Chapter 144: Vacation

"Congratulations, Boss Dai."

Everyone offered their congratulations in succession.

The courtyard was filled with laughter and joy.

Before consuming the Immortal Herb, Dai Mubai had already been at Level 38 for some time; after consuming it, his soul power reached Level 39.

Added to that was the high-pressure training program newly customized by Yu Xiaogang, combined with Medicinal Baths and medicinal meals; it would have been difficult not to have a Breakthrough.

"If we keep training like this, our bodies will eventually give out; we can only laugh for now." Ning Rongrong wore a smile, but she did not speak.

In this past month, she had returned to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect twice, and she had also told the elders in her family about Yu Xiaogang's high-pressure training method.

The Sword Douluo's assessment, however, was that the expenditure exceeded the income, and the replenishment could not keep up with the consumption.

High-intensity training could indeed squeeze out the body's potential, but excessive excavation would only lead to physical overdraft.

Ning Rongrong had long since figured out Yu Xiaogang's self-righteous personality; saying anything would be a waste of breath, and she might even end up being viewed with hostility by Tang San and the others. If they wanted to train, let them train; she couldn't be bothered to care.

Months of high-pressure training left them unable to catch their breath. Under such overdraft, Ma Hongjun's Evil Fire didn't even flare up once, which was enough to show just how exaggerated the Master's training intensity was.

The Shrek group lay on the Training Ground and couldn't help but shout, "Finally, it's vacation."

Looking at the Heaven Dou Team in the valley.

"Hehe, understood, understood." Ma Hongjun gave a lewd smile and walked toward Oscar and Yu Tianheng.

Shi Quan's original customized plan not only considered the academy's Medicinal Bath but also took into account Ye Lingling's healing ability.

Besides the increase in soul power level, all six had mastered the basics of their martial arts, and their actual combat effectiveness had seen a significant improvement.

The training ended.

Fortunately, because she had proposed that the initial training intensity was too high, she was able to have the intensity reduced at her discretion.

Under Shi Quan's leadership, everyone's strength was improving in an orderly manner, forming a sharp contrast to the Shrek group, who were all exhausted to the point of death.

The strength of Shi Quan and the Shi brothers had already broken through to Level 39 early on, and they were sprinting toward Level 40.

Yu Feng had also broken through to Level 37, and the weakest, Zhu Zhuqing, was also about to break through to Level 36.

It was not until three months later that the semester of academy life finally came to an end. The academy began its New Year vacation, lasting for one month.

It was bad enough that he was corrupting himself, but he had to drag others down with him.

"Get lost." Dai Mubai first rolled his eyes at Ma Hongjun, but a lewd smile couldn't help but appear at the corner of his mouth. After a pair of evil eyes glanced obscurely at Ma Hongjun, Ma Hongjun immediately understood.

Ning Rongrong, who was on the side, saw this scene, her eyes full of disgust, and she turned and left.

Conversely, Yu Xiaogang did not understand pharmacology and self-righteously believed that the medicinal power of the Immortal Herbs was buried within their bodies; under such high-intensity training, the body and internal organs would eventually be damaged from operating under overload.

Yu Xiaogang was smugly proud, thinking his training method had no problems, but in reality, he had planted a bomb inside everyone's body.

That evening, Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun took Yu Tianheng and Oscar and snuck out of the academy.

As for Tang San and Xiao Wu, the two were already affectionately discussing what to eat and what to play during the vacation.

After a simple rest, everyone got up. Ma Hongjun immediately leaned over to Dai Mubai's side, "Boss Dai, look, it's vacation now. As the boss, shouldn't you take the brothers out to arrange something and have a good time together?"

The days of training without a ripple passed by day after day just like that.

After such a long time, he could also see that Ning Rongrong had absolutely no feelings for him at all, so he was not prepared to continue wasting time.

Just like in the original story, for him, giving up the whole forest for a tree he couldn't climb was obviously an unwise choice; he was still someone who could let go when he needed to.

Even so, his desire to possess combat power remained unaffected.

But this did not affect his relaxation.

Half an hour later.

In a room decorated in bright red.

"What's going on? Is it because the training intensity was too high? Too tired?" Ma Hongjun, who couldn't even last half a quarter of an hour, frowned slightly. After a short rest, he flipped over and pressed on again.

At the same time, on the other side, Dai Mubai was also doubting his life; he felt that he didn't seem as valiant as before?

The same situation appeared in Yu Tianheng's room; his 'Dragon Overlord', why couldn't it be arrogant today?

Only Oscar's situation was slightly better; he fell into a deep sleep while contentedly holding the beauty in his arms.

As for the Dormitory in the valley on the other side.

The group dinner had just ended, and Shi Quan began to briefly summarize the training during this period.

The two Shi brothers had both broken through to Level 40 two days ago, and Dugu Bo had taken them to hunt a Spirit Beast that same day; they were now at Level 41. Zhu Zhuqing's strength was also at Level 36, Yu Feng at Level 38, Ye Lingling at Level 42, and Dugu Yan at Level 45.

As for Shi Quan's soul power, it had actually broken through to Level 40 as well, but Shi Quan had not explained this to the outside world, because he had his own arrangements for the Fourth Spirit Ring.

After finishing the summary, Shi Quan then began to make arrangements for the vacation, "Everyone knows that there is still more than half a year before the Spirit Master Tournament begins, and time is tight. There will be a battle against Shrek at the start of next semester. I hope everyone can defeat Shrek with a crushing momentum, so we will shorten our vacation by ten days. In the next twenty days of vacation, I hope everyone has a good time, but you must never slack off on your cultivation."

"Don't worry, Xiao Quan." Everyone nodded in agreement, especially Yu Feng and the Shi brothers; they could feel that the Medicinal Bath Shi Quan provided them had a significant difference from the one previously provided by the academy, and their cultivation speed over these past few months was much faster than usual.

They were also eager to come back early and cultivate diligently.

"Then let's stop here for today. Those who want to leave now can leave; for those who feel it's too late, it won't be too late to leave tomorrow," Shi Quan said with a smile.

Yu Feng and the others left the table one after another, leaving only the three women and Shi Quan.

"Xiao Quan, what are your arrangements?" Dugu Yan couldn't help but ask.

Ye Lingling was not returning to her family as usual, and the same went for Zhu Zhuqing; Dugu Bo was right here, so Dugu Yan naturally wouldn't go anywhere else.

So now, only Shi Quan was left with an unknown situation.

"I have something to take care of by myself. Lingling, why don't you spend the New Year with Sister Yanzi and the others this year? We'll go back together next year, how about that?" Shi Quan looked at Ye Lingling.

"Okay." Ye Lingling nodded, her cheeks slightly flushed.

Watching the two, Zhu Zhuqing couldn't help but feel a sense of longing for Zhuang Zhou in her heart.

Looking at Zhu Zhuqing's expression, Shi Quan's expression was also somewhat complex; he didn't know when he should tell Zhu Zhuqing the fact that he was Zhuang Zhou.

"Zhuqing, since that's the case, why don't you join us too? It'll be livelier with more people," Dugu Yan said, turning to look at Zhu Zhuqing upon seeing this.

"Okay." Zhu Zhuqing nodded and agreed.

After the three women left, Shi Quan stood up and looked at the valley illuminated by the dark moonlight outside, not knowing what he was thinking.

"What is Xiao Quan thinking about?" Dugu Bo's figure suddenly appeared beside Shi Quan.

"Nothing." Shi Quan came back to his senses and rubbed his head.

"You kid always likes to keep things to yourself." Dugu Bo shook his head and said, "Are you thinking about Ye Lingling?"

"Partly." Shi Quan nodded.

"Rest assured, the oldest among the unawakened juniors of the direct bloodline in Ye Lingling's family is only four years old. That is to say, even if someone awakens the Nine Heart Begonia martial soul again, it will be at least two years from now. Two years is enough time to do many things."

"Thank you for the trouble, Grandpa Dugu."

"Why are you being so polite with me? But Ye Lingling's feelings for you are so obvious, and aren't your feelings for her the same? Why do you keep dragging it out?"

Shi Quan clenched his fists, "Perhaps it's because I feel I'm not strong enough yet, not strong enough to protect her?"

This so-called lack of strength was, in reality, Shi Quan worrying about an accident happening to himself.

This accident was Tang San and Tang Hao. He had also discovered a problem with himself: he overthought things before acting. While one could call it being steady, at times it lacked a bit of mettle.

Fearing this and that—perhaps it was precisely because he knew too much that he had so many misgivings and considerations.

"What? You don't mean to wait until you are invincible under the heavens before you confess, do you? How long would you have to wait for that?" Hearing this, Dugu Bo couldn't help but roll his eyes at Shi Quan.

"Didn't I say I'd take her home next year? Besides, Grandpa Dugu, why are you in such a hurry?" Shi Quan turned his head to look at Dugu Bo.

Dugu Bo gave a light cough and said indifferently, "Actually, your sister Yanzi is about the same age as Lingling, and she's quite good too."

"Grandpa Dugu, are you serious?" Shi Quan took a step back, his eyes wide, looking at Dugu Bo with a speechless expression.

"Is Yan Yan not outstanding?" Dugu Bo also widened his eyes, "There are many people in this world with multiple wives. As a powerhouse, what's wrong with having a few more wives?"

Shi Quan looked at Dugu Bo gloomily, "If I remember correctly, Grandpa Dugu only ever had one wife, right?"

"Ahem." Dugu Bo gave a light cough and said awkwardly, "That's because your grandmother was truly too overbearing back then. I had the heart for it, but not the strength. Later on, as I reached this age and got used to being free alone, I couldn't be bothered to look for anyone else."

"Oh? Is that so?"

"Of course it's true." Looking at Shi Quan's suspicious gaze, Dugu Bo held his head high and said.

Shi Quan chuckled, "If I have time, I'll have to have a good chat with sister Yanzi."

"The two of you, a man and a woman, should still talk about what needs to be talked about. As for other unnecessary things, talk less, talk less."

Dugu Bo smiled, his expression gradually returning to seriousness, "But Xiao Quan, sometimes, just think about things more simply. Don't put too much pressure on yourself. Be a little more unrestrained, a little more relaxed; that's also quite good."

"Unrestrained, relaxed?" Shi Quan looked up at the bright moon in the sky and sighed softly, "I want to, but there are still too many things waiting for me to do, waiting for me to strive for. Even if I want to stop, I can't..."