Mimicry Training Grounds

That afternoon was set aside for the students to train freely.

Liu Erlong toured the academy's Mimicry Training Grounds with Yu Xiaogang and Flender.

There were five large grounds in total: a forest, a lake, a grassland, a Fire House, and an armory. There were also several smaller grounds. Flender practically drooled as he took them in.

After all, when he founded Shrek Academy, he had dreamed that one day he might establish an advanced Soul Master Academy with Mimicry Training Grounds like these.

But over the years, his extreme educational philosophy and refusal to accept sponsorship from others had left the academy struggling financially. In the end, he could barely keep the academy's name alive, and it wasn't even officially registered with the state.

Now, though, Liu Erlong had decided to rename the academy Shrek Academy, helping Flender realize his wish.

Unlike Flender, who was like a country bumpkin visiting a grand garden, Yu Xiaogang showed little reaction after seeing the academy's Mimicry Training Grounds. There was even a hint of contemplation in his eyes.

For one thing, based on the knowledge in his mind, he could see that these Mimicry Training Grounds still had room for improvement.

More importantly, the academy lacked a lightning attribute Mimicry Training Ground suited to the Blue Electric Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul. That would have a significant impact on his progress over the coming period.

Liu Erlong clearly noticed this and immediately asked, "Xiao Gang, what do you think?"

Yu Xiaogang smiled. "The academy's Mimicry Training Grounds are all very good, but there's still room to optimize them."

Liu Erlong and Flender turned to Yu Xiaogang, waiting for him to continue.

Seeing that, Yu Xiaogang cleared his throat. "The purpose of a Mimicry Training Ground is to provide Soul Masters with an environment suited to their Martial Soul's attributes. That's why specific elements are usually used to construct each ground. There's nothing wrong with that."

"But there's another important factor that people often overlook: the terrain. Each type of Mimicry Training Ground has terrain suited to it. If we can adjust the terrain, the training effects of these grounds will improve considerably."

Liu Erlong and Flender were both baffled. The word "terrain" sounded rather mysterious to them, but since Yu Xiaogang had said it, there had to be a reason.

Liu Erlong spoke up. "If it can improve the Mimicry Training Grounds, then go ahead and do it, Xiao Gang. Don't worry about holding back."

Flender nodded as well. "As it happens, I have some materials. Take them and use whatever you need, Xiao Gang. If we're making changes, we might as well do the best job possible."

Over the years, he had gathered plenty of materials for Shrek Academy. What Tang San had seen when he went to buy Sakura Crystal from Flender's shop was only a tiny portion. He had brought all of his stores with him when he moved to Heaven Dou City.

Seeing that they were fully supporting him, Yu Xiaogang readily agreed.

And so, the plan to renovate the Mimicry Training Grounds was officially set in motion. Work began soon afterward.

To avoid disrupting the students' training, Yu Xiaogang didn't make a big show of it. Instead, he made gradual improvements, and the grounds changed subtly, without anyone noticing.

Three months later, inside the Fire House Mimicry Training Ground.

The original room had been lined with Flame Stones. They all came from Flender's stockpile. Years ago, he had traveled the continent alone and collected many materials with special attributes like these.

With the Flame Stones in place, the furnace's flames could draw out their scorching heat, providing tremendous benefits to fire attribute Soul Masters in training.

The other Mimicry Training Grounds had undergone similar changes. For instance, Yu Xiaogang had reshaped the terrain in the forest and planted many grasses and trees conducive to meditation. He had also invited Plant System Soul Masters to cultivate several specific trees, making the forest's Grass and Wood Qi even more vigorous.

The lake and grassland had also been cleared and expanded. The weapons in the armory had been rearranged, and Flender had even bought many old weapons from weapon shops in Heaven Dou City and placed them inside. People had used these weapons for a long time, leaving them imbued with human energy and connected to those who wielded them. They were extremely helpful to Weapon Type Soul Masters.

After training in the grounds for a while, the students had also felt the changes in their surroundings and praised them. The title of "Grandmaster" began to spread throughout the academy.

Yet Yu Xiaogang still felt that something was missing after finishing all this.

The renovations to the Mimicry Training Grounds were now mostly complete, but a few crucial things were still lacking. The academy also didn't have the materials needed to build a lightning attribute Mimicry Training Ground. He would have to search for them outside the academy.

Just as Yu Xiaogang was about to bring this up, Flender told him some news first.

Ning Rongrong, Zhu Zhuqing, and Ma Hongjun had all reached level thirty and could absorb their third Soul Rings. Flender wanted Yu Xiaogang to hurry up and decide what kind of Soul Rings they should choose.

Yu Xiaogang thought it over and realized that searching for materials and hunting Soul Beasts weren't mutually exclusive. They could take care of both at once.

So, after choosing the types of Soul Rings, he arranged with Flender to leave for Sunset Forest in three days.

Three days later, at the gates of Shrek Academy.

During the renovations, Flender had replaced the sign above the gate, changing it from "Blue Tyrant Academy" to "Shrek Academy."

He had also officially changed the academy's name at the academy administration office in Heaven Dou City.

Shrek Academy had risen to new heights and become one of the leading advanced Soul Master Academies in the entire Heaven Dou Empire.

Flender was very satisfied. He said this was the best outcome Shrek Academy could have hoped for.

Yu Xiaogang, however, knew that everything concerning Shrek Academy had only just begun. From then on, the academy behind him would become closely intertwined with Soul Masters across the world, and its rise or fall would determine the fate of the entire continent.

Two carriages came from the side and stopped in front of the Shrek Academy gates.

Yu Xiaogang and the others, who had been waiting outside, climbed aboard one by one. The carriages then set off for Sunset Forest.

Three teachers had come along for the Soul Beast hunt: Yu Xiaogang, Liu Erlong, and Flender. The Golden Iron Triangle formed by the three of them was both efficient and economical, and could handle any problem below the level of a Titled Douluo.

Only three of the Seven Monsters had come: Ning Rongrong, Zhu Zhuqing, and Ma Hongjun. Besides Tang San, who had been abducted, the other three were all preparing for the upcoming Advanced Academy Soul Master Competition.

Sunset Forest was close to Heaven Dou City. After only half a day on the road, the carriages reached a market town outside the forest.

The Shrek Academy group got out of the carriages but didn't enter Sunset Forest right away. Instead, they found a hotel in town and checked in.

Then Yu Xiaogang and Flender set out separately and bought maps of Sunset Forest from several shops in town.

The two returned to the hotel to rejoin the others and laid out the maps they had bought.

After examining all the maps, Flender couldn't help sighing. "Xiao Gang, none of the three Soul Beasts you mentioned are marked here."

Yu Xiaogang shook his head slightly. "They must be there. These three Soul Beasts are rare, but they've all appeared in Sunset Forest before. They definitely have populations there."

"If the maps sold openly don't mention them, then we'll have to ask around at the underground Black Market."