After each lap, Grandmaster had them drink a cup of salt water before continuing.
After 25 laps, everyone began to tire.
"Rongrong, can you keep going?" Oscar asked, watching Ning Rongrong's flushed face with concern.
"I'm fine," Ning Rongrong said with difficulty. As the cherished daughter of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, she had ended up at the bottom of the Shrek Seven Devils. She didn't say so aloud, but she refused to give up.
"Everyone, stay calm. We all have the same number of rocks in our baskets, but our team includes support-type Soul Masters, so the load doesn't match our physical abilities. The teacher wouldn't make that kind of mistake. He must want us to figure out how to share the weight in our baskets," Tang San reasoned.
"Tang San's right. Grandmaster must be testing our adaptability and teamwork," Jiang Siming agreed.
"Zhuqing, give me your basket," Jiang Siming said, concerned. Zhu Zhuqing's face was already flushed.
"No, I can do it." Zhu Zhuqing gazed at Jiang Siming with determination. Jiang Siming was so outstanding, and Zhu Zhuqing wanted to work hard enough to be worthy of him.
A relationship could develop cracks when one person felt inferior.
Jiang Siming could see what Zhu Zhuqing was thinking. Loving someone meant respecting them. So he chose to respect Zhu Zhuqing's decision.
"All right, but if you can't keep going, you have to hand it over to me," Jiang Siming said in a tone that brooked no argument.
"Mm." Zhu Zhuqing had wanted to refuse, but the determination in Jiang Siming's eyes filled her with warmth.
"Okay, you two, stop showing off your love. We're having a rough time over here," Dai Mubai couldn't help saying.
By the 50th lap, Zhu Zhuqing's basket had ended up on Jiang Siming's back. The baskets on Tang San and Dai Mubai's backs had grown heavier, too.
By the 100th lap, Zhu Zhuqing was lying in Jiang Siming's arms. Oscar was hanging from Dai Mubai's chest, with Ning Rongrong on his back. Xiao Wu was sprawled across Tang San's back.
"Just another hundred meters. We're almost there," Jiang Siming said, already struggling.
At last, everyone collapsed at the finish line. Only Jiang Siming remained standing, holding Zhu Zhuqing and panting heavily.
"Siming, you're amazing! A few days ago, I was thinking about fixing this road, and now you've done it for me. But you volunteered, so this dean isn't paying you a thing," Flender teased.
The road around the village had been flattened by the boulders. Jiang Siming could only smile helplessly.
"Flender, take them to the medicinal baths. Jiang Siming, stay here," Grandmaster said.
"Teacher, can I take Zhuqing back first?" Jiang Siming asked, concerned as he looked at her in his arms.
"All right. I'll wait here," Grandmaster said calmly, turning away.
A quarter of an hour later.
"Teacher, you wanted to see me?" Jiang Siming asked respectfully.
"Siming, you have the greatest talent I've ever seen. You might even be the most talented person ever. Do you regret taking a good-for-nothing like me as your teacher?" Grandmaster said with a sigh.
"Teacher, we haven't known each other for long, but I, Jiang Siming, respect and admire you." In the original story, Grandmaster had been exceptionally devoted to his disciples. He had risked his life fighting Poison Douluo for Tang San and even gone to see someone he least wanted to meet for his sake. Grandmaster had endured a lifetime of coldness, so if anyone gave him even a little affection, he would repay it a hundredfold.
So Jiang Siming didn't regret it. The Douluo World was one where the strong ruled. It was incredibly rare to find someone you could trust, someone willing to give their life for you.
"Good boy. You're a good boy." Grandmaster's eyes reddened slightly as he patted Jiang Siming on the shoulder.
"Siming, I called you here because I wanted to ask about your combat ability at your limit," Grandmaster said, returning to the point.
"If I go all out, I can kill a level 60 Soul Emperor." Jiang Siming hadn't counted his External Soul Bone or Second Martial Soul. Those were trump cards he didn't want to reveal too soon. Grandmaster wasn't an outsider, but Jiang Siming couldn't be bothered to explain.
"You're sure you could kill one, not just defeat one?" Grandmaster asked in disbelief.
"With my current strength, I'd have about a thirty percent chance of beating Teacher Zhao. I should be able to kill a level 60 Soul Emperor." Jiang Siming rested his chin on his hand and thought it over before answering.
"All right. I'll need to think carefully about your training plan. You can go for now." Grandmaster stroked his chin thoughtfully.
"Goodbye, Teacher."
Ning Fengzhi's Intentions
After several days of training, Dai Mubai and the others still hadn't made a move against Jiang Siming. He gradually forgot about it.
After another night of training in the Mirror World, Jiang Siming could finally handle three mirror images with ease.
The morning sun brushed against Jiang Siming's face. He slowly woke up, yawned, and got up to wash before heading to the cafeteria.
Everyone was there, which struck him as strange. Usually, only Tang San was awake before Jiang Siming and Zhao Wuji's fights woke the others.
When everyone saw Jiang Siming arrive, their expressions turned a little odd.
"What's going on? Is anyone feeling unwell?" Jiang Siming asked, puzzled.
"No, no," everyone said, waving their hands. Zhu Zhuqing looked a little uneasy. Jiang Siming noticed but didn't say anything. He already had a few suspicions.
"Brother Siming, the teacher's taking us to the Soto Grand Arena today for team Spirit Fighting. Are you coming?" Tang San asked awkwardly.
"Tang San, why are you talking so strangely? Of course I'm coming to see how strong you are. Maybe I can offer some advice," Jiang Siming said. Later on, he would take on entire teams by himself. Otherwise, there weren't many people in the Soto Grand Arena who could fight him. Whenever the audience saw Jiang Siming enter the arena, they all bet on the same side, and the Soto Grand Arena would probably lose everything. So Jiang Siming was the only person with both an individual Gold Spirit Fighting Badge and a team Gold Spirit Fighting Badge.
Everyone finished breakfast in the strange atmosphere.
"Starting today, I'll be training your teamwork," Grandmaster said seriously.
"To keep your ages from being exposed, you'll all wear masks during Spirit Fighting. Now, each of you come up with a title," Grandmaster said.
Everyone began thinking up titles.
"Brother Siming, what's your title?" Tang San asked curiously.