Wu Zhangkong's mouth twitched almost imperceptibly.
"This wasn't my idea. Don't blame me if something happens."
He muttered under his breath, his tone carrying a complicated undertone.
The group headed north.
The streets gradually became unfamiliar.
The skyscrapers were left behind, replaced by rows of gray, gloomy factory buildings.
Smokestacks towered into the clouds, spewing yellowish-brown smoke.
Then it began to rain.
It was not a downpour, but a fine mist-like drizzle.
When the raindrops landed on their skin, they brought a faint stinging sensation.
It felt like countless fine needles piercing their pores at once.
"From now on, no one is allowed to use Soul Power!"
Wu Zhangkong's voice came from ahead.
"Feel this power carefully. This rain can awaken your body's potential. You only get an opportunity like this once in your life."
As soon as he finished speaking, strange changes appeared within the group.
Someone began coughing violently, bent over with their face flushed red from coughing.
Someone covered their nose, and a thread of dark red fluid seeped through their fingers.
Others began losing their hair.
"Teacher... I-I think I'm bald... Will it grow back later?"
The one who spoke was a girl.
She held a handful of soaking wet hair, her fingers trembling and her voice choked with tears.
She had originally been fairly delicate-looking. But now, her scalp was already faintly visible, and her hairline had receded drastically.
"Then you can go back."
Wu Zhangkong's voice was as cold as an ice blade, without the slightest trace of pity.
"If you don't even have that resolve, it's not too late to drop out now. You don't have as much money as others, your talent isn't as high as theirs, and now you don't even have the drive to fight—what are you going to use