They lay sprawled every which way across the training ground, too exhausted to move so much as a finger, still groaning and panting for breath.
After they endured those three hellish days, the training schedule finally returned to normal: physical training in the morning and theory classes in the afternoon.
With that adjustment, everyone felt light all over. The earlier complaints about hardship and exhaustion vanished completely, and some even secretly counted themselves lucky.
Seeing this, Lu Chen instantly understood Wu Zhangkong's trick.
Those first three days had hardly been training-he had practically been working everyone to death. After exhausting them to the limit and then switching back to a regular schedule, they naturally found it easy and were more willing to throw themselves into training.
That evening, Wu Zhangkong gathered Lu Chen and the other three candidates for the class promotion tournament to test their Spiritual Power.
When Lu Chen's turn came, the number on the testing device soared before finally settling firmly at one hundred and thirty-six.
Wu Zhangkong stared at the number, his eyes widening in disbelief.
He finally realized that Lu Chen's Martial Soul was probably far more complicated than he had previously guessed. Dual ultimate attributes? This Martial Soul definitely possessed a spiritual attribute as well!
After all, spiritual-type soul masters were as rare as phoenix feathers and qilin horns throughout the entire Federation.
The look Wu Zhangkong gave Lu Chen changed instantly, filled with undisguised regard, while the boy's standing in his mind rose several more notches.
As a result, Wu Zhangkong paid him more attention while also intensifying his training, leaving him almost no time to visit Long Tianwu.
He did not neglect his forging, however, sometimes entering Nibelungen at noon to practice.
At night, he cultivated. After all, with an accelerator like Tang Wulin around, wouldn't not cultivating be letting his very existence down?
At last, he made it to Saturday.
Lu Chen had just packed his things and was preparing to reward himself at the cafeteria when his soul communicator abruptly rang.
He casually answered it, and Long Tianwu's voice came through, sounding rather as though he had nothing left to live for. "Lu Chen, are you on break yet? Have you had any rest? Can you come see me now?"
The despair in his tone practically spilled out through the communicator, leaving Lu Chen unable to suppress a pang of guilt.
He had been so caught up in cultivation and special training these past few days that he had completely forgotten his new guardian.
"Brother Long, I'm really sorry!" Lu Chen scratched his head, his voice full of apology. "Between special training and cultivation these past few days, I've been so busy my feet haven't touched the ground. I didn't get a chance to contact you."
"All right, all right, spare me the chatter." Long Tianwu's voice was thick with resignation. "I'm waiting right outside the academy gates. Hurry over."
After hanging up, Lu Chen pulled a piece of whole wheat bread from his Storage Soul Guidance Device and stuffed it into his mouth in a couple of bites, then sprinted toward the academy gates with the bread between his teeth.
As soon as he stepped outside, he spotted Long Tianwu leaning against a large tree, his handsome face practically declaring, "I'm about to go mad with boredom."
"Coming, coming!" Lu Chen hurried over, taking the steps two at a time.
Without another word, Long Tianwu grabbed his wrist and headed off. "Come on. I'll take you to the War God Hall's secret base."
Dragged along by him, Lu Chen was filled with curiosity. A War God Hall base-that was a place that existed only in legends!
Even when he had read the original novel back then, it had barely been described.
After all, the original Douluo story had centered on Shrek Academy and the Tang Sect.
After winding through turn after turn, the two finally stopped before an imposing complex.
Rather than a complex, it was more like a heavily guarded military fortress.
Towering alloy walls, cannon muzzles gleaming coldly, and soldiers at the entrance exuding a grim, murderous air-it was clearly not a place to mess with.
This was plainly the Federation army corps' base in Eastsea City!
Lu Chen's heart gave a jolt. So the War God Hall's secret base was hidden inside the army corps' base?
The sheer scale of it was outrageous!
Before he could figure it out, the intelligent identification system at the entrance issued a standard electronic announcement. "Identity confirmed. General Long Tianwu, welcome."
As the voice spoke, the heavy metal gates slowly slid apart, revealing a heavily guarded passage within.
Long Tianwu pulled Lu Chen inside with long strides. Every soldier they passed straightened and saluted him, their eyes filled with awe.
Following beside him, Lu Chen felt incredibly pleased with himself. He secretly straightened his back and even softened his breathing a little.
After passing through several checkpoints, Long Tianwu led him into a spacious, brightly lit room that, judging by its furnishings, was probably the army corps' headquarters.
"Take out the soul communicator Zhang Huanyun gave you." Long Tianwu got straight to the point.
Not daring to delay, Lu Chen hurriedly took the black communicator from his Storage Soul Guidance Device and handed it over.
Long Tianwu took the communicator and worked his fingers rapidly across it, strings of complicated code flashing over the screen.
Before long, he tossed the communicator back to Lu Chen. "Done. Your information has been entered into the War God Hall's system. From today onward, this thing is your identification. If you lose it, you'll answer for it."
After a pause, he added, "Incidentally, you've been assigned the rank of second lieutenant. The military headquarters granted special approval on account of your forging talent."
"Second lieutenant?!"
Lu Chen's voice shot up, his eyes widening like bronze bells. He nearly lost his grip on the communicator.
Second lieutenant!
That was a genuine Federation military rank!
Even graduates of soul master academies had to put in several years to earn the rank of second lieutenant, yet here he was, so young and having done nothing, receiving it on the strength of his forging talent alone?
An indescribable surge of excitement swept through his entire body, and Lu Chen's face flushed red.
Ever since he was little, one of his dreams had been to put on a military uniform, become a soldier, and safeguard the peace of a region.
He had once thought it was a dream far beyond his reach, but who could have imagined it would come true so easily?
Seeing Lu Chen looking so excited that he was about to jump up, Long Tianwu finally allowed a hint of a smile to tug at his lips, and his tone softened considerably:
"Don't celebrate too soon. This rank is just a title. It doesn't come with any real authority. At most, it'll let you move freely around the army corps' base and collect a little allowance."
"That's enough, that's enough!" Lu Chen nodded vigorously, his fingers trembling slightly around the communicator as the delight in his heart threatened to spill over.
A military rank, access to the army corps' base, and access to the War God Hall's resources-what a massive windfall!
Now he understood completely: stick with the War God Hall, and there really was meat to eat!
"Oh, and if you want to increase your contribution later, you'll need to forge for the troops. You can come pick up assignments during your weekly breaks," Long Tianwu said with a smile.
"Understood." Lu Chen nodded.
"Don't worry. Those contributions are very useful," Long Tianwu said with a smile.