Douluo: Martial Soul Iron-Eating Beast, Never Be a Slave

Clearly, Zhao Mu was the troublemaker in Qin Ming's eyes at this moment.

Zhao Mu helplessly shook his head and said, "I'm not joking. I'm seriously discussing this with you, Teacher Qin."

Frowning deeply, Qin Ming looked at Zhao Mu's youthful yet already somewhat handsome face. He shook his head and said softly, "Missing the entire special training is absolutely not acceptable. At most, I can give you one week off. After that week, you must attend the special training."

"Zhao Mu, you need to understand that while your talent is quite good, if you can't make reasonable and effective use of your time, you'll only waste that enviable talent of yours!"

"If Teacher Qin can't approve my leave, then I suppose I can only apply to the Education Committee's instructors for leave, or withdraw from the Heaven Dou Royal Team." Zhao Mu pursed his lips, clearly refusing to back down.

"Withdraw?" At Zhao Mu's words, a stir immediately arose around them, and Dugu Yan anxiously stamped her feet.

Yu Tianheng and the others had likewise never expected Zhao Mu to use leaving the team as leverage simply because he did not want to attend the special training.

"Hey, if he withdraws from the Heaven Dou Royal Team, wouldn't that leave an opening on the first team for us? The second team never feels as cool as the first team." Yu Feng muttered quietly at the worst possible moment.

He was swiftly rewarded with a slap from Dugu Yan.

Hearing Zhao Mu actually threaten to withdraw from the team, the calm expression on Qin Ming's face finally changed slightly.

Qin Ming knew perfectly well how highly Zhao Mu was regarded by the Education Committee's three instructors. He had heard that all three had considered taking Zhao Mu as a disciple.

If Zhao Mu withdrew from the academy team, the Education Committee would never agree. Once this matter reached them, they would certainly choose to support Zhao Mu in order to appease him.

"Are you truly choosing to withdraw from the Heaven Dou Royal Team?" Qin Ming said coldly, clearly already angered.

Zhao Mu was not swayed by Qin Ming's attitude. He merely shrugged, neither confirming nor denying it.

Seeing Zhao Mu's utterly indifferent manner, Qin Ming fell silent. After a long while, he let out a deep sigh, then fixed his gaze on Zhao Mu again and said flatly, "Are you really planning to pay any price just to take leave and miss the entire special training?"

Zhao Mu nodded firmly.

Seeing this, Qin Ming continued, "Can you tell me why?"

Zhao Mu did not hide anything and said directly, "Teacher Qin, I have my own training plan. Your special training conflicts with my training, so I can only do this."

Hearing Zhao Mu's reason, Qin Ming felt the veins on his forehead bulge. What the hell was that supposed to mean?

It meant Zhao Mu's training plan was better than his special training? So Zhao Mu's plan took priority?

Qin Ming stared hard at Zhao Mu, slowly exhaled, and said calmly, "Fine. It's not impossible for you to take leave and miss the entire special training."

Hearing that, Zhao Mu did not relax. Clearly, Qin Ming had more to say.

Seeing Zhao Mu remain unfazed, Qin Ming was somewhat surprised. Zhao Mu's composure had clearly exceeded his expectations; he did not even seem like a child of his age.

A Soul Master possessing talent alone was not frightening. What was frightening was a Soul Master who also possessed exceptional character. That was the essential condition for becoming strong.

Qin Ming continued, "Aren't you giving up your teacher's special training for the sake of your own training plan? Fine. As long as you can defeat me, I'll allow you to take leave and miss the entire special training. I won't interfere excessively with you in the future, either."

At Qin Ming's words, the others were shocked, yet they did not forget to cast Zhao Mu sympathetic looks.

Zhao Mu was formidable, but Teacher Qin was a Soul Emperor. The gap between them was enormous.

"Second Grandfather is really... How could he possibly be Teacher Qin's opponent?" Dugu Yan bit her silver teeth and anxiously stamped her foot, though helpless worry flashed through her eyes.

"Well? Do you dare accept?" Qin Ming asked Zhao Mu with a smile.

The corners of Zhao Mu's mouth rose slightly, an almost imperceptible trace of mockery passing through his expression. He immediately nodded at Qin Ming's wager.

"I accept!"

At that, Qin Ming's gaze toward Zhao Mu filled with fighting spirit.

"I'll suppress my strength to the level of a four-ringed Soul Ancestor. I won't take advantage of you," Qin Ming added.

But Zhao Mu immediately raised a hand to stop him. "Teacher Qin, I suggest you use your full strength instead. At least then there'll be a little suspense."

?!

Hearing Zhao Mu's words, Qin Ming laughed, as if laughing in fury.

Well, well. He was being underestimated.

Qin Ming was practically the idol Yu Tianheng and the others admired. Hearing Zhao Mu challenge their idol, they instinctively hoped Zhao Mu would lose. If Zhao Mu won, it would be no small blow to them as well.

Soon, the group arrived at the Heaven Dou Royal Academy's Soul Fighting Arena.

Under everyone's watchful eyes, Zhao Mu walked into the arena and stood opposite the cold-faced Qin Ming.

"Teacher Qin, be careful!"

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After being underestimated again and again, even a clay figure would get angry.

As the match began, Qin Ming's aura abruptly changed, and his entire presence became even colder.

"Canglang Avatar!"

Without showing excessive restraint, Qin Ming immediately completed his Martial Soul Possession.

After completing Martial Soul Possession, orange-yellow flame patterns began spreading across Qin Ming's body. His hair completely turned the orange-yellow of flames, while parts of his body took on beastlike traits such as ears and eyes. Behind him, the vague shadow of a flame wolf emerged.

At the same time, the surrounding temperature rose considerably.

With a fierce stomp, dust exploded from the ground. Qin Ming, after his Martial Soul Possession, charged directly at Zhao Mu.

Naturally, Zhao Mu did not remain idle. Heibai immediately transformed into Thunder Form.

Roar!

Under the First Soul Skill, Thunder Form, Heibai decisively unleashed Thunder Roar.

When one did not know the opponent's full capabilities, using a Control System skill first was often the best choice.

Yet facing Heibai's Thunder Roar, Qin Ming merely parted his lips slightly. After his body swayed once, he continued charging at Zhao Mu with little apparent effect.

Zhao Mu froze. This was the first time his Thunder Roar had failed.

When he was three meters from Zhao Mu, Qin Ming leaped into the air. His hands transformed into flaming blades as he slashed them crosswise at Zhao Mu.

"First Soul Skill, Canglang Claw!"

Facing Qin Ming's close-range claw strike, Zhao Mu could only instinctively retreat. Heibai took the opportunity to block in front of Zhao Mu, shielding him from Qin Ming's successive attacks.

Though it was only a First Soul Skill, a Soul Skill's power ultimately depended on the Soul Master's strength. For a powerful Soul Master, even a First Soul Skill could not be underestimated.

Heibai's defensive reactions and speed were both slower than Qin Ming's, so Qin Ming often used his speed to ambush and slash him, leaving wounds across his body.

"Teacher Qin's Martial Soul is the Blazing Azure Wolf, a mutated Martial Soul. Ordinary wolf Martial Souls are usually of the cold yin attribute, but the Blazing Azure Wolf is a mutated fire-attribute Martial Soul. Its attack power and explosive force are much stronger! Hmph, arrogant brat. Just because he has a little talent, he dares to fight Teacher Qin. He truly doesn't know his place." Seeing Dugu Yan's anxious, worried expression, Yu Tianheng, who had already held some resentment toward Zhao Mu, could not help mocking him out of jealousy.

"What did you say?"

Hearing this, Dugu Yan, already caught between worry and tension, immediately raised her brows. Her pretty face filled with anger as she turned and glared at Yu Tianheng.

"I'm only speaking the truth."

The anger Dugu Yan displayed had no effect other than making the sourness in Yu Tianheng's heart grow stronger.

"What right do you have to mock him here? He dares to fight Teacher Qin, but do you?" Dugu Yan said with a cold face. At that moment, she found Yu Tianheng disgustingly repulsive for the first time.

Ye Lingling, standing nearby, promptly began enjoying the gossip.

I told you those two would break up! Sure enough, it was because of Zhao Mu. I need to hurry up too.

The words outside the arena did not affect the exchange within it.

Seizing an opening, Zhao Mu finally pulled away from Qin Ming, temporarily escaping his relentless pressure.

At this moment, Zhao Mu was still somewhat troubled by the fact that Qin Ming could ignore Heibai's Thunder Roar. Could Qin Ming possess exceptionally high lightning resistance?

Qin Ming seemed to notice Zhao Mu's confusion. He then dug a rubber item out of his ear and explained, "Earplugs. With earplugs in and your mouth open, you can greatly weaken the effects of your Thunder Roar."

Qin Ming spoke slowly, wearing the complete air of a senior guiding a junior.

When Zhao Mu saw that Qin Ming had not resisted his Soul Skill through his own strength but with an external tool, the blockage in his heart eased.

It had to be said, this was very Shrek.

After speaking, Qin Ming pounced once more. His fiery claws struck at Heibai, but this time, a metallic clang rang out.

Looking closely, Qin Ming was startled to find that Heibai was no longer in Thunder Form. His entire body had turned dark gold, his skin and fur becoming as hard as iron.

While Qin Ming was distracted for that instant, Heibai seized Qin Ming's arms with his two front paws and threw him over his shoulder.

However, Heibai's attack did not end there. Seeing Qin Ming hurled away, Heibai immediately moved on all fours and rushed after him, preparing to use Rocket Headbutt on Qin Ming.

Suspended in midair, Qin Ming saw Heibai charging toward him, and his fourth Soul Ring suddenly lit up. As the phantom Blazing Azure Wolf behind him opened its mouth wide, an orange-red beam of flame shot from its jaws.

Seeing the flaming beam, Heibai did not dodge. Under Qin Ming's shocked gaze, he charged straight through the beam and viciously rammed his head into Qin Ming.

Qin Ming felt his internal organs shake with pain, as though he were about to vomit last night's meal. His entire body was sent flying once again.

Watching Qin Ming land in a somewhat bedraggled state, Zhao Mu imitated his earlier tone and said softly, "Sorry, Teacher Qin. Heibai and I are immune to fire!"

Those two words, "immune to fire," really had style. Whoever said them would feel great.

Only Qin Ming could not help muttering inwardly. Fire immunity was simply the worst possible situation for any fire-attribute Soul Master.

"Second Soul Skill, Canglang Avatar!"