Douluo Continent: Long Live the Spirit Hall

Page 86

"This is the Spirit Hall's Advanced Soul Master Academy. I never expected it to be located outside the city."

Less than ten miles southeast of Wuhun City, a small mountain with many buildings indistinctly appeared in Yan's sight. Under Tuoba Hong's guidance, he finally saw this advanced soul master academy that belonged exclusively to the Wuhun Hall.

It's quite interesting, actually. Although he, Xie Yue, Hu Liena, Tuoba Hong, and others are all nominally enrolled in the Advanced Soul Master Academy, they are basically receiving special training from the Spirit Hall experts and rarely spend any time at the academy.

Little Fatty, Hu Liena, and Xie Yue are alright; they occasionally go back to the academy to relax and unwind. But Yan goes too far; he's never even been to the academy.

In fact, he never went to the academy. The teachers at the academy were quite happy about this, because his identity was too special. No one was capable of being his mentor. If he came to the academy, he would probably be surrounded by a group of people for most of the day, which would really affect the academy's teaching.

The Spirit Hall Advanced Soul Master Academy covers a vast area, encompassing not only the small mountain in front of us, but also some surrounding special terrains, making it roughly the size of a small city.

The Spirit Hall has a large number of commoner spirit masters, which leads to a wide variety of spirit types. The simulated training environment that needs to be constructed must also be diverse and multifaceted, including forests, lakes, swamps, volcanoes, storms, etc. The diverse requirements of various spirits mean that a sufficient area is required to construct a sufficiently comprehensive simulated training environment.

"The scenery here is quite unique and diverse. Fatty, there are always a lot of people going into the woods there. Have you ever messed around with any of the female students in the academy?"

Yan and Tuoba Hong walked into the academy. Along the way, they spotted quite a few figures in the woods. Yan chuckled and patted Tuoba Hong, whose face still bore a look of utter despair, continuing to provoke the chubby boy.

Tuoba Hong finally regained some energy and shook his head repeatedly, saying, "Boss, I'm only fifteen and have been enrolled for less than three years. I'm more like a junior in the academy."

"I'm focused solely on cultivation right now, I don't have time to think about such things. Besides, the female students in the academy are all so thin, none of them are my type. Older girls are better."

Okay, Yan finally understood. The little fat boy's last sentence was the key point. This guy looks young, but he has mastered the secret to wealth. He knows how amazing his aunt is even at a young age.

"Is that the kind you're talking about?"

Suddenly he noticed a rather 'large' female senior in the distance, pointed her out to Tuoba Hong, and said, "I think her figure is a good match for yours."

"Boss, I'm your loyal little brother, don't make jokes like that."

The chubby boy caught sight of the figure in the distance and immediately shuddered, hiding behind Yan. After a long while without any movement, he peeked out and whispered, "Boss, that Senior Sister Linglong, her name sounds nice, but her temper..."

Her martial soul is an ancient tyrannosaurus, and you know what that nickname means. The key is, the dragon blood within her is extremely pure. My family really did consider a marriage alliance, so you can't let your little brother down!"

Yan glanced at the boy from afar and caught a glimpse of his profile. He instinctively shivered, but looking at the timid little fat boy, he couldn't help but purse his lips and say, "Ancient Tyrannosaurus Rex, it's considered one of the top sub-dragon species. What are you complaining about?"

"Boss, please, please stop..."

The chubby boy clasped his hands together and begged him to stop, but Yan naturally didn't continue the topic. The two of them followed the crowd returning to the academy and entered the academy together.

The gate to the Spirit Hall's advanced spirit masters was quite impressive. The snow-white gate gleamed in the sunlight, and the stone steps leading down the mountain were all carved from white marble, with different spirit beast patterns on each step, showcasing exquisite craftsmanship.

Along the way, Yan encountered many people who greeted the chubby boy, and the chubby boy responded with a smile to each one. Among them were indeed some pretty girls with delicate features. It seems that he really underestimated the chubby boy's abilities.

The main campus of the advanced college is entirely composed of single-story buildings, which look like a cluster of fortresses from a distance.

The outer wall of the academy is five meters high and is entirely white gold, making it extremely beautiful. The top of the wall is also covered with glazed tiles, which shimmer and shine brilliantly under the sunlight.

Yan noticed that there weren't many people in the academy's teaching building. Tuoba Hong explained from the side, "Boss, apart from some new students below the second year, most of the students have already chosen their simulated environment campuses and will only cultivate in their respective campuses."

He raised an eyebrow and asked again, "Then, what about the team members?"

The chubby boy pointed to the back mountain, "Some of the mimicry on the back mountain of the academy was built for special personnel, and the effect is better. The academy's first and second teams and substitutes are all there. However, the mimicry there is not as good as the training room in the Elder Hall, so I rarely come here."

Chapter 180 Martial Soul Team

"Boss, this secluded valley is surrounded by mountain walls on all sides. Only the second-floor staircase in this direction can lead you up and down into it."

Behind the Spirit Hall Advanced Soul Master Academy, Yan, led by the chubby boy, arrived at a rather strange building. The building in front of him seemed to be embedded in a crack in a canyon, with mountain walls on the left, right, and below.

There was a staircase leading directly to the entrance of the building, but it didn't look very easy to walk on. Yan followed the chubby boy up the building and only then did he realize how vast and exquisite the place was.

Behind this building is a completely enclosed circular valley. Looking down from above, it resembles a completely enclosed circular arena, with vertical mountain walls tens of meters high on all sides. Only the location of this building, embedded in the mountain wall, provides access to both the inside and outside.

Tuoba Hong said softly to Yan, "Boss, this place was supposedly designed by the dean himself, for better closed management and to prevent some disobedient students from ignoring his teachings and slacking off to go out and enjoy themselves."

"That's quite an unusual idea."

Yan glanced at the circular, enclosed valley. The only way in and out was through this suspended structure that required climbing stairs. Teachers were watching over the stairs on both sides the whole time. It was easy to get in but difficult to get out. They really put a lot of thought into it.

"Boss, that's where the students train and rest over there. The mimicry is on the other side, built against the mountainside."

Tuoba Hong pointed to both sides of the building. The buildings on the left were a row of bungalows, some of which were even embedded in the mountain wall, making them look quite simple. However, they contained various different energy auras, which should be due to the arrangement of a simulated environment array.

"Boss, the Advanced Soul Master Competition is approaching, so the elites who have the opportunity to represent the academy are all training at the training ground. I estimate they should all be here at this time."

Yan looked in another direction as Tuoba Hong pointed. There was a huge building built against the mountain. The building, which was about ten meters high, occupied one-third of the space in the valley. One side was magnificent and the other side was embedded in the mountain wall.

Yan also noticed that there was a passageway in the building that seemed to lead directly to the second floor, but it seemed that someone was specifically watching over this direction.

"Boss, this is the teachers' passage. It leads directly to the corridor on the second floor of the training room and overlooks the entire training room on the first floor. I heard that the dean and some leaders like to walk here and come over from time to time to observe the team's training."

The chubby boy had done quite a lot of homework. Yan became interested after hearing this and walked towards the teacher's passageway.

Besides the central staircase connecting the inside and outside, this building embedded in the mountain wall has two small buildings on either side, similar to guardhouses. One is responsible for the staircase entrance, while the other seems to be mainly responsible for the teachers' passageway.

"Teacher Zhang, this is from the Papal Palace..."

When Yan and the chubby boy went over, the guard, who was dozing off, suddenly snapped to attention. Before he could even ask anything, the chubby boy stepped forward to clear the way. The guard's expression immediately changed, and he quickly stepped forward and prepared to bow to Yan.

"Greetings, Your Majesty..."

"No need, Teacher Zhang. I'm here as a student."

Yan raised his hand to signal the latter, and Teacher Zhang straightened up accordingly. His bow to Yan was based on Yan's status in the Spirit Hall. To say that he was respectful to a fifteen or sixteen-year-old boy would be nonsense.

Yan holds a high position within the Spirit Hall, but apart from a few Spirit Hall members who have actually had contact with him, such as the elite Soul Masters who accompanied him to the Heaven Dou Expedition, most of the members belonging to the Spirit Hall mainly respect his status and do not fully acknowledge him.

Of course, whether the middle and lower ranks, who make up the largest number of Spirit Hall members, truly approve of him is not important. Yan's actions over the years have long been recognized by many Spirit Hall powerhouses above the Soul Saint level, and with their support, his position is incredibly secure.

Yan said to Teacher Zhang, "The Pope is very concerned about this Elite Tournament. I came to check on the team's training. Is that alright?"

Upon hearing Yan's words, a look of surprise and fear flashed across Teacher Zhang's face. He then asked, "Holy Son, is there anything I can do to help you? Would you like me to take you there?"

Yan shook his head. "Fatty knows this place quite well, so we don't need to. We should be able to go now."

"Please. Please."

Teacher Zhang quickly released his obstruction, and Yan and Tuoba Hong were able to pass smoothly through the winding mountain path built along the mountain wall. Shortly after they left, Teacher Zhang hurriedly departed, seemingly to deliver a message somewhere.

Yan followed Tuoba Hong through the teachers' passage into the training building. Looking down at the vast training room below, Yan had a rather different feeling. The training room had a huge training equipment area, and on both sides were places such as a medical room and a rest area.

Yan could see clearly from the second floor. There didn't seem to be many people in the training room, but the luxurious rest area was quite crowded.

The luxurious lounge area features two enormous sofas placed opposite each other, with a coffee table between them. The circular, curved leather sofas are over twenty meters long, and each one can comfortably accommodate twenty to thirty people.

On the long coffee table between the two sofas, there was a variety of exquisite snacks, fresh seasonal fruits, and all kinds of drinks. There were also various trays next to it, which were also filled with these foods and drinks.

Yan and Tuoba Hong could see from above that there seemed to be quite a few people sitting there, about a dozen on each side, and they seemed to be divided into some small groups, so there seemed to be some kind of situation.

"Let's go take a look."

Yan said something to Tuoba Hong, and then the two of them went down the stairs from a corner at the end of the passage and entered the training area. Yan saw quite a few Soul Masters who were a bit older than them training, including Senior Sister Linglong, whom the little fat boy had been quite afraid of before.

"Boss, these are all senior students who are less than five years older than us and have the opportunity to be selected for the next team. As for the senior students who are more than five years older than us and are in this team, they seem to be in the rest area today. I don't know what's going on."

The chubby boy was quite well-informed. After listening to his introduction, Yan learned more about the situation and then took him there.

"Boss, those ten official members and substitutes from the first team are resting on the sofa over there. He's basically the one who'll get a chance to play this time. The second team and the substitutes, which is the third team, are mostly just practice partners."

Tuoba Hong quietly explained the current situation of the Spirit Hall team to Yan. This year's Spirit Hall team is divided into three teams of ten people each. The official team consists of ten people, with seven main combat members and three substitutes. The second and third teams each have seven people, who usually serve as sparring partners. Only in extremely special circumstances might they represent the academy team in battle.

"Boss, those ten in a team are also known as the Ten Heroes of Martial Soul Academy, the Ten Most Influential Figures. The strongest among them is Lu Ping, who has the Overlord Spear Martial Soul and has already reached level forty-four, but he is rather solitary."

Yan looked in the direction Tuoba Hong pointed and saw a young man sitting in the middle of the sofa with his eyes closed, probably in his early twenties, but according to the fat man, he was already twenty-four years old.

This person's appearance was unforgettable at first glance. He was very tall, Yan estimated that he was nearly two meters tall when he stood up. He had broad shoulders and a wide back, long arms and a straight posture. Even though he was sitting, he gave people the illusion of standing as tall as a mountain.

He had a rugged, resolute appearance, with short, black hair, and exuded a fierce aura. Few people around him were willing to approach him, seemingly just as Tuoba Hong had said—he was unpopular.

"Boss, that's the vice-captain, She Meng, the grandson of the Serpent Spear Douluo."

Tuoba Hong then pointed in another direction, where a young man of average appearance sat. He resembled She Long, the newly promoted Serpent Spear Douluo, in Yan's memory. He looked like a very rough and fierce big man, but according to Tuoba Hong, he was a person who was shrewd despite his rough exterior.

"Boss, that's Senior Sister Yun Tianshun. Her martial soul is the Nebula Chain, a control-type martial soul."

Yan noticed another person sitting alone in a corner of the leather sofa, seemingly even further away from the group than Lu Ping. She couldn't help but glance at her a few more times. The chubby boy seemed to have misunderstood something, and cheerfully introduced this senior to her, saying that she was still single.

"There's only one woman in this team."

Yan rolled her eyes, looking at the grinning fat man, and thought to herself that she had been a little too lenient this morning, and this guy recovered pretty quickly.

"Boss, most of the pretty upperclassmen in this year's team aren't here. I know a few top-tier upperclassmen, maybe I can take you along later..."

As Tuoba Hong was talking about what was going on, he suddenly noticed something strange in Yan's gaze and dared not continue the topic. He quickly pointed to the members of the Spirit Hall team over there and explained the situation to Yan.

Yan looked at the clever little fat boy and narrowed his eyes slightly. "This kid is really too idle. He didn't even know to provide the boss with the information on the school beauty earlier. This little brother needs to be taught a lesson."

The chubby guy continued, "Boss, the current Martial Soul Team has two vice-captains. Besides She Meng, there's also Wang Dingbo. His Martial Soul is the top-tier Soul Beast Earth Bear, which excels in gravity skills and defense. He's a Soul Master with both control and defense attributes."

Then there's Senior Xuan Shi, with the Xuan Turtle Martial Soul, a defensive type. He, Senior Wang Dingbo, and Senior Yun Tianshun cooperated quite well, with double control and double defense, which was very effective. During the battle, the second and third teams never broke through the first team's defense.

Besides these main players, there are also Yang Feng and Kyle Wen, who are both agile attackers. Their martial souls are the Azure Shadow Divine Wind Eagle and the Dark Raven, respectively. One is a main player and the other is a substitute. We'll see who plays in the final moments.

There are also two support-type characters: Senior Ang Lee with the Ruyi Disc Martial Soul and Senior Mash with the Staff of Light Martial Soul, who are in the same situation as the two seniors mentioned above.

Finally, we need a substitute for the offensive type, Night Battle Senior with the Crimson Scorpion Martial Soul. He doesn't get many opportunities to play due to special circumstances.

Ten members of the Martial Soul Team

These ten are mostly revised versions of submissions from readers. Most of them only had minor changes to the rating system, with no major alterations.

Character: Lu Ping (24 years old)

Martial Soul: Overlord Spear (Powerful Attack)

Level: 44

Soul Rings: Yellow, Yellow, Purple, Purple

Character: Ang Lee (original name Li An, 23 years old, submitted by a reader)

Martial Soul: Ruyi Disc (Support)

Level: 42

Soul Rings: Yellow, Yellow, Purple, Purple

Character: Yang Feng (24 years old)

Martial Soul: Azure Shadow Divine Wind Eagle (Agility-based Attack)

Level: 43

Soul Rings: Yellow, Yellow, Purple, Purple