Persistence is Victory!

"Attention, everyone! Go grab the iron vests piled over there! Remember! Aside from Jin Lie, who will carry fifty kilograms, everyone else is to carry thirty kilograms! No using soul power! Now start! Around the track! Twenty kilometers! Move!"

Following Kutka's roar, the students erupted into a chorus of groans. For some reason, the weight had increased by five kilograms compared to last time, and the distance had jumped from fifteen kilometers to twenty!

Yet, none of them dared to question Kutka. Not daring to delay, they scrambled toward the pile of iron vests. Xu Mochen immediately pulled one out and strapped it on, feeling his body sink instantly.

It had to be said, the weight of these vests was truly terrifying. Xu Mochen recalled the original story, where the Grandmaster had Tang San and other soul masters in their twenties and thirties carry fifteen to twenty kilograms and run sixty to seventy kilometers without using soul power.

It seemed this training method was universal across Douluo Continent! However, except for Xu Mochen, most of the other students were above level forty. In particular, the boy named Jin Lie—according to Xu Mochen's perception, his cultivation had already reached a terrifying level fifty-four! He was the only Soul King in the elite class.

For them, carrying thirty or fifty kilograms as Soul Ancestors and Soul Kings was certainly no easier than Soul Grand Masters and Soul Elders carrying fifteen or twenty. However, twenty kilometers was much more humane than the sixty or seventy kilometers the Grandmaster had arranged. This was likely because they only had physical training in the morning and other classes in the afternoon, so they couldn't be run into the ground until they collapsed like the Grandmaster's students.

In Xu Mochen's eyes, however, weighted running was a limited way to improve physical fitness for soul masters, and it was far too monotonous.

Although the Sun Moon Empire Academy, especially the military academy, had weighted running as a subject, it was much more complex. For instance, soul masters on Douluo Continent mostly ran on flat ground.

In contrast, soul masters at the Sun Moon Empire's military academy, while allowed to use soul power, were often required to traverse mountains and ridges, navigate various terrains, and simulate sudden emergencies when necessary.

Furthermore, the physical training curriculum for soul masters and the military in the Sun Moon Empire was far more comprehensive and scientific than that of Douluo Continent; they didn't just rely on weighted running.

Even so, as the saying went, "When in Rome, do as the Romans do." Clearly, Xu Mochen had no intention of proactively suggesting that Spirit Hall Academy improve its training methods this early. Instead, he obediently ran along with the other students. It had to be said that the Purple Imperial Chaos Dragon King was worthy of being a god-level, pure-blooded true dragon martial soul. Not only was it immensely strong, but even without Xu Mochen circulating his soul power, its inherent chaos aura helped him sense the soul power molecules between heaven and earth and absorb them from the outside to nourish his body.

Therefore, although Xu Mochen was carrying a full thirty kilograms—ten kilograms more than Tang San and Dai Mubai at the Soul Elder level in the original story—he didn't feel strained, only a slight increase in his body's weight.

Just like that, with the exception of Qin Ze, who was still unconscious on the sidelines, the other forty-plus students began running around the track. It had to be said, the elite class track was truly massive; a single lap was a full kilometer! This meant they only needed to run twenty laps to complete the task.

For the first five laps, no one fell behind. The more capable students were far out in front. Although Xu Mochen had the strength to do the same, he didn't intend to stick his neck out, so he stayed close to Hu Liena.

"Little Brother Mochen, how are you feeling? Do you need me to ask the teacher to reduce your weight?" Hu Liena's physical fitness was quite impressive; despite being only a Soul Elder, she was only slightly flushed, with a few beads of sweat on her forehead.

Her breathing remained steady, and she was still full of energy. In contrast, many students were already showing signs of fatigue, their paces slowing down.

"Don't worry, Sister Nana, I'm fine." Xu Mochen smiled and declined her offer. Nearby, Yan saw this and burned with rage, but he didn't dare to act rashly.

After all, Hu Liena's combat power was at least equal to his, not to mention that Xu Mochen's mysterious methods and the Pope's orders made him wary. Until he fully understood Xu Mochen's background and tricks, it was better not to provoke him.

Ten laps passed, and many students were now moving at a snail's pace, yet some were still a full lap ahead of the pack! Even Jin Lie, carrying fifty kilograms, was moving like the wind, having already completed twelve laps!

Among those falling behind was Chu Hanxiang, who was only level thirty-six and an auxiliary-type soul master. Auxiliary soul masters naturally had less physical stamina than battle soul masters, and having just reached level thirty-six, she was already bright red and drenched in sweat.

Her uniform was soaked through, and her steps had become unsteady. Although several energetic students offered to help, Chu Hanxiang politely declined with a forced smile.

By the fifteenth lap, many students had fallen far behind, and those lacking stamina were walking and running to keep going. Hu Liena was sweating, but her breathing remained steady and even, without a hint of shortness.

She was truly worthy of being Bibi Dong's disciple. Xie Yue and Yan had already reached the sixteenth lap, and they seemed to be secretly competing with each other, neither willing to give an inch!

Jin Lie was even more monstrous, having reached the eighteenth lap! He had completely left everyone else in the dust, with even the second-place runner far behind him! The other students didn't find this strange, only sighing in admiration.

"As expected of Boss Jin Lie! The leader of the elite class! He's carrying twenty kilograms more than us and still running so fast!"

"Is Boss Jin Lie even human? Every time we're about to collapse, he looks like nothing happened!"

"He is the great-grandson of our Martial Soul Hall's Second Worship! The owner of the Golden Crocodile Dragon King martial soul! Plus, he has that five-ten-thousand-year power-type soul bone on his right leg gifted by his great-grandfather! It would be a miracle if he weren't strong!"

"It's said that the Second Worship's martial soul is the Golden Crocodile King, already on par with the top martial souls of the Upper Three Sects. With his great-grandson's mutation incorporating dragon bloodline to become the Golden Crocodile Dragon King, its quality might be even more terrifying than the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon!"

"Exactly! They say Boss Jin's martial soul is a 'hexagonal martial soul' that develops in attack, defense, power, speed, soul power, and spirit—it has almost no weaknesses! The Golden Crocodile King bloodline fused with dragon lineage is terrifying!"

"No kidding! Boss Jin Lie is only twenty-one and already level fifty-four! How are we supposed to compete with that?"

"They say the next Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament is in two or three years! Boss Jin Lie will probably be a Soul Emperor by then. The other countries might as well just give up!"

The students' discussion naturally reached Xu Mochen's ears. He was stunned; he hadn't expected Jin Lie to be the great-grandson of Golden Crocodile Douluo! And that he possessed a mutated martial soul even more powerful than his great-grandfather's!

Looking at it this way, if things went smoothly, his achievements would likely be equal to, if not greater than, the level ninety-eight Second Worship from the original story! His martial soul quality was likely near god-level. If it came to talent, perhaps even Hu Liena couldn't compare!

Looking back, Xu Mochen noticed that Chu Hanxiang was nearly at her limit. Her face was alternating between red and white, and she was soaked in sweat, yet she gritted her teeth and persisted with stubbornness. She was tougher than many battle soul masters who had already started to slack off.

Hu Liena noticed Chu Hanxiang was about to collapse, so she slowed down and moved to her right, supporting her swaying frame.

"Na... Nana, let go... I can... still... keep going..." Chu Hanxiang had no strength left, but she tried to shake off Hu Liena's hand. But in her current state, how could she?

"Xiangxiang! What nonsense are you talking about? This training is already excessive! You're only a level thirty-six auxiliary soul master! Forcing this standard on you is unfair! Besides, you're an auxiliary soul master, I'm a battle soul master; we wouldn't be fighting alone anyway! And the teacher didn't forbid helping each other! If you still consider me your big sister, stop struggling!"

Hu Liena's voice was authoritative, carrying the aura of a big sister. When Chu Hanxiang met her unwavering gaze, her last bit of stubbornness faded.

Watching the two sisters, Xu Mochen, while secretly admiring their bond and intending to help, thought more about using this opportunity to expand his network and gather intelligence.

He slowed his pace, staying to Chu Hanxiang's left, and said seriously, "Match your breathing to mine! Three steps inhale, three steps exhale! Inhale through the nose, exhale through the mouth! Maintain a steady pace! Overcome the discomfort in your body! This is your body reaching its physiological limit! Swing your arms more, don't let your elbows flare out! Lean forward slightly to reduce wind resistance!"

"Also, think of happy things; this stimulates dopamine and adrenaline. For soul masters, even without intentionally circulating soul power, this allows it to diffuse into every cell and provide energy! With the help of intense exercise, use this soul power to temper and fuse into your body, improving your physical fitness..."

Hu Liena and Chu Hanxiang were stunned by Xu Mochen's long explanation. Although they didn't understand a few of the terms, they adjusted their running style as he suggested.

Sure enough, in no time, Hu Liena and Chu Hanxiang felt their soul power flowing into their limbs, subtly tempering every part of their bodies. They felt significantly lighter than before! Chu Hanxiang even broke free from Hu Liena's support, running more easily than when she started!

However, they felt a moment of hesitation. After all, the teacher had forbidden the use of soul power, requiring them to rely solely on physical strength. Weren't they indirectly cheating by using soul power to enhance their physical functions?