Angel

Next came the promotion matches. They were held at the Imperial Grand Drill Ground outside the city.

Outside the drill ground, a full ten thousand royal knights had surrounded the entire area so tightly that not even water could pass through, their armor bright and gleaming. Between the great circle formed by the knights and the competition grounds, all fifteen participating teams had already arrived. Even the teams with a bye today were no exception. Even if they were not competing, they still needed to clearly assess their opponents' strength.

The rules were simple. Each side sent out seven team members. Every contestant who took the field had to fight until defeated. If they won, they would face the next opponent, until all seven members of one side had been defeated.

For Blazing Academy, this was an exceptionally easy matter, because Blazing Academy had the largest number of Soul Ancestors on the surface: four Soul Ancestors.

As the matches progressed, Blazing Academy's battles were basically dominated by Huo Wushuang and Huo Wu. The two repeatedly defeated multiple opponents alone, becoming the best-performing students of them all.

That afternoon, after the matches ended, someone suddenly approached the three of them and said, "Greetings, three Lord Soul Masters. Do you have time? Our Crown Prince would like to invite you for a gathering."

Xiaofei inwardly cried out in alarm. Although he had always concealed his strength, his rank was still easy for a Titled Douluo to discern. Yet he could not refuse the Crown Prince's invitation.

When the three entered an elegant room, they saw three people seated inside. A handsome and refined young man said, "Greetings, three students. I am Xue Qinghe. These two are Ning Fengzhi, Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, and Sword Douluo. I apologize for disturbing you."

"Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince, Sect Master Ning, Senior Sword Douluo." The three hurriedly bowed. These three were among the most powerful people in the Heaven Dou Empire.

Xue Qinghe said, "Student Huo Wu, Student Huo Wushuang, the two of you have been the best-performing students in both the preliminary rounds and the promotion matches. May I ask what plans you have for the future? Have you considered serving the Heaven Dou Royal Family?"

Huo Wushuang hurriedly replied, "Your Highness, my grandfather is the Dean of Blazing Academy. After graduation, Huo Wu and I will likely both return to Blazing Academy to teach."

The Crown Prince smiled lightly. "What a pity. Then I can only wish you victory in the Spirit Master Tournament and hope you bring glory to Blazing Academy."

Just as the three were preparing to leave, Sword Douluo suddenly opened his previously closed eyes and said, "Wait. Little friend, may I ask your name?" Ning Fengzhi and Xue Qinghe were both somewhat surprised by Sword Douluo's reaction.

Wang Xiaofei hurriedly said, "Greetings, Senior Sword Douluo. My name is Wang Xiaofei."

Sword Douluo looked at Xiaofei, nodded, and said, "Not bad. To possess such Soul Power at such a young age, you are quite impressive. Are you interested in joining the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect? If you come to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, we will train you extensively."

Xiaofei hurriedly said, "Senior Sword Douluo, I am a student of Blazing Academy. The academy has nurtured me, and my goal is to become a teacher at Blazing Academy in the future and bring glory to it."

Sword Douluo shook his head and said, "Huo Tianchen of Blazing Academy only has the cultivation of a Soul Douluo. If you join the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Bone Douluo Gu Rong and I are both Titled Douluo and can guide you. Your future achievements will be greater."

Xiaofei said again, "Thank you for thinking so highly of me, Senior Sword Douluo. Xiaofei is only an ordinary student of Blazing Academy. My future goal is to become a teacher at Blazing Academy, to teach and nurture students there, and to bring glory to Blazing Academy."

Sword Douluo shook his head, sat down on his own, and narrowed his eyes again. Seeing this, Ning Fengzhi smiled and said, "Student Xiaofei, greetings. I am Ning Fengzhi, Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. You may visit our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect anytime." As he spoke, he handed Xiaofei a token of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and said, "This is a token of our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Please accept it."

Xiaofei hurriedly accepted the token and thanked Sect Master Ning and Sword Douluo.

After Xiaofei and the other two left, Ning Fengzhi looked at Sword Douluo in puzzlement. "Uncle Jian, is there something unusual about this Wang Xiaofei?"

Sword Douluo opened his eyes and said, "Fourteen years old, rank forty-nine. His Fire Attribute is exceptionally good."

Ning Fengzhi and Xue Qinghe were both greatly shocked. "Uncle Jian, is Wang Xiaofei really that extraordinary?"

Sword Douluo shook his head. "This boy's blood and vitality are surging throughout his body, and his Soul Power is extremely solid. It is clear that his physical constitution is exceptional. I have never seen anyone at this rank more astonishing than him."

Xue Qinghe and Ning Fengzhi both fell into thought. In the end, Xue Qinghe smiled. "I never expected Blazing Academy to be hiding such a trump card. It seems they are preparing for the finals."

That night, both Xue Qinghe and Ning Fengzhi received a report: "Wang Xiaofei, an orphan from Holy Soul Village, raised by the village chief Old Jack. Innate Soul Power rank eight, Martial Soul: Fire Phoenix. Later confirmed by Yu Xiaogang to be a Fire Phoenix. Graduated from Nuoding Primary Academy five years later, with Soul Power at rank twenty-six at age eleven. His whereabouts were unknown for one year after graduation. He joined Blazing Academy after turning twelve."

Both Xue Qinghe and Ning Fengzhi were puzzled. Wang Xiaofei's information was truly sparse. Moreover, in only three years after graduation, he had risen from rank twenty-six to rank forty-nine—eight ranks per year? If the report had not come from trusted subordinates, they would have suspected it was fabricated.

Xue Qinghe said toward the darkness, "Yu Long, how did your investigation go?"

A burly man emerged from the darkness and said, "Sword Douluo was entirely accurate. He is indeed fourteen years old and rank forty-nine, and it looks like he should advance again soon. Should we inform the Pope and have her recruit him?"

"Hm?" Xue Qinghe glanced at Yu Long and said, "Do not tell that woman yet. In a few days, I will invite Wang Xiaofei alone."

A few days later, while Xiaofei was resting at the hotel, someone suddenly knocked on his door. When he opened it, he found a soldier outside. The soldier respectfully said, "Student Wang, His Highness the Crown Prince requests your presence."

Xiaofei thought for a moment. It seemed he still could not avoid it. So he followed the soldier to a hotel. This time, Xue Qinghe was the only one in the room.

Xue Qinghe was holding a dossier. Looking closely, it was actually Wang Xiaofei's own file.

After entering, Xiaofei first bowed to Xue Qinghe. Following a round of formal courtesies, Xue Qinghe invited Xiaofei to sit across from him. Xue Qinghe said, "Student Xiaofei, may I ask you a question? Why was there no news of you for a year after graduation? And how did you rise from rank twenty-six to your current rank forty-nine in just over three years?"

Xiaofei hurriedly told Xue Qinghe again what he had previously said at Blazing Academy. Xue Qinghe sighed after hearing it. Naturally, Xiaofei once again refused Xue Qinghe's invitation, still claiming that he wanted to teach at Blazing Academy, leaving Xue Qinghe rather speechless.

Halfway through their conversation, Xue Qinghe suddenly asked, "Student Xiaofei, what do you think of Spirit Hall?"

Xiaofei knew the key point of today's meeting had arrived. After thinking seriously for a moment, he said, "Spirit Hall helped awaken my Martial Soul. Before I turned eleven, I had been receiving Spirit Hall's subsidies. Without those subsidies, I might not have achieved what I have today. When I graduated from Nuoding Junior Soul Master Academy, my options were Spirit Hall Soul Master Academy, Heaven Dou Royal Academy, and Blazing Academy. In the end, I chose Blazing Academy. I feel that Spirit Hall Soul Master Academy is somewhat chaotic at this stage. I believe Spirit Hall's faith should be in a peaceful Angel."

Xue Qinghe smiled and said, "Then why did you not come to Heaven Dou Royal Academy?"

Xiaofei shook his head and said, "I am a commoner. Heaven Dou Royal Academy has excellent resources, but I felt its atmosphere was not very suitable for my studies. I also heard that Tang San and the others from my village were driven out of Heaven Dou Royal Academy, so I was somewhat afraid. Besides, Blazing Academy truly suits the development of us Fire Element Soul Masters."

The conversation ultimately ended in a warm atmosphere. After Xiaofei left, he could not help wiping away a cold sweat. He knew he had just passed through the gates of hell.

Xue Qinghe's face turned pale. "It is all because of that woman. Otherwise, these would all be talents of our Spirit Hall." The two burly men beside him were so frightened that they did not dare say a word.