Strict Guidance

Hardening was a Defense Enhancement Spirit Ability. Its main function was to increase defense.

Although Blue Silver Grass was weak, Shi Quan's Blue Silver Grass had mutated attributes after all, and the Ink Jade Bamboo was also a thousand years old.

With Shi Quan's clever use, it became a Prison Cage to trap enemies. Unless they possessed a Power Attack System offensive spirit ability of the same thousand-year level, there was no way they could break it.

Shi Quan was well aware of the Blue Silver Grass's current strength, so he simply stood there and quietly watched them struggle.

Before long, the seven of them saw that their attacks could not cause much damage to the vines beneath them, while their hands had been numbed by the recoil. They all turned to Xue Beng as though seeking help.

As the commotion around him gradually died down, Xue Beng angrily swept his gaze around before finally saying through gritted teeth, his face flushed red, "We surrender. Let us go already."

Shi Quan raised a hand and clenched his fist. The Blue Silver Grass softened and swiftly receded.

"What's your name?" Xue Beng asked Shi Quan with an ugly expression.

"Don't you already know my name?"

Xue Beng paused, but his expression remained unchanged. "How would I know your name?"

"Heh." Shi Quan gave a faint laugh and turned to Ning Rongrong. "Looks like your training has been too easy these past few days. You have so much energy left to go looking for trouble."

As though she had not heard him, Ning Rongrong stepped forward in surprise. "Shi Quan, you know Heart Separation Control?"

"Don't try to change the subject."

"I'm not changing the subject." Ning Rongrong anxiously said, "Didn't you just use Heart Separation Control? You controlled your Blue Silver Grass and trapped all seven of them at the same time."

"That just means my control over my Martial Soul is strong," Shi Quan explained.

"It was obviously Heart Separation Control! You split your Blue Silver Grass into seven vines and controlled seven targets at once. That's already the Seven Aperture Exquisite Heart realm!" Ning Rongrong stared at Shi Quan with shining eyes.

"What Heart Separation Control? I don't know it."

Shi Quan waved a hand. The reason he could control the Blue Silver Grass so freely was partly due to his powerful Spirit Power and partly due to his control over his Martial Soul. It had nothing to do with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's Heart Separation Control.

But in Ning Rongrong's eyes, this was Heart Separation Control.

Ning Rongrong had experienced Shi Quan's skill over the past few days, but she had never expected him to know Heart Separation Control as well!

This was the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's secret art. She had not even entered the beginner stage yet, but Shi Quan had already reached the highest realm of Heart Separation Control?

Furthermore, this secret art had not been passed on outside the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect for the time being. According to Shi Quan, did that not mean he had comprehended Heart Separation Control through his own talent and directly reached the supreme Seven Aperture Exquisite Heart realm?

At that thought, Ning Rongrong could not help feeling a measure of admiration for Shi Quan.

Seeing the two ignore him, Xue Beng felt humiliated. But the seven of them were no match for Shi Quan, so he could only snort coldly and turn away.

Ning Rongrong, meanwhile, clung to Shi Quan and asked, "You really don't know Heart Separation Control? My father never told you about it?"

"I suspect you're just using this to change the subject from the trouble you caused," Shi Quan said flatly.

"I take responsibility for what I do. Do you think I'm scared?" Ning Rongrong held her head high and puffed out her chest. When she saw that Shi Quan did not even glance at her as he turned toward the Cafeteria, she hurried after him. "Hey, Shi Quan, tell me whether my father ever mentioned Heart Separation Control to you."

"Uncle Ning never told me about that." Shi Quan rubbed his ear, then turned and pinched Ning Rongrong's mouth shut. "Weren't you hungry? Go eat already and stuff that mouth of yours."

"Mm... mm..." Ning Rongrong wanted to say more but could not. She could only keep patting Shi Quan's arm, signaling for him to let go.

"Hmph!" Ning Rongrong glared at Shi Quan before turning toward the Cafeteria counter.

Shi Quan chose a counter and got himself a meal. The food at Heaven Dou Royal Academy tasted quite good. Not long after he sat down, Ning Rongrong arrived with a plate of delicious-looking food and sat across from him.

"Shi Quan, you said just now that your control over your Martial Soul is strong. So how do you practice controlling your Martial Soul?" Ning Rongrong asked curiously as she ate.

To train Heart Separation Control, she had to continuously release different skills. The speed and duration of each skill had to differ, while remaining as precise as possible, allowing her to deploy and retract them freely.

The whole process was extremely tedious. She had never been able to settle down and train properly, so her progress in Heart Separation Control had remained slow.

That was why she was curious about Shi Quan's method for training Heart Separation Control, hoping it might help her own practice.

"Comprehend your Martial Soul."

"Comprehend my Martial Soul?" Ning Rongrong looked thoroughly confused.

"It means comprehending the power of your Martial Soul, understanding its will, and connecting your heart and mind with it." After a simple explanation, Shi Quan continued, "We'll talk when your heart can finally calm down. For now, just focus on holding your Horse Stance. We can discuss anything else after you master that."

"That sounds so difficult." Ning Rongrong pouted and took a huge bite of the food on her plate.

Afternoon.

Heaven Dou Battle Team Training Ground.

Yu Feng said animatedly, "Did you hear about what happened at noon? A monster joined our academy whose Second Spirit Ring is a Thousand Year Spirit Ring. He has crowd-control abilities with only two rings. He should be the one Teacher Qin mentioned, right?"

The Shi Brothers, who were usually quiet and reserved, spoke up as well. "We heard about it too."

Osler said disdainfully, "It caused quite a commotion, and it happened when there were the most people around at noon. Who in the academy doesn't know by now?"

As the captain, Yu Tianheng spoke at this moment as well. "That person isn't weak, and he's a Control System Spirit Master. You all need to be careful."

Osler and Yu Feng exchanged glances, battle intent flashing in both their eyes.

"I won't leave the Heaven Dou Battle Team that easily." Yu Feng grinned. "So what if he has a Thousand Year Spirit Ring? It won't be that easy for him to beat me."

Osler wore a solemn expression. "Same here."

Among the Heaven Dou Battle Team, only three people still had two spirit rings. Two of them were Yu Feng and Osler, while the other was the Support Spirit Master, Ye Lingling.

Though they still had only two rings, both Yu Feng and Osler had reached rank twenty-nine. They were only one final step away from rank thirty, the threshold of Soul Elder.

As a Control System Spirit Master, Shi Quan naturally would not replace Ye Lingling, who was a Support Spirit Master, if he wanted to join the Heaven Dou Battle Team. Therefore, Yu Feng and Osler, the two who still had two rings, were naturally at the greatest risk.

Yet everyone knew in their hearts that Osler was actually the one in the most danger.

Yu Feng and Osler had comparable talent, and both were Agility Attack System Spirit Masters. However, there was a considerable gap between their Martial Souls. Yu Feng's Martial Soul was the Wind Chime Bird, while Osler's was the Ghost Leopard. One was a flying Spirit Master, while the other fought on the ground. The difference spoke for itself.

If Shi Quan truly had the ability to break into the Heaven Dou Battle Team, the one eliminated would definitely be Osler.

The seven had trained together for two or three years and had long formed deep bonds. They would not willingly eliminate any one of them.

But that was how the Heaven Dou Battle Team worked. Only the strong could enter. If they wanted to stay, they could only keep striving to become stronger.

Simulated Cultivation Environment.

"Didn't you have too much energy with nowhere to spend it? Get up. Stand for half an hour at a time."

The deep-blue vine whip cracked down beside Ning Rongrong, making her jolt in fright.

During the previous few days of training, whenever Ning Rongrong became tired from standing, she would sit cross-legged and cultivate to rest. Shi Quan had never imposed any strict requirements on her, but after what happened at noon, he decided to give Ning Rongrong some proper "guidance."

"I can't stand up anymore." Ning Rongrong sprawled on the ground, too lazy to move. She simply did not believe Shi Quan would truly dare to hit her.

The next second, a crack rang out, and Ning Rongrong immediately clutched her hand with a pained groan.

"You actually dared to hit me!" Ning Rongrong roared furiously.

Shi Quan looked at Ning Rongrong indifferently. "I told you to stand up. Otherwise, the next lash won't land on the back of your hand."

"Who do you think you are? Even my father has never hit me, yet you dare hit me?" Ning Rongrong grabbed a Stone from the ground and hurled it at Shi Quan with all her strength.

Shi Quan lightly shifted aside to dodge it, then lashed out again. Ning Rongrong cried out in pain once more.

"I told you already, since you're learning from me, I'm at least half a teacher to you and one of your elders. This lash is to teach you not to disrespect your elders."

"Get up and stand properly!" Shi Quan sternly shouted.

Her eyes reddened from the pain, and tears welled at their corners. Hearing Shi Quan's stern voice, Ning Rongrong had no choice but to get up and stand properly.

"Remember this, Shi Quan! I'll definitely tell my father and the others about what happened today. You actually dared to whip me!" Tears slid down from Ning Rongrong's eyes as she shakily assumed the Horse Stance. She looked as though she had suffered some unbearable grievance.

"Since Uncle Ning entrusted you to me, I naturally have to be responsible. Go ahead and complain if you want. But for now, stand properly. Otherwise, don't blame my whip for showing no mercy."

Shi Quan walked to Ning Rongrong's side and spoke in an even tone, raising a hand to press her body lower once more.

"Shi Quan, you rotten bastard, you're bullying me..." Ning Rongrong's legs trembled as she held the Horse Stance while crying, all the while cursing Shi Quan.

The result was another lash landing across Ning Rongrong's back.

"Ah!" Ning Rongrong cried out in pain. Her already trembling legs gave way beneath that whip, and she fell straight to the ground.

"If you like cursing, then keep going." Shi Quan smiled as he raised the Blue Silver Vine Whip in his hand. "Get up and stand properly!"

"Waaah!" Ning Rongrong had merely been crying in grievance before, but now she burst into loud sobs. Ever since childhood, when had she, who had always done as she pleased, ever been beaten like this?

Happy New Year.