Three Years Later!

Time was the cruelest, yet fairest, thing in a Spirit Master's growth.

Three years passed in a flash.

On the Training Ground behind Spirit City, the obsidian floor had long been covered in fresh cracks.

Among those cracks were scorched black marks left by Yan's flames, long blade marks carved by Xie Yue's Moon Blades, and residual traces of Soul Power left by Gu Changsheng's repeated coverage of the Minor Thousand-Faced Phantom Realm.

For the past three years, this place had hardly known a single truly quiet day.

Physical training in the morning, Soul Skill sparring before noon, team coordination in the afternoon, and review and tactical analysis at night.

Bibi Dong had never given them any easy opportunities.

Ghost Douluo was responsible for pressuring them in actual combat.

Chrysanthemum Douluo was responsible for Soul Power control.

And every so often, Bibi Dong would personally assess their progress.

At first, Gu Changsheng and the other three could only barely hold out for the time it took to burn an incense stick under Ghost Douluo's Soul Power-suppressed attacks.

A year later, they could already force Ghost Douluo to reveal more variations in his movement techniques.

Two years later, Xie Yue and Yan could even briefly seal off Ghost Douluo's retreat under the support of Gu Changsheng and Hu Liena.

By the third year, even though Ghost Douluo still suppressed his strength, they were no longer as wretched as they had been at the beginning.

What had truly changed was not merely their Soul Power levels.

It was also the team.

Yan no longer charged ahead blindly.

His Flame had become the team's most reliable frontline bulwark. He could press forward with force or fall back to protect the formation.

Xie Yue's attacks had become even cleaner.

He rarely wasted an attack now. Every Moon Blade he launched nearly always targeted a weakness.

Hu Liena's Charm had grown increasingly refined. It no longer simply confused enemies, but could precisely disrupt their emotions and judgment.

As for Gu Changsheng.

He had become the true rhythm core of the entire team.

Over these three years, he had honed the Minor Thousand-Faced Phantom Realm to ever greater proficiency.

Illusions, displacement, mental marks, sensory interference.

In his hands, these abilities were no longer merely Soul Skills, but part of the battlefield itself.

More importantly, the Myriad Heaven Book's analytical ability allowed Gu Changsheng to identify weaknesses in an opponent's formation in an extremely short time.

Even after just one probing exchange, he could swiftly deduce the best response.

Within Spirit Hall Academy, no one still regarded him as the "new little junior brother."

More people called him—

The brain of the Spirit Hall Team.

That day, before Pope Palace.

Sunlight broke through the clouds and spilled over the white stone steps.

Bibi Dong sat upright upon the Pope Throne, her calm gaze resting on those below.

Hu Liena, Xie Yue, Yan, and Gu Changsheng stood side by side.

Three years had passed, and all four had changed in bearing.

Hu Liena had become increasingly alluring. Every smile and frown carried an innate aura of Charm.

Xie Yue remained cold and stern, his hands hanging at his sides, yet he gave off the dangerous feeling that he could draw his blades at any moment.

Yan had grown taller, his fiery aura restrained, yet he resembled a volcano on the verge of eruption.

Gu Changsheng stood at the far right, his expression calm and his aura gentle.

At first glance, he seemed to be the least intimidating of the four.

But those who truly knew him understood that once battle began, he was precisely the first person who needed to be dealt with.

Bibi Dong spoke lightly.

"Three years are up."

"The Entire Continent High-Level Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament is about to begin."

The atmosphere in the hall instantly turned solemn.

Bibi Dong's gaze passed over the four in turn.

"Report your Soul Power."

Hu Liena was the first to step forward.

"Hu Liena, level fifty-one Control System Battle Spirit King."

Xie Yue followed immediately after.

"Xie Yue, level fifty-two Power Assault System Battle Spirit King."

Yan grinned, his voice booming.

"Yan, level fifty-one Power Assault System Battle Spirit King."

Finally, Gu Changsheng stepped forward.

"Gu Changsheng, level forty-seven Control System Battle Soul Sect."

His voice was not loud, yet it made the eyes of everyone in the hall shift slightly.

Level forty-seven.

At his age, this was already an astonishing rate of growth.

More importantly, Gu Changsheng's strength could never be judged by his Soul Power level alone.

The tactical value of his third Soul Skill, the Minor Thousand-Faced Phantom Realm, even surpassed the Soul Skills of many Spirit Kings.

And last year, when Gu Changsheng acquired his Fourth Soul Ring, he had once again shaken Spirit Hall's upper ranks.

It had come from an approximately eight-thousand-year-old Mental Attribute Spirit Beast called the Mirror Shadow Spirit Fox.

In the end, it granted him his Fourth Soul Skill—the Myriad Heaven Mirror Body.

It could create a mental projection for a short time, one that possessed partial Soul Power fluctuations and the illusion of Soul Skills.

Paired with the Minor Thousand-Faced Phantom Realm, it was nearly impossible to distinguish real from fake.

Bibi Dong looked at Gu Changsheng and asked,

"How well have you mastered your Fourth Soul Skill?"

Gu Changsheng answered,

"I can already stably maintain three projections for interference. If I create only one high-intensity mirror body, it can briefly simulate seventy percent of my true body's Soul Power fluctuations."

Hearing this, Yan could not help muttering,

"Every time I train with him, I never know whether I'm hitting a person or a shadow."

Xie Yue said flatly,

"That is why you always miss."

Yan's mouth twitched.

"No one will mistake you for mute if you don't speak."

Hu Liena laughed softly.

Bibi Dong did not reprimand their relaxed manner.

She knew very well that this was not carelessness, but the tacit understanding formed through countless rounds of practice.

After a moment, Bibi Dong's voice sank slightly.

"The roster for this Spirit Master Tournament's Spirit Hall Academy Team has been finalized."

"Seven main members."

"Hu Liena, Xie Yue, Yan, Gu Changsheng."

"The remaining three will be filled by Soul Sects from the academy."

"Team captain, Hu Liena."

"Tactical commander, Gu Changsheng."

Gu Changsheng lowered his head slightly.

"This disciple understands."

Hu Liena glanced at him from the side, her eyes smiling.

"Little junior brother, we'll be relying on your command from here on."

Gu Changsheng said calmly,

"Senior Sister will be responsible for winning beautifully. I'll be responsible for making our opponents lose with full understanding."

Yan's eyes lit up.

"Now that's something I like to hear."

Even Xie Yue rarely nodded in agreement.

Bibi Dong watched the four, satisfaction flashing through her eyes.

This generation of the Golden Generation was stronger than she had expected.

Gu Changsheng's addition in particular gave the Spirit Hall Team, originally inclined toward explosive power assaults, a true brain capable of controlling the entire battlefield.

"You have only one goal."

Bibi Dong spoke slowly.

"The championship."

"And it will be an unquestionable championship."

The four saluted at the same time.

"Yes!"

As they walked out of Pope Palace, the Bell Chime of Spirit City rang at just that moment.

The lingering toll spread throughout the entire city.

It was the signal that the Entire Continent High-Level Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament was about to begin.

Yan stretched lazily, his face filled with excitement.

"It is finally starting! We trained for three years, and now we can finally find someone to test ourselves against."

Xie Yue said coolly,

"Don't be careless. No academy that makes it to the tournament will be weak."

Yan snorted.

"No matter how strong they are, can they be stronger than us?"

Hu Liena smiled.

"Yan, confidence is fine. Underestimating the enemy is not."

Yan immediately changed his tune.

"I'm building morale before the battle."

Gu Changsheng did not join their teasing.

His gaze turned toward the distance.

He knew that the opponents truly worth watching in this tournament were not those ordinary high-level Spirit Master academies.

But Shrek.

Tang San, Dai Mubai, Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, Oscar, Ning Rongrong, Ma Hongjun.

They would fight their way out from the preliminaries.

And in the end, they would arrive in Spirit City.

The butterfly from Star Dou Great Forest three years ago had already flapped its wings.

And now, the storm of fate was about to truly descend.

At the same time.

Tiandou City.

Within an inconspicuous academy.

Yu Xiaogang stood at the edge of the Training Ground, watching the seven young Spirit Masters before him with a solemn expression.

Tang San stood at the front, Blue Silver Grass gently swaying in his palm.

Dai Mubai crossed his arms over his chest, battle intent rising in his eyes.

Xiao Wu flicked her Scorpion Braid, a bright smile at the corner of her lips.

Zhu Zhuqing remained silent.

Oscar and Ma Hongjun whispered about something.

Ning Rongrong stood at the back, her expression serious.

Yu Xiaogang said in a deep voice,

"The Entire Continent High-Level Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament is your chance to prove yourselves."

"Remember, your goal is not merely to participate."

"It is the championship."

At the mention of the championship, Xiao Wu's eyes shifted slightly.

For some reason, she suddenly thought of the boy she had encountered in Star Dou Great Forest three years ago.

Gu Changsheng.

The one who was clearly from Spirit Hall, yet had concealed her aura for her.

Tang San noticed her distraction and asked softly,

"Xiao Wu, what's wrong?"

Xiao Wu came back to herself and smiled as she shook her head.

"Nothing."

She looked into the distance, and a trace more curiosity appeared in her eyes.

If they truly met him in this tournament.

What would he be like now?