Mimicry Training Ground

"How come he's only level 10? Didn't absorbing his Soul Ring raise his Soul Power even one level? Don't tell me he absorbed a Ten-Year Soul Ring? Or was his Innate Soul Power really low? That can't be right. He only looks six or seven, and he cultivated to become a one-ring Soul Master just a year after his Martial Soul Awakening. His Innate Soul Power should have been around level 5 at least. Besides, if his talent were poor, why would Vice Dean Shui Xinrou have taken him as a disciple?"

"Hey, hey, he may look cute, but look how plainly he's dressed. He probably isn't from a wealthy family or the nobility. Maybe he got his First Soul Ring through Spirit Hall. As for why Dean Shui took him as a disciple, it must be because of his Martial Soul. Didn't you hear? A Frost Dragon! That's a top-tier ice-type Beast Martial Soul on the same level as Senior Sister Bing'er's."

After hearing Yu Tianshuang introduce himself, the little girls below the podium broke into another round of whispers when they heard his Soul Power was only level 10.

Level 10. Could his First Soul Ring really be a Ten-Year Soul Ring? What a waste of a Martial Soul as powerful as the Frost Dragon. His future development is bound to be at a considerable disadvantage compared with Soul Masters who have an optimal Soul Ring Configuration.

The middle-aged instructor who had stepped aside at the podium for Yu Tianshuang's introduction couldn't help feeling regret for him as well.

"All right, Yu Tianshuang, I'm Chen Xiaoling, the instructor for Skywater Academy's first-year Battle Soul Master class and your homeroom teacher. Since you know Shui Yue'er, sit next to her. She can help you get familiar with the academy."

With that, Chen Xiaoling pointed to the empty seat beside Shui Yue'er, gesturing for Yu Tianshuang to sit there.

"Dummy, what's going on with your Soul Power Level? I remember that after you absorbed that Thousand-Year Soul Ring, you reached level 14, didn't you? Why did you say level 10? Oh, I get it. You didn't want to draw too much attention, did you? But even then, you should have said level 11 or 12. When students at our academy reach a breakthrough, the teachers help them hunt for Soul Rings. Most students' first rings are Hundred-Year Soul Rings. No matter how poor their talent is, a Hundred-Year Soul Ring will raise their Soul Power by at least one level. You dummy, you really don't have a shred of common sense. You're so stupid~."

After saying that, Shui Yue'er gave Yu Tianshuang a disdainful glance.

Yu Tianshuang didn't explain further. He simply took a book out of his desk drawer and looked up at the podium.

"In this lesson, we'll study how attributes reinforce and counter one another."

"On the Douluo Continent, there are currently nine known elemental attributes: metal, wood, water, fire, earth, lightning, wind, light, and darkness."

As she spoke, Chen Xiaoling wrote the nine attributes on the blackboard.

"The nine attributes counter one another: metal counters wood, wood counters earth, earth counters water, water counters fire, and fire counters metal. Light and darkness counter each other."

"All the students at Skywater Academy have the water attribute. Generally speaking, when we fight earth-attribute Soul Masters, such as those from Elephant Armor Academy, they counter us. When we fight Soul Masters from Blazing Fire Academy, we counter them. Of course, if the gap in Soul Power Levels is too large, the attributes can counter each other in reverse. The same can happen if the gap in their quality is too large."

Yu Tianshuang agreed wholeheartedly with what Teacher Chen Xiaoling said. If a flame was hot enough, it could melt ice.

As Chen Xiaoling continued her lecture, the morning slipped quietly by.

"All right, that's all for this morning. This afternoon, we'll go to the Mimicry Training Ground on the right side of the academy to practice combat. You've all obtained your First Soul Ring and are one-ring Battle Soul Masters, so this afternoon's practical lesson will focus on using your Soul Skills. If you can't even use your own Soul Skills proficiently, your opponents won't give you time to get familiar with them in a fight."

Chen Xiaoling gathered her teaching materials and was the first to leave the classroom.

"Hey, dummy, let's go eat at the cafeteria together. The food there is delicious, especially the strawberry pudding. I can eat ten in one sitting."

As she spoke, Shui Yue'er slurped, then stuffed her books into her drawer all at once and pulled Yu Tianshuang out of the classroom.

Skywater Academy's cafeteria was enormous. It had two floors: the first was for students, and the second was for faculty. Together, the two floors were larger than a soccer field.

Sitting with Shui Yue'er at a cafeteria table, Yu Tianshuang couldn't help feeling a little helpless as he looked at the table she had covered with strawberry puddings.

Holding a pudding in each hand and continually stuffing them into her mouth, Shui Yue'er mumbled to Yu Tianshuang, "Dummy, eat! They're especially delicious. You'll love them once you try them. Mmm~, they're so good."

With that, she closed her eyes, her face full of bliss and satisfaction.

At a table two tables away from Yu Tianshuang and Shui Yue'er, two Skywater students in sky-blue uniforms occasionally looked up at their table as they ate.

One of the girls, who had medium-short hair, said to the girl opposite her with waist-length hair, "Bing'er, isn't that your younger sister Shui Yue'er? The one across from her must be Skywater's first male student, the one everyone's talking about. I have to say, he really is cute. He and your sister look good together, too."

She waggled her eyebrows at the girl opposite her as she spoke.

"It has nothing to do with me. My sister's been spoiled since she was little. She fools around as she pleases every day, and everyone at home indulges her."

The girl's unhurried tone and the orderly way she ate conveyed elegance and serenity in every gesture.

After eating and putting away their trays, Yu Tianshuang and Shui Yue'er reached the cafeteria entrance, ready to return to their dorms for a rest.

"Oh, I ate too much. My belly's sticking out. If I'd known, I wouldn't have eaten so much. Now it's uncomfortable even to walk."

As she spoke, she rubbed her round little belly.

"But the strawberry pudding really is delicious. If only my stomach were bigger, I could eat even more pudding."

Just then, a woman's voice came from behind them, bringing the two to a stop.

"Yue'er!"

After calling out, the short-haired girl waved at Shui Yue'er and Yu Tianshuang when they turned around.

"Sister Xue Wu, Sis, did you just finish eating too? Let me tell you, I ate so much strawberry pudding just now that I stuffed myself."

She stuck out her round little belly for the two of them to see.

"Pfft. You little girl, can't you be a little less greedy?"

Xue Wu affectionately ruffled Shui Yue'er's hair.

Even the long-haired girl beside her could hardly hold back a smile, but the next moment she put it away and set her pretty face in a stern expression.

"Are you Auntie's new disciple? My name is Shui Bing'er. I'm your senior sister, and this girl's older sister."

As she spoke, Shui Yue'er fixed her azure eyes on Yu Tianshuang.

"Hello, Senior Sister. My name is Yu Tianshuang. I'm Teacher's new disciple."

Yu Tianshuang answered Shui Bing'er as she looked at him.

The four of them headed toward the dormitory area. Along the way, Xue Wu and Shui Yue'er chatted about various things, occasionally covering their mouths as they laughed.

"Hey, dummy, wait for me at the entrance to the dormitory area before class this afternoon. Otherwise, I won't take you. You don't even know where the Mimicry Training Ground is. If you get lost and a Soul Beast eats you, I'll have to go save you."

"All right. Goodbye, Senior Sister, Sister Xue Wu."

As Yu Tianshuang slowly walked toward his dormitory building, he could still faintly hear Xue Wu and Shui Yue'er's conversation growing quieter: "Tell me what he was like back then..."

Skywater Academy, Mimicry Training Ground.

"The Mimicry Training Ground has two uses. One is to simulate an environment matching a Soul Master's attribute to help them cultivate Soul Power faster. The other is to simulate Soul Beasts to give Soul Masters more practical combat experience. Today we'll have a simulated battle. Since this is your first time in actual combat, I'll summon a puppet with the strength of a hundred-year Soul Beast. As long as you successfully use your First Soul Skill against the simulated Soul Beast puppet, you'll have passed today's lesson."

Chen Xiaoling then operated the mimicry training array and summoned an Ice-Armored Black Tortoise.

"This hundred-year Ice-Armored Black Tortoise can't move, but it has the true defensive strength of a hundred-year Ice-Armored Black Tortoise. My requirement is that Power Attack System and Agility Attack System Soul Masters must at least break through its defenses with their Soul Skills. Control System Soul Masters must restrain it for at least one second."

Chen Xiaoling gestured for the first student to come forward and use her Soul Skill.

"First Soul Skill, Ice Arrow."

A student holding a staff fired an Ice Arrow at the Ice-Armored Black Tortoise puppet. Unfortunately, the arrow dissipated halfway there, before it could strike the tortoise.

"Your Soul Power fluctuated too much when you used your Soul Skill, making it unstable. Think carefully about your mistake. Next."

Time passed slowly, and finally it was Shui Yue'er and Yu Tianshuang's turn to use their Soul Skills.

"First Soul Skill, Wind-Treading Snow-Shadow Steps."

As soon as she spoke, a fluctuation of Soul Power came from beneath Shui Yue'er's feet. A layer of frost covered them, and she charged at the Ice-Armored Black Tortoise puppet with a rush of wind.

Bang. Shui Yue'er's frost-covered foot slammed into the puppet, and the whole thing toppled over as though overturned by a tremendous force.

Seeing the puppet knocked over and the tortoise shell shattered where Shui Yue'er had struck it, Chen Xiaoling nodded silently.

"Shui Yue'er passes. Next."

"Hey, dummy, what did you think? I'm impressive, right? I knocked that lousy tortoise right over with one kick. Haha, good luck! Oh, I almost forgot. Your First Soul Skill is an ice wall. Haha, an ice wall."

Shui Yue'er held her stomach and laughed at his misfortune.

Ignoring Shui Yue'er, who was laughing and clutching her stomach, Yu Tianshuang walked over to face the Ice-Armored Black Tortoise puppet.

"Sit enthroned in the frosty heavens." He raised his left hand to the sky, grasping at empty air. A purple Thousand-Year Soul Ring appeared around him, and his Frost Dragon Martial Soul descended from the sky and possessed him.

"A Thousand-Year Soul Ring! Look, it's a purple Thousand-Year Soul Ring!"

"How is that possible? How could his First Soul Ring be a Thousand-Year Soul Ring?"

The students and teacher behind him were stunned when they saw the purple Thousand-Year Soul Ring appear after Yu Tianshuang released his Martial Soul.

Hmph, hmph, now you know how impressive he is, don't you? A white Ten-Year Soul Ring? What were you thinking? Your jaws must have dropped clean off.

Looking at the purple Thousand-Year Soul Ring revealed when Yu Tianshuang released his Martial Soul and hearing the astonished murmurs around her, Shui Yue'er couldn't help thinking smugly.

"First Soul Skill, Prismatic Barrier Ice Array."

Ice-blue Soul Power surged in Yu Tianshuang's left hand, followed by a flash of light.

Four enormous ice walls surrounded the Ice-Armored Black Tortoise puppet. Yu Tianshuang swung his left hand down, and another ice wall formed in the air and fell, landing atop the four walls and sealing the puppet completely inside.

"Very good. As expected of a Thousand-Year Soul Skill. Your Soul Power fluctuations were steady, its release was stable, and the Soul Skill's effect is excellent. Judging by the thickness of these walls, a Soul Master below level 20 would have a hard time breaking through and escaping."

Chen Xiaoling had only just recovered from the shock of Yu Tianshuang's First Soul Ring being a purple Thousand-Year Soul Ring when she was surprised again.

"Huh? Wait, Yu Tianshuang, aren't you a Power Attack System Battle Soul Master? Why is this a Control System Soul Skill?"

Chen Xiaoling, who had been praising Yu Tianshuang a moment ago, suddenly remembered something and questioned him.

"Yes, Teacher Chen. I'm a Power Attack System Battle Soul Master."

With that, Yu Tianshuang abruptly brought his hands together and interlocked his fingers.

Soul Power surged between his interlocked fingers, and the ice array trapping the Ice-Armored Black Tortoise puppet slowly began to draw inward and tighten.

"Prismatic Wall Ice Formation: Ice Explosion Burial."

As Yu Tianshuang's voice fell, the slowly crushing ice array closed completely. Then, with a tremendous boom, all five ice walls exploded.

An icy mist filled the area, making the entire Mimicry Training Ground look as though it were shrouded in thick fog.

The Ice-Armored Black Tortoise puppet had already vanished into a scatter of energy fragments the instant the ice array exploded.