"What a delicious smell! Is there something good to eat this morning!"
Ma Hongjun's voice suddenly cut in. The others turned to see Oscar, Dai Mubai, and Ma Hongjun, his eyes sparkling, also arriving.
Now, everyone was here.
"I hope to see you in the refectory earlier tomorrow morning. The food you consume takes time to digest."
By the time everyone had eaten their fill, the Grandmaster, having taken off his apron, emerged from the kitchen with Tang San. His first words were this.
After a full day of lessons yesterday, these geniuses didn't dare to underestimate the Grandmaster in the slightest.
Every flaw and strategic error in their battles was sharply pointed out by the Grandmaster, who even offered Zhu Zhuqing and the others different directions for using their spirit abilities.
After just one day of interaction, they were already nine-tenths convinced by the Grandmaster.
Facing their intense gazes, the Grandmaster said in a calm tone:
"You have fifteen minutes. Fifteen minutes from now, be at the academy entrance."
With that, he left the refectory.
The others immediately surrounded Tang San, who had come out with the Grandmaster, their eyes fixed on him. "Xiao San, why does the Grandmaster want us at the academy entrance?"
Tang San shook his head. "Teacher didn't tell me."
"Based on my intuition, today's lesson will be no easier than yesterday's!" Oscar formed a figure "eight" with his fingers and placed it under his chin, his gaze as sharp as if he had seen through everything, fixed on the Grandmaster's retreating back.
"Hmph, the Grandmaster's lessons, from the very first one, when have they ever been easy?" Ma Hongjun rolled his eyes, dismissively waving Oscar aside. He then looked at the still warm meat buns in the bowl, unable to resist reaching out a covetous hand towards them again.
The others also shook their heads. After a short rest, they started making their way towards the academy entrance.
When they ambled to the entrance, the Grandmaster was already waiting.
"Sui Sui, quickly look at the Grandmaster's feet."
Xiao Wu, with her keen eyes, spotted eight bamboo baskets placed behind the Grandmaster.
Each of these bamboo baskets contained stones of varying weights. About half a meter away from these eight baskets stood wooden buckets, covered with wooden lids to prevent dust.
Judging by the slightly misty, distorted air currents from the wooden lids, the buckets likely contained hot water. A dipper was placed on a wooden lid, clearly for scooping water.
"Your task today is to run ten laps between the academy and Suoto City with a load, without using any spirit power. I've set the completion time before lunch. When you finish, you eat."
The Grandmaster stood with his hands behind his back, calmly stating the terms.
Tang San's expression flickered. Just as he was about to speak, he saw the Grandmaster look at him as if he knew what Tang San was about to say, his gaze falling on Tang Sui. "As for Tang Sui, due to your physique, I permit you to use your second spirit ability three times during the run, and Oscar's sausages twice to replenish your stamina. However, the mission objective remains the same as everyone else's."
As soon as these words were spoken, Ning Rongrong, who had also wanted to speak up for Tang Sui, immediately closed her mouth. She secretly breathed a sigh of relief but was also very worried.
After all, this was no longer as simple as running around the village.
The distance between the village and Suoto City was far greater than the village itself, let alone ten laps!
Tang Sui nodded, indicating she understood and accepted.
The Grandmaster glanced at Oscar, who was about to speak, and with a single look, Oscar immediately fell silent.
"Alright. Everyone must complete the task before noon. If even one person fails, none of you will eat."
The Grandmaster delivered his ultimatum.
The group exchanged glances, then began to choose their bamboo baskets.
However, as they approached, they discovered that behind each bamboo basket, in the middle of the carrying straps, their names were indeed attached.
The stones in each bamboo basket varied in weight and size, but without exception, they were all quantities calculated by the Grandmaster. There was no need to worry about who carried which.
After finding their respective bamboo baskets marked with their names, they put them on their backs and began to jog.
...
After running a distance, Tang San, who had strengthened his body to a terrifying degree through the internal energy of the Xuan Tian Gong, was the first to stop.
The Xuan Tian Gong circulated automatically. Over the years, his Xuan Tian Gong had become as natural as breathing.
Now, due to the training, Tang San deliberately suppressed the effect of the Xuan Tian Gong to its lowest level.
Coupled with the condition of not using spirit power, the weight of the load in the bamboo baskets immediately showed its effect.
Under the premise of not using spirit power, even he didn't feel it was easy, let alone the others.
Therefore, after running a certain distance, Tang San was the first to stop, and he also signaled Tang Sui, who was already beginning to breathe slightly heavily, to stop.
"What's wrong, Xiao San?"
Dai Mubai, noticing Tang San had stopped, also halted his steps.
He first scanned Tang Sui, whose forehead was covered in fine beads of sweat but whose complexion wasn't particularly fatigued, and felt a slight relief.
He had thought Sui Sui's stamina had run out.
Ning Rongrong and the others, who held the same thought as Dai Mubai, also stopped when Dai Mubai stopped. They immediately looked at Tang Sui, and Oscar had even made a gesture to use his spirit ability.
Tang Sui, subjected to their concerned gazes all at once: "..."
She suppressed the urge to wipe her face and calmly looked at Tang San, who was holding her arm, and asked, "Brother, do you have something you want to say?"
Tang San wiped away the beads of sweat on his forehead and said with a slight gasp, "Yes. I don't think we can keep running like this."