Chapter 163: A New Path of Development
Outside Blue Tyrant Academy.
Dugu Feng and Ning Rongrong didn't take a carriage. They walked hand in hand toward Gem Academy.
The academy wasn't far from Blue Tyrant.
Soon, a building with colorful gem-covered walls came into view.
A large banner stood in front:
"Gem Advanced Soul Master Academy Enrollment Notice:
If your martial spirit is gem-related, do not hesitate—join Gem Academy.
Walk the ultimate path of gem martial spirit cultivation and achieve your dream of becoming a high-level soul master!"
The words were surrounded by sparkling gemstones of all kinds, bright and dazzling.
Ning Rongrong's eyes widened in surprise.
"So this is your academy's enrollment poster? Are you short on students? How about I ask Father to send some of our sect's young soul masters here?"
Her smile was mischievous.
Dugu Feng glanced at her twice, then said, "Of course you can. I intend to make this academy the sacred ground for gem martial spirits."
Through careful research, the Dugu Clan had discovered that gem-type martial spirits were far more common across the continent than people realized.
However, most gem spirit users lacked proper training, ring combinations, or cultivation paths.
Moreover, the clan found a key difference—unlike most martial spirits, gem spirits relied less on innate talent and more on soul ring selection and external resources.
And now that the Dugu Clan controlled the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, they could supply both.
From this perspective, it made perfect sense: recruit large numbers of civilian soul masters with gem spirits, guide them to absorb optimal ring configurations, and enhance their growth with medicinal herbs.
This method would surely produce an army of elites.
As for prodigies with high innate power, Spirit Hall and the ancient academies like Heaven Dou Imperial or the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would always claim them first.
So the Dugu Clan's Gem Academy, as a new force, needed to take a different route—to create its own advantage and overtake the old powers.
The Soul Master Tournament always coincided with the graduation season, right when students from primary and intermediate academies chose advanced institutions.
If Gem Academy could win the championship this year, and do so with seven gem spirit masters, its reputation would rise overnight.
And they had already begun widespread advertising—soft promotions and recruitment posters littered the city.
As they walked, Ning Rongrong couldn't stop exclaiming at the sheer extravagance of the Dugu Clan's campaign.
Dugu Feng only smiled calmly. "This is nothing. Just wait until you see the academy itself."
Moments later, they arrived.
"Not bad—the environment is beautiful!" Ning Rongrong praised.
Backed by the Dugu Clan's immense wealth, both the architecture and layout were built to the highest standard.
As they walked, she began to notice something special.
Her eyes sparkled.
Everywhere she looked—training fields, paths, courtyards—gemstones of every hue shimmered under the light.
As a Soul Ancestor with an affinity for gem energy, she instantly sensed the resonance.
"The entire academy… it's one huge mimic cultivation environment?" she exclaimed.
Dugu Feng smiled faintly.
Ever since his victory at Soto City, the Dugu Clan's wealth had skyrocketed.
Gem Academy had become the perfect outlet for their overflowing gold soul coins.
"Your clan's incredible! I'll talk to Father right away and have him send talented disciples here," Ning Rongrong said excitedly.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had many cadet branches with gem spirits—this place would help them grow faster than ever.
Dugu Feng was more than pleased. Let all of them come. Once Rongrong becomes sect master, the entire Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect will follow my lead anyway.
They proceeded into the forest behind the main campus.
"Greetings, Young Master."
At the edge of the woods, Shi Nian and the seven gem-spirit members of the Gem Battle Team bowed together.
Shi Nian, ever sensitive to spiritual energy, had sensed Dugu Feng's arrival the moment he entered the academy.
"No need to be so formal," Dugu Feng said. "Everyone, this is my girlfriend, Ning Rongrong. Her martial spirit is the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda—also a gem-type spirit. Senior Shi, I'd like you to instruct her in the Seven Shura Illusion Realm."
Shi Nian's face stiffened. He brought me a special case, huh?
A Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda? From the name alone, he could tell she was of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect—and someone of importance.
And her surname was Ning. There was little doubt whose daughter she was.
"Young Master, the Seven Shura Illusion Realm is a soul skill fusion technique. It requires participants to have the Illusion Control skill," Shi Nian said carefully.
Ning Rongrong glanced at him, then at the other students, and replied sweetly, "Teacher Shi, nice to meet you—and don't worry about that.
Among my four soul skills, none is Illusion Control… but my fourth spirit ring came from a Nightmare Beast—six thousand years old, in fact—and I also gained a head bone from it. My soul bone's ability is Illusion Control!
Oh, and my fourth skill amplifies spiritual power!"
Grinning, she revealed her cards.
Shi Nian and the seven students stood frozen.
A soul bone? Illusion Control?
After a stunned moment, Shi Nian's shock turned to delight.
If Ning Rongrong could synchronize properly, it would mean another Soul Ancestor added to the lineup—a spiritual amplifier at that!
He immediately bowed slightly, his tone cheerful. "Miss Ning, welcome to the Gem Battle Team! With you joining, the championship is ours to claim!"
Dugu Feng nodded, satisfied.
"Begin training. I'll observe from here," he ordered.
"Yes, Young Master.
Zhang Jingyang, step forward! You'll pair with Miss Ning to cast Illusion Control. The others—form two groups of three and commence the usual drills!"
At the command, one of the seven stepped forward.
Zhang Jingyang was the team captain and the oldest among them, level forty-two—steady and experienced.
He and Ning Rongrong released their spirit rings simultaneously.
"Activate your abilities!"
At Shi Nian's signal, the Illusion Control skills erupted at once.
Zhang Jingyang's fourth soul ring lit up, sending a beam of bright yellow energy into the sky.
Ning Rongrong followed with her soul bone's Illusion Control—the resulting light was kaleidoscopic, radiant as her Nine Treasure Pagoda, multicolored and dazzling.
"Fusion!"
Their beams of energy slowly drew together.
The other two teams' triple beams also converged in turn.
Then came the fascinating part.
Shi Nian, too, activated his Illusion Control skill.
A vast wave of mental energy spread out, blanketing all eight of them within its reach.
This was Shi Nian's unique method of specialized instruction.
Inside his illusion, every fluctuation or error from the participants could be sensed immediately, allowing him to guide them within the shared illusion itself.
Zhang Jingyang, having often trained newcomers, intentionally slowed his synchronization so Ning Rongrong could adjust her timing.
(END CHAPTER)
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