Can You Take Responsibility for the Consequences? / Flender Envious of Yu Xiaogang's Luck

However, the students of the Heaven Dou First Team admired their teacher Qin Ming, who was thirty-four years old this year but had broken through the level sixty threshold to become a Soul Emperor. They had gotten along well with their teacher Qin Ming before and gave him face, so they did not directly turn against him.

However, the young man Yufeng to the side, with a somewhat unconvinced nature, pouted and said, "Even if someone is a genius, can they be as talented as our captain?"

Everyone present was Soul Master, and although Yufeng's voice wasn't loud, they all heard it clearly.

Qin Ming, who was still speaking, also stopped talking.

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The atmosphere suddenly became strange.

Indeed, no matter how impressive the Shrek Team's record was, their Soul Power Level was genuinely that of a twelve-year-old Soul Ancestor Soul Elder.

People were puzzled. Why was Teacher Qin Ming so humble towards geniuses like Li Bai and Kai from the Heaven Dou Academy, who were known for their sharp tongues and constant praise, yet he showed such... affection for the Shrek Academy, a place he had only just learned about?

Although it wasn't said directly, the students of Heaven Dou First Team could all sense that Teacher Qin Ming's tone and expression showed how much he liked Shrek Academy.

Xiao Qiao also joined the group, directly analyzing Shrek Academy's current strength and configuration. "Teacher Qin, the Shrek Seven Devils team is quite a bit weaker than us. Even if their captain and vice-captain can use the Star Luo Royal Family's Martial Soul Fusion Skill, Hell White Tiger, the captain and I are more than capable of handling them. And then there's the Evil Fire Phoenix Martial Soul, the Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul, and the Soft Bone Rabbit Martial Soul. The Blue Silver Grass and Soft Bone Rabbit Spirits are self-explanatory."

Blue Silver Grass is a notoriously Trash Martial Soul, completely unsuitable for combat. Soft Bone Rabbit is slightly better, but only a little stronger than Blue Silver Grass; both are martial Martial Soul with weak combat power.

"The Evil Fire Phoenix? There's no record of such Martial Soul in the continent's Martial Soul records. It must be Mutated Martial Soul, right?"

Mutated Martial Soul can be good or bad. The Heaven Dou First Team frowned as soon as they heard the words "Evil Fire" in front of their martial souls. No one would be so bored as to add the word "evil" to their Martial Soul. A fire phoenix is a fire phoenix. The "evil" part is probably a flaw in the Martial Soul.

Qin Ming knew Xiao Qiao was telling the truth, and nodded slightly. "Your analysis is quite calm. However, we only have what we have at the moment regarding the Shrek Seven Devils. We'll only know the full story after we actually fight them."

Although Qin Ming verbally said that they should not underestimate their opponents, he still subconsciously praised Shrek Academy's status and strength.

"Remember my words, never underestimate any opponent. Since the Soto Great Soul Arena dared to send them out, they must have some confidence."

"There's one more thing I want to ask of you."

Suddenly, Qin Ming changed his tone, becoming stern as he swept his gaze around at the students who were subtly dissatisfied with his words.

"Regardless of the outcome of this Soul Fighting, no one is allowed to kill, or even maim their opponent. Do you understand?"

"Especially you, Li Bai, I know you are strong, but in this Soul Fighting, I hope you can go easy on me." Qin Ming's voice was deep but powerful, yet the private room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

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All eyes turned to the aloof, otherworldly figure leaning against the window of the private room, gazing at the moonlight, toying with a small white jade wine cup, a sword hanging at his waist, drinking alone.

Li Bai downed his cup of wine, glancing at the now-silent private room. A bright, clear moon shone behind him, making him appear even more otherworldly. However, a glint of wine glistened at the corner of his lips; he wiped it away with his hand, a carefree smile playing on his lips, "Teacher Qin, the Soul Fighting Arena is a stage for the strong. To show mercy would be to show weakness."

Qin Ming shook his head slightly, his eyes sincere. "This is not a sign of weakness. Shrek Academy has a deep connection with us; I was once a member of Shrek myself. The students who emerge from there are all extraordinary. They, like you, harbor dreams and fight for glory. We don't need to drive them to extinction."

"Teacher Qin, I understand what you mean, but in the Soul Fighting Arena, life and death hang in the balance. If I hesitate, I might be the one who falls." Li Bai looked at Qin Ming. Before meeting Shrek Academy, he was indeed a good teacher. Li Bai was giving him one last chance.

Qin Ming stepped forward and patted Li Bai on the shoulder. "I understand your concerns. I promise you, as long as you don't seriously injure them, I will do everything in my power to protect you. Besides, true strength isn't about proving yourself by severely injuring your opponents, but about earning respect through strength and magnanimity."

Li Bai raised his eyes, his gaze devoid of any drunkenness, and coldly looked at Qin Ming, who still wanted to persuade him.

He told the students not to underestimate their opponent and to respect their strength.

It was he who, even on a stage where life and death were at stake, disregarded the students' own safety and showed them mercy.

"Qin Ming, are you a teacher at the Heaven Dou Royal Academy or a student at the Shrek Academy now?" Li Bai bluntly asked, abandoning all pretense of politeness.

Qin Ming's expression changed slightly, but he still patiently explained, "Li Bai, you don't understand. Shrek Academy is my alma mater, and the students there are like my younger brothers and sisters. I just don't want to see unnecessary casualties."

"Necessary casualties?" Li Bai sneered. "In this Soul Fighting Arena, life and death, victory and defeat are the norm. Aren't you afraid your students will suffer in the competition because you're so biased towards the Shrek Academy? Aren't you worried about us?"

"Of course I'm worried about my students," Qin Ming said firmly, "But true strength isn't proven by harming opponents. I hope my students can hone their skills and grow together with Shrek students in a fair and just environment."

"Fairness and justice? Mutual growth? That sounds nice." Li Bai scoffed. "This is the Soul Fighting Arena. Glory comes from winning, and shame from losing. Your womanly compassion will only cause the Imperial Fighting Team members to miss out on glory and become a laughingstock."

"Moreover..." Li Bai raised his eyes, and for the first time, the unrestrained and carefree immortal in front of his companions revealed the sharp edge of a sword immortal. His eyes were so sharp that no one dared to meet his gaze.

"If it's a fair fight, why hold back, or even prevent your opponent from getting hurt?"

"We're holding back, while Shrek Academy is going all out?"

"You are truly our wonderful teacher!"

Chapter 166 Can you bear the consequences?

"You are truly our wonderful teacher!"

This statement clearly exposes Qin Ming's bias.

At the beginning, the students of the Heaven Dou First Team were instructed to respect their opponents, and the Shrek Team's record was introduced to prevent them from underestimating their opponents.

But then they turn around and demand that the students go easy on their opponents in the life-or-death arena, and even prevent their opponents from being injured or killed.

In combat, swords and spears have no eyes; this requirement is inherently somewhat unreasonable.

As the instructor of the Heaven Dou First Team, Qin Ming really shouldn't have said such things.

"Li Bai, you know I'm still your teacher, so I have my reasons for doing this. You don't need to know now. I'll tell you the answer after this Soul Fighting is over." Qin Ming's expression also turned cold as he confronted his genius student, releasing the Soul Power and pressure of a Soul Emperor.

At the same time, Qin Ming sighed inwardly. These children are too proud. Too much pride leads to a broken heart. I hope that you can experience some setbacks this time. Too smooth growth is often more likely to lead to a broken heart.

The Li Bai standing before him was the best example. So arrogant and conceited, daring to contradict him, a Soul Emperor, showing no respect for his teacher. If this continued, he would suffer sooner or later.

It seems I need to teach him a lesson today and help him curb his arrogant and conceited attitude.

Thinking this, Qin Ming completely ignored the key point Li Bai had just made: that as the leader of the Heaven Dou First Team, he was biased towards the Shrek Team.

In his view, he was simply trying to temper the students' character.

Sometimes, if you tell too many lies, you start to believe them yourself.

But others aren't fools.

Ever since Qin Ming revealed that he was also a graduate of the Shrek Academy...

Yufeng, Ning Rongrong, and the others around immediately understood why Qin Ming's words and actions had been inconsistent.

No wonder they praise the Shrek Team so much, yet they demand that we not go all out, and that there be no casualties.

So it was because they were worried about their younger schoolmates getting hurt?

Finally, Shi Mo, born into the Black Tortoise Clan, whose clan boasts Soul Douluo and whose Martial Soul is the Black Tortoise, couldn't help but step forward and ask, "Teacher, if we hold back and don't injure our opponent, stopping short of a serious clash, will our opponent also hold back and treat this match as a friendly spar?"

If both sides know the inside story and hold back, treating the match as a friendly exchange, then there will naturally be no problem.

But if we go easy on them and show mercy, Shrek Academy might retaliate with deadly force...

There are casualties in the Soul Fighting Arena too!

Even Shi Mo, who had always respected Qin Ming, harbored resentment towards him.

"..." Qin Ming, who hadn't expected to coordinate with the Shrek Academy, was momentarily speechless. How did they get back to this topic? He could only patiently explain, "Your Soul Power Level are all higher than theirs. If you don't hold back from the start and just crush them to win, then this battle will be meaningless."

"But teacher, didn't you just say that there's a reason why the Soul Fighting Arena arranged for the Shrek Team to be our opponent, and that the Shrek Team shouldn't be underestimated?" Xiao Qiao added at the opportune moment.

This boomerang also stunned Qin Ming.

Seeing that his previously obedient students were now all arguing with him, his expression darkened.

Just as Qin Ming was about to press further, Xiao Qiao scoffed and asked, "Teacher Qin Ming, if our group of students loses the match or even suffers injuries because you asked us to go easy on them, can you bear the consequences?"

Qin Ming froze, thinking, "How could I possibly bear the consequences?"

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Xiao Qiao was born into the Heaven Dou Royal Family and possessed a benign Mutated Martial Soul. She was regarded as the hope for the rise of the Heaven Dou Royal Family and was secretly protected by Soul Saint and even Soul Douluo.

Li Bai and Ning Rongrong both come from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Li Bai is the only disciple of Sword Douluo, and Ning Rongrong is the daughter of the sect leader of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, the little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

The brothers Shi Mo and Shi Mo were born into the Black Tortoise Clan, which also had Soul Douluo in charge.

The Martial Soul Wind Chime Bird martial Yufeng and the Ghost Leopard Martial Soul user, Osler, come from slightly lower social classes, but they still have Soul Saint grandfather.

Ye Lingling's family has passed down the top-tier auxiliary healing Martial Soul, Nine-Heart Begonia, for generations, and she also has a powerful force behind her.

These children are all geniuses from their respective factions; otherwise, they wouldn't have been able to join the Heaven Dou First Team.

Their elders sent them to participate in the Soul Fighting Competition with Qin Ming for several reasons: first, it was an order from the royal family; second, they wanted to train the children; and finally, they trusted Qin Ming and believed that Qin Ming, as their teacher, could protect these children.

If they knew that Qin Ming, the team leader, had instructed their children to hold back in the dangerous Soul Fighting Competition, preventing them from going all out, it would ultimately have resulted in casualties for Heaven Dou First Team.

I'm afraid they'll tear Qin Ming, that teacher who's siding with outsiders, to pieces.

These children are the hope of their families!

Qin Ming did not reply, and no longer mentioned asking the Heaven Dou First Team to go easy on them. " In the Soul Fighting Arena, getting injured is a sign of being outmatched. Fine, since you have your own ideas, I, as your teacher, will not interfere any further. You'd better take care of yourselves."

After saying that, Qin Ming turned and left the private room.

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As soon as Qin Ming left, the members of Heaven Dou First Team didn't look too happy either.

Shi Mo, Shi Mo, Yufeng, and the others all looked somewhat disappointed.

Having spent so much time together, they genuinely like and respect Qin Ming as their teacher.

But Qin Ming disappointed them today; they still have some doubts about whether the Qin Ming they just met was the real person.

But the Soul Emperor's aura couldn't be faked; it was indeed their familiar teacher, Qin Ming...

"What is it about the Shrek Academy that makes Teacher Qin Ming so biased towards it?" Ning Rongrong wondered. In her memory, there was no such school as Shrek Academy among the advanced Soul Master Academy. Why would Qin Ming, a Soul Emperor, keep thinking about such a "second-rate" school?

Xiao Qiao snorted and sat back down in her seat. "I'm afraid Qin Ming's insistence on coming to Suotuo City this time is because he wants to see Shrek Academy."

She doesn't even call me "teacher" anymore.

In Xiao Qiao's opinion, a teacher who disregards the safety of students is no longer fit to be a role model for students.

Ye Lingling sat down next to Xiao Qiao, looking somewhat dejected. "Is our standing in Teacher Qin Ming's heart really inferior to that Shrek Team?"

Both Captain Li Bai and Vice Captain Xiao Qiao had given Teacher Qin Ming many chances.

As long as Teacher Qin Ming lets them compete fairly and give it their all, that's fine.

Their demands are really not high.

However, even for this reason, Teacher Qin Ming was unwilling, fearing that the Shrek Team members would get hurt. It wasn't until Xiao Qiao brought up their backer and made Teacher Qin Ming take responsibility for their injuries that he finally gave up.

Chapter 167 Flender Envious of Yu Xiaogang's Luck

On the other side, Shrek Academy