Semester End

Wang Dongqi looked at him, silent for a moment.

"You... are quite good with words."

The corners of her mouth curved up slightly. Although her smile was still a bit forced, it was much better than before.

Seeing this, Zhou Tian'er quickly chimed in to smooth things over.

"Exactly, exactly!"

"Dongqi Sister, you're one of our academy's aces!"

"Next Year's Tianhai Competition, we'll still be counting on you!"

As she spoke, she slung an arm around Wang Dongqi's, and with her other hand, pulled Wang Zhi over.

"From now on, we're a team, so we have to help each other!"

"Right, Xiao Zhi?"

Wang Zhi stumbled from her pull, nodding helplessly.

"Mm."

Zhou Tian'er smiled in satisfaction, then looked back at Wang Dongqi.

Wang Dongqi looked at the energetic girl before her, then at Wang Zhi's earnest face, and finally let out a soft sigh.

"Alright, I get it."

She reached out and ruffled Zhou Tian'er's hair, then looked at Wang Zhi.

"Wang Zhi, right?"

"I'll remember you."

"If there's a chance in the future, we'll have another match."

A hint of fighting spirit ignited in her eyes.

Wang Zhi smiled faintly.

"I'll be ready anytime."

Zhang Zhenpeng watched this scene, nodding with satisfaction.

"Alright, since the issue is resolved, the upcoming training plan will need to be adjusted."

He looked at the four of them.

"For the team competition, the selections are Hanyou, Tian'er, and Wang Zhi."

"Dongqi, you'll be the substitute, ready to go on at any time."

He paused, then continued.

"From now on, the four of you will train together and build synergy."

"There are eleven months until the Tianhai Competition, and time is tight."

"Yes, Dean!"

The four responded in unison.

After leaving the training grounds, Zhou Tian'er chattered incessantly.

"Xiao Zhi, your summon just now was so cool! Can you summon it again for me to see?"

"Xiao Zhi, what exactly is your Mask Martial Soul? Why can it summon humanoid creatures?"

"Xiao Zhi, can your summon talk? Does it have a name?"

Wang Zhi was overwhelmed by her questions and could only offer perfunctory answers.

Zhou Hanyou followed behind, watching this scene with a slight upturn of her lips.

And Wang Dongqi walked at the very end. She looked at the energetic Zhou Tian'er in front of her, then at Wang Zhi, who appeared calm yet answered every question, her mind filled with a thousand thoughts.

She was fourteen years old this year, her martial soul was the Flash Thunder Sword, and she was a Level 29 Soul Grand Master.

From the day she awakened her martial soul, she had been a standout among her peers.

After entering the Sea and Land Academy, she was even cultivated as a seeded player.

She thought that at next year's Tianhai Competition, she would definitely shine.

Until today.

A ten-year-old One-Ring Soul Master had easily defeated her.

It would be a lie to say she wasn't disappointed.

But...

She looked at Wang Zhi's retreating back, a complex glint flashing in her eyes.

This boy was indeed very strong.

Moreover, after winning, he didn't get carried away. Instead, he actively gave her an out.

This mindset was more terrifying than his strength.

"Dongqi Sister, why are you walking so slowly?"

"Hurry up and catch up!"

Zhou Tian'er turned back and waved at her.

Wang Dongqi snapped back to reality and quickened her pace to catch up.

Forget it, substitute or substitute.

At least, she could still train and improve with them.

Moreover...

She looked at Wang Zhi, the corners of her mouth curving upwards.

Perhaps, she could learn something from him.

In the following days, the four began to train together.

Zhang Zhenpeng personally formulated the training plan. Mornings were for physical fitness and Basic Soul Power Training, afternoons were for combat practice, and evenings were for tactical discussions and Meditation recovery.

Wang Zhi's performance, time and again, reshaped the understanding of the three girls.

His summons.

Those humanoid creatures called Ghost Shadow Ninjas were not only capable fighters but could also perform various Hidden Weapon techniques.

Even more terrifying was Wang Zhi himself.

He was only ten years old, yet possessed a composure and calmness far beyond his age.

No matter what situation he encountered, he could quickly analyze it and make the most reasonable judgment.

Zhou Hanyou once told Zhou Tian'er in private.

"This Wang Zhi is not simple."

Zhou Tian'er said proudly.

"Of course, he's my Younger Brother!"

Zhou Hanyou looked at her helplessly.

"I just called you 'sister,' and you're actually taking yourself as a real sister?"

Zhou Tian'er said righteously.

"So what?"

"He called me that, so I'm his sister!"

"Forever!"

Zhou Hanyou was speechless.

Meanwhile, Wang Dongqi gradually let go of her reservations through repeated sparring matches with Wang Zhi.

Thus, the relationship between the four gradually became harmonious through day-to-day training.

In the blink of an eye, it was the end of the semester.

Many things had happened this semester.

First, Wang Dongqi and Zhou Hanyou both reached Level 30.

Reaching Level 30 meant they could obtain their third Soul Ring and become Three Rings Soul Elders.

However, despite breaking through, the two received vastly different treatment.

Wang Dongqi's family conditions were average. Her parents were just ordinary Soul Masters, and it was already difficult enough for them to afford her Intermediate Academy tuition.

A Thousand Year Spirit alone could cost tens of millions, which was simply unaffordable for her family.

In the end, she could only choose a Hundred Year Spirit of decent quality.

As that Yellow Soul Ring rose from beneath her feet, Wang Dongqi's expression was somewhat complex.

A Hundred Year Spirit was, after all, a Hundred Year Spirit.

Whether the third Soul Ring was Hundred Year or Thousand Year was, in a sense, a dividing line between Mortals and Geniuses.

On Zhou Hanyou's side, however, the scene was entirely different.

She directly splurged, spending fifteen million Federal Currency to purchase a purple Thousand Year Spirit.

During training...

As that purple Thousand Year Soul Ring rose on Zhou Hanyou, the entire Training Ground was enveloped by its powerful aura.

Wang Dongqi stood not far away, gazing at that purple Soul Ring, silent for a long time.

From that day on, she completely became the trio's substitute.

No one said it outright, but everyone knew it in their hearts.

As for Zhou Tian'er...

Her Soul Power had reached level twenty-five.

Well, only one level up.

Zhou Hanyou was too lazy to say anything about it anymore. She would only glance at her occasionally, and the meaning in her eyes was obvious...

"You figure it out yourself."

Zhou Tian'er would always lower her head guiltily, but the next day, she would still play as usual.

Meanwhile, Wang Zhi, as always, cultivated in a low-key manner.

After a semester of study, coupled with the academy's resource support, his Soul Power cultivation had reached level fifteen.

Only two levels up, not much.

But his Spiritual Power had undergone a qualitative leap.

From one hundred points in the early Spirit Connection Realm, it reached two hundred points, achieving the middle stage of the Spirit Connection Realm.

This improvement allowed him to increase the number of Ghost Shadow Ninjas he could summon from ten to fifteen.

Moreover, he had tested it.

The Strength of a single Ghost Shadow Ninja, after Zhang Zhenpeng's arrangements, could even win against a student who was a Three Rings Soul Elder.

That was a genuine Three Rings Soul Elder.

But when facing a Four Rings Soul Ancestor, the Ghost Shadow Ninja could only fight for a few rounds before being defeated.

And this was just the Strength of one of them.