Time slipped away unnoticed through those dull, grueling days. In the blink of an eye, two full months had passed since Yang Chang'an entered Spirit Hall's Training Camp.
Over those two months, Yang Chang'an worked harder and pushed himself further than anyone else in the Training Camp.
During the day, he joined everyone else for group training and never missed a single sparring exercise. But at night, when the others were so exhausted they fell asleep the moment their heads hit their pillows, he still had to seek out Qianjun Douluo for private lessons.
They called them lessons, but there was no theory involved at all. From beginning to end, it was combat, combat, and more combat.
Qianjun Douluo never lectured him about grand principles. He went straight into a real fight, grinding Yang Chang'an into the dirt in the most direct way possible before pointing out, one by one, the flaws in his moves, his mistakes in applying force, and the shortcomings in his use of Soul Skills.
Sometimes, when the mood struck him, Demon Subduing Douluo would join in as well. Two Titled Douluos took turns putting Yang Chang'an through his paces. The intensity was simply more than an ordinary person could endure.
Precisely because of this, Yang Chang'an improved at a frightening pace over those short two months, while the intensity of his training left the other trainees far behind.
The others trained eight hours a day; he trained at least sixteen. Under that immense pressure, both his strength and his control over his Martial Soul soared at a rate visible to the naked eye.
Under this almost hellish training regime, Yang Chang'an had successfully broken through to rank fourteen a month and a half earlier. He had long since stabilized at that rank and made considerable progress within it.
Moreover, he had spent this time concentrating on developing and refining his Soul Breaking Spear, becoming increasingly adept at coordinating his Soul Skills with his Martial Soul. For now, he had set aside the idea of taking Body Tempering Pills to strengthen his physique.
With personal guidance from two Titled Douluos, Qianjun Douluo and Demon Subduing Douluo, Yang Chang'an's mastery of the Soul Breaking Spear had already far surpassed that of anyone at the same rank.
In their own words, the current Yang Chang'an would be considerably stronger even than Yang Wudi or Yang Wushuang at the same rank.
During his two months in the Training Camp, Yang Chang'an had also fought his fellow trainees frequently. In particular, he sparred several times almost every day with standouts such as Qingyu and Shi Hao.
Shi Hao was a typical power attack system Soul Master, with tremendous strength and solid defense, one of the fiercest fighters in the Training Camp. Yet every time he faced Yang Chang'an, he was beaten without any chance to fight back. By now, Yang Chang'an could be said to have victory firmly in his grasp whenever he faced Shi Hao.
Qingyu, meanwhile, specialized in speed. He moved nimbly and struck swiftly, excelling at darting around and launching surprise attacks. Ordinary power attack system Soul Masters could do nothing against him. But Yang Chang'an's Soul Breaking Spear struck with immense, crushing force, and his exceptionally quick reactions allowed him to anticipate Qingyu's movements. Even against someone as fast as Qingyu, Yang Chang'an could easily suppress him, leaving him unable to get close.
As for Jin Li'er, her Martial Soul was the golden crocodile. Its defense was terrifying, only slightly weaker than that of the armored giant rhinoceros, and her strength was no less than Shi Hao's. She had also reached rank sixteen ahead of everyone else.
At first, Yang Chang'an really had struggled to beat Jin Li'er. Her defense was too tough, and she had strength to spare, making it difficult for his Soul Breaking Spear to breach her defenses. But after two months of training, his strength had advanced by leaps and bounds. Now, when he fought Jin Li'er, he could match her blow for blow.
That day, training at the camp came to a temporary close. Everyone was packing their things, preparing to leave and get some rest.
Yang Chang'an leaned against the bed in the Dormitory. Watching Han Yun pack his luggage nearby, he smiled and asked, "Han Yun, when are you heading home?"
Han Yun looked up with his usual gentle smile, his tone light.
"My mom and dad were transferred to posts in Spirit City a little while ago. They'll be here to pick me up soon."
At this, Yang Chang'an and Niu Wenchuan beside him both nodded.
After spending two months together, they had long since learned about Han Yun's family background. His parents were the youngest Black Bishops in the Oswei Kingdom, with bright futures ahead of them. It was only natural that they would be transferred to a central stronghold like Spirit City.
Just then, Niu Wenchuan scratched his head and glanced at the empty bed on the other side, muttering in confusion:
"That's strange. Isn't Vincent from Star Luo City? His home is so far away. Why did he pack up and leave early too?"
Han Yun paused as well, looking puzzled. He lowered his head and pondered for quite a while before speaking uncertainly:
"Maybe... his family bought him a house in Spirit City? His grandfather is a Platinum Bishop, after all. With such a high position, it's only natural for him to have a few privileges."
Niu Wenchuan immediately nodded in agreement.
A Platinum Bishop was an important figure in Spirit Hall, second only to an Elder. Arranging a few conveniences for his family would be a simple matter. Yet just then, Yang Chang'an shook his head gently and said meaningfully:
"He won't be coming back."
The moment he said this, Han Yun and Niu Wenchuan both froze. They stared blankly at Yang Chang'an, completely unable to understand what he meant.
During his recent training sessions with Qianjun Douluo, Yang Chang'an occasionally heard news about Spirit Hall's upper ranks. Among it was word that Pope Bibi Dong had been frantically courting all the senior figures in Spirit Hall lately, hoping to keep power firmly in her own hands.
With her status as pope and her formidable strength as a Titled Douluo, quite a few senior figures had indeed trimmed their sails to the wind and flocked to her side. Among them was Vincent's grandfather-that Platinum Bishop.
Of course, all of this depended on the Worship Hall staying out of the matter.
If the Worship Hall actually stepped forward and spoke, hardly anyone in Spirit Hall would dare have anything to do with Bibi Dong.
At the time, Yang Chang'an had curiously asked Qianjun Douluo why the Worship Hall did not intervene. The latter had merely said indifferently that the Worship Hall had no interest in these struggles for power.
Upon hearing that, Yang Chang'an had known without even thinking that no one but that "true gentleman" in the Worship Hall could have given such an order.
Sometimes, Yang Chang'an truly could not understand what was going through that man's head.
His granddaughter was clearly Spirit Hall's rightful heir and the strongest contender for the papacy, yet he had sent her off to Heaven Dou City as an undercover agent, wasting the best years of her life. He clearly did not want to hand power over to Bibi Dong, yet as he watched her frantically expand her influence and win people over, he acted as though he would simply wait and see.
Something is seriously wrong with him.
Yang Chang'an grumbled inwardly, but he did not dare say anything more.
With his current status and strength, he was not even qualified to offer the Worship Hall advice. Whatever thoughts he had, he could only let them rot in his belly.
Seeing the confusion on Han Yun's and Niu Wenchuan's faces, Yang Chang'an offered no further explanation.
At their age, with their limited perspective, there were things they would not understand even if he explained them. Han Yun's parents were both senior figures in Spirit Hall. If he truly could not work something out, he would learn the truth simply by asking them at home. There was no need for Yang Chang'an to say too much.
Yang Chang'an patted Han Yun on the shoulder and said goodbye, then pulled the still-bewildered Niu Wenchuan along as he turned and left the Dormitory.
After they left, several figures with terrifying auras stood atop the distant Angel God Mountain, which towered into the clouds, quietly watching the Training Camp.
Watching Yang Chang'an and Niu Wenchuan disappear into the distance, the Enshrined stretched a little and relaxed. Light Feather Douluo in particular wore an easy smile as he remarked:
"Ah, it's good to be young! Spending time with these little fellows makes me feel several years younger myself!"
The lips of the other Douluos twitched at his words. They gave Light Feather Douluo's face, which looked as youthful as a boy's, odd looks, then curled their lips in unison, utterly speechless.
Azure Luan Douluo stood expressionlessly where he was and said coldly, "Since you have so much free time and enjoy watching the fun so much, go out and catch a few bastards who deserve to die. Let these little fellows see some blood and build their nerve."
Light Feather Douluo's eyes went wide. He pointed at his own nose in disbelief, looking stunned. "Seriously? Why me?"
Azure Luan Douluo's expression immediately darkened, and his tone grew sharp. "If you hadn't been bored and looking for amusement back then, and suggested setting up this Training Camp yourself, would we have all this trouble now? Now that you're being asked to do a little work, you're dragging your feet?"
Light Feather Douluo was just about to protest. "But that still doesn't-"
"Hmm?"
"Fine, fine, I'll go! I'll go right now, all right?"
With a miserable expression and obvious reluctance, Light Feather Douluo turned and left. Watching him, the other Enshrined could not help chuckling to themselves.