Talking Ning Rongrong into It

The next morning.

Sunlight streamed through the window and fell before Ning Rongrong's bed.

"Mm~" With a lazy, delicate moan, Ning Rongrong slowly sat up in bed. Perhaps because of yesterday's training, she had slept exceptionally well last night.

She moved her still somewhat weak legs, then lingered in bed for another half hour before lazily getting up.

Fortunately, after soaking in the medicinal bath, Ning Rongrong's legs felt no discomfort aside from being a little weak.

After getting herself ready and stepping out of the Dormitory, she noticed seven people in the distance undergoing Physical Training under the supervision of a middle-aged man. Their training method was the simplest kind: running.

"Those people should be the Heaven Dou Battle Team, right? Looks like the teachers at Heaven Dou Royal Academy are nothing special." After watching curiously for a while, Ning Rongrong curled her lip and headed toward the Cafeteria.

The middle-aged man on the plaza watched Ning Rongrong leave, his brows furrowing slightly. Ning Rongrong had not bothered to lower her voice, and the man's hearing was exceptionally sharp. Even from so far away, he had heard what she said.

Of course, there were other reasons as well. Both Ning Rongrong's Dormitory and Shi Quan's Cabin were, in fact, student residences for Heaven Dou Grade students at Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

The students of Heaven Dou Royal Academy were divided into three tiers. Newly enrolled students and those below Level 25 were in the first tier, known as Heaven Slight Grade. Those between Level 25 and 30 were in the second tier, Heaven Arrived Grade. Those above Level 30 entered the highest tier, Heaven Dou Grade.

Of course, some students with special statuses could live there as well. For example, the students the middle-aged man was currently training—although not all of them were Heaven Dou Grade students, they belonged to the Heaven Dou Battle Team and likewise had the right to live in these Dormitories.

That was why the middle-aged man had noticed Ning Rongrong.

"Teacher Qin, it looks like newcomers have moved into both of those Dormitories. You don't know them?" One of the running youths asked the middle-aged man curiously as he passed by.

The Heaven Dou Battle Team. Teacher Qin.

These eight people were Qin Ming, Dugu Yan, Yu Tianheng, and the others.

Although the exact roster of the Heaven Dou Battle Team had not yet been finalized, barring any accidents, the candidates selected after the first year's trials would almost never change.

The later rounds of selection had only one main purpose: to encourage the students to cultivate diligently.

Thus, the current seven members of the Heaven Dou Battle Team were the same seven from the original work: Yu Tianheng, Dugu Yan, Shi Mo, Shi Mo, Yu Feng, Osler, and Ye Lingling.

The one questioning Qin Ming was Yu Feng, the owner of the Wind Chime Bird Martial Soul.

Qin Ming turned to look at Yu Feng. "You still have the energy to ask questions? Looks like the training isn't enough. Everyone, add another five laps."

At Qin Ming's words, all seven people on the Sports Field let out cries of misery, each of them glaring furiously at Yu Feng.

Yu Feng had wanted to say something more, but when he saw Qin Ming's faintly chilling gaze, he immediately clamped his mouth shut and lowered his head to run seriously.

Qin Ming shouted sternly, "Run properly! I've received word from the Education Committee that the academy has added a very formidable new student this year. He intends to join the Heaven Dou Battle Team and will participate in next week's selection. Don't say I didn't warn you."

Yu Tianheng, the temporary captain of the Heaven Dou Battle Team, asked, "Teacher Qin, what's his name? Why haven't we heard of him?"

"What? Afraid now that you know there's competition? Want to gather information on him?" Qin Ming looked at Yu Tianheng with an amused smile.

"Afraid?" Lightning flickered in Yu Tianheng's eyes as he smiled. "I'm just curious whether he's worth me making a move to play with him."

Qin Ming said mysteriously, "You'll find out then. I don't know whether he's strong or not, but for any one of you, he should be a very interesting opponent."

"Interesting?"

After hearing Qin Ming's description, everyone revealed curious looks. Could "interesting" really be used to describe an opponent?

"You all seem quite energetic today, so add another five laps," Qin Ming said with a chuckle.

Yu Tianheng and the others groaned in misery. They did not understand why, ever since the start of this term, their Physical Training had skyrocketed from the very first day. It had only been two or three days since school began, yet all seven felt as though they had lost a full circle of weight. Every day, they ended training utterly exhausted.

Elsewhere.

Although Heaven Dou Academy was large, a day was enough for Ning Rongrong to explore it all.

After having breakfast in the Cafeteria, Ning Rongrong had nothing to do. Early in the morning, she arrived at the woods where Shi Quan practiced Simulated Cultivation. Looking at the empty clearing, she immediately shouted toward the cabin, "Shi Quan, come out! This young lady is here!"

Shi Quan, who had been studying inside the cabin, heard the shout from outside. His face darkened, and he sighed before getting up and walking outside.

"What are you here for?"

"This young lady has nothing to do this morning, so I came to play with you. Other than you, I don't know anyone else in the academy." As she spoke, Ning Rongrong swaggered into Shi Quan's Cabin.

"What are you doing?" Ning Rongrong swept her gaze around the cabin, then her eyes landed on the book on the table. "You're reading?"

"That's right." Shi Quan returned to the desk and sat down. Ning Rongrong came to his side and leaned her head forward. "What's that book about? What's so interesting about it?"

Shi Quan rubbed his temples. "It's about Gem-type Martial Souls. Uncle Ning asked me to research methods for evolving your Martial Souls, so I need to study. I don't have time to play with you. Go somewhere else and play by yourself."

"Methods for Martial Soul Evolution?" Ning Rongrong's eyes brimmed with curiosity. "Shi Quan, I heard your Innate Soul Power was only Level 1. Is that true?"

"It is."

Ning Rongrong's eyes widened. Then she asked, "Then is it also true that your Martial Soul evolved?"

"It is."

"How did you do it?"

"Study," Shi Quan replied without blushing. Though the truth had nothing to do with studying, it was the only answer he could give.

"Study?" Ning Rongrong continued, "Anything else?"

Shi Quan let out a long sigh. He understood that if he did not redirect Ning Rongrong's attention, she would probably keep pestering him. He slowly closed the book and looked at her. "Thinking, too."

"That's it?"

"Those two things."

Ning Rongrong rolled her eyes at Shi Quan. "Anyone can study and think. You're making it sound like something special."

"Come with me."

Shi Quan led Ning Rongrong out of the cabin and to the water pool.

Pointing at the gently rippling Flowing Water in the pool, Shi Quan asked, "Do you have any thoughts when you look at the water before you?"

"Thoughts?" Ning Rongrong looked at the crystal-clear water and instinctively said, "Isn't it just water?"

Shi Quan said evenly, "I see water flowing. If I asked you to think and learn from the flow of water, what could you come up with?"

"The flow of water?" Ning Rongrong stared blankly at the Flowing Water and said hesitantly, "Think about why water flows? Learn... what is there to learn from that?"

Shi Quan gently shook his head. "What I thought about was how to sever Flowing Water with a strike. What I learned was the force behind the water's movement."

"Sever Flowing Water? The force of Flowing Water?" Ning Rongrong became even more confused by Shi Quan's words. "What does that mean?"

"Bend down and punch the water as hard as you can. Try it."

Ning Rongrong crouched down and threw a hard punch at the surface. The water caved in, splashing quite a bit onto her. Feeling as though she had been toyed with, Ning Rongrong immediately stood up and glared at Shi Quan. "Are you messing with me?"

Shi Quan gently shook his head and raised a hand toward Ning Rongrong. "Hit me with the same force."

"Hit you?" Ning Rongrong hesitated before confirming, "You're telling me to hit you?"

"Mhm." Shi Quan nodded.

"Then I won't hold back." Ning Rongrong's eyes lit up, and she punched toward Shi Quan's chest.

Yet Shi Quan merely raised his hand and made a small movement. The strength in her fist seemed to strike empty air and vanished completely. The next moment, her fist was tightly held in Shi Quan's hand.

Shi Quan released Ning Rongrong's fist and asked, "Do you understand now?"

Ning Rongrong stared blankly at her fist. After being stunned for a moment, she finally asked, "How did you do that?"

"Study." Shi Quan pointed to his head, then put on an inscrutable expression as he continued, "Learning has no end. Everything in this world can be an object of our study. When looking at people, events, and things, don't limit yourself to the surface. No matter what it is, think more, and you will discover that everything has something worth learning from."

"Think it over carefully." Seeing Ning Rongrong sink into thought, Shi Quan spoke calmly, while inwardly thinking, Let's see if I can't fool you silly.

After fooling Ning Rongrong, Shi Quan turned and returned to the cabin to resume studying.

The Dark Guard hidden nearby was filled with astonishment after hearing Shi Quan's words. He had originally marveled at how Shi Quan, a useless fellow with only Level 1 Innate Soul Power, had reached his current level. But after following Ning Rongrong for these past two days, the Dark Guard understood.

Shi Quan simply could not be judged by ordinary standards. Even those few brief remarks of his had benefited this Soul King greatly. With such talent, it was no wonder Shi Quan had defied fate and evolved his Martial Soul.

The Dark Guard hurriedly pulled out paper and pen and wrote down everything Shi Quan had just said. Every so often, they had to return and report to Ning Fengzhi. Naturally, he needed to report today's remarks back word for word.

Shi Quan had not thought that much about it. He merely wanted Ning Rongrong to stop bothering him, so he casually came up with some words for her to ponder, allowing him to peacefully do his own work.

To him, they were only a few words. Naturally, he could not be bothered to care much about them.

If Ning Rongrong truly comprehended something from his words, then that would be her own good fortune.

But how could such things be so easily comprehended? Which of the martial arts he used had not taken its creator countless painstaking efforts over decades, then been refined by generations of successors before it was finally developed? If someone could comprehend them so easily, they would be a true genius among geniuses.