Over the next few days, Ian Song relied on his three Phantom true bodies to cut down all opponents in his path without even drawing his sword. After a month, his rank on the Qi-Refining Ranking had reached 400.
This was absolutely the fastest ascent in Sanctum Martial Academy's history.
At this point, Ian's reputation among low-level students was universal; even many mid- and high-level students knew his name because they practiced Drifting Dragon Steps and Phantom Bird Shadow, and thus learned of him.
However, just then, a piece of news arrived that completely overshadowed Ian's limelight.
After a month of seclusion, Henry Ji successfully broke through to Grandmaster and condensed a domain. His newly formed domain already covered an eight-meter radius, clearly showing that his foundation at the ninth layer of Qi-Refining was incredibly deep.
To have a domain that could cover eight meters right after condensing it meant he had a real chance of upgrading it to earth-grade while still at the Grandmaster stage.
Once a Grandmaster condenses an earth-grade domain, their combat power is absolutely at the pinnacle among Grandmasters.
For this, the academy issued a reward, with the largest being a grant of 300,000 contribution points.
With his promotion to Grandmaster, Henry Ji could now become a mid-level student—his future prospects were limitless.
As a result, countless people sent invitations, all waiting for Henry Ji to attend their banquets. If they didn't try to curry favor now, when would they?
But Henry Ji did not become complacent after advancing to Grandmaster. He declined all invitations and plunged straight into the Scripture Pavilion, an action that greatly pleased the academy leadership.
Ten days later, Henry Ji emerged from the Scripture Pavilion and officially registered as a mid-level student.
Meanwhile, Ian Song's position on the Qi-Refining Ranking rose by another fifty places, now standing at rank 350.
"Junior Huang, we're planning to form a team for training. Are you interested?"
On this day, Yoon Zhengyang, Eric Zhou, Ian Tian, Howard Changsun, and others came together to visit.
Ian considered for a moment and nodded in agreement. Ever since entering the academy, he had kept the Golden Howler sealed inside the Divine Temple, mainly worried that its ferocity might harm others.
Now that they were heading out for training, he could finally let it stretch its legs.
The training party numbered thirteen. Besides the nine companions who had traveled with Ian to Sanctum Martial Academy, his ardent fangirl Winnie Shentu joined, along with friendly seniors Celine Murong and Benson Bai.
Holy Spirit Island was vast. Apart from the city protected by formation arrays, most regions were desolate, making them perfect homes for amphibious sea demonic beasts.
At the same time, these areas served as ideal training grounds for academy students.
After a day spent preparing, the freshman-based team set out at dawn the next morning.
Advanced-student district.
Liamson Liang was practicing swordplay when his trusted retainer hurried over to report, "Young master, Leon Huang has joined a training party and left the academy with a group of freshmen."
"I'll leave this matter to you. Make sure you handle it cleanly—no loose ends. Ideally, let him die at the jaws of a sea demonic beast," Liamson said coolly, though a flash of murderous intent flickered in his eyes. Leon's donation of two top manuals had earned him favor with the academy leadership, so Liamson dared not act openly on campus, which left him frustrated.
"Rest assured, young master! This old servant will handle everything perfectly—no one will have anything to say!" the retainer replied confidently.
Elsewhere in the advanced-student district, inside another courtyard.
The green-clothed girl drifted in and reported to a pure-looking girl in a white dress, "Princess, Leon Huang has left the academy with a group of freshmen to train. Liamson Liang surely won't miss this chance."
The girl smiled lightly and nodded. "Liamson Liang is vindictive, and his younger brother was forced to the border army because of Leon. He definitely won't let Leon off, but he's proud and unlikely to dirty his own hands. You go personally, take Jade and Mandy with you, but make sure to time it right—wait until Leon is on the verge of despair before you intervene and save him. That way, he'll owe us a huge favor."
"Princess, you're truly wise," the green-clothed girl praised.
"Go on!"
The girl in white waved her hand, and the green-clothed girl bowed and withdrew.
The training party left the city and headed west.
Within a thousand li around the academy, experts regularly cleared out sea demonic beasts and law enforcement teams patrolled, making the entire area a designated safe zone.
Everyone was a young genius from a major sect, so each carried a Storage Ring. All their supplies were packed inside, allowing them to travel light.
The horses they rode were all top-grade—worth five hundred silver taels each and able to travel a thousand li per day. The plan was to camp at the edge of the safe zone tonight and enter the hunting grounds tomorrow.
Originally, Ian intended to release the Golden Howler as soon as they left the city.
But he sensed two separate groups trailing them.
One was a lone black-clad elder, moving swiftly and skilled in concealment and tracking, following several li behind. The other was a trio of women, one of whom Ian recognized—the green-clothed girl he’d met twice before. She was no weakling, having reached mid-stage Grandmaster, and her two companions, both in blue, were also mid-stage Grandmasters.
The three women followed several li behind the black-clad elder—a classic case of the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.
Realizing both groups were present, Ian decided to keep the Golden Howler as a hidden trump card and wouldn’t let it out unless absolutely necessary.
Since they were still in the safe zone, Ian wasn’t worried about either group making a move, so he relaxed and enjoyed the scenery along the way.
By dusk, the team reached the edge of the safe zone and set up camp against a small hill.
The camp was arranged in two rings: the boys’ tents on the outside, and the five girls’ tents protected within.
Everyone had enough cooked food in their Storage Rings to last a month, but nostalgia for Ian’s barbecue was stronger. No one wanted rations—they all insisted Ian do the grilling.
Ian didn’t refuse. He sent Yoon Zhengyang and the others to catch a few first-tier sea demonic beasts.
In less than half an hour, mouthwatering aromas wafted from the camp into the surrounding countryside.
Smelling the food, the black-clad elder couldn’t help but swallow his saliva. He muttered viciously, "Eat, eat your fill. You’ll be well-fed for the road ahead!"
At the same time, the aroma reached the three trailing women.
The three girls, gnawing on dry rations, suddenly found their food hard to swallow. The green-clothed girl complained bitterly, "Damn you, Leon Huang! I’m out here ‘drinking wind and chewing dry bread’ to protect you, while you feast by the fire. It’s so unfair!"
Ian, observing the expressions of both the black-clad elder and the three girls with his spiritual sense, felt a surge of mischievous humor. He deliberately took out several bottles of spirit wine from his Storage Ring.
Soon, everyone was drinking spirit wine and eating barbecue, enjoying themselves to the fullest—while the green-clothed girl, hidden in the shadows, fumed with frustration.
After the feast, Ian pulled a guitar from his Storage Ring and strummed the strings. Playing up his role as the group’s charismatic center, he announced loudly, "The night is long and no one’s sleepy. How about I sing a few songs for everyone?"