Chapter 71: The Second Stage Begins.
After Xuan Mo and Ma Hongjun returned to the academy, the others rushed over upon hearing the news.
However, when everyone asked Ma Hongjun about his third spirit skill, he deliberately kept it a secret, saying, "You'll know when the time comes."
No one paid much attention to the jokes between their friends and didn't ask about Ma Hongjun's spirit ring skills.
Instead, upon his return, the Master told everyone to gather in the playground as usual the next morning...
"Xiao Gang! The academy's funds are completely exhausted!"
Upon returning to the academy, Flanders immediately ran to the Master to complain.
After all, after three months of brutal training, Xuan Mo and the others had taken medicinal baths every day, and the Master treated the students to lavish meals.
So, in just three months, the little wealth that Shrek Academy had painstakingly accumulated over the years had been spent by the Master!
Upon hearing this, the Master slowly turned his gaze back to the window and closed the book in his hands.
"I've already calculated this. The children's first round of special training has already concluded, and the second round will begin. By then, the academy won't have to worry about funding issues, and it could even capitalize on the opportunity."
"Uh, Xiaogang, what do you mean?"
Flanders looked at the Master with a puzzled expression. Seeing his confident expression, Flanders was completely bewildered.
"Soul fighting, gambling."
The Master's stiff lips curled upward as he slowly uttered the two words.
Flanders, after all, was a longtime friend of the Master's, and he immediately understood what he meant. His eyes lit up, and he muttered, "Great! From now on, Mo and the others will take care of their own food and lodging. As for the teachers leading the team, they'll stay in my shop and cook their own meals. It won't cost a thing."
"During the Soul Fights, given the strength of these little monsters, I can just gamble on a few matches in the Grand Soul Fighting Arena. I'm sure we'll make a killing."
At the end of his words, Flanders couldn't stop the sly grin on his face.
"Flanders, you're still the same old guy."
The Master simply glanced at him and ignored him.
Instead, he cast his gaze out the window again, quietly observing Xuan Mo, Tang San, and the others, a smile curling up.
...
The next day, with the familiar chime of the bell, the students arrived at the playground promptly, as instructed by the Grandmaster.
The Grandmaster folded his arms, waited for the eight of them to take their positions, then announced the start of the second phase of special training: practical combat training.
"After three months of training, with the guidance and help of the teachers, your physical fitness has improved significantly. But to become an excellent Spirit Master, this is far from enough. You must be tempered by actual combat."
"The second phase of training will begin at the Grand Fighting Spirit Arena. This training has no time limit; it will end when you receive the Silver Fighting Spirit Badge. Of course, during this period, you will provide for your own food and lodging."
Upon hearing the Grandmaster's words, except for Xuan Mo, who already knew, others like Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun expressed both relief and a strange look.
Clearly, they were somewhat puzzled by the Grandmaster's inclusion of the Fighting Spirit as the second phase of practical combat training. After all, for Silver Fighting Spirit, everyone was already close to reaching that level.
However, after seeing the expressions on everyone's faces, the Master didn't say much. He simply glanced at Xuan Mo, who remained composed, then pulled out eight masks from behind him and handed them to him, instructing Xuan Mo to distribute one to each person.
"During the Soul Fight, you must wear these masks and each choose a nickname; you must not use your real name. Your information and battle records are already recorded in the Soul Fighting Arena, so this isn't suitable for your training."
The Master then turned his attention to Ma Hongjun and Xuan Mo. "I heard from Flanders that you two have a team called the Dragon and Phoenix. This time, you two are not allowed to compete as a team. Instead, you will be separated and teamed up two-on-two with the others. Do you understand?"
Xuan Mo was startled at this.
Although he didn't know the Master's reason for this arrangement, he had his own reasons.
So, Xuan Mo didn't object and immediately nodded in agreement.
Seeing Xuan Mo agree, the master said nothing more. He simply looked at the others and said, "Now, pick your code names. Think carefully!"
Following the flow of the original novel, everyone came up with their own nicknames. Even Tang San's Thousand-Handed Silver Grass was renamed Thousand-Handed Shura.
As for Xuan Mo, seeing the rhythm of everyone else's naming, he didn't bother to think and simply chose his own spirit name.
This outrageous move made even Ning Rongrong roll her eyes at Xuan Mo.
"Old Mo, your code name is too random."
"Yeah, it's not as domineering as mine!"
Oscar and Dai Mubai, arm in arm, winked at Xuan Mo and teased him nonstop.
"Oh, really? You, a big sausage uncle, and a lecherous tiger with evil eyes, you two filthy fellows, and you have the nerve to call my name bad?"
Xuan Mo turned his gaze to Ma Hongjun, who was smirking nearby. Just as he was about to speak, he was interrupted by Ma Hongjun.
"Brother Mo, please give me some face. I don't want to be like Dai Laobai and Bitch Ao. I didn't say anything. Look at how miserable Dai Laobai looks."
Xuan Mo looked in the direction Ma Hongjun pointed. Xiao Wu kept teasing him because of the word "Big Sausage Uncle".
As for Dai Mubai, Xuan Mo's words, "evil-eyed lustful tiger," had directly irritated Zhu Zhuqing.
The goodwill they had built up during the events in the Star Dou Great Forest and the first phase of training had once again been shattered.
Zhu Zhuqing now gave Dai Mubai no regard. Dai Mubai had already sauntered over to Zhu Zhuqing, fawning on her.
Seeing this, the master beside him suddenly turned serious and coughed, "Ahem! You've all agreed on your code names, right? Then quickly arrange your two-on-two teams and gather at the village entrance. Your instructor will accompany you to the Soul Fighting Arena."
With that, he left.
As soon as these words were spoken, Ning Rongrong and Oscar's gazes darted across the room.
Then, Ning Rongrong and Xiao Wu approached Zhu Zhuqing and Tang San, respectively, because there was no need to choose between the four; they had already decided on their respective teams.
As for Oscar and Ma Hongjun's words. Since the two had only recently achieved Soul Master status, and Oscar was a support-type Soul Master, if they continued to team up, the outcome of the Soul Battle would be extremely unfavorable for them.
Therefore, for the time being, Oscar could only focus his attention on Dai Mubai and Xuan Mo.
Soon, Oscar looked at Xuan Mo and Dai Mubai with a pitiful expression: "Two big brothers, who of you is willing to guide me? Of course, I'm more inclined to go with Old Mo."
As soon as he said this, Dai Mubai said in a weird voice, "Bitch, you're looking down on me."
"Hey, Boss Dai, that's not what I'm saying. With your level of cultivation, you can definitely win a one-on-one fight, right?"
"Bitch, you better behave yourself! I'll slap you to death! See for yourself if Old Mo agrees."
Seeing Oscar's face almost touching his, Dai Mubai pushed Oscar away with a look of disgust.
"Lao Mo, let's join a two-on-two fight. Look, although I've only just reached level 30, you can't fly, so you'd be at a disadvantage if you met a flying spirit master. My auxiliary ability can still help you. What do you think?"
Oscar immediately showed a hurt expression after being pushed away by Dai Mubai, and ran to Xuan Mo's side with a pitiful (bitch) look on his face...
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(End of this chapter)