Academy Development, Class Showdown

When the academy was first established, almost all expenses were borne by the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. Although Yu Yuanchen had extremely high prestige, he also knew that this was not a long-term solution. A truly independent and vibrant academy must have the ability to generate its own revenue, rather than being forever dependent on a certain sect.

Cost reduction and revenue generation are inevitable choices. Yu Yuanchen made some attempts in his early years, such as setting up Mission Hall so that students could earn resources by completing tasks, which would also bring certain benefits to the academy; streamlining administration and improving efficiency.

However, these measures are still a drop in the ocean for maintaining an increasingly large college that strives for top-notch teaching quality.

Their gazes naturally turned to the Heaven Dou Empire.

According to continental practice, Soul Master Academy established within the Empire and meeting official standards are eligible for regular funding from the Empire's treasury. This funding is typically used to support the academy's infrastructure maintenance, teacher salaries, and subsidies for some impoverished students.

In exchange, the Empire generally does not interfere too much in the internal affairs of the academy, but rather regards it as a strategic investment to cultivate and attract talent for the Empire.

However, the situation at the Tianxing Academy is somewhat special. Although Dragon City is nominally under the jurisdiction of the Heaven Dou Empire, its actual control is entirely in the hands of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. From the outside, Tianxing Academy is more like a private school where Yu Yuanchen trains "Vassal" for his own sect.

If Tianxing Academy is entirely supported by the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan for a long time, this impression will become deeply ingrained, and the academy will find it difficult to shake off the label of "Blue Lightning's vassal," which goes against Yu Yuanchen's original intention of founding the academy, educating all without discrimination, and promoting Martial Way.

The introduction of imperial funding sends a clear signal: Tianxing Academy is an independent elite Soul Master academy serving the entire continent, and its existence is officially recognized and supported by the Empire. This helps enhance the academy's credibility and attractiveness.

For the Heaven Dou Empire, this is also a worthwhile investment.

Tianxing Academy graduates more than 800 students each year. A large portion of them return to their respective families or are absorbed by various sects (Upper Three Sects and Lower Four Sects, which are friendly forces that absorb many outstanding graduates from other families), and some choose to stay at the academy to teach. However, nearly 400 talented commoner Soul Master who have received systematic Martial Way and Soul Master education will still enter society.

They either joined the imperial military and government system, were employed by major chambers of commerce, or returned to their hometowns to establish small Soul Master families, becoming an important force in consolidating imperial rule and promoting local stability.

This allocation of funds is equivalent to the Empire acquiring high-quality human resources in batches at a relatively low cost. Therefore, the Empire is quite positive about the allocation.

Of course, Yu Yuanchen accepted the funding primarily out of strategic considerations for the long-term development of the academy, as well as out of a superficial respect for the empire.

He doesn't think much of the Heaven Dou Imperial Family; the fact that he doesn't treat them like ATMs is already a testament to Yu Yuanchen's kindness. Don't misunderstand.

To save face, he granted the imperial nobles a special "backdoor" channel—that is, the origin of Class Seven). Most of the students in this class were the sons of nobles of all ranks in the Heaven Dou Empire, who entered the class through their family power or donations.

However, Yu Yuanchen also established a rule: after enrollment, everyone will be treated equally. Students in Class Seven must abide by the same school rules and participate in the same training and assessments. The intensity of training and the requirements for academic subjects are exactly the same as those in other classes.

The academy will never lower its standards because of their noble status. If anyone abuses their power or violates the academy's rules, the punishment will only be more severe. As for those who cannot endure hardship or fatigue and cry and insist on dropping out, the academy is more than happy to see them do so.

With this system in place, Class Seven has become a concentration camp for "aristocratic waste" in the academy. True aristocratic elites have their own top-tier resources and training pathways and would not stoop to such backdoors.

Those who remained in Class Seven were mostly spoiled brats. They only dared to show off verbally and privately mock the "poor devils" of Class Eleven. If they actually dared to bully their classmates, they would be severely punished by the academy. At best, they would have their resources deducted and be forced to do labor; at worst, they would be expelled without any mercy.

This approach, on the contrary, made students in other classes, especially those from commoner backgrounds, more clearly aware of the other side of the so-called aristocracy, and they cherished the relatively fair environment of the academy even more.

Time flies, and the first semester is drawing to a close. According to the college's regulations, a highly anticipated inter-class competition will be held at the end of the semester. This competition will not only test the students' learning achievements during the semester, but the results will also be included in the final comprehensive evaluation, which, together with the monthly scores, will determine the final ranking of the class and the allocation of resources.

The monthly comprehensive evaluation mainly examines discipline, housekeeping, training progress, and academic performance. In this regard, under the leadership of Yu Yunting, Class One) has strict discipline, hard work in training, and excellent academic performance, winning first place many times.

(Class Three) Under Yu Yunyao's careful management, the atmosphere in Class 3 was harmonious. The students of the Auxiliary and Control System performed outstandingly in cultural theory and teamwork, closely following behind and often ranking second.

Surprisingly, the students of Class Eleven), despite starting from the lowest point, achieved extremely high scores in the "progress rate" category thanks to their indomitable spirit and extraordinary efforts. They often managed to squeeze into the top three, leaving many classes with better Martial Soul quality behind them.

The academy's rewards (free Soul Beast Meat and medicinal cuisine) are only given to the top three students, making the competition extremely fierce.

The final class joint competition is the ultimate test of practical skills and strategy.

After repeated discussions among the teachers in the Academic Affairs Office, and taking into account the characteristics and strength assessments of each class, the final confrontation plan was determined: a coalition of nearly 300 people, consisting of Class One) (Yu Yunting, strong attack/agility attack), Class Three) (Yu Yunyao, support/control), Class (Class Eleven Class Two) (strong attack/agility attack), will confront another Coalition Army of approximately 560 people, consisting Coalition Army Class Ten).

This is a typical battle with a huge disparity in numbers! Although Class Seven is the weakest overall, its numbers are still quite considerable. The battlefield is set in a vast area behind the academy, Simulation complex terrain, including forests, streams, small deserts, and ruins.

Competition Rules: Classes compete to capture ten "Camp Flag" scattered across the battlefield. Victory is achieved by capturing and protecting the flags until the end of the competition, or by "defeating" all of the opposing team's forces (determined by the instructor to be either incapacitated or have exhausted their Soul Power). Tactics and ambushes are permitted, aiming to comprehensively train students' combat skills, teamwork, and tactical acumen.

The announcement caused an uproar throughout the hospital. The side with the numerical advantage was eager to use their strength to intimidate the other side; the side with the fewer numbers felt immense pressure, but it also ignited their fighting spirit.

Yu Yunting and Yu Yunyao contacted their respective class leaders and held an emergency consultation before the competition.

"Brother, the enemy outnumbers us by almost twice. A direct confrontation would definitely put us at a disadvantage." Yu Yunyao spread out a simple map, her delicate brows furrowing slightly. "We must use the terrain to our advantage and divide and conquer them."

Yu Yunting nodded, his gaze sharp. "That's right. They have many people, but they're not united. Class Seven's rabble is definitely their weakness. Class Ten have many Power Attack System and are prone to recklessness. Classes 6 and 9 have support and Control System that need protection. We can do this..."

The brother and sister discussed in hushed tones, and, taking into account the characteristics of their respective classes, quickly devised a bold battle plan.

1. Luring the enemy deep into the territory and dividing the battlefield: A decoy force composed of some students from Class Two and Class Eleven will pretend to be the main force in an open area to attract the enemy's strong attacking forces, such as Class 4, Class 5, and Class 6, to pursue them.

2. Surprise Attack and Decapitation Assistance: The elite of Class One) (led by Yu Yunting) and some students of Class Three) who are good at speed and control will use the terrain to hide and outflank the enemy's rear guard of Classes (8), (9), and (Class Ten) to assist in controlling the formation.

3. Hold key positions and break through the enemy's defenses: The main force of Class Three and most of the students of Class Eleven, relying on the tenacious will of the students of Class Eleven and the excellent control and healing abilities of Class Three, held several easy-to-defend and difficult-to-attack flag points, thus tying down some of the enemy's forces.

4. Flexible and mobile, defeating one by one: Throughout the operation, the remaining troops of Class One) and (Class Two will serve as mobile forces to support all sides at any time, taking advantage of regional numerical superiority to eliminate small enemy units that have been lured away by bait, isolated, or sent as reinforcements.

On the day of the competition, the sky was clear and blue. More than 800 trainees, led by their respective teachers, entered the Simulation battlefield, where the atmosphere was so tense it was palpable.

At the start of the battle, the Coalition Army forces proceeded according to plan. The "bait" units of Class Two) and Class Eleven) successfully attracted the attention of the enemy's main force, fighting and retreating, leading about 300 enemy Power Attack System into the pre-planned complex mountain forest area.

At the same time, Yu Yunting personally led more than 20 of the fastest students from Class One, as well as several members of Class Three led by Yu Yunyao who possessed Soul Skill such as acceleration and invisibility. Like ghosts, they silently circled around to the flank and rear of the enemy's main force under the cover of the forest and ruins.

At this moment, in the enemy's rear, the students of Class Seven were scattered together, while the support and Control System Soul Master of Class Ten were nervously applying buffs to their front-line teammates, with relatively low vigilance.

"Now! Thunder Dragon Claw!" Yu Yunting shouted, stepping with the Dragon Swimming Steps, leading the charge, his Martial Soul Possession! Purple-Gold of Thunder Sacred Dragon erupted, and he shot straight at the core of the enemy's support formation like an arrow released from a bow!

"First Soul Skill, Thunder Dragon Body!"

Streaks of lightning tore through the air, instantly disrupting the enemy's formation.

"Immortal Begonia Domain, open! Entanglement!" Yu Yunyao followed closely behind. The Sacred Heart Immortal Begonia emitted a soft yet resilient light, and emerald green vines broke through the soil, quickly Entanglement the panicked support Soul Master.

"Enemy attack! Enemy attack from the rear!"

"It's Yu Yunting! And Yu Yunyao too!"

The enemy's rear guard was thrown into chaos instantly! The students of Class Seven were terrified and scattered in all directions, unable to mount any effective resistance. The support and Control System Soul Master were brought into close combat, their fighting power was greatly reduced, and they were quickly "discarded" under the assault of the elite squad led by Yu Yunting.

Hearing the commotion behind them, the main enemy force pursuing the "bait" rushed back to reinforce, but it was too late. Yu Yunting's squad, having succeeded in their attack, did not linger and quickly retreated to join forces with the mobile force of the Class Two that had come to their aid. They then turned around and attacked the enemy forces that were eager to reinforce and whose formation had been disrupted.

At several key points, the main force of Class Three) and the students of Class Eleven) displayed astonishing resilience. The students of Class Eleven) may not have been individually strong, but they cooperated well, had a tenacious will, and relied on their familiarity with the terrain and a fierce determination to withstand the enemy's numerically superior attack. The control and healing of Class Three) played a crucial role in Dinghai Shenzhen.

The battlefield was successfully divided! Although the Coalition Army forces were outnumbered, they achieved a numerical advantage in the region. Yu Yunting and Yu Yunyao's precise command and powerful individual abilities played a decisive role. Yu Yunting was like a sharp blade on the battlefield, invincible; Yu Yunyao was like the soul of the team. Her Immortal Begonia Domain could not only heal injuries and restore Soul Power, but also greatly weaken the enemy's condition. With this shift in power, the Coalition Army grew stronger with each battle.

On the other hand, the side with the numerical advantage lacked unified command, with each class fighting independently. The collapse of Class Seven further affected the overall morale. In the end, after nearly an hour of fierce fighting, the Coalition Army forces, with their excellent tactical execution and tenacious fighting spirit, successfully captured six flags and "defeated" more than 70% of the enemy's manpower, winning this battle where the outnumbered defeated the many!

When the final whistle blew, a deafening cheer erupted from Yu Yunting and Yu Yunyao's side. The students of Class Eleven embraced and wept, having proven themselves through their sweat and perseverance. The students of Class One and Class Two tossed Yu Yunting high into the air; his calm command under pressure and formidable strength earned everyone's respect. The students of Class Three surrounded Yu Yunyao, their faces beaming with pride.

The teachers watching nodded in approval, especially Lei Zhan and Su Wan, who were filled with pride seeing their class monitor perform so well. This competition not only tested the students' abilities but also showcased the team spirit, tactical wisdom, and indomitable will advocated by the Tianxing Academy.

Yu Yunting and Yu Yunyao exchanged a smile, their clothes soaked with sweat, but their eyes shone brightly. They knew this was just the beginning, and many more challenges awaited them on the road ahead.

The end of the semester means the start of the holidays. The students will return to their respective homes, carrying with them the gains and growth of the semester. Yu Yunting and Yu Yunyao also packed their bags, preparing to return to Dragon City.

As they walked out of the academy gate, they were surprised to see their parents, Yu Yuanchen and Ye Zhilan, standing not far away, smiling and waiting for them.

"Dad! Mom!" The two children ran over excitedly. Tianxing Academy was very close to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, and they would naturally go home to see their parents when they had free time. However, they were told that their parents had gone out to play, which made them a little disappointed. They did not expect that their parents would rush back during their holiday to give them a surprise.

Yu Yuanchen caught his children as they rushed towards him, ruffled their hair, and said with admiration in his eyes, "Not bad, I heard you did a great job this semester."

Ye Zhilan gently hugged her daughter, saying, "You've worked hard, Yao Yao."

It turned out that Yu Yuanchen and Ye Zhilan had made a special trip back during their travels across the mainland, counting down the days until the end of the semester. In the past six months, they had traveled to many places across the mainland, but the next stop was a long way off, so they naturally wanted to go home to see their children before leaving. They hadn't seen them for so long and missed them terribly.

"Let's go home." Yu Yuanchen took his son's hand in one hand and his daughter's hand in the other. "Dad and Mom will spend this holiday with you. We'll also hear about your stories at the academy."

In the setting sun, the shadows of the family of four were stretched long.