Elsewhere, in the dormitories of the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy.
After finishing their meal, during the time for digestion, Qin Ming began explaining the team's training routines to Yang Yunhai.
The content wasn't complicated, so it didn't take long to explain, and Yang Yunhai understood it clearly.
In short: mornings consisted of group training, including physical training, live combat practice with guidance, and theoretical lessons about soul masters and soul beasts. Afternoons were for personal cultivation,whether one wanted to improve martial soul usage, enhance soul skill application, or strengthen their body. If there were any issues, Qin Ming was available for one-on-one correction.
At night, everyone returned to their rooms to cultivate soul power,an age-old tradition in the world of soul masters.
Tailored guidance, one-on-one support, and execution depending on personal initiative,this was Yang Yunhai's summary of Qin Ming's teaching philosophy.
As expected of someone from Shrek Academy,deeply influenced by it.
Unfortunately, in a place like Heaven Dou Imperial Academy, this approach might not be enough to unlock the students' full potential, Yang Yunhai thought privately.
The students at Heaven Dou Imperial Academy lived far too comfortably. Their idea of "rigorous training" was running ten laps around the training field, feeling sore legs, then spending a few hours cultivating soul power at night,another "productive day."
And that was only when they were in a good mood and feeling motivated.
Without any form of enforcement, relying solely on self-discipline, that so-called motivation seemed to come and go like a woman's monthly cycle,unpredictable and unreliable.
With motivation fluctuating and training intensity inconsistent, how effective could the results possibly be?
Let alone expecting anyone to challenge their limits or push past their mental and physical boundaries.
No wonder, in the original story, they got completely overpowered by the Shrek team in Soto City, despite Shrek's much weaker hardware and resources.
"Sigh, better focus on myself for now. Not to mention I just joined the team and don't have any real say,ven if I did, I couldn't bring up my own training methods right away. Otherwise, once Qin Ming goes to Shrek, he might get influenced and defect, maybe even become one of Yu Xiaogang's people. That kind of pre-game intel-leaking move is unacceptable. So, for now, I'll stick to my own path."
"Besides, with the afternoons being self-directed, it works out well for me."
As he was thinking this, Qin Ming's voice rang out again: "Alright, everyone, you're dismissed."
Then he turned to Yufeng. "Yufeng, after the lunch break, take Xiaohai and Zhuqing to check out the academy's simulated environments. Help them get familiar with the area."
"Understood, Instructor Qin Ming," Yufeng nodded quickly.
"Thanks in advance, Senior Yufeng," Yang Yunhai said with a smile.
"No big deal," Yufeng responded with a hearty laugh.
With that, the group dispersed. Yang Yunhai and Zhu Zhuqing returned to the third floor, walking down the hallway to their rooms.
"Zhuqing, have a good rest." Yang Yunhai smiled and turned toward his room, reaching for the door handle.
"Yunhai," Zhu Zhuqing's clear voice came from behind.
"What's up?" Yang Yunhai turned instinctively.
Zhu Zhuqing lowered her head slightly and spoke softly, "What happened that day… was just an accident."
"But…" Her tone shifted, now even softer, "If it weren't for you, I might have already joined Shrek Academy. I might never have understood my sister's true feelings. Maybe, one day in the future, I would've even become someone who hurt her."
"So… thank you."
For some reason, Yang Yunhai suddenly felt a weight lift off his chest, like he had been forgiven for an unintended mistake. A smile formed on his face, and his tone became lighter. "No need to be so polite. Now go rest,we've got to check out the simulated environments later."
"Mm." Zhu Zhuqing nodded slightly, lips pursed, then turned and walked into her room.
Seeing this, Yang Yunhai also entered his room.
A short while later, someone knocked on the door. Opening it, he found Qin Ming,he had someone deliver the school uniforms to them.
Yang Yunhai thanked him, took the uniform, and sat back on the bed to resume cultivation. Ever since his time at Notting Academy, most of his time was spent cultivating. He never developed the habit of taking midday naps. And now, with his improved recovery abilities, he needed them even less.
About half an hour later, he opened his eyes, went to the changing area, and put on the school uniform.
His tall, confident figure exuded noble elegance,though the white uniform didn't quite match his hair color.
Shaking his head, he left the room and knocked on Zhu Zhuqing's door.
Soon, a soft creak was heard, and the door opened to reveal Zhu Zhuqing in her white school uniform.
The uniform was a tight-fitting, waist-hugging style. The chest area was high-collared, modestly covering her pale skin. Her shoulders were slightly exposed, and her arms were wrapped in gloves. Below the waist, the short, split skirt hugged her curves, and her long legs were elegantly wrapped in thigh-high socks.
Clearly, this uniform was specially designed for agility-type soul masters.
No wonder,it was the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy, after all. Even their uniforms were customized based on martial soul type. Yang Yunhai couldn't help but admire that.
"This uniform looks great on you. Very fitting," he said with a smile.
"Yeah, the material's pretty good. Feels comfortable," Zhu Zhuqing nodded, speaking more than usual.
Was it because of their earlier conversation at the door? She seemed a little more open. Yang Yunhai was mildly surprised.
But on the surface, he simply smiled. "Let's go downstairs."
Soon, the two went downstairs. Looking around, aside from Qin Ming, no one else was present.
"As expected, relying solely on self-discipline without any enforcement leads to laziness," Yang Yunhai thought.
Without dwelling on it, he walked over with Zhu Zhuqing.
"Hello, Teacher Qin Ming," he greeted as they sat on the couch.
About fifteen minutes later, the other team members gradually made their way down.
After greetings, under Yufeng's guidance, Yang Yunhai and Zhu Zhuqing left the dormitory.
The Heaven Dou Imperial Academy covered a vast area, with nearly a hundred types of simulated environments scattered across the grounds. Naturally, they wouldn't visit every one,it would be too time-consuming. It was better to state their preferences and let Yufeng guide them.
Zhu Zhuqing chose a small zoo housing various feline creatures. Yang Yunhai's choice was simpler,he headed to a nearby plant-themed simulation zone filled with Blue Silver Grass.
Sitting on a patch of Blue Silver Grass, he immediately summoned his martial soul.
"First, I'll get used to the third soul skill. Then, once the academy helps build me a hidden training space in the forest, I can begin working on lightning-based attacks and advanced applications of Blue Silver Grass, like shape-shifting weaving."
"After that comes even deeper soul power shaping."
To him, soul skills,whether lightning or vine-based,were merely outward forms of soul power.
That meant Blue Silver Grass could become vines, or a Blue Silver Overlord Spear, a Blue Silver Dragon, Blue Silver Armor, even Blue Silver Wings. It could also become the devouring Gold Threads, shedding the vine form entirely.
So why couldn't lightning become a thunder beast?
Starting from the basic forms of existing soul skills, then digging deeper to their core,he believed that one day, his soul skills would no longer be bound by rigid forms, but instead become infinitely adaptable, changing at will.
Now _this_ was true cultivation!
Hunting soul beasts, absorbing soul rings, and simply using whatever skill you got? That's a joke.
For soul masters, wasn't soul power supposed to be the real foundation? Even when reading the original novel, he had always found the soul power cultivation system of Douluo Continent lacking in depth.
"It's time to show this world what true imagination and top-tier creativity really look like." With that thought, he activated his third soul skill: Parasite Spores.
"They can be placed on teammates, grown into vine armor for defense, or used to sneak up on opponents,or spring a surprise attack when they get close. If they can restrain the enemy, great; if not, at least they'll be startled."
"In any case, I need to improve my control over how the spores grow into Blue Silver Grass."
As his thoughts wandered, he controlled the spores to land on himself, gradually infusing them with soul power.
Time passed. Gradually, vines wrapped around his body, forming a twisted set of vine armor.
After a while,_rustle rustle_,
From the chest, back, and even limbs, the armor sprouted new tendrils. They twisted in the air like tentacles, each moving independently, as if they had minds of their own.
From a distance, it looked eerie and unsettling.
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