Tang San!

Two days passed quickly.

Each morning, Zhu Zhuqing appeared at the Training Ground before dawn. By the time Ye Lin began his exercises,

she had already been standing beneath the Old Locust Tree for a while.

At first, they merely nodded in greeting. Then they began training together, and before long, they were chatting as they trained.

Most of Zhu Zhuqing's questions were about controlling Soul Power.

She had gone back and tried to find that trace of coolness she had felt that day more than a dozen times. Sometimes she caught it; sometimes she couldn't.

Ye Lin shared some of what he had learned while practicing the Mysterious Heaven Skill. When he reached a crucial point, he even had her place her hand on his back to feel the rhythm of his Soul Power circulating.

The first time Zhu Zhuqing touched his back, her fingertips drew back slightly, but she soon steadied them.

After two days, Zhu Zhuqing finally found the direction of that elusive doorway.

She understood that the foundation of a Self-Created Soul Skill was absolute control over Soul Power.

When she finished training, Ye Lin nodded. "That's it. I studied with my teacher for six years, and my Soul Power control is pretty good, but I've never quite managed to create a Soul Skill of my own."

"You could talk to Xiao Wu. She already has a Self-Created Soul Skill."

Zhu Zhuqing paused. "Xiao Wu? A Self-Created Soul Skill?"

Ye Lin nodded. "Xiao Wu has one called Eight-Stage Fall. She slams her opponent down eight times in a row, and its attack power is terrifying. Even I'd be half-dead after all eight throws."

"She also created a Soul Skill called Rice Rabbit Shockwave for long-range attacks. It makes up for one of her weaknesses, though she doesn't think it's very useful."

Zhu Zhuqing fell silent for a moment. Xiao Wu was always laughing and joking around. Who would have thought she was talented enough to have two Self-Created Soul Skills?

And she even thought one of them was useless.

Comparing yourself to others could drive you mad!

Zhu Zhuqing made a mental note to ask Xiao Wu for advice later.

On the morning of the third day, the bell for class finally rang.

Everyone came out of the dormitories one after another and lined up on the Training Ground.

Yu Xiaogang stood before them with his hands behind his back, his gaze sweeping over each face.

Flender, Zhao Wuji, and the others stood off to one side with their arms folded, waiting for their assignments.

"Next, I'm putting you through special training!"

Tang San's disdainful voice rang out in their minds.

Special training?

What kind of bullshit special training? You're just going to make us carry rocks and run laps around Shrek Academy, aren't you?

Three straight months of running. What the hell good did that do?

Even thinking about those three months of running feels ridiculous now.

Yu Xiaogang heard Tang San's thoughts, and the corner of his mouth twitched.

What kind of fool makes Soul Masters run while carrying rocks?

Forget Soul Masters—even for ordinary people, it's useless. It doesn't improve Soul Power or physical fitness.

Well, I can't say it does absolutely nothing. It'll give them arthritis, at least.

Yu Xiaogang spoke. "Dai Mubai, Oscar, Ma Hongjun, Xiao Wu, Ye Lin—you've all received some guidance from me. Keep training as you have been, and there shouldn't be any major problems."

"In a moment, you'll each go with one of the teachers. They'll oversee your training."

When he finished, Flender and the others stepped forward, each taking someone toward the other side of the Training Ground.

Dai Mubai went with Zhao Wuji, Oscar with Shao Xin, Xiao Wu with Li Yusong, Ma Hongjun with Lu Qibin, and Ye Lin with Flender.

The five soon dispersed.

Only Yu Xiaogang, Ning Rongrong, Zhu Zhuqing, and Tang San remained on the Training Ground.

Tang San froze.

What's going on? Aren't we supposed to run?

Why is this completely different from my last life?

Yu Xiaogang thought to himself, Maybe taking you as my disciple in your last life damaged my intelligence.

How could I, Yu Xiaogang, ever do something so stupid?

Yu Xiaogang looked at the three who remained. "None of you have received my guidance before, so I'll focus on you today."

He turned his head slightly toward Ning Rongrong.

"Ning Rongrong, Tang San, you're both support-type Soul Masters. The key to support is Heart Separation Control. On the battlefield, you'll need to watch several teammates at once. Dividing your attention is essential."

"Start with the basics: doing two things at once. Draw a circle with your left hand and a square with your right, then work your way up."

Ning Rongrong acknowledged him and went to the edge of the Training Ground to practice as he had instructed.

Tang San's mouth twitched first.

Then his thoughts spilled out.

He wants me to practice Heart Separation Control? I mastered all of it in my last life. I reached the Seven-Orifice Exquisite Heart and could do seven things at once. Teaching me this now is pointless.

Yu Xiaogang curled his lip and thought,

Yes, yes, you're so damn impressive.

A mighty God King reborn, who knows and can do everything.

I heard you'd already absorbed your third Spirit Ring by this point in your last life. So why are you only level twenty-seven now?

Tang San glanced at Ning Rongrong and continued thinking,

And he's making Ning Rongrong practice Heart Separation Control?

Her father already made her practice it, and she couldn't be bothered.

It's impressive that a little witch like her has kept this up for even a few days. She'll show her true colors any moment now.

Children whose fathers bring them into the world but never raise them are the worst!

Ning Rongrong froze when she heard that and clenched her fists.

Tang San, who the fuck are you calling a child whose father never raised her? You're the one without a father to raise you! Your whole family is!

What do you mean, I'll show my true colors? This is who I am, all right?

You say I can't be bothered to practice? Then I'll practice hard every single day. I won't just reach the Seven-Orifice Exquisite Heart—I'll surpass it!

Yu Xiaogang turned to Zhu Zhuqing. "Zhu Zhuqing, come here."

Zhu Zhuqing took two steps forward and stood before him.

Yu Xiaogang looked her up and down, then got straight to the point.

"Your Martial Soul is the Hell Spirit Cat, which makes you an agility-type Soul Master. But agility-type Soul Masters have long been taking the wrong approach."

He raised a finger. "Remember this: attack comes first, speed second. Attack is the goal; speed is the means."

"Don't be an annoying fly, buzzing around without landing a hit."

"Be an assassin hidden in the shadows. Wait for your chance, then strike where it matters most."

He paused, his tone growing heavier. "I've watched you use Netherworld Hundred Claws."

"When you swipe, your claw marks land all over the place. Some veer left, others right; some land high, others low. It looks like a dense barrage, but every strike wastes strength."

"If you could land every attack on the same spot, even three strikes would penetrate deeper than all ten of your current strikes combined."