The food in the private dining room had been swept clean, leaving the vegetable dishes covering the table completely empty. Everyone slumped in their chairs, shedding the exhaustion of days of relentless combat.
Outside the window, people bustled along the town streets in a lively din. Inside, the atmosphere was relaxed and languid. No one was in a hurry to get up; they all took this rare moment of leisure to empty their minds completely.
Mo Yuan lifted the light tea from the table and took a sip. As he set down his cup, he broke the room's idle atmosphere, his voice steady and clear as it reached everyone's ears.
"Get another good night's rest tonight and make sure you're fully recovered. Tomorrow morning, we'll head back to the Academy."
At those words, everyone looked up, a hint of anticipation in their eyes.
Their week of extreme training in Star Dou Forest was finally over. They no longer had to keep their nerves stretched taut day and night, guarding against surprise attacks from Soul Beasts, nor eat in the wind, sleep beneath the open sky, and fight for their lives.
Before they could finish savoring that thought, Mo Yuan added something else, immediately hooking everyone's curiosity.
"Once we're back, we'll begin the team's next stage of specialized training."
Li Jiaojiao perked up instantly. She had been lounging against the back of her chair, but now she sat bolt upright, her eyes brimming with excitement. Unable to wait, she eagerly pressed him for details:
"The next stage of training? Teacher, what exactly will we be doing? Will it be difficult? Will there be actual combat?"
The string of questions spilled out of her mouth. Clearly, she had recovered completely and was now filled with anticipation for the new training.
Beside her,