Douluo Continent: A Thousand Miles of Cultivation

Bibi Dong was not present in the Papal Palace. Instead, six people stood in a row, seemingly waiting for something, some of whom Qian Shui recognized quite well. Hu Liena did not speak much with Qian Shui, but went straight to the back hall.

"What's wrong?" Qian Shui asked one of his acquaintances.

At this moment, everyone looked at him. Some of them had cold expressions, some had disdain, and some had goodwill, but they were all somewhat puzzled.

"Oh, it's you. But you'll probably find out soon enough."

"Hmm." It was Feng Jingyi who spoke; she was his old class monitor.

Qian Shui probably knows a few people who have been gathered here, likely for the Continental Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament.

Bibi Dong arrived quickly, and Hu Liena and Ghost Douluo were also traveling together.

'No wonder it wasn't Ghost Douluo who notified me.'

It turns out that Ghost Douluo was summoned by Bibi Dong, so the guards were the ones who notified Qian Shui to come.

Chapter 47 Leading the Team

After Bibi Dong's long and eloquent speech, Qian Shui finally learned the cause of the matter.

The gist of it is that these people are the main team members for the Soul Master Tournament four years from now, and we hope they will work hard and defend their championship title.

With her leaving with Hu Liena, only Ghost Douluo and seven others, including Qian Shui, remained present.

"Kid, your theoretical level is good enough. I might not even be better than you. You'll be in charge of training for the next four years! I'm only responsible for your personal safety." With that, Ghost Douluo tossed something to Qian Shui and then disappeared.

Qian Shui took it and looked at it. "The Papal Decree?"

Now it's clear: Bibi Dong gave Qian Shui the job of head coach, and Ghost Douluo was just a tool to endorse him. The purpose was obvious: to let this socially invisible, friendless eldest disciple build his own team.

Qian Shui rubbed his fingers against the papal decree, speechless. He had no desire to do this. It was his nature; he was somewhat socially awkward and rarely spoke to anyone except those he knew well.

"Oh my gosh~ Little Shui, I didn't expect this! Now we all have to listen to you~" Feng Jingyi was closest to Qian Shui, so she put her arm around his shoulder and teased him in a completely irreverent way, without realizing what this meant.

The girl's body was beautiful, but Qian Shui had no interest in appreciating it. She turned her head away, handed the papal decree to Feng Jingyi, and waved it up and down, clearly intending to throw this hot potato away.

"Uh... I don't want to!" Feng Jingyi jumped back after taking a few steps, clearly not wanting to take it.

Qian Shui waved to the crowd again, but no one paid him any attention.

"Sigh, power~" There's no way around it, I have to accept it whether I want to or not. "Let's go, what are we doing here?"

"Hey~ Brother Shui~ wait for us~" Feng Jingyi quickly caught up with Qian Shui first.

"Class monitor, tell me first, why did you form a team so early? And what exactly is that woman up to?"

"Xiao Shui, I know you're in a hurry, but don't rush. Let's go to the camp first, and then we can talk slowly."

"station?"

“Yes! The main players in the competition all have a residence. Although the Martial Soul Academy becomes relatively free after reaching level four, as long as you break through to the Soul King level before the age of 25, you can get a graduation certificate and graduate smoothly. However, the team members who participate in the Elite Tournament are an exception~” Feng Jingyi explained some rules to Qian Shui as they walked.

Qian Shui had absolutely no interest in understanding these things. He used to think he had little chance of pursuing an academic path, since he didn't even want to go to school. However, now he had no choice but to learn about them.

Soon the group arrived at an open area next to the Martial Soul Academy, where a detached building, somewhat like a villa, stood. This was clearly the residence that Feng Jingyi had mentioned.

Upon entering, there is a large living room. The first floor consists of functional rooms, such as meeting rooms and a cafeteria.

"This is where the elite tournament's main players live. The upper floors are dormitories, one room per person. Xiaoshui, when are you moving in?"

"Let's have a meeting first to get a sense of the situation."

Having no other choice, everyone went to the conference room together.

"Let's go through the motions. First, let's introduce ourselves. Uncle Gui, show your face." Qian Shui was quite experienced with meetings, and he knew his way around folic acid like the back of his hand.

No one was too surprised to see Ghost Douluo suddenly appear in the room.

"You can decide." Ghost Douluo didn't say much more.

"As the supervising teacher, you should naturally show up and listen in."

"can."

"Let me start. My name is Qian Shui, I'm 10 years old, and my Martial Soul is a level 32 Agility-Attack type Battle Soul Master. Class monitor, let's start." Qian Shui demonstrated his Martial Soul and spoke to Feng Jingyi.

In fact, most of the people present knew each other and had interacted with each other before. However, on the Soul Battle Stage, their impression of Qian Shui was that this child was obviously very strong, but was actually only a Soul Master.

“Alright, I am Feng Jingyi, 18 years old, Martial Soul: Wind Sword, Level 40 Power Attack Type Battle Soul Master. Silver Gold, don’t shake your head, it’s you.” Feng Jingyi puffed out her rather ample chest, while summoning her Wind Sword and pointing it at the noble-looking boy next to her.

"Okay, my name is Yin Jin, I'm 18 years old, my martial soul is the Emerald Moon Bracelet, and I'm a level 36 healing-type support soul master. Brother Shui, please don't mind. There were some conflicts back then, but it was all a misunderstanding." This person was the one who jumped the loudest when he blocked Qian Shui at the school gate, but Qian Shui had no memory of him at all.

"Chen Sha, 18 years old, Martial Soul: Popsicle, Level 37 Food-type Support Soul Master, is Xiao Shui alright now?"

"It's nothing, thank you for your concern, Sister Sasha." Qian Shui smiled at the senior who had taken such good care of him.

"Hello Qianshui, I am Yu Zhou, 18 years old, Martial Soul Battle Spirit Demon Pig, Level 40 Power Attack Type Battle Spirit Master." This burly man with a surprisingly gentle tone was Chen Sha's boyfriend. Qianshui's evaluation of him was quite contrasting, but she also understood why Chen Sha was with him.

"Ruoyou, 18 years old, Martial Soul Lightning Leopard, Level 42 Agility-Attack Type Battle Soul Master." This person is considered the leader of their group. She has a rather delicate appearance and at first glance looks like a girl, but her level is the highest among them.

"My name is Ling Yunzhi, 18 years old, with the martial soul 'Ice'. I am a level 40 control-type battle spirit master and the leader of Qian Shui. We will be working together for the next four years, so please take good care of me."

This is a super handsome guy, and he is quite kind. Moreover, his kindness is not just superficial. Qian Shui has dealt with him before. He has a very rare elemental martial soul, and his four soul skills are very strong in combination. In terms of actual combat power, he is the strongest among them. Of course, Qian Shui still won easily in that soul battle. Qian Shui's evaluation is that "ice magic is weak in close combat".

Qian Shui looked at everyone and he roughly understood that this was basically the team composition strategy for a standard seven-player tournament.

"Squad leader, from what you're saying, you've already moved in?"

"Yeah, I just happened to be in the right place at the end of the last competition, and the previous regulars will be graduating around this time. The academy will select the next regulars from among the level 4 students under 20. Isn't that a coincidence? We're all acquaintances~"

"It's probably not a coincidence, otherwise your ages and ranks wouldn't be so close."

"You're right. That's how the Martial Soul Academy arranges its class schedule. Generally, the first class of grades one to three consists of the strongest group of students in their age group," Ghost Douluo explained.

"No wonder Sister Sasha and Silver... Silver..." "Silver Gold! Silver Gold~" "Silver Gold and Silver Gold are not level 40, yet they were still chosen."

"Yes, Yin Jin and I were notified to go to the Papal Palace early this morning, and later we found out that we had been selected as regular team members." Chen Sha also cleared up some of her doubts.

"I understand. Then I won't go into too much detail. To get straight to the point, I personally don't want to be a team leader or captain. I have my own things to do and my own cultivation schedule. But since it's already like this, there's nothing I can do about it. I will customize a cultivation plan for everyone. You can refer to it, but everything will be based on the actual situation."

"Hey Xiaoshui, why are you so serious? You're so strong, no one here can beat you. Winning the championship in four years will be a piece of cake!"

Feng Jingyi's viewpoint was accepted by most people. After all, in their understanding, Qian Shui was extremely powerful. It was like a game for a Soul Venerable to fight a Soul Master. In four years, he would definitely be at least a Soul Master. At that time, even a Soul Emperor-level teacher might not be his match.

"I won't make a move. I'll play as a support in the official matches. Unless a team with all Soul Kings appears, you guys will be able to sweep the entire Elite Tournament in four years."

So, class monitor, don't have any illusions. Although I hate to say it, even if it weren't for the competition, the purpose of training is for yourselves. I believe you all want to achieve the title in the future.

Everyone looked at each other in disbelief, but Feng Jingyi was the first to speak: "Xiao Shui, you're too confident. You may really have the ability, but from what you're saying, you're confident you can help us all achieve the title?"

Feng Jingyi spoke for everyone: becoming a Title Douluo is not something that can be done so easily. If it were, there would be countless Title Douluos across the entire continent.

"Is it difficult for you to get your account banned? I don't think so."

In the methods Qian Shui knew, it was possible to mass-produce Title Douluos using only Martial Soul cultivation methods, such as Soul Cores, combined with physical and spiritual cultivation, including the use of special rare and precious materials. This was cultivation experience from ten thousand years later; he, as a transmigrator, knew about cultivating essence, qi, and spirit simultaneously using Martial Soul methods.

This is also why Soul Emperor-level students were common in the Soul Master Competition ten thousand years later, and Shrek Academy at that time could field a lineup of all Soul King-level students.

"Kid, you really don't understand what a Title Douluo means. There are only twenty or thirty known to exist on the entire continent."

"Uncle Gui, the small number of predecessors is not a reason why it is difficult for successors. In my observation, the problem lies in the cultivation system."

Chapter 48 Prerequisites

"Take myself as an example. I am not only strong because of my martial soul talent. If I had cultivated in the usual way, I would be at the same level as Uncle Gui at my age."

Everyone was somewhat taken aback by Qian Shui's startling remarks, but Qian Shui showed no intention of hiding his abilities. Moreover, if he truly possessed the capacity to cultivate titled Soul Masters, the Spirit Hall wouldn't have much of an objection. He wasn't the only one who understood these things; Bibi Dong's understanding was no less profound, though not as comprehensive. For example, recently, they had focused on traditional Soul Master methods while incorporating more practical combat lessons.

"Kid, you're really talking big. You should know your own uniqueness." Ghost Douluo was referring to his twin martial soul talent and his own experiences.

"Xiao Shui, your statement doesn't make sense. Are you going to bring out your theory that support characters can be very strong again?" Feng Jingyi clearly disagreed. Qian Shui was too special; the age of her spirit rings alone was beyond the reach of ordinary people.

"It seems you still don't understand. Come with me, facts speak louder than words."

Because of his cultivation method, Qian Shui couldn't speak too clearly.

Everyone followed Qian Shui to the Soul Battle Arena. Qian Shui took out the Soul Inquiry and handed it to Feng Jingyi, saying, "Let's have a match without using martial spirits or soul power. Uncle Gui, can you help me seal my soul power?"

"Okay." With that, Ghost Douluo forcibly sealed Qian Shui and Feng Jingyi's soul power with his title-level strength.

"What the hell?" Yin Jin was still the most agitated.

"Just watch, Xiao Shui has his reasons." It was Chen Sha who spoke. She deeply understood the theory Qian Shui was talking about, but she hadn't done enough to demonstrate its effectiveness.

Feng Jingyi weighed the Wenxin in her hand; without the enhancement of soul power, it felt rather heavy. "Xiao Shui, what are you making this again?"

Qian Shui took out Ming Xin again, twirled the sword, and said to Feng Jingyi, "Don't think about why yet, just defeat me!"

Putting aside her doubts, Feng Jingyi rushed towards Qian Shui. She attacked Qian Shui's defenses, but she had no ability to strike Qian Shui at all.

"I understand!" Ling Yunzhi was the first to react. He had felt something was wrong when he fought Qian Shui. He was clearly a control-type, theoretically a perfect counter to agility-type, but he was defeated by Qian Shui, who was almost 10 levels lower, without any suspense. And what he saw before him answered his doubts.

"Weak attack, slow reaction, and poor technique! Class monitor, sometimes I really envy you for having a sword spirit!" With his final strike, Qian Shui knocked Wen Xin out of Feng Jingyi's hand and then grabbed it back into his own.

Looking at Qian Shui, Feng Jingyi was lost in thought, as if she understood something.

"Martial spirits belong to you, but have you ever thought about what you would have left without a martial spirit? If personal strength is simply determined by releasing soul skills with a martial spirit, then where is the difference between soul masters of the same level and with the same martial spirits?"

The answer lies in skill, the ability to control the battle, a contest of wills, and things determined by factors beyond martial spirit and level. These are precisely the things traditional soul masters completely disregard.

Qian Shui slowly walked down from the Soul Battle Platform, and at the same time put away the Inquiry into Mind and Understanding of Mind.

"Why is it that Soul Masters with higher Soul Power at the same level are more likely to win in Soul Battles? Level is just a superficial phenomenon. Higher-level Soul Masters have far more combat experience than lower-level Soul Masters, not to mention the all-round improvement that Soul Power level brings to a Soul Master."

So here's the question: if I cultivate these skills beforehand, without relying on the accumulation of soul power level, is it possible to achieve actual combat strength stronger than my apparent level?

"Is this the significance of practical training?" Ling Yunzhi had clearly figured it out.

Many times, some truths are obvious, but they are often overlooked before they are brought up, just like why mobile phones must have physical keyboards.

"That's right, this is why students who graduate from advanced soul master academies are obviously stronger than ordinary independent cultivators. Many people attribute this to the students' inherent talent, but this is not enough to explain the fundamental reason for their strength."

People like to pursue extreme training, specializing in one path. For example, the agility-based system focuses on ultimate speed, while the control-based system emphasizes the ability to master the environment. Admittedly, these approaches aren't necessarily wrong, and they can be very advantageous within a team, since no one is a lone wolf.

However, if you truly aspire to become powerful, I advise against this approach, as it will become a hindrance to your growth. Talented individuals may be able to reach the highest ranks through their innate abilities, but what about those who are less capable?

Or, to give an imperfect example, or perhaps secretly, Uncle Ghost, what element do most of the Title Douluos belong to?

"A powerful offensive type?" Ghost Douluo hesitated for a moment.

"Why is it an offensive type?" Ruoyou asked somewhat urgently.

"why?