After breakfast, Qian Yun learned from Bibi Dong that the Imperial Fighting Academy was currently touring the Heaven Dou Empire, participating in Soul Fighting matches. They were expected to arrive at the Spirit Fighting Arena in Spirit City in three days.
Naturally, the friendly exchange between Qian Yun and the Imperial Fighting Academy, led by Qin Ming, was scheduled to take place at the Spirit Fighting Arena in Spirit City three days later.
Although both sides were ostensibly calling this a friendly exchange, everyone knew the match would have to determine who was better!
However, since Qian Yun's side didn't have enough people, they weren't planning on having both sides line up and fight a full match. Instead, Qian Yun would enter as an independent challenger and take on members of the Imperial Fighting Academy one at a time.
They wouldn't explicitly reveal his identity, but Qin Ming's keen eye would likely let him guess where Qian Yun came from. That way, both sides would get what they wanted.
Qian Yun had no objections to Bibi Dong's arrangement. Though it could very well turn into a gauntlet, he had come to challenge the Imperial Fighting Academy with the intention of remaining undefeated. What did he have to fear?
Back at his lodgings, Qian Yun received the current roster of the Imperial Fighting Team:
Captain: Yu Tianheng, Martial Soul: Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, level 24 Power Attack System Battle Soul Master. Soul Ring Configuration: two yellow.
Vice-Captain: Dugu Yan, Martial Soul: Jade Phosphor Serpent, level 23 Control-Type Battle Spirit Master. Soul Ring Configuration: two yellow.
Member: Shi Mo, Martial Soul: Black Tortoise Turtle, level 22 defense-type Battle Soul Master. Soul Rings: two yellow.
Member: Shi Mo, Martial Soul: Black Tortoise Turtle, level 22 defense-type Battle Soul Master. Soul Rings: two yellow.
Member: Yu Feng, Martial Soul: Wind-Bell Bird, level 22 Agility Attack System Battle Spirit Master. Soul Rings: two yellow.
Member: Osler, Martial Soul: Ghost Leopard, level 22 Agility Attack System Battle Spirit Master. Soul Rings: two yellow.
Member: Ye Lingling, Martial Soul: Nine-Heart Begonia, level 20 support-type tool Spirit Master. Soul Rings: two yellow.
Qian Yun skimmed through the list. It was much as he'd expected. He set Ye Lingling's information aside; since they'd decided on a gauntlet, the support member wasn't a concern.
The two turtles, the leopard, and the little bird... Hmm...
Holding the roster, Qian Yun leaned back in his chair and pondered for a long while. In the end, he put them with Ye Lingling's information.
That left only two people he really needed to watch out for: Yu Tianheng and Dugu Yan!
There was no need to discuss the strength of Yu Tianheng's Martial Soul. One mistake, and Qian Yun could lose.
Dugu Yan's methods were even more unpredictable. As he thought about how troublesome the two of them would be, Qian Yun gradually came up with a plan.
After a while, Qian Yun looked over the pile of information on the table and took a sip of hot tea. He couldn't help marveling at how Qin Ming had managed to gather so many oddballs into one team. And their lineup was so well balanced that there was nothing to criticize.
They had offense and defense, crowd control and support, as well as recovery—something most teams sorely lacked. Even without the strength of the members' Martial Souls, this would still be a powerful, well-rounded team.
Without a doubt, the current Imperial Fighting Team embodied Qin Ming's ideals. Perhaps, in his eyes, his progressive ideas and the conservative faction led by Spirit Hall represented the difference between tradition and change.
Thinking of this, Qian Yun shook his head and murmured, "Then let us conservatives give you a taste of the old era's storm."
Meanwhile, in a hotel near Spirit City, in the Heaven Dou Empire, Bibi Dong's reply had been placed on Qin Ming's desk.
Seated at the desk, Qin Ming held the letter in his warm, large hands. Though his appearance was plain, his clothes were simple and clean. His eyes shone brightly as he read the letter carefully, a smile never leaving his lips.
"It seems His Holiness the Pope also approves of my theory. Spirit Hall isn't as stubborn as I thought." After finishing the letter, Qin Ming carefully folded it and slipped it back into its envelope.
Then he rose and walked to another room. He could feel that Bibi Dong recognized his ideals, and he could also sense her fighting spirit.
So he had to prepare and defend his dignity.
In the Imperial Fighting Team's lounge, petite Ye Lingling sat on a soft sofa, holding a chubby orange cat in her arms while gently brushing its fur with her other hand.
Her small black leather shoes swung lazily in the air. Her expression remained tranquil, like a snow lotus blooming atop a high mountain.
The Imperial Fighting Team members sat in small groups around the room. Ye Lingling looked calm on the surface, but she discreetly perked up her ears to listen to what was happening behind her.
Yu Tianheng, still youthful in appearance, glanced uneasily at the purple-haired girl sitting at the other end of the sofa with her arms folded. He clenched his fists, then finally seemed to summon his courage and said to Dugu Yan, "Miss Yan, I was wrong."
Dugu Yan sat with her arms crossed and legs crossed. At his words, she merely glanced at him coolly.
Seeing that she'd responded, Yu Tianheng pressed his advantage, moving closer to her and gazing at her smooth, delicate face. "Miss Yan, I really was wrong. Can you please stop ignoring me?"
Dugu Yan finally snorted. "Then tell me what you did wrong."
Yu Tianheng froze. Right. What had he done wrong?
His eyes furtively shifted toward the other side of the sofa, where Osler was engrossed in a novel. He gave him a pleading look.
Osler felt a headache coming on, but still gave him a discreet hand signal.
Yu Tianheng immediately understood. He lowered his head in a wounded manner and said, "I was wrong about everything."
Dugu Yan was about to say something when Yu Feng, who'd been lying by the doorway and peering through the crack to keep watch, suddenly jumped up. He quickly motioned for the lounging group to keep quiet. "Shh, quiet! The teacher's here."
At that, everyone hurried to tidy up. Dugu Yan uncrossed her legs, while Osler put away his novel and kicked the snack crumbs on the floor under the sofa.
After they'd finished tidying up, Qin Ming pushed open the door.
He looked at the students sitting properly inside and nodded in greeting. Then he walked over to them, a letter pinched between his index and middle fingers. His first words were, "Ladies and gentlemen, His Holiness the Pope has replied to me!"
The group stirred in surprise. After all, just a few days earlier, they'd all witnessed Qin Ming's near-suicidal stunt.
The lively Yu Feng was the first to ask, "Teacher, what did the Pope say?"
Qin Ming wore his usual warm smile. "First, His Holiness the Pope affirmed our teaching philosophy. And second..."
His voice brimmed with excitement. "She accepted our Soul Fighting challenge, and it's scheduled for the Spirit Fighting Arena in Spirit City three days from now!"
"That's wonderful!" Dugu Yan clapped her hands excitedly. "I've heard so much about Spirit Hall's strength. This time, we can get a proper look for ourselves and see if its Spirit Masters are really as strong as the rumors say."
Everyone nodded at her words.
Yu Feng chimed in, "Exactly! Ever since we started traveling around to fight, we haven't met any worthy opponents in our rank. Maybe Spirit Hall's team will give us a good match."
Looking at the excited faces in the room, Qin Ming shook his head. "I'm afraid this will disappoint you."
Yu Tianheng frowned. "Teacher, did Spirit Hall send a team that isn't in our rank?"
"No. Spirit Hall did accept our invitation to compete, but they're only sending one person!"
As the Imperial Fighting Team's vice-captain, Dugu Yan finally caught on. "An individual match?"
Qin Ming nodded slowly.
With her teacher's confirmation, Dugu Yan felt a tightness in her chest, and her breathing hitched. "Does he intend to take on all seven of us?!"
The moment she said it, the excitement in the room faded, replaced by unmistakable indignation.
Qin Ming saw their expressions change. A glint passed through his bright, deep-set eyes. "That does seem to be the case."
"How outrageous!"
"His Holiness the Pope clearly looks down on us!"
"Exactly, exactly..."
The students erupted into angry chatter.
Seeing this, Qin Ming shook his head. They were all still children, after all, far from being level-headed. "All right, everyone. Whatever you're feeling, we must turn our anger into strength and do our utmost to win this match decisively. Agreed?"
The students looked at one another, then all agreed with Qin Ming. Whatever else happened, they had to win the match before they could talk about anything else!
"Teacher, we'll definitely win," Yu Tianheng, the team captain, declared.
Looking at his students, their fighting spirit now ignited, Qin Ming's gaze swept across each of their faces. "I've never doubted your abilities or your determination. But we also need to be prepared for every battle we fight! So, given these unusual circumstances, here's my plan..."
On the other side, Qian Yun also needed to prepare. After all, taking on all seven opponents was no easy feat, especially when they were the formidable Imperial Fighting Team.
He summoned his servants and told them to find several minerals called Thunder-Attracting Stones. He instructed them to forge the stones into spear-like shapes within three days, and specifically emphasized that they had to be easy to thrust into stone floor tiles.
After that, Qian Yun settled down to cultivate and quietly awaited the day three days later.
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