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Chapter 124: External Disturbances
🕑 Added 2024-12-25 17:53:33 +0000 UTCYang Podi looked at the somewhat unsettled group, contemplating how to address the issue at hand.
Even Teacher Li Xiang and Teacher An Ya appeared a little disoriented. The two had been with the team for six years, developing a strong bond with everyone. Especially Teacher Li Xiang, who had worked tirelessly over the years and formed a close relationship with all the team members.
During every instance when the team was exhausted to the point of collapse, it was Teacher Li Xiang who personally took care of everyone. After six years of leading the team, he had not only witnessed the students' growth but also faced his own pressures. After six years of arduous practice, he had reached the level of a Soul Emperor, currently at rank sixty-three.
On the other hand, Teacher An Ya remained a high-ranking Soul King, with her soul power only at rank fifty-eight. However, as a healing-type Soul Master, her progress could only be considered adequate, but it was enough.
Yang Podi looked at everyone and spoke, "I know there's been a lot of news outside recently, and everyone seems a little distracted. I don't know what's on your minds."
"When I initially formed this team, one purpose was to prepare for next year's Soul Master Tournament. But more importantly, it was for the improvement of our Four Single-Attribute Clans and for each of us individually."
"After years of effort, most of you have reached or surpassed the Soul Ancestor level. This improvement belongs to you. Think about it—without these years of training, could your soul power, combat experience, and personal growth have reached this level?"
"If the goal was solely the championship, I could have easily selected individuals with better talent, more obedience, and stronger dedication from Heaven Dou Imperial Academy to train. There are plenty of such geniuses there. But why did I choose you? Because you are members of the Four Single-Attribute Clans. Because we are sectmates and a united front."
"I don't care about the rumors outside or the academy's decisions. This team was created by me, and I have the final say. If someone insists on appointing a new leader, changing the training methods, or having someone else lead us, I'd rather dissolve the team or leave Heaven Dou Imperial Academy. There's no problem in this world that cannot be resolved."
"You may have heard about the tournament rewards. To me, they are meaningless. Soul bones? So what? Compared to them, I value the team's unity, our friendships, and personal growth far more."
After finishing, Yang Podi glanced around at everyone and silently considered his options.
With his current strength, achieving the championship was a foregone conclusion. Even the head soul bone offered as a reward held little appeal for him now.
This tournament was more about making the attitudes of the Breaking Clan and the Defense Clan known. His grandfather, Yang Wudi, and his maternal grandfather, Niu Gao, would attend the tournament in Wuhun City to receive their titles. Before his own strength was sufficient, Yang Podi didn't want to antagonize the Spirit Hall.
Additionally, he intended to throw obstacles in the path of Shrek Academy. With the longstanding animosity between his clan and the Clear Sky Sect, he had no intention of letting Tang San and his group obtain the rewards easily.
Most importantly, Yang Podi wanted to maintain his relationship with Xue Qinghe. He wasn't ready to burn bridges with her, especially knowing her vengeful nature.
As for the team, he wasn't overly worried.
Half the members were from his clan. The ones he was slightly concerned about were Tai Long, Niu Meng, and Bai Xiaofei, especially Tai Long and Bai Xiaofei. Yang Podi wanted to use this opportunity to gauge their attitudes and their clans' stance. If their paths diverged, he wouldn't involve them in his plans anymore, especially since more secrets would be revealed later.
After Yang Podi's speech, everyone visibly relaxed, except Tai Long, who appeared conflicted.
Yang Podi ignored Tai Long's reaction. The choices of the Strength Clan and Tai Long were their own business.
The person least concerned was Dugu Yan. The Dugu Clan's relationship with the Breaking Clan was exceptionally close, and any conflicts would hardly affect her.
Yang Podi planned to adjust everyone's training regimen. With years of physical training, everyone's physical strength had nearly reached its limits, making further training unnecessary.
He addressed the team again, "After years of weighted obstacle training, everyone's physical fitness has peaked and won't improve further in the short term. From now on, we'll change the training methods. Everyone will focus on meditating in simulated environments to rapidly increase their soul power levels."
"Tai Long and Bai Xiaofei, especially, need to break through to the Soul Ancestor level as soon as possible. I'll arrange the next phase of training after that."
He turned to Teacher Li Xiang. "Teacher Li Xiang, only Yang Tianyue will continue weighted obstacle training going forward. Everyone else will focus on meditating. Please monitor their progress."
Teachers Li Xiang and An Ya exchanged glances and nodded. With only Yang Tianyue continuing physical training, their workload would decrease significantly.
As for participating in battles at the Great Spirit Arena, Yang Podi saw no need.
Over the past few years, everyone had participated in extensive battles at the Great Spirit Arena after reaching the Soul Elder level, focusing on solo and duo battles. All members had earned Silver Spirit Fighter badges, gaining considerable combat experience. What they lacked was life-and-death experience, something Yang Podi intended to address by taking them to the Sunset Forest for training.
For Yang Podi himself, most of his time was now spent meditating. Physical training had lost its necessity. With his current physical condition, even as a rank sixty-three Soul Emperor, he wouldn't hesitate to face a Soul Sage and could even hold his own against an ordinary Soul Douluo.
Recently, there had been plenty of news in the outside world, much of it concerning the Soul Master Tournament.
The first piece of news was that the Spirit Hall had introduced a group of elite disciples referred to by Bibi Dong as the "Golden Generation." While their specific strengths were unknown, the Spirit Hall's efforts suggested they were nurturing several remarkable talents.
Secondly, this year's tournament finals would not be held in a neutral location but in Wuhun City, hosted by the Spirit Hall.
Initially, both empires opposed this decision. However, the Spirit Hall insisted, offering three ten-thousand-year soul bones as prizes and citing security concerns as the reason for holding the event in the Pope's Palace. The empires had no choice but to agree.
For any force, ten-thousand-year soul bones were rare treasures. The fact that all three were over thirty thousand years old shocked many.
Even within the Spirit Hall, the announcement caused a stir. Despite suspicions that these soul bones were meant for the "Golden Generation," the allure of the rewards was too great, plunging everyone into a frenzy.
Thirdly, the Breaking Clan and Defense Clan announced that their leaders, Yang Wudi and Niu Gao, would go to Wuhun City during the tournament to receive their titles.
By tradition, titled Douluos had to be formally recognized by the Spirit Hall, or they risked retribution. As the recognized sacred ground of soul masters, the Spirit Hall's status often overshadowed the two empires.
Given their past enmity with the Spirit Hall from the Clear Sky Sect conflict, many were shocked by the clans' decision.
The Spirit Hall eagerly publicized the news, portraying it as a gesture of reconciliation. Chrysanthemum Douluo was even dispatched to finalize arrangements, and their titles, "Breaking Soul Douluo" and "Plate Armor Douluo," were confirmed, reflecting their martial souls.
Regarding past grievances, Yang Wudi and Niu Gao declared they would personally settle old scores with the responsible parties, even challenging Chrysanthemum and Ghost Douluo publicly. The clans of Speed and strength offered no opinions but maintained their vow to remember past grudges.
As a result, many believed the upcoming Soul Master Tournament would be anything but peaceful.
Despite the Spirit Hall's confidence, Heaven Dou Academy's second team kept an unusually low profile, leaving their strength a mystery.
