Chapter 249: Big Trouble

...

Shrek Academy.

Inside a training ground, two figures could be seen.

Zhu Zhuqing stood on the grounds, her feet firmly planted, one in front of the other. She held a steel rod that had a diameter of three centimeters and a length of one meter. With determined and dark eyes, she focused her gaze ahead, as she swung the heavy 100-pound steel rod in a straight line. She swiftly raised it to a certain point before swiftly bringing it down again, repeating the motion mechanically.

Her fair neck had turned slightly red, with drops of sweat glistening on it. Her chest was heaving heavily, indicating the exhaustion from pushing her physical limits.

Near the training ground, Ning Rongrong crouched on the ground, observing Zhu Zhuqing's training with a slightly bored expression on her pretty face.

"974, 975, 976..."

Ning Rongrong would softly count each time Zhu Zhuqing swung the rod.

"997, 998, 999, 1000."

However, when Ning Rongrong reached a count of 1000, Zhu Zhuqing stopped. She leaned the steel rod against the ground, supporting her body with her hands on the rod. She panted heavily, and a visible white mist emanated from her body.

Ning Rongrong quickly ran over, handing Zhu Zhuqing a towel, and asked with concern, "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, just a bit exhausted. I'll recover after a while of rest." Zhu Zhuqing shook her head, accepting the towel from Ning Rongrong and wiped off the sweat on her face.

The two of them walked to a nearby seat and sat down to rest. Ning Rongrong also released her spirit power to help Zhu Zhuqing recover her strength.

After about ten minutes, Zhu Zhuqing felt much better, her strength restored to some extent. However, her hands were still trembling, and her arm muscles felt sore.

"Zhuqing, your strength is already so powerful, you don't need to do basic exercises every day." Ning Rongrong couldn't help but say. In her opinion, Zhu Zhuqing's strength was already beyond the need for daily basic sword training. With her current strength as a Spirit Elder at rank 33, and her formidable sword skills, even the highest-ranked Spirit Elder among them, Dai Mubai, would struggle to defend against her. Since her strength was already at such a level, why bother with basic training when she could focus on other cultivation practices?

The basic exercise in question was called Core Sword Exercise, which referred to the most basic sword swinging action. Continuously swinging a sword in a sword technique was known as Core Sword Exercise. This was a fundamental aspect of swordsmanship that Zhu Zhuqing was required to practice daily as instructed by Zeng Yi.

Since she started learning swordsmanship, Core Sword Exercise had become her daily routine.

One group in the day and another in the evening, the movement of swinging a sword had become ingrained in her muscles. Not practicing Core Sword Exercise for a day would make her feel uncomfortable.

Ning Rongrong had also sought Zhu Zhuqing's advice on cultivating swordsmanship. However, she couldn't persist with even the most basic Core Sword Exercise sword swinging exercise. The first time she tried sword training, she swung the sword according to Zhu Zhuqing's method for about a hundred times, but she felt unable to continue. The next morning, her entire body ached, and it took her several days to recover. Eventually, she had to give up on the idea of cultivating swordsmanship and focus on being a support-type Spirit Master.

She thought, let's just fantasize about fighting in dreams.

Zhu Zhuqing calmly said, "Core Sword Exercise is not only the most basic technique but also the most practical. Practicing Core Sword Exercise can mobilize strength throughout the body, combining Qi and force, enhancing one's strength and explosive power. Swinging the sword thousands of times is to let the muscles remember this basic action. Without thinking, the body can instinctively perform the action based on muscle memory. In actual combat, it saves the fraction of a second required for thinking and gains an advantage over the enemy."

"In addition, this is not just about training technique but also tempering one's spirit and will. Swordsmanship is not just a battle skill but also a process of self-understanding."

Ning Rongrong couldn't fully comprehend it and asked, "So, this basic sword swinging exercise has such profound meaning. Did Zeng Yi teach you this?"

"Yes!" Zhu Zhuqing replied, looking at her sword, Clear Shadow, placed horizontally across her legs. She touched the scabbard with her palm, gazing at the sword, feeling its icy coldness.

Seeing Zhu Zhuqing, Ning Rongrong couldn't help but sigh. She possessed such incredible talent in swordsmanship but was hindered by her martial Spirit, which was a beast-type martial Spirit. If only Zhu Zhuqing had a martial Spirit that was also a sword, she would be even more powerful.

It's such a waste.

"Geez, Zeng Yi..." Speaking of Zeng Yi, Ning Rongrong muttered in a low voice as she pouted, feeling a bit unhappy. It had been several days since he returned to the academy, yet he hadn't come to see her. Doesn't he know that Miss Rongrong almost fought with the Pope's Hall directly, bringing Sword Grandpa and Bone Grandpa, all by herself, just because of him? It nearly escalated into an actual fight.

No, for the suffering Miss Rongrong endured for him, she must make him pay. Tomorrow, she'll make him accompany her to have fun in Heaven Dou City.

Ning Rongrong couldn't help but imagine the scene of strolling intimately with Zeng Yi and couldn't help but blush and let out a silly smile.

"What's wrong with you?" Seeing Ning Rongrong's absent-minded look, Zhu Zhuqing couldn't help asking.

"Uh, it's nothing." Zhu Zhuqing's train of thought was interrupted by Ning Rongrong's question, and she couldn't help but feel embarrassed.

"Seventh Junior Sister! Sixth Junior Sister! Something big has happened!"

In the distance, an urgent shout came, catching the attention of Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong. They looked in the direction of the voice and saw Oscar running towards them.

"What's wrong? Second Senior Brother, why are you in such a hurry?" Ning Rongrong asked as she saw Oscar panting heavily after reaching them.

As the members of Shrek Seven Devils, they had long formed a bond as adoptive siblings with different surnames. Going by their ages, Dai Mubai was the eldest, followed by Oscar, Tang San, Ma Hongjun, Xiao Wu, Ning Rongrong, and Zhu Zhuqing, the youngest. At that time, Zeng Yi had not yet come to Shrek Academy, so he wasn't counted.

However, according to Zeng Yi's perspective, Xiao Wu should be the eldest, considering she was a hundred thousand-year spirit beast. The ages of the others combined were not even a fraction of hers.

Oscar exclaimed, excitedly saying, "Sir Yi is about to fight against Teacher Liu Erlong, and it's happening at the main arena of the academy."

"What?"

Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong were both shocked by Oscar's words. What was Zeng Yi up to? He had just arrived at the academy a few days ago, why was he suddenly fighting against Teacher Liu Erlong?

Moreover, Liu Erlong was the strongest Spirit master in the academy, a Spirit Saint at level seventy-nine. Wasn't Zeng Yi seeking to be beaten?

"I'll call Fatty to inform Big Brother Dai. Let's hurry over. They might already be fighting, how can we miss Zeng Yi getting thoroughly beaten up?" Oscar continued, his face showing excitement.

If Zeng Yi were here and heard Oscar's words, he would likely beat him up on the spot.

Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong were both speechless. They thought Oscar was worried about Zeng Yi, but it turned out he was looking forward to seeing Zeng Yi in a miserable state.

Ning Rongrong couldn't help but imagine how ridiculous that jerk would look after being beaten up by Teacher Liu Erlong. She couldn't help but anticipate it.

Zhu Zhuqing also wanted to witness Zeng Yi's fight. With Liu Erlong's strength, Zeng Yi must use all his tricks to cope. It would be an opportunity to see where his limits truly lay.

As a Swordmaster, Zhu Zhuqing, as his half-disciple, was looking forward to Zeng Yi's performance. His exquisite sword skills were not only terrifying but also an enjoyment. Only someone who practiced swordsmanship like her could understand it clearly.

Perhaps, she could also learn something from it.