Clashing with Qin Ming

Liu Ze and Qin Ming arrived at the back mountain. Looking at the seven young men and women before them, Liu Ze nodded in satisfaction. Dugu Chen truly put people at ease; he had not chosen his teammates carelessly.

Clap!!!

He clapped his hands, drawing everyone's attention, then said, "Students, Dugu Chen has presumably already told you about the matter. The fact that you're here means you've agreed to fight for the Empire. I'm your team leader and teacher, and this is Assistant Teacher Qin Ming. Over the next few years, I hope we'll get along well and bring glory to the Empire at the Soul Master Tournament."

Listening to Teacher Liu Ze's impassioned speech, Dugu Chen and the others nodded obligingly. As the homeroom teacher of Class One, Liu Ze was quite popular. Everyone respected him.

"To better understand you, Assistant Teacher Qin Ming and I need to know your current ranks so that we can arrange your training."

Liu Ze normally did not know their ranks. He had only learned about them when they had first enrolled.

The seven exchanged glances, then all turned their eyes toward Dugu Chen.

"Dugu Chen, Rank 49, Power Attack System Battle Soul Master."

"Dugu Yan, Rank 53, Control System Battle Soul Master."

"Oscar, Rank 39, Food System Soul Master."

"Shi Mo, Shi Mo, Rank 37 and Rank 36, Defense System Battle Soul Masters."

"Ye Lingling, Rank 34, Healing System Soul Master."

"Ning Rongrong, Rank 25, Support System Soul Master."

After learning everyone's ranks, Liu Ze was still shocked despite having anticipated it somewhat. Qin Ming, standing beside him, had long since gone wide-eyed.

The talents of the latter few were still within the bounds of his understanding, but the talent of Dugu Chen's group of three made even someone like him, who had been called a genius since childhood, feel ashamed.

Recovering himself, Liu Ze said excitedly, "Excellent! The championship of the next Soul Master Tournament will definitely belong to our Heaven Dou Empire."

At that moment, Liu Ze only wanted to sincerely thank the Three Education Commissioners. As long as Heaven Dou Academy won this Continental Soul Master Tournament, he, as the team leader, would also become renowned across the continent and earn Emperor Xue Ye's appreciation.

And after learning of Dugu Chen and the others' strength, it was like having food delivered right to his mouth. All he had to do was eat.

This was blatant grooming! Perhaps he might even become the next Education Commissioner.

At that moment, Qin Ming raised a question. "Teacher Liu Ze, aren't there too many support-system Soul Masters on our team? And the team has no agility-system Soul Master. This doesn't fit the composition of an outstanding team."

Upon hearing Qin Ming's words, Oscar and the others became somewhat displeased with him. After more than a year together, they had already forged deep friendships. Was he doubting their strength?

Dugu Chen said calmly, "Assistant Teacher Qin Ming, you think our team composition is unreasonable, is that right?"

Qin Ming also realized that his single remark had offended everyone. Yet years of study had convinced him that what the academy taught was correct.

"That's right. A strong attack, agility, control, support, and defense system Soul Master are all indispensable to an outstanding team. You may be strong, but you are still missing part of what makes an outstanding group."

Liu Ze merely watched quietly as Dugu Chen and the others resolved the issue themselves. Since he had decided to cling to their coattails, he needed to make sure the people he relied on were comfortable within the team. Qin Ming had already offended them, so Liu Ze would not speak up for him.

He understood very well what task the academy had assigned him: to handle their daily affairs. Dugu Chen and the others could not be replaced, but there were plenty of team leaders at the academy.

Seeing the silent Liu Ze, Dugu Chen knew that he would not interfere. He said to Qin Ming, "As long as we can win, then I can call us the finest team. Since Assistant Teacher Qin Ming has a different opinion, please enlighten us."

Hearing Dugu Chen's words, Oscar and the others spoke to Qin Ming in unison.

"Please enlighten us, Assistant Teacher Qin Ming."

Qin Ming was in a difficult position as well. After a moment, however, he firmed his resolve. If he wanted to properly help them, he first had to let them know their weaknesses. Only then could they improve.

He had once been a student himself and knew that strength was the only thing capable of truly convincing people.

"Qin Ming, Rank 61 Power Attack System Battle Soul Emperor."

"Martial Soul Possession—"

Bursts of light flashed as Soul Rings appeared one after another across the field, creating a spectacular sight.

Qin Ming's Martial Soul, the Blazing Fire Wolf, was a mutated Martial Soul like Feng Xiaotian's, whom Dugu Chen had fought before. It belonged to the category of high-grade Martial Souls.

Dugu Chen and the others immediately took up formation.

Dugu Yan stood at the very front, with Shi Mo and Shi Mo positioned on either flank. Dugu Chen stood in the center, while the three support-system Soul Masters stood behind him.

This time, Dugu Chen was only there as a safeguard. Dugu Yan and the other two were the main attackers, and this would also let Dugu Yan familiarize herself with her new Soul Skill.

Oscar immediately tossed out three sausages, accurately sending them into the hands of Dugu Yan and the other two. At the same time, he took a fine steel longsword from his Soul Tool. This sword had been forged by the master craftsman Lou Gao and was of extraordinary quality. Even ordinary Defense System Soul Ancestors could not withstand its sharpness.

Oscar then guarded Ning Rongrong and Ye Lingling from behind. After a year of training, though his strength still could not be called formidable, with the sword in his hand, he could still hold his own against ordinary Soul Grandmasters.

"Seven Treasures have their name: first, Strength; second, Speed." Two yellow Soul Rings rose as six streams of colored light shot out at once, separately enveloping the three of them.

Simultaneously boosting one Soul King and two Soul Elders placed a considerable burden on Ning Rongrong, who was still only a Soul Grandmaster. After releasing her Soul Skill, she ate a sausage made by Oscar's First Soul Skill, restoring the Soul Power within her body.

At once, warm energy surged through their limbs and bones. The three immediately felt their entire bodies fill with power, while even the Soul Power within them seemed to boil as it surged forth.

After eating Oscar's sausages, the three felt their bodies grow even lighter. They charged toward Qin Ming at tremendous speed.

Sensing the aura of the three, Qin Ming did not dare underestimate them. One of them was a Soul King, enough to injure him.

"First Soul Skill, Blazing Fire Wolf Transformation!"

"Third Soul Skill, Crimson Fire Wolf Armor!"

After using two Soul Skills in succession, Qin Ming's attack power, defense, and strength were all greatly enhanced.

In this state, even a casual strike from Qin Ming could severely injure a Soul Elder.

As Qin Ming unleashed his Soul Skills, the two Soul Rings beneath Dugu Yan's feet lit up at the same time.

First Soul Skill: Jade Phosphor Red Poison—Excitement Poison: Stimulates the nerves, increasing attack power and speed by 20%.

Third Soul Skill: Jade Phosphor Heavenly Gang Shield—Covers the user in a protective shield, increasing defense by 100%.

A cloud of red poisonous mist enveloped the three of them, boosting their speed once more.

Blazing Claw.

Facing Qin Ming at full power, the heavily enhanced Shi Brothers immediately activated their first and second Soul Skills as well. Two shields appeared in their hands, layered together as they met Qin Ming's attack head-on.

After unleashing his first three Soul Skills, the flames on Qin Ming's right hand had turned far deeper in color. Judging from the distortion in the air around it, the power of those flames was no doubt formidable.

Boom!

Qin Ming's flame-wreathed right hand collided violently with the Shi Brothers' shields.

The successive enhancements had pushed their defense close to that of a Soul King. Together, they blocked Qin Ming's strike.