"You're not bad at using a Demon Blade, kid. What you lack most is experience."
Over the next half month, the academy's secluded mountain forest became their training ground. Every day, the two figures could be seen clashing fiercely.
"Little brat, your footwork is too sloppy! You've got a Demon Blade, but your fundamentals are a mess! Your legs are weak, and all your attacks are just flashy moves!"
Thud!
With a dull thump, Suo Ling's leg swept out and sent Mu Rong sprawling into the dirt.
"Again!"
Suo Ling gritted his teeth, scrambled back to his feet, and brushed the dirt from his clothes.
"Watch closely. Your opponent is taller and stronger than you, so don't meet force with force. You need to learn how to use your agility and height to your advantage."
Mu Rong explained as he demonstrated.
"Keep your body low! Use your core, and draw strength from your whole body! Look—you can easily dodge my sweeping kick, and then find an opening to get inside my guard!"
Suo Ling concentrated, making sure to memorize every move.
The second round began.
This time, Suo Ling kept his eyes fixed on Mu Rong. He no longer tried to meet him head-on, instead dodging and searching for an opportunity.
"Good! Exactly like that! Keep moving. If you don't stay still, your opponent will have a harder time locking onto you!"
Mu Rong shouted, his hands never stopping. Each punch came one after another, forcing Suo Ling to retreat in a panic.
"Your reactions are still too slow! In a fight, no one's going to wait for you to think! Your opponent won't give you time to consider your next move! You have to rely on instinct! Find a way to avoid the attack and counter while you're at it!"
Suo Ling couldn't react in time. Mu Rong landed a punch on his shoulder, and the pain made him grimace.
But he didn't give up. He gritted his teeth, waited for Mu Rong's next attack, then pulled back and opened up some distance between them.
"Not bad. You're starting to get the hang of it."
Mu Rong nodded approvingly.
"Remember, in a fight, anything can happen."
"If you get hit, don't panic. The first thing you should think about is how to get out of danger, not how to hit back."
The half month passed quickly. Mu Rong had no choice but to escort them back to the city, since there were Demon Blades along the way.
As they parted, Mu Rong still seemed reluctant to leave. In the end, he gave Suo Ling three gold soul fragments.
As long as the kid showed promise, the investment would be worth it.
The Demon Blade had only brought in four or five gold soul fragments over the course of a year. After subtracting the cost of maintaining and repairing it, there was hardly anything left for him to spend on himself.
Time flew by, and Mu Rong's cultivation had already reached the twelfth level.
Inside the dormitory, a powerful wave of soul energy suddenly spread out. Mu Rong, sitting cross-legged on the bed, slowly opened his eyes. He let out a long breath.
With the help of his diligent training and the herbs, he had officially reached the Great Soul Scholar realm.
"Congratulations, boss!"
"Congratulations!"
Suo Ling and the others were genuinely impressed. Their eyes shone with admiration.
"You've got to work hard too, kid. In a few years, you might be able to break through to Great Soul Scholar as well."
Mu Rong stood up and stretched his limbs.
That year, Suo Ling had relied on the resources Mu Rong provided to break through to Soul Warrior. He had even absorbed a three-hundred-and-twenty-year-old Soul Fragment from a vicious ghost wolf, becoming a true Demon Blade wielder.
After spending a year at Suotu Demon Blade Academy and working hard for the past few years, his soul power had reached level fourteen.
As for Mu Rong, with the support of the academy and its abundant resources, he had reached level sixteen.
"Boss, now that you've absorbed the Soul Fragment, are you going to apply to the Advanced Soul Academy?"
Suo Ling asked, a little worried.
After all, the admission requirement for the Advanced Soul Academy was level fifteen Great Soul Blade. He and the others had no chance of getting in.
Advanced Soul Academy?
When it came to that place, Mu Rong had never seriously considered it.
Besides, the Advanced Soul Academy's requirements were extremely strict.
His relationship with King Ying wasn't exactly good, and neither was his relationship with the Martial Soul Hall. Over the past few years, he'd also learned a fair amount about the Advanced Soul Academy.
And with the misunderstandings involving King Ying and the others, their knowledge of it wasn't much different.
The only thing they lacked might be a more thorough understanding of Soul Beasts. That could be handled gradually, since they were still young.
As for the Advanced Soul Academy, he didn't think much of it.
He might as well take his younger brothers to the more relaxed Great Soul Academy, where he could gain real experience faster.
"I'm not going to the Advanced Soul Academy."
Mu Rong said calmly.
"Once I've absorbed the Spirit Seed, the three of us will go to Great Soul Academy. It'll be better to travel and learn along the way."
Great Soul Academy!
Suo Ling and the others looked at Mu Rong in surprise. They had all heard of the place from King Ying, but they quickly calmed down again.
"Boss, you're not going to the Advanced Soul Academy?"
Suo Ling asked first.
"It's fine. I can wait for you to catch up."
"Besides, I don't want to stay at a soul academy for decades. That wouldn't work for me."
"Then wouldn't it be better to let you graduate from the Advanced Soul Academy first? Once you've graduated, you can help us find our way around. Wouldn't that be better?"
Suo Ling analyzed the situation calmly.
"I agree with the boss. The kid makes sense."
Mu Rong nodded along.
Oh, so that was what the kid meant?
Mu Rong fell silent for a moment.
To go to the Advanced Soul Academy, they'd need somewhere to stay. Most of the academy's students came from noble families, and they didn't accept many others.
For ordinary students, there wasn't much point in attending. With his innate level-six soul power, he wouldn't receive the best training in a place where geniuses gathered. It would only be a waste of time.
"Forget it. Let's wait until I've absorbed the Spirit Seed before we talk about it. We can reconsider the Advanced Soul Academy then."
Mu Rong clapped his hands, bringing the discussion to an end.
"I'll go find King Ying first."
A Great Soul Academy would offer plenty of opportunities to hunt Soul Beasts, but usually you had to wait for others to gather into a group before setting out. The Soul Beasts they chose weren't always ideal.
Mu Rong didn't want to travel with that group of students. There were too many people, and it was a hassle.
Besides, the lifespan of his second Soul Fragment had to reach nine hundred years.
Going out to hunt Soul Beasts would be a little risky.
As everyone knew, when Soul Masters hunted Soul Beasts on their own, they usually went after those that were two or three levels below them. Anything else was risky.
Even a Soul Fragment with a lifespan of nine hundred years could be impossible to withstand if it belonged to a thousand-year Soul Beast.
A Great Soul Blade going off to challenge a thousand-year Soul Beast would be asking for death.
"Hehe."
"Coming in."
"Ah, King Ying, you're busy."
Mu Rong pushed open the door and entered with a smile.
"Ah, it's you again, you slippery little brat."
King Ying raised his head and set down the paper in his hand.
"Hey, what's going on?"
Mu Rong stepped forward, familiarly draped an arm over his shoulder, and smiled.
"Isn't the kid turning twenty? He wants to ask King Ying to help him find a Soul Fragment."
"Hahaha! This really is a genius!"
King Ying threw his head back and laughed.
"If you can break through to Great Soul Blade at twelve, the Soul Hall is going to be in for a shock.
"Over the years, there have been fewer than ten people at the academy who managed to become Great Soul Blades at twelve."
"Good! Leave your Soul Fragment to me!"
King Ying patted his chest confidently.
"Don't worry! Whatever kind of Soul Beast you're looking for, just let me know. I'll make the arrangements in advance and do some research."
Before you continue