Yue Guan's Training

Qin Chuan walked around the house.

Yue Guan stood at the entrance of the first-floor study. After waiting for Qin Chuan to come down, he pointed to the row of books on the shelf.

"These are the basic theoretical textbooks and cultivation manuals of Spirit Hall. You learned some at Shrek Academy, but the Spirit Hall system is quite different from theirs. I suggest you spend the next few days reading through these."

Qin Chuan glanced at the titles on the spines: Soul Power Execution Basics, Soul Skill Release and Control, Combat Coordination Theory, Meditation Mental Method Compilation—there were over twenty books in total.

"Furthermore," Yue Guan's tone grew more serious, "the Pope has instructed me to personally guide you. Starting tomorrow, you will train with Hu Liena, Xie Yue, and Yan. Combat techniques, soul skill sparring, team coordination, and meditation advancement—I will teach you everything I know."

Yue Guan paused, staring into Qin Chuan's eyes.

"Qin Chuan, I know your aptitude and talent far exceed those of your peers. But talent is one thing, and systematic training is another. The training system of Spirit Hall has been refined over hundreds of years; there are things here you cannot learn elsewhere."

Qin Chuan listened intently and nodded. "I understand."

Only then did Yue Guan pat his shoulder with satisfaction.

"Good. You've had a long day, so get some rest. Tomorrow at the hour of the rabbit, assemble at the Martial Arts Arena on the hillside."

Yue Guan turned and left.

Hu Liena had been standing at the door the entire time. Only after Yue Guan had walked far away did she poke her head inside.

"Qin Chuan, I live in the building right next to yours." Hu Liena pointed to the small building next door.

Qin Chuan glanced in the direction she was pointing.

"If you need anything, just come over and knock." After saying this, Hu Liena didn't linger; she turned and walked toward her own residence.

Her purple-red skirt dragged slightly along the gravel path, and her silver waist chain shimmered in the moonlight. After a few steps, she looked back once, only to find Qin Chuan still standing at the door watching her. She quickly turned her face away and quickened her pace.

Qin Chuan closed the door and went up to the second floor.

He didn't go straight to sleep. Instead, he sat by the window, closed his eyes, and began to meditate.

As the Heavenly Dao Power circulated, the moonlight and starlight outside the window were drawn into his body, converted into soul power, and injected into his dantian.

The concentration of heaven and earth soul power in the air of Spirit Hall was quite high. While it couldn't compare to the depths of the Star Dou Great Forest, it was several times higher than in ordinary towns. It was likely that Spirit Hall had installed a Spirit Gathering Array beneath the building's foundation to artificially increase the local soul power density.

While meditating, Qin Chuan reviewed the events of the day in his mind.

From observing the battle between Tang Hao and Yue Guan in the depths of the Star Dou Great Forest, to saving Hu Liena, and finally joining Spirit Hall—the entire process might have looked like a series of coincidences, but every step had been within his control.

He had bet correctly on Tang Hao's hammer.

He had also passed the Pope's interview.

The next steps were simple: establish a firm foothold in Spirit Hall and use its resources and environment to increase his strength as quickly as possible.

As for his grudge against the Clear Sky Sect, there was no rush. Once his strength was sufficient, the Clear Sky Sect would naturally have nowhere to run.

The corners of Qin Chuan's mouth curled up slightly. The moon outside the window was perfectly round.

The next day, just as the sky began to brighten.

Qin Chuan arrived at the Martial Arts Arena on the hillside right on time.

The arena was a rectangular open space paved with gray stone bricks, approximately three hundred meters long and one hundred meters wide. It was surrounded by a waist-high stone railing, with white circles and squares drawn on the ground.

When Qin Chuan arrived, Xie Yue was already there.

Xie Yue was leaning against the stone railing with his arms crossed. His left arm was wrapped in white bandages, but his spirit looked much better than the day before.

Seeing Qin Chuan approach, Xie Yue gave a slight nod as a greeting.

"Are your injuries healed?" Qin Chuan walked over and stood beside him.

"Just about," Xie Yue's voice was flat, neither cold nor warm. "What did you do yesterday? My injuries recovered abnormally fast."

"It's a type of talent, I suppose." Qin Chuan didn't offer further explanation.

Xie Yue glanced at him and didn't press the matter.

A few minutes later, Yan arrived.

He had changed into a clean, fire-red martial outfit. His hair was still that dark red color, short and messy. The burns on his face had been treated with ointment, leaving white patches here and there.

"Yo, everyone's here." Yan walked over and plopped down on the stone railing, swinging his legs back and forth.

Two minutes later, Hu Liena arrived.

Qin Chuan's gaze drifted toward her involuntarily.

Hu Liena had changed her outfit today. Her upper body was clad in a dark purple short-sleeved martial top, cinched tightly to clearly define her waistline. On her lower body, she wore matching slim-fit trousers, the cuffs tucked into soft leather boots.

Her hair was tied up high behind her head with a silver ribbon. The makeup on her face had been washed off, and her bare face actually looked more pleasant than the alluring appearance she had worn the day before.

"Morning." Hu Liena greeted everyone and walked over to stand next to Qin Chuan.

At seven-fifteen, Yue Guan arrived.

"Everyone is here." Yue Guan stood still in the center of the arena, hands behind his back, his gaze sweeping over the four of them.

"Starting today, Qin Chuan officially joins your training. To put it simply, my training is divided into three parts: first, physical combat; second, soul skill release and control; third, meditation. You will practice physical techniques and soul skills every morning, meditate in the afternoon, and have free time in the evening."

Yue Guan walked to the edge of the arena, took four wooden sticks from behind the stone railing, and tossed them onto the ground.

"Warm up first. Spar in pairs. Ten minutes."

Yan was the first to jump up. "I'll fight Qin Chuan!"

Qin Chuan bent down to pick up a wooden stick, weighing it in his hand. It was ordinary hardwood, nothing special.

Yan picked one up as well, rushed to the opposite side of Qin Chuan, and struck a pose.

"Come on, newbie, let me see what you're made of."

Qin Chuan didn't reply; he stepped forward with his left foot and held the wooden stick horizontally in front of him.

"Begin!" Yue Guan's voice rang out.

With a whoosh, Yan charged over, his wooden stick swinging down from above. The strike was powerful, carrying the sound of rushing wind.

Qin Chuan dodged to the side, the stick grazing his shoulder before slamming into the ground, leaving a white mark on the stone tile.

Qin Chuan's counterattack was swift. His wooden stick swept out from the side, aiming for Yan's ribs.

Yan had no time to retract his move and could only block with his left arm. The stick struck his forearm with a crisp crack.

"Hiss." Yan sucked in a cold breath, his arm stinging with pain.

"You've got quite a bit of strength," Yan said, shaking his arm.

Qin Chuan didn't respond, thrusting his wooden stick forward once more.

The two traded blows for over a dozen rounds. Yan's advantage lay in his strength and fierce strikes, with every swing fueled by raw power. However, his movements were too wide, his recovery was slow, and he left many openings.

Qin Chuan's advantage lay in his speed and anticipation. Although his Six Paths Reincarnation Eye was not activated, the heightened perception gained from long-term use had been etched into his instincts.

Before every strike Yan made, Qin Chuan could sense the slight movement of his shoulders and the shift in his center of gravity in advance.

Ten minutes passed.

Yan's training suit was soaked through, and he was panting heavily. Qin Chuan had a light sheen of sweat on him, but his breathing remained steady.

"Acceptable," Yue Guan commented from the side.

On the other side, the sparring match between Xie Yue and Hu Liena had also concluded. Xie Yue's injuries hadn't fully healed, so he fought quite conservatively. Close-quarters combat wasn't Hu Liena's strong suit to begin with, so the two had held back, resulting in a lukewarm performance.

"Five-minute break, then we begin spirit ability training."