Evil Fire Phoenix

That afternoon, physical training began. Zhou Yi brought out iron garments, each a little lighter than the one Jiang Hai wore, though they still weighed over thirty jin. Then she ordered everyone to run around the field with them on until class ended. Whoever finished last would be expelled.

With seventeen people expelled that morning, everyone felt a greater sense of urgency. Although the iron garments looked heavy, not a single person protested.

All eighty-three students began running around the field.

Jiang Hai knew that, with his physique, a mere two-hundred-jin iron garment could not push him to his limits.

Once again, he summoned his Martial Soul. Bronze light flashed, and an enormous coffin appeared before everyone's eyes, its ancient, weighty aura washing over them.

With his Martial Soul on his back, Jiang Hai shook the earth with every agonizing step. This was his first time adding extra weight on top of his Martial Soul. Even with the strength and physical improvements he had gained from absorbing the eight-hundred-year Diamond Tiger Soul Ring, he could barely endure it. His load exceeded seventeen hundred jin.

Rumble!

Jiang Hai's steps grew faster, yet he tried to make each footfall quieter, refining his control over his strength. This was a form of cultivation in itself. His ability to fight opponents above his level came not only from his terrifying strength, but also from his control over it.

However, this undoubtedly increased his exhaustion.

After just two or three laps, he was already drenched in sweat and had fallen back to the last group. Yet no one said anything. Anyone with eyes could see just how much pressure Jiang Hai was under.

Zhou Yi remained expressionless, giving nothing away. She did not know whether Jiang Hai was trying to impress her or truly seeking his own limits. She decided it was the latter. She did not know how heavy his Martial Soul was, but judging by its earlier performance, it could break through Xu Sanshi's defenses. Its weight had to be truly staggering.

Still, merely bearing the weight was not enough. How long could he last?

Zhou Yi waited quietly. Most of the others were also waiting for the moment Jiang Hai could no longer hold on.

Time passed, and some students were already reaching their breaking points, but Jiang Hai kept going. The Bronze Coffin on his back gave off wisps of bronze radiance, threaded with strands of golden light. Within the Golden Coffin, Lin Youtian's corpse was becoming increasingly insubstantial.

Every step subjected Jiang Hai to immense pressure. The Bronze Coffin weighed upon him like a mountain. Without its light surrounding him, constantly replenishing and strengthening him, it would probably have crushed him flat against the ground long ago.

Under these near-limit conditions, both the Bronze Coffin and the Golden Coffin were refining Lin Youtian more rapidly. His corpse grew increasingly insubstantial; its outline, already faded after Jiang Hai had borrowed its power last time, became fainter still.

Zhou Yi had been observing Jiang Hai the entire time. By her reckoning, even with his innate divine strength, he should have almost reached his limit. Yet he was still running, and his footsteps barely disturbed the ground. Clearly, he was still subconsciously controlling his strength. But at this stage, how was that possible?

Strands of golden light mingled with bronze radiance and streamed down, seemingly without end.

"It's his Martial Soul's effect. Just what kind of Martial Soul is this, to keep strengthening his physique?" After a while, Zhou Yi vaguely discerned a clue, but her astonishment only deepened. Martial Souls that strengthened their Soul Masters' physiques were hardly rare, but they were usually beast Martial Souls, and their effects were gradual and subtle. Jiang Hai's was clearly a tool Martial Soul, so why could it temper his body so visibly?

Thud, thud.

Two more students collapsed. After them, more and more fell. They had all reached their limits.

Sun Yunhai, Wang Cheng, and Liu Gang also fell one after another. Even Wang Cheng's physique was not particularly strong. If Jiang Hai had not still been holding on, they would have given up long ago. Now only a scant few remained running: Wang Dong, Chen Yong, another sturdily built boy, and Huo Yuhao.

Many had never expected Huo Yuhao to last this long.

With a thud, Wang Dong finally reached her limit and fell to the ground. Looking at Huo Yuhao, who was still running, she could not help blushing. Her Soul Power was high, but beneath it all she was still a girl, with a delicate body that could not compare to Chen Yong's and the others'. Of course, she had also been running the fastest. In terms of laps completed, Chen Yong might not have matched her.

After a while, however, Wang Cheng, Sun Yunhai, and Liu Gang pushed themselves to their feet and began jogging behind Jiang Hai, just as they had that morning.

Neither the physiques nor the Soul Power of those three were weak, and their resolve was firm enough. Their results were good; at the very least, they would not be expelled. Yet at that moment, perhaps their only thought was that their big brother had not given up, so they had no right to give up either. The loyalty of youth could be laughable, but it was also sincere.

Gradually, more and more students began running with them.

Zhou Yi could not help giving a slight nod. This was the power of leading by example. Although Jiang Hai had expressed nothing, and held no particular affection for most of the ordinary students, as long as he was outstanding enough, he could inspire others.

And there was him, too.

Zhou Yi could not help looking toward the frailest boy. Huo Yuhao had the weakest Soul Power and physique, but many had overlooked one thing: he had never stopped, from beginning to end. Drenched in sweat, he now looked even worse off than Jiang Hai, yet he had still persevered.

Perhaps this year's students really would bring her unimaginable surprises. Zhou Yi smiled.

Ring!

The bell rang, and everyone slumped to the ground. Zhou Yi said, "Your performance today surprised me. I hereby announce that no one will be expelled this time. I hope you keep up your efforts. Don't disappoint me!"

No expulsions-that was good news for everyone. After all, no one could know whether they might be the one singled out. But now they lacked even the strength to celebrate. Every last one of them was utterly exhausted.

Jiang Hai felt every pore greedily breathing in the cool air. His body felt as though it were on fire. The Bronze Coffin stood beside him; he no longer even had the strength to withdraw his Martial Soul.

Zhou Yi beckoned into the distance. A man dressed in white glided over, seemingly arriving before them with only a few light touches of his feet against the ground.

Dazzling Soul Rings rose from beneath his feet, one after another. Seven in total-a Soul Saint.

A towering, lush green tree materialized behind him. Gentle green light spilled from his body, and leaves flew onto everyone present-exactly eighty-three, no more and no fewer.

The white-robed man was actually a Support System tool Soul Saint, with Soul Power above rank seventy. His Martial Soul was also a top-tier Support System Martial Soul: the Tree of Life.

Jiang Hai pulled the green leaf off his head. Its shimmering glow melted into his body, leaving every cell awash with comfort as his strength rapidly recovered. This felt even better than swimming in Sea God Lake. Still, that did nothing to diminish his love for the lake. After swimming there time and again, Jiang Hai had already fallen in love with the sensation.

Under everyone's astonished gazes, the white-robed man departed again.

Zhou Yi nodded and said evenly, "Dismissed. Everyone, take your iron garment back with you. Tomorrow, other teachers will teach your theory classes. Over these next two days, I hope you properly reflect on the improvements and insights this lesson has given you. You have my class again the afternoon after tomorrow. I don't want to see a single piece of trash."

"Yes!" Everyone answered in a thunderous chorus. Instead of scattering, however, they gathered around and tossed Jiang Hai into the air.

Of course, that was only because Jiang Hai did not resist. Otherwise, he could have taken on ten of this motley rabble alone.

Yet in this situation, Jiang Hai experienced a rare flicker of something he had never felt before. Was this youth?

They kept it up for over ten minutes before gradually dispersing, but everyone's spirits had changed. A sense of belonging to a collective had suddenly taken root in their hearts.

Jiang Hai shook his head and plunged into Sea God Lake with a splash. The icy water washed over him, gradually restoring the coldness within his heart.

Others could cultivate and grow without a care, but his Martial Soul had come at the cost of other people's lives. He had no right to be proud.

The Bronze Coffin appeared again and sank straight to the bottom of the lake. It opened, and a wondrous sight unfolded: an invisible force seemed to hold the water at bay. Jiang Hai stepped inside, and the lid closed. His heart grew calm again. Threads of Soul Power flowed from his Martial Soul, and with a rumble, his Soul Power surged, rising by a considerable amount.

He had broken through!

After taking the Mystic Water Pill, Jiang Hai's Soul Power had already reached the peak of rank fifteen. Now it broke through again, reaching rank sixteen.

Despite his breakthrough, Jiang Hai's eyes showed neither joy nor sorrow. He remained immersed in cultivation.

By then, dawn had arrived, and two people had come to the shore of Sea God Lake: Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong.

Huo Yuhao had undergone a complete transformation, his bearing utterly changed.

After returning yesterday, Bei Bei had teamed up with Huo Yuhao to fleece Xu Sanshi once again. As his family's sole genius, Xu Sanshi could hardly have possessed only three Mystic Water Pills. Tang Ya and Bei Bei had each taken one from him, and Bei Bei had already given his to Huo Yuhao to swallow. Now Huo Yuhao's Soul Power had also reached the peak of rank twelve.

The two strolled along the lakeshore, entirely unaware that someone was concealed beneath the icy water. But the next moment, the lake churned. Jiang Hai suddenly opened his eyes, and with a rumble, the Bronze Coffin burst out of the lake.

"Brother Jiang?" Huo Yuhao exclaimed in surprise upon seeing the Bronze Coffin. Wang Dong was equally astonished, wondering why Jiang Hai had suddenly emerged from Sea God Lake.

But Jiang Hai's expression was extremely grave. He barked, "Get back!"

In the distance, the lake roiled as a terrifying red light rapidly approached.

At that moment, Jiang Hai remembered who was coming: Evil Fire Phoenix Ma Xiaotao!