Invited Again

"Phew, we finally got out of that damned place!" The moment they emerged from the Star Dou Great Forest, Osler stretched and shouted at the sky.

"Don't suddenly go crazy." Yu Feng smacked Osler on the back from behind.

"Hehe, I was just getting stir-crazy in the Star Dou Great Forest." Osler scratched the back of his head. "Teacher Qin Ming said he wanted to train us, so he protected us from the shadows while we handled all the big and small troubles ourselves. It was exhausting and nerve-racking."

"What? Does student Osler have some objection to my teaching methods?" Qin Ming wore a gentle smile, yet it made Osler shudder. "Ordinarily speaking, Little Brother Lang Lei's presence has already reduced quite a bit of pressure for you. Judging by your performances, some of you may fail this test, you know~"

"Huh?"

"Thank you all for bringing me out of the Star Dou Great Forest," Lang Lei suddenly said. "Now that our goal has been achieved, there is no reason for us to continue traveling together. Let us part ways here."

With that, Lang Lei took Griseo's little hand and prepared to leave.

"Little Brother Lang Lei, please wait!" Qin Ming hurriedly stopped lecturing the Imperial Dou Team and called out to Lang Lei.

"Hmm? Is there something else, Senior Qin Ming?" Lang Lei turned back at Qin Ming in confusion.

"After spending these past two days together, it is not difficult to see that Little Brother Lang Lei has never joined any Soul Master Academy, correct?" Qin Ming asked.

"Hm? What makes you say that?" Lang Lei looked at Qin Ming in confusion. He had never mentioned that, had he? He had barely spoken along the way...

"It was not something Little Brother Lang Lei let slip, nor was it Little Sister Griseo." Qin Ming quickly waved his hands. "I inferred it from Little Brother Lang Lei's actions."

"In what respect?" Lang Lei nodded and asked.

"Your knowledge of spirit beasts." Qin Ming did not beat around the bush. "Soul Master Academies generally teach students how to deal with different kinds of spirit beasts and their weaknesses, but Little Brother Lang Lei, you..."

"You just brute-force everything!" Yu Tianheng cut in.

"Aren't Assault System Battle Soul Masters all like that?" Lang Lei looked at Yu Tianheng.

"..." Yu Tianheng fell silent. He seemed to be an Assault System Battle Soul Master too.

"Although everyone has different roles in a team, if you can defeat an opponent at the smallest possible cost, then you should still make the proper choices." Qin Ming hurriedly interrupted Yu Tianheng before he could spiral into self-doubt.

"That's true..." Lang Lei nodded.

"So, Little Brother Lang Lei, would you like to join our Heaven Dou Royal Academy?" Qin Ming finally revealed his true intention and extended the invitation. "Our academy ranks among the top three on the continent. It is absolutely worth considering."

At that, everyone from the Imperial Dou Team revealed expectant expressions.

They had witnessed Lang Lei's combat strength along the way. Even against Thousand-Year Spirit Beasts, Lang Lei had never used his martial soul. If he joined them, they could achieve an even better ranking in the next Soul Master Tournament!

"Yeah, yeah! And we have the Heaven Dou Imperial Family behind us, so our resources are plentiful!" Osler stepped forward to persuade him.

"I look forward to the day we can fight side by side again." Yu Tianheng spoke as well.

"I'll... think about it." Lang Lei nodded. He truly did need to build up his theoretical foundation, but it was not indispensable enough for him to give an immediate answer.

At heart, he still longed for unrestrained freedom.

"There is no need to give an answer right now. Oh, right, these are the textbooks Tianheng and the others currently use. You can take a look." Qin Ming took several books from his Storage Soul Tool and handed them to Lang Lei.

Lang Lei did not refuse. He accepted them and flipped through them roughly. They indeed recorded many methods for identifying the age and species of spirit beasts. In addition, one book described combat techniques in great detail and even thoughtfully included illustrations.

"If you are interested, you can use this token to find me at Heaven Dou Royal Academy." Qin Ming handed Lang Lei a token. Unlike the one Qian Renxue had given him, this one bore the words "Imperial Dou."

Unlike Lang Lei, who wore a thoughtful expression, the Imperial Dou Team members stared at Qin Ming in horror. Yu Feng and Osler in particular seemed to be questioning with their eyes why Qin Ming carried their textbooks around with him.

Was he planning to test them at any time?!

"I will consider it carefully." Lang Lei nodded.

"I look forward to your arrival." Qin Ming nodded in a good mood. "Before long, we plan to head to Suotuo City to compete for a while. We may stay there for quite some time. If you decide soon, you can come find us there. It will also be more convenient for us to return to Heaven Dou Royal Academy together."

"Are you heading to Suotuo City now?" Lang Lei suddenly remembered that Suotuo City seemed to be where Shrek Academy was currently located.

"Of course not~" Osler proudly raised his chin. "There is still some distance from here to Suotuo City, with several major cities in between. We are planning to... fight our way there!"

"Fight your way there?" Lang Lei showed a look of sudden realization. It seemed Qin Ming had made quite a few arrangements just to return and visit his former academy...

"How about it? Interested?" Yu Tianheng looked at Lang Lei with fighting spirit. "Want to come along?"

"I'll pass for now. I might go later, but not now." Lang Lei had read the original work, so of course he knew that the Great Soul Arena was the fastest way for ordinary Soul Masters to make money. As long as one had the strength, making a fortune was no problem.

He was not especially short on money at the moment. After all, he had just received quite a bit from Ye Ling Ling, and it should be enough to last him for a while.

He planned to find a nearby inn first, use those twenty pulls, and then decide where to go.

"Is that so? What a pity." Yu Tianheng looked disappointed.

"All right, then we shall part with everyone for now. I hope it will not be too long before we meet again." Lang Lei took Griseo's hand, as she had quietly listened to their conversation from the side, and waved goodbye.

"Goodbye, big brothers and sisters." Griseo waved as well.

"Mm, goodbye, you two." Qin Ming nodded. "Though I have said it many times, I... look forward to your arrival."

"Little Brother Lang Lei, Little Sister Griseo, farewell!" Yu Tianheng said with utmost seriousness.

"Goodbye, Little Brother Lang Lei!" Osler and Yu Feng said with their arms around each other's shoulders. "And goodbye to adorable Little Griseo."

"Farewell." Ye Ling Ling coolly uttered those two words, which was already rare for her.

"Don't forget to bring Little Sister Griseo to Heaven Dou for a visit!" Dugu Yan waved.

Shi Mo and Shi Mo silently waved as well.

Lang Lei smiled and left first with Griseo.

"I wonder which faction Little Brother Lang Lei was trained by. Could he be from the Clear Sky Sect?" Dugu Yan said curiously. "After all, everyone in the Clear Sky Sect uses hammers, so they should all be very strong, right?"

"Doesn't seem like it..." Yu Tianheng shook his head. "And at the very beginning, wasn't the soul skill Little Brother Lang Lei used more like needles?"

"But one thing cannot be denied: a genius like him would be treasured no matter which faction he belonged to." Qin Ming guessed. "When Little Brother Lang Lei said he would consider it... he was probably planning to go back and discuss it with the elders of his family?"

"As expected of Teacher Qin Ming. Your guess is logical and well-supported," Osler flattered him.

"Even if you flatter me, none of your training will be reduced." Qin Ming gave Osler a flat glance.

"How could you..."