Dugu Yan's Subtle Change in Attitude, Dou Hun

Luo Li ultimately did not take Dugu Bo's Herb Garden.

Just as he had said before, he only took what had been promised to him.

Based on the original story's descriptions, Luo Li took several Immortal Herbs he knew of.

As for the rest, he temporarily left those slots open.

Luo Li did not possess much knowledge about Immortal Herbs either.

There were simply too few records of them on the continent.

Other than the few Immortal Herbs he knew from his memories of the original story, Luo Li was utterly clueless about the rest.

Across the entire continent, perhaps only Tang San—a transmigrator whose knowledge from two worlds could somehow still connect—and Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan knew about them.

If the opportunity arose later, perhaps he could start with those two.

Luo Li himself only consumed the Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew and the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum, which tempered the body.

Just as he had expected.

Because of his cultivation level, while the Immortal Herbs could help him, their effects were not particularly astonishing.

However, Luo Li was not disappointed.

The reason he had planned for these Immortal Herbs was mainly for the sake of his family.

He brought the selected Immortal Herbs back to Luo Manor and gave them to his parents and younger sister.

His father, Luo Nan, was already a Soul Douluo. Though his talent was good, he was nowhere near as exceptionally gifted as Luo Li.

He still had plenty of room to improve.

The Immortal Herbs not only raised his Soul Power but, more importantly, improved his talent.

Perhaps before long, the Luo Family would produce its first true Titled Douluo!

After all, although Luo Li unquestionably possessed the combat strength of a Titled Douluo, strictly speaking, his cultivation was still only that of a Soul Douluo.

The fief Xue Ye had granted Luo Li was in the Northern Frontier, but he did not require Luo Li to remain there.

If that had been his intention, he would not have made Luo Li the dean of Heaven Dou Royal Academy as well.

As dean, Luo Li spent most of his time as a hands-off manager, with the Three Education Committees still handling the academy's affairs.

However, he did not treat the matters he had agreed to casually.

Based on what he had learned during that day's battle, Luo Li devised specialized training plans for Yu Tianheng and the others.

They were entirely different from simple running-based physical training; Luo Li's methods were targeted.

Whether it was an individual's overall ability or a particular aspect of their physical capabilities, everything was specifically tailored.

Heaven Dou Royal Academy was backed by the Heaven Dou Imperial Family, and with the imperial family's financial support, his ideas could be fully implemented.

This was the difference in foundation between major academies and smaller ones.

Qin Ming's previous training methods had completely failed to make use of that advantage.

Running...

That was practically giving up the resource advantage of being backed by the imperial family!

Commoners had their own ways of cultivating.

But if one clearly had excellent conditions and still deliberately chose grueling training, wasn't that just a disease of the brain?

After more than two months of training, Yu Tianheng and the others had clearly felt the increase in their rate of improvement.

This made them feel that their previous training methods had been increasingly misguided.

Fortunately, the person in charge of them had been replaced by Luo Li.

As for the Immortal Herbs...

Naturally, Luo Li would not give them any.

At the end of the day, Yu Tianheng and the others could only be considered his students. In terms of familiarity, they were far from close.

Luo Li did not have many Immortal Herbs in the first place.

Other than his parents, younger sister, his fiancée Xue Ke, and the lieutenant of the White Robe Army.

Even if he were to give the remaining ones away, based on the closeness of their relationship, they should go to the other members of the White Robe Army rather than Yu Tianheng and the others.

He was only their teacher, not their father.

Of course, if someone later proved themselves worthy in Luo Li's eyes, he might consider it.

Heaven Dou Royal Academy

Yu Tianheng and the others, having completed a round of training according to the individual plans Luo Li had made for them, were resting between sets.

"Dean Luo!"

Seeing the white-clad figure in the distance, Dugu Yan, who had been sitting in her spot and playing with her fingers, brightened.

She stood up and waved in greeting.

The rest of the Imperial Dou Team also rose to their feet and greeted him respectfully:

"Hello, Dean Luo!"

Over the past two months of spending time together, they had completely forgotten that Luo Li was not much older than them—and was even younger than some of them.

They had all come to regard Luo Li as a true elder on the level of a dean, rather than a peer.

Only...

Ye Lingling's beautiful eyes, uncovered by her veil, imperceptibly glanced at Dugu Yan beside her.

Yan Yan's attitude toward Dean Luo had been a little strange ever since that day.

With her keen eye for detail, Ye Lingling was the only one among the Imperial Dou Team to notice this.

What had Dean Luo wanted when he kept Yan Yan behind alone that day?

Why had Yan Yan's attitude toward Dean Luo changed so drastically?

Ye Lingling did not understand, but she believed something immensely significant must have happened. Otherwise, someone with Dugu Yan's personality would not have changed like this.

Still, Ye Lingling did not ask.

If Dugu Yan wanted to talk about it, she naturally would.

Luo Li stepped before them, his gaze sweeping across the group as he gave a slight nod.

"After this period of training, you should understand your own progress better than anyone else."

Yu Tianheng and the others nodded in complete agreement.

They had never realized that they still had so much room for improvement.

"Dean Lord's training is far more efficient than what we had before!"

Yu Feng blurted out impatiently.

Osler hurriedly poked him in the waist as a reminder.

Teacher Qin Ming was still right there.

Although Dean Luo's training methods truly were much better, saying that outright would embarrass Teacher Qin Ming, wouldn't it?

Only then did Yu Feng suddenly realize this. He stiffly turned his head and gave Qin Ming an awkward smile.

Although Qin Ming also felt embarrassed, he was not angry.

After all, what Yu Feng said was the truth.

Compared to Dean Luo's methods, his own training methods truly were inefficient and full of risks.

Qin Ming was not someone who stubbornly refused to admit his mistakes.

If he was wrong, he would admit it. If he did not know something, he would learn.

Insisting on mistakes would only leave one standing still, never able to reach greater heights.

Luo Li neither confirmed nor denied it, merely continuing, "This stage of training ends here. Next, we will prepare for another stage of training."

Another stage?

Everyone was stunned.

"That's right. As soul masters, combat is unavoidable for you."

"And practical combat experience is also an indispensable part of becoming a powerful soul master."

Luo Li cast Qin Ming a casual glance.

"Teacher Qin Ming should understand this very well. It should have been included in your original plans as well."

Qin Ming, who had suddenly been called on, froze for a moment before repeatedly nodding.

"The dean is right. According to the original plan, I did intend to have you duel at the Spirit Dueling Arena to accumulate experience."

"But now, I believe the dean may have something better..."

Qin Ming had now been completely won over by Luo Li and no longer believed his own teaching methods were correct.

Thus, when Luo Li mentioned him, Qin Ming instinctively prepared to deny himself.

But Luo Li raised a hand to stop him from continuing.

"No, I think there is no problem with it."