Chapter 28 Supporting each other
When the fifth round trip began, Oscar and Ning Rongrong's speed had obviously slowed down. The scenery in front of them had begun to become blurry, their legs felt heavy as if they were filled with lead, and the bamboo baskets behind them brought gravity like a mountain.

"Xiao Ao, give me your stone." Dai Mubai said to Oscar.

Ye Li also extended his hand towards Ning Rongrong at the same time.

Neither Oscar nor Ning Rongrong refused, because they both knew that their physical strength was already overdrawn. If they continued like this, they might not be able to sustain the round trip.

Ye Li's load increased to 36 kilograms, while Dai Mubai's load reached 25 kilograms. The two stones did not look heavy, but with the great consumption of physical strength, the load was still a bit heavy.

Ye Li felt fine with the extra weight, but Dai Mubai's breathing was noticeably heavier than before. On the contrary, after losing five kilograms of pressure, Oscar and Ning Rongrong instantly felt liberated. Their whole bodies felt light, and they were able to keep up and even handle it with ease.

After three more round trips, the eighth round trip began. Two hours had passed, the sun had deviated from the center, and noon had passed.

Everyone's breathing became difficult, and their lungs seemed to be burning like fire. Every step they took would leave a clear water mark on the ground, which was the sweat flowing on their bodies.

Since the last round trip, the salt water they replenished at the entrance of the academy has become two cups, and they have a short break. The master did not rush them, and still prepared warm salt water for them after each round trip.

"No, I can't do it anymore." Ma Hongjun staggered, supported his hands on his knees, and gasped heavily.

Everyone stopped one after another. At this moment, no one could speak. They looked at each other and found that everyone's clothes were soaked with sweat. The most impressive one was Zhu Zhuqing. Although she was the youngest among the group, she was the best developed among the three girls. The soaked clothes were tightly attached to her body, outlining amazing curves.

Dai Mubai shouldn't have been so tired, but he shared Oscar's stone. Although Ye Li also carried Ning Rongrong's, he was a Soul King after all and still felt good. Tang San and Xiao Wu were also in good shape. Tang San's load did not increase, and Xiao Wu had reached level 30, but her load was the same as Ma Hongjun and Zhu Zhuqing who were in their twenties, so she still had some strength to spare.

Ma Hongjun couldn't help but say, "We can't have lunch anyway, so why don't we slow down? I can't do it anymore. If I keep running, I'm afraid I'll die of exhaustion."

Dai Mubai frowned and said, "Slow? Didn't you notice that the temperature of the salt water that the master prepared for us is the same every time? But our speed has been decreasing. It is obvious that the master has calculated our physical condition. If we run back too slowly, I am afraid there will be additional punishment. Although the master is a bit strict in our training, he is also for our own good. We must persevere. Fatty, give me your weight."

Ma Hongjun looked at Dai Mubai in surprise, "Boss Dai, are you okay?"

Dai Mubai puffed up his chest, "Fat man, remember, a man can't say no. Bring it."

When Dai Mubai was about to put the stones behind Ma Hongjun into the bamboo basket behind him.

Tang San came up and took over and said, "Boss Dai, let me do it. My load has not increased yet."

Ye Li came to Zhu Zhuqing and said, "Give me your stone."

"No, you have far more stones than us, and the distance is the same. How are you going to hold on?" Zhu Zhuqing said, taking a step back.

"Don't worry, a mere 36-pound stone can't crush me." Ye Li took out a few stones from Zhu Zhuqing's box and said.

The journey started again. This time, everyone's speed was significantly reduced. Tang San's steps were especially heavy. After all, he was carrying a full 25 kilograms of weight on his body. He had just broken through to the Soul Master level. Despite his good physical strength, he was now exhausted and panting.

Although Oscar and Ning Rongrong no longer had the stones, their physical strength had already been overdrawn to the limit. They were breathing heavily and didn't even have the strength to speak.

Ye Li took the stone out of Oscar's bamboo basket and put it in his own bamboo basket. Dai Mubai took out another stone from Ning Rongrong. At this time, Ye Li was carrying a weight of 48 kilograms.

"Xiaoye, don't be so stubborn. Can you still hold on?" Dai Mubai panted and looked at Ye Li. "Don't worry, I can still hold on." Although Ye Li said so, it was obvious that he was having some trouble carrying the 48-kilogram stone.

The ninth round trip was made with the support of everyone. Although they were still running, in fact, it was not much faster than walking. Three hours had passed since the punishment began. The eight people drank salt water in big gulps, as if they had been fished out of the water. The master still stood by and said nothing.

Dai Mubai braced himself, "Brothers, there is still one last trip, everyone must hold on."

Oscar suddenly said, "Xiao Ye, give me back my weight. There's only one round left, and I can support it."

Ye Li was stunned for a moment, and he suddenly realized that Oscar seemed to have something more in his eyes. But looking at his trembling legs, he shook his head and said, "No, I can still do it."

Oscar walked to Ye Li, sweat dripping from his face, but his eyes became firm at this moment, "If you treat me as a brother, give it back to me. I can do it."

The tenth round of punishment finally began. This time, everyone could no longer run and could only move their feet, step by step, forward.

After walking one kilometer, Oscar, who was about to faint, saw the stone behind him return to Ye Li's bamboo basket. "I told you to be brave, but the stone still came into my basket."

After walking two kilometers, the stone behind Zhu Zhuqing reached Xiao Wu's bamboo basket.

After walking three kilometers, Ning Rongrong fainted. Ye Li put his frame in front of him and carried Ning Rongrong on his back.

One kilometer back, Oscar fainted, Zhu Zhuqing took back her stone, and Xiao Wu's weight went into Ma Hongjun's bamboo basket. Tang San carried Oscar on his back and returned two kilometers, Zhu Zhuqing fainted, and Dai Mubai barely picked her up.

"...Ye, Fourth Brother? Put me down...I can do it on my own..." Ning Rongrong slowly woke up on Ye Li's back and murmured weakly.

Ye Li took a breath and said, "I'm fine..."

Oscar also woke up from his coma, and struggled to slide off Tang San's back. With Tang San's support, he walked forward and said to Ye Li: "Xiao...Ye, you are really...powerful..."

In addition to carrying Ning Rongrong, Ye Li also carried some of the stones for himself, Ning Rongrong, Oscar, and Zhu Zhuqing.

The scenery in front of them has become blurred, but they can vaguely see the existence of the end point. At this point, everyone's bodies are completely dependent on willpower to continue moving forward.

Four hundred meters... three hundred meters... two hundred meters... one hundred meters...

The master's stiff face has appeared in front of everyone. Seeing them supporting each other and moving forward together, even the master can't help but be moved.

This last round trip took them an entire hour. However, they finally insisted on coming back.

Plop, plop...

Except for Ye Li, the seven people almost fell to the ground and fainted one after another. Ye Li struggled to return to his dormitory. After making sure that there was no one around, he came to the Yin-Yang Eyes of Ice and Fire to recover.

.........

(End of this chapter)