The educational district of Dingge is very large. It has seven high-rise buildings, forming a separate area. The city it is located in is called Santis, a tropical port city.

In many literary works, most of the beautiful love stories take place in Santis.

On the other hand, stories with backgrounds such as murder cases, spy cases, and palace dramas are mostly set in Wien.

Although both regions are located by the sea, they have completely opposite climate conditions.

If it weren't for knowing that this trip was for training, Karun really wanted to find a hotel now, lie down on a beach chair in the hotel area, and enjoy the sun.

However, as soon as they walked out of the educational building, a group of staff wearing ceremonial robes approached them:

"Hello, I am from the reception office. Here is my identification. Please hand over your identification for registration. I will arrange for you to check in at the training base."

Karun and the others handed over their identification.

After confirming, everyone got on the VIP car waiting there.

Karun had not taken off his mask. He didn't take it off because he forgot, and wearing a mask had become a habit for him.

Seeing that the captain hadn't taken off his mask, the teammates naturally didn't take theirs off either.

This made the reception staff feel a bit suppressed. Of course, they would not think that the team that could pass the final selection was a group of boring performance art enthusiasts.

The training base was more like a hotel, with the sea to the south and mountains and forests to the east.

The VIP car drove into the hotel and stopped directly at the hotel entrance. After Karun and the others got off the car, the reception office staff led them to quickly complete the check-in procedures.

Karun and his team took the elevator and arrived on the 23rd floor.

Karun had three room key cards in his hand. Karun and Mas were assigned to one room, Aisley and Blanche were assigned to another room, and Ventra and himself were assigned to one room.

"Everyone, take a rest first. I think there will be a gathering notice soon. If not, we will rest until morning."

"Yes, Captain."

"Yes, Captain."

Karun opened the door to his room, and Ventra brought both his and Karun's suitcases inside.

The room was spacious. Although it was a standard room, it had a two-story layout with a bedroom and bathroom on each floor.

"Captain, where will you sleep?"

"I'll sleep downstairs."

"Okay."

Ventra carried his suitcase upstairs. When he came back down, he saw Karun sitting on the sofa, looking at the hotel's food and beverage menu.

Hmm, the menu doesn't indicate the prices, which means this room is only for those on official business and has a budget.

Karun picked up the phone and dialed the front desk number, asking them to deliver cigarettes, alcohol, and snacks.

After doing all this, Karun felt like he had completed the basic task of checking into the hotel. He walked to the floor-to-ceiling window and looked at the blue sea across the street, stretching and yawning.

The hotel was very efficient, and the items were quickly delivered. A food and beverage cart contained drinks and food, with half of the food requiring coupons to purchase.

In addition, there were four cigarettes with black packaging and no price tags. Karun opened one and took out a pack, bringing the cigarette to his nose to smell it. Hmm, it was confirmed to be made from special tobacco leaves.

Food was not convenient to store, but cigarettes and alcohol could be directly taken to the black market for sale.

"Captain, how many coupons do these cost?"

"Staying at this hotel is free, and you can have them every day."

"Free?" Ventra smiled.

"You can have some."

"Okay, Captain. Hehe, I saw a lot of delicious food at the celebration banquet last time, but I didn't have a chance to eat much."

"Didn't you order food when you stayed at the Ankara Hotel last time?"

"No, can you also order food for free at the Ankara Hotel?"

"Yes, but the budget there is not as high as here. Here, they directly give you four cigarettes. It seems that the district where the church is located is more generous."

Of course, it's not necessarily because of this reason. It depends on the "treatment specifications."

In the past, when Karun stayed at a hotel as a personal security guard, the treatment and budget would definitely not be high. But this time, he was being received, so the treatment and budget would definitely be better.

"Captain, what would you like to drink?"

"Ice water."

"Okay."

Ventra poured a glass of ice water for Karun, then picked up a plate and went to the food cart to get some food.

Seeing his excited look, Karun couldn't help but smile. Last time, when he was selected for the final round, Ventra really starved himself in the Ankara Hotel room until the banquet.

But as one of the main characters, how could you have the opportunity to eat and drink freely at the banquet?

"So after the banquet, did you go home on an empty stomach?"

"Yes, after I got home, Grandma made macaroni. Grandpa and Grandma didn't eat enough either. They couldn't let loose at the banquet. But we were all very happy that night, hehe."

Karun took a sip of ice water and nodded.

"Oh, by the way, Captain, should I inform them that they can order free food and drinks?"

"They know, and they don't care about whether it's free or not."

Upon hearing this, Ventra scratched his head and said, "Right, that's true."

Aisley had a research institute background, while Bart, Blanche, and Mas had knight order backgrounds. Their family status was very high, and they wouldn't lack these things. They were even too lazy to take advantage of them.

Just like Richard, he could easily get over 10,000 in pocket money by asking his family members for a little.

On the other hand, Ventra's grandparents had always been low-level members of the church. Although they were all church servants, the monthly allowance for church servants was only 100 Order Coupons, and even with work subsidies, it wouldn't be much more.

And the cigarette in Karun's hand, conservatively estimated, each one cost more than 500 Order Coupons. With four of them, it was almost equivalent to Ventra's grandparents' annual allowance combined.

However, Ventra seemed to have never felt inferior about his family background. Even when interacting with his teammates, he wouldn't avoid these topics or show any envy or flattery.

Karun felt a bit embarrassed that he looked so similar to himself, because he didn't come from an "ordinary family background."

"Let's inform them and ask for food and cigarettes. We can use the cigarettes ourselves, and collect the rest to sell on the black market as our team's common fund."

"Alright, Captain."

Wentula immediately put down the food and went out to knock on the door.

Not long after, he came back. "Captain, they're all asking for food."

"Okay, you continue eating."

"Captain, aren't you going to eat?"

"I'm not hungry yet. I'll go lie down for a while. Call me if there's anything."

"Okay, Captain. Rest well."

Karun walked into the bedroom, lay down on the bed, closed his eyes, and started to rest.

After resting for about two hours, he heard the doorbell outside. Soon, Wentula knocked on the bedroom door.

"Captain, someone is looking for you. It's the captain of another team."

"Let him in."

Find the original at "pawread.com".

"Okay, Captain."

Karun got up from the bed, walked into the separate bathroom, washed his face, and saw a row of bottles and jars on the sink. He picked up a bottle and looked at it. It was mouthwash, so he used it casually.

Then, why did these things on the sink feel valuable?

Do hotel cleaning staff update them every day?

But would it be too much to take these things away as well?

Karun lightly tapped his forehead. Since becoming a captain, why did he become more and more like a "captain"?

When he walked out of the bedroom and arrived in the living room, Karun saw Murui standing there, and Karun was stunned.

Because he saw 12 cigarettes and 9 bottles of alcohol piled up on the coffee table!

Did those guys in the other rooms misunderstand? Why did they send them to me now? And who stacked them up like this, treating them as spoils of war?

Murui looked at the coffee table and asked, "Karun, do you like smoking and drinking?"

Karun shook his head and replied, "I'm collecting them to exchange for coupons on the black market after the training ends."

Wentula looked at his captain with admiration. He wouldn't avoid these things, but his captain faced them openly. The captain was on a higher level than himself.

Murui smiled and said, "Haha, why didn't I think of this way to earn pocket money? No, I have to call them now and ask them to do the same."

So, Murui really picked up the phone and called his team members' rooms, giving them instructions. After finishing, Murui put down the receiver and said to Karun, "I invite you to dinner, just the two of us. We are both team captains, and I think we should have a private conversation first."

"Okay, I agree. But there's food here, let's talk here to avoid wasting it."

"Oh, alright."

Wentula got up, cleaned up the coffee table, took out a few plates, and put some cold food from the food cart on them. He also poured two glasses of cold water and placed them on the coffee table.

"Captain, I'll go find Bart and the others."

"Okay."

After Wentula left, Karun and Murui sat face to face on the sofa.

Karun picked up his fork and started eating. It was almost lunchtime now, and he was indeed hungry.

Murui also picked up his fork and said, "The training this time won't be too long. It starts tonight, with the first class. There will be three classes in the next three days. The specific schedule hasn't been announced yet because the instructors are all busy people and need to communicate the class times themselves.

But overall, it can be divided into four categories: formations, close combat, group battles, and specific arrangements for the Gate of Reincarnation.

The course schedule will be sent to us later, but I already know in advance."

"What do the first three categories mean?" Karun asked.

"It means training. Do you think the first three categories of training are not relevant to our purpose this time?"

"Well, a little."

"This actually shows that the higher-ups value us a lot. Our mission is not just to go to the Gate of Reincarnation. From now on, we will be the focus of training. Since it's training, it won't be a quick and easy process."

"Yeah, that's true." Karun nodded, picked up his glass of water, took a sip, and said, "Will we be attending classes together?"

"Yes. One important reason why I came to you this time is that since the final selection determined that we would be in groups of six, after entering the Gate of Reincarnation, we will probably be divided into two smaller groups, each with its own objectives. The specific objectives and procedures will be explained in the last day's class, which is still unknown for now.

But the Gate of Reincarnation is very dangerous, and many people from the Reincarnation Sect have been lost inside. So my suggestion is that from now on, we should try to deepen the understanding and communication between the two teams, and help each other within the range of our own team's capabilities when we enter the Gate of Reincarnation. What do you think?"

"That's fine, I agree."

"Okay, now that we have reached this consensus, the rest is just minor matters."

"You don't have to come over specifically for this and make it so formal. We are already on the same side, and after entering the Gate of Reincarnation, we won't be able to join forces with the Reincarnation Sect or any other sect."

"I don't think you would refuse, but I still need to come over and show a certain attitude."

"Yeah, I understand."

The two of them started eating. At this moment, the doorbell rang.

Karun and Murui both got up. Karun smiled at Murui, gesturing for him to continue sitting, and walked to the door. Standing at the door was a young man with slightly long and elegant hair.

"Hello, my name is Pasio."

"Hello."

"Captain!" Pasio raised his glass to Murui.

"I'm discussing matters with Captain Karun."

"Oh, I see." Pasio walked away.

Karun closed the door and returned to sit in front of the sofa.

Murui said helplessly, "My team members are not easy to manage."

"We'll get along slowly."Murie shook his head and said, "Our problem is that we've been together for too long."

"Yes, that's also a problem."

After a simple meal, Murie stood up and said, "I won't disturb your rest. See you in class tonight."

"Alright, goodbye."

……

Dinner was still taken care of in the room. Apparently, the hosts had no plans to hold any welcome or "start of class" ceremony.

One reason was that the tutors were very busy, and the other was that almost half of the twelve people were from the Dingge region.

Knowing that there would be classes in the evening, everyone had a good rest in their rooms. They were all physically and mentally excellent young people, and no one suffered from jet lag.

The first class was held in the conference hall on the third floor of the hotel. Karun and Murie, as the team leaders, were notified to pick up the schedule and sign for confirmation.

After receiving the schedule, the two took the elevator to the third floor. At the entrance of the conference hall, Murie's team members were all leaning lazily against the wall, while on the opposite side, Karun's five people were standing in a straight line, the contrast was quite obvious.

Karun noticed a twitch at the corner of Murie's mouth.

Entering the conference hall, the podium was empty, and the tutor hadn't arrived yet.

Karun and Murie sat in a row, and the rest sat behind.

After a while, a white-bearded old man walked into the conference hall and came to the podium.

He first touched the microphone on the podium, then spoke into it:

"Hello, hello!"

Suddenly, a terrifying wave of sound hit directly.

Karun closed his eyes, his muscles tensed instantly, and Murie next to him did the same. Many people sitting behind let out a cry, mainly because they were caught off guard.

"Hehe, sorry, sorry." The white-bearded old man laughed, "I am your formation teacher, you can call me by my name - Pilo."

The people sitting below all stood up, ready to salute this tutor.

Pilo clapped his hands:

"Clap! Clap!"

The next moment, everyone who was originally sitting in the conference hall appeared on the beach, accompanied by a wave, everyone was soaked.

"Cough cough, sorry, the distance control was a little off, I didn't mean to wet your clothes." Pilo himself was also wet, squeezing water out of his white beard.

"Our course is only for the first half of tonight, you have to go back and rest in the second half, after all, there are classes tomorrow, so I don't plan to start from the basics of formation.

Because I know that some of you are quite proficient in formation, it's meaningless for you to listen to the basics, and for those who are not so proficient in formation, even if you understand the basics, it's not very useful, if the opponent is a very average formation master, I believe you can solve him in other ways.

So, I decided, tonight, I will take you to see the scenery.

Does anyone know when I set up the formation?"

Karun thought: When he said hello.

Pasiao, Digate, and Mars all raised their hands.

"You." Pilo pointed at Pasiao.

"Teacher, you used sound waves to set up the formation."

"Correct answer, truly top formation masters, when they use formations, can simplify complex formations into the simplest wind and rain, and put you in their control before you even notice."

Pilo spread his hands, and a bubble appeared beside him.

Seeing this, Karun immediately raised his hand and shouted, "Gather around me!"

Murie also immediately shouted, "Gather around me."

All members of the two teams gathered around their respective team leaders.

An "Order Cage" immediately appeared under Karun's feet, encompassing him and his teammates.

Murie pulled out a scroll, and the scroll released a black light, forming a light curtain that enveloped everyone.

The next moment, the environment around everyone suddenly changed, and they all appeared in the sea.

Pilo laughed, "It seems you guys react quickly, hello, hello."

The two "hellos" turned into waves, directly hitting the barriers of the two teams.

Karun immediately applied the second, third, and fourth Order Cages to reinforce.

Next to him, Murie continued to infuse spiritual power into the scroll to strengthen it.

Pilo spread his hands and pulled down.

"Buzz!"

The sea water below everyone quickly froze into a substantial giant cylinder, and the impact of the cold air instantly broke Karun's Order Cage and Murie's formation defense inside the scroll.

All twelve young people fell on the cylinder, which began to rise higher and higher, breaking the sea level and continuing to rise.

When it finally stopped, Karun saw the hotel not far away, which was now below and seemed particularly small.

Mars exclaimed, "Just casually setting up distance shortening, water system usage, and freezing condensation, these basic formations can trigger such a powerful effect. Is this the power of a real grand formation master?"

"Yes, but also no." Pilo smiled and looked at everyone, "Let me ask you, what do you think is the essence of formation?"

Mars said, "It's transformation!"

Pasiao said, "It's borrowing!"

Digate said, "It's circulation!"

Karun thought to himself: It's layout.

- From "Hofen's Formation Notes"

Pilo stroked his white beard,

and said:

"It's layout.

I once had a close yet distant friend who wrote to me, saying that I've always been adding, and it's time to learn to subtract.

I asked him, what is subtraction?

He gave an example, subtraction is when there is a mountain in front of you, you look up at it, you can't see the whole mountain, but as you keep retreating, the mountain will present itself more and more completely in front of you.

He also said, with my high realm and my understanding of formation that surpasses ordinary people, forcibly amplifying the formation, no matter how significant the effect, it's nothing.

"I have regarded the formation as the physique of a martial artist, the hammer of a blacksmith, the great sword of a swordsman, the falcon of a knight. It seems correct, yet I have strayed further and further from the right path.

The true formation is not about letting a bishop successfully seal a fierce beast.

Instead,

It is about letting a divine servant seal a deity!"

———

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