Chapter 43: The Exchange Conference of the Five Great Elemental Academies

"An enemy defeated by my hands is never worthy of being called my rival. I give you time to catch up, until you can no longer even see my back."

After a brief, dramatic display of youthful bravado, Mo Hui paid no more attention to Feng Xiaotian and continued on his way toward the Gale Canyon.

Left standing in place, Feng Xiaotian was stunned by these words, unable to snap out of his daze for a long time.

After who knows how long, Feng Xiaotian finally recovered. A bitter smile appeared on his face as he muttered, "So, is this the real you?"

From Mo Hui's previous words, Feng Xiaotian seemed to see a genius who stood alone across the ages and swept through an entire era. That kind of self-confidence, that invincible conviction, was something he could never hope to match.

"But..."

At that moment, Feng Xiaotian suddenly took a deep breath, his gaze turning resolute. "I am a genius born with full soul power! I won't lose to you!"

With that, Feng Xiaotian resolutely ran in the direction of the Gale Canyon.

He had already wasted too much time. If he wanted to make up for lost progress, he had to work harder than ever before!

***

Time flowed like water. Half a year passed in the blink of an eye. Mo Hui had now been on the Douluo Continent for twelve years.

In the core area of the Gale Canyon, right at the center of countless violent storms, Mo Hui sat cross-legged. The surrounding gales and tiny wind blades turned into pale cyan wind-attribute energy the moment they touched within a one-meter radius of him, being continuously absorbed by his body.

Beside him, Pidgeotto was resting on the ground.

The wind force in the core area of the Gale Canyon was formidable; even Pidgeotto could not fly within the storm for long periods, so it frequently retreated to the protective perimeter of the Wind-Calming Orb to rest.

"Pidge~"

Suddenly, Pidgeotto looked up at the sun overhead and let out a cry to Mo Hui beside it.

Sensing Pidgeotto's call, Mo Hui quickly halted his cultivation and opened his eyes.

Following that, Mo Hui smiled and patted Pidgeotto on the head. "Pidgeotto, is it time already?"

"Pidge~"

Pidgeotto nodded, indicating that it was time for the teaching session agreed upon with Mo Hui.

In truth, given the level of tacit understanding between Mo Hui and Pidgeotto now, they could instantly understand each other's intentions without a single word. However, when they were not in combat, Mo Hui still preferred to speak out loud to Pidgeotto.

After all, such a long and monotonous cultivation process was simply too boring. If he didn't speak, Mo Hui feared he might gradually lose his ability to use human language.

"Then let's go, and on the way, I'll treat you to your favorite wind-bug feast."

Mo Hui stroked Pidgeotto's head once more, stood up, and walked out toward the exterior of the Gale Canyon.

After walking for a short while, Mo Hui spotted Feng Xiaotian, who had also finished his meditation and was preparing to leave.

Feng Xiaotian saw Mo Hui as well, but lacking the protection of the Wind-Calming Orb, his eyes were almost blown shut by the canyon's howling winds, making him look rather comical.

Ever since his conversation with Mo Hui that day, Feng Xiaotian had become vastly more diligent. He had also come to cultivate in the core area of the Gale Canyon. In just half a year, his soul power rank had reached close to level 43, his cultivation speed not falling too far behind Mo Hui's.

As a side note, through this half-year of cultivation, Mo Hui's soul power had risen from just over thirty percent of level 31 to the current level 34, a jump of more than two and a half levels.

A moment later, Feng Xiaotian spoke up first, "Mo Hui, you're done with cultivation? Are you heading to the academy's backyard training ground to teach?"

Mo Hui nodded, though inwardly he found it somewhat strange. Wasn't that a matter of course? Why would Feng Xiaotian bring it up?

"Then you might be disappointed. Tomorrow is the Five Elements Academies' exchange tournament, and this time the host is none other than the Kamikaze Academy. Almost all the teachers and students in the academy are busy preparing for it, so your class will probably have to be postponed for now," Feng Xiaotian replied.

"The Five Elements Academies Exchange Tournament?"

Feng Xiaotian's words caught Mo Hui slightly off guard. He had almost forgotten about this event.

The five major elemental academies had always maintained close ties, and thus they held a joint exchange tournament once every three years.

The last exchange had taken place at Blazing Academy, and it was back then that Feng Xiaotian had first laid eyes on Huo Wu and fallen in love with her at first sight.

"Then I'll go find the headmaster and see how this can be resolved."

With that, Mo Hui turned to seek out Feng Qingcang.

However, Feng Xiaotian grabbed Mo Hui, throwing an arm around his shoulder. "Are you really that clueless, or just pretending? Why are you still worrying about such trivial things at a time like this? Didn't you realize the main point of all this?"

Mo Hui brushed Feng Xiaotian's arm away with a wave of his hand and asked in confusion, "The main point? What main point?"

At the same time, Mo Hui muttered inwardly: Could it be about this joint tournament of the five elemental academies? Was there some hidden insider information he wasn't aware of?

Thinking this, Mo Hui immediately looked at Feng Xiaotian, falling silent to await his next words.

"I can tell you completely don't get it!"

Seeing this reaction, Feng Xiaotian helplessly slapped his forehead and said with a near-frantic tone, "Girls, man, girls! The Five Elements Academies Exchange Tournament isn't just a time for the five academies to showcase their strength; it's also a stage for students like us to shine. Once we perform well during this period, we'll catch the attention of female students from the other academies, especially the ones from Water Academy—almost all of them are graceful beauties. If you can win their favor, your lucky star has truly arrived, kid!"

Following that, as if suddenly remembering something, Feng Xiaotian cast a wary glance at Mo Hui and added, "As a side note, Huo Wu from Blazing Academy is mine! You are strictly forbidden from trying to steal her!"

"..."

Mo Hui's mouth twitched. He had thought it was some matter of great importance, and it turned out to be just this?

Instantly, Mo Hui couldn't help but shake his head inwardly. Feng Xiaotian was beyond saving; even the gods couldn't rescue him now.

Second soul skill: Quick Attack!

Without hesitation, Mo Hui's second soul ring lit up, and his figure transformed into a streak of cyan light, leaving the spot instantly. He didn't want to waste another single word on Feng Xiaotian.

"Pidge~"

After Mo Hui departed, Pidgeotto looked at Feng Xiaotian with a speechless expression, shook its head, and then turned into a cyan flash to follow after Mo Hui.

Pidgeotto's speed was much faster than Mo Hui's, so it quickly caught up with him, and together they left the Gale Canyon far behind.

Left all alone in place, Feng Xiaotian scratched his head in bewilderment. "What's wrong with Mo Hui? Isn't an event like this important?"

A moment later, Feng Xiaotian's eyes lit up as if he had realized something.

"I know! Mo Hui must have been so excited upon hearing that beauties are coming that he rushed back to get ready!"

Saying this, he looked down at his own disheveled appearance, battered by the wind for days. "No, I need to hurry back and dress up properly too!"

With that, Feng Xiaotian hurried out of the Gale Canyon, looking rather anxious.

Fortunately, Mo Hui had left early and didn't hear Feng Xiaotian's remarks; otherwise, he probably would have wanted to "spar" with Feng Xiaotian once more.