In the recent battle, Zhou Shuang displayed astonishing speed.
He could have easily broken free from Hu Liena's charm and used his speed advantage to move out of her range of control.
However, he chose not to, as he had a different plan in mind.
As a Spirit King whose spirit power far surpassed Hu Liena's, Zhou Shuang was intrigued by her charm skill.
He wanted to experience its power firsthand and see if it posed any real threat to him.
Thus, he kept a distance that was safe yet close enough for her to activate the skill, using agile and varied movements to guard against any potential surprise attacks.
Unexpectedly, the standoff didn't last long before Hu Liena willingly revealed herself, breaking her invisibility.
Though her stealth skill was impressive, it was actually a combination of her second and fourth spirit abilities, which consumed significant mental and spirit power.
With her current level of strength, it was clear that maintaining this state for long periods was impossible.
Earlier, Zhou Shuang had genuinely complimented Hu Liena, bringing her a small relief amid the tense battle.
Today was the first day of special training, and after three consecutive matches, all the battles had concluded.
Lin Zhendong gathered the three Spirit Kings and said a few brief words before dismissing them.
Then, he approached Yan, Xie Yue, and Hu Liena with a serious but gentle expression and said:
"Today's training ends here. The three of you performed quite well."
Xie Yue suddenly asked:
"Teacher Lin, don't you have any specific feedback for us?"
Lin Zhendong smiled faintly and shook his head.
"Today was a day for you to perform freely. You should have a clear idea of how you were defeated. Reflect on it and summarize your experiences when you return. This cross-level training won't be completed overnight; it may last several months, so be prepared for a long-term effort."
The three exchanged glances, already anticipating what lay ahead.
They knew that they would continue to face failures, in the upcoming challenges,
However, they were well aware that this harsh method of cross-level training would allow them to grow stronger in the shortest time possible.
Lin Zhendong escorted them to the academy gate before departing alone.
Each of the three had challenged a Spirit King today, exhausting their spirit power. On the way back, they meditated in the carriage to recover some energy.
Walking side by side toward the dormitory, they remained silent, each lost in thought about their defeats.
As they walked, four other teammates suddenly ran over.
"Boss!"
"Brother Yan!"
"Sister Na!"
Seeing their tired expressions, Li Kai asked curiously:
"Boss, what kind of special training did you go through today? You all look exhausted."
"Yes. It's not just physical exhaustion, but also a psychological blow," Yan replied.
"What happened?"
"Teacher Lin assigned each of us a Spirit King opponent to challenge, and we all lost."
Hearing this, the four teammates looked surprised.
The Spirit Hall's three prodigies had never faced defeat against opponents of the same level.
But this time, their opponents were different, and they all tasted defeat.
Sun Chuantao voiced his doubts:
"Isn't this a cross-level challenge? The power gap is too wide, you've just broken through to level 40, and the difference is a whole ten levels. That's way too hard."
Hu Liena chimed in:
"Not only that, but our opponents were exceptional, each with the best spirit ring combination: two yellow, two purple, and one black. Their abilities seemed specifically tailored to counter us. I suspect Teacher Lin arranged it that way on purpose."
Yan added:
"Experiencing failure isn't a bad thing. It helps us learn from our mistakes, recognize our weaknesses, and become stronger."
"Brother Yan is right," Xie Yue agreed.
He believed it wouldn't be long before he could defeat the Diamond Mammoth Soul Master.
"Alright, make sure to keep training hard and reach your next breakthrough soon."
"Understood."
After the four teammates left, Yan, Xie Yue, and Hu Liena continued toward the dormitory.
Xie Yue looked at Yan and suddenly asked:
"Yan, tomorrow we might face the same opponents. Are you sure you don't want to use your Flames Wings?"
Yan shook his head lightly.
"Not for now. I want to see what my limits are without the assistance of my external spirit bone."
"Yan, you really have changed. You're no longer that arrogant boy you once were."
Yan smiled faintly but did not respond.
Hu Liena stole a glance at Yan, sensing his determination and confidence.
A complex emotion welled up in her heart.
"Yes, Yan has truly changed. It looks like I'll need to work even harder," she thought.
Back at their quarters, Yan did not rest.
He meditated for a while, adjusting his state to peak condition.
Then he took out the 'Compendium of Rare Flowers and Plants' and began studying it carefully.
While training was crucial, learning about flora was equally important.
Time was running out; he had to visit the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well before Tang San, or he would miss the opportunity to obtain the right celestial herb.
The next day, the trio was taken to the same training ground for combat practice.
Their opponents were the same three Spirit Kings from the day before, but the order of the battles was shuffled.
Xie Yue faced the Wind Sword Soul Master, Yan faced the Monkey Soul Master, and Hu Liena faced the Diamond Mammoth Soul Master.
Lin Zhendong's sudden change in their opponents caught them off guard.
Although they knew their opponents' tactics, they still all lost.
Just as Lin Zhendong had said the day before, defeating an opponent ten levels higher was not something that could be accomplished in just a day or two.
In this battle, Yan still did not use his external spirit bone.
The cross-level training continued.
Time flew by.
After five months of special training, Xie Yue and Hu Liena reached Level 43 successfully .
By the sixth month, Yan had reached Level 44.
During this half-year, Lin Zhendong had changed their opponents multiple times, all at the Spirit King level.
Sometimes they failed; sometimes they won.
After the day's training ended, Lin Zhendong accompanied them back to the academy. Before leaving, he said:
"Today, all three of you defeated your respective opponents, which marks the end of this phase of special training. You've all done well. Despite numerous defeats, you never gave up, and I'm proud of you."
"Is it really over?"
"Yes, it's over. If there's new training, I'll inform you."
The sudden news left them in disbelief.
Over the past six months of training, they had grown significantly, not just in spirit power but also in combat skills and mental fortitude. They could now face Spirit King-level opponents with composure.
Just as Yan was about to leave, Lin Zhendong called out:
"Yan, come with me for a moment."