The sky was a clear azure, and the blazing sun hung overhead.
At Shrek Academy, in front of the cafeteria, no one seemed to mind the sweltering heat.
Flander, Zhao Wuji, Li Yusong, and other teachers.
Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun, Tang San, and other students were all waiting.
"Boss, do you think Little Ao and the others can really make it back before lunch?"
Ma Hongjun checked the time, and it was less than a quarter of an hour until the meal.
"They probably can't make it back. I sneaked over to look earlier, and His Majesty the Thunder Emperor didn't help Ning Rongrong and Oscar cheat. For the two of them with their physical constitution, it would be fast enough if they make it back before we finish eating."
Dai Mubai shared his opinion.
In fact, it wasn't just him and Ma Hongjun who were concerned about this. Who among the crowd wasn't paying attention?
Otherwise, what were they all waiting around here for?
Time ticked away second by second, and the sound of the cafeteria starting to serve food rang out.
"Forget it."
"They're not going to make it. Let's start eating."
"Ning Rongrong, Oscar are really hopeless..."
Someone had already begun to suggest.
"Boss, I actually feel that His Majesty the Thunder Emperor wouldn't claim he could ensure the two of them complete the task if it were not possible. Let's wait a bit longer."
Zhao Wuji said in a low voice.
"It's impossible. Oscar and Ning Rongrong's physical qualities are too obvious. If they have to complete the twenty laps on their own, it would probably take until late at night," Flander chuckled.
He had a firm grasp on their limits.
"But, His Majesty the Thunder Emperor..."
Zhao Wuji couldn't help wanting to say more but was stopped by Flander: "I know what you want to say, but human potential is limited. Even a Titled Douluo can't increase that limit, otherwise my little Xiaogang..."
He trailed off into silence.
"I see..."
Zhao Wuji understood the deeper meaning behind Flander's words.
He had heard that Yu Xiaogang came from the Blue Electric Overlord Dragon Clan, one of the upper three families, and that there were Titled Douluo powerhouses in his sect. Yet they were helpless against Yu Xiaogang's lack of talent, weren't they?
"Let's go."
Flander said and took the lead into the cafeteria.
Zhao Wuji, Li Yusong, and others quickly followed.
Then came Dai Mubai and the rest.
But.
When Flander got a clear view of the situation inside the cafeteria, he was dumbstruck.
He stood rooted to the spot as if struck by lightning.
"How, how are you guys here?"
He asked in disbelief.
Wherever he looked, Qin Xiao, Ning Rongrong, Oscar were all seated at the table.
"We're eating, what's wrong with that?"
Oscar was the first to reply, puzzled as to why Flander would ask such a question.
"Dean, why are you standing there not moving?"
Behind Flander, Zhao Wuji and others made their way past Flander's figure into the cafeteria.
However, one after another, like they had been hit with a freezing spell, they each showed an expression of disbelief.
"Little Ao, you, you..."
"It really is you!"
Dai Mubai, in disbelief, rubbed his eyes, making sure he wasn't seeing things. It was indeed Qin Xiao, Ning Rongrong, Oscar who had returned.
Everything Flander and Zhao Wuji had discussed outside, everyone had heard clearly.
With Ning Rongrong and Oscar's stamina, it was impossible for them to complete his task.
But now...
It was like they'd seen a ghost!
Instinctively, everyone's gaze turned toward Qin Xiao.
The mysterious young man, a Titled Douluo although so youthful...
It was he who had made the impossible possible!
As for cheating...
No one would think that.
Which Titled Douluo would throw away their dignity over such a trivial matter?
...
After the meal.
Ning Rongrong quietly approached Qin Xiao.
"Is something the matter?"
Qin Xiao asked, puzzled.
He knew that in order to help Ning Rongrong complete the task, he had certainly not spared his efforts to motivate her...
All the way there, Ning Rongrong had nothing but complaints about Qin Xiao.
Even to the point of saying she would return to the Seven Treasures Glaze Sect and stir up trouble, making it impossible for Qin Xiao to escape unscathed...
Of course, that had only earned her even harsher motivation from Qin Xiao...
"Big devil, although your training methods are quite abnormal, they're also really exciting..."
"If I relied solely on myself, I would never have been able to complete Dean Flander's task; thank you."
Having said that, she scampered out of the cafeteria.
Qin Xiao: ???
What's the matter?
Did it actually stir up some emotions?
What a karmic entanglement!
Now he understood why the System's reward included a 20-point increase in affection. How do you cultivate feelings?
He couldn't help but look at Oscar.
Indeed.
At this moment, Oscar silently stood up and left the cafeteria as well.
Qin Xiao pondered, surely this was tantamount to losing 10 points of affection.
"Your Highness, tonight I've arranged the second class for the students. Would you care to... give some guidance?"
When there were only a few people left in the cafeteria, Flander approached Qin Xiao.
The second class?
Qin Xiao did not immediately respond, as if he was lost in thought.
In fact, he was waiting for the System to issue a task.
However, the familiar mechanical voice did not sound.
Does that mean there's no task?
Qin Xiao immediately answered with two words: "Not going!"
What's the point in watching a bunch of rookies peck at each other? Might as well be struck by lightning... no, better to refine my cultivation.
"Alright then, I won't disturb Your Highness any further."
Flander felt a bit regretful.
If Qin Xiao were willing to step in, wouldn't he make a fortune?
After all, the soul fighting arena had many betting options, and getting rich overnight wasn't a dream.
...
Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, five days had passed.
For these five days, Qin Xiao spent his time in peaceful cultivation.
The square of Shrek Academy had now become a forbidden zone.
Both day and night, it was shrouded in thunder, with few moments of respite.
Be it the students or teachers at Shrek Academy, all were silenced by Qin Xiao's berserk training methods.
Could a human really withstand such insane cultivation methods?
At least...
They shouldn't!
...
"Ding, Seven Days of Bitter Cultivation task complete, reward has been issued."
Finally, Qin Xiao's mind received another prompt from the System.
Following that, a mysterious force infused his body, and his Soul Power surged like an erupting volcano.
In just a few breaths' time, he felt as if he had broken through an invisible barrier, and his body suddenly relaxed!
"Success, my Soul Power has increased significantly."
A slight smile appeared on Qin Xiao's lips as he showed a hint of joy.
The enhancement of his strength brought him immense satisfaction.
"System, if you have more tasks like this, I won't complain a bit," Qin Xiao remarked to himself.
The System gave no response.
"Damn System, playing dead again!" Qin Xiao cursed silently.
The System remained silent.
Qin Xiao, speechless, gave up on trying to communicate with the System.
He waved his hand to disperse the dark clouds hovering overhead, and a crescent moon came into view.
"So it's deep into the night again."
Just as Qin Xiao was about to lament the timelessness of cultivation, his face suddenly showed a trace of surprise.
An aura landed on him and conveyed a message that was not friendly.
"Tang Hao?"
In just an instant, Qin Xiao identified the owner of the aura.
Who else could it be if not Tang Hao, the person who had been spying on him for several days?
"Heh, can't hold back any longer, can you? I'm actually curious to see what you have to say to me."
With that, he followed the direction of the aura and chased after it.
...
ps,
The plot will undergo significant changes next, original readers should proceed with caution.
Don't say I didn't warn you.