The day after returning to Exotic Beast Academy, Jiang Jing sent someone to summon Yu Yan to the academy's conference room. Besides Yu Yan, Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, Ye Lingling, Dugu Yan, Bai Chenxiang and others were also called.
After learning that Vice Dean Jiang Jing had summoned so many people, Yu Yan could already guess her purpose—forming an Exotic Beast Academy team to prepare for the next Continental Advanced Spirit Master Elite Tournament.
Arriving at the conference room on time, Yu Yan also saw Meng Yiran, Wang Hu, Xiong Da, Xiong Er and others.
Meng Yiran, granddaughter of Serpent Grandmother and Dragon Duke, Spirit Serpent Cane, thirty-fourth-level control system Spirit Grandmaster.
Wang Hu, a commoner Genius unearthed by Exotic Beast Academy, Spirit Black Tiger, thirty-second-level attack system battle Spirit Master.
Xiong Da and Xiong Er, twin descendants of outstanding Exotic Beast Academy graduates, Spirit Brown Bear, thirty-second-level attack system battle Spirit Masters.
Apart from Yu Yan's group, they were the academy's finest students. Had Yu Yan and the others not joined, they would have been the official members of the next team.
With Yu Yan, Xiao Wu and the others enrolling, Exotic Beast Academy now entertained thoughts of seizing the championship. To that end, the academy poured more resources into rewarding its top students, letting Meng Yiran and the rest benefit and Cultivate far faster than in the original timeline.
Besides resource rewards, the four Geniuses—Yu Yan, Xiao Wu, Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling—set the pace; being around excellence naturally drives one toward even greater heights.
In the original timeline, Meng Yiran had only recently reached thirtieth level; her grandparents would have taken her to the Star Dou Great Forest for a spirit ring, where she would have run into Tang San and lost a kiss to him in a Hidden Weapons duel.
Now, Meng Yiran had long since obtained her third spirit ring, so that scene would never occur.
"As for why I called you here, I'm sure you've already guessed." Seated at the head, Jiang Jing looked over the assembled top students, gave a brief lead-in, then stood and announced loudly, "That's right—Exotic Beast Academy is forming a team. You are the academy's finest, and I invite you to join and fight for the academy's honor as well as your own."
"No problem."
The instant Jiang Jing's voice fell, Yu Yan took the cue, declaring he had no objections.
Once Yu Yan voiced his support, the rest followed suit, willing to join the team and fight for honor.
Before today, Jiang Jing had already sounded everyone out; this was simply the formal public announcement.
"Good. The team captain will be the forty-ninth-level Yu Yan—any objections?"
Right after announcing the team's formation, Jiang Jing declared Yu Yan's captaincy.
A twelve-year-old forty-ninth-level Spirit Ancestor with a mutated Spirit that granted two abilities per ring—his reputation as a Genius was long known. All present were older yet lower in spirit power; who could object?
Besides, as long as they clung to the thighs of Yu Yan, Xiao Wu, Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling, they could win the championship and carve their names into academy history—why would they oppose such a good thing?
Zhu Zhuqing, who knew Yu Yan was actually a sixty-seventh-level Spirit Emperor, couldn't help glancing around when she heard "forty-ninth-level Spirit Ancestor," but everyone else looked perfectly calm.
When Xiao Wu noticed Zhu Zhuqing's puzzled scrutiny, she winked and quietly raised a finger to her lips, signalling her to stay silent.
Taking the hint, Zhu Zhuqing composed herself and quietly listened as Vice Dean Jiang Jing outlined the upcoming special training.
Exotic Beast Academy's program split into combat training and Cultivation training.
Combat training meant Spirit Duels at Ice Soul City's Soul Fighting Arena plus periodic practical guidance from academy instructors.
Cultivation training granted unlimited access to the academy's Mimicry Training Ground and regular supplies of precious resources like ice soul flowers.
This training would greatly help everyone except Yu Yan and Xiao Wu, yet neither of them objected or demanded special treatment.
After announcing the schedule, Jiang Jing explained the rules of the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Elite Tournament.
The preliminaries were divided into six zones. Within Heaven Dou Empire were four kingdoms and one duchy; academies directly run by those states competed locally, while the rest battled in Heaven Dou City.
Because Heaven Dou City's zone covered five provinces and many academies, it received five qualifying slots; other zones received two.
Exotic Beast Academy lay within Hagendas Kingdom, so its preliminaries would be held there.
That zone's relatively light competition was why the academy regularly reached the finals.
With the current lineup, the preliminaries were a foregone conclusion; Jiang Jing already focused on the tough teams in the finals.
"Yu Yan, Xiao Wu, prioritize Cultivation—aim to Breakthrough to Spirit King before the finals."
"Reliable intel names three members of Spirit Hall's Golden Generation as your biggest obstacles: Holy Maiden Hu Liena, her brother Xie Yue, and Yan, owner of the fire-earth dual-attribute mutated Spirit Flame Lord—all forty-ninth-level Spirit Ancestors. Study this intel carefully."
Jiang Jing placed the hard-won dossier before Yu Yan and Xiao Wu and told them to memorize every detail.
After a casual glance at the surface information, Yu Yan set the papers down. "Relax—Xiao Wu and I will reach Spirit King before the finals."
"Right, Vice Dean Jiang Jing, don't worry."
Already Spirit Emperors, Yu Yan and Xiao Wu assured her they could manage Spirit King.
"Best of all." After stating her expectations for them, Jiang Jing turned to the rest: "All of you must strive to Breakthrough before the finals and shine on the field."
"Got it."
"Mm."
Dugu Yan and the others answered in turn; given a chance to grow stronger and showcase themselves before countless eyes, these proud youths would never refuse.
The following days saw the academy team training under Jiang Jing. After personally testing Yu Yan and Xiao Wu's staggering combat strength, she focused on the remaining eight.
Under the harsh, high-pressure regimen, Dugu Yan, Zhu Zhuqing and the rest, all in the prime of a Spirit Master's growth, improved rapidly.