Daily Special Training

Wu Zhangkong stopped and froze for a moment.

She studied the broken wooden sword in her hand for a moment, then tossed it aside. "No need to keep fighting. That's enough for today."

As she spoke, Wu Zhangkong bent down and picked up the Thousand-Refined Heavy Silver Hammer from the ground.

Her fingertips brushed the hammer. Feeling its hefty weight, she looked at Tang Wulin and said coolly, "That hammer of yours... it's rather interesting."

Tang Wulin nodded. "It's a Sinking Silver hammer. It's a bit heavier than an ordinary forging hammer."

Wu Zhangkong had meant to return it right away, but a casual glance happened to catch Xie Xie standing with his arms crossed, looking smug.

She changed her mind on the spot. With a flick of her wrist, she tossed the Sinking Silver hammer straight at Xie Xie.

Still basking in his smugness, Xie Xie instinctively reached out to catch it.

Clang!

"Holy crap!"

The Sinking Silver hammer's astonishing weight slammed down, pitching him forward. He hit the ground face-first, his chin cracking hard against the cold metal.

Wu Zhangkong's expression remained perfectly calm, though the corner of her mouth lifted in an almost imperceptible smile.

"Xie Xie!" Tang Wulin hurried over and helped him up.

Seeing his reddened chin, Tang Wulin felt both sorry for him and helpless. "Be careful. My hammer's really heavy."

"Hey? I don't believe it!"

Xie Xie's stubborn streak kicked in, and he decided to take on the Sinking Silver hammer.

He steadied his stance, gripped the handle tightly with his right hand again, and gathered all his strength to lift it one-handed.

The veins in his arm bulged, his face turned beet-red, and he gritted his teeth. At last, he raised the Thousand-Refined Heavy Silver Hammer high above his head with one hand.

Tang Wulin was just about to praise him when Xie Xie got carried away.

He twisted his wrist, trying to swing the hammer with the momentum.

But the hammer's inertia far exceeded his expectations. It had barely traced half an arc before its enormous force threw him off balance.

Xie Xie strained with all his might to steady it, but controlling it one-handed was simply too much.

The heavy hammer whistled through the air and came crashing down toward his own face.

"Oh, crap! Teacher Wu, help!"

As soon as the words left his mouth, a soft breeze pushed Xie Xie out of the way.

In the next instant, Wu Zhangkong flashed forward and flicked her fingers. A gentle yet powerful burst of Soul Power caught the falling hammer and held it steady.

A swirl of blue light gathered around Gu Yue's slightly raised right hand. She glared at Xie Xie. "Why didn't it crush you to death?"

"Heh heh, of course it's all thanks to our peerlessly beautiful Lady Gu Yue!"

Xie Xie understood immediately. He hurried behind Gu Yue with a fawning grin and began massaging her shoulders, two pats on the left and two on the right.

Wu Zhangkong glanced at the hammer in her hand, then covertly swept her gaze over Xie Xie and Gu Yue. Her eyes gave nothing away. She casually tossed the Thousand-Refined Heavy Silver Hammer back to Tang Wulin.

"That hammer of yours weighs at least three hundred kilograms," Wu Zhangkong said coolly.

"Huh?" Gu Yue was taken aback too.

Over three hundred kilograms—that was at least six hundred pounds!

Xie Xie spread his hands and gave Gu Yue a look that seemed to say, See? I told you. It really wasn't my fault!

Wu Zhangkong held out her hand. "Here. Take my hand."

Tang Wulin clasped her hand.

Her palm was cool and smooth, her fingers long and slender, and a thin, smooth sword callus lay across her palm.

"Pull with all your strength. Let me feel exactly how strong you are."

"Huh? Okay!"

Tang Wulin took a deep breath. His Soul Power and physical strength surged together, his arm muscles tensed, and he pulled forward with all his might.

A terrifying force burst forth, but the hand in his grasp remained as steady as a rock.

Wu Zhangkong didn't budge. Even the hem of her clothes stayed perfectly still.

Where their palms met, an invisible force crashed against itself.

The surrounding air warped slightly, and a powerful gust suddenly swept outward in every direction.

Xie Xie instinctively stepped forward and shielded Gu Yue with his body, blocking the gust that rushed toward them.

Gu Yue, sheltered behind him, froze for a moment. She lifted her eyes to the steadfast figure before her, a flicker of surprise passing through her cool gaze.

Her features softened ever so slightly, but she remained silent.

"That's enough," Wu Zhangkong said after a moment.

Only then did Tang Wulin release his strength.

A peculiar look crossed Wu Zhangkong's cold face. The corner of her mouth finally curved into a clear smile. "I've decided. All three of you will take part in the Class Promotion Tournament."

When Tang Wulin and Xie Xie returned to the dormitory, Xie Xie flopped down and fell straight asleep.

Tang Wulin could barely keep himself going as he entered a meditative state.

Starting the next day, Tang Wulin was granted special permission to skip physical training, while Xie Xie was ordered to do double.

Not a single student in First Grade Class Five complained.

Compared with Xie Xie, who still had to undergo special training, they were unbelievably lucky! Boo-hoo...

By the fourth day, the students in Class Five simply couldn't take it anymore.

Only then did Wu Zhangkong announce that theory classes would resume.

That evening, special training continued as usual.

Wu Zhangkong arrived a few minutes late this time, with a sheet of white paper in her hand.

"The results of the mental power test are in." Wu Zhangkong looked at the paper and said, "Xie Xie's mental power is sixty. He's reached the mid-stage of the Spirit Origin Realm."

Just as expected, it was higher than in the original story!

Xie Xie nudged Tang Wulin's shoulder with his elbow, sounding a little smug. "Hey, what do you think? Impressive, right?"

"Tang Wulin's mental power is fifty. He's also at the mid-stage of the Spirit Origin Realm."

"Holy crap, how did yours go up too?" Xie Xie stared at Tang Wulin, dumbfounded.

Tang Wulin scratched his head sheepishly. "I don't know either."

"Last is Gu Yue."

Seeing Gu Yue's test result, even Wu Zhangkong, usually so unruffled, couldn't help being surprised. "Gu Yue's mental power is as high as one hundred and thirty. She's reached the Spirit Connection Realm."

Xie Xie was floored.

"How is that possible? Damn it, the machine's gotta be broken!"

Gu Yue raised an eyebrow. "Got a problem with that? Come fight me."

Xie Xie's hair stood on end. "Fine! You think I'm scared of you?"

By now, Tang Wulin was used to this. He could only watch the two bicker with a helpless expression.

Wu Zhangkong was quite pleased with the results too.

But the more she valued a student, the more harshly she treated them!

After a fierce battle, all three of them were wiped out.

Wu Zhangkong casually tossed her wooden sword to the ground, turned, and walked off. "Useless. You've disappointed me again!"

Xie Xie hung from the ceiling fan.

Tang Wulin slumped over the railing around the training ground.

Gu Yue lay sprawled on the floor.

All three felt completely drained, with twin streams of tears rolling down their faces like noodles.

After a week of this, Xie Xie was gradually getting used to the routine, but it was still exhausting!

Xie Xie collapsed onto the lower bunk, not even wanting to move a finger.

He laboriously rolled over, then suddenly felt there wasn't enough room. Xie Xie promptly kicked Tang Wulin right off the bed.

Tang Wulin hit the floor with an "Oof!"

"Um, Xie Xie, this is my bed," Tang Wulin said timidly from beside it.

Xie Xie grabbed Tang Wulin's blanket and rolled himself up in it.

"Oh."

Tang Wulin: "..."