Heavenly Pursuit Academy

Biodata

Power Progression

Background and History

Foundation on Mount Aermo

Heavenly Pursuit Academy emerged from the settlement of Mount Aermo by the Breaking and Defense Clans. After more than half a year of construction, the mountain facilities, Monai City, and the academy at the mountain’s foot were completed. Medicinal herb fields provided a foundation for the Breaking Clan’s future income. Dugu Bo brought Dugu Xin and members of the Jade Phosphorous Clan, while Ye Renxin sent Nine Heart Begonia clansmen, including a Healing System Soul Saint 168.

Yang Podi proposed an academy capable of recruiting different Martial Souls rather than relying indefinitely on the founding clans’ inherited specialties. He explicitly envisioned it surviving even if the Breaking Clan eventually ceased to lead it. Its founding rules emphasized equality among the four clans, quiet development, and avoiding outside disputes 168.

Conflict with the Clear Sky Sect

When Xue Qinghe and visiting sect leaders sought an alliance against Spirit Hall, Yang Podi refused to involve the academy. During the meeting, Yang Wudi and Niu Gao formally severed the Breaking and Defense Clans’ remaining ties with the Clear Sky Sect 222.

Tang San subsequently infiltrated the academy to investigate its resources and cultivation facilities. Yang Podi detected him but allowed him to proceed as a test of the defenses. Yang Zhentian eventually captured Tang San and sealed his Soul Power, prompting Tang Hao and Tang Xiao to intervene 227 228.

The resulting battle exposed Yang Zhentian’s level 97 strength and Yang Podi’s superiority over the Clear Sky Twin Stars. Afterward, the academy’s reputation rose sharply, with some observers calling it the true greatest sect under heaven despite its insistence that it was an educational institution 229 231 232 234.

Admission of Displaced Teachers

Following the Spirit Hall Empire’s attacks, Ning Fengzhi brought the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect’s survivors to the academy. Yang Wudi and Niu Gao initially granted shelter and medical assistance without promising membership. Yang Podi later required the survivors to abandon revenge, cease participating in Soul Master World struggles, and serve as teachers. Ning Fengzhi, Sword Douluo, and Bone Douluo accepted 290 292 293.

Flender, Zhao Wuji, Tai Nuo, and their companions were admitted under similarly strict conditions. They had to sever their former political and sect ties, including connections to Tang San and other enemies of the Spirit Hall Empire. They joined as ordinary teachers rather than retaining their previous institutional positions 345.

Later Battles and Expansion

Tang San later attacked after accusing the academy of abducting Tai Tan and Bai He, an accusation Yang Wudi and Niu Gao denied. The ensuing conflict involved Tang San and Ferocious Beasts, but the academy suffered essentially no losses; its injuries were rapidly healed. Yang Podi nevertheless judged its defenders insufficiently strong and resolved to improve their capabilities 354 355 359.

During the beast tide against Spirit City, the academy sent Dugu Bo, Yang Zhentian, Sword Douluo, and Ye Lingling as reinforcements. Yang Tianyue remained behind to guard Mount Aermo 379.

After the battle, Yang Podi argued that Mount Aermo’s remoteness would eventually restrict recruitment and growth. Spirit Hall allocated a small city for a continental branch, leaving construction and recruitment to the academy. By the epilogue, this branch operated in Jialing City 402 403 404.

War Against the Sun Moon Empire

When the Sun Moon Empire’s superior Soul Tool technology threatened the continent, Qian Hai’an personally requested help from the academy’s mountain headquarters. After deliberation, its current dean dispatched personnel from its three major departments 404.

The intervention helped reverse the war’s momentum, and both sides eventually signed an armistice after heavy losses. Revealing the academy’s hidden strength also made the Spirit Hall Empire wary of it. Rules inherited from their predecessors prevented these growing tensions from becoming open conflict 404.

Organization and Governance

Founding Government

Courts and Departments

• The three elemental departments receive separate areas and operational independence, but remain bound by academy rules. A limited number of their direct members may cultivate at the summit 240.
• Yang Podi directs major strategic decisions without routinely managing academy affairs; Yang Wudi describes him as largely uninvolved in everyday administration 240.

Notable Personnel

• Yang Podi — Principal planner and strongest protector; supplies resources, develops training systems, and directs long-term research 168 227 325.
• Yang Wudi and Niu Gao — Senior leaders who handle admissions, outside visitors, and the academy’s defense 234 290 355.
• Dugu Bo — Founding-clan elder and defender; later reinforces Spirit City 168 379.
• Yang Zhentian — Senior combatant who captures Tang San and later helps organize the continental branch’s construction 228 403.
• Yang Wushuang — Concealed Titled Douluo whose feigned death makes him one of the academy’s hidden reserves 229.
• Niu Jinfeng, Ye Lingling, and Yang Ping’an — Members of the academy’s nine actual Titled Douluos documented before the elemental merger 235.
• Flender — Becomes chief instructor for flying personnel, drawing on his experience as a flying Soul Douluo 349.
• Ning Fengzhi, Sword Douluo, and Bone Douluo — Former sect leaders and guardians who enter the academy as teachers 292 293.

Admissions and Rules

Enrollment

• Initial local intake: Children under twelve who had awakened Innate Soul Power could enroll. Applicants over twelve and up to eighteen had to have become Soul Masters 169.
• Open educational model: The academy admits different kinds of students rather than limiting entry to nobles or sect disciples 168 235.
• Outside applicants: Independent Soul Masters may join as teachers or students, but applicants entangled in outside sect struggles are rejected 234.
• Institutional mergers: Godwind, Blazing Fire, and Skywater Academies accept its conditions; Thunder Academy instead chooses Heaven Dou City and Blue Tyrant Academy 236 240.

Obligations and Restrictions

• Members must obey academy rules and refrain from participating in outside sect conflicts 234.
• Incoming groups must relinquish former sect affiliations rather than use the academy as shelter for rebuilding hostile organizations 292 300 345.
• Members may not teach revenge against the Spirit Hall Empire or provoke conflict between it and the academy 292 293.
• Joining powers swear upon their Martial Souls. Betrayal or prohibited departure carries threats ranging from crippled cultivation or Martial Souls to execution 300 338 345.
• The academy promises protection against outside enemies. In an invasion, senior leaders are expected to stand at the front, while teachers and students must not retreat from their defensive responsibilities 345.
• Former Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect disciples may rebuild independently, but must remain separate from academy members 402.

Campus and Defenses

• Senior teachers receive detached houses within the academy’s extensive grounds 349.
• Yang Podi orders daily Titled Douluo patrols during his absence and immediate evacuation if an overwhelming threat appears 262.
• Emergency refuge options include the Snow Empress’s territory and Slaughter City 311.
• Research facilities receive particularly strict security; new Strength Clan members are not automatically granted access to academy secrets 349.

Education and Resources

Cultivation Facilities

• Weighted obstacle courses: Designed for different Soul Master levels, with more precise layouts and varied exercises than Yang Podi’s earlier training methods 227.
• Specialized training equipment: Includes devices unfamiliar to Tang San, many based on Yang Podi’s knowledge of later fitness practices 227.
• Medicinal baths: Provided on a large scale, conserving teaching labor and resources 227.
• Mimicry environments: Numerous modified environments support different Soul Master types and maximize resource use 227.
• Standardized instruction: Tang San compares the academy to a militarily administered training base rather than a conventional sect 227.

Funding and Rewards

• Tuition, ordinary facilities, and basic cultivation resources are free to students 169.
• The Breaking Clan’s medicine refining and Monai City’s commercial income sustain operations; heavy cultivation investment places substantial pressure on these revenues 235.
• Yang Podi supplements funding with acquired treasures and distributes resources through rankings, advancement rewards, and combat-performance incentives 227 235.
• Exceptional performers may receive spirit medicines or Soul Bones 227.
• Teachers receive equal salaries, substantially higher than those at ordinary academies, despite the founding clans retaining leadership 349.
• By the epilogue, commercial Soul Tools produced through the outer court help finance operations and improve everyday convenience 404.

Mysterious Heaven Skill

• Yang Podi prepares a streamlined version for clan disciples that is complete within its taught scope but inferior to the original in cultivation speed and personal improvement 168.
• The initial version contains five levels; teaching its remaining four requires approval from the clan leaders 168.
• The original method may only be passed orally to the next clan leader, and unauthorized transmission is punished under clan rules 168.

Research and Technology

External Relations

• Far North — Formal ally. Yang Podi and the Snow Empress seal an agreement with blood on the Asura Demonic Sword: he offers protection and aid with her injuries and Heavenly Tribulation, while the Far North searches for the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm. He also intends the region to serve as an academy refuge 256.
• Spirit Hall / Spirit Hall Empire — An independent, sometimes cooperative relationship rather than political submission. Yang Podi rejects demands to support continental unification, while Bibi Dong orders personnel to avoid unnecessary conflict with the academy. Later cooperation includes military aid and permission to establish a branch 240 263 379 403.
• Clear Sky Sect and Tang San — Repeatedly clash over former subordinate-clan ties, Tang San’s infiltration, and later accusations. The academy refuses to return under Clear Sky authority 222 227 232 354.
• Heaven Dou Imperial Family — Refuses recruitment into imperial conflicts. Empress Xue Ke fails to secure Dugu Bo’s assistance or persuade the academy to relocate near Heaven Dou City 248.
• Sea God Island — Yang Podi introduces his assessment group as academy members, but distinguishes their visit from joining the island. In the epilogue, both institutions are counted among the continent’s strongest powers 193 404.
• Star Dou Great Forest’s Ferocious Beasts — A major security threat. Di Tian rejects a proposed beast tide against the academy after being gravely wounded, fearing Yang Podi and his Divine Artifact 361.