"I'm fine." Shui Bing'er shook her head, a smile curling at the corners of her lips. "Running is good for both body and mind."
"Besides, I barely got any exercise this morning. I'll just treat it as a warm-up."
"By the way, what exactly was that blueprint you drew last night?"
"It was a suit of armor. Wearing it can increase one's strength."
"How much can armor increase someone's strength?" Shui Bing'er frowned, her tone carrying a trace of confusion.
In her understanding, armor was nothing more than defensive gear forged from iron and copper. It was unbearably heavy, and before Soul Skills, it was hardly any tougher than paper. Who would waste effort researching armor?
"This isn't ordinary armor." Wu Changkong shook his head. "After a Soul Elder puts it on, they can fight a Soul Ancestor without falling behind."
Upon hearing that, Shui Bing'er nearly stumbled and fell on the track.
She steadied herself, quickened her pace, and caught up with Wu Changkong. "What? Really? You're not lying to me?"
"Bing'er, I might lie to others, but I would never lie to you."
Shui Bing'er's face suddenly grew warm. "Y-you'll make me read too much into that."
"Don't overthink it. I mean it."
Looking into his earnest eyes, Shui Bing'er felt as though she were sinking into them. Her heart thumped wildly, but it was not because of the running.
Just then, Ling Shuang called out, "You two, chatting and laughing over there—are you flirting?"
"Do you want me to mark out a separate area for you so you can have a proper chat?"
The Heaven Class students across the entire field turned their heads in unison, dozens of gazes converging on the two running side by side.
Some covered their mouths and snickered, some elbowed the companions beside them, and others quietly egged them on.
Shui Bing'er's face instantly turned scarlet. She hurriedly sped up, leaving Wu Changkong behind in just a few strides and putting at least five meters between them.
Wu Changkong watched her suddenly accelerating figure from behind. He did not chase after her, merely maintaining his original pace as he continued running.
"You two can stop running. Return to the formation first."
"We haven't finished yet. There are still twenty laps left," Wu Changkong replied.
Ling Shuang froze for a moment, then her expression softened somewhat.
She suddenly felt that although this brat could be a headache at times, that stubborn seriousness in his bones was worthy of his talent.
"You like running that much?"
"No."
"Then return to the formation. You can owe the remaining twenty laps for now. If you're late again next time, it'll be doubled."
"Huh? Doubled too?"
"You sure talk a lot. Return to the formation. Do you expect everyone to wait for you two to finish running?"
After the two returned to the formation, Ling Shuang walked to the front of the line.
"Today is the first official day of school. In order to better understand the characteristics of everyone's Martial Souls, combat styles, and true strength, today's class will be held at the Spirit Battle Platform for practical testing."
"Only by personally witnessing each of your combat performances can I formulate appropriate training plans according to your Martial Soul traits and level of strength."
"This practical test is not an exhibition match. You will fight for real. So I am reminding you in advance not to hold back and to use your full strength."
"Whether it is Soul Skills, tactics, or on-the-spot adaptability, use everything you can."
"If anyone goes up there intending to hide their abilities or slack off, then gets beaten so badly on the Spirit Battle Platform that they are crawling around looking for their teeth, don't blame me for not warning you beforehand. Is that clear?"
"Clear!" the entire class answered in unison.
Ling Shuang nodded in satisfaction, then turned around. "Principal, do you have anything to say?"
"I won't say much. Teacher Ling, proceed according to your arrangements."
"Mm." Ling Shuang turned back and waved toward the training grounds. "Everyone, target: Spirit Battle Arena. Run there."
They arrived at the training grounds.
Three basalt Spirit Battle Platforms stood side by side in the center of the grounds.
The spectator stands rose tier by tier and were empty at the moment.
The twenty-four Elite Class students stood in neat formation before the Spirit Battle Platforms.
"Today's practical test will include not only traditional one-on-one battles, but also two-on-two matches, considering that our class has Support Type Soul Masters."
"The value of Support Type Soul Masters in actual combat is no less than that of Battle Soul Masters. A well-timed boost or a crucial healing can often turn the tide of an entire battle."
"Therefore, the way to test Support Type Soul Masters will not be to send them out alone. Instead, each of them will support one Battle Soul Master in a two-on-two coordinated battle."
As soon as Ling Shuang finished speaking, a hand rose from the formation.
It was Shen Liuyu. The short-haired girl, normally steady and taciturn, stood in the line with her usual calm expression.
"Teacher, I have a question."
"Speak."
"Does the class monitor also have to fight everyone one-on-one?"
Ling Shuang raised an eyebrow slightly. "What, is that not acceptable? If you encounter an opponent stronger than yourself on the battlefield, will you raise your hand and ask them whether they can switch to someone else?"
"Running away cannot solve any problem. It will only make your teammates bear the burden for you."
Shen Liuyu was not intimidated by Ling Shuang's imposing manner and continued, "Teacher, I understand what you mean."
"But today's test is meant to understand each of our combat styles and actual levels. If we face the class monitor, with his strength, we will likely be instantly defeated as soon as the match begins, before we can show anything at all."
"If that happens, Teacher, all you will see is us getting instantly defeated, and you will learn nothing else. And aside from learning that we cannot beat the class monitor, we will gain no valuable practical combat feedback."
"Yeah, yeah, Liuyu has a point..."
"It isn't that we're afraid of getting beaten up. It's just that being taken out by one sword strike is way too fast..."
"I don't want to go up and come back down two seconds later without even having time to reveal my Martial Soul..."
"The class monitor's Heavenly Frost Sword can even take out the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon in a single strike. Wouldn't we just be giving ourselves away for free if we went up there..."
"Please, don't pick me, don't pick me. Whoever gets the class monitor is just unlucky..."
Wu Changkong took in everyone's reactions. His face remained as calm and indifferent as ever, but inwardly, he did not know whether to laugh or cry.
Was he really that terrifying?
"Teacher Ling Shuang, let me say a few words."
At this moment, Shui Qinghan slowly stepped out from among the teachers.
"Mm, all right, Principal." Ling Shuang yielded the central position.
Shui Qinghan said, "I heard what student Shen Liuyu said just now, and she made a great deal of sense."
"Wu Changkong's practical combat ability is indeed far beyond that of his classmates. If he fought any student one-on-one, the result would be without suspense."
"Such a test would offer him no improvement, have no training value for the students instantly defeated, and provide no help to Teacher Ling in understanding everyone's true level."
"How about this... Shui Bing'er, Xue Wu, the two of you are the only Soul Elders in the class besides Wu Changkong."
"You two against Wu Changkong alone, two against one. What do you think?"
As soon as those words fell, a commotion rose from the formation.
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