Bai Ge's Crushing Victory

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

Grandmaster was already waiting there.

Grandmaster looked at the Shrek Seven Devils. "First test: seven against one. You'll be facing Bai Ge.

"Bai Ge will not use his martial soul, and Xiao San will not use hidden weapons.

"If you can force Bai Ge to use his martial soul, you 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, try and find out."

"Fine! You said it!" Dai Mubai roared. "Second soul skill, White Tiger Fury..."

"Fury my ass. You're dead."

Before Dai Mubai could activate his skill, a long sword forged from Refined Steel was already pressed against his throat in Bai Ge's hand.

No one had seen 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, "Watch out! I forgot to tell everyone—when it comes to Sword Skill alone, Brother Xiao Bai isn't much worse than Sword Grandpa!

"The two of them spend all day muttering about the Sword Dao.

"I don't understand it, but it sounds incredible!"

"Rongrong, why didn't you tell us something this important sooner?! Ah!"

Accompanied by a scream, Oscar was kicked flying!

"Xiao Ao!" Seeing this, Ma Hongjun hurried over to help. However, Bai Ge's Swimming Dragon Steps of the Tiance movement technique were incredibly swift. The fat man only felt his vision go black before he plunged headfirst into the ground, landing face-first in the dirt.

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

If Ma Hongjun had taken to the air and breathed fire, Bai Ge would have had to go through some trouble without using his martial soul, especially since he could not hurt him.

But Ma Hongjun had been too eager to rescue Oscar. Wasn't he practically delivering himself up?

Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing charged forward, but the Tiance Swimming Dragon Steps were a movement technique born on the battlefield.

Whether it could fly high or not aside, its evasion was maxed out.

Thus, with one person and one finger each, Bai Ge struck the two girls' Sleeping Acupoints.

Alright, only Tang San remained.

Bai Ge directly used Teleportation, his long sword pointing 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 kept pressing forward step by step, giving them no chance to activate their soul skills at all.

Bai Ge versus the Shrek Seven Devils. Result: crushing victory.

Grandmaster sighed. "Although I guessed they would lose, I didn't expect the gap to be this enormous."

Then Grandmaster turned to the Seven Devils. "Are these the so-called monster geniuses? Your performance today has deeply disappointed me.

"Every one of you made unforgivable mistakes.

"You were suppressed so completely that you did not even have a chance to fight back, even while the other side was holding back?

"Now, all of you will be punished.

"Run, supervise each other, and do not use Soul Power.

"From the academy to Suotuo City, then back again. Before lunch, I require you to complete ten round trips.

"You eat only after you finish. 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 else was there to say?

Besides, the mistakes Grandmaster had pointed out were all major failures for them.

"At the academy gate, prepared rocks are waiting for you. Each of you will carry one in a Bamboo Basket and run with the weight.

"Remember, you are a team. If even one person fails to complete the punishment, then no one gets to eat."

Grandmaster emphasized this.

Although they could not use Soul Power, they were all Spirit Masters. Years of Soul Power tempering had made their bodies far stronger than those of ordinary people. If it were only 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 the added weight, it was definitely no easy task.

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

Seven Bamboo Baskets woven from bamboo held stones of different sizes. Every basket had straps and a name written on it.

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

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

Watching the seven carry their Bamboo Baskets and run off into the distance, a faint smile appeared on Grandmaster's face.

"Long-distance running with weights without using Soul Power—isn't this punishment a little too harsh?

"That's dozens of kilometers.

"Forget noon, they probably won't finish even by nightfall. I didn't expect you to be harsher than me."

Flander had somehow arrived beside Grandmaster and spoke with some concern.

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

"I have carefully calculated their physical conditions. They will not be exhausted beyond recovery.

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

"Without going through hardship and sharing it together, how can they become true partners capable of entrusting their backs to one another?"

Flander 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.

"But I still have to remind you again: the academy's funds are limited."

Grandmaster snorted. "Can a living man really be held in by piss?

"Do you think I'm like you? A dignified Soul Saint, yet you can't even secure funding for an academy."

Flander grew slightly angry. "It's because I refuse to grovel and attach myself to others. Otherwise, with my strength, gaining great wealth and status would be no difficult matter.

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

Grandmaster glanced sideways at Flander. "Then just wait and see."

With their Bamboo Baskets on their backs, Tang San and Dai Mubai took the lead and sprinted off. Only after they began running did they realize how severe this punishment truly was.

If they could use Soul Power, covering sixty or seventy kilometers within half a day would not have been a problem for them. They could even have completed it easily.

But without using Soul Power and while carrying weights, it was far from easy.

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

They had not run very far, yet 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.

By then, Xiao Wu, Ma Hongjun, and Oscar had already fallen several hundred meters behind. Zhu Zhuqing, who was behind them, had caught up to their pace. Ning Rongrong trailed at the very back, while Bai Ge followed quietly.