70: Chapter 70 System Update Complete

"There are still two weeks before the National University Ability Competition begins. During this period, I will subject you to hellish training."

Professor Lu Ming said to the students in front of him while releasing his pressure.

At this moment, only a few of the twenty-odd students before him were still standing; the rest were all kneeling on one knee.

They gritted their teeth as they endured the pressure emanating from Professor Lu Ming.

Su Mu's waist was bent by the pressure, and bean-sized droplets of sweat continuously rolled down from his forehead.

*Thud!*

Ultimately, he couldn't hold out and fell to one knee. Su Mu's eyes widened instantly as he discovered that the Divine Soul within his body was rapidly draining away.

This was unusual; under normal circumstances, Divine Soul consumption was very slow.

There were only three people left standing.

Senior Duan Tao, Mu Feng, and Luo Zhenyue.

Professor Lu Ming frowned; in his view, Su Mu shouldn't have reached his limit so quickly.

As for Luo Zhenyue being able to hold on, he had expected it. As the disciple of the previous generation's Fist Saint, combined with growing up in a temple, his Heart-Nature was naturally beyond reproach.

Before long, the final three were also overwhelmed by the pressure Professor Lu Ming exerted.

After all, this was pressure from a Rank Seven powerhouse, and Professor Lu Ming precisely controlled its intensity so that the pressure on everyone was exactly one major Rank higher than their own.

Once the time was up, Professor Lu Ming's pressure receded like a tide, but the pressure on Su Mu alone remained.

It had been said before that Su Mu's training would be doubled, and there was no going back on that word now.

Thus, Su Mu had to endure for another ten minutes.

The other team members slowly stood up, though all looked more or less disheveled.

"Did Su Mu just get forced down before Luo Zhenyue?"

"It seems so!"

A few freshmen began to whisper among themselves, though the top-ranked ones naturally remained silent.

They understood Su Mu's terror better than anyone; only by facing him in solo combat could one truly grasp his strength.

That feeling was like a clay ox entering the sea—one would sink in an instant.

Of course, this didn't stop them from wondering why Su Mu had reached his limit and collapsed so quickly.

Aside from Guan Yue, no one knew that Su Mu's current state was not good—it could even be described as terrible.

Finally, another ten minutes passed.

"Huff— Huff—"

Su Mu sat directly on the ground, gasping for air. Sweat soaked his clothes from head to toe, and his damp hair clung to his forehead and cheeks.

Professor Lu Ming's brow furrowed into a knot; Su Mu's current appearance was very strange.

Normally, even under pressure, one wouldn't end up like this.

Su Mu looked completely exhausted, as if he had overindulged in carnal pleasures the night before.

Afterward, Professor Lu Ming arranged for everyone to change their clothes; the next part of the special training was actual combat.

Once everyone else had left, Guan Yue and Su Mu remained.

Su Mu needed a moment to recover, and Guan Yue wanted to help him up.

Regardless, a large part of why Su Mu was so weak was because of her.

If he hadn't been carrying her on his back, Su Mu certainly wouldn't have exhausted himself so much.

Of course, this was her being sentimental; even without her, Su Mu would have kept using Rapid Lightning Chidori until his source power recovery potions were depleted.

"Su Mu, stay for a moment!"

Professor Lu Ming spoke up to have Su Mu stay behind.

Guan Yue, who was about to help Su Mu, turned her head to look at Professor Lu Ming. In the end, she couldn't help but explain on Su Mu's behalf.

In her view, Su Mu being asked to stay was definitely because he was going to be reprimanded for being late.

"Professor Lu, Su Mu was late because he overexerted himself."

Professor Lu Ming frowned and quickly asked, "What happened? Explain clearly."

Su Mu still hadn't recovered; his whole body felt soft and powerless.

Guan Yue recounted the entire sequence of events without missing a single detail.

The more Professor Lu Ming listened, the deeper his frown became. When he heard that Su Mu had stood outside the base using Rapid Lightning Chidori to clear the Rat Tide, he couldn't help but curse out loud.

"Nonsense! Absolute nonsense! You brat really don't know the gravity of things."

Just as his raised hand was about to strike, he saw Su Mu's state and lowered it again.

"Sigh!"

Then, he immediately picked up the phone and dialed Yang Wendao.

He explained Su Mu's current situation.

"Damn! What? Divine Soul overexertion!"

Sitting in his villa studying a fighter jet, Yang Wendao roared out.

*Zzt—*

An ancient Secret Manual fell to the floor; Yang Wendao was no longer in the villa.

The travel speed of a Rank Eight powerhouse was beyond doubt.

Before long, Yang Wendao appeared at the Bailian Tower.

Seeing Su Mu's appearance, he was momentarily stunned.

"Damn! I haven't seen you for just a few days, brat, how did you end up like this?"

By now, Mu Feng and the other team members had changed into their combat suits and returned.

Earlier, when Mu Feng left, she hadn't noticed anything unusual about Su Mu, assuming he just hadn't recovered yet.

Furthermore, because of her physique, it took her significantly longer than a normal person to change into a combat suit, so she had rushed off to do so.

Now that she was back and saw Su Mu, her heart skipped a beat; his current appearance clearly indicated a problem.

However, the one most annoyed right now was actually Su Mu.

How could he have known that just wanting to farm some conversion points would result in this?

Moreover, he could feel that the circulation speed of Source Power in his body was much slower than usual. Now, everyone was looking at him like a rare animal, which made him very uncomfortable.

While everyone was staring at Su Mu, a graceful figure appeared inside the Bailian Tower.

Her arrival seemed to bring vitality, making the air itself feel light.

No one had expected this person's arrival.

"Principal Lin!"

"Principal Lin!"

Seeing Principal Lin He arrive, Yang Wendao immediately went to meet her.

He had called Principal Lin He on his way, asking her to come and give Su Mu some treatment.

"Principal Lin, sorry to trouble you!"

Principal Lin He's actual age was around forty, but because of her ability, she looked only in her twenties or thirties.

This created an awkward situation: most ability users were in their forties or fifties when they broke through to Rank Seven, and by the time they reached Rank Eight, they were typically over sixty.

For instance, Professor Lu Ming was in his fifties and had only recently broken through to Rank Seven, while Yang Wendao was nearly seventy.

But in the circle of ability users, those with great strength and high cultivation were considered Seniors.

Thus, one would see a bunch of white-bearded men chasing after a girl who looked to be in her twenties, calling her "Senior."

"Elder Yang! You're too polite. I also think highly of Su Mu; it's just a pity he isn't a Wood-type ability user."

As she spoke, she directly channeled her Source Power to treat Su Mu.

Instantly, emerald green vines grew from beneath Principal Lin He's feet and spread toward Su Mu.

They soon enveloped Su Mu, forming a massive sphere of vines.

Wrapped inside the vine sphere, Su Mu sat cross-legged, feeling his depleted Divine Soul slowly recover.

In truth, Su Mu didn't understand why his Divine Soul still hadn't recovered after a whole night, nor why it would consume so rapidly under pressure, completely draining him.

Emerald green glimmers continuously flickered within the Bailian Tower.

Enveloped within, Su Mu gradually sank into the comfortable sensation and drifted off to sleep.

...

[Ding! System update complete. The update gift pack has been delivered to the system space. Host, please check it!]

Su Mu, who was still sleeping, was awakened by the System's mechanical voice.