Douluo: Starting Out by Rebuking the Grandmaster

He had originally planned to take them to the Soul Fighting Arena for some experience, to temper their dispositions. It would certainly benefit their future.

He just had not expected Nine Absolutes to suddenly appear.

It would save him a great deal of persuasion.

Seeing that no one spoke, Qin Ming continued, "I told you long ago that you may be confident, but you must not be arrogant. Now you understand what it means that there is always someone better, don't you?"

"I specifically looked into it. This Nine Absolutes is very young, around eight or nine years old, definitely no older than ten, yet his Soul Power has already reached level twenty-four."

"Tell me, at his age, did any of you have a Soul Power Level higher than his? Forget higher—was anyone even equal to him?"

Yu Tianheng and the others remained silent.

At eight or nine years old, with level twenty-four Soul Power, even Yu Tianheng, who cultivated the fastest, had merely come close. The others were even further behind.

The corners of Qin Ming's lips rose slightly. He was very satisfied with their reaction.

This was exactly the effect he wanted.

They were all usually arrogant beyond measure. If he did not knock them down a peg, they truly would not know the immensity of heaven and earth.

"Fine. Then let's not talk about cultivation speed. Let's talk about combat ability and courage. At eight or nine years old, he went to the Soul Fighting Arena and even participated in Death Matches and Gambling Duels. Even against higher-level Soul Grandmasters, he could still cut them down with his sword and achieve nine consecutive victories."

"With such courage and such combat ability, which one of you can compare?"

Qin Ming's gaze was sharp as flames as he stared fixedly at Yu Tianheng and the others below.

Perhaps unable to withstand the pressure, Yu Tianheng raised his head and said firmly, "Teacher Qin Ming, in terms of cultivation speed, we may indeed be inferior to him. But if you say our combat ability is inferior to his, then I refuse to accept that."

"That's right!" Dugu Yan echoed. "When it comes to combat ability, we refuse to accept it. Isn't it just nine consecutive victories? If he can do it, so can we."

Osler also called out loudly, "Right, we refuse to accept it. I happen to be a Soul Grandmaster too. I'd like to see just how strong he really is."

Osler was only level twenty-eight at the moment. Although he was a few levels higher than Nine Absolutes, that did not prevent him from challenging the other boy.

"Right, we want to see too."

Yu Feng, also level twenty-eight, and Shi Mo, level twenty-nine, began shouting along with Osler.

Only Yu Tianheng and the others who had already broken through level thirty, along with the support Soul Masters, did not join in. Yet the arrogance in their eyes remained obvious.

"Hahaha..." Qin Ming laughed heartily. "Good. Since you refuse to accept it, I'll take you to see just how great the gap between you is today."

Although he had absolute confidence in his students, to be honest, he did not think highly of Osler and the other two.

How could a difference of four or five Soul Power levels compare to a thousand-year soul skill?

Even though they were already level twenty-eight or twenty-nine, if they faced Nine Absolutes, Qin Ming felt they would still have a hard time. They would most likely be unable to avoid defeat.

But that was not important.

Was that not his purpose?

In his view, Nine Absolutes was the finest whetstone heaven had sent him.

How could there be any undefeated genius? Without experiencing a few defeats, how could they see their own shortcomings? Failing now was better than failing on a real battlefield.

Looking at his students, all fired up as though they had been injected with chicken blood, Qin Ming was very satisfied inwardly, though his face remained stern.

"Now, go eat and prepare yourselves. We'll meet at the academy entrance in half an hour." With that, Qin Ming turned and left.

The instant he turned around, a scheming smile appeared at the corner of Qin Ming's mouth.

"That damned brat. Today, I'll let him see that his so-called strength is nothing but a joke." Watching Qin Ming's retreating back, Osler said viciously.

Shi Mo snorted coldly as well. "That's right. Does he really think that beating a few useless trash in the Soul Fighting Arena means he can shit all over our heads?"

A Mere Clown

Yu Tianheng frowned. "Do not underestimate him. The power of a thousand-year soul skill cannot be underestimated. You may not necessarily be his opponents."

As a Soul Elder, he understood too well the gap between thousand-year soul skills and hundred-year soul skills. Osler and the others might have an advantage in levels, but if they truly fought...

They would have a hard time.

Osler and the other two instantly deflated.

They were arrogant, not fools.

Though they claimed not to take Nine Absolutes seriously, they knew in their hearts that they were most likely no match for him.

They simply did not want to show it in front of Teacher Qin Ming.

You could lose, but not your spirit.

Ye Lingling asked, "Why do we have to think about facing him head-on? Other than one thousand-year Soul Ring, what else about him is worth caring about?"

"Nine consecutive victories may be rare in the Soul Fighting Arena, but they are not unheard of. Forget nine consecutive victories—what about ten, or even twenty?"

"Can't you accomplish that?"

"Yeah, why do we have to face him head-on? If we achieve nine consecutive victories... no, ten or even twenty consecutive victories, wouldn't that be enough?"

Osler's eyes immediately lit up.

Yu Tianheng nodded. "That's right. There is no need for us to confront him now. Once he reaches level thirty, I will naturally step in and defeat him."

Yu Tianheng had absolute confidence in himself.

Even if Nine Absolutes broke through to level thirty and gained two thousand-year soul skills, Yu Tianheng still had absolute confidence that he could defeat him.

The only reason he was not acting now was the difference in their levels.

He was level thirty-two, while the other boy was level twenty-four.

It truly would be difficult to justify fighting him.

The others nodded in agreement.

Dugu Yan said, "Then it's settled. Tonight, we'll first see just how strong he is, to actually make Teacher Qin Ming use him to lecture us."

Yu Tianheng said indulgently, "How strong can he be? He is just a clown. Yanyan, there is no need to take him to heart. Once he breaks through level thirty, I will naturally teach him how to behave."

Dugu Yan glanced at Yu Tianheng but said nothing more.

They had spent so much time together. How could she not know what Yu Tianheng was thinking? Though she felt he was not a bad person, she was still young.

For the time being, she had not considered such things.

Not receiving a response, Yu Tianheng did not lose heart. With a grand wave of his hand, he said, "Let's go eat first. My treat!"

"Thank you, Captain! Long live the Captain!" Oscar immediately cheered.

As for whether the captain and vice-captain would end up together...

What did that have to do with him? As long as there was food, that was enough.

Besides, in his view, it was only a matter of time.

Could there be anyone more outstanding than the captain?

The others actually had thoughts similar to Osler's, so they did not say much. They simply followed with smiles.

A free meal was a free meal.

Though none of them lacked money, how could anything they paid for themselves taste as good as something free?

That evening, Heaven Dou Great Soul Arena, one-on-one eleventh division, Arena Three.

"Nine Absolutes... Nine Absolutes... Nine Absolutes..."

Before Lu Yu had even stepped onto the stage, the many spectators in the stands were already shouting loudly. It was clear just how popular he had become in the Soul Fighting Arena over the past two days.

Of course.

That did not mean everyone liked him as a person. Rather, his strength had earned the recognition of countless gamblers.

Because over the past two days, anyone who bet on him to win had basically made at least a little money.

Even though the Soul Fighting Arena had continuously lowered his odds as his winning streak grew longer, it still could not withstand the gamblers' enthusiasm.

They might earn a little less, but it was steady.

That was far better than betting on matches where victory and defeat were uncertain, where they did not know whether they would profit or lose money.

On the other side.

Qin Ming also brought Yu Tianheng and the others to the stands.

They happened to stop not far from Lu Fei and the other boy.

"He is just a little brat. I don't know what these people are getting so excited about," Osler could not help muttering as he listened to the crowd's cheers.

By chance, Lu Fei heard him.

Glancing toward Osler and the others, Lu Fei said unhappily, "If you don't like it, you can leave. No one begged you to come watch."

Osler froze. Turning to look, he discovered that the other party was merely a little brat and immediately became angry. "What? Little brat, is he your father? Why are you defending him so fiercely?"

"If you don't want your mouth, donate it. Don't stand here spouting shit." Lu Fei looked at him coldly. If private fighting were not forbidden here, he would have gone over and taught this foul-mouthed bastard a lesson.

"Brat, you're courting death!"

Osler flew into a rage. With an angry shout, he was about to rush over and beat Lu Fei.

"Osler!" Qin Ming immediately barked a reprimand.

Yu Tianheng hurriedly grabbed him as well and whispered into his ear, "The Great Soul Arena does not allow private fights. We'll deal with it outside."

This group had talent, and they had backgrounds. Across all of Heaven Dou City, there truly were not many people worth fearing.

"Young man, don't be so hot-tempered. In the end, you'll be the one who suffers." Hearing their muttering, Hua Yuan looked at them coldly.

Though he did not know who these people were, judging by their bearing and talent, they were probably not ordinary people. But the last thing they feared was someone with a background.

Meeting Hua Yuan's gaze, Osler and Yu Tianheng immediately felt a chill run through their bodies, as though they had been targeted by some ferocious beast.

Only then did they realize that the other party was very strong.

Qin Ming also recognized Hua Yuan's strength. Besides, Osler had been in the wrong to begin with, so he turned and reprimanded him, "Osler, apologize to this young friend."

Although every one of Yu Tianheng's group had an extraordinary status, status was merely status. Some people cared about it, while others might not.

Even princes could die inexplicably.

When traveling outside, one ultimately had to rely on one's own strength.

If a fight truly broke out, he would not be able to stop the other party.

"Teacher Qin Ming, it's just a verbal dispute. There's no need for that, is there?" As captain, Yu Tianheng naturally defended Osler.

"Hehe... interesting." Hua Yuan smiled mockingly. "As a teacher, it seems your authority among your students is not quite enough."

Yu Tianheng looked at Hua Yuan with a dark expression. How could he fail to hear the attempt to sow discord in the other man's words? But because of Hua Yuan's strength, he did not dare say much.

Moreover, what Hua Yuan said was true.

He had been too anxious to defend Osler and had not thought much about it. Now that Hua Yuan had brought it up, he had no choice but to consider Teacher Qin Ming's dignity.

Just as Qin Ming was about to say something, Lu Fei spoke up. "Forget it. If he doesn't want to apologize, then don't. It doesn't mean anything anyway."

What use was an apology?

If apologies were useful, why would there be laws?

Could an apology take back what he had said? If it could, Lu Fei could stand outside the Heaven Dou Imperial Family's gates and curse them every day.

Lu Fei had not spoken because he wanted an apology.

He was simply indignant.

He was not foolish either. From their clothing, he could tell these people were not ordinary.

He did not want to cause trouble for Brother Yu.

So Arrogant?

"Ah!"

Qin Ming could not help sighing.

He knew Yu Tianheng and the others were good in every way, except that their temperaments still had flaws. But he had always thought they were still young, so there was no rush.