Swords Drawn

Dormitory Six.

Xiao Chenyu and the other lackeys exchanged bewildered looks as they left the dormitory.

"Boss said he won't be taking part in this Exchange Meeting. Could there be some deeper meaning behind it?"

Back in Dormitory Six, the lackeys all turned their eyes toward Xiao Chenyu.

This Exchange Meeting with Spirit Hall was clearly Boss Qin He's best chance to make a name for himself!

Could it be that Boss Qin He was afraid of Spirit Hall?

"What are you thinking? Do you really think Boss Qin He is afraid of Spirit Hall?"

Xiao Chenyu sneered.

"How naive. Boss Qin's meaning is obvious. He simply can't be bothered to make a move against a tiny Spirit Hall!"

As he spoke, Xiao Chenyu's eyes gleamed with fervor.

Boss Qin He was a man destined for great things. This so-called Spirit Hall competition was no more than children playing house. Why should he care?

Spirit Hall's temporary lodging area.

"Have you heard? Qin He announced that he won't be participating in the Exchange Meeting. He thinks we're too weak and unworthy of being his opponents?"

Anger flashed across Xie Yue's handsome face. He was clearly furious over the information he had gathered.

According to what he had heard, Qin He claimed that Notting Academy was filled with experts and could win without even taking the field.

But what was the reality?

Xie Yue had also spent some time walking around Notting Academy recently. Where were the experts in this lousy school? It was full of nothing but bratty kids and trash!

Qin He was comparing them to Notting Academy's trash. That was practically an insult to Spirit Hall!

"Xie Yue, why are you getting so worked up?"

"It's nothing more than Psychological Warfare. As long as we defeat the others, do you think Qin He won't show himself?"

Beside him, Hu Liena's delicate brows curved like autumn waters. A faint, alluring charm flowed from her every gesture.

"So that's how it is! Qin He looks so honest and upright, but he's actually this insidious!"

Xie Yue suddenly understood.

Damn it, your Heaven Dou Empire keeps calling Spirit Hall villains, but even we villains aren't as rotten-hearted as you!

Before the Exchange Meeting had even begun, he was already using tactics. If Hu Liena had not reminded him, he would have nearly been provoked into anger and affected the upcoming fights!

"No wonder our bishop and teachers take him so seriously. Qin He really is terrifying!"

Hu Liena, whose face had always carried a bewitching smile, turned serious as well.

Her martial soul, the Bewitching Heart Fox, possessed a talent for enchantment. At its core, it was a means of manipulating people's hearts.

Yet Qin He clearly did not possess any relevant martial soul talent, but when it came to manipulating people's hearts, he was even more adept than a fox like her!

As expected, coming to Notting Academy has allowed me to learn many things from that man.

Hu Liena thought to herself.

Dorm Seven.

"Qin He isn't participating in the Exchange Meeting?"

Upon hearing this news, a trace of joy rose in Tang San's heart.

"Yes, Boss. Young Master Qin He said he couldn't be bothered to take part in this kind of competition!"

Wang Sheng, Dorm Seven's former boss, added from the side, his expression carrying faint admiration.

Spirit Hall was such a powerful force!

They could tell from afar just how powerful Spirit Hall's students were!

Yet Young Master Qin He had not taken them seriously at all!

"Couldn't be bothered to participate? Damn it..."

Tang San's mouth twitched involuntarily upon hearing Wang Sheng's words.

This felt awful!

It felt like he had been outdone again!

Although Tang San's strength had improved greatly during this time, and he had hunted a Century Spirit Beast, the Mandala Snake, breaking through to become a Level 15 Soul Master—

Qin He had not gone to the Heaven Dou Great Forest and was still only a Level 10 Soul Master.

Yet his previous defeat still hung over him like a shadow.

Tang San did not think he had much chance of competing with Qin He!

For this Exchange Meeting, the academy had offered enormous rewards. For every Spirit Hall student defeated, there would be a reward of a full thousand Gold Soul Coins!

As a poor work-study student, he felt that his opportunity to make money had arrived!

"Haha, it seems Qin He is nothing special after all. He's afraid of Spirit Hall, but I, Tang San, am not!"

"Once I defeat Spirit Hall's so-called Golden Generation, I'll go challenge Qin He!"

Tang San declared confidently.

Within Spirit Hall's entourage.

A white-haired old man dressed in plain hemp clothing stood with an imposing bearing, his sharp gaze like a blade.

"Qin He actually has no intention of participating in the Exchange Meeting? Then didn't I, Salas, come here for nothing?"

Salas muttered to himself, his brows twisting into a deep frown.

"Lord Bishop, you... why are you here?"

The knight commander spotted Salas and was first startled, then filled with disbelief.

Bishop Salas was a Titled Douluo. For someone like him to appear in a small place like Notting City was unbelievable!

There were pitifully few Titled Douluo on the entire Douluo Continent. Even within the talent-filled Spirit Hall, Salas held an extremely high position.

Besides, hadn't Salas said in the church before that there was no need to take Qin He seriously?

"Ahem, don't make a fuss!"

Salas coughed awkwardly, his expression extremely unpleasant.

It was impossible for Salas not to be curious about Qin He.

However, as a bishop of Spirit Hall, if he had come to Notting City openly and with great fanfare, the entire Heaven Dou Empire would undoubtedly have been shaken!

That was why he had chosen to conceal his identity among the entourage. On one hand, he was there to protect Spirit Hall's Golden Generation. On the other, he wanted to secretly observe just how much strength Qin He had hidden.

But he had not expected the knight commander to recognize him.

Had he known this would happen, Salas should have adopted a more secretive identity.

"I see!"

The knight commander awkwardly waved his hand before hurrying away.

Though he was called a knight commander, a title that sounded impressive, he was really just a bodyguard. His status was far too inferior compared to that of a bishop.

This Qin He truly was not simple!

Not only had he caused Spirit Hall's exchange delegation to change its destination, but even the Platinum Bishop had personally come to observe...

Were Spirit Hall's higher-ups really paying this much attention to a six-year-old child?

Notting Academy.

The morning sunlight was brilliant beneath a cloudless sky.

On the square, Spirit Hall occupied one side with great fanfare.

At the forefront stood the seven members of the Golden Generation, led by Hu Liena. None of them were older than twelve, yet all had reached above Level 15 and were close to reaching Level 20 and becoming Great Soul Masters.

On the other side stood Notting Academy's exchange team, which was far inferior by comparison.

They were students Notting Academy had hastily scraped together. There was even a Level 20 upperclassman who looked nearly thirty years old.

Yet even though they were older and had slightly higher Soul Power levels, they did not hold much of an advantage.

Martial soul battles were not determined by level alone. The quality of one's martial soul was also extremely important.

Among Spirit Hall's Golden Generation, quite a few Great Soul Master-level experts had already fallen to their hands. Not to mention these Notting Academy students, who were not even Great Soul Masters.

"Honored guests who have traveled from afar, students, I am Zhao Chong, the Notting Academy Principal..."

On the platform, the Notting Academy Principal wore a solemn expression. After introducing Spirit Hall's exchange delegation, he spouted some meaningless words about friendship coming first and competition second, then announced the start of the Exchange Meeting.

The students below all had excitement shining in their eyes as they loudly shouted words of encouragement.

"I am Ling Ri, a Level 15 Soul Master. My martial soul is the Golden Crow! I ask the students of Notting Academy for your guidance!"

At the same time, among Spirit Hall's seven Golden Generation members, a black-haired boy of around twelve stepped forward.