Qin Ming

Qin Ming's gaze passed over the students and settled on Chen Xin, who stood not far away.

When he sensed that deep, unfathomable aura, vast as an abyss and a mountain yet restrained as an ordinary person's, his pupils suddenly contracted. He then hurried forward and bowed respectfully.

"Qin Ming, a junior instructor at Heaven Dou Royal Academy, pays his respects to Your Excellency Sword Douluo. Thank you for holding back just now and not interfering with my students' Soul Hunting."

He kept his posture low and his words sincere.

What sort of status did a Titled Douluo possess? If he had truly acted on the girl's request and lent a hand, then regardless of the outcome, he would have interfered in someone else's Soul Hunting Operation. Word of it would have done neither side's reputation any good.

Especially as the instructor leading the group, if his students encountered danger and needed someone else to step in, word would inevitably affect how he was judged.

Chen Xin gave a slight nod in reply.

Qin Ming was used to this. For the dignified Sword Douluo to acknowledge a mere Soul King like him was already generous.

"Lan Yin, what you said really was true! I can't believe striking the spot where the Golden-Armored Unicorn Rhino's horn met its skull could stun it instantly." Ning Rongrong spoke as if no one else were there.

"It's not that simple." Tang Yin shook his head slightly. "Striking that spot can indeed stun it instantly, but it demands extremely strict standards of speed, precision, and force from a Soul Master."

He had spoken confidently just now, but theory was still only theory. Putting it into practice was much harder.

Tang Yin knew he couldn't do it yet. Even if his attack landed, it would only scrape the keratin off the Golden-Armored Unicorn Rhino's horn.

The two hadn't tried to keep their conversation from the others, and Qin Ming had naturally seen it all. He turned his gaze to Ning Rongrong, standing nearby. Her clothes were elegant and her bearing graceful; he had a vague idea of who she was.

"You must be Sect Master Ning's daughter, Miss Ning Rongrong?" Qin Ming asked warmly.

"Instructor Qin Ming." Ning Rongrong's expression was unusually serious, and she looked every bit the well-mannered young lady.

Her manner surprised Qin Ming. He thought that the rumors going around really couldn't be taken at face value. Then he looked at Tang Yin, who stood beside Ning Rongrong.

He had noticed the intimate way the young man and Ning Rongrong behaved toward each other some time ago.

"And this young man is?"

Anyone who was close to the future leader of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, with Sword Douluo standing nearby and raising no objection, either had an extraordinary background or exceptional talent.

But what had really caught his attention was what Ning Rongrong had said just now.

"Lan Yin." Tang Yin gave his name briefly.

He didn't know what to make of Qin Ming, the devoted supporter of Shrek Academy.

He remembered how many people in his past life had called Qin Ming a two-faced ingrate for leaving Heaven Dou Royal Academy after Shrek Academy had been humiliated. In Tang Yin's view, that criticism was just an attempt to smear him.

Qin Ming had merely worked at Heaven Dou Royal Academy. Their relationship was nothing more than employer and employee. If you no longer wanted to work for a company and planned to resign, did that make you an ingrate?

The one thing people faulted him for was abandoning the students he had led at Heaven Dou Royal Academy. From the original story, both Yu Tianheng of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan and the Poison Douluo's unruly granddaughter had held Qin Ming in high regard.

"Brother Lan, you're young, yet so observant. It seems you've studied the traits of Soul Beasts extensively." Qin Ming sounded genuinely sincere.

He could naturally judge Tang Yin's approximate age and level from his Soul Power fluctuations. And the keen eye Tang Yin had shown in spotting the Golden-Armored Unicorn Rhino's weakness had made Qin Ming think even more highly of him.

Thinking of the Elite Soul Master Academy Tournament a few years from now, and how the academy had already planned for him to lead its next team, Qin Ming's thoughts stirred.

"I teach at Heaven Dou Royal Academy. If you'd like to visit the academy someday, Brother Tang, you're always welcome."

It was a distinctly friendly invitation. Instructors at Heaven Dou Royal Academy held no ordinary status.

"Thank you for the kind offer, Instructor Qin." Tang Yin cupped his hands in gratitude but said nothing more.

Joining Heaven Dou Royal Academy would be a good choice for him, but he still needed to find a way to handle the issue of his identity.

Seeing this, Qin Ming smiled in a refined manner. Some things only needed to be mentioned once; saying more would spoil the effect.

Heaven Dou Royal Academy was within Crown Prince Xue Qinghe's sphere of influence. Qin Ming assumed that Ning Rongrong's joining the academy was practically a certainty, and the young man beside her, who was so close to her, would probably not refuse either.

After a few more pleasantries, Qin Ming excused himself to look after his students. Chen Xin also signaled Tang Yin and Ning Rongrong to leave.

"Grandpa Sword, that Instructor Qin Ming seems really capable, and he seems like a nice person too!" Ning Rongrong said softly once they were back in the carriage.

"A fifty-one-year-old Soul King with a Blazing Gray Wolf Spirit. He's among the leading young instructors at Heaven Dou Royal Academy," Chen Xin said calmly. "He recognized me right away, yet remained neither servile nor overbearing and handled himself well. He certainly has his merits."

Ning Rongrong rolled her eyes thoughtfully and looked at Tang Yin beside her.

"Brother Lan Yin, Instructor Qin Ming wanted to invite you to join Heaven Dou Royal Academy. What do you think?"

Ning Rongrong had originally been somewhat opposed to her father's plan to send her to Heaven Dou Royal Academy. But if Lan Yin joined too, that would be different.

"We'll see when the time comes. The admission requirements for Heaven Dou Royal Academy are very strict." Tang Yin waved his hand, well aware of the little scheme Ning Rongrong had in mind.

Heaven Dou Royal Academy mainly admitted two kinds of students.

One kind was children of nobles; the other was commoner geniuses recommended by Titled Douluos or powerful figures such as the crown prince.

Tang Yin was neither a noble nor someone with a recommendation, so getting in would be quite difficult.

Qin Ming probably hadn't imagined that Tang Yin, who was close to Miss Ning Rongrong and accompanied by Sword Douluo, might not qualify for Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

"What's the big deal? Grandpa Sword or Grandpa Bone can recommend you!" Ning Rongrong said, looking hopefully at Chen Xin, who sat beside her with a cold expression.

Faced with Ning Rongrong's hint, Sword Douluo Chen Xin sighed inwardly. But this was not something he would decide lightly.

As a guardian Douluo of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, even if he recommended someone to Heaven Dou Royal Academy in his personal capacity, outsiders would still see it as representing the will of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

"You should discuss this with your father." Chen Xin then looked at Tang Yin, his words carrying a deeper meaning. "Rongrong, if you want Lan Yin to have fewer troubles at the academy in the future, relying on the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's endorsement may not be the best choice."

He put it tactfully, but the meaning was clear.

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect held a special status. Recommending Tang Yin under its name would certainly mean no one dared obstruct his admission, but it would also brand him as belonging to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. He could easily be caught up in the delicate relations between the sect and the imperial family, or between the sect and other powers.

Ning Rongrong immediately understood the twists and turns involved. She grew annoyed, folded her arms, and turned her face toward the window, lost in thought.

The rest of the journey passed without incident. Several days later, the outline of Heaven Dou City, like a primordial beast, finally appeared at the edge of their view.

Unlike Jialing Pass, a grim military stronghold, Heaven Dou City struck them with the grandeur and prosperity of an empire's centuries-old foundations. Its walls rose into the clouds and stretched for miles, the bricks gleaming a dark gold in the sunlight. The city gates were immense, and carriages and pedestrians flowed through them in an endless stream. Even from far away, the clamor could be faintly heard.

"Wow! We're finally here!" Ning Rongrong cheered, and the fatigue of the long journey seemed to vanish. She tugged at Chen Xin's sleeve. "Grandpa Sword, are we going to the Crown Prince's Mansion first?"