"Zhuqing, I can handle this alone!"
"Don't be stubborn. We came here to become stronger—to change that cursed fate. And right now, our goal isn't to beat him, but to show Brother Xu Yang our capabilities so he can plan our training."
Dai Mubai, who had been fuming with unwillingness, fell silent. He turned, eyes fierce, and fixed his gaze on Ge Erdan, the determination in his expression sharpening.
The next second, the two of them charged forward in unison without needing to exchange a word. Dai Mubai attacked head-on, while Zhu Zhuqing flanked from the side, using her agility to harass Ge Erdan.
"You're coming? Good!"
"Third Soul Skill—Heaven-Shaking Earth-Smashing Fists!"
Ge Erdan's excitement flared. He surged forward to meet them.
As a body-type Soul Master, combat was the best form of cultivation. But he'd already bested every soul master of his level in the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan—none could challenge him anymore, and his training had stagnated for some time.
But these two had been brought here by Brother Xu. Surely, they had to be something special.
…Or so he thought.
As soon as his third soul skill activated, golden light swirled around Ge Erdan's fists. Each punch carried immense shockwave force. Whether it struck Dai Mubai or Zhu Zhuqing, their entire bodies would go numb, soul power scattering uncontrollably, as if their limbs refused to obey their will.
Boom! Boom!
The two were sent flying. Ge Erdan frowned in displeasure, casting a sharp look at them. "Is that all you've got? You're hiding something, aren't you? I don't believe people personally invited by Brother Xu would be this weak."
Struggling to their feet, Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing moved toward each other, raising their hands to initiate a Martial Soul Fusion Technique—but before they could clasp hands, Xu Yang's voice rang out.
"That's enough. This bout ends here. Erdan, don't go mocking them—you're a body-type Soul Master, someone capable of punching above their level. Not everyone has that luxury."
Ge Erdan pouted, clearly bored, and dispersed his three soul rings. He turned away to resume his own training.
Ning Rongrong rushed to Zhu Zhuqing's side, supporting her. "Are you alright, Zhuqing?"
Zhu Zhuqing shook her head. Ge Erdan had shown restraint; the numbness and scattered soul power hadn't done them real harm. Her gaze turned to the boy still training with relentless focus nearby.
"He's so strong... and he's only a Soul Elder?"
She was stunned. At the same time, her belief in Xu Yang grew stronger. She truly began to believe that he could help her gain Soul Ancestor-level combat strength within a year.
Xu Yang stepped forward, glancing at the disheartened Dai Mubai and the resolute Zhu Zhuqing.
"After that fight, I'm sure you've noticed your problems. Your soul power lacks refinement, and your physical conditioning is only slightly better than average for your level. I've heard of Shrek Academy's philosophy… but if you want to be monsters, you can't just be a little stronger than regular geniuses. Otherwise, how are you any different from those academy-trained elites? Can you really beat them?"
Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing both lowered their heads. They'd once been proud of Shrek's ideals. But now, hearing Xu Yang's blunt words, they realized they might be little more than average geniuses—no different from many others in other academies, perhaps even weaker than some.
"So if you want to get stronger—throw away your old habits, everything your clans and schools taught you. From now on, do whatever I tell you. Understood?"
"Understood!"
Time flew by. In the blink of an eye, ten months had passed.
In the rear mountains of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan, at a training ground beside a lake, two boys and two girls were hard at work.
Dai Mubai sat at a table, wearing a single-lens monocle over his right eye. In his left hand, he held a bean-sized wooden bead. His right index finger, glowing faintly with white light, carefully carved into it with a claw.
Zhu Zhuqing was training the same way beside him.
This micro-carving practice had become their daily routine for the past ten months. From sculpting basketball-sized pieces to now shaping tiny objects the size of soybeans, they'd worked with wood, metal, stone—materials with varying degrees of hardness and resistance.
The goal? To create perfectly finished carvings with not even a hairline flaw.
"Huuuh…" Dai Mubai exhaled as he completed the final stroke. He collapsed onto the ground with a satisfied sigh. "Finally done."
As he spoke, he glanced toward the other side of the training field, where Ning Rongrong and Ge Erdan were practicing just as intently. His eyes held a trace of envy.
In these ten months, Xu Yang hadn't taught them any core Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan cultivation methods—only techniques and drills to enhance their control and refinement. Not a single true secret had been shared.
But Dai Mubai didn't resent it. On the contrary, he was grateful. His soul power had jumped three levels, reaching Rank 46.
But that wasn't the real gain. The greatest improvement was his combat power. He could now confidently say: he could defeat three of his past selves. He was finally filled with hope that he could beat Davis.
As that thought crossed his mind, his eyes drifted toward Xu Yang—who was sitting cross-legged atop the lake.
Xu Yang was holding a metal sphere, its surface covered in black cracks. But Dai Mubai already knew from past experience—those weren't physical cracks on the object.
They were spatial fissures.
This strange training method… was merely Xu Yang's way of comprehending the power of space.
Boom!
Half an hour later, another explosion erupted in the sky. A second sun flared overhead, shaking the entire rear mountain. Zhu Zhuqing didn't even flinch, still completely focused on her carving, eyes sharp with concentration.
"Erdan, let's go eat!"
Their morning session concluded. Dai Mubai slung an arm around Ge Erdan's shoulders, grinning.
"Damn it! How many times have I told you—stop calling me Erdan! My name is Ge Tao, Ge Tao!"
"Sure thing, Erdan. Got it, Erdan!"
Dai Mubai nodded enthusiastically.
Ge Erdan's face contorted in rage. He smacked Dai Mubai's arm away and chased after him, fists swinging.
Watching the two boys squabble like children, Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong exchanged helpless smiles. This had become a daily routine ever since they'd gotten close. Dai Mubai's signature tactic? Even if he couldn't beat Erdan, he'd pester him to death. Every spare moment was "Erdan this, Erdan that!"
PS: Read Advance Chapters at https://www.patreon.com/c/ReadJin