Chapter 23 - Imperial Guard Training (2)

"Yes. Mei, you are my biggest worry. You must control the urge to feed on souls," Guo Li said. "Remember the chants and incantations I taught you. At any sign of the eyeball stirring, immediately stop what you are doing and do as I instructed."

"Awesome! Boot camp to get stronger! I can definitely reach Elemental Adept under this training. Let's go!" Lin said, being the first to run home to pack his things.

"Red Shadow, tell my snakes to stick to the protocol. Bring Red Death to me," Yang commanded. The large snake hissed and left to carry out its orders but paused as Yang changed his mind. "Wait, leave Red Death. Bring Shadow Fang and Moon Scale to me."

"Shadow Fang, I know, but who's Moon Scale?" Lin asked. "Why them?"

"A newborn hydra. I have been feeding it experimental drugs, and it is already at the second stage," Yang grinned. "I have many hydras now. Some died while others are not yet ready to be revealed."

"That is the real reason you wanted space for the house! They gave birth, and you have been hiding them!" Guo Jing exclaimed.

"Hey now, nothing wrong with building a snake horde. The five I have are powerful, mind you, but the numbers are lacking. Shadow Fang was the one who gave birth and will feed milk to Moon Scale," Yang explained. "Moon Scale is small but has an extremely high affinity for ice. Its skin is vastly superior to its mother’s."

"Skin?" Mei frowned.

"What? You think hydras have scales? They're not exactly pure-blooded snakes. Oh, you never visited the poisonous garden, so you’ve never seen them. Well, I'll go get packed," Yang said and left.

"Well, the eight of you have gathered here today because you are the top eight this academy has to offer," Guan Hai said as everyone assembled. "Now, state your name, school rank, and cultivation."

"Sun Yi, rank 8, middle Spirit Forming Stage. I have a single wind attribute," a boy with glasses said as he stepped up first.

"Sun Yi? You're ranked eighth?" Mei gasped as she and Lin looked at him.

"Fortunately, Guo Lin knocked me out after he blasted four of my classmates at once. I barely managed to retain consciousness before fainting as I heard the teacher say my name and rank," Yi grinned.

"Sima Qing, peak Spirit Forming Stage, ranked 7, and my attributes are water and wind," a girl said, her long brown hair tied in a braid at her back, with bright green eyes.

"As strong as me?" Lin frowned.

"So she is a member of the Shen Clan," Yang thought. "Princess, maybe; possibly a daughter between the emperor and a concubine if she is the same age as Shen Dong."

"I was knocked out by Shen Dong in a surprise attack after the other classes were defeated," she explained.

"Surprise attack indeed," Yang muttered, and Guan Hai and Shen Dong's eyes narrowed as they realized Yang had discovered the truth.

"Lu Jing, initial Spirit Forming Stage, and ranked 6. I have a single fire attribute," Jing said, glaring at Yang as if he imagined he could kill him. Yang smirked and released killing intent, making Jing pale with fear and step back a few feet.

"You're the weakest, and you only got the sixth rank because of me. Of course, an accident can occur and incapacitate you, thereby replacing you with someone else. You never really know. Lots of... accidents... happen," Yang grinned malevolently.

"Guo Mei, rank 5, and late Spirit Forming Stage. My attributes are darkness and lightning," Mei said, turning to Yang. "Don't scare him."

"You control your hunger, and I'll cut back on my... advice," Yang replied.

"Shen Hua, rank 4, and initial Elemental Adept Stage. My dual attributes are light and darkness," Hua said, stunning Mei and Lin.

"It's possible for someone to have both those attributes and not die?" Lin cried. "As expected of the imperial clan. No doubt, you used some methods to survive and continue your cultivation."

"Let's not waste time," Guan Hai said.

"Uh, right. I am Guo Lin, rank 3, and at the peak Spirit Forming Stage. My attributes are earth, water, wind, and fire," Guo Lin said.

"So you are the rumored son of the Guo Clan with four elements," Lu Jing remarked, obviously one of the transfer students.

"Shen Dong, rank 2, and middle Elemental Adept Stage," Shen Dong said, surprising everyone except Guan Hai, Shen Hua, and Yang. "My attributes are fire and lightning."

"Guo Yang, rank 1, and middle Elemental Adept Stage," Guo Yang said. "My triple attributes are water, earth, and light. I am a poison cultivator, so you don't want to come in contact with my spirit energy either."

"You advanced?" Lin and Mei cried.

"Forbidden techniques have their advantages. The stimulation of spirit energy sometimes allows you to keep part of that power inside you," Yang grinned. "Creating spirit armor... it obviously has rewards to come with its risks and penalties. Once I become an Earth Mortal at the fifth level of cultivation, there won't be a risk anymore."

"How did you learn such a technique? Could we learn it?" Sun Yi asked.

"It is a poison cultivation technique called the Forbidden Sky Poison Armor Art," Yang denied. "By the way, I don't see that phoenix anywhere. Is it still croaking, er, chirping?"

"Yes. It won't be able to fly for a while since some of its feathers were destroyed," Shen Dong said. "I think it's best not to summon it near you. No offense, but I can’t stop you by myself."

"Sometimes anger and hatred lead to irrationality. I apologize for attacking you," Yang said, addressing Shen Hua and Lin.

"Uh, I suppose I can accept that," Lin said, surprised.

"Do you have something against avian magical beasts?" Shen Dong asked.

"See those black and white hydras back there? Those are just two snakes from my snake horde. I like to think of myself as their master, lord, guardian, and breeder. They hate birds as I do. I don't have to make them my magical beasts, so while I don't gain any benefits of added spiritual energy or elements, nothing happens to me if they die," Yang grinned as he rubbed his hands. "I think it's best for all of us not to see a bird anytime soon."

"Uh, not possible," Mei said as she pointed back. "Granny's phoenix is watching us... or you."

"That old crone. Interfering and messing with me," Yang thought darkly as he saw a bright red phoenix.

"We're under orders to help Yang with his... anger management issues," Mei grinned evilly. "I told the phoenix where we would be training before I left."

"I'll get you for this," Yang growled. "Trust me. You won't see it coming and will regret doing that."

"Don't worry. That phoenix will help me in case my hunger can't be sated," she smiled back.

"I just love being the middle triplet. The entertainment is killer," Lin sighed to the other five and Guan Hai. "So, what do we do now?"