Shrek Academy, back mountain.
Five vines rose up like seaweed, twisting and trembling as they swayed, slowly drawing closer to the center.
Tang San clenched his jaw, veins bulging on his forehead as if he were straining to control something.
After a moment, his body suddenly relaxed, bending forward as he panted heavily. The vines around him instantly deflated, drooping weakly to the ground.
"Still not working?" Staring at the vines sprawled across the ground, Tang San couldn't help but clench his fists.
It had been several days since they returned from the Great Spirit Arena. Because his muscles and bones hadn't fully healed, he didn't choose high-intensity training. Instead, he calmed his mind to practice a deeper application of his vines.
However, he never found the proper method.
Forming a whip was simple enough, but weaving them into vine armor or vine pods was completely impossible. He couldn't control multiple vines at once, let alone use fine control to weave them together like threads. As for redistributing spirit power to strengthen them, that was out of the question.
Am I just too impatient? He thought to himself.
The sound of footsteps came closer. Tang San immediately looked up,it was his teacher, Yu Xiaogang.
"San, don't be anxious. Yang Yunhai took nearly four years to master this level of control. It's perfectly normal that you can't grasp it right away. The beginning is always the hardest. Once you break through, everything will become easier." Yu Xiaogang walked forward and comforted him.
"Don't worry. I've already spoken to Rongrong and asked her to share the secret of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's 'Divided Mind Control' with you."
"When the team arrives in Heaven Dou City, she'll consult Sect Master Ning. I'm absolutely confident the Sect Master will agree."
"Teacher, what is Divided Mind Control?" Tang San asked, puzzled.
Yu Xiaogang patiently explained.
"There's actually such a marvelous method!" Tang San was shocked, his eyes flickering with excitement.
But there were still two months until they reached Heaven Dou City.
And he was already growing impatient. The earlier he mastered such a technique, the better.
Yu Xiaogang nodded slightly. "Divided Mind Control is indeed ingenious. Yang Yunhai's method may seem similar, but compared to it, his is still crude,merely a clumsy way that consumes huge amounts of time."
Tang San also nodded. A secret art passed down by one of the Upper Three Sects naturally couldn't be compared with Yang Yunhai's crude approach.
Smiling, he said, "Teacher, then I'll first focus on becoming more familiar with my spirit abilities."
Yang Yunhai's coordination between his three major spirit abilities was also something Tang San found quite valuable to study.
"Good idea." Yu Xiaogang nodded slightly and turned to leave.
Once Yu Xiaogang was gone, Tang San's face immediately sank into thought. He glanced up at the sky, then slowly stood.
A few leaps later, he disappeared from the clearing.
Soon, he arrived at a hillside behind a tree.
Ning Rongrong's spirit was gem-type, and she was an auxiliary spirit master. Since the academy didn't have an environment suitable for her, she usually trained indoors. Tang San knew this well.
"Purple Demon Eye!" His eyes flashed, and instantly, the situation inside a window over a hundred meters away came clearly into view.
He saw Ning Rongrong repeatedly casting different spirit abilities to boost herself. Each ability was released at varying speeds and intervals. With cycles of rest and continuation, her releases grew increasingly precise and controlled, her transitions more natural.
After a long while, perhaps tired, Ning Rongrong slowly stood, walked to the bed, and lay down.
Tang San finally withdrew his gaze, deep in thought as he walked back.
"It looks pretty simple. Just releasing multiple spirit abilities at once, then gradually mastering the timing, speed, and other details until you can freely control them. Then keep increasing the number you can release simultaneously."
"For my spirit, that should mean practicing the control of multiple vines at once."
Thinking this, he quickened his pace and rushed to a secluded clearing in the back mountain.
Heart focuses on three apertures. Let's start with three vines. He quickly summoned three vines.
Time passed bit by bit. After more than half an hour, Tang San felt dizzy and chaotic, as if he were splitting apart mentally. It was extremely uncomfortable.
"Could it be that my understanding is wrong?" he wondered. Shaking his head, he sighed. "I'd better wait until Rongrong gains permission from Sect Master Ning and teaches me the real cultivation method. The inheritance of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect cannot be grasped just by observing. Only the true method can allow one to practice properly and in order."
With that, he headed straight back to the dormitory.
Two days later, in a hotel in the town nearest to Heaven Dou City.
Qin Ming looked around at the group and said, "Once we return to Heaven Dou City, I plan to give everyone a one-month break. During this time, you should relax, but also carefully review the gains from your training. If you have questions, you can come find me at the academy."
"Also, don't neglect your daily training. Just because I'm not around doesn't mean you can slack off."
"Yes, Teacher Qin Ming." Everyone nodded together.
Yang Yunhai nodded as well, but he glanced at Qin Ming. After such intense combat training, relaxing was necessary. But to him, the more important part was reviewing and solidifying gains through regular training.
One month seemed too long.
But thinking of how, in the original story, Shrek Academy gave two months off after special training, he found it reasonable.
As expected, the tradition of Shrek was free-range cultivation. He couldn't help but sigh.
Not thinking further, after Qin Ming dismissed the group, he took Zhu Zhuqing directly back to their room.
"Finally out!" Yiner immediately dashed out, floating to Yang Yunhai's side and wrapping around his arm.
After traveling through various kingdoms with him, she had seen much of the human world, greatly broadening her knowledge and deepening her understanding of human culture,including the meaning of "partner."
Now, she clung to him even more.
Clearly, she was ready to be a devoted and clingy wife.
Zhu Zhuqing smiled slightly, saying nothing, as if she had already grown used to it.
Yang Yunhai gave her a helpless look.
Zhu Zhuqing's face flushed. She knew very well her man had been holding back for months.
Yiner was lovely in every way,except that she was a light bulb.
"Alright, Yiner. I need to cultivate my spirit power now." Yang Yunhai gently patted her arm.
"Oh." Yiner let go, floating by the bedside, watching as he sat and entered cultivation.
So… was I once a spirit beast? She stared blankly at his right leg.
Having lived in the human world for so long, especially after seeing Tang San use a spirit bone and hearing the others discuss it, she now understood what spirit bones were. She realized the place she had once inhabited was likely a spirit bone,and a powerful one at that.
As for herself, she was probably a high-level spirit beast whose soul had remained in the bone after death.
The one who killed her certainly wasn't Yun. Her ability clearly didn't match his spirit rings, and he didn't have that strength back then.
So did Yun just stumble upon the spirit bone where I resided?
She didn't dare ask. She feared he might reject her. She only wanted to stay by his side forever.
Yun said I'm his partner. Looking at his face, her gaze softened,she could never get tired of it.
Time passed, night deepened, and suddenly Yiner's body flashed blue light before disappearing.
"Yun, Sister Yan is here." Her voice sounded directly in his ear.
"Hm?" Yang Yunhai opened his eyes, stood up, and went to the door.
Knock knock.
He opened it to find Dugu Yan, wearing a light blue nightgown. Her chest stretched the loose silk fabric, her fair face delicate, eyes shimmering as she looked at him.
"Xiaohai, I need to talk to you about something."
"Come in, Sister Yan." Yang Yunhai smiled, opening the door wider.
Zhu Zhuqing, awakened by the sound, opened her eyes just in time to see Dugu Yan walk in.
"Good evening, Zhuqing." Dugu Yan greeted her with a smile. "I came to discuss something with you and Xiaohai."
Zhu Zhuqing returned the smile, got out of bed, and walked over. "Sister Yan, let's sit and talk."
"No need." Dugu Yan shook her head. "I'll just say it and go."
"Is it urgent?" Yang Yunhai asked.
Dugu Yan lowered her head slightly and said softly, "I broke up with Tianheng. I don't want to see him for a while. So when we return to the academy, I'd like to move in with you for some time. I'll also train with you during the break to reach level 40. Would that be okay?"
Yang Yunhai and Zhu Zhuqing exchanged a glance. Zhu Zhuqing gave a small nod.
"Of course. I still have an extra room," Yang Yunhai said with a smile.
Only then did Dugu Yan look up and manage a faint smile. "Thank you."
"It's nothing." Zhu Zhuqing shook her head lightly. "Xiaohai trains late every night, and sometimes spends time on theory and medicine. I often feel bored. With you around, Sister Yan, I'll have someone to chat with."
She just wants an excuse to keep me company. Dugu Yan felt warmth in her heart and nodded. "No problem."
Smiling, she looked at them both again. "Then it's settled. You two should rest early. I'll head back now."
"Alright." They nodded together.
As they watched her leave, Yang Yunhai's eyes revealed helplessness. If Dugu Yan moved in, that would be one more obstacle. He turned to Zhu Zhuqing, and suddenly a thought struck him.
The hotel's soundproofing was pretty good.
He nodded toward the bathroom.
Zhu Zhuqing froze, then blushed deeply and nodded.
Late at night, Yang Yunhai opened his eyes, gently moved her soft hand away, and got up.
Two shadows quietly slipped into the bathroom.
An hour later, Yang Yunhai carried a limp Zhu Zhuqing back to bed, satisfied, and closed his eyes.
Soon, Yiner lifted her little head, her face flushed as she peeked. After a moment's thought, she buried her head under the blanket, pretending to sleep like a quiet little kettle.
The night passed without incident. The next day, the team gathered. Their carriage rolled out of the town and headed straight for Heaven Dou City.
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