Upon returning to the Heaven Dou Royal Academy, Lin Mu led Tang San and Xiao Wu straight to the Educational Committee Hall. The door stood open, and at a glance, they saw the three board members gathered at the far end of the hall, deep in discussion.
When they noticed Lin Mu and his disciples, the three board members were momentarily stunned. Once they recovered, they were immediately hit by the powerful fluctuations of Soul Power radiating from the group.
Lin Mu's aura was perfectly restrained, making his specific Level difficult to discern, yet they could feel his presence becoming increasingly profound. Tang San and Xiao Wu, however, showed a much more obvious transformation; their Soul Power had clearly jumped by several Levels in just half a month.
The three education board members exchanged glances, seeing both shock and confusion in each other's eyes. Meng Shenji was the first to react, stepping forward quickly to greet them.
"Teacher Lin Mu, you have finally returned." After a brief pause, Meng Shenji scanned Lin Mu and continued, "It has only been two weeks, yet you look even more refined, and your Soul Power has clearly advanced. Congratulations!"
"Head Meng Shenji, you flatter me," Lin Mu replied, returning the greeting with a respectful hand gesture.
Meng Shenji then turned his curious gaze toward Tang San and Xiao Wu. "Teacher Lin Mu, if I may ask, where have you been? Their Soul Power has increased at a rate that defies logic."
"It was merely a small stroke of luck, nothing worth mentioning," Lin Mu said casually.
A treasure as significant as the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well was not something he intended to share with outsiders. While the three board members were generally honorable, they were ultimately loyal to the Heaven Dou Imperial Family. In the face of such a legendary resource, human hearts were unpredictable.
Seeing the perfunctory answer, the three board members, all shrewd men, immediately dropped the subject. They knew that pushing a peerless genius like Lin Mu towards the Spirit Hall over a moment of curiosity would be a grave mistake. Furthermore, Lin Mu wasn't the only monster anymore; Tang San and Xiao Wu were showing potential that suggested they might one day rival their master.
"Teacher Lin Mu, during your absence, Chrysanthemum Douluo visited the academy twice specifically to find you," Meng Shenji said, his expression hardening. "But rest assured, whatever the Spirit Hall is plotting, the three of us stand with you. The Empire will support you."
Lin Mu's expression remained unchanged; he already knew this from Dugu Bo. While he didn't doubt Meng Shenji's personal sincerity, he considered the reliability of the Heaven Dou Imperial Family to be questionable at best.
"I thank the three of you for your trouble," Lin Mu said, cupping his hands.
"There is no need for such politeness," Meng Shenji waved his hand. "In your absence, Teacher Qin Ming has continued training the Royal Fighting Team according to your specifications. Their strength has improved significantly."
A hint of interest finally flashed in Lin Mu's eyes. "In that case, I shall go see the results myself. If there is nothing else, I will take my leave."
After being seen off by the three, Lin Mu and his group headed straight for the training grounds reserved for the Royal Fighting Team.
As they approached, they found a sparring match already in progress.
"Fourth Soul Skill: Blue Lightning Dragon Swiftness!"
Yu Tianheng shouted as his fourth Soul Ring, a deep, shimmering purple, began to glow. Dazzling blue lightning erupted around him, crackling and condensing into a powerful blue dragon nearly two meters long.
His opponents were not Qin Ming, but the brothers Shi Mò and Shi Mó, standing side by side. Facing the oncoming dragon, the brothers shared a perfectly synchronized look and clasped their hands together.
The Black Turtle Martial Souls on both men erupted in earthy-yellow energy. Just as the lightning dragon was about to strike, the light intensified and then collapsed. The two brothers vanished, replaced by a massive Black Turtle phantom, five meters tall, radiating a terrifying defensive aura.
"Boom!"
The Blue Lightning Dragon slammed into the phantom shell. A muffled thud echoed across the arena, but the Black Turtle didn't budge a single inch. The dragon exploded into a web of lightning that wreathed the turtle's body, but it failed to leave a mark.
Watching the incredible defensive power of their Martial Soul Fusion Technique, Yu Tianheng felt a pang of envy. The brothers were both only at the Soul Elder level, yet their fusion could easily nullify his Level 40-equivalent fourth Soul Skill. From the looks of it, even a Soul King's fifth Soul Skill might struggle to break that defense.
'If I receive more guidance from Teacher Lin Mu, could I develop a Soul Fusion Skill as well?' Yu Tianheng wondered. It was clear the brothers had only mastered this because of Lin Mu's specific pointers.
Qin Ming walked over and patted Yu Tianheng's shoulder. "Tianheng, don't be discouraged. The power of your fourth Soul Skill is impressive, especially for a six-thousand-year ring. In terms of raw attack, it isn't much weaker than my own fifth Soul Skill."
Yu Tianheng didn't look comforted. He knew Qin Ming's fifth Soul Ring was only a thousand-year ring.
As Qin Ming prepared to critique the brothers' fusion, a familiar, calm voice rang out from the distance.
"Not bad. It seems you haven't neglected your training while I was away."
The team turned in unison to see Lin Mu walking toward them, flanked by Tang San and Xiao Wu. Surprise and joy washed over their faces.
Ye Lingling was the fastest to react. Using the movement techniques Lin Mu had taught her, she blurred across the field like a gust of wind, creating a fragrant breeze as she tried to leap into Lin Mu's arms. However, Lin Mu shifted his weight slightly, dodging her with perfect timing.
Ye Lingling skidded to a halt, her beautiful eyes filled with mock resentment as she pouted. "Brother Lin Mu!"
"Stop being silly," Lin Mu said, reaching out to gently ruffle her blue hair. He then looked at Qin Ming. "Teacher Qin, you have worked hard during these past two weeks."
"Teacher Lin Mu, you are far too kind," Qin Ming said, bowing slightly. Since witnessing Lin Mu's Title Douluo-level strength, his respect had turned into genuine admiration. He knew that even if he spent his whole life training, he would likely only ever see Lin Mu's back from a distance.