77: Chapter 77 Spring Returns to All Things

Su Mu didn't need to participate in the team battles, and besides, everyone had already seen him in a state of exhaustion of his Divine Soul.

He didn't need to attend special training for the next few days and could arrange his own training schedule.

Walking through the campus of Modu Ability University, the incessant chirping of cicadas filled his ears.

Some people found the sound annoying, others found it pleasant, and some hadn't even noticed that the weather was gradually entering midsummer.

With less than two weeks until the University Ability Competition, there wasn't much left to train for, even if one did attend the special sessions.

'I expect they'll be focusing on team battle training for the next few days.'

Su Mu thought to himself.

The facts were indeed as he suspected; after all, ten-plus days was far too short for an ability user.

The best way to improve performance now was through tactical planning.

It was just like how, before the Ability College Entrance Examination, desperate training was far less effective than switching to a sharp weapon or a better battle suit.

...

Professor Lu Ming stood on the podium, pointing at the personnel information on the blackboard.

“The most important thing in a team battle is cooperation. This isn't just cooperation between people; more importantly, it's the cooperation between abilities.”

“For example, a combined attack of water and fire attributes is nowhere near as fierce as a combined attack of fire and wind attributes.”

Professor Lu Ming carefully explained the precautions for team battles to the students from all three grades, his expression solemn as he laid out the tactics.

“Two tactics have been arranged for each grade. Your main task for the next few days is to practice these two sets of tactics.”

“However, tactics only have their maximum effect the first time they are used. As students of Modu Ability University, your strength far exceeds that of other schools.”

“Although this is the first time the team battle format is being held, according to previous tournament Systems, you won't encounter any particularly strong opponents before the top eight.”

“I want you to act as if you understand nothing about team battles. You should be slightly arrogant to lull your opponents into a false sense of security.”

Mu Feng's lips curled into a smirk as she mentally simulated a face-slapping scene straight out of a Crooked-Mouthed Dragon King story.

“pretend to be a pig to eat the tiger! Right?”

A third-year student spoke up.

“Exactly!”

All the students became excited. Who could refuse a script like the Dragon King's?

Professor Lu Ming also showed a faint smile. In fact, he had even arranged a third set of tactics for the first-year team.

“Alright! Everyone, start training. Just give it your all; the rewards the school has prepared for you this time are quite generous.”

“Good!”

“Yes!”

“Understood!”

All the students were pumped up as if they'd been injected with adrenaline, their bodies filled with energy.

...

“Huff— Huff— Huff—”

Su Mu lay on the ground, sweat soaking his hair.

Just now, his S-Rank Combat Skill Thousand Shadows had finally reached the proficient level.

“System! Use the Combat Technique Proficiency Upgrade Card.”

S-Rank Combat Skill Thousand Shadows (proficient → mastery).

Su Mu had trained in the Bailian Tower for two consecutive days. Today, Leng Jing had also finished absorbing the fourth petal of the nine-colored flower.

When he left the house this morning, he could clearly see that Leng Jing's Source Power was now tinged with four colors.

“Sister Leng Jing has already rented out the flower shop, so there's no need to worry about that strange person from before anymore.”

“She's been cultivating at home every day now. I expect she'll Breakthrough to Rank 3 soon. I can't let myself be left behind.”

Because Leng Jing needed to Cultivate, she naturally had no time to manage the flower shop every day, so she rented it to a woman in her thirties.

The woman was a Modu local who didn't have much else to do.

Since the shop opened, she had been a customer almost every day for a month. Upon learning that Leng Jing couldn't keep the shop running, she took the initiative to take it over.

Furthermore, she promised to keep the shop's sign unchanged.

Leng Jing was very happy and immediately agreed to lease the shop to the woman, without even asking for rent.

However, the middle-aged woman felt bad about it and finally decided to give Leng Jing thirty percent of the profits.

Su Mu sat up and took a source power recovery potion from his space ring.

Ever since the last Rat Tide, Su Mu had moved most of the items from his System space into his space ring.

Once his Source Power recovered, Su Mu headed straight for the Seven Star Platform.

He had previously borrowed 400 credits from Mu Feng, and a portion had been spent on purchasing Combat Techniques.

After spending some on bits and pieces of training over the last few days, he had 90 credits left.

There was one week left until the University Ability Competition, and since the competition was in Kyoto, they had to leave two days early.

In these five days, Su Mu wanted to try his best to raise his Rank to Rank 3.

...

With three days left before leaving for Kyoto, Su Mu finally opened his seventh extraordinary meridian.

However, his credits were used up. Today, Leng Jing would completely finish absorbing the nine-colored flower, and her ability would transform into an S-Rank Ability.

It was also the day of Leng Jing's apprenticeship ceremony.

At this moment, Leng Jing was wearing a white ancient-style long dress. Her smooth long hair was also pinned behind her head with a hairpin, though a few strands of hair were sticking out.

It was clear that the person who had styled the hair wasn't very skilled.

Su Mu scratched his cheek and said awkwardly, “Sister Leng, I'm not very good at this. Your hair is sticking out a bit.”

Lin Ruoxi sat to the side, covering her mouth and giggling.

Leng Jing looked back at her hair and gave a sweet smile.

“It looks very nice. I especially like the hairpin you gave me.”

Su Mu had also chosen this outfit for her. Since they were visiting Principal Lin He today, she naturally had to dress more formally.

Su Mu had picked out a similar ancient-style long dress for Leng Jing based on Principal Lin He's outfit from that day.

It was worth mentioning that Leng Jing had already reached Rank 3, which made Su Mu, who had spent so many credits Cultivating at the Seven Star Platform, feel quite dejected.

“Let's go! We're heading to Principal Lin He's villa.”

He had already told Leng Jing everything about Principal Lin He's situation and sought her opinion.

To Su Mu's surprise, Leng Jing was very happy and didn't feel at all sad about being unable to learn offensive Combat Techniques.

The three of them arrived at Principal Lin He's villa together.

Principal Lin He was wearing a sky-blue qipao today, her hair still pinned up with the same hairpin from their first meeting.

It was obvious she had dressed up carefully for today.

There were only four people in the massive villa, yet it didn't feel lonely at all.

“This must be the 'Sister Leng' you're always talking about,”

Principal Lin He glanced at Su Mu and spoke in a teasing tone.

“So beautiful!”

Principal Lin He quickly walked over to Leng Jing and gently smoothed out those few strands of stray hair.

Leng Jing's expression was a bit awkward; after all, she was only twenty-two years old.

“Just who did your hair? It's a mess.”

Her tone felt like a mother seeing a dry leaf stuck in her daughter's hair, gently picking it off while asking where she had been playing today.

“I think it's quite nice,” Leng Jing said, her voice lacking a bit of confidence.

Principal Lin He was slightly stunned, and then a smile crept onto her face.

She then slowly stepped back a few paces. “Everyone, sit down!”

The three of them sat down, but this time it was Leng Jing sitting opposite Principal Lin He, while Su Mu and Lin Ruoxi sat to the side.

“I, Lin He, have not taken a single disciple until now. I believe Su Mu should have told you why.”

Leng Jing nodded.

“Since you already know, I won't waste words. Once you enter my tutelage, there is no room for regret.”

“You still have a chance to back out. With an S-Rank Ability, any wood-attribute professor would be willing to take you as a disciple.”

Principal Lin He then crossed her legs and looked at Leng Jing with her beautiful eyes. Although she appeared calm on the surface, she was actually very afraid that Leng Jing would change her mind.

“Principal Lin! My ability is Rejuvenation of All Things.”