The walk away from the main field was a silent procession of two. Zhang Tian moved with his usual unhurried grace, but Ning Rongrong's steps were hesitant, her earlier defiance having evaporated, replaced by a quiet, gnawing guilt. The morning sun cast long shadows before them, mirroring the one that had fallen over her heart.
She glanced at his serene profile, at the way his blue hair caught the light. He had stood up for her, faced down a Spirit Elder and rejected the teachings of the so-called wisest mind on the continent, all because of her taunts.
"Zhang Tian," she began, her voice a soft, rueful whisper that barely carried on the breeze. "I... I'm sorry."
He stopped and looked at her, his blue eyes patient.
"Because of me," she continued, looking down at her own feet, unable to meet his gaze. "Because I couldn't control my mouth, you're being punished. You can't join the Grandmaster's special training now. Everyone says he's the best, that his knowledge is profound... and because I was foolish, you're missing out. I've dragged you down with me."
He could see the genuine guilt in her eyes, the way her shoulders slumped under the perceived weight of her mistake. It was a vulnerability he hadn't seen in the proud princess of the Seven Treasure Glaze Tile Sect before.
A small, genuine smile touched his lips. He reached out and gently patted her head, a gesture that was surprisingly comforting.
"Rongrong," he said, his voice calm and reassuring. "You have nothing to be sorry for. In fact, I should be thanking you."
She looked up, her expression a mask of pure confusion. "Thanking me? For what?"
"For giving me the perfect excuse to train according to my own methods," he explained simply. "I don't know what the Grandmaster's 'special training' entails, but I am certain that my own methods are far better suited for my growth. You haven't dragged me down; you've liberated me."
He saw the flicker of disbelief in her eyes, the thought that he was just consoling her. He didn't bother trying to explain the intricacies of his future knowledge or his profound disdain for Yu Xiaogang's flawed theories. It was a truth she wouldn't understand yet.
"Believe me," he said, his smile widening slightly. "This is a blessing in disguise. And since you have so gallantly chosen to accompany me on this path of self-training, it's only fair that I help train you as well."
The guilt in Ning Rongrong's heart lessened, replaced by a spark of excitement. "You'll... you'll train me?"
"Of course," he nodded. "But be warned. My methods are not easy. It will be far more difficult than running twenty laps around a village."
His words proved to be a profound understatement.
Their training began in a secluded clearing, far from the prying eyes of the other students and teachers.
"Your role as a support master is not just to stand in the back and cast buffs," Zhang Tian began, his tone shifting from friendly to that of a serious instructor. "Your primary duty on a battlefield is to survive. To do that, you need more than just endurance. You need explosive speed for evasion, you need unpredictable movement to make yourself a difficult target, and you need the combat awareness to know where an attack is coming from before it's even launched."
He created a makeshift obstacle course using his Blood Silver Grass, weaving intricate patterns of vines, creating low barriers to duck under, high walls to scramble over, and narrow pathways to navigate.
"Your first drill," he announced, "is to get through this course as fast as you can. I will be timing you."
Ning Rongrong, full of determination, started her first run. She was agile, her movements graceful, but she was used to moving on open ground. She stumbled on the uneven vines, took too long to vault over the walls, and her path was linear and predictable. She finished, panting, in just under two minutes.
"Not bad for a first attempt," Zhang Tian commented, though his expression was neutral. "But far too slow. And too predictable. An agility-type spirit master would have caught you three times over. Now, do it again. But this time," he added, a dangerous glint in his eyes, "it won't be so easy."
As she started her second run, the course came alive. The vines on the ground would suddenly rise up to try and trip her. Sharp, blunted tendrils would whip out from the sides, forcing her to duck and weave. The walls she had to climb would shift and sway.
"Don't just run!" he called out as she yelped, narrowly dodging a lashing vine. "Anticipate! Feel the flow of the battle! Where is the safest path? Where is the opening?"
It was chaos. She was constantly forced to change direction, to sprint, to halt, to jump. Her movements became frantic, desperate, but also, slowly, less predictable. She was learning to react not just with her body, but with her mind.
After ten grueling runs, she collapsed onto the ground, her chest heaving, her fine clothes soaked with sweat. "I... I can't... move," she gasped.
"Good," Zhang Tian said, walking over to her. "You've reached your physical limit. Now is the perfect time."
"Perfect time for what?" she panted. "To die?"
"To cultivate," he replied calmly. "When your physical body is pushed to its absolute limit, your spirit power is at its most agitated and your meridians are fully opened. Cultivating now, even for a few minutes, will be far more effective than cultivating for an hour when you are rested. The soul power you absorb will be more easily integrated, strengthening both your spirit and your exhausted body. Try it."
Hesitantly, she sat up, crossed her legs, and began to meditate. To her astonishment, he was right. The moment she began to draw in ambient energy, it felt like pouring cool water onto a scorching fire. The soul power seemed to rush into her, soothing her aching muscles and replenishing her faster than she had ever experienced before.
After a fifteen-minute rest, he had her on her feet again. "That was for physical conditioning and reaction speed. Now, for combat awareness."
He led her to a more open part of the clearing. "I am going to attack you," he said simply. "I will use my vines, but I will not use my full strength. Your only job is to dodge. Do not try to block. Do not try to run away. Just dodge."
For the next hour, he put her through hell. He sent slow, looping vines at her that she could easily evade. Then he would mix in a sudden, lightning-fast strike. He would attack from the ground, from the trees, from her blind spots. He forced her to constantly be aware of her entire surroundings, to watch his body language, to anticipate the angle of attack.
Her initial performance was abysmal. She was hit time and time again. But with each smack of a vine against her arm or leg, she learned. She started to see the subtle tensing in his shoulder before a fast strike, the way the ground seemed to tremble slightly before a vine erupted.
While he was training her, he was also training himself. He was constantly manipulating dozens of vines, each with a different speed and trajectory. It was an exercise in multitasking and fine control that pushed his own mental fortitude to its limits. The Mysterious Heaven Skill circulated within him, a constant river of power, fueled by his domain.
Finally, he decided it was time to escalate. "This is good," he said, "but we need more pressure. Come with me."
He led the utterly exhausted Ning Rongrong back to the main academy grounds, directly to where Zhao Wuji was overseeing the other students' punishment run.
"Teacher Zhao," Zhang Tian called out, his voice polite.
Zhao Wuji turned, a flicker of surprise on his face. "Zhang Tian. What do you want?"
"I would like to request your assistance for our training," Zhang Tian said.
Zhao Wuji raised a skeptical eyebrow. "Assistance? Why would you ask me? Or are you going to ask me about Grandmaster's teaching methods for your training."
"I don't need any teaching methods, Teacher. I am here for your help due to one of your spirit abilities," Zhang Tian clarified. "Specifically, your third ability, Gravity Increase. I would like you to apply a constant gravitational field over this area. Start at two times normal gravity. We will train under it."
The request was so bizarre, so unprecedented, that Zhao Wuji was momentarily stunned into silence. He stared at Zhang Tian as if seeing him for the first time. 'This kid... he wants to use my ability as a training tool? Who thinks like that?'
"Why?" Zhao Wuji asked, his curiosity piqued.
"Training under increased gravity forces the body to work harder, strengthening muscles and improving endurance," Zhang Tian explained patiently. "More importantly, it forces us to become more efficient with our spirit power. Every movement, every dodge, will cost more. It will train our bodies to adapt, to become stronger and faster under duress. When the gravity is removed, our normal movements will feel weightless, our speed will see a significant increase."
The logic was sound, impeccable even. Zhao Wuji had never considered using his ability in such a way. It was a purely combat-oriented skill in his mind. But the boy's reasoning... it made perfect sense.
"Hah... Hahaha!" Zhao Wuji suddenly let out a booming laugh. "Interesting! Truly interesting! You, boy, have a fascinating mind!" He looked at Zhang Tian with a new level of respect. "Fine! I'll help you! It's been a long time since I saw such a novel approach to training!"
He activated his third spirit ring. A subtle, invisible pressure descended upon the clearing. Suddenly, the very air felt heavy. Ning Rongrong, already exhausted, let out a cry as she felt her own weight increase, her legs trembling under the strain.
"Now," Zhang Tian said to her, his own body braced against the pressure. "Dodge."
The training that followed was brutal. Every movement was a monumental effort. Dodging a simple, slow-moving vine felt like pushing through thick molasses. Her sprints were reduced to sluggish jogs. After just ten minutes, she was on the ground, completely and utterly spent, her body screaming in protest.
"That's enough for today," Zhang Tian said, signaling for Zhao Wuji to release the pressure.
The moment the gravity returned to normal, Ning Rongrong felt a strange lightness, as if she could float away.
"Your insight into training is remarkable, boy," Zhao Wuji said, looking at Zhang Tian with genuine admiration. He didn't know if this was better than the Grandmaster's methods, but it was certainly more creative and logical than anything he'd ever seen.
Ning Rongrong's body was a canvas of aches and pains. She couldn't even stand. "I... feel like I'm going to fall apart," she moaned from the ground.
"That's the feeling of progress," Zhang Tian said with a smile. "But your body needs to recover properly, or you'll risk permanent injury. We're going to Suotuo City."
As he had done before, he wove a comfortable basket-seat from his Blood Silver Grass, gently lifting the sore and complaining princess into the air and carrying her towards the city.
Their destination was a large, elegant building in a wealthy district, a sign depicting a steaming spring hanging above its door. It was a high-class establishment offering private hot springs and luxurious medicinal baths.
As they entered, the beautiful woman at the reception desk looked up. Her professional smile instantly transformed into one of genuine, flirtatious delight when she saw Zhang Tian.
"Tian'er!" she purred, leaning over the counter, her well-endowed figure on full display. "I was wondering where you'd disappeared to! Why did you close your shop? I've run out of your rose-scented cream, and my skin simply isn't the same! I've missed seeing your handsome face."
"Hello, Sister Mei," Zhang Tian replied calmly, completely immune to her charms. "I've joined Shrek Academy, so I no longer have time for the shop."
He gestured to the weary Ning Rongrong. "My friend and I would like to use one of your best medicinal baths. We've had a... strenuous day."
Sister Mei's eyes flickered to Ning Rongrong, a brief flash of professional jealousy in her gaze before she smiled brightly. "Of course! For you, Tian'er, no charge! And only the best! Follow me, I'll take you to the VIP suites."
She led them down a quiet, private corridor. "I've prepared the Jade Spirit bath for the young lady, it's excellent for soothing muscles and nourishing the skin. And for you, Tian'er, the Spirit Beast Blood Path, to replenish your vitality."
They split up, heading to their respective private sections. Zhang Tian sank into the steaming, fragrant red water of his bath, a deep sigh of relief escaping his lips as the warm, medicated water began to soothe his own tired muscles.
He closed his eyes, relaxing completely. It was in this moment of quiet solitude that Ah Yin's voice echoed in his Spiritual Sea.
It was a voice filled with a question that had clearly been bothering her for some time.
'Zhang Tian,' she began, her tone puzzled. 'There is something I do not understand. Something about my son.'
'What is it, Ah Yin?' he projected back.
'You told me that you awakened a Blue Silver Grass with an Innate Spirit Power of 0.5,' she said, carefully laying out her thoughts. 'This meant your spirit's inherent power, its vitality, was incredibly weak. So, you made a calculated risk. You chose a spirit ring from a plant beast with a devouring attribute, knowing it would mutate your spirit, trading its core attribute of life for a new one of devouring. It was a logical, if desperate, choice.'
She paused, her confusion palpable. 'But my son is different. Little San has my royal bloodline. I saw the golden veins on his spirit when he uses it. His Blue Silver Grass is the Blue Silver Emperor, merely one that hasn't completely awakened. Its core attribute is not just life; it is the pinnacle of life. It is creation, vitality, and control.'
Her voice grew more troubled. 'So why? Why is he adding poison-attribute spirit rings to it? Poison is the antithesis of life attribute. With every poison ring he adds, he is diluting his own royal bloodline, suppressing the true power of the Blue Silver Emperor that lies dormant within him. If he had chosen life-attribute spirit rings, perhaps after this third ring, his spirit would have awakened! He might not have gained a full domain yet, but an awakened Blue Silver Emperor, even without a domain, would be incomparably more powerful than what he has now! His cultivation speed would increase greatly, drawing power from every blade of Blue Silver Grass around him! I... I do not understand this path his teacher has set for him. I know little of how you humans cultivate, so please, explain it to me.'
Zhang Tian listened to her logical, pained analysis and felt a flicker of sympathy for her. He let out a slow mental sigh.
'The answer is simple, Ah Yin,' he explained gently. 'It's because they are fools. Neither your son nor his "Grandmaster" knows that his spirit is the Blue Silver Emperor. To them, it is just Blue Silver Grass. The most common trash spirit in the world. They look down on its inherent nature.'
'Look down on it?' she echoed, a note of pain in her voice.
'Yes,' Zhang Tian confirmed. 'They see its life attribute as useless. They are trying to "improve" it by adding other attributes, like poison, to make it more like a traditional combat spirit. It's amusing, in a way. The very versatility of the Blue Silver Grass, its ability to accept so many different attributes, is what is allowing them to lead it down this flawed, counter-intuitive path.'
He continued his explanation. 'And consider this. Your husband, Tang Hao, is from the Clear Sky Sect. His spirit is the Clear Sky Hammer, a top-tier power-attack Tool Spirit. It's almost certain that Tang San inherited that as a second spirit, so that means he has Twin Spirits. It's likely that their grand plan is to get his Blue Silver Grass to a high rank first, perhaps Spirit Saint, and only then begin adding rings to the hammer, starting directly with powerful, ten-thousand-year black rings. To them, the Blue Silver Grass is just a stepping stone, a tool to build a foundation for the "real" power of the hammer.'
A profound silence emanated from Ah Yin in his spiritual sea. When she finally spoke again, her voice was quiet, stripped of its earlier confusion and filled with a new, cold, and steely resolve. A small part of her affection for her husband were burning away, leaving behind the embers of a betrayed Empress.
'I see,' she said softly. 'I see now how little he truly valued me, and my people. I had hoped that he would atleast ensure Little San is more affectionate and perhaps respectful towards my clan… but it seems I was a fool.'
Her voice then regained its strength, its regal authority. 'Then our path is clear, Zhang Tian. We will not let them shame our clan. We will show them the true power of the Blue Silver Grass. The power through the mutation of the Blue Silver Grass to Blood Silver Grass.'
Meanwhile, across the city, the "special training" of the other six students was underway.
Yu Xiaogang, with his impeccable logic, had determined that the best way to build teamwork and character was through a series of contrived conflicts and punishments.
He had them change their diet to specific, nutritious, but bland foods to help their bodies recover properly from training.
He pitted them against each other in one-on-one matches, with Tang San defeating a surprised Dai Mubai with difficulty, establishing his position as the true core of the team.
He then had Dai Mubai fight against the combined might of Zhu Zhuqing and Xiao Wu, and then against Ma Hongjun and Oscar, all to teach them about cooperation.
Their day ended with a "punishment" for their earlier lack of cohesion.
Each of them was forced to carry a basket filled with heavy rocks on their back and run a ten-mile round trip from the academy to Suotuo City and back, ten times over, without using their spirit power.
Tang San was asked to do it twelve times over.
If even one of them failed, none of them would be allowed to eat dinner. It was a brutal, mindless, one-size-fits-all approach to training under the guise of building resolve and cohesion.
Two different paths of training had begun. One born from tailored logic and intellectual creativity, the other from rigid dogma and brute force. The race was on.
~~
A/N: Check out my other novels like "Harem Master: Seduction System" and the "Villain: Manipulating the Heroines into hating the Protagonist" and I hope you like this story and those stories as well.
Check out more chapters on my P.atreon. The P.atreon will have 20+ Chapters ahead for this story. I hope you like it.
The link of p.atreon is: bit.ly/evildragon