Three days later, after parting ways with Yue Guan, Yang Yunhai and the others returned to Heaven Dou Royal Academy under the cover of night.
Nothing happened overnight. The next morning, training resumed. However, Yang Yunhai no longer pushed through high-intensity training. Instead, he focused on light adaptive drills, then spent the rest of his time re-familiarizing himself with his Martial Soul abilities, organizing and rehearsing them.
As for the others, Zhu Zhuqing chose to train her body under moderate intensity so she could adapt faster to her recent surge in strength, then planned to spend time familiarizing herself with her new soul skill and Martial Soul changes. Dugu Yan, like Yang Yunhai, focused on consolidating and reviewing her abilities in hopes of gaining fresh insights. Dugu Bo remained engrossed in comprehending his newly awakened Dragon Transformation Ability. Each of the four had their own goals and none were idle.
Meanwhile, at Shrek Academy, Xiaogang was also preparing to give his team a break.
After this long period of special training, all 11 members of the team had made considerable progress, something that greatly satisfied him.
Yu Tianheng had reached rank 44, Dai Mubai rank 42, Tai Long rank 41, Jiangzhu, Huang Yuan, and Jing Ling each rank 38, Xiao Wu rank 37, Oscar rank 35, Ma Hongjun rank 34, and Ning Rongrong rank 32.
As for his disciple Tang San, his soul power had reached rank 38.
He was already close to breaking through rank 39. If nothing unexpected happened, he would achieve it during the preliminaries.
At their age, such soul power levels filled him with pride as their teacher.
By his calculations, the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Tournament was only a week away. Since training required balance between effort and rest, grinding away at full intensity until the very start of the competition wasn't necessarily a good idea. He felt it was necessary to give everyone some time to relax and ease their nerves.
Thus, after training ended in the afternoon, Xiaogang waited until dinnertime when everyone was together. After they finished eating, he announced that the team would be given a short holiday. Afterwards, he explained this tournament's competition format.
"…Also, there's one more matter."
He continued, "The Heaven Dou Royal Academy's first team has given up its direct entry to the finals, choosing instead to participate in the preliminaries alongside the other teams from the Heaven Dou City division. Because of this, the preliminaries in Heaven Dou City will now have 29 teams competing. Of course, the number of advancement slots has increased as well, from 5 to 6."
"It's obvious they plan to use the preliminaries as training grounds for their team!" Flender fanned the flames at just the right moment.
Xiao Wu immediately took the bait, frowning. "Hmph, this is clearly looking down on all the other teams in the preliminaries!"
"They're not afraid of disgracing the royal family if they lose?" Dai Mubai snorted coldly.
Ma Hongjun smirked slyly. "Heh, with Tianheng now in our team, they've already lost their strongest assault-type battle soul master who had a real chance of breaking through to Soul Ancestor before the tournament. Without him leading the charge, their strength isn't what it used to be. If they don't temper themselves early, what happens if they get crushed the moment they hit the finals? Wouldn't that be even more humiliating?"
"Not bad, Fatty!" Flender rubbed his bald head approvingly, smiling wide. "Seems this period of training really has sharpened your brain."
"Hehe, all thanks to Teacher's guidance." Ma Hongjun buttered him up with a grin.
"Good lad, teachable indeed!" Flender beamed.
Seeing the opportunity, Ma Hongjun added, "So Teacher, maybe you could ease up on the funding a little…?"
Flender: "Get lost!"
"..." Ning Rongrong quietly chose silence.
That night, Tang San was dragged by Xiao Wu to the back mountain to admire the moon.
Elsewhere in Heaven Dou City, at the Yihong Hotel—
"What's going on, could it be today's training was just too much?" Dai Mubai, who lasted less than half a quarter-hour, was starting to doubt himself. With a glance at the beauty beside him, he quickly rolled onto his back, sighing faintly.
"Massage me."
'If you can't, just admit it. What's the act for?' The young courtesan's eyes flickered with scorn, but she smiled and leaned over to knead his muscles.
In another room, Oscar managed to last slightly longer, just over half a quarter-hour. Still, he too blamed his weak performance on fatigue. After making an awkward excuse, he also had the girl massage and soothe him.
"Sir, seems your training has really been intense. Your muscles are like stone..." she said warmly as she worked.
Oscar was polite, the girl kind, and they chatted while she worked on his muscles.
As for Ma Hongjun in the next room, his situation went beyond self-doubt.
Refusing to give up, he went at it again and again, only to end up sore and frustrated, before finally giving in and lying down for a massage as well.
But having spent so much money, he refused to leave feeling cheated.
The courtesan beside him cursed him in her heart the whole time, but forced herself to keep serving him.
Nothing more happened that night. The next day, the three of them returned to the academy in silence, heavy with unspoken thoughts.
Taking advantage of the holiday, they secretly purchased tonics in Heaven Dou City, beginning their "health-preserving" regimen in hopes of regaining their vigor for the future.
Time slipped by, and soon it was the day before the tournament began.
Heaven Dou Royal Academy's team gathered and moved into the hotel assigned to them in Heaven Dou City.
The Heaven Dou City preliminaries had 29 teams in total. Not every participating academy was located inside the city, so the royal family had arranged hotels for teams from outside. Nearby academies could choose not to stay, and if any weren't satisfied, they could book other hotels at their own expense.
The hoteliers were naturally thrilled. They could resell the rooms at higher prices to the public. And since anyone able to run a hotel in the imperial capital had backing, the authorities didn't object.
As the Royal Academy was based outside the city, Yang Yunhai naturally led his team to settle in.
As the Empire's seeded team, the one the crown was betting on, Emperor Xue Ye had arranged for them the closest, most luxurious hotel in the city. The academy's first and second teams would both stay there, alongside a number of other squads from different divisions.
Under Meng Shenshou's lead, they entered the lobby—only for Yang Yunhai to immediately spot a dazzling sight.
A group of beauties in neat blue uniforms that perfectly outlined their figures, with short skirts revealing snow-white slender legs. Every one of them was striking.
The crest on their arms marked them as Skywater Academy. Not far away, he saw the fiery red uniforms of Blazing Academy.
Oslo and Yu Feng instantly straightened their backs, trying to act like gentlemen.
Zhu Zhuqing and Dugu Yan instinctively drew closer to Yang Yunhai.
Hearing footsteps, the academies in the lobby turned their heads together.
"Heaven Dou Royal Academy." At a glance at their uniforms, they were recognized instantly. Eyes quickly moved to the one walking in front.
Yang Yunhai—an orphan, Martial Soul Blue Silver Grass, born with 0.5 innate Spirit Power. After a fateful mutation, his Martial Soul evolved. At a young age, his cultivation had already reached Soul Ancestor. When he first entered Heaven Dou Royal Academy, he had challenged Yu Tianheng, captain of the first team, despite being 8 levels weaker, and won easily. In the Great Spirit Arena, he remained undefeated, climbing all the way to the rare Purple-Gold Badge by consecutively defeating Soul Elders.
Now the captain of the Royal Academy's first team, he was regarded as an exceptionally powerful control-type Soul Master. By now, none of this was secret.
"Wow, so that's Yang Yunhai? He's really handsome!" From Skywater Academy's side, Shui Yue'er twisted shyly as she whispered.
"..." Her teammates were speechless.
"Yue'er, don't get starry-eyed. He already has a girlfriend," Shui Bing'er chided lightly.
"Still… he really is handsome," one of the girls admitted.
(End of Chapter)
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