Lin Hao's Dream

All three instructors wore black robes.

Strange patterns were embroidered on the robes with golden silk thread. These were formal robes exclusive to Spirit Masters above level eighty who held the title of Soul Douluo, second only to the red formal robes of Title Douluo.

Lin Hao was taken aback.

Soul Douluo and Title Douluo rarely wore such formal robes. They only wore these custom-made garments when dueling opponents of the same rank or attending extremely important occasions.

The fact that all three instructors wore such robes today showed how seriously they regarded the matter.

Meng Shenji nodded. "Mm, not bad. Your aura is steady. You're a promising prospect. Let's go in together!"

The three instructors entered the Soul Fighting Arena first, followed by Qin Ming, with Lin Hao bringing up the rear.

The moment Lin Hao stepped into the Soul Fighting Arena, the gazes of the seven people who had been waiting inside focused on him.

Lin Hao calmly followed behind Qin Ming until they reached the center of the arena.

The Soul Fighting Platform had been specially reinforced with Soul Tools and could withstand attacks from Spirit Masters below the Soul King rank.

Meng Shenji spoke. "As chief instructor, I hereby announce something on behalf of the academy. From today onward, Lin Hao will be the captain of the Imperial Fighting Team. Yu Tianheng will serve as vice-captain. Dugu Yan will no longer serve as vice-captain. Shi Mo, step forward!"

A broad-shouldered, heavily muscled youth stepped out from among the seven team members.

Meng Shenji said, "From today onward, you will be transferred to the Heaven Dou Second Team."

"Hold on!"

A young man stepped out from the team.

He looked to be in his early twenties, with a slender build and a height of over 1.9 meters.

His neat black hair stood upright like steel needles, and his hands were long and powerful.

He could not be called handsome, and there was rarely any expression on his face, as though his facial muscles were stiff. Dressed in a plain blue martial outfit without any adornments, he gave off a simple impression, yet that very simplicity made him seem dangerous.

"Tianheng, do you have an objection?" Meng Shenji asked.

"Shi Mo has done nothing wrong. Why should he be transferred to the second team? The newcomer may be strong, but Shi Mo has trained with us for quite some time. We've already developed mutual understanding. Wouldn't transferring him to the second team be inappropriate?"

"This is the academy's decision."

"Chief Instructor, may we settle this according to the rules of Spirit Masters?"

The rules of Spirit Masters meant competing through strength. They would engage in soul fighting; the victor stayed, while the loser left.

Yu Tianheng glanced at Shi Mo.

Although defying the chief instructor was wrong, Yu Tianheng had done it deliberately. His goal was to earn the goodwill of his teammates, especially Shi Mo, a noble-born student.

Meng Shenji frowned and said in a low voice, "Tianheng..."

"Chief Instructor..." Before Meng Shenji could finish, Dugu Yan stepped forward as well. "Could we settle this according to the rules of the Spirit Master world? That way, everyone will be convinced!"

Meng Shenji was startled.

He could ignore Yu Tianheng, who stood at a disadvantage in his clan's internal competition, but he could not ignore Dugu Yan, the granddaughter of Poison Douluo.

The academy's headmaster was His Majesty Xue Ye. He was burdened with countless affairs and had no time to handle the academy's miscellaneous matters, so he had appointed Prince Xue Xing to take full charge of the academy.

In other words, Prince Xue Xing was the academy's true arbiter.

And Poison Douluo was one of Prince Xue Xing's most favored men. Because of that relationship, Meng Shenji had no choice but to show Dugu Yan some consideration within the academy.

Lin Hao stepped forward and clasped his fists. "Chief Instructor, I am willing to convince them with strength."

Stroking his goatee, Meng Shenji smiled. "There is still some time before the banquet. Very well, then. Lin Hao, you will soul fight Shi Mo. Let everyone see whether you are qualified to join the Heaven Dou First Team!"

Lin Hao smiled. "They should all come at me together."

"All together?"

"All together?"

"All together?"

Meng Shenji and the other two instructors, along with all seven members of the Heaven Dou First Team, stared at Lin Hao in shock.

Qin Ming whispered, "One against seven? Lin Hao, don't be reckless! You only need to defeat one of them to prove that you are qualified to join the first team!"

Lin Hao continued smiling. "This isn't just about joining the first team. It also concerns whether I am qualified to become the team captain. To make them fully convinced, they should all come at me together."

Lin Hao had long held the idea of establishing the Misty Cloud Sect on Douluo Continent.

To found a sect, he would first need a core group, then gradually develop Core Disciples, Inner Sect Disciples, and Outer Sect Disciples.

The seven people before him were all quite capable and exceptionally talented. Barring unforeseen circumstances, they would certainly become Soul Douluo in their lifetimes, perhaps even Title Douluo.

Talents like them were qualified to become the backbone of the Misty Cloud Sect on Douluo Continent in the future.

Lin Hao had never intended to become the team captain, but since the academy had made him captain, he would not miss such a rare opportunity to establish his authority and lay the groundwork for bringing all seven of them under his command in the future.

Yu Tianheng clenched his fists and fixed his gaze on Lin Hao. "You're going too far!"

Yu Tianheng was proud by nature, and he felt that Lin Hao's demand was an insult to him.

Meng Shenji asked, "Are you sure?"

Lin Hao nodded. "I'm sure!"

"You're asking for a beating!" Yu Tianheng flew into a rage. His Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul Possession activated instantly as he charged at Lin Hao.

Bang!

Their fists collided. Lin Hao did not budge, nor did Yu Tianheng. Their eyes met.

Lin Hao remained calm, while Yu Tianheng was filled with shock.

"Uh!"

Everyone froze.

That first clash had already proven that Lin Hao's strength surpassed Yu Tianheng's, even though Yu Tianheng possessed a Beast Martial Soul.

Yu Tianheng had activated his Martial Soul Possession, while Lin Hao had not even summoned his Martial Soul. He had blocked Yu Tianheng's punch with pure physical strength alone.

Lin Hao drew his shoulder back slightly, then suddenly drove it forward with a burst of short-range force.

Yu Tianheng staggered back two steps.

Lin Hao said, "You should all come at me together. Don't say I'm bullying you, and it will save you from refusing to accept defeat afterward!"

As he spoke, Lin Hao extended his right hand. Gray light flickered in his palm, and a gray Talisman appeared, covered in primitive yellow, blue, and golden runes.

Three Spirit Rings rose beneath Lin Hao's feet. From inner to outer, their colors were yellow, yellow, and black.

"A ten-thousand-year Spirit Ring!" Yu Tianheng cried out.

"Am I seeing things? His third Spirit Ring is ten thousand years old?!" Dugu Yan blurted out in disbelief.

Lin Hao's first two Spirit Rings were standard configurations, but his third Spirit Ring was an unimaginable ten-thousand-year ring.

Qin Ming walked to Lin Hao's side and reminded him quietly, "Lin Hao, know when to stop. Don't actually fight seven against one!"

From the shocked expressions on Dugu Yan and Yu Tianheng's faces, it was already clear that Lin Hao was qualified to enter the Heaven Dou First Team and serve as its captain.

Yet Qin Ming still did not believe Lin Hao could defeat all seven Heaven Dou's top students whom he had trained for some time.