đ If you enjoy my work, consider supporting me on Patreon! I'm offering advanced chapters there as a thank-you to readers.
--------------------
Check out advanced chapters on : patreon.com/Veni_V
---------------
Half an hour later, on the west side of Heaven Dou Royal Academy, lay a huge training ground. The ground was paved with special stone bricks, and powerful Soul Tools were embedded all around to absorb residual spirit power, a setup perfect for high-intensity combat.
Seven figures stood on the field, some still, others moving, each with a distinct aura. They were the Royal Fight Team. Ranging in age from fifteen to a little over twenty, they all exuded a calm, steady presence. Unlike other students, they weren't wearing the school's goose-yellow uniforms. Instead, they wore tight-fitting outfits of various colors. Other students kept their distance, wary of angering them.
The silence on the training grounds was broken by a slightly arrogant female voice. "Tian Heng, Yu Feng just got back and said someone wants to join our Royal Fight Team? And he was introduced by His Highness Xue Qinghe?" Dugu Yan scoffed, raising her head. "I heard his Spirit is Blue Silver Grassâwhat does he think our team is? Anyone with connections or who's just trash can get in?"
"Yan Zi, you can't generalize," Yu Tianheng said with a faint smile. "Maybe this Blue Silver Grass Spirit Master is different from others?"
"What could be different?" Dugu Yan scoffed dismissively, crossing her arms. "What kind of cultivation can a useless Spirit like Blue Silver Grass achieve? No matter how much he cultivates, it won't change its innate weakness."
"But... wasn't that Blue Silver Grass Spirit Master we met in the Star Dou Great Forest also very strong?" Ye Lingling interjected, her voice gentle and clear.
Everyone looked at their support-type Spirit Master. Dugu Yan frowned, pausing before she spoke. She didn't have a comeback, so she just huffed. "That guy did have some strength. I wonder if he's from our Heaven Dou Empire."
Yu Feng eagerly joined the conversation. "I heard a bit of news, too. This guy just entered the academy and beat up Xue Beng and all his followers. It was a pretty big scene."
"With Xue Beng's weak spirit power and his useless followers, who couldn't knock them down with one slap?" Dugu Yan said, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "How boring."
As they were talking, they heard footsteps approaching. Not far away, a middle-aged Spirit Master in a light gold robe walked toward them. It was Teacher Qin Ming, the leader and teacher of the Royal Fight Team.
He looked at the group and raised his hand. "You've all heard the news, right? Someone wants to join our Royal Fight Team." The group immediately sobered up and nodded.
"He was introduced by His Highness Xue Qinghe," Qin Ming said, his gaze serious. "I'll be personally arranging his assessment later. At least one of the three teaching committee members might come to observe. All of you, be on your best behavior and don't speak carelessly."
Dugu Yan turned her head slightly and snorted, but said nothing else. Qin Ming smiled faintly, not wanting to push the issue. Just then, he noticed a figure walking toward them from outside the training grounds. It was Sun Buyu, and with him was a young man wearing a ghost mask.
Their steps were steady, and while their auras weren't obvious, they carried a faint sense of pressure.
"Teacher Qin," Sun Buyu said, respectfully cupping his hands. "This is the Blue Silver Grass Spirit Master I told you about."
Qin Ming nodded, turning his gaze to Tang Chuan. His tone was calm, but his brows furrowed slightly when he noticed the ghost mask.
"Hello, Teacher Qin." Tang Chuan's expression was calm. He stepped forward, extended his right hand, and spoke calmly.
"Hello," Qin Ming replied, shaking his hand. The handshake was brief, but Qin Ming felt a strange familiarity. The young man's voice seemed very familiar. As Qin Ming was about to ask why he was wearing a mask, a mocking female voice came from behind him.
"Hmph, why are you wearing a mask in broad daylight to act all mysterious?" Dugu Yan said. "A man hiding his face... who knows if he really has talent or if he's just afraid of being recognized when he embarrasses himself?"
Her voice wasn't loud, but everyone on the team heard her. Yu Feng's mouth twitched, and Yu Tianheng simply frowned, staying silent.
Just then, an elderly man slowly walked toward them. He was short but extremely corpulent, almost as wide as he was tall. His figure was almost perfectly round, his hair was white, but he looked very energetic. His steps were steady, carrying a faint sense of authority. The surrounding students immediately quieted down and moved away, a clear sign of his status.
"Committee Member Bai Baoshan," Sun Buyu and Qin Ming said, bowing respectfully.
Bai Baoshan raised his hand, signaling them to stop. He then calmly looked at Tang Chuan. "Is he the Blue Silver Grass Spirit Master recommended by the Prince?"
"Yes," Sun Buyu replied.
"Hmm." Bai Baoshan nodded, then turned to Qin Ming. "Teacher Qin, you can arrange the assessment. I'll just observe. If he really has the strength, there's no harm in him joining the Royal Fight Team."
"Yes," Qin Ming said, nodding. He stepped forward and smiled at Tang Chuan. "Little brother, I heard you're only twelve years old, your Spirit is Blue Silver Grass, and your spirit power just reached level 30? That's impressive for a support-type Spirit Master."
He paused slightly, then continued. "How about this? You compete with our team's support-type Spirit Master in healing ability. If your ability is at least two-thirds of hers, I'll let you join the Royal Fight Team."
Tang Chuan took a step forward, his tone calm. "Compete in healing with a support-type Spirit Master? That's too boring. Can I have a different opponent?"
The training grounds went silent. Qin Ming's brows furrowed. Before he could speak, Dugu Yan interrupted.
"A different opponent? Do you think this is your home?" she said. "Everyone else on our team is either a strong attack-type or agile attack-type Spirit Master. Do you want to get beaten up?"
"Who told you I'm a support-type Spirit Master?" Tang Chuan said calmly, unfazed by her provocation.
Everyone was stunned.
"If Blue Silver Grass isn't a support-type Spirit, could it be a strong attack-type?" Dugu Yan said with disdain.
Tang Chuan smiled lightly, his voice deep and powerful. "My Blue Silver Grass can be both a support-type and a strong attack-type, and it can also specialize in control!" he said. "If you don't believe me, come and try it yourself!"