Chapter 8 The Training Plan.
Opportunity and crisis coexist; surviving would undoubtedly bring immense benefits.
For Wu Qi, the resources provided by Azure Phoenix Douluo were enough to elevate him to the Title Douluo level.
Resources within the Spirit Hall required strength to acquire, but with the protection of his elders and his talent, obtaining them wouldn't be difficult.
But was he willing to remain a hothouse flower?
For a long time afterward, Wu Qi didn't mention this again.
Currently, he was only a level fourteen Spirit Master, not yet qualified to explore within.
Academy life was always monotonous, and more than five years passed in a flash.
During this time, Wu Qi learned the basic theories of the Spirit Master world, and his strength broke through to level thirty-one.
Azure Phoenix Douluo often took him to the Hall of Offerings to learn, thus he learned a great many combat techniques, making him virtually unmatched among his peers.
It's worth mentioning that he and Qian Gu Chang Kong became acquainted through a fight.
After that sparring session, the other followed him every day, acting like a lackey.
Under Wu Qi's influence, Qian Gu Chang Kong transformed from a troublesome boy into a book-loving youth.
Qian Jun Douluo repeatedly expressed his gratitude to him through Qing Luan Douluo.
With Wu Qi's strength, he could have graduated from the primary Soul Master Academy long ago. However, after graduation, he would have to accept the Spirit Hall's genius training mission. In the original timeline, the strength of the three members of the Spirit Hall's Golden Generation was not just hype.
Hu Liena and her two companions had genuinely completed hellish-level training missions, killing no fewer than a hundred people.
That day, Wu Qi and Qian Gu Chang Kong arrived at the Hall of Offerings.
"Master, grandfathers, we wish to end our academy life and go to the Poisonous Land to begin our training mission."
The Poisonous Land was the place where Qing Luan Douluo discovered the Poisonous Flash Horned Deer.
The danger there was classified as a deadly trap within the Spirit Hall, almost equivalent to the Lost Canyon.
For the past five years, Wu Qi had been secretly gathering intelligence on the Poisonous Land, while also dragging Qian Gu Chang Kong into the mess.
"You brats, do you even know what you're talking about?!" Qian Jun Douluo stood up and scolded.
While the Poisonous Land might not have much to offer, the Lost Canyon, also a deadly trap, was publicly known within the Spirit Hall.
Crossing the Lost Canyon and entering the Lost Land behind it, even most Title Douluos would lose their sense of direction and become lost in the vast sea of sand.
Over the centuries, only a dozen or so people had survived exploring the Lost Canyon. As for the Poisonous Land, since Qing Luan Douluo became a high-ranking member of the Spirit Hall and began developing it, only three people had ever emerged alive:
Qian Daoliu, Qing Luan Douluo, and the young Gui Bao Douluo.
Wu Qi bowed and added, "The reason there are so few survivors in the Poisonous Land is because too few people have gone in to explore, so the data isn't accurate."
Golden Crocodile Douluo frowned. "Kid, you're not chosen ones, don't have survivor bias."
"Second Grandfather, we're just going to train, not to die. We promise we'll only train in the outer areas and never go deep inside. Let us go!" Qian Gu Chang Kong pleaded.
Watching their argument, Qian Daoliu shook his head. "With your strength, there's really no need for you to stay in the academy. Go to the Death Canyon to train, and if you can come out alive, then we can talk about going to the Poisonous Land."
Qian Daoliu was a pillar of the Spirit Hall, and his word was law.
Wu Qi knew this time it was hopeless.
However, this was within his expectations. Bringing this up now was a way of giving the elders a heads-up.
After a few more attempts, they would definitely relent.
As for the Death Canyon, it was a training ground artificially created by the Spirit Hall.
Although it was fraught with danger, the survival rate was nearly thirty percent.
Each person's training mission in Death Canyon is unique.
If you're lucky enough to draw an easy mission, your survival rate can reach 90%.
According to regulations, even the Pope's son must draw a mission before entering the Death Canyon for training, and once drawn, it cannot be returned or changed.
This is an ironclad rule set by the Spirit Hall, and no one can change it.
"Go prepare, and we can set off at any time when we are ready."
In the past five years, Wu Qi has learned a lot of skills from Qingluan Douluo, enough to cope with the training in the Death Canyon.
It should be noted that the minimum entry requirement for the Death Canyon is a Great Soul Master, and the missions corresponding to each stage are different.
After leaving the Hall of Offerings, Qian Gu Chang Kong whispered, "Brother Wu, those three guys from the Papal Palace are back. They went to the Death Canyon before. Should we ask them for some information?"
In recent years, as Bibi Dong gradually gained power, the conflict between the Papal Palace and the Hall of Offerings has become increasingly sharp.
In the Spirit Hall Academy, the descendants of the two sides' high-ranking officials almost always avoid each other.
"Hu Liena," Wu Qi murmured.
Barring any unforeseen circumstances, after completing this training mission, they will be able to skip the intermediate Soul Master Academy and be promoted directly to the Spirit Hall Academy. Who knows, they might even be able to represent the Spirit Hall team in the Soul Master Tournament in the future.
During his five years of training at the Spirit Hall Academy, Wu Qi had watched the entire last Soul Master Tournament.
Calculating the dates, the next tournament would be held in about three years.
In three years, even with the massive resources provided by the Hall of Offerings, he would at most break through to the low-level Soul Master realm, completely insignificant in the Spirit Hall Academy, perhaps only fit to be a substitute.
Even if he managed to become a regular member and compete, he would at most be an accessory to Hu Liena and the others.
How could this be acceptable?
Besides, he was unwilling to be subservient to others.
After a pause, he made up his mind.
He must leave Spirit City after completing the mission!
Going to the Heaven Dou Empire, he would have a guaranteed chance to obtain the immortal herbs from the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well.
The resources of the Poisonous Land were certainly tempting, but in the next few years, Qian Daoliu would most likely not allow them to go there.
The Yin-Yang Well of Ice and Fire is a ready-made treasure trove, and if he doesn't go, Tang San will surely take it.
The Hall of Offerings has treated him well; since he's destined to be Tang San's enemy, why leave the treasure to him?
Hu Liena and the other two aren't yet part of the Golden Generation; Bibi Dong has only recently nominated them.
The Hall of Offerings and the Papal Palace are at odds, so the nomination process will be a long and drawn-out affair.
Over the past five years, Bibi Dong has sent many people to contact him, openly and secretly promising him the benefits of joining the Papal Palace.
Wu Qi isn't one to betray his own side; now that he's a member of the Hall of Offerings, he has no intention of switching allegiances.
He has no connection with Hu Liena and the other two, and they've never met before. Given the atmosphere within the Hall, he's unsure if Hu Liena will even acknowledge him.
However, gaining their experience would be extremely helpful in completing their trials in the Death Canyon.
Regardless, he has to give it a try.
Spirit Hall Academy.
Qian Gu Chang Kong was cut out for navigating the underworld, and with his grandfather's connections, he had amassed quite a few friends within the academy over the years.
In crucial moments, these friends would become his informants.
He was certain that Hu Liena and the other two had returned to the academy today and were training in the simulated training ground.
(End of Chapter)