When Roy finally returned to the academy, several days had passed.
As Roy, Alice, and Veil stepped into the academy's mission hall, the elder was reviewing a scroll in his hands. He looked up and noticed their dust-covered appearance, a small smile forming on his face. "You're finally back. Judging by your looks, it seems the mission went well."
Roy cupped his hands in respect and reported, "The mission has been completed. The pack of second-tier Demon Wolves has been successfully cleared, and the village's safety is now ensured."
Alice brushed the dust off her shoulders with a playful grin. "But it was exhausting! Elder, you'd better not skimp on the rewards."
Amused by Alice's straightforwardness, the elder chuckled. After confirming the commission details from the letter, he nodded. "You did a great job. To handle second-tier beasts and return unscathed is no small feat."
He retrieved two bottles of glowing restorative elixirs and a pouch filled with spirit stones from a nearby cabinet, handing them to Roy. "Here are your rewards: two bottles of top-grade fourth-tier Restoration Elixir and 2,000 spirit stones. These elixirs are highly effective for restoring spiritual energy and healing wounds."
Alice's eyes lit up when she saw the elixirs. She quickly took them and examined the bottles with fascination. "Wow, look at this glow and the spiritual energy radiating from it! These treasures were worth all the effort!" She twirled around excitedly, prompting Roy to shake his head with a smile. "Careful, don't drop them."
The elder then retrieved another bottle of the elixir and a pouch with 1,000 spirit stones, handing them to Veil. "Veil, while Roy and Alice led the charge, your role as the team's defensive pillar was crucial to the mission's success. This is your reward: one bottle of Restoration Elixir and 1,000 spirit stones."
Veil accepted the reward, rubbing the back of his neck with a sheepish grin. "Thank you, Elder. But I feel like Roy and Alice contributed more. I just did my part."
The elder waved his hand with a kind expression. "Every member of the team plays a vital role, especially someone like you with great defensive potential. You have a bright future ahead—work hard and grow stronger."
As they exited the mission hall, Alice skipped along, hugging the pouch of spirit stones. "So many spirit stones! Roy, doesn't this mean we can treat ourselves? Let's buy something good to eat or some fancy gear!"
Roy smirked. "This reward belongs to the team. Let's be clear—these spirit stones need to be allocated properly. The elixirs will be pooled for communal use, and the stones will replenish our cultivation resources."
Alice pouted. "Fine, fine. You two handle the boring allocations. I'll just focus on eating and enjoying the show."
Veil laughed heartily. "Alice, don't come crying to me when you blow through your share of the spirit stones!"
The three continued their banter as they walked toward the courtyard. Suddenly, Alice turned and asked, "By the way, with these rewards, doesn't this mean we can take on a higher-level mission next time?"
Roy thought for a moment before replying seriously, "Let's take a few days to rest first. Although we completed the second-tier beast mission, it exposed some flaws in our team coordination. We should adjust and prepare before moving forward."
Veil nodded in agreement. "Exactly. Especially when it comes to teamwork, we still have room for improvement."
Alice waved her hand dismissively, grinning. "Alright, alright. A few days of rest it is. But I'll say this—next time, let's pick a more exciting mission! I don't want it to just be all fighting again. Let's try something new and fun!"
Roy, Alice, and Veil's courtyards were situated close to each other, forming a small cluster. Alice's courtyard was right next to Roy's, while Veil's was just a short distance away, separated by a few rows of green bamboo. This arrangement made it convenient for the three to interact and train together.
One early morning, sunlight streamed into the courtyards as Roy stepped out of his house, feeling refreshed after training. He had begun to master Hidden Thunder, significantly boosting his lightning-based attack power. Even more exciting, his spiritual energy had broken through to Level 28, and the flow of thunder energy in his body felt smoother and more powerful.
Not far away, Alice stood in the middle of her courtyard with her hands clasped, a faint aura of spiritual energy radiating around her. Her spiritual domain had begun to awaken, and the sheer presence of her power sent a ripple of unease through Roy.
"Hey, Roy!" Alice called out with a cheerful grin, her bright eyes sparkling. "I just tested out my spiritual domain. It feels like I can sense people's energy, spirits, and even emotions more clearly now. Want me to check on your mood? Don't worry, I promise I won't peek at any secrets!"
Roy cleared his throat awkwardly. "Let's not. It'd be troublesome if you discovered something you shouldn't."
At that moment, Veil's booming voice echoed from the other side. "Good morning, you two!" He stepped out of his courtyard, carrying a heavy training iron gauntlet. His muscular arms, slightly swollen from a recent breakthrough, glistened in the morning light. His Giant Domain had fully awakened, significantly boosting his strength and defense. His spiritual energy had surged to Level 32, and he was on the verge of breaking into Level 33.
"Roy, Alice, I feel like a walking mountain after last night's training!" Veil laughed heartily, his voice filled with pride.
Alice tilted her head mischievously. "Careful not to stomp too hard, or you might collapse your courtyard!"
The three gathered in Roy's courtyard, chatting about their training progress in a lighthearted atmosphere. Roy suggested, "Since we've all made so much progress, why don't we schedule regular group training sessions? We can exchange ideas and learn from each other."
Alice nodded enthusiastically. "That's a great idea! Veil's defense is like an iron wall—I need to learn some resistance techniques from him."
Veil scratched his head with a wide grin. "And I could use some agility training from you two. By the way, Roy, your Hidden Thunder sounds powerful. I'd love to see it in action one day!"
In Roy's courtyard, the three sat around a wooden table. Veil held an announcement issued by the academy and said seriously, "The Outer Court Tournament is happening in three months. The top five participants will gain direct entry into the Inner Court. The specific rules haven't been released yet, but it's definitely going to be a tough fight. If we can make it into the Inner Court, the resources, techniques, and elixirs we get will be on a completely different level!"
Roy nodded thoughtfully and said, "The Outer Court's resources are limited. The Inner Court is where the true treasures are. While our strength isn't weak, carving a path through all the Outer Court disciples won't be easy. We'll need to push ourselves to the limit over these next three months."
Alice squinted her eyes with a playful grin. "Simple! As long as we work extra hard, I'll give you all a mental boost, and beating the competition will be a breeze!" She mimicked throwing playful punches into the air.
Veil laughed heartily, "That sounds easy enough, but what if we're up against monsters over Level 40? You planning to beat them with your 'mental massage'?"
Alice pouted, pretending to be offended. "Veil, I'm not just a pretty face! My mental disruption and Healing Wind, both top-tier techniques, are no joke. When the time comes, I'll blow them away!"
Roy couldn't help but laugh. "Alright, alright, enough bickering. Alice is indeed amazing—her mental abilities can be game-changing in a fight."
Veil's expression turned serious. "This tournament is a solo competition. I've heard the strongest disciple in the Outer Court is already at Level 38. There are others who are no pushovers either. In three months, we'll be facing some monsters for sure."
Roy nodded. "True, we can't afford to be careless. Even though we managed to take down the pack of Tier-2 Shadow Wolves, facing these Outer Court prodigies is a whole different story. We need to improve as much as we can."
Alice rested her chin on one hand and said casually, "That's simple. You guys just train like crazy while I, the support, make sure I don't hold you back!"
Veil raised an eyebrow at her, his lips curling into a smirk. "Alice, this is a solo competition. Everyone has to face their opponents alone. You sure you don't need extra practice?"
Alice froze for a moment before putting her hands on her hips. "Who says I'm not ready? My mental powers aren't just for healing and disruption! When the time comes, I'll hit them with a Mental Shock, and they'll be completely disoriented."
Roy chuckled. "Just make sure your mental energy is strong enough. Otherwise, if your Mental Shock backfires, you might end up knocking yourself out instead."
Alice, furious, swung her little fists at Roy's shoulder. "Shut up! I would never make such a rookie mistake!"
Veil burst out laughing. "Alright, alright, stop bickering. Alice, your mental abilities are impressive, but if you're up against someone with extreme speed, you might struggle to keep up. I suggest practicing techniques to quickly gather and focus your mental energy."
Alice sighed in defeat. "Speed training, huh… Fine. For the sake of becoming an Inner Court disciple, I'll do it!" She turned to Roy with a sly smile. "What about you? You can't just focus on offense. What if you face someone with impenetrable defense?"
Roy calmly sipped his tea. "I've been practicing Hidden Thunder. It combines lightning power with sword intent, creating immense explosive power. As long as I master it, breaking through defenses won't be an issue."
Veil nodded approvingly before flashing a mischievous grin. "Since everyone's so motivated, let's start morning training tomorrow. Five o'clock sharp. Running laps, sparring, meditation—no slacking off."
Alice's eyes widened. "Five in the morning?! Veil, are you crazy?"
Veil shrugged. "How else are we supposed to make it into the Inner Court? And besides, you were the one who said this training would be 'simple.'"
Roy chuckled. "Alice, just think about the resources in the Inner Court. Three months of morning training isn't so bad."
Alice covered her face dramatically, pretending to be in agony. "Fine, fine! I'll suffer with you guys this time! But tomorrow during the laps, whoever runs the slowest has to buy dinner!"
Veil smirked. "Deal. But don't come crying when you lose all your pocket money."
The three shared a laugh, the atmosphere filled with lightheartedness and anticipation. Although the Outer Court Tournament promised to be challenging, they were determined to give it their all, using their hard work and talent to earn a place in the Inner Court.