Douluo: I Am the Lord of Mysteries

During the final laps, Gu Yue chatted casually with Tang Wulin while jogging. Occasionally, she would say a few words to Nan Fusheng as well.

To be honest, Nan Fusheng was a little surprised. But he also understood—Gu Yue was probably intentionally holding back her enthusiasm, so she wouldn't scare Tang Wulin off. After all, the reason she had come to Eastsea Academy was because of her bet with Na'er.

As for Xie Xie, he kept trying to join the conversation, tossing in awkward comments here and there. But every time he spoke to Gu Yue, she would respond with a look that said: "Don't talk to me, background character."

Frustrated but not bold enough to talk back, he could only grumble silently.

In short, weak and talkative.

By the time Wu Zhangkong returned, the running assignment he'd given was nearly complete.

"Assemble!"

The students of Class Five looked like a defeated army, dragging their exhausted bodies to form a shaky line in the center of the field.

"That's it for this morning. Dismissed. Gu Yue, stay behind."

Finally! It's over! What a blessing!

Almost all the students bolted toward their dorms without a second thought—finally, time to rest.

Gu Yue's cheeks were flushed from the run, giving her a much livelier appearance than before.

"My name is Wu Zhangkong, your homeroom teacher.

Here are your dorm key, uniform, and textbooks.

From now on, you're officially a student of Year One, Class Five."

"Thank you, Teacher Wu," Gu Yue said as she accepted the items.

"Mm. Rest now. Class resumes this afternoon."

Afternoon Classes: Pain Intensified

The afternoon session was still physical training—even more painful than the morning.

So much for theory class?

Wu Zhangkong's reasoning was simple:

"With stamina like yours, what's the point of learning theory?"

He was never one for debate—Cold God Wu was not about to be reasoned with.

Running laps was tough, sure, but it got worse when the task shifted to frog jumps.

Within half an hour, the field was littered with collapsed students from Class Five.

By the end of the day, these nine-year-old kids felt like they had to crawl back to their dorms.

"Tang Wulin, Nan Fusheng, Xie Xie, Gu Yue—come find me after dinner."

Wu Zhangkong's voice rang out coldly before dismissal.

Xie Xie could barely stand, leaning heavily on Tang Wulin for support, his legs trembling.

Gu Yue looked slightly better, but even she had her hands on her knees, catching her breath.

"We're coming back again tonight?" Xie Xie groaned.

Since fighting alongside Nan Fusheng and the others the day before, his usual aloofness had faded.

He now acted more like the wealthy young master he was, with his true personality gradually surfacing.

Luckily, their homeroom teacher was Wu Zhangkong—someone who could completely suppress him.

Without that, Xie Xie would've dropped out of training long ago.

"He's doing it for our good," Tang Wulin said as he helped him up.

Meanwhile…

An hour before dinner, most students were fast asleep.

Nan Fusheng, while tired, was still persisting with meditation.

At his current state, his cultivation speed had multiplied several times over.

During the intra-class tournament, Nan Fusheng had secretly implanted parasites in several Class Five students while battling them.

And when Mu Xi showed up with senior students to intimidate Tang Wulin, Nan Fusheng had used Steal to secretly implant more.

Now, Nan Fusheng had five shallow parasites linked to senior students

(though none in Mu Xi—her father was an Eight-Star Saint Artisan, someone connected to Divine Craftsmen. Too risky.

Three more were attached to his dormmates.

As long as none of them left Eastsea City, he could siphon soul power from them via his Parasite Soul Spirit.

Even if the drain was only half-efficient, senior students were Soul Grandmasters. Their cultivation rates were far superior to mere Soul Masters.

At the same time, he was testing limits—to see what level of soul master his current parasites could infect.

Even if a teacher caught him using skills within the academy, he could still spin an excuse.

Besides, most teachers at Eastsea Academy weren't especially powerful.

They were excellent test subjects.

But for now, using students as training dummies was more appropriate.

At this stage, Nan Fusheng's motto was:

"Survive first. Stick close to Tang Wulin.

Once I reach Sequence 4, I'll have enough power to move more boldly."

After dinner, Nan Fusheng arrived at the training field first.

Gu Yue came second.

Tang Wulin practically dragged Xie Xie there—the latter had wanted to skip it entirely.

It was already dusk. The setting sun bathed the sky in brilliant orange-red.

Wu Zhangkong had changed into a black tracksuit, his expression cold as ever.

In the distance, small groups of senior female students had gathered, all sneaking glances his way.

"You four, follow me."

Seeing everyone had arrived, Wu Zhangkong turned and walked toward the deeper section of the academy.

The Private Training Hall

He led them to a circular indoor training arena at the rear of the academy—

The very facility he had negotiated access to earlier that day with Director Long Hengxu.

Wu Zhangkong had promised to cooperate to not cause trouble for the disciplinary office.

In return, Long Hengxu opened the doors without resistance.

As fellow directors, Long had always viewed Wu Zhangkong as a rival to the Advanced Division's disciplinary head.

That rivalry had once become so heated that Wu Zhangkong broke the guy's leg, which was why he was demoted to the Intermediate Division in the first place.

Now, Long Hengxu was thinking long-term.

If he could build a working relationship with Wu Zhangkong, it would earn him points with the academy's leadership.

Wu Zhangkong didn't care about Long's intentions.

As long as he got what he wanted, that was enough.

Were it not for Gu Yue, he wouldn't have compromised at all.

Apologies? Out of the question.

But since arriving at the Intermediate Division, he had encountered two students who genuinely moved him.

If nurtured properly, they could qualify for "that place."

As for the other two:

One had undergone a positive Martial Soul mutation, with great potential.

The other was strange—interesting, but secondary for now.

The training hall was protected by soul power shielding—

built specifically for high-level Martial Soul practice.

After all, an open field couldn't contain high-powered abilities.

Wu Zhangkong led the four students to the center of the arena and stood still.

"Starting today, every evening, you will undergo special training with me.

This is preparation for the Class Advancement Tournament in three months."

His gaze landed first on Tang Wulin.

"Tang Wulin, your Martial Soul is Blue Silver Grass.

You were only chosen for the team originally as a backup.

Now that Gu Yue is here, you've seen her talent and strength for yourself.

I don't go back on my word, but I expect you to prove that you deserve to represent Class Five.

If you fail to meet my standards in three months…

I'll send only three members to compete."

Teacher Wu, I won't take his spot.

Suddenly, Gu Yue spoke up.