"I can't take it anymore! "
"Me neither! Let's use our soul power! The master can't even see us! "
An hour later, Oscar and Ma Hongjun were sprawled out on the ground, utterly exhausted, refusing to take another step.
Hearing this, Dai Mubai cast them a cold glance and snapped in disgust, "Use it if you want! "
With that, he ignored them entirely and ran ahead by himself.
"Big White, it's a good thing you're an assault-type Soul Master. If you were a Control-type, we'd all be doomed sooner or later! " Ma Hongjun and Oscar didn't dare talk back to Dai Mubai, but Han Feng rolled his eyes without hesitation. He walked over, grabbed two five-kilogram stones from their baskets, and tossed them into his own.
"Fengzi!"
Dai Mubai barked sharply, wanting to stop him, but Han Feng was unfazed.
"Relax. The master said if one of us doesn't make it back, none of us eat. Obviously, he's testing our teamwork. Why else would he prepare eight baskets with equal weight? Oscar's stamina can't compare to ours! "
"Exactly! If this were a random punishment, why would every basket have our names on them? " Xiao Wu chimed in.
Tang San nodded in agreement. "The weights were calculated carefully. The teacher never does anything meaningless. This has to be a test of our ability to work together! "
Han Feng shot Dai Mubai a smug grin. "See? Even Xiao Wu figured it out—how could you not? "
"What do you mean by 'even Xiao Wu figured it out,' Han Feng? You've been showing me less and less respect lately! "Xiao Wu bristled before Dai Mubai could react, and if not for Tang San grabbing her in time, she would have leapt at Han Feng already.
Dai Mubai frowned. "So, what are you suggesting? "
"If it's a test of teamwork, then naturally we should help each other. When a teammate's at their limit, it's only right to shoulder part of the burden."
As he spoke, Han Feng walked toward Ning Rongrong. Though he didn't understand how she'd lasted this long, he noticed her trembling legs.
Ning Rongrong's heart leapt when she saw him approach, torn between happiness and resistance. She was glad for his help, but she knew he disliked her "pampered princess" behavior. She wanted to hold out a little longer—otherwise, she would have quit ages ago.
"Give it to me." Han Feng reached for the stones on her back, but Ning Rongrong dodged away.
"No need! I can still hold on a bit longer! " she insisted, staring into his eyes. For a moment, Han Feng saw a flicker of pleading there.
Irritated, he paused, but Xiao Wu darted between them, snatching the stones from Ning Rongrong's basket. She shot Han Feng a teasing look. "Rongrong has me—she doesn't need you! "
"Tch. Just a little Xiao Wu…"
Han Feng couldn't make sense of the situation, but Xiao Wu's provocation was obvious. Clicking his tongue, he said coolly, "Half an hour from now, I hope you're still laughing."
"Ha! I've got Third Brother! "Xiao Wu cheerfully ran off, not bothered by Han Feng's retort.
Ning Rongrong, meanwhile, looked apologetic, avoiding Han Feng's gaze.
Han Feng didn't push further. Since the Master's teachings, he'd learned not to judge too narrowly. Instead, he said evenly, "If you can't take it anymore, just tell me. Don't overdo it."
"Mhm…" Ning Rongrong mumbled, cheeks faintly flushed, before hurrying away.
Half an hour later, Han Feng's words proved true. Carrying twenty kilograms, Xiao Wu could no longer continue, but unwilling to admit defeat to Han Feng or Dai Mubai, she forced Tang San to take her load instead. Now weighed down by thirty-five kilograms, Tang San gritted his teeth and kept going, holding Xiao Wu's hand.
Ma Hongjun was faring better with fifteen kilograms. Oscar, on the other hand, had completely collapsed, leaving Dai Mubai to carry his full load, bringing his burden up to twenty-five kilograms.
Dai Mubai considered helping Zhu Zhuqing as well, but she flatly refused.
Eventually, Ning Rongrong also reached her limit, and Han Feng took on her entire load, bringing his total weight to thirty-five kilograms.
"No, you're carrying too much. I can still keep going! "Ning Rongrong protested, not wanting to burden him further.
Han Feng dismissed her worry. "Another minute and you'll faint. Would you rather I carry you and thirty-five kilos later, or just take the weight now? Tang San's carrying the same."
At the thought of Han Feng carrying her, Ning Rongrong blushed. "Then at least hold my hand—it won't feel as heavy."
Han Feng didn't mind. After all, his intended load was fifty-five kilos anyway. Meeting her determined gaze, he nodded. "Fine. Doesn't make a difference."
Another hour passed. Han Feng took another five kilograms from Ma Hongjun, bringing his load to forty kilos. Xiao Wu reclaimed her own load, reducing Tang San's to twenty. Zhu Zhuqing, still unwilling to accept help, fainted after a fall. Dai Mubai picked her up, carrying both her and her load.
Half an hour later, Ning Rongrong finally blacked out. Han Feng frowned, knowing she'd reached her limit. He hoisted her onto his back, the twenty kilos strapped to his chest, and distributed his remaining thirty-five kilos among Ma Hongjun, Xiao Wu, and Tang San. Zhu Zhuqing came to and retrieved her own load.
Not long after, Oscar collapsed as well. Tang San split his burden between Han Feng and Dai Mubai, then carried Oscar himself.
By the time they staggered back to Shrek Academy, dusk had fallen. Oscar and Ning Rongrong had regained consciousness, supported by Ma Hongjun and Zhu Zhuqing. All the remaining weights were divided among Han Feng, Tang San, Xiao Wu, and Dai Mubai.
At the sight of the academy gates, even Han Feng felt a surge of emotion.
Only after experiencing it firsthand did they truly grasp that the master was a devil. His calculations were frighteningly precise—pushing each of them exactly to their limits. Complete his challenge, and they'd break through their boundaries; fail, and they'd be exhausted but unharmed. Terrifyingly perfect.
Seeing the Master, everyone collapsed instantly, unconscious. Han Feng lasted the longest, forcing himself to stand before the master with a grin that revealed a row of gleaming white teeth.
"Task… completed…" he rasped before collapsing like the rest.
"So this is the stubbornness Zao Wou-Ki spoke of…" The master smiled faintly, gazing down at Han Feng. "Not bad at all."
From that day on, Han Feng and the others truly experienced a life of hell, all courtesy of the devil himself—the Master.
He put them through endless trials: combat drills, endurance training, theory lessons, and willpower conditioning. One day it was four-on-four, the next three-on-five, and the day after two-on-six. His methods were relentless, earning groans and curses from all.
They feared the master as much as Zao Wou-Ki feared Tang Hao.
Yet they had to admit: the training worked. In mere days, their combat ability and teamwork soared. Under the Master's guidance, Dai Mubai even perfected his self-created soul skill.
Among the Shrek Eight, Han Feng, Tang San, Xiao Wu, and Dai Mubai now wielded self-created techniques, while Ning Rongrong's "Distraction Control" could be considered one as well—drawing envious stares from Oscar and Ma Hongjun.
Ma Hongjun even sought Han Feng's advice for his own self-created technique. But when Han Feng suggested the name "Meat Bomb Impact," Ma Hongjun never brought up the topic again.
One day, Flender came to the master, practically in tears. "Xiao Gang! The academy's funds are completely gone! "
The past few days had seen the students train hard, but their nutritional needs hadn't been neglected. In no time, Shrek's carefully saved funds were wiped out.
The master calmly closed the book in his hands. "I know. The first stage of their special training is complete. Next comes the second stage. After that, not only won't we have to worry about money—the academy will even make a tidy profit."
"Huh? " Flender blinked in confusion, but the Master's confident expression only deepened his puzzlement.
"After so much training, how could we skip actual combat? "
A small, knowing smile curved the master's lips.
Flender, his longtime friend, understood at once—and was shocked. "Wait, you don't mean… Is that even okay? Dai Mubai, Hongjun, and Ning Rongrong are a full ten levels below their opponents! "
"When has a soul battle ever been decided by rank alone? " The master didn't even look at him, his gaze fixed on Han Feng and the others training outside, eyes shining with confidence.