Preparing for Special Training
"Gu Yue, I'll take my leave as well. Until tonight."
Yao Xuan offered Gu Yue a warm, genuine smile, the kind that reached his eyes. In the fading afternoon light, it held a familiarity that seemed to momentarily pierce through her practiced composure.
"Alright. Until tonight."
Gu Yue returned a slight, polite smile of her own before turning gracefully and walking toward the distant silhouette of the girls' dormitory. As she walked, a fleeting thought crossed her mind—a faint wish that he might have offered to walk with her, as Tang Wulin had for Xie Xie. But she dismissed it immediately. Such casual intimacy was beneath consideration for her purpose here. It would suggest a vulnerability she could not afford to show.
Back in Dormitory 205, the scent of soap and clean sweat filled the air. After a revitalizing shower, Yao Xuan settled onto his bed, assuming a meditative posture. With a focused breath, he quietly activated the Creation Soul Forging Technique.
Though Wu Zhangkong had doubled their physical burden, the foundational resilience granted by his Initial Ancestral Dragon Body and burgeoning bloodline had borne the strain. After just half an hour of focused cooldown, his fatigue had melted away, leaving him at nearly peak condition, his energy restored and mind sharp.
A similar, if lesser, fortitude was evident in Tang Wulin. Blessed by the latent, unawakened power of the Golden Dragon King bloodline, he resisted exhaustion through sheer constitutional toughness and was already deep in his own meditation. Xie Xie, however, possessed no such supernatural endurance. The agility-type Soul Master was sprawled on his bed, lost to a deep, recuperative sleep, his breathing slow and even.
As Yao Xuan initiated the technique's guiding circulation, the ambient soul power in the room began to stir. It wasn't a violent vortex, but a gentle, profound drawing-in. The concentration of spiritual energy within Dormitory 205 subtly doubled. Around Yao Xuan himself, it became dense, almost tangible, thickening to nearly ten times the normal level, a testament to the god-level technique's efficiency.
Tang Wulin, meditating nearby, felt the change immediately. The soul power he drew into himself became richer, smoother to absorb. A flicker of curiosity arose, but sensing no malice and only benefit, he wisely chose not to question. Instead, he redoubled his efforts, greedily absorbing the bounty to fuel his own cultivation.
Yao Xuan immersed himself in the process. The abundant energy was drawn in, meticulously compressed within his meridians by the technique's profound principles, and transformed into a stream of semi-liquid, incredibly pure soul power that settled and churned in his dantian. A sense of deep satisfaction washed over him. The day's grueling physical training had not just tempered his muscles; it had subtly expanded his body's capacity to contain and refine soul power, making this session even more effective than usual.
An hour and a half later, he completed a full cycle and slowly opened his eyes. A faint, golden sheen flickered in their depths before fading.
'Three more days,' he calculated inwardly. 'The bottleneck to Level 19 is within reach.'
He rose and walked to Xie Xie's bedside, giving his shoulder a gentle but firm shake. "Xie Xie, time to wake up. It's 6:40. We need to go."
"Wha—? Oh! Right, the special training!" Xie Xie jolted awake, blinking sleep from his eyes. "Thanks, Yao Xuan. I would've slept right through it!"
On the other side of the room, Tang Wulin also concluded his meditation, his eyes clear and refreshed. He joined them by the door.
"Let's go together," Yao Xuan said, leading the way out of the dormitory and into the cool evening air.
As they walked across the quieting campus, Tang Wulin voiced his earlier observation. "Brother Xuan, during my meditation earlier… the soul power around us felt much denser. And it was strongest right next to you. Was that… your doing?"
Yao Xuan nodded, having anticipated the question. "You sensed correctly. It seems to be a peculiar effect that manifests when I cultivate deeply, likely due to the unique nature of my martial soul. It's probably the reason my soul power has progressed despite a modest starting point." He offered the half-truth smoothly. The Creation Soul Forging Technique would remain his secret, but the beneficial side effect for those nearby was a fact he could acknowledge and share.
"I see! That's amazing, Brother Xuan!" Tang Wulin's expression was one of pure admiration, devoid of envy.
"It only started after I broke through to Soul Master. From now on, when you see me meditating, join in. Cultivating in that environment should help accelerate your progress too. Keep striving." Yao Xuan gave his shoulder an encouraging pat.
"Thank you, Brother Xuan!" Tang Wulin's gratitude was heartfelt.
Their conversation carried them to Wu Zhangkong's office. They arrived at 7:15—fifteen minutes early, as was prudent.
Almost as if timed, Gu Yue appeared a minute later. She had changed into the standard Donghai Academy uniform—a crisp, dark blue ensemble with silver trim. On anyone else, it might have looked mundane, but on her, it was elegant, the clean lines accentuating her poise. Her long black hair was neatly tied back, and her amethyst eyes were calm and observant.
"Good. You are all punctual. Follow me."
Wu Zhangkong emerged from his office. He had exchanged his usual teaching attire for a simple black tracksuit, yet his demeanor was, if possible, even more stern and focused. Without further ceremony, he turned and led them on a path that wound toward the deeper, less-frequented areas of the academy grounds.
After a walk of about a kilometer, they arrived at their destination: a dedicated indoor training facility nestled at the rear of the campus. This was not the standard student hall but a specialized arena Wu Zhangkong had secured from Dean Long Hengxu—a transaction likely involving a combination of professional persuasion and implicit promises of results.
The structure was imposing. As they entered, they found themselves in a vast, circular arena. The air hummed with contained energy. Intricate soul-guiding arrays were etched into the floor, glowing with a faint, steady light, and the entire space was encapsulated by a shimmering, semi-transparent barrier that radiated a pale purple aura. This was a training ground designed to contain the explosive forces of high-level soul skills, capable of withstanding battles at the Soul King rank without a scratch.
After verifying his access with a token, Wu Zhangkong led them through the humming barrier to the very center of the arena. The acoustics changed; their footsteps echoed slightly in the expansive, charged space.
"From tonight, and every night hereafter, you will undergo special training here with me," Wu Zhangkong announced, his voice echoing softly in the vastness. His gaze was a physical weight. "The goal is the Promotion Tournament in three months. You will be ready."
His eyes then shifted specifically to Tang Wulin. "Tang Wulin. Your martial soul is Blue Silver Grass. Your soul power is Level 12. You were selected previously because no superior alternative existed in Class 5. Now, one does." He gestured minimally toward Gu Yue. "In the world of soul masters, strength is the ultimate currency. She has proven herself stronger. Therefore, she will take your place in the primary lineup."
A flash of pain, quickly mastered, showed in Tang Wulin's eyes. He straightened his back. "Yes, Teacher Wu. I understand."
"However," Wu Zhangkong continued, his tone unchanging, "as compensation for your prior efforts, and because diligence should not be wholly unrewarded, you will still participate in this special training. If, through this training, your strength reaches a standard I deem acceptable, you may yet earn a spot. The opportunity is yours to seize… or to waste through inadequacy."
The dim light in Tang Wulin's eyes reignited into a fierce, stubborn flame. "Yes, Teacher Wu! I will work hard! I will prove myself!"
Wu Zhangkong gave a single, curt nod. His gaze then swept over all four of them, lingering for a moment on Yao Xuan and Gu Yue, standing at opposite ends of their little line. "Remember why you are here. Now, we begin."