Spirit Hall Academy had built every type of mimicry training ground to suit all its students' Martial Soul attributes.
For example, for beast Soul Masters like Tian Chen and Li Kai, the Hundred Beast Training Ground was the most suitable.
This was because beast Soul Masters made up the majority of Spirit Hall Academy's students.
As such, this was also the mimicry training ground that occupied the largest area and received the most resources in Spirit Hall Academy.
It housed all kinds of Soul Beasts with cultivation of around ten years. The variety was comprehensive enough to suit practically every Soul Master.
For example, Li Kai was heading to a wild boar forest where a herd of ten-year Thorny Porcupines was kept, while Tian Chen's destination was a swamp housing a group of Iron Armored Crocodiles.
Only a mimicry training ground resembling one's own Martial Soul could better assist a Soul Master's cultivation. This was experience Spirit Hall had accumulated from its predecessors.
Tian Chen had intended to cultivate here in the first place. Upon entering the Hundred Beast Training Ground, he arranged to have lunch with Li Kai and Hu Liena, then headed straight toward the mimicry training ground suited to him.
Because Iron Armored Crocodiles were excessively ferocious by nature, they were kept in the deepest part of the Hundred Beast Training Ground, so getting there took Tian Chen quite some time.
This was not Tian Chen's first time cultivating here. He had already come several times over the past year.
Following his memories of his previous visits, he easily found the swamp forest where the Iron Armored Crocodiles were kept.
Although there were few students with crocodile Martial Souls besides Tian Chen, this swamp forest occupied almost the largest area of all the grounds here.
Even a rough look through the mesh fencing made of refined steel revealed no fewer than a hundred Iron Armored Crocodiles in the swamp.
Of course, Tian Chen's grandfather had also had a hand in this. When it came to his only grandson, Tian E had always spared no effort in supporting his cultivation.
With his power and status, expanding this swamp forest had required nothing more than a word from him.
Tian Chen passed through the refined-steel gate at the entrance with practiced ease, released his Martial Soul, and walked straight inside.
After all, this was a place where Soul Beasts gathered. Even if they were only Ten-Year Soul Beasts, he still decided to be cautious for the sake of his own life.
The Golden Crocodile King's presence immediately stirred up towering waves among the Iron Armored Crocodiles. One after another, they churned the swamp's already murky water into an even muddier mess.
Some Iron Armored Crocodiles had been lying comfortably on the ground, basking in the sun. Upon sensing Tian Chen's presence, they hurriedly worked their four thick, stubby legs and moved away from him.
Watching the Iron Armored Crocodiles avoid him like a plague god, Tian Chen chuckled softly.
However, he had no intention of taking issue with them now.
He leisurely made his way to the cobblestone where he had often cultivated before, sat down cross-legged, mobilized the Soul Power throughout his body, and began the day's cultivation.
He had always held himself to such strict standards when it came to cultivation.
He understood that the Douluo Continent was a world where strength reigned supreme. Although he had a Level 98 grandfather, his grandfather could not watch over him for his entire life. Ultimately, he had to rely on himself.
Brilliant golden fluctuations of Soul Power covered his entire body as the Soul Power within him circulated ceaselessly through his meridians.
Two Soul Rings, one yellow and one purple, pulsed alternately around Tian Chen. The phantom of his Martial Soul behind him let out a majestic roar from time to time.
Tian Chen's Golden Crocodile King Martial Soul was already among the very highest-tier crocodile Martial Souls, exerting considerable pressure on all crocodile Soul Beasts.
How could the Iron Armored Crocodiles in this swamp, whose cultivation did not exceed a hundred years, withstand Tian Chen's oppressive might?
Thus, not a single Iron Armored Crocodile dared set foot within the hundred-meter-diameter area centered on Tian Chen. They all gathered in corners, prostrating themselves beneath the pressure of his Martial Soul and lowering their massive heads.
Tian Chen's cultivation went more smoothly this time than ever before. He did not know whether it was because he had broken through to Level 20.
Moreover, he could clearly feel that the Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone he had absorbed a year ago still seemed to be subtly transforming his body. The former roughness he had felt when circulating Soul Power had now become incomparable smoothness.
He now somewhat understood why absorbing that Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone back then had only raised his Soul Power by five levels.
The greatest enhancement that Soul Bone had given him was not an increase in Soul Power, but an all-round improvement to his body and a transformation of his constitution.
Otherwise, even with Innate Full Soul Power, he could never have cultivated this quickly.
Although Tian Chen was in a meditative state, that did not mean he could not sense the outside world.
A Soul Master's cultivation was divided into shallow cultivation and deep cultivation. Under normal circumstances, most Soul Masters entered shallow cultivation.
Just like Tian Chen now: although he was cultivating, he could still sense what was happening outside.
Noticing the passage of time, Tian Chen circulated his Soul Power through one final cycle before slowly opening his eyes. A sharp gleam flashed through them, and the imposing presence around him withdrew.
Since he had promised to take Hu Liena to grab a meal, he would not go back on his word. This was not about any so-called gentlemanly manners. It was simply his nature: once he made a promise, he would fulfill it.
Tian Chen stood up, brushed the dust off his shirt, and followed the signs straight toward the main entrance.
Tian Chen and his two companions were not the only people in the entire mimicry training ground.
Along the passageways connecting the various training areas, Tian Chen had already encountered several groups of Spirit Hall Academy students.
Of course, those students were clearly much older than Tian Chen. Judging by the Soul Power fluctuations they gave off, they were advanced-class students with cultivation of at least Soul Elder rank.
These students were also pillars of Spirit Hall.
Throughout a Soul Master's lifetime of cultivation, the fourteen years between the ages of six and twenty were especially important.
If you could break through to Level 30 before turning twenty, your prospects were limitless. If you could not, then sorry, you would basically be trash, just like Dai Shi and Brother Tao.
Of course, this did not rule out the possibility of such Soul Masters encountering fortunate opportunities in the future. Dai Shi in the original story, for example, had only managed his breakthrough after eating nine-grade purple ganoderma and replenishing his foundation.
Spirit Hall's records also contained accounts of similar Soul Masters who had obtained a high-quality Soul Bone through a lucky coincidence, improved their constitutions, and then soared into the sky, cultivating all the way to Titled Douluo.
But such things were rather too dreamlike, so the former view still prevailed throughout the Soul Master World.
Those who could break through to Soul Elder before turning twenty would at least become experts of Soul King rank or higher in the future. Calling them pillars of Spirit Hall was hardly wrong.
The conversations of students coming and going mingled with the occasional roars of various Soul Beasts in the training ground's passageways, adding a few touches of life to the vast, open mimicry training ground.
The mimicry training ground covered an extremely large area. Although Tian Chen deliberately quickened his pace, it still took him around twenty minutes to walk out through the Hundred Beast Training Ground's main gate.
By the time Tian Chen reached the entrance, Li Kai and Hu Liena were already waiting there.
Li Kai showed no dissatisfaction. When he saw Tian Chen approaching, he hurriedly jogged over and called out respectfully.
"Young Master Tian."
This greeting came from the heart. Perhaps he had only been following his father's instructions before, but after following Tian Chen for a year, he was now absolutely willing to follow him of his own accord.
Hu Liena, on the other hand, really was a little unhappy. She first glanced at Tian Chen, then pursed her lips and turned her head away, deliberately refusing to look at him.
Seeing Hu Liena's pitifully endearing appearance, Tian Chen's lips held a smile. People said girls were cutest when they stuck out their lips or their butts, and there was not a word of falsehood in that.
He did not intend to keep leaving Hu Liena hanging. When fishing, you had to alternate between tightening and loosening the line to keep the fish from slipping the hook. Flirting with girls worked the same way.
But the prerequisite was knowing how far to go, and the girl had to like you. Otherwise, if you dared play like this, she would simply tell you bye-bye.
Tian Chen walked over to Hu Liena and said with a smile.
"Then let's go eat now."
Hearing this, Hu Liena raised her head, nodded slightly, and murmured her agreement.
Although she was not particularly happy that Tian Chen had kept her waiting so long, his attitude was decent enough that she did not show it. Still feeling somewhat gloomy, she headed toward Spirit Hall Academy's cafeteria on her own.
Tian Chen had also guessed some of what was on her mind. He immediately caught up with Hu Liena and walked beside her.
Seeing that Tian Chen had followed her, Hu Liena stole a glance at him, then quickly withdrew her gaze and let out a deep breath, as though all the resentment she had accumulated had vanished in an instant.
Even her footsteps unconsciously grew a little lighter.
Because Tian Chen had been delayed earlier, the three of them had already missed lunchtime by the time they reached the cafeteria.
However, this did not affect them much. Given their status, they went to the third floor for specially prepared meals anyway, so it did not matter when they arrived.
Tian Chen led Hu Liena and Li Kai straight to the third floor of the cafeteria, to the private room he had often visited with Li Kai before.
He first ordered a few of the specialties, then handed the menu to Hu Liena, who was sitting beside him.
Hu Liena accepted the menu without standing on ceremony and casually ordered a few dishes.
Whether she ordered anything was unimportant. What mattered was that she was now very satisfied with Tian Chen's attitude.
Spirit Hall Academy's cafeteria was quite efficient. Before long, several fresh-faced servers brought over one fragrant dish after another.
Of course, they certainly could not compare to the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear paw Tian Chen had eaten that night. Even an ordinary Titled Douluo could not claim certain victory against a Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear with thirty thousand years of cultivation. It was not something just anyone could kill.
Fortunately, the chefs who prepared these ingredients were quite skilled, which made up somewhat for the difference in ingredients.
Tian Chen first placed a piece of braised earth dragon meat into Hu Liena's bowl, then called to Li Kai beside him and began tackling the food in front of him.
Unlike Hu Liena's elegant dining manners, Tian Chen and Li Kai wolfed down their food without the slightest concern for their image.
Looking at the wreckage of the dining table, Hu Liena could not help rolling her eyes. After finishing the piece of earth dragon meat Tian Chen had given her, she set down her chopsticks.
If it had only been Tian Chen, she would not have found it so off-putting. The problem was that Li Kai was there too.
Looking at the dishes Li Kai had touched, she did not know why she instinctively felt a little nauseated.
Having lost her appetite, she could only slump over the table in boredom, constantly biting the straw in her juice as she watched Tian Chen enjoying his food beside her.
She was not the sort of person who made unreasonable fusses, and she had not come along for the food in the first place.
As the Supreme Pontiff's direct disciple, the nourishing foods she had eaten growing up were hardly inferior to Tian Chen's.
Whatever, a little padding was a little padding.