Training in Name

The people around them stared at Xiao Wu in astonishment.

When Xiao Wu realized that she was actually hugging Aizen—and had even kissed his cheek—her face instantly flushed red.

"Ah, um, I... this... it's not what you think!"

Seeing Xiao Wu so flustered, Aizen smiled knowingly.

Forcing someone's feelings with Kyoka Suigetsu was still too much of a stretch.

Xiao Wu was this resistant. It seemed he would need to keep nurturing her feelings.

Aizen rubbed Xiao Wu's head and said gently, "I understand how happy you are that the Work-Study Students have gained their freedom."

"Yes, that's exactly it!" Xiao Wu hurriedly said with a foolish grin, deeply grateful that Aizen had given her a way out.

After the matter was settled, Tang San remembered what Yu Xiaogang had instructed him to do.

"Since everyone has advanced to Soul Masters, let's go register at Spirit Hall together."

Xiao Wu waved her hand. "I already registered."

Aizen and Ulquiorra also declined Tang San.

"Some other time."

After parting with Tang San, Aizen and Ulquiorra paid a visit to where Yu Xiaogang was staying.

"Aizen, what brings you here?" Yu Xiaogang asked curiously as he opened the door and found Aizen and Ulquiorra paying him an unexpected visit.

"Hello. There are a few things I would like to ask about. May I?" Aizen asked humbly.

"Of course, come in." Yu Xiaogang assumed that Aizen had come to ask about martial soul cultivation.

Although he could not take Aizen as a disciple, he was still willing to help if Aizen came to seek his guidance.

After entering the room, Aizen asked, "What I want to know is, how can one establish a Soul Master Academy?"

The question caught Yu Xiaogang somewhat by surprise.

"Establish an academy?" Yu Xiaogang continued, "Do you mean an elementary Soul Master Academy, an intermediate one, or an advanced one?"

After thinking for a moment, Aizen answered, "An Advanced Soul Master Academy."

Yu Xiaogang nodded and replied, "An Advanced Soul Master Academy may be difficult, but establishing an elementary or intermediate Soul Master Academy is still possible. The process is not too complicated. You only need to apply for qualifications in the place where you intend to establish the academy and pay the Soul Master Academy registration fee."

"If you mean an Advanced Soul Master Academy, then you need permission from the kingdom or empire governing the region, a certain number of registered instructors, and recognition from Spirit Hall. Your school grounds must also meet the required standards, the academy environment must be good, and the person establishing the academy must possess exceptional qualifications. Only then can an Advanced Soul Master Academy be established. Why are you asking about this?"

Aizen silently digested what Yu Xiaogang had said. After pondering for a moment, he said, "I was merely curious. After all, there are only so many Soul Master Academies. If I want to enter an Advanced Soul Master Academy in the future, I should know what I need to look into."

Yu Xiaogang smiled and nodded. "That's right. Choosing a Soul Master Academy is indeed very important. If you have not chosen an intermediate Soul Master Academy yet, I can recommend a place to you. Do you want to go?"

Feigning curiosity, Aizen asked, "Which academy?"

"Shrek Academy!" Yu Xiaogang said confidently.

"Shrek? I've never heard of it," Aizen said.

"Not having heard of it does not mean the academy is bad. It is the cradle of geniuses. You obtained a Hundred-Year Soul Ring at such a young age, so your talent is far from lacking. It is perfectly suited for you. Only at Shrek Academy can your potential be brought out," Yu Xiaogang began to persuade Aizen.

"We'll talk about it later. Thank you for your instruction, Teacher Yu." Aizen did not linger and left the room with Ulquiorra.

The purpose of this visit had been to see whether he could establish a Central Spirit Arts Academy on Douluo Continent, so that he could accommodate the people he summoned.

Ideally, it would be able to participate in the Advanced Soul Master Competition.

The answer he had received from Yu Xiaogang made it clear that this was impossible.

Then he could only take another route: seize an Advanced Soul Master Academy!

Once his goal had been determined, a plan slowly began to take shape in Aizen's mind.

After the tedious classes ended, Aizen returned to the dormitory.

He saw Xiao Wu playing with the Work-Study Students.

To make Xiao Wu stop resisting him, Aizen needed to do something.

He walked over to Xiao Wu, rubbed her head, and said calmly,

"Training starts tonight."

Xiao Wu resisted a little. "No need, right? I'm already very strong at the academy. Aside from Master Aizen and Master Little U, no one is my opponent! Oh, Little San might be able to put up a fight."

Hearing that, Aizen could basically confirm that Tang San and Xiao Wu had fought before, most likely on the night he had left.

"Your strength is limited to an elementary academy. You are not mature enough yet. You may be strong among Soul Masters, but what if you encounter a Soul Grandmaster? A Soul Elder? Not to mention a Soul Douluo or a Titled Douluo. What would you do then?"

Knowing Xiao Wu's identity and knowing that she feared being exposed by people at the Soul Douluo level and above, Aizen deliberately put it this way.

"Mm!" Xiao Wu shuddered all over, pouted unhappily, and replied, "Fine. You're right."

As they were leaving the dormitory, they happened to run into Tang San.

"Where are you going?"

"To train!" Xiao Wu said without much enthusiasm.

"Training?" Tang San looked at Aizen, then Ulquiorra. "Then I'll come too."

Xiao Wu was immediately delighted and said excitedly, "Sure!"

The four of them arrived at the plaza.

Aizen gave Xiao Wu targeted guidance, like both a good teacher and a good friend.

His friendly tone, gentle teaching methods, and profound techniques.

Little by little, Xiao Wu stopped resisting Aizen.

Meanwhile, after learning that his Soul Power had also reached Level 13, the same level Ulquiorra was supposedly at, Tang San directly challenged Ulquiorra.

Because Aizen's order was to educate Tang San without showing mercy.

Ulquiorra naturally accepted Tang San's challenge.

Level 21 Ulquiorra did not even release his martial soul, yet he beat Tang San until he began to question his life.

"That shouldn't be possible. Ulquiorra, are you really Level 13?" Tang San asked doubtfully.

"I'm Level 15 now."

Ulquiorra continued deceiving Tang San.

Tang San believed that the gap between him and Ulquiorra was not great, that it was merely a matter of technique.

So he fought Ulquiorra again.

Since Ulquiorra did not use his martial soul or soul skills, Tang San did not use his martial soul or soul skills either.

They competed only with Soul Power, physical strength, and technique.

By the end of training, Tang San had made no progress. He could not even land a single hit on Ulquiorra.

Back in the dormitory, Tang San could not help questioning his life.

Am I really that weak? We're only two levels apart, so why is the gap so huge? Big Brother Aizen's strength is one thing, but why is Ulquiorra so strong too?

That night, Xiao Wu's feelings for Aizen also began to take root.

Footwork, prediction, the use of strength, and so on.

Xiao Wu was no longer merely a simple Agility-Type Soul Master. Even when facing a power-type opponent head-on, she would not be at a disadvantage.

Tang San had not gained nothing either. At the very least, his ability to take a beating had improved considerably.

A semester passed.

This kind of training continued for an entire semester.

Because Tang San was abused by Ulquiorra every day, driven by his own pride,

his Soul Power grew extremely quickly, reaching Level 15.

Under Aizen's instruction, Xiao Wu's combat techniques also improved greatly. She even learned Bakudo #8, Repulse.

It provided Xiao Wu, who currently lacked defensive abilities, with an additional skill.

During this time, Xiao Wu and Tang San had sparred.

Tang San's Blue Silver Grass found it difficult to catch Xiao Wu. Even when he used hidden weapon techniques and threw stones, Xiao Wu's Repulse would knock them away.

However, Xiao Wu was also unable to inflict any substantial harm on Tang San. Even at full strength, she could only cause minor injuries.

Under Ulquiorra's training, Tang San had learned to use the explosive muscles forged through blacksmithing to cushion impacts and reduce damage.

After all, Ulquiorra's fists showed absolutely no mercy. Every punch pierced through flesh and struck directly at the muscles and bones. If Tang San did not learn to dissipate the force, he would have been crippled.

When the first semester ended, the academy began its break.

"Aren't you two going home?" Tang San asked Aizen and Ulquiorra in confusion.

"We have something to do. You go back first." Aizen waved his hand, telling Tang San to leave first.

"Oh, I see. Come to my house for a meal when you have time!" Tang San smiled, then left the academy with Xiao Wu.

Aizen chose to remain for a while for only one reason.

He could begin a new round of summoning!