Time flew by, and the day of Grand Martial Academy's opening ceremony finally arrived.
A new vitality seemed to infuse all of Martial City. Lanterns and decorations adorned every corner, filling the air with a festive atmosphere. Along the main roads, vibrant flags embroidered with the word "Martial City" fluttered in the wind. Red lanterns hung at every doorway, paper-cut decorations adorned windows, and the air was thick with excitement and anticipation.
Everyone—young and old—wore genuine smiles as they walked the streets, their greetings louder than usual. They understood better than anyone what the founding of Grand Martial Academy meant for their city. Their hometown was no longer a mere northern border town, but was about to become a new sacred land and center for soul masters across the Douluo Continent.
Their level of social interaction, the people they would meet, and even business opportunities would all increase accordingly.
The glory of Grand Martial Academy was deeply tied to the city's future and their own vital interests.
Meanwhile, previously unseen, luxurious caravans bearing the insignias of many forces paraded down the broad streets of Martial City. Royal entourages from the two great empires, Heaven Dou and Star Luo, traveled in elegant, extravagant vehicles, exuding an extraordinary presence. The emblems of the Upper Three Sects and Lower Four Sects were also displayed. In addition, many renowned freelance soul masters arrived—some alone, some with entourages—their powerful auras drawing everyone's attention.
The grand ceremony in Martial City had become a magnificent gathering of the continent's top powers.
In one carriage adorned with the Blazing Academy's insignia, a pale hand suddenly ripped the curtains aside. Inside, Huo Wu, beautiful but cold-faced in a fiery red dress, crossed her arms and sneered, "Hmph, Skywater Academy is really lucky. They've found quite the backer!"
"Dean Qing Yun has reached the Titled Douluo level, and now they're about to become the 'number one academy on the continent'—how enviable!"
Her tone was thick with sarcasm. By now, it was common knowledge that the mysterious, formidable Body Sect stood behind the former Skywater, now Grand Martial Academy.
Recently, the other four elemental academies had tried every possible means, openly and in secret, to extract information about the Body Sect from the Grand Martial Academy elders. But the other side was astonishingly tight-lipped, always closing their mouths at the crucial moment, leaving both frustration and helplessness.
What stung Huo Wu most was that just days before Grand Martial Academy's official founding, Shui Qingmei, the former dean of Skywater, had visited all four elemental academies with her daughter Shui Bing'er under the pretense of exchange and sparring.
That time, Shui Bing'er no longer hid her talent or strength. With her top-tier beast spirit, the Ice Phoenix, fully unleashed, and her overwhelming soul power, she swept through the other elemental academies, defeating all the most talented disciples of her generation—and even some several years older—with absolute dominance.
Huo Wu, always proud and arrogant as the top girl in Blazing Academy, had never suffered such a setback. But faced with Shui Bing'er's soul-freezing cold, her proud flames seemed feeble and powerless. In just three moves, she was knocked back by the ferocious Ice Phoenix attack, left in a sorry state and utterly humiliated.
The shadow of that defeat still haunted her like a nightmare.
Seeing his daughter's indignant expression, Blazing Academy's Dean Huo Liexiao could only sigh helplessly. He knew Huo Wu's will was strong and her pride immense, so this crushing defeat hit her hard. But his expression soon turned stern as he warned, "Xiao Wu, it's fine to talk like this in our own carriage, but once we arrive at Grand Martial Academy and meet their high-level members—especially experts from the Body Sect—you must keep silent!"
"If you speak rashly and cause trouble, it could cost your life—and no one will be able to save you! Understand?"
During this period, the continent had come to understand the Body Sect somewhat. They were not evil, but neither were they especially merciful. If Huo Wu acted recklessly in front of them, she would not only endanger herself but implicate Blazing Academy as well.
Huo Wu stiffened, instinctively wanting to retort, but when she met her father's eyes—full of unquestionable authority and warning—she swallowed her words. Spoiled as she was, she was not blind to the consequences of her actions. She could only lower her head in indignation, muttering barely audibly, "…I understand."
Similar emotions and complex feelings stirred among the other factions heading to Grand Martial Academy. Representatives of forces once equal to, or even superior to, the former Skywater Academy now gazed at the magnificent, reborn city from their carriages, unable to suppress mixed feelings as they considered Martial City's formidable background and faculty. Old friends and rivals had now risen to heights far beyond their reach.
In another carriage, this one bearing the blue whirlwind crest of Godwind Academy, the atmosphere was equally heavy. Dean Feng Ao looked at his grandson, Feng Xiaotian, who sat in silence, his former pride lost, weighed down by complex emotions and deep sighs.
During Shui Bing'er's reign in the Four Element Academies, Feng Xiaotian—the top genius of Godwind Academy, eight years older than Shui Bing'er and theoretically superior in both power and battle experience—had suffered a crushing defeat. Feng Ao had thought his grandson would surely suppress Shui Bing'er, a perfect way to check Martial City's arrogance. But reality dealt them a severe blow.
In their duel, Feng Xiaotian's pride—his self-created soul skill Stormwind Demon Wolf—was completely suppressed by Shui Bing'er's near-perfect control of the Ice Phoenix and her absolute power. In the end, not only was Feng Xiaotian defeated, but he lost miserably, his confidence deeply wounded. After returning home, he fell into despondency, nearly despairing.
"Xiaotian…" Feng Ao opened his mouth to comfort his grandson, wanting to say that winning and losing was normal in battle and not to worry too much. But before he could finish, Feng Xiaotian suddenly looked up and interrupted him.
The youthful arrogance in the boy's eyes was gone, replaced by a stubborn resolve, almost an obsession.
"Grandpa, you don't need to say anything—I understand!" Feng Xiaotian's voice was hoarse but firmer than ever. "A hero can't be judged by a single win or loss. Shui Bing'er's lead is only temporary. I admit she's stronger than me now, but I will never concede defeat!"
He clenched his fists so tightly his knuckles went white. "Just wait! Once I perfect my self-created soul skill, I'll challenge her again and reclaim my lost glory with my own hands!"
Feng Ao was slightly pleased to hear the first half, thinking his grandson had grown after the setback. But after hearing the latter half, his face darkened—it was clear he hadn't let go, but instead, his obsession had only deepened.
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