Advancing Together

Bang! Bang! Heavy thuds rang out across the training ground. Yu Tianheng was sparring with Jiang Baiyu—or rather, Jiang Baiyu was beating him one-sidedly. "Again!" Yu Tianheng roared. His right arm underwent Dragon Transformation, terrifying arcs of electricity crackling across it as he lunged at Jiang Baiyu.

"Not bad. Just a little slow," Jiang Baiyu said evenly, then threw a punch. Faced with Yu Tianheng's Martial Soul Possession and transformed right arm, he answered with an ordinary-looking fist. But after being tempered by the Ice and Fire Dragon Kings, his strength was monstrous. The moment their fists met, a sonic boom erupted. Yu Tianheng flew backward and slammed into the bluestone floor, sending chips of stone everywhere. Even the formidable physique of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon could not withstand a blow like that.

Jiang Baiyu raised his right hand. A faint golden-green glow flowed from the Shennong Cauldron and enveloped Yu Tianheng. At the same time, Ye Lingling, who had long since removed her veil, lifted a hand. Pale-faced, she bathed Yu Tianheng in soft white light.

Yu Tianheng got to his feet, his fighting spirit undiminished. "Again!"

Jiang Baiyu waved him off. "No. Your body has recovered, but you've reached your limit. Stop pushing yourself and go lie down with the others."

Following Jiang Baiyu's gaze, Yu Tianheng saw an open-air pool that had appeared beside the training ground at some point. The Shi Brothers, Yu Feng, and Osler lay in it with their eyes closed, recovering.

Yu Tianheng walked silently to the pool. The water, infused with vitality and Tranquilizing Grass, submerged his numb body. The long-forgotten feeling of comfort made him shudder all over.

Meanwhile, under the horrified gazes of the others, Jiang Baiyu pointed a finger. "Yu Feng, you and Osler come at me together." Both men looked devastated. "Bro, could you go easy on us?" Yu Feng asked. His handsome face had gone sour, and every inch of him radiated reluctance.

At first, Jiang Baiyu had genuinely thought Yu Feng was Bai Chenxiang in disguise. Further observation, however, had confirmed that Yu Feng was a man, putting his mind at ease.

He smiled. "You've recovered nicely. Good. You can train with me a little longer."

Yu Feng stared at him in disbelief. What kind of hell had they been living through these past few days?

Ever since Jiang Baiyu returned, the members of the Imperial Fighting Team had been called to the training ground. All seven of them, along with Zhu Zhuqing, had faced Jiang Baiyu. They had known they would lose, but the instant an education committee member called for them to begin, every one of them was knocked unconscious. When they woke, the men and women had been placed in separate pools. Then the nightmare began: they were called out to face Jiang Baiyu, knocked unconscious, and called out again. Their strength grew rapidly throughout it all. Once their Soul Power and abilities improved, though, the real suffering began. Every blow felt as if it shattered their bones. Jiang Baiyu and Ye Lingling would heal them together, only for their bones to be broken again. The injuries vanished, but the pain remained. When they were close to their limit, Jiang Baiyu threw them back into the pools to recuperate. The cycle repeated, and under that grueling training, their strength soared.

Before he knew it, Yu Feng was lying in the pool again.

Jiang Baiyu flexed his wrists. "That's enough training for today. Come on, Lingling. I'll work with you women next." Without waiting for Ye Lingling's answer, he pulled her aside.

Jiang Baiyu punched Zhu Zhuqing, sending her flying. Even a cat renowned for her flexibility could not handle that force, and she spat out a mouthful of blood. By then, Dugu Yan was gasping for breath. Both she and Ye Lingling had exhausted their Soul Power—and Jiang Baiyu had been holding back. Seeing their condition, he left. The day's training was finally over.

A few days later, eight figures sat cross-legged at different points across the training ground. Dense Soul Power surged through the area like a tide, while glimmers from their Martial Souls rose and fell, weaving a dazzling sea of light.

Blue-violet lightning crackled around Yu Tianheng. The pressure of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon spread unchecked as dragon scales appeared along his arms. His Soul Power broke through its shackles and surged past the threshold of level forty. Amid rolling thunder, he became a level-forty Power Attack System Soul Ancestor.

Beside him, Dugu Yan's Jade Phosphorous Serpent Martial Soul emerged faintly, pale-green poisonous mist circling her. The Soul Power pent up within her burst free, carrying her to level forty as well. Her poison-attribute Soul Power grew denser and more concentrated.

The brothers Shi Mo and Shi Mo sat side by side, their Black Tortoise Martial Souls shining brightly as heavy, earth-yellow Soul Power spread outward. Their cultivation had always been close. Now they broke through their bottlenecks together, both reaching level forty and becoming Soul Ancestors. The defensive power of their Black Tortoises was several times stronger than before.

A clear wind howled around Yu Feng. His Wind Chime Bird Martial Soul beat its wings, currents of air spiraling around him. His Soul Power swelled, and he broke through to level thirty-nine.

Ghostly shadows swayed beside Osler. The aura of his Ghost Leopard Martial Soul surged, carrying him to level thirty-nine as well and further strengthening the foundation of his speed.

Ye Lingling sat quietly where she was. A soft pink halo spread from her Nine-Hearted Begonia, its gentle healing Soul Power filling the training ground. Her Soul Power climbed steadily past level thirty-seven, raising the upper limit of her support abilities once more.

Zhu Zhuqing sat alone in a corner. Her Nether Civet Martial Soul leapt and flickered, dark afterimages flashing around her. She had started at level twenty-four, but under Jiang Baiyu's relentless training, her Soul Power had raced upward to level thirty. She entered the realm of Soul Elders, and the explosive speed of her Martial Soul took a qualitative leap.

Eight waves of Soul Power rose and fell, their rumbling filling the training ground.

Soul Rings rose one after another, their yellow and purple glows shining together.

At the edge of the grounds, the Three Education Committee Members—Meng Shenji, Bai Baoshan, and Zhi Lin—stood motionless, staring at the eight figures in astonishment.

The members of this team were not even fifteen years old on average. Ordinarily, one or two of them reaching Soul Ancestor would have been cause for enormous celebration, perhaps even enough to make them favorites to win the next Soul Master tournament. Yet now, all eight members of the Imperial Fighting Team and Zhu Zhuqing had advanced, with several becoming Soul Ancestors. Such a sight was exceedingly rare even in the history of Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

"Incredible," Zhi Lin murmured. "Their cultivation hasn't merely soared. The foundations of every one of their Martial Souls have become more solid."

Meng Shenji nodded slowly, his gaze passing over each figure. "Jiang Baiyu's training method is worth studying. Still, I suspect it also depends on the unusual nature of his Martial Soul. Ordinary training could hardly produce breakthroughs on this scale."

Yu Tianheng's eyes snapped open. Blue-violet lightning shot skyward, and the aura of a level-forty Soul Ancestor burst from him.

Dugu Yan opened her eyes next, Jade Phosphorous Serpent poison mist swirling as she completed her breakthrough. The two Shi Mo brothers, Yu Feng, Osler, and Ye Lingling opened their eyes in succession. Their Soul Power rippled, then their auras steadied.

Finally, Zhu Zhuqing raised her eyes. Two Soul Rings rose, and the aura of a level-thirty Soul Elder erupted from her. She flashed forward, leaving several afterimages behind.

Every one of them still radiated the surging Soul Power of a fresh breakthrough.

Yu Tianheng clenched his fists, thrilled by the power coursing through him. Nourished by a potent Immortal Herb, he had reached level thirty-nine some time ago, but the threshold of Soul Ancestor had kept eluding him. Today, he had finally crossed it. Dugu Yan drew a slow breath. The poison of her Jade Phosphorous Serpent had grown far more potent than before.

Zhu Zhuqing shook out her wrists. Her whole body felt wonderfully light. Her speed had reached an entirely new level.

Eight young Soul Masters stood at the center of the training ground. Every member of the Imperial Fighting Team had grown vastly stronger, and with Zhu Zhuqing now a Soul Elder, the team's combat strength had been transformed.

The Three Education Committee Members exchanged glances. They all understood: Heaven Dou Royal Academy now had a young team capable of standing above its peers across the continent.

But Jiang Baiyu spoke up from the side. "What are you celebrating for? Yu Feng, Osler, Lingling—sit down. I used so much Immortal Herb essence while training with you, and you still haven't broken through."

All three shivered and looked at him.

"It's fine. I'm not going to beat you up this time. Here, catch." Jiang Baiyu tossed the two men a jade bottle. "Those are Barrier-Breaking Pills. Yu Feng and Osler, take them first. As for Lingling, support-type Soul Masters do advance more slowly. Keep building up your Soul Power for now."

He had refined the Barrier-Breaking Pills long ago. Though they had no side effects, it was still best to achieve a breakthrough through one's own efforts. But their departure was imminent, so he might as well give Yu Feng and Osler a push. Then they could hunt Soul Beasts with the others.

Before long, Yu Feng's and Osler's auras surged. Both had broken through to level forty!