Chapter 21: with translation of chapter title

Under Gu Xuan's leadership, a group of people began training at a leisurely pace. Although they usually trained, they had never done a training session with nearly two hundred jin of weight right after waking up in the morning like Gu Xuan did.

Because this is too terrifying.

They are not as terrifying as Gu Xuan; even Yu Tianheng's load is only a hundred jin at most.

As a support-system cultivator, Ye Lingling carries only thirty jin of weight on her whole body.

Knowing that Ye Lingling used to train without any weight, suddenly having thirty jin added catches her off guard.

The group, carrying weight, followed Gu Xuan in training: push-ups, sit-ups, pull-ups, burpees...

After several sets of various movements, even though they are Soul Elders, they momentarily find it hard to keep up.

Because during the training Gu Xuan did not let them use their martial souls or soul power, merely completing it through raw physical fitness.

By eight o'clock, Ye Lingling and Du Gu Yan, the two girls, were already exhausted to the point of collapse; even Yu Tianheng and the brothers Shi Mo and Shi Mu were somewhat out of breath.

Not being able to use martial souls is bad enough, but not being allowed to use soul power? Although they usually have this kind of training, Gu Xuan's current training intensity makes their previous stone-carrying exercise seem as simple as playing house.

"Little Xuan, you're too amazing, right? How come I feel you're just fine?" Du Gu Yan said, looking at Gu Xuan who was only lightly sweating, unable to hold back.

Not only Du Gu Yan thought so; the others did too. Knowing that Gu Xuan had arrived at six o'clock, his training time was double theirs. Although it was clear he was giving his all later on, he showed no fatigue at all, at most just sweating.

As for them? Each one's muscles ached, as if they were about to die.

Gu Xuan wiped the sweat from his forehead and smiled: "Not bad; this amount of training is just a warm-up. I can guarantee that if you can follow me and persevere, then with my method, each of you will be able to absorb soul rings beyond your level."

Hearing this, the originally listless crowd slightly recovered a smile; as long as effort is worthwhile, there is still hope.

"You rest a bit; I'm going to take a shower." Gu Xuan didn't say more, left after that sentence, exiting the courtyard and returning to his room.

Thirty minutes later, Gu Xuan changed into a set of golden-yellow team uniforms, the exclusive attire of the Royal Battle Team and a symbol of identity.

With this uniform, you can enjoy the highest-standard treatment for students in the academy.

Gu Xuan had already washed up, but the others had not; after glancing at the empty hall, he thought a moment and then headed straight to the cafeteria.

Arriving at a breakfast stall, Gu Xuan said to the boss: "Boss, one chicken leg, two eggs, a bowl of millet porridge, a cup of soy milk, and a steamed bun."

After thinking, Gu Xuan continued: "Make eight portions."

"Sure thing!" the boss replied, immediately starting to pack Gu Xuan's order.

Looking at Gu Xuan's uniform, the boss asked with a puzzled expression: "Kid, I've never seen you in the Royal Battle Team before; you just joined, right?"

Gu Xuan smiled and replied: "Yeah, I just joined the Royal Battle Team yesterday."

"Hahaha, kid, you're not bad; the first team of the Royal Battle Team hasn't had anyone join for several years. From now on, when you come here, I'll give you a 50% discount." The boss said while packing Gu Xuan's order, laughing.

"No, no, no, one doesn't receive rewards without merit. My student card already gets a 30% discount; if you keep doing this, I won't dare come back." Gu Xuan quickly waved his hands and replied.

The boss also chuckled and replied: "Kid, you don't know, but nowadays the academy needs students like you who strive hard; talent is indeed important, but perseverance matters more. Seeing you juniors work hard, my little help is nothing."

While the boss was speaking, Gu Xuan took a closer look and realized the boss was actually a Soul Ancestor? A Soul Ancestor working as a chef here? Gu Xuan felt a bit doubtful about the boss's identity, but only wondered briefly; he didn't ask further, and after the boss finished packing, Gu Xuan paid and left.

As he was leaving, he also said thank you.

Originally this meal should have cost ten silver soul coins, but the boss only took five.

Don't think a few eggs and a chicken leg for ten silver soul coins is expensive; these eggs are from a ten-year soul beast rainbow chicken, and the leg is from a ten-year soul beast three-legged chicken, their nutritional value far surpassing ordinary eggs and chicken legs.

Even the millet in the porridge is soul-light rice that can subtly transform bodily strength; one could say the cafeteria of Tiandou Royal Academy hardly has any ordinary food, at least nothing ordinary people could afford. Gu Xuan brought back the breakfast, and the others had just finished washing up, preparing to go to the cafeteria to eat.

"No need to go; I've brought breakfast for you." Gu Xuan placed the breakfast from his hands onto the table, took a portion, and began eating.

"Wow, Gu Xuan, it's really you! The earlier training drained half my strength, but now it's great—I don't have to go myself to get breakfast." Osro let out a strange cry, grabbed a portion, and started eating.

Osro's personality is like that; with familiar people he completely disregards image, even being goofy.

But toward outsiders he's the type who goes straight to mocking and provoking hatred, the kind that can make people furious.

Because of the morning training, everyone was hungry; even the hot-tempered Du Gu Yan and Ye Lingling began to devour food voraciously.

"Girls have small stomachs, so they eat little?" Nonsense. After eating a chicken leg, two eggs, a bowl of millet porridge, a cup of soy milk, and a steamed bun, their bellies didn't even bulge.

Of course, this also relates to them being Soul Masters; after all, a Soul Master's energy consumption far exceeds that of ordinary people.

After breakfast it was already nine o'clock; today is Tuesday, but they no longer have to attend theory class, so they went to the training hall to train.

Qin Ming had already been waiting there early; seeing the crowd appear, his face darkened as he said: "Class starts at nine o'clock; look at what time it is now."

Osro couldn't help but reply: "It's only nine twelve."

Qin Ming gave him a cold stare: "Osro!"

"Present!" Osro shuddered, seemingly realizing the situation was not right.

"Do you think being late still has an excuse?" Qin Ming's voice was cold, lacking the warmth from yesterday's dinner table.

"No!" Osro, not daring to retort, replied with a stiff scalp.

At the same time Osro felt like slapping himself, thinking "Why did I say anything unnecessary? Now I've become the one who sticks out."

"Let me tell you, with you lot like this, if you ever got to the battlefield, the first to die could be you! You have no sense of time! Do you still think this is at home?" Qin Ming stared at Osro, but his words were aimed at everyone.

"Osro, go run ten laps around the field yourself!" Qin Ming then continued.

"Ah!" Osro's lament rang out again.

At this moment Qin Ming's gaze turned cold again; just as he was about to erupt, Gu Xuan stepped forward and said to Qin Ming: "Teacher Qin, actually today's lateness is entirely my fault, not Osro's."

Qin Ming's gaze shifted to Gu Xuan, his expression softening somewhat, and he asked: "Why?"

Gu Xuan explained: "Osro had already gotten up at seven; I pulled them into training together, and I didn't control the training volume well, leaving them somewhat fatigued, so they arrived late."

"But Teacher Qin, rest assured, this will never happen again."

Upon hearing this, Qin Ming glanced at the others, and they also nodded in agreement.

Qin Ming fell silent for a moment, then said: "Since there is a reason, Osro, your punishment is waived; however, I don't want this to happen again."

"Yes!"

Everyone replied in unison.

Actually this is just a show of force, or rather Qin Ming warning them again—not targeting any one person, but aimed at all of them.

Of course, there's certainly also the reason of polishing Osro's temperament; Gu Xuan was an old hand in his previous life, and this is evident.

ps: Typos will be corrected first, then revised.

(End of chapter)