The next morning.
Yang Yunhai got up early, finished breakfast, and went for a run with Zhu Zhuqing and Dugu Yan out of the valley.
As they ran, he said, "Zhuqing, Sister Yan, later you two go gather the teammates and wait at the dormitory. I'll head to the council first and meet you after."
"Alright." Both girls nodded in unison.
Before long, at the council office, Yang Yunhai knocked and entered.
Meng Shinji greeted him with a smile, and at his side stood a middle-aged man. "Xiao Hai, I knew you'd come first thing in the morning. This is my younger son, Meng Shenshou. From today on, he'll serve as your assistant in managing the team. If you don't mind, just call him Uncle Shou."
"Greetings, Uncle Shou," Yang Yunhai said politely.
"Xiao Hai, no need for formality." The man looked honest and kind, his smile warm.
Meng Shinji continued, still smiling. "Xiao Hai, your request yesterday, I already reported to His Majesty. His Majesty agreed. And this morning, he has already dispatched the Royal Knights to guard the academy grounds. From today until the start of the Soul Master Tournament, the academy will be under full lockdown."
When Yang Yunhai had mentioned the chance of leading the team to a championship, Emperor Xue Ye naturally took it seriously. After all, the Heaven Dou Royal Academy represented the dignity of the royal family. Beyond giving Dugu Bo face, the last three tournaments had seen the Star Luo Empire take one championship, Spirit Hall take two, and the Heaven Dou Empire none. To Emperor Xue Ye, this was a humiliation.
Now that there was hope of regaining that lost honor, he would of course throw in his full support.
"For the training grounds and equipment, His Majesty has already ordered the Ministry of Works to send people to the academy to await your instructions. As for the herbs needed to configure the medicinal baths, the Ye Clan has been assigned to purchase them and ensure the team's needs are fully met," Meng Shinji added.
'Xue Ye really is giving me plenty of face.' Yang Yunhai nodded slightly and bowed. "Many thanks, Elder Meng. If you have time, please also convey my gratitude to His Majesty."
Meng Shinji smiled. "Xiao Hai, the Heaven Dou Royal Academy is under the direct command of the royal family. This time you are representing both the Empire and the royal family. Your results concern the honor of the throne, so His Majesty naturally values it greatly. Before I left, he told me to pass along a message: whatever you need, speak up, and he will do everything possible to support you. He also wishes you success in leading the team to glory and bringing prestige to the Empire."
"I will not fail His Majesty's trust," Yang Yunhai said with a solemn nod. Then, with a wave of his soul tool, he produced a stack of manuals and handed them over. "Elder Meng, these are the training schedules I compiled yesterday, along with requirements for the training grounds and equipment, and the list of herbs needed for the medicinal baths."
"My idea is for the team to give up the direct qualification and instead spend this time training to strengthen individual abilities. Then, during the preliminaries, we can refine our teamwork. With the foundation laid by the previous tour matches, once we return to real combat, everyone should adapt quickly."
'Since I intend to bait and fish, it's necessary for my fourth soul ring to be revealed in the preliminaries. And without team battles beforehand, Zhu Zhuqing won't be exposed early.'
"Besides, training together every day is its own way of building team chemistry."
Yang Yunhai went on:
"After the preliminaries, according to past rules, there's usually a one-month rest period. That's enough time to patch weaknesses and cover gaps. As for the promotion rounds, they will test personal strength, and we can adjust accordingly. By the time of the finals, the team will be in its best condition to face the challenges ahead."
Meng Shinji's eyes brightened, and without hesitation he said, "Xiao Hai, since you have such confidence, how could I not support you? We'll follow your plan!" He took the manuals and began reading carefully.
Team physical training: long-distance running with loads, group log carries, upriver runs.
Individual training: obstacle runs, shuttle runs, frog jumps, weighted drills.
Facilities and equipment needed: obstacle tracks, pull-up bars, parallel bars, logs, steep slopes, iron balls.
"This…" Meng Shinji's eyes lit up with heat. Beside him, Meng Shenshou leaned in to read, and his face showed open shock.
With their experience, they immediately saw the value of these training methods.
This was practically an encyclopedia of physical training, enough to overturn the Soul Master world's current understanding.
'Is this Yang Yunhai even human? To come up with so much in a single day?' Meng Shenshou couldn't help but look up at Yang Yunhai, utterly convinced. He also felt honored to become Yang Yunhai's assistant and was filled with anticipation for his future leadership.
'Thank goodness Qin Ming and Yu Tianheng left early.' Meng Shinji himself felt deeply relieved.
"Xiao Hai, you've given the academy a great gift!" he exclaimed. Yang Yunhai had not only written these methods but also agreed to put them into practice at the academy, which meant they could remain here for future generations.
If that isn't a gift, what is?
'No wonder he insisted on making the training process secret. Before the tournament, these were invaluable, widening the gap with other teams. They must never leak out!'
"Xiao Hai, you have my word," Meng Shinji said gravely. "The contents of this manual and the team's training will never leak before the tournament. Afterward, these records will always bear your name alone. Your contribution to the Soul Master world will never be forgotten. There may be no walls that air cannot pass through, but if this knowledge spreads, it will only be after the tournament."
Yang Yunhai understood perfectly, smiled, and bowed. "Thank you, Elder Meng."
"No, I should be thanking you," Meng Shinji shook his head. "If not for you, how would I have ever seen such a remarkable work?"
'This boy is simply a once-in-a-generation genius in theory.' He sighed inwardly.
'The Soul Master world's physical training knowledge is laughably weak. This gets called remarkable? I haven't even revealed half of what I know.' Yang Yunhai was exasperated, but then he remembered Yu Xiaogang, a man from one of the top three clans and Spirit Hall, whose big idea of training was running with rocks on his back. Suddenly, he found it understandable.
'This world really leans too heavily on soul rings and bones. Compared to arduous training, the instant power-ups of soul rings and bones were much more tempting.'
"Elder Meng, you flatter me," Yang Yunhai said with a modest smile. He changed the subject and added, "Since I've delivered everything, I should head to the dormitory now to meet with the team and discuss training."
"Alright," Meng Shinji nodded, then passed the manuals to his son. "Shou'er, assist Xiao Hai properly from here on."
"Yes, father." Meng Shenshou nodded seriously.
The two then left the council office.
Not long after, at the team dormitory, everyone gathered.
"Xiao Hai!" His teammates greeted him warmly, clearly glad to see him again.
Yang Yunhai smiled and introduced, "This is Meng Shenshou, Instructor Shou. He'll be taking over Instructor Qin Ming's role."
"Greetings, Instructor Shou." Everyone greeted politely.
"No need to be formal," Meng Shenshou replied with a straightforward smile. "I may be the official team leader, but all training decisions will be made by Xiao Hai. I'm only here to assist. In fact, Xiao Hai has already prepared your training plans."
He lifted the manual in his hand and turned toward Yang Yunhai.
Yang Yunhai nodded, his face turning serious. "What I can tell you is that the coming training will be extremely tough. I've arranged detailed daily schedules for each of you — when to get up, when to sleep, and what training to do at specific times. There is only one goal: to comprehensively strengthen your individual abilities."
"If anyone wants to quit, now's your chance. Because once this begins, you'll lose all freedom until the Soul Master Tournament. Everything during training will be classified as state secrets. Anyone who leaves halfway or leaks a word will be guilty of treason."
Meng Shenshou added smoothly, "This is by order of His Majesty. The Royal Knights are already stationed outside the academy."
'That heavy?' Everyone was shocked, then their eyes burned with excitement.
High risk often meant high reward. They weren't fools. His Majesty's level of attention clearly meant the royal family would pour resources into them.
Yes, the training would be grueling, but if they endured, their strength would skyrocket.
Opportunities like this didn't come every day.
"Captain, train us however you want. I, Yu Feng, won't even frown," Yu Feng declared.
"That's right, Captain, we're with you," others echoed, nodding or speaking up.
"Good." Yang Yunhai nodded and glanced at Meng Shenshou. The latter understood, drew a bundle of papers from the manual's fold, and set them on the table, sliding them one by one to each teammate. "These are your individual training schedules. Take a look. Since some facilities and equipment aren't ready yet, the first phase will be lighter to help you adapt."
Everyone nodded and picked theirs up.
"Mao hour start?" Just reading the first few lines, Yu Feng's scalp tingled. By the end, his face had gone pale.
'Is this even something a human could design?'
Aside from Zhu Zhuqing and Dugu Yan, every male teammate wore the same horrified expression.
'As expected of Xiao Hai.' Ye Lingling gave him a sidelong glance, silently sighing.
"Don't worry," Yang Yunhai reassured them. "The schedule is tight and intense, but it won't harm your bodies. To support the training, I've already had Elder Meng request special funds from His Majesty, and they've been approved. The Lingling Clan will handle the herb purchases so I can prepare medicinal brews for your cultivation."
The team instantly perked up. Yu Feng straightened his back. "Captain, I swear I'll complete every task!"
As if Yang Yunhai's concoctions would be weak? Zhu Zhuqing was living proof — she was already a Soul Elder at her age!
This young, already at rank 40? The male teammates all gave Yu Feng side-eye.
'Hmph, getting ahead of us again!'
"Captain, don't worry. Even for my own sake, I'll train hard," the steady Shi Mò spoke up.
"That's right, Captain, we'll all work hard," the rest nodded in agreement.
Yang Yunhai gave a firm nod. "Since that's the case, it's still early. Let's begin today's training."
"Yes, Captain!" the team responded together.
(End of Chapter)
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