Looking at Yu Tianheng's earnest expression, Chen Jieqi didn't hold back.
"Your family's cultivation system is already mature enough. All you need to do now is further hone your close-combat skills and strengthen your physique.
"What I can help you with is optimizing your cultivation of attributes. Different paths lead to the same goal: ultimately, it's all about making your thunder even more powerful."
He paused briefly, then pinpointed the core issue.
"Thunder is powerful and domineering, but it also consumes a lot of Soul Power. It's naturally suited to concentrated bursts.
"So the key to your next step is to condense your thunder attribute, minimize the dissipation of Soul Power, and improve your control over it, so that every last bit is put to good use."
"Just keep doing that to maintain your advantage."
Chen Jieqi then turned to the others, his steady, clear voice echoing through the cultivation room.
"Cultivating as Soul Masters means identifying your Martial Soul's attributes and then making the most of your strengths.
"As long as you keep at it, even a mediocre Martial Soul can display power beyond anyone's imagination. The further you progress, the more obvious the difference becomes.
"Conversely, if you choose the wrong focus, even a high-quality Martial Soul will become mediocre as you advance."
Chen Jieqi smiled faintly, his tone confident and clear.
"Your family's cultivation system is already mature enough. All you need to do now is further hone your close-combat skills and strengthen your physique.
"What I can help you with is optimizing your cultivation of attributes. Different paths lead to the same goal: ultimately, it's all about making your thunder even more powerful."
He paused briefly, then pinpointed the core issue.
"Thunder is powerful and domineering, but it also consumes a lot of Soul Power. It's naturally suited to concentrated bursts.
"So the key to your next step is to condense your thunder attribute, minimize the dissipation of Soul Power, and improve your control over it, so that every last bit is put to good use."
"Just keep doing that to maintain your advantage."
Chen Jieqi then turned to the others, his steady, clear voice echoing through the cultivation room.
"Cultivating as Soul Masters means identifying your Martial Soul's attributes and then making the most of your strengths.
"As long as you keep at it, even a mediocre Martial Soul can display power beyond anyone's imagination. The further you progress, the more obvious the difference becomes.
"Conversely, if you choose the wrong focus, even a high-quality Martial Soul will become mediocre as you advance."
"Well said!
"That's truly brilliant and insightful. It's like a sudden enlightenment! This is practically the sort of wisdom you'd expect from a great master among Soul Masters!"
Qin Ming, standing nearby, couldn't help applauding, his eyes full of admiration. It was the first time he'd seen such an insightful young man.
Chen Jieqi didn't grow conceited. He only nodded slightly, his gaze warmly sweeping over everyone.
"Next, we'll go over how each of you can improve based on your Martial Soul's characteristics."
He turned to Yu Feng.
"You're a flying agility-type Soul Master. Your strengths are striking first and launching surprise attacks. You need to improve your wind element's concealment and explosive power, so every charge hits its mark."
He then looked at Osler.
"Your Ghost Leopard Martial Soul emphasizes speed and explosive power. You need to improve your bursts of Soul Power and your sense of timing on the battlefield. Make every strike count, and retreat if it doesn't land."
Finally, he looked toward Shi Mo, Shi Mo, and Ye Lingling.
"The Black Tortoise needs to strengthen its elemental defense and its ability to intimidate a wide area. Lingling's Nine-Heart Begonia needs to optimize its healing range and Soul Power efficiency. You're the team's strongest line of defense."
Everyone listened intently. The uncertainty and confusion in their eyes gradually gave way to resolve. Though he hadn't been captain for long, he had already left his mark on them.
After joining Heaven Dou Royal Academy, Chen Jieqi quickly adapted to its pace. He was no longer the ascetic he had once been.
Although he devoted most of his time to cultivation, he gradually became part of the Imperial Fighting Team's daily life, enjoying an academy routine that balanced cultivation with companionship.
Of course, his daily prayers to the Holy Light remained an unshakable habit.
Every morning, just as dawn began to break and the faint sunlight had yet to spread across the academy's eaves, Chen Jieqi would arrive at the Wuhun Mimicry Training Ground right on time.
A Mimicry Cultivation Environment was a special training ground based on a natural setting, then divided and modified by human hands to bring one particular attribute to its utmost potential.
Thunder, wind, earth...
Different zones corresponded to different Martial Soul attributes and cultivation paths. They could greatly accelerate a Soul Master's refinement of Soul Power and were among Heaven Dou Royal Academy's most valuable resources.
Even Chen Jieqi had to admit that cultivating in such a place was astonishingly efficient.
Only his daily morning meditation and prayer were faster, and that was a gift of the Holy Light.
Take Dugu Yan's Single-Horned Golden Flood Dragon Martial Soul, for example. Her Martial Soul had an exceptionally strong affinity for the earth attribute.
When she was in the core of the earth or a mimicry zone filled with swirling sand, the earth elements around her would naturally gather toward her.
Surrounded by a high concentration of earth elements, the earth-attribute energy in her Soul Power would be awakened, greatly increasing its activity.
The Soul Power that had once taken nearly a hundred breaths to complete a single cycle through her body now circulated in just over a dozen.
The most obvious effect of this change was a sharp increase in the speed at which she accumulated and generated Soul Power, allowing her Soul Power Level to rise steadily.
More importantly, in an environment rich in her attribute, she could condense earth elements with greater precision and strengthen her control over them, laying a solid foundation for improving her Soul Skills.
This was the kind of foundation only top academies and powerful factions could afford. Resources like mimicry training grounds, which accelerated cultivation and strengthened control over the elements, were beyond the means of ordinary academies.
Chen Jieqi chose the Holy Light Mimicry Zone, the area best suited to the Heart of the Naaru. It was filled with pure light energy, and even the air carried a warm, sacred aura.
He sat cross-legged with his eyes gently closed. The Heart of the Naaru glimmered between his brows, and flecks of golden-white light swirled around him like stardust.
As he greedily absorbed the light energy in the zone, he carefully refined the Holy Light's powers of purification, dissolution, and flame.
At the same time, he guided his Soul Power through his body at high speed, strengthening his foundation and making every wisp of it purer and more concentrated.
The afternoons belonged to the Imperial Fighting Team's lively daily routine.
Dugu Yan truly lived up to her reputation for "doing her own thing." She spent her days sunbathing and "slacking off" on the sidelines, looking utterly at ease.
Yu Tianheng, meanwhile, sought Chen Jieqi out for a spar every time. Even when he ended up battered and bruised, he still wore a smile.
He was the very picture of "getting beaten up a thousand times and still loving Captain Chen like it was the first time."
The Shi Mo brothers loved dragging him to the cafeteria. As they gnawed on fragrant grilled Soul Beast meat, they would pester him in their deep, rumbling voices for advice on defensive techniques.
Chen Jieqi was always happy to help, patiently teaching them how to evade heavy attacks, deflect force, steady their defenses, and protect the teammates behind them.
Osler and Yu Feng would pull him over to a corner of the training ground to discuss the finer points of team coordination.
Agility-type Soul Masters had to make every strike count and withdraw as soon as they landed a hit. If the timing wasn't right, they needed to lie in wait. They absolutely couldn't expose themselves recklessly.
As for Ye Lingling...
Let's not get into that.
Evenings were Chen Jieqi's personal time.
Aside from the occasional group meal with everyone, he went back and forth between the academy dormitory and Dugu Manor, strengthening his cultivation while experiencing the local customs and atmosphere.
Life at the academy had few twists and turns, but it was full and orderly.
As the days passed, Chen Jieqi's name gradually spread throughout Heaven Dou Royal Academy. Even among the nobles of Heaven Dou City, people had begun to talk about him.
The Imperial Fighting Team had gained a young captain of exceptional strength and remarkable insight.