A Small Shock

At the edge of the training ground, a middle-aged man stood with his hands clasped behind his back.

He was powerfully built, with bronze skin and knotted muscles all over his body. Standing there, he resembled an iron wall, radiating a steady, weighty presence.

He looked to be the instructor in charge of the Advanced Class.

"Teacher Yang, this is the new student, Zhang Fei." Meng Yiran walked to the edge of the field and introduced him casually before taking her place in the line.

Yang Ming turned around, his gaze landing on Zhang Fei. After giving him a once-over, he frowned involuntarily.

The boy before him stood tall and handsome, but his muscle definition was not exaggerated. It could even be called lean and well-proportioned. He completely lacked the explosive physique typical of Beast Martial Soul Masters.

And he had arrived together with Meng Yiran...

Which great family sent over another well-connected kid? He looks so soft and delicate. Don't tell me he'll end up crying and running home again.

He did not even properly look Zhang Fei in the eye, merely snorting disdainfully. "The Advanced Class's training is extremely harsh. We have high-intensity combat drills every day, and injuries are commonplace. Not just anyone can stick around. If you can't endure it later, don't say I didn't warn you."

Zhang Fei could not help but sneer.

Harsh?

Could it possibly compare to being beaten up in turns by two Titled Douluo every single day? That was real hell!

He smiled, his tone brimming with arrogance. "Don't worry, Teacher Yang. I believe... all of you will be able to keep up with me."

"Huh?" Yang Ming froze. It took him a moment to process it. Had this kid said that backward?

The other eight students also showed traces of disdain.

"Tch, all talk."

"Where did this brat come from? His mouth is bigger than the sky."

"He'll know how tough this is once he gets beaten to tears."

Yang Ming came back to his senses and did not pursue the matter. With a wave of his large hand, he said, "Since we have a new student, we'll follow the rules. Introduce yourselves and get acquainted. The older students will go first."

He patted his chest, his voice booming like a bell. "I'm Yang Ming, the instructor in charge of the Advanced Class. My Martial Soul is the Scale Armor Beast, and I'm a Level 67 defense-type Soul Emperor. My class has only one rule: unless you can't get back up, you are not allowed to surrender. Everyone else, begin."

Meng Yiran said lazily, "No need for me. I already introduced myself earlier."

At the far left of the line, a young man stepped forward. "Li Gang. Martial Soul: Black Panther. Seventeen years old, Level 29 agility-type Soul Grandmaster. I'm the oldest here, and I'm also the class monitor."

"Shi Hu. Martial Soul: War Tiger. Sixteen years old, Level 28 assault-type Soul Grandmaster."

"Wang Meng. Martial Soul: Golden Eagle. Fifteen years old, Level 26 agility-type Soul Grandmaster."

"Jiang Cong. Martial Soul: Earth-Cave Demon Spider. Fourteen years old, Level 26 control-type Soul Grandmaster."

"Zhao Qianjin. Martial Soul: Iron-Arm Bear. Fourteen years old, Level 24 assault-type Soul Grandmaster."

"Iron Mountain. Martial Soul: Iron-Horned Bull. Fifteen years old, Level 24 defense-type Soul Grandmaster."

"Niu Zhen. Martial Soul: One-Horned Rhino. Fourteen years old, Level 24 defense-type Soul Grandmaster."

The last to step out was the only youth with somewhat refined features. He was utterly different from the others' rugged style, with a faint smile constantly hanging on his lips, giving off a warm and pleasant feeling.

"Ye Sheng. Martial Soul: Holy Light Elk. Sixteen years old, Level 26 healing-type Soul Grandmaster."

After hearing them all, Zhang Fei understood.

Judging by their levels, most of them had innate soul power around Rank Seven or Eight. They were a fairly decent team. They were likely reserve members being prepared for the All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament two editions from now.

Most importantly, aside from Meng Yiran, everyone else was male, and every one of their Martial Souls was a Beast Martial Soul.

The way these people looked at Meng Yiran carried varying degrees of burning intensity.

No wonder walking beside Meng Yiran made it feel like he had committed some unforgivable crime.

Even Meng Yiran was this sought-after. There was truly no justice in the world.

"Now it's your turn, new student." Yang Ming's tone remained somewhat perfunctory. Clearly, he still did not take Zhang Fei seriously.

Zhang Fei stepped forward and cupped his fists. "Zhang Fei. Martial Soul: Golden Dragon. Nine years old, Level 28 assault-type Soul Grandmaster."

The moment his words fell, the training ground fell deathly silent.

Yang Ming's eyes widened, his face filled with shock. His mouth hung open wide enough to fit a fist inside.

Nine years old? Level 28? A Golden Dragon?! What kind of fucking monster was this?!

The other students, Meng Yiran included, stared at one another. Their earlier disdain and hostility had long since vanished, replaced by overwhelming shock and wariness.

Zhang Fei looked at the dumbstruck Yang Ming, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly. "Teacher Yang, are you all right?"

Yang Ming abruptly snapped back to his senses and pinched his own thigh hard, making sure he was not dreaming. He swallowed, his hands trembling slightly. "I-I'm... I'm fine. You... take your place in the line."

The way he looked at Zhang Fei had changed from his initial contempt into incredulous shock.

Yang Ming cleared his throat, suppressing the turmoil in his heart and trying to keep his voice steady. "Well... this afternoon's training will be one-on-one combat drills. Iron Mountain and Niu Zhen, you're both defense-types. Go first and demonstrate."

"Yes!"

Iron Mountain and Niu Zhen stepped forward. Like two small mountains, they moved to the center of the arena and roared in unison, "Martial Soul Possession!"

The phantoms of an Iron-Horned Bull and a One-Horned Rhino appeared behind them, each with two yellow soul rings.

Then, the two "bulls" crashed together with a thunderous impact. Horn met horn, muscle met muscle, and dull booms echoed through the training ground.

Standing at the edge of the field, Zhang Fei yawned.

A defense-type fighting another defense-type was basically just a contest of who had thicker skin and greater strength. There was not the slightest bit of technique involved.

The two wrestled for a full half hour before one of them finally ran out of strength, barely allowing a winner to be decided.

Ye Sheng stepped forward and began using recovery soul skills to restore their stamina.

Zhang Fei could not help shaking his head. A battle of this intensity put no pressure on him at all.

No pressure meant no improvement. If he did not hurry and raise his strength, when would he ever be able to return to Little Angel's side?

Yang Ming caught Zhang Fei shaking his head from the corner of his eye. Thinking Zhang Fei disapproved of his training arrangements, he frowned and asked, "Zhang Fei, do you have some thoughts on the training?"

Zhang Fei came back to his senses and did not mince words. "Teacher Yang, there's nothing wrong with your training for ordinary students. But for me... this intensity is still far too low."

The moment those words fell, every student present flew into a rage.

"Outrageous!" Class monitor Li Gang was the first to step forward, his face livid. "Student Zhang, since you're so capable, I challenge you! Let me see what you're really made of!"

Zhang Fei glanced at him and said flatly, "You're not my opponent."

"You!" Li Gang trembled with anger.

Zhang Fei ignored him, raising a finger to point at three others. "Shi Hu, Wang Meng, and Jiang Cong. The three of you come at me together. That way, I might feel a little pressure."