Training Accident

Fighting was also a very important subject at Soul Master Academy.

In other words, it was a contest of physical skill.

Battles between soul masters were not simply both sides bombarding each other with soul skills.

If that were the case, what difference would there be between Tool Martial Souls and Beast Martial Souls?

In battles between soul masters, aside from unleashing soul skills, Fighting Skills were also of paramount importance.

"I concede!"

On the training grounds, after battling Gu Ziyi for quite some time, a level 15 student raised his hand in surrender.

The other students were not too surprised by this. They had already been surprised enough before.

No one had expected that Gu Ziyi, who was merely an auxiliary-type soul master, would also be so skilled in combat.

"Phew—"

"Thanks for going easy on me!"

Gu Ziyi let out a breath before stepping down from the training grounds.

"Gu Ziyi, you're only an auxiliary-type soul master. There's no need for you to train so desperately in fighting!"

After Gu Ziyi came down, Tang Yuehua handed him a bottle of water and could not help trying to persuade him.

Gulp, gulp~

Only after taking a few drinks did Gu Ziyi smile and say, "Didn't I say so before? Even auxiliary-type soul masters can't be completely without combat ability. We can't rely entirely on others to protect us."

That was also Gu Ziyi's genuine thought. Moreover, he always felt that his martial soul should not be a purely auxiliary martial soul.

In any case, improving his combat skills could never be a bad thing.

"Ah..."

"Watch out..."

Suddenly, cries of alarm rang out from the training grounds.

Tang Yuehua looked up at the sound, and her pupils immediately contracted. "Ah..."

A Wooden Sword flew straight at Tang Yuehua's face.

It turned out that on the training grounds, two students were sparring with wooden weapons. One of them had lost his grip on his Wooden Sword during the clash, and it happened to fly toward Tang Yuehua's face.

The other students on the training grounds cried out in alarm. Even a Wooden Sword could be dangerous if it hit her! Whoosh! At the critical moment, Gu Ziyi pulled Tang Yuehua over and used his back to shield her.

"Ah—"

However, after being pulled aside by Gu Ziyi, Tang Yuehua lost her footing and nearly fell.

Seeing this, Gu Ziyi hurriedly pulled her back again and drew her into his arms.

While holding Tang Yuehua, Gu Ziyi turned around in confusion. Why had there been no impact from behind him?

Only when he turned back did Gu Ziyi realize that Bai Lu had somehow appeared behind him and was firmly holding the Wooden Sword in her hand.

"So fast..."

"Way too fast..."

"I didn't even see when the class monitor appeared. She caught the Wooden Sword in an instant—she's amazing..."

"..."

The students cried out in surprise once more.

Gu Ziyi was also somewhat astonished. So this was the true speed of Bai Lu, a pure agility-type soul master! Bai Lu had never displayed her full strength before.

"Gu Ziyi, shouldn't you let go of my cousin now?"

Bai Lu frowned when she saw Gu Ziyi's current position and quickly spoke up.

"...Oh!"

Only then did Gu Ziyi realize that Tang Yuehua was still in his arms. His right hand also seemed to be resting on somewhere rather inappropriate, though Bai Lu had not seen it because his back was facing her.

As Gu Ziyi released Tang Yuehua, he could not help giving it a squeeze.

Only after squeezing did Gu Ziyi come to his senses, but he immediately put on an unconcerned expression and asked Tang Yuehua with concern, "Tang Yuehua, you weren't scared, were you?"

At a time like this, he had to pretend it had been unintentional.

Well, it was not an act. He really had not meant to do it.

Still, it felt damn good.

"I... I'm fine. Thank you..."

After Gu Ziyi let her go, Tang Yuehua thanked him with a flushed face.

She secretly glanced up at Gu Ziyi. Seeing his nonchalant expression, she thought that he might not have done it on purpose just now.

"No need to thank me. I couldn't possibly stand by and watch you get hurt!"

Gu Ziyi said with a smile.

"..."

Tang Yuehua's heart raced at his words. Was she overthinking it? "Hmph!"

"With me here, no one can hurt my cousin!"

"I actually let you hold my cousin just now. You really got off easy!"

Bai Lu was still displeased that Gu Ziyi had held her cousin. Hearing this, she immediately interrupted the conversation between them.

"Oh, Elder Sister, stop talking..."

But with Bai Lu saying it outright, Tang Yuehua became even more embarrassed.

"Thank you so much for what happened just now. Elder Sister, let's go!"

After thanking Gu Ziyi once more, Tang Yuehua hurriedly pulled Bai Lu away.

If she continued standing in front of Gu Ziyi now, she would only feel embarrassed, her heart pounding faster.

Yet the image of Gu Ziyi shielding her with his back without hesitation continued to flash through her mind.

As did the sensation lingering on her butt.

"Hehe..."

Watching Tang Yuehua's retreating figure, which seemed almost like she was fleeing in defeat, Gu Ziyi rubbed his nose and chuckled.

To Gu Ziyi, stealing A Yin or Bibi Dong away was still too far-fetched. Since Tang Yuehua had practically delivered herself to his doorstep, he would be a fool not to pursue her.

Still, despite wanting to get closer to Tang Yuehua, Gu Ziyi did not devote all his time to her.

To him, improving himself remained more important.

Getting close to Tang Yuehua was merely to see whether anything might come of it.

Tang Yuehua was still young. There was no need to rush.

Back at Quicksand Academy, it had been difficult for Gu Ziyi to gather information. Heaven Treasure Academy was much better in that regard.

The academy library contained quite a few things Gu Ziyi had never encountered before.

For example, meditation techniques used by soul masters for cultivation.

The library recorded that aside from ordinary meditation techniques, the major sects actually possessed their own relatively advanced meditation techniques, which allowed cultivation to proceed faster than ordinary meditation techniques.

Ordinary meditation techniques absorbed energy from the outside world through meditation, then slowly converted that absorbed energy into one's own Soul Power.

Advanced meditation techniques were different. They also absorbed external energy through meditation, but after doing so, they no longer passively waited for the energy to slowly convert. Instead, they circulated the Soul Power within their bodies to envelop the energy, thereby accelerating the conversion process.

"It's actually nothing special. It's just like my Purifying Heart Mantra talismans—it merely speeds up the process of digesting energy, allowing one to reach the saturation point of martial soul cultivation faster!"

"In short, it takes less time to cultivate Soul Power, leaving more time to cultivate other things!"

"In the original work, Yu Xiaogang researched a relatively advanced method of circulating Soul Power on his own. He was extremely proud of it, yet Tang San secretly remarked that it already carried traces of the internal cultivation techniques from his previous life!"

"Tsk tsk, only traces..."

"I used to wonder how Douluo Continent, after tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of years of development, had failed to develop better internal cultivation techniques, only to be completely outclassed by Tang San's martial arts world, which had developed for merely a few thousand years. Turns out the soul masters of Douluo Continent simply didn't care much about it!"

"Even advanced meditation techniques only help one finish daily Soul Power cultivation earlier!"

Complaints aside, after Gu Ziyi realized that even Yu Xiaogang had been able to create an advanced meditation technique, he also felt like tinkering with one himself.

Blind experimentation was naturally dangerous.

Gu Ziyi did not understand meridians or acupoints.

But Gu Ziyi felt that as long as he followed one principle—circulate it however felt comfortable—everything would be fine.

Just like ordinary meditation technique cultivation, it felt comfortable from the very beginning.

That surely could not be too dangerous.

Creating a genuine internal cultivation technique might be impossible, but devising a slightly more advanced meditation technique should not be a problem.

"You're being far too reckless!"

Gu Ziyi had inadvertently revealed to Tang Yuehua and Bai Lu that he was developing an advanced meditation technique himself.

Tang Yuehua immediately grew worried when she learned of it and hurriedly tried to persuade Gu Ziyi not to act recklessly.

"It won't happen. Cultivation is a process of constant evolution, which means evolving in a good direction. And what is good will make us feel comfortable!"

"As long as I stick to that principle, nothing can possibly go wrong!"

Gu Ziyi said confidently.

"How could it possibly be that simple..." Although Gu Ziyi's words made sense, Tang Yuehua still felt that he was being reckless.

Seeing that Gu Ziyi did not seem inclined to give up, Tang Yuehua opened her mouth, immediately wanting to say something.

Naturally, she possessed advanced meditation techniques.

She had not only her family's advanced meditation technique, but also several advanced meditation techniques from other sects, all of which her father had obtained in an effort to solve her inability to cultivate.

Yet none of them had helped her!

For the sake of their friendship, Tang Yuehua did not want to see Gu Ziyi act recklessly, so she wondered whether she should teach him one of them.

She understood the pain of wanting to cultivate but having no idea how.

"Cousin, since he's so confident, let him give it a try!"

But before Tang Yuehua could speak, Bai Lu spoke up to stop her.

"Gu Ziyi, you can try if you want, but remember to stop immediately if anything feels wrong. This is still very dangerous!"

Although she had stopped Tang Yuehua, Bai Lu still spoke out of concern for Gu Ziyi.

"...Of course. I'm not going to joke around with my own life!"

Gu Ziyi agreed with a smile.

Yet inwardly, he lamented that Bai Lu, this long-legged girl, had ruined his plans! Over the following days, Gu Ziyi spent some time every day studying the Advanced Meditation Technique.

Tang Yuehua and Bai Lu were worried about what Gu Ziyi was doing, but they were also curious, so every few days, they would ask about his progress.

Tang Yuehua also joined in Gu Ziyi's research, occasionally suggesting that he try a different direction, then directly recommending a direction for circulating his Soul Power.

As a result, Gu Ziyi and Tang Yuehua could often be seen in the library, discussing a drawing of a human body covered in lines.

Since she could not directly teach Gu Ziyi the Advanced Meditation Technique, she would just offer him little suggestions bit by bit.

After Bai Lu noticed this, she did not stop her again, because she could tell that Tang Yuehua only made occasional suggestions and had not laid out an entire set of instructions.

Moreover, Gu Ziyi did not accept all of them. After trying many of her suggestions, he said the circulation felt uncomfortable and abandoned them.

Later on, Tang Yuehua no longer dared to keep offering suggestions.

Yet both she and Bai Lu had the feeling that Gu Ziyi really might develop an Advanced Meditation Technique of his own.

Because of this, Tang Yuehua and Bai Lu could not help becoming increasingly expectant.