Bald Yu Xiaogang, Three-Eyed Icefire Guns

One month later.

Ye Hua sat beneath the jujube tree at the edge of the square, holding a notebook as he recorded the students' soul power one by one.

"Xiao Wu, level twenty-nine to level thirty. You've broken through to Quasi-Soul Elder."

"Zhu Qing, level twenty-seven to level twenty-nine. Up two levels."

"Rongrong, level twenty-six to level twenty-eight. Not bad either."

"Oscar, level twenty-six to level twenty-seven. A little slower, but your physical constitution has improved nicely."

"Very good! I hereby declare this phase of special training complete. My treat today!"

Ning Rongrong and Oscar exchanged looks, both seeing the delight in each other's eyes.

In one month, everyone had gained an average of two levels.

At any intermediate Soul Master academy, that rate would have been considered monstrous.

Especially their physical constitutions. According to Teacher Ye, they could now handle the secret gift he had prepared!

The thought that they, as support-type Soul Masters, could possess combat power as well left the two of them unable to hide their excitement!

Yet while Ye Hua's students kept improving, there was no movement at all on Yu Xiaogang's side.

Tang San and the others stood before him without any unusual expressions on their faces, but Yu Xiaogang felt as though they wanted nothing more than to devour him alive!

No changes!

None whatsoever!

Forget gaining a level—there was not even the slightest sign of increased soul power!

After all that effort, he could not even see the shadow of progress!

"That can't be," Yu Xiaogang muttered. "That's impossible..."

Seeing Yu Xiaogang's frustration, Tang San took the initiative to speak. "Teacher, don't worry. Soul power growth was never uniform. Sometimes there are plateau periods."

Though Dai Mubai was dissatisfied, he still chimed in. "That's right, Grandmaster. Let's keep training. Maybe we'll have an explosive breakthrough next month."

Yu Xiaogang's expression eased slightly. "You're right. Your teacher was too impatient."

"Soul Master cultivation is about building up strength before unleashing it. With your talent, it won't take long."

Just as he finished speaking, Ma Hongjun suddenly sneezed.

Rubbing his nose, he stared blankly beneath the shade of the tree.

There, a whole roasted lamb was mounted on an iron rack, sizzling over charcoal. Fat dripped onto the coals, sending up fragrant smoke.

Xiao Wu was already standing beside it with a plate in hand. Ning Rongrong personally sprinkled cumin over a lamb leg, while Zhu Zhuqing and Oscar brought over knives and forks.

Ye Hua controlled the heat as he kept turning the rack, ensuring the lamb cooked evenly. Oil sizzled and dripped while the coals crackled!

Ma Hongjun swallowed, his stomach growling disobediently as he lowered his head to look at his own lunch nearby—two coarse steamed buns and a bowl of plain vegetable soup!

Damn it! This was their food!

Yu Xiaogang called this tempering their will to endure hardship!

Dai Mubai was stubborn enough that, just to avoid lowering his head before Ye Hua, he had forced himself to gnaw on cold steamed buns without complaint!

But when he saw Zhu Zhuqing carving the meat, then carrying the roasted meat over to Ye Hua, the steamed bun in his hand was instantly crushed into a ball!

Zhu Zhuqing was utterly cold toward him, yet she circled around Ye Hua every day, just short of moving in with him!

"Boss Dai," Tang San said urgently when he saw even Dai Mubai wavering, poking him. "Don't panic. Teacher's training plan is fine. Let's hold on a little longer."

"Besides, I've made my thing. It'll definitely make them jealous!"

"Fine..." Dai Mubai took a deep breath and forcibly suppressed the anger in his heart. When he saw Ma Hongjun drooling, his irritation flared up immediately.

"Fatty, pull your eyes back!" Dai Mubai shouted. "Have you forgotten? A Soul Master who can't endure hardship isn't a good Soul Master! Only by enduring the bitterest hardships can one rise above others!"

"As long as you're willing to suffer, there will be a bright future! Our soul power may not have improved, but our will to endure hardship is absolutely beyond those spoiled young masters and ladies!"

Tang San also grabbed Ma Hongjun's arm. "That's right. Teacher is right. We must possess the strongest will!"

"Isn't it just a roasted lamb? Once we endure hardship and rise above others in the future, wealth and glory will come rolling in. Why would we worry about not having roasted lamb to eat?"

Dragged and tugged by the two of them, Ma Hongjun reluctantly pulled his gaze away, though the corner of his eye still kept drifting back.

At first, Ma Hongjun had been quite moved. He had even thought that the saying, [A Soul Master who can't endure hardship isn't a good Soul Master,] was an absolute truth.

But now, it seemed like complete nonsense!

Over the past month, he had not improved in the slightest, while Ye Hua had been marching from victory to victory!

And the Grandmaster's promise to suppress his Evil Fire had still come to nothing.

If he failed to hold back one night and sneaked over to the girls' dormitory, would Ye Hua beat him to death on the spot?

Dai Mubai could endure it, but Ma Hongjun could not endure any longer.

With resentment, frustration, and Evil Fire boiling within him, he felt heat surging through his lower abdomen and his eyes burning. When he opened his mouth, flames burst forth!

In broad daylight, the fatty transformed into a fire-breathing chicken, sweeping blazing flames recklessly toward those beside him!

Dai Mubai reacted quickly, grabbing Tang San and rolling away. Only then did they barely avoid being set ablaze.

But Yu Xiaogang, who reacted too slowly, was not so lucky. The scorching Phoenix Flame showed him no mercy, igniting his hair, skin, and clothes and instantly turning him into a human torch.

"Ahhhhh!"

Yu Xiaogang had not expected Ma Hongjun to suddenly lose control. Burned badly, he howled as he rolled around on the ground!

"Xiao San, hurry and help your teacher!"

Tang San was horrified and hurriedly fetched water from the well to pour over him.

But he had forgotten that this was Phoenix Flame. How could ordinary water put it out?

Moreover, the fire was strengthened by Evil Fire, making it even more likely to spread!

"Idiot, use your soul power!" Dai Mubai glared.

"Right, right, right! Soul power! Soul power!"

Tang San hurriedly stretched out both hands, circulating the inner power of the Mysterious Jade Technique as he tried to extinguish the flames on Yu Xiaogang.

Naturally, this scene also fell into the eyes of Ye Hua and the others, who were eating roasted lamb.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk." Ning Rongrong shook her head as she gnawed on a lamb leg. "I heard from the dean that Ma Hongjun's Evil Fire is incredibly powerful. The Grandmaster is really suffering now."

"Who says otherwise?" Oscar nodded in agreement. "Evil Fire is extremely hard to control. It's not something you can master in just a month or two."

Zhu Zhuqing was succinct. "Serves him right!"

Ye Hua looked over, the corners of his mouth slowly rising.

"You guys keep eating. I'm going over to enjoy the show."

The moment he said that, everyone was a little stunned, but Ye Hua gave them no time to think further.

Under Xiao Wu and the others' watchful eyes, he sauntered over. "Grandmaster, need any help?"

The moment he heard that, Yu Xiaogang was almost moved to tears and nodded frantically.

Yes, he did. He desperately did!

Ye Hua might usually target him, but when it truly came down to life and death—

What a good man, still mindful of their relationship as colleagues!

Yet in the next instant, he was dumbfounded.

Ye Hua picked up a branch and lit it against the flames on his body, then turned and walked away.

"The heat isn't strong enough for the roasted lamb. It won't taste good otherwise, so I'm borrowing some fire from you."

Yu Xiaogang turned to stone on the spot, even forgetting to roll around and put out the fire.

Tang San flew into a rage. "Ye Hua, do you even have any humanity?"

"Humanity?" Ye Hua tilted his head in thought, then spread his hands. "No."

Dai Mubai roared, "Ye Hua! You're both teachers at Shrek. Can't you lend a hand at all?"

"Must you watch the Grandmaster burn to death in the flames?"

Ye Hua merely shrugged. "I don't acknowledge him as a teacher of this academy. After all this time, he hasn't produced any results. Not firing him based on performance would truly defy reason."

"You!" Dai Mubai was furious, but had nothing to say.

He had grievances as well. Zhu Zhuqing had risen two levels in a row, while he had remained in place.

It took Tang San quite a while to finally extinguish the flames on Yu Xiaogang.

The Grandmaster was now a miserable sight. His head, stripped of every last hair, was so bald it could reflect light!

If Ma Hongjun's fire had not come from his mouth and mainly covered his upper body, he would not even have retained the last shred of dignity below the waist!

At the sight of that comical appearance, even the usually icy Zhu Zhuqing could not hold back. Covering her mouth, her face twitched.

[Ding—]

[Zhu Zhuqing's Rescue Progress +5%]

[Current Rescue Progress: 60%]

[Phase reward issued: Bond Chain with Zhu Zhuqing (same effect as Xiao Wu's)]

[It has also been detected that Zhu Zhuqing has recovered from her repression through the host's guidance and increased strength. Her thoughts are clear, making her less likely to develop inner demons.]

[Additional reward triggered: two Three-Eyed Icefire Guns (fourth-grade Soul Tools, dual ice-and-fire attributes, suitable for close- to mid-range combat; can heavily injure Soul Elders with a casual shot, suppress Soul Ancestors, and threaten Soul Kings)]

Tsk, thanks to the Grandmaster for providing such a laugh and making Zhu Qing happy!

Ye Hua added the branch burning with Phoenix Flame to the firepit. Sure enough, the flames grew fiercer, and the roasted lamb became even more tender and juicy.

Just as Ye Hua licked his lips and prepared to carve off more meat...

Whoosh!!!

A crossbow bolt shot straight into the roasted lamb!

Blackish-purple liquid splattered out, producing a sizzling corrosive sound.

In an instant, the perfectly good roasted lamb became poisonous meat that could no longer be eaten.

Ning Rongrong, who had been staring longingly at the roasted lamb, exploded at once. "Tang San, are you insane?!"