In the entirety of Heaven Dou Royal Academy, there was not a single other person named Xue Beng other than Prince.
Zhao Wuji felt a tinge of embarrassment at that moment. He hadn't anticipated that his call for assistance would summon a prince. Yet, he didn't dwell on it much.
A prince?
Wasn't there someone running over at his orders?
It was indeed a matter of speechlessness that the esteemed third prince of the Star Luo Empire had enrolled in the Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
Should the Star Luo royal family become aware of this, their anger would likely be uncontainable, and Dai Mubai might find himself the target of their anger.
After a brief contemplation, Zhao Wuji gestured grandly and addressed Xue Beng, "Fourth Prince, I must continue with the students' training."
"If it piques your interest, you're welcome to observe."
"If not, I, Old Zhao, shall invite you for a drink later, though you'll have to wait."
Xue Beng, taken aback by the Soul Saint's gallant offer, pondered seizing this chance to curry favor...
After all, a soul saint was no trivial ally.
With this thought, a smile crept onto Xue Beng's face as he replied, "How could I possibly allow Teacher Zhao to foot the bill? Once you've concluded your duties, it shall be my honor to treat you. Choose anything you desire in Heaven Dou City!"
"Thus, Teacher Zhao, I will wait here only and watch training of students."
Embracing Zhao Wuji's bold and candid nature, Xue Beng decided to follow suit.
As a 'dandy,' it seemed only fitting to treat Zhao Wou-Ki to a round of drinks and revelry, right?
With this in mind, Xue Beng's expression brightened slightly.
At times, the guise of a 'dandy' proved to be quite advantageous.
Xue Beng's declaration prompted Zhao Wuji to regard him with newfound respect. Did he truly believe Old Zhao to be a fool?
He was curious to witness what ploys Xue Beng might deploy.
"Then, I extend my deepest gratitude, Your Highness the Fourth Prince!" Zhao Wuji said, bowing respectfully.
"Teacher Zhao, you flatter me; please, just call me Xue Beng," the prince replied with a serene demeanor, downplaying his royal title.
"You are the mentor, and I, merely your pupil. The title of fourth prince is but a nominal distinction."
"Very well, Xue Beng. For now, stand aside, as I must attend to the students' training."
Once Xue Beng had stepped away, Zhao Wuji called out to Tang San across the field, "Tang San, come here!"
By then, Tang San was drenched in sweat, beads glistening on his forehead like pearls.
A shadow seemed to pass before his eyes...
Startled by the summons, Tang San quickly regained his composure and turned to face Zhao Wuji.
He couldn't shake the feeling that Zhao Wuji had singled him out, though he lacked any proof.
After a moment's hesitation, Tang San trudged towards Zhao Wuji.
Beneath the sunlight, Tang San's pace was no faster than a stroll, perhaps even more sluggish.
Yet, he was giving it his all.
Upon reaching Zhao Wuji, Tang San mustered a show of respect for the formidable man and inquired weakly, "Teacher Zhao... what is it?"
Zhao Wuji didn't mince words with Tang San, stating plainly, "Tang San, I've previously expressed concerns regarding Yu Xiaogang's training methods. Such practices are flawed."
"You staunchly defend your teacher Yu Xiaogang's approach."
"In light of this, I shall relieve you of gravity's burden, and you may continue running with these stones strapped to your back."
Zhao Wuji maintained a stoic expression.
Since Tang San disagreed with his views, he would have to experience the master's training method for himself.
Whether or not he would become useless after such training was of no concern to Zhao Wuji. The method was, after all, provided by Yu Xiaogang and endorsed by Tang San himself.
Upon hearing Zhao Wuji's words, Tang San was taken aback and frowned. Did Zhao Wuji have no limits?
Surely there were more modern methods of weight training than the archaic practice of carrying rocks.
It wasn't that Tang San doubted his teacher Yu Xiaogang; it was just that training under gravity was indeed far more effective than lugging stones around.
Though Tang San was loath to admit it, his body confirmed the truth of this.
"Is there a better training method? Are you singling me out, Zhao Wuji? I won't forget this!"
"Thirty years in the east, thirty years in the west; don't think you can bully me just because I'm poor now!"
"When I reach the level of a Soul Saint, you'll regret your actions."
Tears welled up in Tang San's eyes as he contemplated this.
He looked at his backpack, clenched his fists, but remained silent.
Zhao Wuji crossed his arms, glanced sideways, and with a wave of his hand, the earthy yellow light enveloping Tang San vanished.
Caught off guard by the sudden absence of gravity, Tang San nearly stumbled and fell.
Regaining his balance, Tang San hoisted his backpack and trudged back to the training ground.
To a formidable Soul Master, a burden of over two hundred kilograms was negligible.
But as part of training, such weight could become a form of torture over time.
Dai Mubai, Oscar, Ma Hongjun, and the others grimaced slightly.
Neuvillette had warned them about the perils of stone-carrying. Having experienced it firsthand, they knew Neuvillette spoke the truth.
Coming from a prestigious family, he had no reason to deceive them.
When Zhao Wuji had confronted Yu Xiaogang, Tang San had staunchly defended his teacher's methods, leaving Zhao Wuji no room to back down.
The memory was still as vivid as if it had happened yesterday.
Later, Zhao Wuji had an epiphany: wasn't it just about bearing a burden?
Wasn't it simple to endure weight across one's body when one could control gravity?
With this newfound application of gravity, Zhao Wuji felt increasingly confident in his abilities as a teacher.
His soul skills seemed tailor-made for nurturing young students...
Position Trace: Highly effective in aiding students to acquire soul rings.
Gravity Increase: A means to bolster physical training...
Motionless Bright King Body: An ideal sparring partner.
Vigorous Vajra Palm: A corrective measure for unruly students.
"Run, run! What's the matter with you, Tang San?"
"It's like... ahem... a coy trot!"
"Pick up the pace!"
Zhao Wuji resumed his gravity manipulations, focusing primarily on Tang San.
It wasn't his fault; Tang San's running style was indeed peculiar.
A rugged man like Zhao Wuji found it hard to appreciate such finesse.
Ma Hongjun, Oscar, and the others pondered the situation.
Xiao Wu's lips twitched, but she held her tongue.
Zhao Wuji's analogy was quite apt.
Tang San continued to run with a grim expression. What else could he do?
After casting a resentful glance at Zhao Wuji and Ma Hongjun, Tang San bowed his head, the glint of vengeance in his eyes unmistakable.
Much of his current plight was due to that accursed Ma Hongjun. One day, Tang San vowed, he would repay the debt tenfold, even a hundredfold.
As he ran, Tang San's gait grew increasingly awkward.
It is completely different from running under gravity.
Although the feeling is uncomfortable, the pressure on the whole body is the same.
However, carrying a backpack full of stones is a different feeling...