The practical training ended, and the clouds of dust slowly settled over the grounds. Qin Wei, who was in charge of leading the team, fixed his gaze on Lin Fan standing in formation and spoke in a low voice:
"Lin Fan, when it comes to practical combat skills and battle experience, you've already met the requirements. There's no need for you to undergo more individual combat training."
He changed tack and immediately settled the arrangements going forward. "From now on, everyone will adjust their training plan. The whole team will move on to two-on-two cooperative combo training, refining your teamwork and coordinating your offense and defense."
"Besides that, your top priority is just one thing: stabilize and gain control of all forty-nine Star Seeds inside you as soon as possible. Don't delay."
Lin Fan remained composed and nodded at once.
Li Xiong, Ye Qing, and the other students lined up nearby immediately caught the key point in his words and stared in astonishment.
"Forty-nine Star Seeds?"
Unable to hold back his curiosity, Li Xiong stepped forward and asked, "Teacher Qin, we all know that when Lin Fan releases the Martial Soul's innate Soul Skill, it only has seven Star Seeds. Where did these forty-two extra Star Seeds come from?"
Ye Qing and the others also turned their attention toward Qin Wei, brimming with curiosity and eager to learn the reason.
A faint smile curled Qin Wei's lips. His tone was calm and unhurried. "Lin Fan's innate Martial Soul is exceptionally gifted and exceedingly rare. What's so strange about it having forty-two extra Star Seeds?"
He deliberately emphasized his next words to make sure everyone present understood. "I'll tell you plainly: once Lin Fan gains full control of all forty-nine Star Seeds within the next month or two, the Soul Skill innate to his Martial Soul will only grow more powerful."
His words rang out, and the whole group burst into an uproar.
"What? Lin Fan's Martial Soul has a hidden trump card? It can grow much stronger still?"
Li Xiong's pupils contracted. He stared at Lin Fan beside him in utter disbelief, as if he'd just witnessed an extraordinary phenomenon.
Unable to contain her astonishment, Ye Qing asked softly, "Lin Fan, is that true? Can your Martial Soul really increase the power of your Soul Skill again?"
Lin Fan nodded openly, his tone firm. "That's right. I can sense it very clearly. Once I've gained complete control of all forty-nine Star Seeds, the Soul Skills I release will increase in power several times over, at the very least."
"Several times over!"
Everyone was shaken to the core. Even Qin Wei, a man with considerable experience, couldn't keep the genuine astonishment from showing in his eyes.
Severalfold amplification, on top of the boost provided by his Soul Ring!
With that kind of increase to his combat strength, even one of Lin Fan's ordinary, casually released basic Soul Skills could rival someone else's fourth Soul Skill—or even surpass it!
In that moment, everyone's gaze toward Lin Fan changed. Envy filled their hearts, and they couldn't help but regard him as an unparalleled genius.
Three days later, solemn pressure hung over the grand council chamber in Spirit Hall's main hall.
Qian Daoliu sat upon the highest seat of honor. His sacred golden hair fell over his shoulders as his gilded pupils swept across the red-robed cardinals seated in orderly rows below, radiating an imposing majesty.
"Speak. What are your thoughts on this matter?" Qian Daoliu's voice was even, yet it brooked no dissent.
Not long ago, he had received an official document jointly submitted by the Heaven Dou Empire and the Star Luo Empire. The two great empires had joined forces to apply pressure, seeking to change the core competition rules for the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament, which would begin in a few months.
A red-robed cardinal of considerable standing was the first to rise. He cupped his hands and bowed, speaking gravely. "Your Holiness the Pope, in this subordinate's opinion, Heaven Dou and Star Luo wish to revoke the privilege that grants the three empires' designated seed teams direct entry to the finals. We can easily agree to this."
"Given the overall strength of the Martial Soul Academy's trainees this year, having them take part in the entire preliminary competition from the start will pose no pressure at all. It would simply mean revealing some of their strength ahead of time."
He continued his measured analysis. "Besides, our students already surpass the same-age prodigies from every Advanced Soul Master Academy within the Heaven Dou and Star Luo Empires."
"Having them go through several more high-intensity battles and temper their minds and combat strength on the field would actually benefit their future cultivation."
When he finished, the cardinal bowed again.
Qian Daoliu glanced at him impassively, then looked around the chamber and asked once more, "Does anyone else have a different opinion?"
At this, the red-robed cardinals exchanged glances. In the end, no one spoke up.
After all, although the Heaven Dou Empire and the Star Luo Empire seemed to be pressing them at every turn with their joint petition, to the deep-rooted Spirit Hall, the matter was nothing of consequence and posed no threat.
In every previous Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament, the Martial Soul Academy had never once faltered. Each time, it had carefully trained a Soul King-level prodigy of the appropriate age to lead the team.
Every other competitor had a cultivation base no lower than the Soul Ancestor realm!
With such a formidable, top-tier lineup, losing to same-age prodigies from ordinary academies elsewhere would be next to impossible.
Only one possibility remained: among the other competing academies, a carefully nurtured, monstrously talented dark horse might have a chance of shaking the Martial Soul Academy's position.
For example, in the previous five tournaments, all the Spirit Hall prodigies had reached only the Soul Ancestor realm. Not one Soul King had emerged.
But the Star Luo Empire had produced an Evil-Eyed White Tiger Martial Soul wielder at the Soul King level.
It could be said that victory in the end was all but effortless for Spirit Hall.
The reason the two empires had proposed this change was that they wanted to find out in advance which students the Martial Soul Academy would send to this year's Continental Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament, so they could prepare accordingly.
"Very well. We'll accept the changes proposed by the Heaven Dou Empire and the Star Luo Empire. In the next Continental Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament, all seed teams will lose their direct entry to the finals. The Martial Soul Academy students will start in the preliminary rounds."
Qian Daoliu gave his final decision.
The meeting was not over yet. There was still one more matter to discuss.
"Where should our Martial Soul Academy go to qualify for the finals?"
Qian Daoliu spoke calmly.
The most important matter had already been decided, and now the cardinals began to voice their opinions.
"Your Holiness the Pope, I think we should choose the Star Luo Empire. After all, the Star Luo Empire's way is to fight tooth and nail on the battlefield. Facing the Star Luo Royal Academy team ahead of time would naturally motivate those youngsters."
The cardinal from the Spirit Hall branch in Star Luo City spoke up.
"Your Holiness the Pope, I believe we should go to the Heaven Dou Empire to compete for a spot."
The cardinal from the Spirit Hall branch in Heaven Dou City spoke up. "In recent years, prodigies from the Clear Sky Sect, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect have joined Heaven Dou Royal Academy."
"Especially the Clear Sky Sect. Tang Hao should be taking part in this Continental Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament as well."
"According to our intelligence, Tang Hao has already reached level 38, while Ning Fengzhi of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect has reached level 42."
"If we let them continue growing unchecked, they'll likely become major adversaries of Spirit Hall in the future."
"Tang Hao? Ning Fengzhi?" Qian Daoliu murmured.
He had heard of these two prodigies. Both possessed Innate Full Soul Power, and it would be no problem for Tang Hao to become a Titled Douluo in the future.
As for Ning Fengzhi of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, he could at most become a Seven-Ring Soul Sage. But with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, he could provide Soul Masters with an enormous boost.
After all, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda was one of the strongest auxiliary-type Martial Souls on the continent!
"Then we'll go to the Heaven Dou Empire," Qian Daoliu said slowly.
In truth, the choice would make little difference.
For the Martial Soul Academy's prodigies, no matter where they went, they would claim the championship in the end!
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