Running Laps, the Late Girl

Xie Xie quickly began to regret what he had said to Wu Changkong earlier.

Wu Changkong was absolutely a teacher who kept his word. He had said there would be Physical Education Class yesterday, and today, it began.

The basic training for physical fitness: running.

The track at Eastsea Academy's Intermediate Department was a full eight hundred meters per lap, and Wu Changkong had assigned them ten laps. Apparently, that was only the warm-up.

When they heard the number ten laps, the students said nothing aloud, but inwardly, they were filled with resentment.

Ten laps added up to Eight Kilometers!

But when they saw Wu Changkong bring out three Iron Armors made of thick chains, each weighing twenty pounds, and put them on Tang Wuyang, Tang Wulin, and Xie Xie, they could no longer say a word. They even felt somewhat fortunate.

If it had been yesterday, with Xie Xie's temper, he definitely would have resisted fiercely. But today, he had no choice.

He might have been arrogant, but once he said something, he would do his best to follow through.

Besides, after what happened that morning, he greatly admired Wu Changkong.

Tang Wuyang and Tang Wulin were even less likely to object. Both of them were hardworking by nature, and they had no complaints whatsoever about this kind of grueling training.

As an Agile Attack System Battle Soul Master, Xie Xie was still ahead of the other students in the class at first, despite carrying twenty pounds of Iron Armor.

Tang Wuyang and Tang Wulin were not particularly fast, but they were steady. The two ran Side by Side with the Main force.

Although Xie Xie was fast, as time passed, his speed began to drop after two laps, while the other students also began falling behind one after another.

By the fourth lap, Xie Xie's breathing had become ragged. He felt as though there were a ball of fire burning in his Lungs, while the Iron Armor on him seemed to have become several times heavier.

By then, he did not even have the strength to tell Wu Changkong that he regretted it.

"How are you holding up?" Tang Wulin's voice came from behind him.

Xie Xie turned his head and saw Tang Wuyang and Tang Wulin running Side by Side behind him.

They were sweating too, but no matter how he looked at it, the two of them were in much better shape than he was.

Xie Xie gritted his teeth. "I'm fine!" After saying that, he picked up his speed slightly.

Those two had actually caught up to him?

Seeing Xie Xie accelerate, Tang Wuyang and Tang Wulin maintained their even breathing and caught up again.

"Teacher Wu has his reasons for making us carry weight. After all, we still have to represent the class in the upcoming Promotion Tournament!" Tang Wuyang said to Xie Xie as he adjusted his breathing.

Xie Xie did not respond. Speaking was just as much of a burden for him right then.

Five laps!

Xie Xie was already losing control of his body. His legs felt as heavy as if they had been filled with lead.

The Brothers, Tang Wuyang and Tang Wulin, had been following behind Xie Xie. They could have passed him long ago, but they did not.

Tang Wuyang's feelings at that moment were completely different from Xie Xie's. The twenty pounds on his body felt like nothing at all.

After five laps, it truly felt like he had only warmed up.

Tang Wulin was not as relaxed as Tang Wuyang, but he was still much better off than Xie Xie.

The Brothers exchanged a glance, then silently reached one hand beneath Xie Xie's arms, each supporting one of his arms.

Xie Xie, who had been struggling to hold on, suddenly felt his whole body lighten. His steps instantly became brisk, and he looked at Tang Wulin and Tang Wuyang in surprise.

The two merely smiled, quickened their pace, and carried Xie Xie onward.

Wu Changkong stood in the center of the field, watching the Grade One Class Five students who had already fallen into complete disarray. His expression remained calm, though he occasionally frowned.

"Tang Wulin, Tang Wuyang, you both have plenty of strength, don't you? Then carry him as you run. Add another ten laps."

Xie Xie glanced at Tang Wulin on his left, then shifted his gaze to Tang Wuyang on his other side. Yet the two looked as though they had not heard Wu Changkong at all, their expressions still calm.

Just as Xie Xie was about to say something, Tang Wuyang quietly said beside him, "Another ten laps, Ge. Then let's run faster. We shouldn't delay lunch. I didn't eat breakfast, and I'm starving now."

Tang Wulin nodded in agreement. "True. Let's speed up a little."

The words at Xie Xie's lips turned directly into a complaint. "Are you two even human? Aren't you tired?"

Tang Wuyang smiled slightly. "It's not too bad."

At that moment, a girl slowly walked over from the direction of the school gate leading to the Intermediate Department's field.

She was wearing white trousers and a white top.

She looked about the same age as the Grade One Class Five students. She was not especially beautiful, merely delicate-looking, with long black hair and black eyes.

Her figure was above average among her peers, well-proportioned, and her large eyes were bright and spirited.

There seemed to be a special rhythm to her footsteps as she walked, as well as a strange aura around her.

Wu Changkong's gaze paused on her. The girl was not wearing a School Uniform, and it was already class time.

Wu Changkong walked over. "Which class are you from?"

Yet the Young Girl's attention seemed to be drawn by something else. Her gaze landed on Tang Wuyang and Tang Wulin, who were supporting Xie Xie as they ran, as though she were quite interested in the three of them wearing Iron Armor.

She raised her head and looked at Wu Changkong. "I came to Attend Class, but they said registration had already ended."

Wu Changkong frowned. "You aren't an Eastsea student?"

The Young Girl said, "Not yet, but I hope to study here. Is that okay, Teacher?"

An ordinary teacher might have simply driven the girl away, but was Wu Changkong an ordinary teacher? Clearly not.

Wu Changkong Said coldly, "This is a Soul Master Academy. If you want to study here, you need to prove yourself."

The Young Girl smiled. "I can take a test."

Wu Changkong asked, "What is your name?"

The Young Girl said, "My name is Gu Yue."

Wu Changkong nodded. "Fine. I'll give you this opportunity."

After saying that, he called to Tang Wuyang, Tang Wulin, and Xie Xie, who were still running, "Xie Xie, give your Iron Armor to Tang Wulin and Tang Wuyang. Come here."

With the help of the Brothers, Tang Wuyang and Tang Wulin, Xie Xie had recovered somewhat over the past two laps.

He stopped and handed the Iron Armor to Tang Wulin and Tang Wuyang. "Can you handle carrying one more Iron Armor?"

Tang Wulin and Tang Wuyang each held one side of the Iron Armor. Tang Wuyang casually said, "It should be easier than carrying you along, right?"

Then Xie Xie watched the two accelerate again and run forward Side by Side.

Those two... were truly Stamina Idiots!

Xie Xie panted heavily as he came to Wu Changkong's side. "Teacher Wu."

Wu Changkong said, "Your stamina is far too poor."

Xie Xie protested, "We Agile Attack System Soul Masters only need instant Explosive power and agility. We don't need great stamina."

Wu Changkong said disdainfully, "Shallow! Fine, I'll give you an opportunity today. Defeat her, and you won't need to run this morning."

Xie Xie examined the Young Girl beside Wu Changkong, took a deep breath, and adjusted his Soul Power. "No problem."

Wu Changkong said, "You have twenty minutes to adjust. Begin in twenty minutes."

Xie Xie did not waste words. He immediately sat cross-legged on the ground and began to Meditate and rest.

The running had consumed quite a bit of both his Soul Power and stamina. Agile Attack System Battle Soul Masters truly did not have much of an advantage in endurance.

Gu Yue did not even glance at Xie Xie. Instead, her gaze swept over the surroundings, as though she were curious about everything here.

Wu Changkong glanced at her. "Underestimating your opponent is the stupidest behavior."

Gu Yue said, "I'm not underestimating him."

Although she said so, she still did as she pleased, as though she were saying that this guy was not even worth underestimating.

Seeing this, Wu Changkong said nothing more and continued watching the students running around the track.

Tang Wuyang and Tang Wulin each held one side of Xie Xie's Iron Armor as they ran Side by Side at the front.

Neither of them was moving very fast, but their pace was steady overall. Though Tang Wulin was panting more heavily than Tang Wuyang, he was nowhere near as bad as Xie Xie.

As Tang Wuyang ran, he also watched the center of the field. He was somewhat curious about what was going on with this Young Girl who had suddenly appeared.

When he looked at Gu Yue, she seemed to have just casually shifted her wandering gaze in his direction. Their eyes met, and something flickered in Gu Yue's gaze.

When Tang Wuyang saw Gu Yue, Na'er's image suddenly surfaced in his mind. He could not help spacing out, and his speed slowed as a result.

Tang Wulin also noticed his Younger brother slowing down and asked in confusion, "Wuyang, what's wrong?"

Tang Wuyang shook his head, dispersing the image in his mind. "Okay. I just got distracted."

He silently denied it to himself. How could she be Na'er? Their hair and eye colors are both different.

He immediately refocused, quickened his pace for two steps, and returned to Tang Wulin's speed.

Twenty minutes passed quickly.

Xie Xie Bounced to his feet, the exhaustion in his body swept away as he regained his energy.

Wu Changkong nodded. "Thirty meters apart. Prepare!"

Gu Yue and Xie Xie each retreated. The difference was that Xie Xie walked backward, his gaze fixed on Gu Yue the entire time.

The moment he had seen this Young Girl, he had sensed a threat.

At that moment, Xie Xie was completely focused, facing this opponent in his best state.

His several previous exchanges with the Brothers, Tang Wuyang and Tang Wulin, had taught him one principle: no matter who the opponent was, a lion used its full strength even when hunting a rabbit.

The two stopped Thirty meters apart. Only then did the Young Girl named Gu Yue withdraw her gaze and turn it toward Xie Xie in the distance.

"Begin!"

At Wu Changkong's command, Xie Xie instantly released his Martial Soul. With his speed fully unleashed, he charged toward Gu Yue.

His Explosive power was indeed astonishing. His body shot forward like an agile cheetah, rapidly closing the Thirty meters between them.

Gu Yue seemed somewhat slow to react. By the time she raised her hand, Xie Xie was already less than ten meters away.

Light flashed and flickered along the Light Dragon Dagger. Xie Xie did not immediately release his Soul Skill. As a One-Ring Soul Master, he had only one Soul Skill in total. Fine steel had to be used on the blade's edge; he wanted to erupt at the best possible moment.

Moreover, judging by his opponent's appearance, she was clearly slow to react. Perhaps he would not even need to use his Soul Skill.

The Grade One Class Five students running laps all slowed down further at that moment. Everyone was watching the two people in the center of the field preparing to fight.

Among those their age, Xie Xie was already one of the strongest they had seen. This new girl certainly could not defeat him, could she?

A Soul Ring bloomed beneath Gu Yue's feet. Like Xie Xie's, her Soul Ring was also yellow, representing the Century Soul Ring level.

But Xie Xie was already right in front of her. At this point, it seemed that Gu Yue would be too late to do anything unless she was also an Agile Attack System Battle Soul Master.

But was she?

Clearly, the answer was no.

A ring of green light bloomed outward from her body. In the next instant, Xie Xie had already reached her. The Light Dragon Dagger In Hand slashed out, stabbing straight toward the Young Girl's shoulder.

Green light swirled around her. When Xie Xie's Light Dragon Dagger stabbed into it, he suddenly felt a force strike from the side, as though a violent gale had sprung up and pushed his body off course. The Light Dragon Dagger he had thrust out immediately struck empty air.

Then, to his horror, he saw the green light around Gu Yue suddenly turn red. A fist-sized fireball was already in front of him.

Xie Xie was indeed an Agile Attack System Battle Soul Master. In that split second, while still in midair, he violently twisted his waist and sent his entire body spinning sideways through the air.

The small fireball almost brushed across his face. Even several strands of his Hair Strands were scorched.

The instant his Toes touched the ground, Xie Xie's body Bounced in another direction, rapidly widening the distance between himself and Gu Yue.

Was this the ability of her Martial Soul? What exactly was her Martial Soul?

After several leaps, he had pulled back to more than twenty meters away. When Xie Xie looked at Gu Yue again, his expression had become solemn.

A trace of surprise also flashed through Gu Yue's eyes. The reason she had acted so late was naturally not because she had been slow to react. She had done it deliberately.

Her goal had been to end the battle in a single strike, but she had not expected Xie Xie's Reaction Speed to be faster than she had imagined. He had actually avoided the fireball.

Xie Xie was not the only one with a solemn expression. Wu Changkong was the same.

Because even with his experience, he had not been able to tell what Gu Yue's Martial Soul was.

The green light seemed to be a Wind Attribute ability, but the fireball was clearly of the Fire Attribute.

Could her Martial Soul possess both wind and fire attributes, or did she possess Twin Martial Souls of the wind and fire attributes?

But no matter which it was, she was a true treasure.

Xie Xie adjusted his breathing slightly and charged toward Gu Yue again. The thought that he would not have to run if he won filled him with fighting spirit.

This time, his speed was clearly even faster than before.

Xie Xie did not attack directly. Instead, he began moving rapidly around Gu Yue.

His footwork became extremely elusive, making it impossible to track his movements.

The distance between them was steadily closing.

The instant Xie Xie began moving, only the yellow Soul Ring on Gu Yue's body flickered. No one had even seen what her Soul Spirit was.

She merely stood there calmly, as though she did not care about Xie Xie's actions at all.

The distance between them grew shorter and shorter. Xie Xie suddenly erupted, using a lateral Slide Step as he lunged forward.

When he was five meters from Gu Yue, his Century Soul Ring shone brilliantly. With a small swing of the Light Dragon Dagger, a Light Blade shot out.

This was his First Soul Skill, Light Dragon Blade!

The yellow Light Blade flew through the air with a faint Dragon's Roar, its radiance growing stronger and stronger. Even stranger, when it was less than a meter from Gu Yue, it suddenly twisted in midair and shifted directions.

Just as the Light Dragon Blade was about to strike Gu Yue's shoulder, green light flashed around her body again.

A streak of green light struck the Light Dragon Blade with extraordinary precision. It looked like another Light Blade, only green.

The green Light Blade was not as powerful as the Light Dragon Blade and was instantly split apart by it. But in that brief delay, Gu Yue took a step forward and avoided the Light Dragon Blade's attack.

Xie Xie had never expected to succeed in a single strike. Thus, as the Light Dragon Blade shot toward his opponent, he also pounced toward Gu Yue.

When Gu Yue stepped aside to dodge the Light Dragon Blade, he had already reached her other side. He raised the Light Dragon Dagger, and Gu Yue seemed as though she had run directly into his dagger.

Even Wu Changkong, as strict as he was, could not help nodding inwardly at the technique behind that attack.

Although Xie Xie had not yet reached Two Ring, he had indeed begun to grasp some of the essence of an Agile Attack System Battle Soul Master.

As a spectator, Tang Wuyang was naturally watching the battle as well. When he saw the Young Girl about to be injured by the Light Dragon Dagger, he suddenly felt his heart tighten.

The feeling was like before, when he had seen Na'er being bullied and about to get hurt.

Suppressing the discomfort in his heart, Tang Wuyang could not help silently denying it. She isn't Na'er. This is the first time I've met her. It must be because I didn't eat breakfast. I'm so hungry that even my heart is panicking.

That's right, it has to be that.

Although that was what he thought, Tang Wuyang still could not help worrying about the Young Girl.