After the first lesson's theoretical explanations ended.
Homeroom teacher Chen Ze clapped his hands, signaling for everyone to quiet down.
"Students, the Spirit Hall's educational philosophy is different from that of certain so-called elite academies that worship barbaric elimination."
Chen Ze's voice echoed through the classroom, carrying a trace of barely concealed disdain. He was clearly alluding to Shrek Academy. "We strive to develop your potential in a rational way, to the greatest extent possible, rather than treating you as expendable."
He paused, then continued, "So next, we'll conduct physical fitness tests. This isn't mindless torture; it's a precise measurement of your strength, endurance, mental power, and other data."
"Afterward, we'll use each person's data to create a customized, most suitable weight-training plan, ensuring that you improve steadily while staying safe."
The students below nodded one after another as they listened.
Many of them had heard about the hellish training methods at Shrek Academy.
The absurd practice of pushing a hundred students to their limits, eliminating ninety-nine percent of them if they failed, and leaving only one percent of geniuses behind made them instinctively recoil.
By comparison, the Spirit Hall's approach of teaching students according to their individual aptitudes made them feel respected and cared for.
So not a single one of them had the slightest doubt.
"Everyone, head downstairs. The tests are starting!"
Various testing Soul Tools were already set up on the field.
The strength tester was a huge metal post, with clear markings displayed beside it.
The test proceeded in order.
Most of the students' strength ranged from one hundred to three hundred kilograms. Now and then, one of them exceeded four hundred kilograms, drawing a small burst of astonished exclamations.
At last, it was Chen Doudou's turn.
The field, which had been somewhat noisy, fell much quieter in an instant. Almost everyone's attention focused on him.
Whispers rose all around.
"How many kilograms of force do you think he can hit with?"
"I think at least five hundred! His Second Soul Ring is a ten-thousand-year one, after all. His physical fitness has to be monstrous."
"Five hundred? I think it could be even higher. Maybe he'll break eight hundred!"
"Give me a break. What are you bragging for? Even if his Second Soul Ring is ten thousand years old, he's only six or seven this year, right? He hasn't even grown his first hair! Three hundred kilograms at most, I bet."
"Exactly. Look at those skinny arms and legs. He's not even as sturdy as me. How much strength could he possibly have?"
Jiang Nannan stood not far away and gave him an encouraging look. "Doudou, go for it. I believe in you!"
"Just watch, Sister Nannan."
Chen Doudou calmly stepped forward and stood before the strength tester.
He didn't release his martial soul. He simply loosened up his wrist, then swung a heavy punch into the metal post.
Boom!
A deep, thunderous clang rang out.
The numbers on the metal post began to race wildly, then finally stopped at a figure that left everyone breathless.
1,100 kilograms!
The field fell as silent as the grave.
One second, two seconds, three seconds...
"Gasp—!"
Gasps rang out one after another.
"Holy—holy, holy, holy! O-one thousand one hundred kilograms? Did I see that right?"
"My martial soul is a Great Strength Gorilla, and I only hit four hundred kilograms!"
"Monster! He's definitely a monster!"
"That's over a thousand kilograms! My dad's a Soul Ancestor with a strength-type martial soul. Even with an amplification Soul Skill, his full-force strike seems to hit about that much!"
Homeroom teacher Chen Ze was so excited that both his hands trembled. He stared fixedly at the number, as if he could already see himself crowned with countless honors at the Spirit Hall in the future.
With Doudou in his class, who else could claim the title of "Teacher of the Year"?
He roared inwardly.
Several teachers from other classes, who were acquainted with him and had come to watch the excitement, were now so jealous their back teeth nearly cracked.
"Damn it, old Chen Ze's one lucky bastard. He actually got such a huge bargain!"
"This is infuriating! Why couldn't Doudou have been in our class?"
Although everyone present was astonished, Chen Doudou was a little dissatisfied.
After all, in Douluo 3, when nine-year-old Tang Wulin took a strength test, he could hit 1,300 kilograms with a casual punch.
But he also knew very well that this result was already extremely impressive. Tang Wulin was simply cheating with that ridiculous Golden Dragon King.
The endurance test that followed became Chen Doudou's personal showcase.
As they ran laps around the enormous field, the other students were already gasping for breath by the twentieth lap. By the fortieth or fiftieth, they were sprawled all over the place, limbs akimbo.
Only Chen Doudou kept an easy pace and a steady breath, leading everyone as though he were out for a stroll.
Jiang Nannan followed close behind. Her face had turned red from the long run, but her breathing remained fairly steady.
Huo Yuhao was mixed into the crowd, his frail body pumping his arms with all his might as sweat blurred his vision.
He gazed at the purple figure running at the head of the pack, his eyes brimming with admiration.
That was the symbol of strength, the power to protect Mom!
Chen Doudou naturally failed to notice Huo Yuhao's humble yet fervent gaze. There were too many people on the field; he couldn't possibly pay attention to every single one of them.
When the physical tests ended, everyone looked as if they'd been fished out of the water. They sprawled across the grass, panting heavily.
The Spirit Hall's endurance test wasn't as brutal as Shrek's, but pushing them close to their limits had still left these young Soul Masters utterly exhausted.
No one dared slack off during something as important as this, something that would determine their future training plans.
"Everyone, wait a moment. I'll go ask the healing teacher to help you recover."
Looking at the exhausted students, Chen Ze was just about to fetch the healing-type teacher nearby to restore everyone's Soul Power.
"Teacher, there's no need to go to all that trouble."
Chen Doudou's voice rang out.
He stepped forward and raised his right hand. The Life Rakshasa Holy Scythe appeared in an instant, filling the air with a gentle aura of life.
"First Soul Skill, Dance of the Life Stars."
Countless illusory Pegasi made of pure life energy surged into everyone present like spirits, entering their bodies.
A miraculous sight unfolded. The bodies that had been aching all over and drained of Soul Power recovered their vitality at a visible rate.
In just a few seconds, the students who had been collapsed across the field were all back to normal, bright-eyed and brimming with energy!
"Oh my god! What kind of healing Soul Skill is this? It's incredible!"
"I feel like I'm full of strength. All that fatigue from before has vanished!"
"Classmate Chen Doudou, you're amazing!"
"I feel like my Soul Power even went up a little!"
"This is incredible. It doesn't hurt at all. It actually feels so good..."
Huo Yuhao felt his strength returning and clenched his fists in silence, a warm current rising in his heart.
What an incredible healing Soul Skill... If only Mom could experience it too.
Maybe then she could get better...
The girls who were a few years older were even more eager. Like a swarm of bees, they crowded around Chen Doudou, touching him here and there.
"Little Doudou, my legs are still a little sore. Could you treat me again?"
"Shoo, shoo! I was here first!"
"Little Doudou, your hands are so soft..."
Jiang Nannan had been drinking water in the distance. When she turned around and saw the chaotic scene, she couldn't sit still any longer.
She stomped her feet in anger and squeezed her way in like a little hen guarding her food, pulling him out by the arm.
Jiang Nannan put her hands on her hips, her eyes full of concern. "Doudou, you ran for so long just now. You must be exhausted. Come sit over there and rest with me!"
Chen Doudou blinked and looked at her blankly. "Huh? Am I tired?"
That little bit of exertion had only warmed him up. How could he be tired?
"Of course you're tired!"
Jiang Nannan puffed out her cheeks like a little hamster with its mouth full of pine nuts. Her pretty eyes blinked at him. "You ran so many laps. Anyone would be tired!"
Chen Doudou looked down at his arms, which did feel a little warm, then at Jiang Nannan's adorable expression, which seemed to say, "Say I'm wrong, and I'll bite you." He nodded repeatedly.
"Ah, right, right, right. I am tired."
He obligingly pretended to pant, then rubbed his shoulder as if it really hurt. "Good thing you reminded me, Sister Nannan. I hadn't even realized how tired I was."
Only then did Jiang Nannan give a satisfied hum. Like a little grown-up, she took his hand. "That's more like it. Come on, I'll take you to buy a drink."
Before you continue