Leading the Heaven Dou Royal Academy

After testing his two new Soul Skills, Lin Yi felt much more at ease.

This Ice Phoenix Martial Soul, combined with a Million-Year Soul Ring, was practically a trump card tailor-made for him! It could attack the mind and defend against mental assaults, while its full-field vision support gave his overall strength a qualitative leap!

He dispelled his Soul Skills and once again concealed the Ice Phoenix Martial Soul and Soul Ring deep within himself.

Then he calmed his mind and began circulating his Soul Power, officially entering a state of cultivation with the aid of the extreme cold of the Ice Eye at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

Here, the extreme cold perfectly complemented his three ice-attributed Martial Souls. His cultivation speed had more than doubled! Vast amounts of the world's energy and pure ice-attribute energy flowed into his body like a hundred rivers rushing into the sea, where they were rapidly refined and absorbed, steadily driving his Soul Power toward level sixty-six.

For the time being, he put the turmoil at Shrek behind him.

At that moment, all he wanted was to immerse himself in the exhilaration of growing stronger, becoming more powerful without pause...

Beside the Ice Spring, the young man sat with his eyes closed and his mind focused. Cold surrounded him, as if he had become one with this ancient spring of ice.

Three months passed quietly, nourished by the extreme cold and abundant energy of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

When Lin Yi opened his eyes again, a glint like shattering ice flashed and vanished from his gaze. Compared to three months ago, his aura was more restrained and profound, yet it faintly carried a chilling menace that made the heart tremble.

Level sixty-six! After cultivating tirelessly beside the Ice Eye and drawing on the foundation he had built up before, he had finally advanced another level.

Feeling the ever more formidable Soul Power within him and his increasingly fluid control of his mental power, Lin Yi knew that there was little point in continuing to cultivate here in seclusion. He needed actual combat to refine and test what he had gained over the past three months. He stood and found Dugu Bo by the Fire Spring, using its heat to suppress his toxins.

"Senior, I'm preparing to leave."

Dugu Bo opened his eyes and looked Lin Yi over, surprise flickering in his gaze. Though he couldn't accurately sense Lin Yi's exact level, he could tell that the boy was even more unfathomable than he had been three months ago.

"Finished cultivating? Have you thought of any way to deal with my toxins?" This was what Dugu Bo cared about most.

Lin Yi considered his words. "I still need to return to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and consult the sect's records. Taking this place's environment into account, I have a few vague ideas, but I'll need more time to test them and find suitable medicinal ingredients. Rest assured, Senior. I've kept this matter in mind."

His words were half true and half false, meant only to keep Dugu Bo placated. In truth, he had the advantage of knowing the future and knew the solution Tang San had used in the original story. But was he going to help Dugu Bo solve the problem completely right now?

He wasn't that "kind." He needed to keep this card in his hand if he wanted Dugu Bo to continue "cooperating."

Dugu Bo was a little disappointed, but there was nothing he could do. He could only snort. "I hope you're not stringing this old man along, brat."

The two left the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well together and returned to Heaven Dou City. Along the way, Dugu Bo seemed to think of something and suddenly spoke. "Brat, you're quite strong now, and you're a prized pupil of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and Sword Douluo. Staying at a little place like Shrek as a mere bodyguard is a waste of your talents.

"Why not come to our Heaven Dou Royal Academy?

"With your abilities, you'd be more than qualified as an instructor. The academy's Mimicry Cultivation Environment can't compare to your Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, but it's still far beyond what Shrek can offer, and it'll benefit your cultivation."

Lin Yi was tempted by the suggestion. Heaven Dou Royal Academy was indeed a good place to settle for the time being.

Its resources and environment were top-notch. It would be easier to obtain information and resources there, and he could also avoid the awkward atmosphere at Shrek.

Besides, becoming an instructor rather than a student suited his current assumed identity and strength better.

Ning Rongrong was safe at Shrek for now, and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect stood behind her. Anyone who wanted to lay a hand on her would have to think twice...

Seeing that Lin Yi seemed interested, Dugu Bo pressed his advantage. "Then it's settled! As an honorary guest of the academy, I can at least arrange an instructor's position.

"As it happens, the team leader of the academy's fighting team left for personal reasons a while ago. You can take over as the team leader too. Help this old man put those brats through their paces, especially that girl, Yanyan!"

"Who's Yanyan?" Lin Yi raised an eyebrow, pretending not to know.

"My granddaughter, Dugu Yan. She's the vice-captain of the academy's team." Dugu Bo's voice softened a little as he mentioned his granddaughter. "You young people should spend more time together and learn from one another. You're only a few years older than her..."

Lin Yi looked at the matchmaking glint in Dugu Bo's eyes and felt speechless. In truth, he was younger than Dugu Yan...

Still, he didn't refuse the offer. Becoming the team leader meant he could directly take charge of a powerful team, which might come in handy in unexpected ways in the future.

"Since Senior has so kindly invited me, I'll accept."

With Dugu Bo, a Titled Douluo and honorary guest of the academy, personally recommending him, the formalities went smoothly.

The academy's three chief administrators—Meng Shenji, Bai Baoshan, and Zhi Lin—had some doubts about someone so young becoming both an instructor and the team leader. But out of respect for Dugu Bo and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and Sword Douluo behind Lin Yi, they all agreed.

Just like that, Lin Yi transformed into the youngest instructor and Imperial Fighting Team leader in Heaven Dou Royal Academy's history.

The next day, under Dugu Bo's recommendation, Lin Yi met the members of the Imperial Fighting Team at the academy's training grounds.

At the forefront stood a tall young man in a blue outfit. He carried himself with steady composure and had a keen gaze. He was the captain, Yu Tianheng of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, with Soul Power at level forty-three.

Beside him stood a girl with short, deep-purple hair and green eyes. Slender and graceful, she had an almost bewitching beauty. She was Dugu Yan, whose Soul Power was at level forty-two and whose Martial Soul was the Jade Phosphorous Serpent.

The others included the Shi Brothers, Shi Mo and Shi Mo, defensive Soul Masters with Black Tortoise Martial Souls; Osler, an agility-attack Soul Master with a Ghost Leopard Martial Soul; Yu Feng, an agility-attack Soul Master with a Wind Bell Bird Martial Soul; and Ye Lingling, standing at the edge of the group with a cool, distant air and a veil over her face. She was a support-type Soul Master with a Nine Heart Begonia Martial Soul, and her Soul Power was at level thirty-nine.

"This is Lin Yi. Starting today, he'll be your new team leader," Dugu Bo introduced him curtly. "Teacher Lin Yi is a prized pupil of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and a personal disciple of Sword Douluo himself. His strength is extraordinary.

"You'll follow his guidance from now on, train seriously, and prepare for the Soul Master Tournament!"

"A disciple of Sword Douluo?" Everyone looked astonished.

The names of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and Sword Douluo were enough to awe anyone.

A hint of fighting spirit flashed in Yu Tianheng's eyes. Dugu Yan looked at Lin Yi curiously, while Osler, Yu Feng, and the others showed a little more respect.

Only Ye Lingling remained as cool and distant as ever, giving him no more than a slight nod.

Lin Yi calmly swept his gaze over them, taking in their reactions. "I'm Lin Yi. I'll be responsible for your training and tactics from now on. My expectations are simple: absolute obedience and total commitment. If you can't do that, you can leave now."

His voice wasn't loud, but it carried an unquestionable authority and chill. Combined with his reputation as "Sword Douluo's disciple," it immediately made the previously laid-back Osler, Yu Feng, and the others tense up. Even Yu Tianheng reined in some of his arrogance.

"Yes, Teacher Lin Yi!" they answered in unison.

Just like that, Lin Yi had become the Imperial Fighting Team's leader in a way that was somewhat "out of the blue," yet perfectly natural.

After taking charge, Lin Yi didn't immediately launch into complicated tactical training. Instead, he first took the time to learn about each team member's Martial Soul, Soul Skills, and fighting habits.

With the divine skill Spirit Detection, he could observe every detail and often pinpoint the team members' oversights and areas for improvement in battle. After their initial surprise, Yu Tianheng and the others gradually came to trust him.

A few days later, the team's only support-type Soul Master, Ye Lingling, successfully broke through to level forty and needed to obtain her fourth Soul Ring.

Lin Yi thought this would be a good chance to test the team in real combat. It would also let him see how his newly acquired mental attack Soul Skill performed in a fight. So he decided to lead the expedition to Sunset Forest himself.

To be safe, the academy's chief administrator, Meng Shenji, came along as backup.

The group entered Sunset Forest and began searching for a suitable healing- or plant-type Soul Beast for Ye Lingling.

With Lin Yi's powerful Spirit Detection, they avoided plenty of unnecessary trouble and searched with remarkable efficiency.

However, just as they had settled on a "Holy Light Lingzhi Beast" of around three thousand years—an excellent fit for Ye Lingling—and were about to make their move—

"Roar!"

A frenzied tiger's roar came from the other side of the forest, followed by the sounds of fierce fighting and the rumble of Soul Power colliding.

Lin Yi immediately activated Spirit Detection. The scene within a radius of nearly six hundred meters appeared clearly in his mind. In a clearing not far away—

The Shrek Seven Devils were attacking a tiger-like Soul Beast with a pitch-black body and a pair of wings on its back, its aura fierce and cutting—a four-thousand-year-old Dark Demon Evil God Tiger!

Dai Mubai was covered in blood and had activated his White Tiger Vajra Transformation to its fullest, meeting the tiger head-on; Tang San's Blue Silver Grass wound around it to restrain it, while he waited for a chance to use his hidden weapons; Xiao Wu harassed it with her Waist Bow and Soft Technique; Zhu Zhuqing moved like lightning, searching for an opening; Ma Hongjun sent streams of Phoenix Fire Line at it from a distance; Ning Rongrong's boosts to strength and agility continually fell upon her teammates; Oscar stood nearby, anxiously making Flying Mushroom Sausages in case they needed them.

From the looks of it, they were also hunting a Soul Ring for Dai Mubai, who had just broken through to level forty. They had set their sights on the same powerful tiger-like Soul Beast and were now locked in a bitter struggle.

Lin Yi's gaze lingered for a moment on the struggling, roaring Dark Demon Evil God Tiger. Then he glanced at Ye Lingling beside him, cool and distant, who needed a Soul Ring. His eyes narrowed slightly.

This Soul Beast, in terms of attributes and age, seemed... even better suited as the fourth Soul Ring for a top-tier healing Martial Soul like the Nine Heart Begonia. Besides, the Nine Heart Begonia Martial Soul didn't care about the type of Soul Beast, only its age...

A thought rose uncontrollably in his mind.

He turned to Meng Shenji and the members of the Imperial Fighting Team beside him and said calmly, "We're taking that Soul Beast. Chief Meng, what do you think?"