Early the next morning.
Tang San, Xiao Wu, and the group Zhao Wuji had not chosen.
Started running laps around the village entrance bright and early.
In Yu Xiaogang's words.
To absorb powerful Soul Rings, Soul Masters first had to improve their physical fitness.
And morning runs were the best way Yu Xiaogang could think of to improve it.
"Grandmaster told us to boil the medicinal herbs so those youngsters can take medicinal baths later. Isn't that far too extravagant?"
"How can Shrek Academy's funds stand up to spending like this?"
"Look at Xiao Ning. He isn't spending a single coin of the academy's money!"
Zhao Wuji complained as he boiled the herbs in a large pot.
Flender turned a deaf ear.
"Xiao Ning hasn't spent a single coin of the academy's money."
"That's because Xiao Ning hasn't woken up!"
"The academy only has so much money anyway. Once it's gone, it's gone. They can earn their own then!"
Meanwhile.
With the sun already high, Lu Ning was still lying in bed, fast asleep.
Two girls stood guard at the door.
It was understandable enough for Zhu Zhuqing.
But when had Ning Rongrong ever been left waiting like this?
They had waited all morning, and Lu Ning still had not woken up.
She simply kicked the door open.
Then stormed over and grabbed Lu Ning by the ear.
"Lu Ning!"
"I've been up cultivating all morning!"
"And you're still asleep! Is this acceptable? Do you really want to run naked through Spirit City when the time comes? Should we help you do it right now?!"
Ning Rongrong pulled away Lu Ning's blanket, intending to drag him out of bed.
But the moment she lifted the blanket.
Ning Rongrong's face flushed scarlet, and she no longer knew where to put the hand holding Lu Ning's ear.
Although she was just as full of dirty talk.
Seeing that tent with her own eyes at such close range still made her blush with embarrassment.
"Y-you-you!"
"Hurry up and get up to arrange our training plan!"
Ning Rongrong turned her head away.
She did not dare look at Lu Ning again.
Zhu Zhuqing also turned aside, blushing, and stood guard at the door to keep anyone from approaching.
Even someone as cool and aloof as her was terribly embarrassed by the size she had seen.
Lu Ning rubbed his still-sleepy eyes and drawled, "Training assignments? What training assignments?"
As he spoke, Lu Ning vaguely remembered yesterday's wager.
He hurriedly corrected himself.
"Yes, of course there are!"
"Uh, to be precise, your training has already begun!"
"Lesson one: patience!"
"As a powerful Soul Master, can you cultivate, hunt souls, or even fight a duel without patience?"
"The reason I didn't give you any assignments this morning."
"Was to teach you patience!"
Lu Ning spoke with righteous conviction.
But two words were written across Ning Rongrong's face-don't believe!
"Hurry up and put your clothes on!"
"We're starting our training too."
"Otherwise..."
Ning Rongrong clenched her little pink fists and put on a fierce voice. "I'll make sure you can never pitch a tent again!"
Lu Ning froze when he heard that.
He lifted the blanket and looked underneath.
When did you see that?!
Forget it.
At least I saw yours too.
That makes us even.
"Fine, but could you at least go outside?"
"How am I supposed to get dressed with you here?"
Unable to argue with that, Ning Rongrong gave a haughty snort and pulled Zhu Zhuqing outside.
In less than ten minutes.
Lu Ning came out, dressed and washed.
Zhu Zhuqing asked with a cool expression.
"They're training their stamina today, saying something about improving their physical fitness."
"Physical fitness is the best way to increase the age of the Soul Rings you can absorb."
"What are we training?"
She seemed unconcerned.
In truth, she had long since secretly figured out the training Yu Xiaogang and the others were doing.
Lu Ning really had not prepared for this situation.
But when it came to increasing the age of the Soul Rings they could absorb.
He had a method ten thousand times better than exercise.
"Exercise can indeed increase the age of the Soul Rings you can absorb."
"I don't deny that."
"But exercise takes a long time to show results. Even if you keep up high-intensity exercise every day for ten years, the increase in age would probably be less than half a year."
"A 9,100-year Soul Ring versus a 9,200-year Soul Ring."
"Is there much of a difference?"
Lu Ning shook his head as he spoke.
That method was too clumsy.
It was nowhere near as effective as soaking in a medicinal bath after exercising.
"Then tell us a better method!"
"All you do is keep us in suspense!"
Ning Rongrong spoke resentfully.
She was already seething after waiting all morning.
Hearing Lu Ning still stringing them along only made her anger flare.
She wanted nothing more than to clench her little pink fists and pound his chest.
"There is a method."
"I'm just afraid you won't dare try it."
Lu Ning glanced at her.
Zhu Zhuqing might dare to try.
But the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's favored daughter beside him might not!
To increase the age of the Soul Rings they could absorb.
The best method was to consume whale rubber!
Whale rubber was very cheap in this period. No one had discovered its ability to increase the age of the Soul Rings one could absorb, and it was mostly used as an aphrodisiac.
It might not have been on every street corner.
But whale rubber of a low age was not difficult to find.
After all, what city did not have a few people who needed treatment?
"What wouldn't I dare do?!"
"If you've got a fart to let out, let it out already!"
Ning Rongrong planted her hands on her hips, looking as though there was no way she could be afraid of Lu Ning's training.
Could it possibly be harder than Tang San and the others running back and forth carrying rocks?
Impossible!
A lazybones like Lu Ning.
Could never come up with that kind of training method, no matter what!
"Then come with me."
"Let's take a stroll around Suotuo City."
Lu Ning headed toward Suotuo City with steady strides.
Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong exchanged a glance.
They had thought Lu Ning would announce some earth-shattering training method.
But to their surprise.
Lu Ning actually wanted them to go strolling around Suotuo City with him?!
Was this training?
Wasn't this a reward?!
"Are we going?"
Even Zhu Zhuqing asked Ning Rongrong in confusion.
Ning Rongrong nodded.
"Of course!"
"Why wouldn't we go shopping?!"
"There's absolutely no reason not to go!"
With that.
Ning Rongrong hurried after Lu Ning.
Zhu Zhuqing hesitated for a moment.
She looked at Tang San and the others training hard in the distance, but still stepped forward and followed.
The three walked along a country path.
There was not the slightest sense of urgency about training.
They looked like a family out on an excursion.
They even had smiles on their faces.
"Oh, right."
"Have a sip of this."
"Just give it a try. Don't drink too much."
As Lu Ning walked, he untied the Wine Gourd at his waist and handed it to the two girls.
Ning Rongrong took the White Jade Gourd. Even as a Soul Master skilled in appraising gemstones, she could not identify its material, but she still shook the gourd and spoke irritably.
"You really aren't reliable at all!"
"It's bad enough that you drink."
"Now you want us to drink with you? The upper beam is crooked, so you insist on making the lower beams crooked too?"
Lu Ning pursed his lips and said indifferently, "Drink it or don't."
"Just don't come begging me for it later."
"Zhu Zhuqing."
"Do you want to try?"
Before you continue