Heaven Dou City Great Soul Arena

Zhi Lin said resentfully, "Qin really messed this up. The three of us have to clean up after him."

"If Sword Douluo hadn't suddenly paid us a visit just now, the three of us would probably have been dismissed today."

Meng Shenji was equally furious. "Qin is being utterly ridiculous! I propose that he temporarily stop leading the Imperial Dou First Team. Teacher Zhou can work a little harder and take charge of both teams' training for now. The second team hasn't even been fully formed yet, anyway."

"The first team's plan to go out and gain experience will be put on hold for now. At the very least, we should wait until this storm blows over."

Zhi Lin and Bai Baoshan quickly nodded in agreement.

Qin Ming was someone the three of them valued highly. Having him temporarily step away from the team was also a form of protection for him.

Among these teachers, Qin Ming was the youngest. His talent was beyond doubt, and the three education committee members could not bear to punish him too severely.

However, the Imperial Dou First Team's actions had to be punished. Otherwise, who knew what outsiders might say in the future?

Bai Baoshan said, "How about this? We assign Shen Tianchen and Ning Rongrong to the first team as well."

"If the royal family asks, we can say that Shen Tianchen has been away from the academy for too long and doesn't understand the situation well. This would both spare them an overly harsh punishment and shut some people up."

Meng Shenji had considered this long ago.

How could he not have wanted to do that?

But the Imperial Dou First Team's lineup and direction for development had already been established. If Shen Tianchen and Ning Rongrong joined them, would they be made substitutes?

With their talent and the forces behind them, would they be willing to serve as substitutes?

At the same time, Prince Xue Xing and Xue Beng, uncle and nephew, were practically overjoyed.

Xue Beng had witnessed the earlier match in full.

The Imperial Dou First Team had been arranged and formed by the three education committee members. Now that they had clashed with Shen Tianchen, it was the perfect opportunity for the two of them.

Prince Xue Xing grinned from ear to ear. "The three education committee members' management has truly been improper. Since Qinghe barely concerns himself with this, this prince will not stand idly by."

"Beng'er, this prince has read the information on that Shen Tianchen and heard about his abilities. To force Teacher Qin back with a single sword strike—such talent is truly frightening."

"If you can win him over to our side, your father will certainly see you in a new light. Perhaps you will no longer need to keep hiding your abilities."

If the First Prince and Third Prince had not met with misfortune one after another, Xue Beng would not have needed to live in such constant fear.

Xue Beng understood that if Xue Qinghe ascended the throne in the future, the first person he would deal with would be him.

To protect himself, he could only fight for that position.

"Royal Uncle, just say the word. Whatever you tell me to do, I'll do."

After lowering his head to think for a while, Prince Xue Xing came up with a method he believed would work.

"This prince is the academy's actual manager. You can make friends with him first. If he is willing, this prince can directly place him in the first team."

"Money, status, even spirit rings and spirit bones—do not be stingy with any resources we can offer."

At court, the uncle and nephew had always been marginalized figures. Even if they obtained spirit bones, they would voluntarily offer them to Xue Ye to win his favor.

As for information on other spirit bones, Prince Xue Xing truly knew of some.

If Shen Tianchen agreed to join them, what harm was there in telling him?

After today's battle, Shen Tianchen had become completely famous.

With the strength he had displayed, there would certainly be no shortage of invitations from various forces. At the very least, Prince Xue Xing and Xue Beng would not merely watch from the sidelines.

To avoid bringing about a fatal disaster, Shen Tianchen deliberately revealed Prince Xue Xing's intention to recruit him to Ning Rongrong. He believed that neither Ning Rongrong nor Ning Fengzhi behind her would stand by and do nothing.

After all, although Xue Qinghe was currently the Crown Prince and held considerable power, Prince Xue Xing could still refuse to give him face.

But the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was different. Other than Spirit Hall, few on the continent dared refuse to give Ning Fengzhi face.

Patting her chest, Ning Rongrong said confidently, "Don't worry, Brother Tianchen. Rongrong definitely won't stand by and do nothing. At worst, I'll have my father step in."

"Besides, there don't seem to be many normal people in the Imperial Dou First Team, especially those two bastards."

She had known Yu Tianheng and Dugu Yan for a long time. Although Yu Tianheng, like her, came from one of the Upper Three Sects, he did not carry that sort of arrogance.

Although Dugu Yan was Dugu Bo's granddaughter, she did not possess her grandfather's ruthlessness. Overall, she was a decent person.

Shen Tianchen paused before saying, "Rongrong, pick whichever of the remaining nine courtyards in this row you like as your residence."

"Tonight, we'll go to the Great Soul Arena in Heaven Dou City to participate in spirit duels."

Ning Rongrong said in surprise, "Brother Tianchen, you just fought several people in a row. Do you still have the energy to participate in spirit duels? How about we go tomorrow instead?"

Shen Tianchen smiled. "Don't underestimate me. Your Brother Tianchen is super brave."

"There are only two of us in the team right now. We're still five people short of the required number of members, excluding substitutes. Heaven Dou City has a huge population and many sects and factions. Maybe we can find suitable teammates while participating in spirit duels."

"If we stay in the academy all day, when will our team ever be complete?"

Ning Rongrong thought for a while and said, "How about I ask my father to find a few people?"

Shen Tianchen shook his head.

Ning Fengzhi would not easily let go of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's people. They were all the sect's elites.

Participating in the Spirit Master Tournament would inevitably expose them to the public eye. If that invited assassinations, the loss would outweigh the gain.

Heaven Dou City was exceptionally lively at night, and the Great Soul Arena was no exception.

The Preliminary Match for the Heaven Dou region was basically held here, and this year was no different.

According to Shen Tianchen, they were simply familiarizing themselves with the environment in advance.

Ning Rongrong herself was not particularly enthusiastic about spirit duels, but this time, she was going with Shen Tianchen.

Moreover, this place was very close to the sect. If the two of them achieved good results, she would have plenty of face when she returned to the sect during the holidays.

None of Shen Tianchen's upcoming one-on-one opponents could rouse his spirits. They had not encountered a single member of the Elemental Academy, and he did not hold much hope for two-on-two spirit duels either.

They had not participated in many spirit duels. Including today, they had only barely reached ten matches, and their spirit dueling badges had only just reached Bronze Spirit Dueling Badge.

They would probably encounter the main members of the Four Element Academy only after obtaining Silver Spirit Dueling Badge.

Elsewhere.

Inside a lounge at the Great Soul Arena.

Several people wearing red school uniforms sat together, discussing their plans for what came next.

The sturdy young man at the head of the group said, "Our team was only just formed today. The members still don't know each other well, and we haven't undergone any team training."

"How about we first pair up and take part in two-on-two spirit duels, just to familiarize ourselves with one another? What do you think?"

The others nodded after hearing this.

For a newly formed team, their first battle was crucial to their confidence.

If they did not get to know each other beforehand, they would be no different from a disorganized mob. When the time came to participate in spirit duels, they would only be giving others points for nothing.

"Brother, you're an assault-type, and I'm a control-type. How about the two of us form a team?" the red-haired girl beside him said.

That was right. They were the Blazing Battle Team that Blazing Academy had just formed, and the young man and girl were Huo Wushuang and his younger sister, Huo Wu.

Huo Wushuang nodded in agreement. After briefly arranging the others, he headed to the registration desk to sign up.