Special Training

Dugu Yan felt a warm current surge into her body. Her strength, speed, and reactions all improved considerably.

"What is this..." she asked in surprise, looking at Ye Lingling.

"Nine-Heart Begonia's healing," Ye Lingling said softly.

Qin Ming nodded. "Support-type Spirit Masters aren't burdens. They're the core of a team."

"Ye Lingling, you need to learn to protect yourself, and you also need to learn to support your teammates."

"Dugu Yan, you need to learn to protect your support. Understood?"

The two nodded.

For the final match, Gu Ci faced Qin Ming.

"You'll fight me." Qin Ming stood on the arena platform, looking at Gu Ci.

Gu Ci froze for a moment. "Me?"

"That's right. Come on."

Gu Ci stepped onto the platform. Zi Dian sprawled lazily across his shoulder, gazing at Qin Ming.

"Give it everything you've got."

Gu Ci did not hesitate. He threw a punch, Thunderbolt coiling around his fist as it tore through the air with a howl.

Qin Ming raised a hand and blocked it, effortlessly neutralizing the strike.

"Too slow," he assessed. "Again."

Gu Ci sped up and launched a flurry of attacks.

Thunderbolt exploded across the arena platform, but Qin Ming effortlessly blocked every strike.

"Your Thunderbolt is decent, but you're too slow, and your strength isn't enough."

Qin Ming commented as he defended. "Your Spirit Ring is only a Century Spirit Ring. Reaching this level is already quite good."

"But if you want to become a true powerhouse, you still have a long way to go."

Gu Ci's heart stirred, and he almost used Ultimate Thunder.

But he restrained himself, merely nodding to show that he had taken the lesson to heart.

"Enough." Qin Ming called a halt. "I've seen all your foundations. Yu Tianheng has the strongest attack power, but his defense is lacking."

"Shi Mo and Shi Mo have strong defenses, but they're too slow. Yu Feng and Osler are fast, but their attack power is insufficient."

"Dugu Yan's poison control is decent, but she lacks awareness when it comes to protecting support. Ye Lingling's support is powerful, but she herself is too fragile. Gu Ci..."

He paused and looked at Gu Ci. "Your Martial Soul is good, and your Thunderbolt attribute has great potential."

"But you're too cautious. You hold back when you attack. What are you afraid of?"

Gu Ci fell silent. Of course he was not afraid. He was hiding his strength.

"Forget it. Take it slowly."

Qin Ming did not press the matter. "During the upcoming special training, I'll strengthen each of you according to your weaknesses."

"Yu Tianheng, you'll train your attacks with me. Shi Mo and Shi Mo, you'll train defense and coordination. Yu Feng and Osler, you'll train speed and explosive power."

"Dugu Yan, you'll train control and protection. Ye Lingling, you'll train self-preservation and switching between support roles. Gu Ci—"

He glanced at Gu Ci. "For now, train your fundamentals. We'll talk after we draw out your potential."

"Yes," Gu Ci answered.

The special training officially began.

In the days that followed, the eight of them spent every afternoon in the Special Training Area.

Qin Ming's training methods were exceptionally harsh and utterly merciless.

Yu Tianheng sparred with Qin Ming every day and was beaten black and blue.

But his attack power also improved at a tremendous pace, and his control over Thunderbolt became increasingly refined.

The Shi Mo brothers ran every day while carrying massive Stone Locks, training until they were drenched in sweat.

Their coordination grew increasingly seamless, and Black Tortoise's defense became even more solid.

Every day, Yu Feng and Osler chased the flying Soul Tools Qin Ming released, moving at astonishing speed.

The two became more agile in their movements, and more decisive in their attacks.

Dugu Yan had to protect Ye Lingling every day while using her poison to control their opponents.

At first, she was always distracted by one task at the expense of the other, but gradually, she learned how to control enemies while protecting her teammate.

Meanwhile, Ye Lingling had to provide support every day under Dugu Yan's protection.

Her Nine-Heart Begonia became more and more practiced. Not only could it heal injuries, it could also grant her teammates powerful boosts at crucial moments.

As for Gu Ci, he trained his fundamentals with Qin Ming every day—speed, strength, reactions, and Soul Power control.

He did not dare reveal his true strength, so he could only keep his performance at the level of an "eleventh-level Century Spirit Ring."

But even so, his rate of improvement still made Qin Ming see him in a new light.

"Your fundamentals are very solid."

After training ended one day, Qin Ming gave him rare praise.

"Although you only have the cultivation of a Spirit Master, your control over Soul Power is extremely precise. That is both talent and the result of hard work."

Gu Ci humbly replied, "Thank you, Teacher Qin."

Qin Ming looked at him, hesitating as if he wanted to say something.

He always felt that this child was hiding something, but he could not put his finger on it.

"Keep working hard," he finally said.

A week later, the special training entered a new stage—team coordination.

Qin Ming split the eight of them into two groups for combat training.

Red Team: Gu Ci, Dugu Yan, Ye Lingling, Osler.

Blue Team: Yu Tianheng, Yu Feng, Shi Mo, Shi Mo.

In the first match, Red Team suffered a crushing defeat.

Yu Tianheng's attack power was too strong, the Shi Mo brothers' defense was too steady, and Yu Feng's speed left Red Team unable to guard against him.

Although Gu Ci commanded well, Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling still lacked coordination, while Osler's speed gave him no advantage against Yu Feng.

"Again." Gu Ci did not lose heart.

For the second match, Red Team adjusted its strategy.

Gu Ci no longer confronted them head-on. Instead, he used Osler's speed to harass Blue Team, while he and Dugu Yan protected Ye Lingling together.

Ye Lingling's Nine-Heart Begonia provided boosts and healing from the rear, greatly increasing Red Team's endurance.

Although Red Team still lost this round, they performed far better than in the first.

In the third match, Red Team finally won.

Gu Ci used the advantage of the terrain to have Osler draw Yu Feng away, while he and Dugu Yan worked together to hold Yu Tianheng back.

In truth, if the two of them had gotten even a little serious, Yu Tianheng would have been lying on the ground.

Ye Lingling continuously boosted the two from behind, temporarily raising their strength by a great deal.

The Shi Mo brothers were held back by Dugu Yan's poison and could not provide support in time.

In the end, Gu Ci seized an opening in Yu Tianheng's defense and won with a single strike.

"Not bad."

Qin Ming rarely smiled. "You're all very talented, but more importantly, you're willing to coordinate. That is the foundation of team combat."

He looked at everyone. "The coming special training will only get harder."

"But I hope you remember this—you eight will become Heaven Dou Empire's strongest Spirit Master team in the future. Train hard, and don't disgrace me."

All eight answered in unison, "Yes!"

After training, the eight sat on the arena platform to rest.

Yu Tianheng rarely took the initiative to speak. "Gu Ci, your command ability is pretty good."

Gu Ci smiled. "Your attack power is strong too."

Yu Feng lay on the ground and said weakly, "You two can stop praising each other. I'm exhausted."

Shi Mo smiled honestly, while Shi Mo handed him a bottle of water. Osler leaned against the wall with his eyes closed, resting.

Ye Lingling sat beside Dugu Yan, quietly smoothing the hem of her clothes.

Dugu Yan leaned against her shoulder and whispered, "Lingling, you were amazing today. That boost made me feel so much stronger."

Ye Lingling softly murmured, "Mm." She did not say much else, but the tips of her ears turned slightly red.

As the sun set, the shadows of the eight stretched long.

Gu Ci looked at the people beside him, warmth rising in his heart.

Yu Tianheng, Shi Mo, Shi Mo, Yu Feng, Osler, Ye Lingling, Dugu Yan.

How far would these eight travel together in the future?

He did not know.

But he knew that this road would not be lonely.