.5 anyway, and cultivating it is painfully slow. I might as well improve my physique first. Once I sign in with the Shrek Seven Devils and complete the mission, I'll snatch the Immortal Herbs and turn things around immediately.
Seeing Zhao Zilong start running again, the others merely watched. After fifty laps, they truly had no strength left. Dai Mubai spoke up, "Um, Headmaster, no matter how good Zi Long's stamina is, he can't possibly keep going for another fifty laps! We've been running all morning. How can he hold on if he doesn't eat at noon?"
"What? Do you want to run with him too?" Flender snorted coldly.
Dai Mubai immediately fell silent. Though he sympathized with Zhao Zilong, he himself was exhausted and hungry. After fifty laps, he had little strength left.
After lunch, when they arrived at the field, Yu Xiaogang looked at the eight Shrek students and said to Flender, "Flender, why don't I see Zhao Zilong? Tell him to stop running."
After saying that, Yu Xiaogang still did not see Zhao Zilong. He asked, "Could he have gone somewhere to rest?"
"I'll take a look." Flender immediately flew into the air. After scanning the academy, he still could not find Zhao Zilong. Only after circling over to the neighboring village did Flender discover that the brat was over there eating.
Flender descended from the air and saw that Zhao Zilong had ordered several dishes. He immediately cursed, "You brat, I told you to run laps, and you ran all the way here to eat? You even ordered so many dishes. Do you look even a little like someone being punished?"
"Oh, Headmaster, you're here!" Zhao Zilong greeted him with a smile. "Come, Headmaster, have a seat. I ordered plenty of food, so join me for some. Want a drink? My treat."
"Cut the act." Flender kept a stern face and questioned him, "I told you to run laps. Why did you come here to eat? Who gave you permission?"
"My stomach."
Hearing that answer, the corner of Flender's eye twitched. This brat really dared to say it. Zhao Zilong smiled cheerfully. "Headmaster, didn't that Master say this morning that we're still growing and need properly balanced nutrition? After running more than fifty laps, I was starving. If I didn't eat now, it would definitely affect my height."
"If it weren't like this, how could it count as punishment?" Flender sat across from Zhao Zilong, pushed up his glasses, and scolded, "You really are something. Why not just honestly apologize to Master and give him a way out?"
"I just think his training isn't as good as yours, Headmaster. Besides, I feel that his Soul Power is far inferior to yours."
Flender felt somewhat pleased upon hearing that, but he was also surprised. Yu Xiaogang had never displayed his martial soul or Soul Power, yet Zhao Zilong had still noticed?
If Zhao Zilong revealed that Master's Soul Power was weak, then it would not just be Zhao Zilong causing trouble. The other Little Monsters would surely raise hell as well. On Douluo Continent, strength was revered above all else, and those with weak Soul Power were looked down upon everywhere. He said, "Oh? So you noticed that Master's Soul Power is inferior to mine?"
"And not by just a little." Zhao Zilong sounded somewhat disdainful.
Flender became a little awkward and explained, "Because of the nature of Master's martial soul, his Soul Power is somewhat low. However, Master is a great theorist, and he has many methods for training Soul Masters. I know that what Master said today embarrassed you, but his training is indeed very suitable for you Little Monsters."
Without waiting for Zhao Zilong to respond, Flender continued, "You are a genius, and so are they. Even without Master's training, your cultivation talent far surpasses ordinary people. But what Master is teaching you is solid foundational physical training. The body is like a vessel, and Soul Power is like water. In the world of Soul Masters, many Soul Masters focus only on raising their Soul Power and neglect training their bodies. That will not do."
"The stronger your physique, the purer your Soul Power can become. Physical training can also temper your willpower and strengthen your mental strength, giving you an advantage against mental-type Soul Masters in the future."
Zhao Zilong ate as he listened. "That actually makes some sense."
Flender lowered his voice in warning. "Remember, you are not allowed to tell anyone that Master's Soul Power is low. Understand?"
"I understand."
Flender nodded. Yu Xiaogang had not yet begun the Little Monsters' special training. If Zhao Zilong revealed this matter immediately, Yu Xiaogang losing face would be one thing, but more importantly, the other Little Monsters would definitely be unwilling to let a Soul Master with low Soul Power train them. Geniuses all possessed the pride of geniuses. Only once Yu Xiaogang's training showed some results would they not care even if they learned that his Soul Power was low.
He said, "All right, hurry up and eat. Once you're done, get back and assemble."
More than ten minutes later, Zhao Zilong returned to the field. Master watched Zhao Zilong stroll over leisurely, and the corner of his eye twitched. Flender had already spoken to him when he came over earlier. Though Yu Xiaogang was somewhat angry, he said nothing. Every school, even every class, had one or two troublemakers, and the most annoying thing about such troublemakers was that they sometimes left teachers unable to save face.
Thus, though Yu Xiaogang was dissatisfied, he could not be bothered to say more. "Zhao Zilong, return to the line."
"Oh."
"Not bad, Zi Long. That's awesome." Seeing Zhao Zilong return to the line just like that, and seeing that Master did not seem to intend to pursue what happened that morning, Dai Mubai could not help but admire him.
Yu Xiaogang looked at the nine people before him and said, "For the next six months, I will conduct physical training for you during the day. Every night, I will prepare medicinal baths to help relieve your fatigue. These medicinal baths can also improve your physiques."
"Zhao Zilong, step forward."
Zhao Zilong frowned slightly upon hearing this, but he still stepped out.
Yu Xiaogang looked at Zhao Zilong and said, "I know you are a genius. In terms of talent, you may even be the best among everyone here."
Hearing Yu Xiaogang's words, Zhao Zilong immediately felt awkward. My talent is good, my ass! Compared to the Shrek students, it doesn't amount to anything. He promptly waved his hand. "No, no, no, Master. My talent isn't that great. Don't flatter me like that."
Yu Xiaogang stood with his hands behind his back. Though his impression of Zhao Zilong was poor, the training still had to continue. If Zhao Zilong kept causing trouble every few days during future training like he had today, or if any other student stepped out to make a fuss, then the training would be completely ineffective. He had to make these Little Monsters obedient first. Otherwise, the later training could not proceed at all.
He said, "You need not be modest. Geniuses possess the pride of geniuses. This morning, I reprimanded you the moment I arrived. I can understand why you were dissatisfied, so I take back what I said this morning."
Zhao Zilong froze upon hearing Yu Xiaogang's words, and the other Shrek students were also shocked. Yu Xiaogang looked at the others and continued, "I know that Flender's usual training for you is not particularly demanding. Other than morning runs and one class, the rest of your time is self-study. Your training has been very relaxed, so you have all grown accustomed to being lax. Suddenly facing an unfamiliar teacher training you, it is only natural that you would feel dissatisfied."
"However, I can tell you this: if you accept this training regimen, then after six months, I cannot guarantee how much your Soul Power will improve, but your bodies will absolutely undergo a transformative strengthening. Therefore, I hope that for these six months, you will honestly follow my arrangements. If there are no results after six months, I will resign immediately."
"Do you all understand?"
"Understood."
Before you continue