Physical Training

The afternoon sun was brutal.

The grass on the field had been baked limp, and faint waves of heat rose from the rubber track.

The wind rolled a heat wave over them, so stifling it made their chests feel heavy.

Wu Zhangkong gathered all the Class Five students beside the track.

The students stood on the field, their azure school uniforms especially glaring beneath the sun.

"Afternoon schedule. First period, physical training. Second period, combat practice. Third period, academics."

His voice was flat, without the slightest rise or fall. His fingertip touched the spatial soul device on his wrist. A faint light flashed, and several sets of iron vests sewn with crude iron chains crashed onto the grass with a dull, heavy thud. Each set weighed twenty catties, their iron edges polished bright from wear.

"No way! We're supposed to run until we collapse and then fight? Who's going to have any strength left?"

"Does the new student have to wear one too? He's only six! Isn't that way too harsh?"

"Exactly, Teacher Wu!"

The students below exploded instantly. Wails rose one after another, their resentment almost drowning out the heat of the sun.

"The transfer student as well." Wu Zhangkong's gaze swept across the crowd and landed on Fang Yuan. "Skipping to the intermediate class at six years old was the path he chose for himself."

"As a teacher, I treat everyone the same. If you can't take it, you may leave now."

"If you don't want to attend my class, skip it, withdraw, transfer schools, or rely on your own ability to advance to Class One or Two. Choose whichever you like."

His tone was as cold as ice, leaving not the slightest room for negotiation.

As soon as he finished speaking, the crowd burst into an uproar.

Several students turned and left on the spot.

Who could stand this so-called aloof male god?

His teaching methods were rigid to the point of absurdity. He completely dismissed theory classes and started right off with high-intensity beatdown training.

He had no flexibility at all, and the training content was just the same few things over and over.

No wonder he had been demoted from the advanced academy to the intermediate class. He totally deserved it.

"He gets a little power and takes it out on students. Disgusting!"

"Yeah, a teacher like that doesn't deserve to educate anyone!"

The students who turned and left all secretly made up their minds to go back and report Wu Zhangkong.

At the back of the line, Xie Xie stared at Gu Yuena's back, fury surging up inside him.

That doctored dish from the morning had ended up dumped on his own head, and he had squatted in the bathroom for a full hour. Now everyone in class was secretly calling him the Little Prince of Diarrhea. He couldn't swallow this humiliation.

"Gu Yue! After physical training ends, we're dueling! I want to see what you're capable of, acting this arrogant!"

He took a step forward, pointed at Gu Yuena, and shouted, his face flushed red from holding in his anger.

Gu Yuena did not even turn her head. Her tone was lazy, with a hint of mockery. "We fight just because you say so? Who do you think you are?"

"That's not up to you! I'll apply to Teacher Wu later and formally challenge you!" Xie Xie gritted his teeth, biting out each word.

"Challenge me? You're not qualified." Only then did Gu Yuena turn her face slightly, her gaze sweeping over him with careless disdain. "I'm rank nineteen, and you're rank eighteen. Bullying juniors isn't my style."

She had no interest in getting angry with an eight- or nine-year-old child. It was beneath her.

But if this kid dared to touch even a single finger of Fang Yuan's, she did not mind making him disappear completely.

"You don't dare, so just say you don't dare! You're scared, aren't you?" Xie Xie shouted, craning his neck.

"Idiot." Gu Yuena lightly tossed out the two words, then turned back around, too lazy to bother with him anymore.

"You!"

Xie Xie exploded instantly. His fists clenched tight, veins bulging at his temples, and he raised his hand to summon his martial soul.

A faint light from the Light Dragon Dagger flashed at his fingertips.

"Don't be reckless! The teacher's still here!"

Tang Wulin reacted quickly, grabbing his arm and dragging him back.

He was afraid his good friend would break school rules and get punished again.

"Don't stop me! I'm fighting her today no matter what!" Xie Xie struggled twice, his face red with anger.

"Xie Xie, Tang Wulin."

Wu Zhangkong's voice rang out without warning, carrying a chill. "Trying to fight privately as soon as class starts? Both of you, ten extra laps."

"Huh? Teacher, why me too?" Tang Wulin's face instantly fell, looking like he wanted to cry but had no tears.

"Aren't you friends?" Wu Zhangkong glanced at him. "Share hardships together."

"No way, Xie Xie! You screwed me over again!" Tang Wulin glared fiercely at him, his face wrinkling up like a bun.

"What are you standing around for?" Wu Zhangkong swept his gaze over the remaining students, his voice rising half a degree. "Those who stayed all want to attend class, don't they? Put on the iron vests. Ten laps. Start now. Anyone who finishes gets Grade A meals on me."

The words "Grade A meals" fell, and the students who had originally been listless instantly perked up a little.

There were not many people left to begin with. They were either the type who did not care about this level of intensity, or they were too soft-natured to dare defy the teacher.

Everyone lined up and put on the iron vests one by one. The heavy weight pressed down on their shoulders, making their steps sink a little as they filed onto the track.

Fangyuan followed behind Gu Yuena. When the iron vest settled on his shoulders, it felt lighter than he had expected.

"Mom, why are you getting mad at him? He's just a kid," he said quietly.

"He was the one who came over looking for trouble." Gu Yuena's steps were very steady, her breathing not the slightest bit disturbed. She turned her head to look at him. "Does it feel heavy? If you can't take it, we'll just switch classes. It doesn't matter."

"That teacher acts all aloof and superior. I don't really like him."

"Uh..."

Fangyuan's steps paused, and his heart gave a sudden jump.

So back then, Mom had insisted on arranging for him to enter Class Five not to get close to Tang Wulin and make plans for the Golden Dragon King bloodline?

She had simply thought Class Five would be less stressful and was afraid school would be too tiring for him?

Mom... I was actually making wild guesses in my head before, spinning up all those conspiracy theories. I really shouldn't have.

"What's wrong?" Gu Yuena noticed he was distracted and slowed her steps, reaching out to touch his forehead. "Not feeling well?"

"No."

Fangyuan shook his head and quickly caught up.

This twenty-jin iron vest really was nothing to him.

Ever since he had absorbed the thousand-year soul spirit Dark Nether Scale Dragon, his physical strength had long since far surpassed that of his peers.

After running five laps, he had only a faint sheen of sweat on his forehead and was barely even out of breath.

It was just a little unexpected.

In the original work, weren't these weighted iron vests only given to Tang Wulin and Xie Xie?

Why was everyone getting one here?

Beside the track, several students who had run until they collapsed on the grass and were gasping for breath stared at Fangyuan's small figure still carrying the iron vest with steady steps.

They were all dumbfounded.

"Student Fangyuan is way too fierce... He's only six, but he ran five laps in a twenty-jin iron vest like it was nothing."

"A genius really is a genius. Coming to our Class Five is seriously a waste of his talent."

"Stop talking. Comparing yourself to others just makes you mad enough to die, waaaah!~"

Xie Xie, who was running ahead, heard this and snorted, unconsciously quickening his steps a little.

"Hmph, what's so amazing about that? I can do it too."

"...Xie Xie, he's only six. Why are you comparing yourself to him?"

Beside him, Tang Wulin ran steadily. Seeing his childish behavior, he was a little speechless.

He had a pretty good impression of these two new transfer students.

Especially that girl called Gu Yue. She was clever and quirky, with a bit of a scheming look to her, but she was still quite cute.

"Who's comparing myself to him!" Xie Xie's face reddened, but his mouth stayed stubborn. "I've always been fast."

The moment he finished speaking, his legs went a little weak. His breathing grew heavier and heavier, and even his steps began to wobble.

"You can't run anymore, can you?" Tang Wulin smiled. "I'll give you a hand."

As he spoke, he quietly turned sideways, slipped one hand under Xie Xie's armpit, and secretly used a little strength to support him.

Xie Xie instantly felt lighter, and his steps immediately steadied quite a bit. Even his breathing became smoother.

"Thanks, bro." Xie Xie's voice was a little low, carrying a hint of embarrassment. "Every time, I drag you into getting punished with me. Tomorrow I'll treat you to Meal C. Eat as much as you want."

"Now that's a real friend!" Tang Wulin chuckled, and the strength in his hand became even steadier.

In the middle of the field, Wu Zhangkong stood under the shade of a tree with his hands behind his back, seeing Tang Wulin's little movements perfectly clearly.

He did not expose him. His brows furrowed almost imperceptibly, and then his gaze shifted to Fangyuan and Gu Yuena on the track.

Yesterday, he had deliberately looked up the information on these two transfer students.

Guyue Fangyuan, tool-type martial soul, six years old, rank fifteen battle soul master, and his spiritual power had actually reached the Spirit Sea Realm.

With talent like this, he was an unparalleled genius who had never appeared among those of the same age across the entire Douluo Continent. How could the Spirit Pagoda possibly let him go?

Yet they had actually allowed such a genius to come to a place like East Sea City and study in the worst class of an intermediate academy.

And there was also that girl called Gu Yue. Spear-type martial soul, rank nineteen, spiritual power at the Spirit Connection Realm.

Her information was even more pitifully scarce. Her family background could not be found, nor could her past, as if the two of them had appeared out of thin air.

They were not children of noble clans, and he had never heard of any sect having people like this either.

Could they be from some hidden sect, sent out to gain experience?

Wu Zhangkong lightly rubbed his fingertips together, his gaze darkening somewhat.

These two children were not simple.