"Teacher Lin Mu, the daily Soul Arena matches are about to begin. We'll be taking our leave now."
Spurred on by his loss to Tang San, Yu Tianheng's fighting spirit was fully ignited. Losing once was a setback; losing repeatedly without improvement was a disgrace. At Level 39, he was on the cusp of a breakthrough. He knew that once he reached Level 40 and absorbed his fourth Soul Ring, he would have the raw power needed to reclaim his dignity.
"Go on. Do not miss today's matches," Lin Mu nodded slightly. He turned to Qin Ming, the assistant instructor. "Teacher Qin, I'll trouble you to oversee their battles today. Focus on individual combat and refining their base reactions for now; don't worry about complex team tactics just yet."
Lin Mu preferred to focus on high-level strategy and specific secret techniques; leaving the fundamental daily drills to a professional like Qin Ming was the most efficient use of his time.
"It is no trouble at all, Leader. It is my duty," Qin Ming replied with a respectful bow.
Soon, Qin Ming led the core team away, leaving only Ye Lingling behind, the only member Lin Mu hadn't assigned a specific combat quota to.
Ye Lingling bit her lower lip, seemingly gathering her courage. She walked toward Lin Mu with light, hesitant steps. "Brother Lin Mu," she called out softly.
Her voice was barely a whisper, but it clearly reached the ears of those remaining.
Xiao Wu's eyes darted between them playfully. She immediately grabbed Tang San's arm. "Brother! Let's go register too! I've never participated in an official Soul Arena battle before!" Without waiting for an answer, she dragged the bewildered Tang San away.
"Master, then Xiao Wu and I will head to the Arena first," Tang San called back over his shoulder. Lin Mu waved them off dismissively.
Xue Qinghe, watching the scene with a calculating smile, bowed slightly. "Brother Lin, I have imperial matters to attend to. I shall take my leave as well."
"Do as you please, Your Highness."
The training ground fell into a serene silence. Ye Lingling lowered her head, her fingers nervously twisting the hem of her black dress, a faint blush creeping across her cheeks. A moment later, she raised her clear, glassy eyes to meet Lin Mu's.
"Brother Lin Mu... I've finally waited for you. I never imagined you would actually come to the Academy and become our leader."
Seeing her shy yet deeply affectionate demeanor, Lin Mu felt a rare touch of warmth. He reached out and gently ruffled her blue hair. "Six years have passed, Lingling. You've grown taller, and even more beautiful."
Like a kitten being stroked, Ye Lingling instinctively leaned into his palm, her usual icy Snow Lotus facade completely melting away.
"Brother Lin Mu... Mother often mentions you," she whispered. "She has always wanted to properly repay you for what you did for our family back then."
A flicker of memory crossed Lin Mu's mind, a white-clad woman from six years ago. He withdrew his hand gently. "That isn't necessary. It was a long time ago. You owe me nothing."
"But I want to learn from you," Ye Lingling said, her voice gaining a touch of expectation. "You said you would teach me privately... is that still true?"
"As a Support-type Soul Master, you don't need to learn how to punch," Lin Mu explained. "But you lack a means of self-preservation. If your team fails to protect you, you are a sitting duck. I plan to teach you a specialized movement technique."
"A movement technique?" Ye Lingling blinked, her curiosity piqued.
"It is a combination of unique footwork and the manipulation of wind currents," Lin Mu began. This was his personal refinement of the Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track. While he had learned the basic footwork from Tang San, Lin Mu had completely altered the Soul Power circulation to incorporate the Wind element from his Hurricane armor.
Lin Mu began demonstrating the basic steps. During the instruction, he occasionally supported her arm or waist to correct her posture. Ye Lingling studied with intense focus, but the complexity of the Wind Circulation made her stumble occasionally. Each time Lin Mu steadied her, her heart rate accelerated.
"Brother Lin Mu... does this technique have a name?" she asked breathlessly.
Lin Mu thought of the graceful, elegant movements he had adapted from the martial arts legends of his old world. "Let's call it: Phoenix Dance of the Nine Heavens."
"Phoenix Dance of the Nine Heavens..." Ye Lingling repeated, her eyes shining. "It's a beautiful name."
At the Heaven Dou Great Soul Arena
Led by Qin Ming, the Royal Fighting Team entered the most prestigious combat arena in the capital. Since it was the first time for the newcomers, they were required to register their official code names.
Xiao Wu, Soft-Boned Charming Rabbit.
Tang San, Blue Silver General.
"Blue Silver General?" Yu Feng looked at the registration form with a strange expression. "Tang San, do you plan on joining the army and becoming a general in the future?"
Yu Tianheng and Oslo also looked over curiously. With Tang San's tactical mind and Level 34 strength, a military career would indeed be a smooth path to nobility.
"In a way," Tang San replied, his gaze turning profound. In truth, the General title was an homage to his Master, Lin Mu, who moved like a commander on the battlefield.
After registering, Tang San signed up for a solo match and a 2v2 match with Xiao Wu.
Yu Tianheng approached him, his attitude surprisingly sincere. "Tang San, are you interested in forming a 2v2 team with me later? It would be excellent practice for our coordination before the tournament."
"Indeed, teamwork is essential," Qin Ming added from the side.
Tang San considered it. He had defeated Yu Tianheng once with luck and tactics, but he knew the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon's raw power was immense. Learning to coordinate with such a powerhouse would be a valuable experience.
"Alright," Tang San nodded. "Let's see what the 'Dragon' and the 'General' can do together."