Prelude to the Competition

"Hmph!"

Inside the Heaven Dou Royal Academy, seven young men and women were filled with indignation.

"Teacher Qin, what does His Highness the Crown Prince mean by this? 'Instruction'? Does he really think we are that useless?"

A youth with blue hair and purple eyes spoke with resentment, slamming his fist onto the table.

Their team leader was Qin Ming, a genius student who had also graduated from Shrek Academy.

"I have said it before: your hearts are too restless and too arrogant. You should have seen enough during the trip to Suotuo City."

Qin Ming looked at the disciples he had brought up, a sense of helplessness surfacing on his face.

"As for tomorrow's match, I can only say it might be even more difficult than the match against Shrek Academy. I believe His Highness the Crown Prince has good intentions, and it is all for the sake of your improvement."

"Besides, Shrek Academy will be arriving at Heaven Dou soon. You will be classmates then; don't you want to show them your progress?"

A hint of anticipation appeared on Qin Ming's face as he said this.

The blue-haired youth was none other than Yu Tianheng, the heir to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.

He slowly sat down, clearly still unable to move past the defeat in Suotuo City, though his mindset was gradually calming down.

"Brothers, we must accept the challenge! Even if victory is difficult, we cannot just say we will try our best; we must give it our all!"

"Agreed!"

The seven spoke in unison.

"Teacher Qin, go back and tell His Highness the Crown Prince that we accept this match!"

Yu Tianheng took the lead, and the others followed suit.

"Good!"

Qin Ming looked up, silent.

I didn't teach them in vain!

However, Murong Ci, who was at Blazing Fire Academy, was having a much bigger headache over this.

"Where am I supposed to find seven people, Brother System? I'm worried to death!"

[You, Huo Wu, Huo Wushuang, and if you drag that Feng Xiaotian in, isn't that four already? Just find three more random people for the rest.]

Murong Ci patted his head in agony.

"What are you thinking about?"

Huo Wu walked over and skillfully hooked her arm through Murong Ci's.

"Team building. The Crown Prince said I need to form a seven-man team to spar with the Imperial Fighting Team."

"A seven-man team? How many do we have now?"

"Four: you, me, your brother, and Feng Xiaotian."

Huo Wu tilted her head to look at the sky, pondering for a moment.

"Just grab three members from Blazing Fire Academy. It's not like the four of us can't handle it."

"Fine, let's go. Let's head to the training grounds and take a look at the students."

"Mhm!"

Huo Wu agreed cheerfully, and the two walked one after the other toward the training grounds.

They were still bickering along the way...

"Do you think Feng Xiaotian will join?"

"If he doesn't, I'll keep beating him up."

Huo Wu gave the soft flesh at Murong Ci's waist a fierce pinch.

"Look at how smug you are!"

On the main road from Suotuo City to Heaven Dou City, a team was marching toward Heaven Dou City in a grand procession.

"Little monsters, we should arrive at Heaven Dou Royal Academy by tomorrow. But... where exactly is the academy?"

The one speaking was Flender. Following Gangzi's "borrowing a hen to lay eggs" strategy, they were heading to Heaven Dou Royal Academy to enroll.

"Ning Rongrong, do you know?" Flender couldn't help but ask as he looked at the road ahead; after all, Ning Rongrong had lived in Heaven Dou City since she was a child.

However, Ning Rongrong was clearly distracted. A few days ago, she had killed the Fierce God Fighting Team using Tang San's Godly Zhuge Crossbow, and combined with her lingering admiration and regret regarding that person, she had been restless throughout the journey to Heaven Dou.

"Ah? Oh, Dean, I know where Heaven Dou Royal Academy is."

"Oh? Then I'll leave it to you, Ning Rongrong!"

The girls beamed with joy, nodding frantically to show their approval.

Xiao Wu felt a lingering sense of fear.

Over at Blazing Fire Academy, Huo Wushuang had already summoned Feng Xiaotian, while Murong Ci stood at the edge of the training grounds, roster in hand, ready to call the roll.

"You, you, and you—step forward!"

"Huo Ling'er, Huo Yun, Huo Hai. Not bad."

Huo Ling'er was a young girl, a level 27 auxiliary-system battle soul master with the Fire Bell martial soul.

Huo Yun and Huo Hai were twin brothers, their martial souls being the Blazing Fire Spear and Blazing Fire Shield.

One offense, one defense; they complemented each other perfectly.

"The lineup is decent, though your soul power is a bit low. You need to work on your synergy."

"Yes!"

The three answered in unison.

Feng Xiaotian stood to the side, arms crossed, watching with a cold eye.

"Hey, I have to say, your ability to win people over is quite something. You even have me willing to follow you into these matches."

Murong Ci tucked away the roster and teased him slightly.

"Little brother, I recall I beat you into submission, didn't I? What? Do you want another one-on-one special training session?"

Feng Xiaotian didn't speak, merely shivering slightly.

It was clear he had no desire to repeat that experience.

"If there are no objections, let's begin training. Even though having someone as dashing as me in charge guarantees a win, we are a team after all. We need to have a sense of collective honor!"

"I'll let you in on a secret: seven-man teams at the Great Soul Arena can make money. Don't you want to earn some extra cash and eat well?"

Upon hearing this, Huo Ling'er, Huo Yun, and Huo Hai were instantly invigorated and threw themselves into training.

By evening, everyone had collapsed to the ground, leaving only Murong Ci, Huo Wushuang, and Feng Xiaotian standing.

"Gather here tomorrow at eight sharp. We'll work on coordination. Brother, little brother, carry them off."

Huo Wu lay sprawled on the floor, not wanting to move a single finger.

"Ci... carry me back..."

Murong Ci didn't hesitate; he scooped Huo Wu up in a bridal carry.

Under Feng Xiaotian's unblinking gaze, he carried her into his room.

Then, the lights went out.

Feng Xiaotian: "..."

"Stop looking. You don't have a chance."

Huo Wushuang hoisted Huo Yun and Huo Hai onto his back.

"Ling'er is yours. The rest is up to you."

Feng Xiaotian looked at the unconscious Huo Ling'er on the ground, feeling somewhat at a loss.

Still... the rest was up to him, right?

Feng Xiaotian sighed, picked up Huo Ling'er, and headed toward her dormitory.

That same night, at the Moon-Gazing Tea House.

Xue Qinghe seemed to have grown fond of this place.

Whenever he was bored or had a moment of leisure, he would come here to enjoy a few cups of tea.

The staff recognized the Crown Prince and dared not be negligent.

Every time, they provided the finest private room.

There were three people in the room this time: Xue Qinghe, Snake Lance Douluo, and Pufferfish.

"The two elders, how is the investigation into Murong Ci's background coming along?"

The two elders knelt on one knee to salute.

Snake Lance Douluo replied respectfully.

"Reporting to the Young Master, Murong Ci was cast out of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Three months ago, Ning Fengzhi expelled him."

Once Snake Lance Douluo finished, Pufferfish added further details.

"Upon his departure, Ning Fengzhi gifted him a 400-year-old Flame Demon Lion soul beast. Afterward, he left the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and headed north. A month later, he appeared at Blazing Fire Academy, his soul power having leaped from level 10 to level 27."

Xue Qinghe's fingers traced the rim of his teacup, his expression unreadable.

"Oh? Seventeen levels in a single month? Did he encounter some sort of opportunity?"

"Your subordinates do not know."

"Interesting, very interesting. Keep watching. If you use a man, don't doubt him; if you doubt him, don't use him. Since he already knows my true identity but hasn't exposed me, he is worth winning over."

"Young Master, the true strength of this person remains unknown. To recruit him so rashly, I fear..."

"Ah, there is no need to worry about such things. I am currently wondering how my dear teacher would feel if he knew the servant he drove away was such a genius."

Xue Qinghe took a sip of tea, a trace of mockery appearing on his face.

"I imagine he would regret it until his guts turned green. Elders, please go and arrange tomorrow's competition. You may withdraw."

"We obey!"

After the two had departed, Xue Qinghe toyed with a small Angel Statue in his hand.

"May I be the star... and you the moon..."

Silence fell, save for the storyteller downstairs recounting the legends of Yongzhen.