When the academy was first founded, all expenses were almost entirely covered by the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. Although Yu Yuanchen possessed immense prestige, he knew well that this was not a long-term solution. A truly independent and vibrant academy must possess the ability to be self-sustaining, rather than relying forever on a specific sect.
Opening new sources of revenue and reducing expenditure was an inevitable choice. Yu Yuanchen had made some attempts in his early years, such as establishing a Mission Hall, allowing students to earn resources by completing tasks while simultaneously bringing certain profits to the academy; he also streamlined administration to improve efficiency.
However, these measures were still a drop in the bucket for maintaining an academy that was growing increasingly large and pursuing top-tier teaching quality.
His gaze naturally turned toward the Heaven Dou Empire.
According to the customs of the continent, soul master academies established within the empire that met official standards were eligible to receive regular financial appropriations from the imperial treasury. These funds were typically used to support the academy's infrastructure maintenance, faculty salaries, and subsidies for some impoverished students.
In exchange, the empire generally would not overly interfere in the internal affairs of the academy, viewing it more as a strategic investment to cultivate and attract talent for the empire.
However, the situation at Tianxing Academy was somewhat special. Although Dragon City was nominally under the Heaven Dou Empire, the actual control rested entirely in the hands of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. In the eyes of outsiders, Tianxing Academy looked more like a private school where Yu Yuanchen cultivated "vassals" for his own clan.
If Tianxing Academy were to be fully supported by the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan for a long time, this impression would become deeply ingrained, and the academy would find it difficult to shake off the label of being a "Blue Lightning appendage." This went against Yu Yuanchen's original intention in founding the academy: to provide education for all without discrimination and to promote the martial way.
Introducing imperial funding was a clear signal: Tianxing Academy was an independent elite soul master institution facing the entire continent, and its existence was recognized and supported by the imperial authorities. This helped to enhance the academy's credibility and appeal.
For the Heaven Dou Empire, this was also a cost-effective investment.
Tianxing Academy had over eight hundred graduates each year. Excluding the majority who returned to their respective families or were absorbed by various sects (such as the Upper Three Sects, the Lower Four Sects, and other friendly forces that would recruit many excellent students of other surnames), as well as those who chose to stay and teach, nearly four hundred civilian soul masters with decent talent and systematic martial and soul master education would still flow into society.
They would either join the imperial military or the administrative system, be hired by major chambers of commerce, or return home to establish small soul master families, becoming an important force in consolidating imperial rule and promoting local stability.
This appropriation was equivalent to the empire obtaining high-quality talent resources in batches at a relatively low cost. Therefore, the imperial side was quite positive about the funding.
Of course, Yu Yuanchen accepted the funding more out of strategic considerations for the long-term development of the academy, as well as a superficial show of respect for the empire.
He did not hold the Heaven Dou royal family in high regard; it was already an act of kindness on his part that he didn't treat them as a cash machine. Don't get the wrong idea.
To save face, he specially permitted the imperial nobility to have a dedicated "backdoor" channel—which was the origin of Class Seven. The students in this class were mostly children of the Heaven Dou Empire's nobility, who enrolled based on family power or donations.
But Yu Yuanchen also set the rules: everyone is treated equally after enrollment. Students in Class Seven had to abide by the same school rules and participate in the same training and assessments. The training intensity and academic requirements were no different from any other class.
The academy would never lower its standards because of their noble status. If anyone bullied others with their power or violated school rules, the punishment would only be heavier. As for those who couldn't endure the hardship or fatigue and cried about wanting to drop out, the academy was more than happy to see them go.
After this system was implemented, Class Seven became a concentration camp for "noble trash" within the academy. True noble elites had their own superior resources and cultivation paths and would not stoop to using such backdoors.
Those who remained in Class Seven were mostly spoiled brats. They only dared to act tough with their mouths on weekdays and mock the "poor ghosts" of Class Eleven in private. If they actually dared to bully classmates, they would immediately face severe punishment from the academy—ranging from the deduction of resources and forced labor to direct expulsion, without any mercy.
This approach, conversely, made students from other classes, especially civilian students, more clearly recognize the other side of the so-called nobility and cherish the relatively fair environment of the academy even more.
Time flew, and the first semester was nearing its end. According to academy regulations, a highly anticipated inter-class joint competition would be held at the end of the term. This was not only a test of the semester's learning outcomes, but the results would also be counted toward the final semester evaluation, which, along with monthly scores, would determine the final ranking and resource allocation of the classes.
The daily monthly evaluations mainly assessed discipline, housekeeping, training progress, and academic subjects. In this regard, Class One, under the leadership of Yu Yunting, had strict discipline, diligent training, and impressive academic grades, winning first place multiple times.
Class Three, under the careful management of Yu Yunyao, had a harmonious atmosphere, and the students of the control and support systems performed outstandingly in cultural theory and teamwork, following closely behind and often staying in second place.
Surprisingly, the students of Class Eleven, despite having the lowest starting point, relied on an unyielding tenacity and effort far exceeding ordinary people to score very high in the "progress" category, often squeezing into the top three and leaving many classes with better martial soul quality behind them.
The academy's rewards (free soul beast meat, medicinal cuisine) were only given to the top three, which made the competition particularly fierce.
The end-of-term inter-class joint competition was the ultimate test of actual combat and tactics.
After repeated discussions by the teachers of the Academic Affairs Office, combined with the characteristics and strength assessments of each class, the final confrontation plan was determined: a coalition (nearly 300 people) composed of Class One (Yu Yunting, power/agility attack), Class Three (Yu Yunyao, support/control), Class Eleven, and the relatively strong Class Two (power/agility attack) would confront the other coalition (about 560 people) composed of Classes Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, and Ten.
This was a typical confrontation with a disparity in numbers! Although Class Seven had the lowest overall strength, their numbers were quite considerable when added together. The battlefield was set in a vast area behind the academy that simulated complex terrain, containing mountains and forests, streams, small deserts, and ruins.
Competition rules: Using the class as a unit, capture the ten "camp flags" scattered throughout the battlefield. Capturing and guarding a flag until the end of the competition, or "defeating" all the opponent's effective forces (determined by teachers as losing combat capability or exhausting soul power), would result in victory. Tactics and ambushes were allowed, aiming to comprehensively exercise the students' actual combat ability, teamwork, and tactical thinking.
Once the news was announced, the whole academy was in an uproar. The side with the numerical advantage was eager to try, attempting to overwhelm the others with sheer numbers; the side at a numerical disadvantage felt immense pressure, but it also ignited a stronger fighting spirit.
Yu Yunting and Yu Yunyao contacted the core class monitors of their side and held an emergency consultation before the match.
"Brother, the opponent has nearly twice as many people as us; a head-on clash will definitely put us at a disadvantage." Yu Yunyao spread out a simple map, her delicate brows slightly furrowed. "We must use the terrain to divide and conquer."
Yu Yunting nodded, his gaze sharp. "Exactly. They have many people, but their hearts are not united. That mob in Class Seven is definitely a weakness. Classes Four, Six, Eight, and Ten have many power attack system soul masters and are prone to rash advances, while the support and control system soul masters of Classes Six and Nine need protection. We can do this..."
The siblings discussed in low voices and, combined with the characteristics of their respective classes, quickly formulated a bold combat plan.
Lure the enemy deep and divide the battlefield: A bait force composed of some students from Class Two and Class Eleven would pretend to be the main force in the open area, attracting the pursuit of the opponent's power attack forces from Classes Four, Five, and Six.
Surprise attack to decapitate the support: The elites of Class One (led by Yu Yunting) and some students from Class Three who excelled in speed and control would use the terrain for concealment, circling around to launch a surprise attack on the support and control camp of Classes Eight, Nine, and Ten at the rear of the enemy.
Hold key positions and break the line at points: The main force of Class Three and most of the students from Class Eleven would rely on the tenacious will of the Class Eleven students and the excellent control and healing abilities of Class Three to hold several flag points that were easy to defend and hard to attack, pinning down part of the opponent's forces.
Flexible maneuvering to defeat them one by one: Throughout the combat process, the remaining troops of Class One and Class Two would act as a mobile force, supporting all sides at any time and using regional numerical advantages to take out small enemy units that were lured away, isolated, or sent as reinforcements.
On the day of the competition, the sky was clear. More than eight hundred students, led by their respective teachers, entered the simulated battlefield, and the atmosphere was so tense it could be cut with a knife.
At the beginning of the battle, the coalition side acted according to the plan. The "bait" force from Class Two and Class Eleven successfully attracted the attention of the opponent's main force, fighting and retreating, leading about three hundred enemy power attack system students into the pre-set complex mountain and forest area.
At the same time, Yu Yunting personally led more than twenty of the fastest students from Class One, along with a few team members from Class Three led by Yu Yunyao who possessed speed and stealth soul skills, moving like ghosts. Using the cover of the forest and ruins, they silently circled to the side and rear of the enemy's main force.
At this moment, in the enemy's rear, the students of Class Seven were gathered loosely, and the support and control system soul masters of Classes Eight, Nine, and Ten were nervously applying buffs to their front-line teammates, their vigilance relatively low.
"Now! Thunder Dragon Claw!" Yu Yunting gave a low shout, his feet executing the Dragon Swimming Steps, taking the lead as his martial soul possessed him! A purple-gold Thunder Sacred Dragon phantom erupted, and he shot forward like an arrow leaving the bow, charging straight at the core of the enemy's support camp!
"First Soul Skill, Thunder Dragon Body!"
Streaks of lightning tore through the air, instantly disrupting the enemy's formation.
"Immortal Begonia Domain, activate! Bind!" Yu Yunyao followed closely behind, the Sacred Heart Immortal Begonia blooming with a soft yet tenacious light as emerald green vines burst from the ground, rapidly entangling the panicked support soul masters.
"Enemy attack! Enemy attack at the rear!"
"It's Yu Yunting! And Yu Yunyao!"
The enemy's rear was instantly thrown into chaos! The students of Class Seven were so frightened they scattered and fled, unable to organize any effective resistance. The support and control soul masters were caught in close quarters, their combat effectiveness plummeted, and they were rapidly "eliminated" under the impact of the elite squad led by Yu Yunting.
The enemy main force, which had been pursuing the "bait," heard the commotion behind them and rushed to reinforce, but it was already too late. Yu Yunting's squad struck successfully, refused to get bogged down in a prolonged fight, and retreated rapidly to link up with the mobile unit from Class Two, turning around to pincer the portion of the enemy force that had returned in a panic with a disorganized formation.
Meanwhile, at several key flag points, the main force of Class Three and the students of Class Eleven displayed astonishing resilience. The students of Class Eleven might not have been strong individually, but their coordination was seamless and their will was ironclad; relying on their familiarity with the terrain and a fierce tenacity, they managed to hold off an enemy force that held a numerical advantage. The crowd control and healing from Class Three acted as the Dinghai Shenzhen, providing the necessary stability.
The battlefield was successfully segmented! Although the Coalition Army had fewer total numbers, they had created localized situations where they outnumbered their opponents. The precise command and formidable personal strength of Yu Yunting and Yu Yunyao played a decisive role. Yu Yunting was like a sharp blade on the battlefield, invincible and unstoppable; Yu Yunyao was like the soul of the team, as her Immortal Begonia Domain could not only heal wounds and restore soul power but also significantly weaken the enemy's status. With these factors shifting in their favor, the Coalition Army fought with increasing courage.
In contrast, the side with the numerical advantage lacked unified command, with each class fighting for itself, and the collapse of Class Seven further impacted their overall morale. In the end, after nearly an hour of intense fighting, the Coalition Army, through excellent tactical execution and tenacious fighting spirit, successfully captured six flags and "defeated" over seventy percent of the opponent's effective strength, winning this battle against superior numbers!
When the final whistle blew, the side led by Yu Yunting and Yu Yunyao erupted into thunderous cheers. The students of Class Eleven hugged each other and wept, having proven themselves through sweat and perseverance. The students of Class One and Class Two tossed Yu Yunting high into the air; his calm command under pressure and formidable strength had earned everyone's respect. The students of Class Three surrounded Yu Yunyao, their faces beaming with proud smiles.
The teachers watching the battle nodded one after another, especially Lei Zhan and Su Wan, whose eyes were filled with comfort as they watched the class monitors of their respective classes perform so brilliantly. This competition not only tested the students' strength but also showcased the team spirit, tactical wisdom, and unyielding will advocated by Tianxing Academy.
Yu Yunting and Yu Yunyao exchanged a smile; sweat had soaked their clothes, but their eyes were exceptionally bright. They knew that this was only the beginning, and on the road ahead, there were even more challenges waiting for them.
⁂
The end of the semester meant the beginning of the holidays. The students would return to their respective homes, carrying with them the harvest and growth of the semester. Yu Yunting and Yu Yunyao also packed their bags, preparing to return to Dragon City.
When they walked out of the academy gates, they were surprised to see their parents, Yu Yuanchen and Ye Zhilan, standing not far away, smiling and waiting for them.
"Dad! Mom!" The two children ran over in surprise. Tianxing Academy was very close to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, and they would naturally go home to see their parents when they had free time, but the messages they received indicated that their parents were away traveling, which had left them a little disappointed. They hadn't expected their parents to rush back and give them a surprise when their holidays began.
Yu Yuanchen caught his children as they lunged at him and ruffled their hair, his eyes full of approval: "Not bad, I heard you did a beautiful job this semester."
Ye Zhilan also hugged her daughter with gentleness: "You've worked hard, Yaoyao."
It turned out that while Yu Yuanchen and Ye Zhilan were traveling across the continent, they had calculated the end of the semester and made a special trip back. They had traveled to many places on the continent over the past six months, but the journey to their next destination was very long; naturally, they wanted to come home to see their children before leaving, as they had missed them dearly after being apart for so long.
"Let's go, let's go home." Yu Yuanchen took his son's hand in one hand and his daughter's in the other. "During this holiday, Dad and Mom will spend plenty of time with you. And by the way, we want to hear all about your stories at the academy."
Under the setting sun, the shadows of the family of four were stretched long across the ground.
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Translated by: randomtranslator.com
Proofread by: GodKun-Chan