Special Training

"Because the material of this hammer is Sinking Silver. Sinking Silver is considered a rare metal with relatively high strength, and it's even Thousand-Refined," Tang Wulin explained patiently.

"Thousand-Refined!" Xie Xie's expression changed drastically. "You can perform Thousand-Refining? Then what level of blacksmith are you?"

Tang Wulin nodded gently. "Mm! I went to the East Sea Blacksmith Association two days ago and completed the test for a second-level blacksmith. As for Thousand-Refining, I can barely manage it for now."

A second-level professional.

At this moment, everyone was shocked. While most of them might not have understood what Thousand-Refining meant, they all knew what a second-level profession signified.

Generally, for a normal family, the income from a second-level profession was enough to support their daily expenses; a second-level professional was already a pillar of the Federation.

Wu Zhangkong did not understand the profession of a blacksmith, though he knew a little about Battle Armor.

However, Xie Xie understood it very well. Although he wasn't a blacksmith, his family was a mecha-specialist clan, and mechas and forging were inextricably linked; it could be said that without blacksmiths, mechas would not exist.

Soon, Wu Zhangkong led everyone back to the classroom.

Wu Zhangkong stepped onto the podium, his eyes looking coldly at everyone.

"After this match, you should all know how useless you are. No ability, no coordination, not even the most basic courage. I don't even know what the academy was thinking when they recruited you!"

Wu Zhangkong's words scolded all twenty students, and not even Tang Wulin or Xie Xie escaped.

"However, since you have entered this academy, entered this class, and become my students, then even if you are trash, I will make you the strongest class in East Sea Academy."

"Some of you should already know that the Class Promotion Tournament is in two months. Every class in every grade will participate. The lowest-ranked class will challenge upwards, and lower grades can also challenge higher grades. Therefore, the minimum goal I have set for you is to become Grade 1, Class 1!"

Immediately, whispers began to break out among the students. Some felt that winning four consecutive challenges against other classes was simply impossible, while others felt that since Tang Wulin and Xie Xie were so powerful, they were no worse than the people in Class 1.

Wu Zhangkong ignored the chatter and continued.

"For now, I am appointing Tang Wulin as the class monitor and Xie Xie as the vice-monitor. The two of them will participate in the Class Promotion Tournament in three months. However, the number of participants isn't limited to just two, so I will be leading your training for the next two months. If anyone meets my standards, that person will also be able to compete."

"Of course, Tang Wulin and Xie Xie, after your daily classes end, I will conduct special training for you two separately."

Tang Wulin and Xie Xie's eyes met Wu Zhangkong's cold expression simultaneously. It looked like this special training wouldn't be simple.

Wu Zhangkong was definitely a teacher who kept his word. Over the next few days, everyone realized what Teacher Wu meant by training.

Basically, all class time was spent on physical conditioning, most of which involved running laps around the playground. They couldn't stop until Wu Zhangkong said so.

The reason was simple: in a team where everyone was only at the one-ring level, raw strength was the greatest asset. Just look at Tang Wulin as a reference.

Everyone felt miserable inside. Could Tang Wulin really be compared to them? He was born with divine strength!

But what they didn't know was that Tang Wulin and Xie Xie were the ones truly crying without tears!

Every day after class, Tang Wulin and Xie Xie were taken by Wu Zhangkong to a secluded playground for even higher-intensity special training. Tang Wulin could barely hold on, but Xie Xie's physical fitness wasn't much better than the others in the class, so after every special training session, it was almost always Tang Wulin who had to carry Xie Xie back.

Such days lasted for nearly a month. It had to be said that under this training, the physical fitness of many in the class had indeed improved significantly, and they understood each other better; if they were to coordinate in the future, their strength would certainly improve.

During this period, several people even increased their soul power by one level.

As for Tang Wulin and Xie Xie, they hadn't wasted the month of torture under Wu Zhangkong.

Xie Xie's stamina had improved significantly, which was great news for an agility-type soul master like him. As for Tang Wulin, whose strength was already immense, Wu Zhangkong's special training for him focused more on his Blue Silver Grass.

The reason was that since Tang Wulin's first soul ring was of the thousand-year level, it must not be wasted; he had to unleash the full potential of that ring.

The results were obvious. Wu Zhangkong's understanding and ability to utilize martial souls were clearly very strong, though it was unknown where he had learned them.

During this time, Tang Wulin's control over his Blue Silver Grass had improved significantly, and he could even manipulate the Blue Silver Grass to perform some unconventional attack methods.

That afternoon, the day's training finally ended at Wu Zhangkong's command. Everyone collapsed onto the ground, Tang Wulin included, though he was mostly just hungry.

With this high-intensity training, Tang Wulin ate even more, yet even after eating his fill, he would be hungry again before long.

Regarding this, Wu Zhangkong had recently given Tang Wulin a suggestion: eat well. The nutrition of a Grade C Meal was ultimately limited, so he suggested Tang Wulin eat Grade A Meals.

But Tang Wulin said he couldn't afford it, so Wu Zhangkong simply treated him to a Grade A Meal and told him to eat as much as he wanted.

What Wu Zhangkong didn't expect was that Tang Wulin ate a full hundred Grade A Meals without any intention of stopping. One had to know that Grade A Meals were highly nutritious; an average student would be full after one, and even strength-type students wouldn't exceed five.

Furthermore, a Grade A Meal cost one thousand Federal Coins, so one hundred meals meant one hundred thousand Federal Coins.

Wu Zhangkong's only source of income was his academy salary; he had no second profession, nor did he have the inclination to pursue one.

And so, after Tang Wulin finally finished his one hundred and thirty-fifth Grade A Meal, he was full, but Wu Zhangkong's savings had been almost entirely wiped out.

While Tang Wulin was still marveling at the deliciousness of the Grade A Meal, he didn't notice that Wu Zhangkong's face had turned green.

Although Wu Zhangkong didn't have a high desire for money, he still needed it for many things!

From that day on, Wu Zhangkong never mentioned treating Tang Wulin to a meal again, only telling him that since he was already a second-level professional, he should solve his own financial problems.

Tang Wulin certainly thought about going to the Blacksmith Association to take on forging commissions, but Wu Zhangkong's training schedule was so tight that he had no time to accept them. Even if he did, he wouldn't have time to complete the tasks, and failing to complete a task meant paying a penalty fee, which was why Tang Wulin hadn't taken any jobs yet.

However, Tang Wulin still remembered one thing: Master Cen Yue was helping him sell those alchemy recipes from Yao Lao through the Blacksmith Association's channels.

A month had passed now, and Tang Wulin was preparing to find a time to go and ask about it.