Qin Ming Arrives

Ye Lingling's Nine-Heart Begonia Martial Soul displayed astonishing value during training.

No matter how severe the injuries, she could heal them in a short time.

With her around, they could go all out in training without worrying about getting hurt.

"Lingling is amazing."

Whenever Dugu Yan was healed after being injured, she would take Ye Lingling's hand and praise her sincerely.

Ye Lingling still did not talk much, but whenever she was praised, the tips of her ears would redden slightly.

Half a month later, Gu Ci returned from the Academy and discovered that there was another person in the Marquis Mansion.

He was a fourteen- or fifteen-year-old boy with delicate features but sharp eyes. Faint fluctuations of wind-attribute Soul Power surrounded him.

"Who is this?" Gu Ci looked at Dugu Bo.

Dugu Bo said, "Liu Tieying's disciple. His name is Wind Trace."

"His Martial Soul is the Wind Falcon, and he has Level 7 Innate Soul Power. He is already a Three-Ring Soul Elder."

"Liu Tieying said the boy had good talent and wanted him to stay here."

Gu Ci sized the boy up.

Wind Trace looked back at him, his gaze carrying a trace of curiosity and scrutiny.

"Hello." Gu Ci held out his hand.

Wind Trace froze for a moment before taking it. "Hello."

Gu Ci felt the calluses on his palm, marks left behind by long-term training.

"Let's work hard together from now on." Gu Ci smiled.

Wind Trace nodded without saying anything more.

As night deepened, the Marquis Mansion gradually fell quiet.

Gu Ci sat in the courtyard with Zi Dian sprawled across his lap and Night Shadow concealed in the darkness.

He opened the Complete Guide to Soul Tools and continued studying more advanced arrays.

Soul Tools, Soul Spirits, Soul Cores... these would all be assets for his future.

But for now, the most important thing was still to improve his own strength.

Level 23, two ten-thousand-year spirit rings, Ultimate Thunder, the Heavenly Eye, and the External Soul Bone, Purple Lightning Wings.

Such strength was already monstrous among his peers. Yet before a Titled Douluo, it was still utterly insignificant.

He needed to become stronger.

"Brother Gu Ci."

Dugu Yan's voice came from behind him.

Gu Ci turned and saw the little girl walking over while rubbing her eyes, Ice Fire still in her arms.

"Why aren't you asleep?"

"I can't sleep." Dugu Yan sat beside him and leaned against his shoulder. "I'm a little scared."

"Scared of what?"

"Spirit Hall... I'm afraid that one day, we'll have to hide like the Clear Sky Sect."

Gu Ci fell silent for a moment before saying softly, "We won't."

"Why not?"

"Because we'll become strong enough."

Gu Ci looked up at the night sky, his tone calm. "Strong enough that no one will dare touch us."

Dugu Yan looked up at him, a glimmer of light flashing in her eyes.

"Mm." She nodded firmly. "I believe you."

Moonlight flowed like water over the two of them.

Zi Dian yawned, while Night Shadow gently flicked its tail in the darkness.

Half a month later.

When Gu Ci and Dugu Yan returned to the classroom, they found that the atmosphere in the class was completely different from before.

After that month of upheaval, everyone's faces carried a little more gravity and a little less innocence.

Yu Tianheng sat in his usual seat. When he saw Gu Ci enter, he nodded slightly. The Shi Mo brothers sat in the back row, whispering about something.

Yu Feng and Osler chatted by the window, while Ye Lingling still sat in the corner, as quiet as a porcelain doll.

Teacher Qin entered the classroom with an unfamiliar man behind him.

The man looked to be in his twenties. His features were stern, and his aura was sharp. At a glance, it was clear that he was no ordinary Soul Master.

"Students, this is the Academy's specially appointed instructor, Teacher Qin Ming."

Teacher Qin introduced him, "Starting today, he will be responsible for the special training of the eight of you."

"Eight people?"

Someone asked in confusion.

Qin Ming stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over the classroom as he called out eight names. "Gu Ci, Dugu Yan, Yu Tianheng, Shi Mo, Shi Mo, Yu Feng, Osler, Ye Lingling. You eight, come with me."

Whispers rose in the classroom.

The eight who had been called looked at one another, but none of them asked any questions. They stood and followed Qin Ming out of the classroom.

Gu Ci nodded. Qin Ming should have just graduated from Shrek Academy by now.

Qin Ming led them through the Teaching Building, around the Training Ground, and all the way to an open area at the rear of the Academy.

Tall walls enclosed the clearing, and a sign hung above the entrance—Special Training Area.

"This is a training ground the Academy specially opened for its top students."

Qin Ming pushed open the gate. "Starting today, you will come here every afternoon to train. Classes will proceed normally in the mornings, with special training in the afternoons. No exceptions."

The eight entered the Special Training Area, which was far more spacious than they had imagined.

A huge arena stood in the center of the clearing, surrounded by all kinds of training equipment and several separate cultivation rooms.

"I know you are all geniuses."

Qin Ming stood on the arena, his gaze sweeping over each of them. "Level 8 Innate Soul Power, Century Spirit Rings, cultivation levels above Level 11."

"But on a real battlefield, those things mean nothing."

His voice was cold and hard, carrying an unquestionable authority.

"Starting today, I will shatter each of your halos of genius."

"Here, you are not the Marquis's son, not a Titled Douluo's granddaughter, not an heir of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan."

"You are only students, and I am the instructor. Whatever I say, you do. Do you understand?"

"Understood," everyone answered.

"Louder!"

"Understood!"

Qin Ming nodded and began the first day of training.

"First, let me see what you can do. Fight in pairs. I want to see your foundations."

The first match was Yu Tianheng against Yu Feng.

The two stepped onto the arena. Thunder Light flickered around Yu Tianheng as he activated Martial Soul Possession with the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul. Two Century Spirit Rings rose beneath his feet.

A pair of translucent wind wings spread from Yu Feng's back, making his entire body as light as a swallow.

"Begin!"

Yu Tianheng attacked first, throwing a punch as blue lightning shot out like snakes.

Yu Feng flickered, turning into an afterimage as he dodged. At the same time, he swung his hand and sent several Wind Blades flying back in retaliation.

The two exchanged blows across the arena, neither able to gain the upper hand.

Qin Ming watched from the side, expressionless.

The second match was the Shi Mo brothers against Osler.

The defensive power of the Black Tortoise Martial Soul was astonishing. The two brothers stood back-to-back as the phantom of a tortoise shell protected them completely.

Osler's Ghost Leopard Martial Soul was incredibly fast, but for the moment, he could not break through the brothers' defense.

The third match was Dugu Yan against Ye Lingling.

Dugu Yan stood on the arena with the Jade Scale Snake Martial Soul possessing her body, faint green light flowing around her.

Ye Lingling, meanwhile, stood quietly across from her. The Nine-Heart Begonia Martial Soul bloomed behind her, its white petals giving off a gentle glow.

"Begin," Qin Ming ordered.

Dugu Yan hesitated and did not attack.

Ye Lingling did not move either. She only looked at Dugu Yan quietly.

"Why aren't you attacking?" Qin Ming frowned.

Dugu Yan said softly, "Lingling is a support-type Soul Master, I..."

"On the battlefield, will enemies spare you just because you're a support-type Soul Master?" Qin Ming said coldly.

"Ye Lingling, do you know what you should do?"

Ye Lingling said nothing. She simply walked over to Dugu Yan and gently took her hand.

A white begonia flower bloomed between them. Its petals drifted down, turning into specks of light that merged into Dugu Yan's body.