Choosing a Site in Heaven Dou, the Academy Takes Shape

In the western outskirts of Heaven Dou City, the terrain gradually flattened. In the distance, the Star Dou Great Forest stretched like a dark green sea, separated from the bustle and prosperity of the imperial capital by only a few dozen miles. It formed a peculiar juxtaposition—the height of civilization and the primal wild met at this boundary.

Qin Mo stopped atop an open, gentle slope, standing with his hands behind his back as his black robes stirred lightly in the breeze. His calm gaze swept across the landscape before him. Below the slope lay a broad valley thick with vegetation, where a clear stream wound through the land, its rippling surface gleaming beneath the sunlight. Farther away, the immense Life Aura of the Star Dou Great Forest drifted faintly over like a tide.

Bing'er and Yan'er stood half a step behind him, one on each side, like his most loyal guards. Zhu Zhuqing and Ye Lingling stood a little farther away. The two newly joined girls still carried their own cool detachment as they silently observed their surroundings. Ning Rongrong, meanwhile, was visibly excited. She skipped to the top of the slope, spread her arms, and took a deep breath of air carrying the scent of fresh grass and the distant forest, her little face filled with curiosity and anticipation.

"Young Sect Master, what do you think of this place?" Bing'er asked softly. She could sense that although the Heaven and Earth Primal Energy here was not as abundant as in the sect's hidden realm, it still far surpassed that of ordinary places. More importantly, it possessed a rare openness and tranquility.

Qin Mo gave a slight nod but did not answer at once. He slowly closed his eyes, and his Spiritual Power spread across the surroundings like spilled mercury, carefully sensing the flow of the land veins, the movement of primal energy, and the subtler... "configuration."

A moment later, he opened his eyes, satisfaction flashing through them.

"This place is good," he said. "It has the gentle slope at its back to block the north wind; it faces the valley with an expansive view, gathering wind and energy. Living water surrounds it, ensuring unending vitality. More importantly..."

He raised a hand and pointed toward the dark green forest sea in the distance. "It is less than thirty miles from the Star Dou Great Forest. We can draw on the abundant Life Energy that spills from it to nourish the academy, and it will be convenient for students to obtain soul rings and gain practical experience in the future. Yet it maintains a safe distance, so we will not constantly face threats from powerful soul beasts. It is an ideal place to build an academy."

Everyone nodded at his words. Even Ning Rongrong, the pickiest among them, felt that this place had a bit more wilderness and freedom than the pavilions and towers within the sect.

With the location decided, the next step was construction.

With a thought, Qin Mo connected to the Nine-Story Demon Pagoda within his Sea of Consciousness. A nearly imperceptible spatial ripple spread outward, and in the next instant, a large pile of scrolls, blueprints, and tools glimmering with the distinctive light of Soul Tools appeared on the ground before them. These were all things his grandfather, Qin Yuan, had stuffed into his hands before he left the sect: some of the architectural blueprints and formation diagrams accumulated by the sect, as well as... an enormous number of Gold Soul Coin cards.

"Bing'er, Yan'er," Qin Mo instructed, "take my token and these Gold Soul Coins back to Heaven Dou City immediately. Find the largest Master Craftsman Workshop and hire their best architects and craftsmen. Use only the best materials as well. Spare no expense."

"Yes, Young Sect Master!" Bing'er and Yan'er respectfully accepted their orders. After putting away the items, their figures flashed, and they sped toward Heaven Dou City like two wisps of smoke, moving with astonishing speed.

Qin Mo then turned to Zhu Zhuqing and Ye Lingling. "Zhuqing, your injuries have not fully healed, but your senses are sharp. Keep watch over the surroundings and prevent idle people or reckless soul beasts from approaching and causing trouble. Lingling, assist her. If anything happens, your healing ability will be crucial."

Zhu Zhuqing silently nodded. Her figure flickered, and she soundlessly merged into the shadow of a nearby tree, her presence almost completely vanishing. Ye Lingling gave a light nod and found a clean stone to sit on. The phantom of the Nine Heart Begonia appeared faintly behind her, radiating a gentle Life Aura that put others at ease.

"What about me? What about me?" Ning Rongrong hurried over, eager to get involved.

Qin Mo glanced at her and casually tossed her a large, heavy roll of blueprints. "This is a draft of the academy's main design. You will guard it. Also, use your Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda to sense the points in this area where the land-vein primal energy is strongest. Mark them out. They will be useful later."

"Ah? Guard blueprints? Sense land veins?" Ning Rongrong's little face fell. She had thought she would be given some interesting task. But when she met Qin Mo's unquestionable gaze, she still took the blueprints with a pout, muttering under her breath, "All you know is how to order people around..."

With everything arranged, Qin Mo walked alone to the center of the valley. He slowly crouched down and placed his right hand on the warm earth. Soul Power gradually seeped into the ground as he more carefully sensed the veins beneath the land. At the same time, a blueprint for the future academy rapidly took shape in his mind.

What he planned to build was no ordinary Soul Master Academy.

He wanted to create the prototype of a true God-Tier Academy, one that combined the mysteries of Myriad Manifestations Sect formations, the modern concepts from his previous life, and the native style of Douluo Continent!

The main buildings would be constructed from a blend of the sturdiest obsidian and Star Steel, inscribed with the Reinforcement and Spirit Gathering Formation. The teaching district, Mimicry Training Area, Combat Training Ground, residential district, library, Alchemy Workshop... every function would be complete, every area clearly divided. At the heart of the entire academy would stand a tower soaring into the clouds—that would become the symbol and magnified form of the future Nine-Story Demon Pagoda, as well as the formation eye of the academy's Mountain Protection Formation!

The scale of the project was immense, and the funds required were astronomical. But to the deeply established Myriad Manifestations Sect, such things were nothing.

In less than half a day, Bing'er and Yan'er returned. Behind them followed a massive convoy!

Several dozen heavy carriages, fully loaded with construction materials and tools, rumbled along. More than a hundred experienced craftsmen and architects dressed in Master Craftsman Workshop uniforms followed behind them. At the front were several white-haired elders with shrewd, seasoned eyes. When they saw how young Qin Mo was, surprise flickered through their gazes. But after sensing the extraordinary auras of Bing'er and Yan'er, as well as the terrifyingly generous deposit paid by their employer, they immediately suppressed all doubts and became incomparably respectful.

What drew even more attention was that nearly a hundred sturdy young men stood along both sides of the convoy, their auras sharp and their movements perfectly synchronized. Bing'er and Yan'er had directly mobilized them from the sect's hidden base in Heaven Dou City. They were the sect's outer forces, responsible for security and labor during construction.

"Young Sect Master, the people have arrived. The three best master craftsmen from the Master Craftsman Workshop and their teams are all here. The materials will continue arriving shortly," Bing'er stepped forward and reported.

Qin Mo nodded, his gaze sweeping over the curious yet reverent craftsmen and the solemn sect guards.

Without another word, he directly unrolled the enormous blueprint Ning Rongrong had complained was too heavy.

When the blueprint was fully spread out, every master craftsman who crowded around it sucked in a cold breath!

The design was so exquisite, the vision so grand, and the details so complete that it far exceeded anything they had imagined! Many of its structures and concepts were things they had never heard of or seen before, as though they came from another civilization! In particular, the giant tower at the academy's core, designed to exceed one hundred meters in height, possessed such complex construction requirements and exacting standards that even these seasoned master craftsmen felt their scalps tingle. Yet they were also thrilled—being able to take part in constructing such a miraculous building would undoubtedly be the pinnacle of their careers!

"This... this really is..." The lead white-haired master craftsman was so excited that his fingers trembled. "Heavenly craftsmanship! Truly heavenly craftsmanship! Young master, is... is this really going to be built exactly like this?"

"Not a single detail will differ." Qin Mo's tone was calm, yet it carried unquestionable resolve. "Funds, materials, manpower—take however much you need. I have only one requirement: speed and quality."

"Understood! Understood!" The master craftsmen nodded repeatedly in excitement. They immediately turned around as though pumped full of energy and began shouting orders to their craftsmen and laborers, clearing the site, taking measurements, marking boundaries, and erecting temporary work sheds.

The silent valley instantly became a bustling construction site. Hammering, shouted orders, and the rumble of wheels rose and fell in succession, overflowing with vigorous energy.

As Ning Rongrong watched the grand scene rapidly unfold before her, her little mouth fell slightly open. Her earlier dissatisfaction had long vanished, replaced by an inexplicable sense of involvement and anticipation. Zhu Zhuqing remained hidden in the shadows, but even her cold eyes showed a faint ripple. Ye Lingling watched quietly, curiosity glimmering in her gentle gaze.

Qin Mo stood atop the slope, looking down at the busy scene below. The first starlight and the flames of the construction site reflected in his black eyes.

The foundation of Myriad Manifestations Academy was laid here.