Mysterious Liquid...

"Teacher, you really aren't joking?"

Dai Huabin looked terrified and took several involuntary steps backward.

Going running without even eating? He hadn't awakened his Martial Soul yet—he was just an ordinary child. If something went wrong, he could be in real trouble.

Yu Xiaogang was furious to see his beloved disciple actually dare to defy him.

Your father only told you yesterday not to disobey me, and today you've already let it go in one ear and out the other, have you?

But Yu Xiaogang had at least had some experience as a teacher, so he knew this was absolutely not the time to be forceful.

Otherwise, he might provoke a rebellious streak, and that would only do more harm than good.

There was only one way, then. If force wouldn't work, he'd have to try kindness.

Having thought it all through, Yu Xiaogang pretended to sigh and said, "I'm only doing this for your own good. But since you don't want to, I can't force you."

"It's just a pity that the White Tiger Duke, off waging war abroad, has a beloved younger son who can't even manage to run..."

It was an obvious provocation. No normal person would fall for it.

But Dai Huabin was no ordinary person.

He was six years old, mischievous by nature, and couldn't stand people saying he wasn't capable—especially when they brought up his beloved father.

"I never said I couldn't do it!" Dai Huabin's blood surged, and he steeled himself and declared loudly.

"Good!"

Seeing that his plan had worked, Yu Xiaogang smiled.

"Truly worthy of the Dai Family's bloodline. You've got spirit; you haven't shamed your ancestors." He suppressed his smile and said solemnly:

"My dear disciple, I've arranged a grueling training regimen for you."

"Although it'll be a little difficult for you right now, I believe that a descendant of the God of War would never fall at the first sign of hardship."

These three tricks were something he'd shamelessly come up with himself. He hadn't used them on Tang San, of course.

But they were just right for a rebellious young master like Dai Huabin.

Looking at his beloved disciple's flushed face, Yu Xiaogang felt immensely pleased with himself.

You little brat. Did you think Grandmaster couldn't handle you?

Dai Huabin was completely carried away by his teacher's praise. Without a second thought, he replied:

"Please tell me what it is, Teacher. No matter how difficult the task, I'll do my best."

Yu Xiaogang didn't hesitate. He immediately gave him the training plan he had already prepared. "Huabin, this training involves running ten laps around the White Tiger Duke Mansion. You're not allowed to stop and rest along the way."

"If you don't finish, you'll continue this afternoon, until you've run them all..."

This was the training regimen he had carefully devised for Dai Huabin.

The White Tiger Duke Mansion covered three thousand mu, and one lap around it was about ten li.

Ten laps made a hundred li. For a child who hadn't awakened his Martial Soul, that was an enormous challenge.

But Yu Xiaogang didn't care about any of that.

He only knew that Dai Huabin had to run whether he could finish or not. If he could finish, he still had to run; if he couldn't, he had to run even more.

That was the way of teaching of Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang!

Dai Huabin took a deep breath, but didn't refuse.

As one of the masters of the White Tiger Duke Mansion, he knew very well just how vast his family's estate was.

It wouldn't be too much to say that even the imperial palaces of some empires might not measure up to the White Tiger Duke Mansion.

"I won't let you down, Teacher..." Dai Huabin gritted his teeth as he spoke.

As Dai Huabin walked out the door, Yu Xiaogang's stomach suddenly growled.

"It's such a pain not having a divine position. How many years has it been since I last went hungry?"

After saying that, Yu Xiaogang went to the place where they'd feasted last night, planning to enjoy another good meal as a reward for himself.

Half an hour later, Dai Huabin leaned against a wall, holding himself upright.

He had finally finished one lap. It had been so difficult.

Dai Huabin felt as if his lungs were about to burst. Sweat drenched his entire body, and his legs had already started trembling.

"Only nine laps left... I have to keep going..."

Since Dai Hao was often away from home, the Duchess had been the one looking after him all these years.

The Duchess was meek and submissive at home, but outside, she hit back with an iron fist.

Thanks to this loving mother, Dai Huabin hadn't suffered a single hardship since he was born.

Until now, he'd always had his clothes put on for him and food placed in front of him. Whenever he went out, he rode in the most luxurious carriages. When had he ever been through anything as miserable as this?

His stomach rumbled. Since he hadn't eaten, Dai Huabin was so hungry that acid rose in his throat, but he gritted his teeth and endured it.

"I'll finish Teacher's training no matter what!"

In the distance, Yu Xiaogang took a bite of the braised chicken leg in his hand and watched everything before him with relish.

Watching his beloved disciple train really made his food taste better!

Sure enough, Dai Huabin was worthy of being the Child of Destiny of the Douluo Continent.

His character still needed some polishing, but that was no problem. After all, he was only six years old.

And despite that, his stubborn refusal to give up was exactly like Yu Xiaogang's own back in the day.

Just like that,

the entire morning passed.

When Dai Huabin woke again, he found himself back in his room, lying in a large wooden tub.

The tub was filled with a foul-smelling yellow-green liquid. He had no idea what medicinal herbs had been added to it.

"Huabin, you're awake?" Yu Xiaogang approached him wearing a purple gas mask.

Dai Huabin remembered a few things.

Hadn't he passed out while running? Then he'd woken up here.

"Teacher, how many laps did I run?"

There was no expression on Yu Xiaogang's face. "You only ran five. You'll continue this afternoon. If you don't finish, you can't stop even when night comes!"

Hearing that, Dai Huabin suddenly regretted it. He regretted being so determined to show off.

Yu Xiaogang continued, "But right now, you should go awaken your Martial Soul."

Dai Huabin had just started to get up when he felt the stench grow even stronger.

"Ugh..."

"Teacher, what herbs did you boil in here? Why does it stink so much? You didn't accidentally add something improper, did you?"

Yu Xiaogang didn't answer directly. Instead, he gave a strange laugh. "None of that matters. What matters is that it'll help you."

These herbs were a secret that couldn't be revealed. There was no need for Huabin to know.

"Are you ready, Huabin?"

The Duchess looked anxiously at Dai Huabin, who stood in the awakening array.

This was the most important moment in her son's life.

Whether he was a genius or a good-for-nothing would all depend on this Martial Soul Awakening.

"Begin!" Yu Xiaogang felt no nervousness whatsoever.

Since Dai Huabin was the Child of Destiny, his talent couldn't possibly be poor. His Innate Soul Power would be at least level nine.

"Yes... Sanpao Mianxia." The person in charge of the awakening immediately began the process for Dai Huabin.

Given Dai Huabin's status, there was no need for him to awaken alongside everyone else. Besides, for great clans, it was better to keep some things known to as few people as possible.

"Congratulations, young master. Your Martial Soul is the Evil Eye White Tiger."

There was no surprise at all. Dai Huabin's Martial Soul was the top-tier Beast Martial Soul, the Evil Eye White Tiger.

"Next comes your Innate Soul Power. Please place your hand on this crystal ball..."