Don't be like this, Teacher is scared

From the second day onward, the freshman class curriculum officially fell into a steady rhythm.

Zhang Yang and his peers had four classes every morning: Language, Mathematics, Spirit Master Common Knowledge, and Physical Education, with the afternoons reserved for free activity.

Language and Mathematics were easy to understand; even Spirit Masters required a general education.

Spirit Master Common Knowledge covered Spirit analysis, Spirit Master development, and Spirit Beast lore.

As for Physical Education, it included a set of fist techniques, a set of leg techniques, and a set of combat routines compatible with one's Spirit.

For someone like Zhang Yang, the school instructors had tailored a few simple routines to help him deal with enemies closing in on him.

Of course, it wasn't just the academy that focused on Zhang Yang's close-quarters combat; Zhang Lingyue had also taught him a set of empty-handed combat routines.

These were standard empty-handed routines within the Martial Soul Hall, suitable for Support-type Spirit Masters whose Spirits lacked offensive capabilities, as well as long-range Spirit Masters with weak melee skills.

Naturally, the best way to deal with an enemy who actively closes the distance is still to open fire early and maintain a safe distance.

However, even if an enemy truly managed to get close, Zhang Yang's gun wouldn't just become a useless club.

Do you really think the saying "the gun is fast beyond seven paces, and within seven paces, it is both accurate and fast" is a joke?

Compared to a standard M14, Lord M14, which existed in the form of a Spirit, had significantly lower recoil.

Even without bracing it against his shoulder, firing from the hip like a shotgun, the recoil was something the current Zhang Yang could handle.

Furthermore, the Spirit Lord M14 had an advantage that ordinary firearms could not compare to.

That is, it could not be disarmed.

Even if someone grabbed the muzzle and forced it off-target, Zhang Yang could simply re-manifest his Spirit.

Once he mastered this technique, Zhang Yang would be much more confident when facing enemies at close range.

Of course, Zhang Yang had learned those empty-handed routines as well.

As the saying goes, one can never have too many skills; learning them didn't hurt.

He was not only practicing the routines taught by the academy but also consistently training in the ones Zhang Lingyue taught him at home.

Zhang Lingyue had no grand ambitions; he only hoped that Zhang Yang could safely reach level 30 and obtain his third Spirit Ring.

According to the research statistics of the Martial Soul Hall, a Spirit Master with only 1 point of Innate Soul Power, without any extraordinary encounters, would never be able to break through to level 40 in their entire life.

Level 39 Spirit Power was already the limit.

Of course, Zhang Lingyue would be quite satisfied if he could achieve that much.

With level 39 Spirit Power, he would be a 3-ring Spirit Master, and the Martial Soul Hall would provide a subsidy.

100 Gold Soul Coin per month was not a small sum.

Moreover, as long as Zhang Yang never broke through to level 40, he could collect this subsidy for the rest of his life.

In this way, even if he and his wife passed away first, Zhang Yang's livelihood would be guaranteed.

One can only say, the hearts of parents are truly pitiful.

On the playground.

"Hah!" "Ha!"

Clyde stood at the edge of the playground with his hands behind his back, watching two young boys trading punches and kicks.

This was the sparring segment of the Physical Education class.

No matter how well one practiced the routines, they were meaningless if they couldn't be applied.

Just like now, they started off with proper form, but as they fought, it devolved into wild, flailing brawls.

Of course, they were only six-year-old children, so it was understandable.

As the bout ended, Clyde took the opportunity to step forward: "Teacher Sterling, I'm looking for Zhang Yang."

"Zhang Yang!"

At Teacher Sterling's beckoning, Zhang Yang stepped out, his face covered in sweat and his school uniform stained with large patches of dirt.

Seeing this, Clyde smiled: "Yo, working hard, I see."

"Your routines are well-executed, and your performance in practical combat class is excellent; your grasp of timing is very seasoned."

Clyde nodded with satisfaction; as a homeroom teacher, he took pride in having a talented student.

Leading Zhang Yang to the side, Clyde stood with his hands behind his back, looking at the first-year students still in class: "Zhang Yang, do you know why I've called for you?"

Zhang Yang thought for a moment, feeling that he had been burying himself in cultivation lately and hadn't had time to do anything that violated school rules, so he shook his head: "I don't know."

"That's true, you've been burying yourself in cultivation ever since you entered the school, not even having a single close friend to play with, so naturally, you wouldn't know."

Clyde looked at Zhang Yang as he spoke: "Some classmates have complained to me, saying that everyone wants to play with you, but you never agree."

Zhang Yang nodded and asked in return: "That's right, Teacher Clyde, is there a problem with that?"

"Of course there's no problem; it's your freedom, and I have no right to interfere." Clyde shook his head: "However, can you tell the teacher why?"

"Because they are too childish and too annoying. I don't want to be friends with them; I feel like it's a waste of time."

Zhang Yang didn't bother to hide anything, speaking his mind directly.

Being precocious wasn't against the law, and neither was not wanting to make friends.

With a mental age of over thirty, Zhang Yang naturally understood what he wanted and knew exactly what he should be doing right now.

Playing house with these six-year-old brats?

He didn't have the spare time for that.

"Wasting time? Heh, I understand what you mean."

"The duty teachers have been observing you for a long time."

"According to them, apart from eating and washing, you spend almost all your free time every day cultivating."

"It adds up to even 10 hours of cultivation per day."

Hearing Zhang Yang say this, Clyde sighed: "Zhang Yang, it's good that you have such determination, and the teachers are very pleased. I believe Lord Zhang Lingyue would also be very gratified to know this..."

Hearing Clyde's tone, Zhang Yang knew he was definitely about to say "but."

"...However," Clyde shifted his tone, his voice turning serious: "...you must learn to balance work and rest."

"Cultivation for a Soul Master isn't that simple. Come, grab this with both hands."

As he spoke, Clyde flipped his right hand and handed Zhang Yang an ordinary rubber band.

Seeing this, a look of helplessness appeared on Zhang Yang's face.

Given the context, he naturally understood what Clyde was trying to do.

But Zhang Yang still cooperated.

After all, they saw each other every day; it was easier to just play along and give him a way to save face.

"Just like this rubber band, if you keep burying your head in cultivation without a moment's rest, it's like pulling on this rubber band constantly."

Under Clyde's suggestive gaze, Zhang Yang obediently pulled the rubber band tight with both hands.

"Mm... yes, that's it. This rubber band represents your current state. You must learn to relax and relieve the pressure."

"If you don't know how to rest and keep applying pressure to yourself..."

Zhang Yang snapped the rubber band with a clean motion.

With a "pop," the rubber band vanished without a trace.

Clyde wore an expression of "a student worth teaching": "Just like that. The teachers are afraid that you, too, will end up like this rubber band—your body and mind collapsing to the point of no return."

"Neither the teachers nor the academy can tolerate a promising talent with such perseverance and willpower being destroyed and defeated for such a reason."

At this point, Clyde crouched down, placed his hands on Zhang Yang's shoulders, and looked him in the eye: "Therefore, student Zhang Yang, the teacher has a task for you."

Zhang Yang nodded: "Please go ahead, teacher."

"From today on, you will control your cultivation time?"

Zhang Yang pondered for a long time before nodding: "...Yes, teacher, I understand."

"Mm." Clyde finally nodded: "Good, go back to class."

Watching Zhang Yang's retreating figure as he trotted away, Clyde sighed: "I hope he takes it to heart."

Clyde hadn't called Zhang Yang in for a private talk today on a whim.

In fact, they had noticed Zhang Yang's state a long time ago.

At first, all the teachers, including Principal Beckett, thought it was just a child's intermittent burst of ambition that would pass in time.

But to their surprise, Zhang Yang had actually kept it up, with the intensity only seeming to grow.

Seeing that it was already early November and nearing December, Clyde couldn't sit still anymore; after consulting with the principal, he hurried over to provide Zhang Yang with some psychological guidance.

This was because, according to tradition, the academy would organize a test of Soul Power Level for all students on December 1st.

Clyde was worried that if Zhang Yang cultivated so obsessively, only to be met with unsatisfactory results after pinning all his hopes on it, wouldn't that be a devastating blow?

Just like the snapped rubber band, Zhang Yang's hard work was the stretching, and next month's test results would be the final straw that broke the camel's back.

Clyde feared that Zhang Yang might give up on cultivation and choose to rot away because his "hard work yielded no results."

Going from one extreme to the other.

If that happened, how would he, Clyde the elite teacher, and Principal Beckett answer to Zhang Lingyue?