Xia Yuan Returns, Qin Ming Debates

Among the six who did not need to take part in the selection, aside from Xia Yuan, who had yet to return, the other five had long since been chosen.

Heaven-Dou Tier students who met the requirements were rare to begin with, and Yu Tianheng was already among the best of them.

As for the remaining students, most of them were still Heaven-Tier students.

Faced with the three-ringed Yu Tianheng, no one dared challenge his edge.

As for the remaining people, such as Dugu Yan and the others, they were no strangers to them either.

It could be said that these few were either powerful among the students in their own right or possessed special abilities, such as Ye Lingling's martial soul, Nine Heart Begonia.

The only one who remained somewhat mysterious was the sixth member who had yet to appear.

"All right. If there are no questions, we'll begin grouping now," Qin Ming said.

However, someone still asked resentfully, "Then who took the sixth spot?"

"He hasn't even shown up. How are we supposed to know whether he deserves that spot?"

Qin Ming said with a calm expression, "He was personally arranged by the three education committee members. I have not met him either."

"If, after he returns, you feel you can replace him, then challenge him."

"If he can be defeated by you, then that means he does not deserve to join the team."

This time, it was not only Zhi Lin; Meng Shenji and Bai Baoshan also frowned.

Just then, a guard came over to the three education committee members.

Seeing this guard, Meng Shenji hurriedly brought Zhi Lin and Bai Baoshan over.

The guard lowered his voice and said a few words to the three of them, then led them outside.

Qin Ming did not look in the direction the three education committee members had left. He merely announced the start of the group battles, then turned toward Yu Tianheng and the other four.

"Yu Tianheng, among you, your spirit power cultivation is the highest, and you are also the oldest. From now on, you will serve as captain of the Imperial Fighting Team."

"Dugu Yan, you are a control-type spirit master. You will be vice-captain and serve as the team's brain."

"Teacher Qin, shouldn't we wait until all the members are gathered before deciding?" Dugu Yan asked.

"Xia Yuan hasn't returned yet, and the seventh team member hasn't been selected either. Are we really deciding the captain so soon?"

"What do you mean?" Yu Tianheng immediately grew displeased. "Are you saying I'm not worthy of being captain?"

Dugu Yan blinked her emerald-green eyes. "I never said you weren't worthy. I'm just asking Teacher Qin to consider it a little more."

"There's no need," Qin Ming's voice was incomparably cold and hard. "You had best get used to my teaching methods as soon as possible."

"Otherwise, when it comes to my teaching methods later on, you may not even be qualified to receive them."

"The Imperial Fighting Team does not accept people who refuse discipline."

Dugu Yan was just about to ask Qin Ming what he meant by that when she suddenly looked toward the direction where the three education committee members had left earlier.

Ye Lingling did the same as Dugu Yan, her gaze fixing there at once.

Yu Tianheng followed their gazes, and his fists could not help clenching.

Seeing them like this, Qin Ming could not help turning to look as well.

He saw the three education committee members walking this way with a young man dressed in imperial attire and a handsome youth.

So this was that mysterious Xia Yuan?

Qin Ming raised an eyebrow.

As a "monster" who came from Shrek Academy, he had seen plenty of geniuses.

But someone as unwilling to be disciplined as Xia Yuan, who had gone off for an entire year and had not stayed at the academy to receive instruction, was something he was seeing for the first time.

Could cultivating alone outside really make one stronger than receiving guidance in the academy?

If not, why would spirit masters even enroll in Spirit Master Academies?

"Your Highness the Crown Prince, this is Qin Ming, whom we mentioned to you before."

Meng Shenji's hearty laughter rang out.

Qian Renxue looked at Qin Ming and nodded in greeting. "So this is Teacher Qin."

"I do not dare accept such praise." Qin Ming saluted Qian Renxue, and Yu Tianheng and the others did the same.

Meng Shenji said, "Now that Xia Yuan has returned, this is perfect. The captain of the Imperial Fighting Team can be him."

"Education Committee Member Meng, that isn't right, is it?" Yu Tianheng narrowed his eyes.

A trace of displeasure also flashed across Qin Ming's face.

He had already decided on the candidates for captain and vice-captain just now.

It was one thing that there had previously been no information on Xia Yuan for him to use as reference, but after returning, he actually wanted to seize authority?

Yu Tianheng was even more intensely unhappy.

A year's time had already been enough for those students who had watched the battle back then to forget his crushing defeat.

When he had just heard Qin Ming directly appoint him as captain, he had even thought he would be able to command Xia Yuan.

He had never expected that his position as captain would be lost before he had even warmed the seat—no, before he had even begun to warm it.

Meng Shenji did not notice Qin Ming's expression. He looked at Yu Tianheng. "Yu Tianheng, you will serve as vice-captain."

Yu Tianheng said, "Academic Committee member, I'm a three-ring Soul Elder, while he's only a Great Soul Master. My cultivation is higher. Why am I not the captain?"

Back then, losing to a Great Soul Master while he himself had three rings had always been Yu Tianheng's shame.

But now he had learned as well. He did not say that Xia Yuan was weaker than him, but used cultivation to pressure him instead.

Meng Shenji grinned, the joy on his face impossible to hide. "Xia Yuan has already broken through to three rings!"

Xia Yuan had already broken through to three rings now. Before the next Soul Master Tournament, breaking through to Soul Ancestor was practically a sure thing.

So, even though in Meng Shenji's eyes Xia Yuan had only just broken through, he already possessed potential far beyond Yu Tianheng's.

Not to mention that Xia Yuan had been personally recruited by Crown Prince Xue Qinghe, and addressed the crown prince as a brother.

With that, his relationship with the academy was far closer than the likes of Yu Tianheng.

Even Qin Ming, this teacher who had a very high chance of becoming a Title Douluo in the future, could no longer compare to Xia Yuan in status at this moment.

In fact, if they absolutely had to choose between the two, the academy could even accept losing Qin Ming and Yu Tianheng, and choose Xia Yuan instead!

Of course, things had not reached such an extreme yet.

But in front of the crown prince, the three Academic Committee members had to raise Xia Yuan's status somewhat.

"Teacher Qin, after the final member is selected later, we'll ask you to guide the Imperial Fighting Team's future tactics and teamwork."

But after hearing Meng Shenji's words, Qin Ming asked, "Committee Member Meng, I'd like to know whether I, as the Imperial Fighting Team's guiding teacher, possess sufficient authority."

Meng Shenji frowned. "What do you want to do?"

"If a team member refuses discipline, I should have the right to expel him from the Imperial Fighting Team."

"This is my teaching style. If we continue teaching with that same lukewarm method as before, the Imperial Fighting Team will definitely have no chance of reaching the top of the Soul Master Tournament."

"This..." Meng Shenji glanced at Xia Yuan. He had now sensed it too—Qin Ming seemed to have some misunderstanding toward Xia Yuan.

"If some conflict arises between you and a team member, it's best to first resolve it in the proper way."

"If that truly doesn't work, then come find this old man."

Meng Shenji certainly did not want to give up on Xia Yuan, but he also could not directly deny Qin Ming without doing anything at all.

Otherwise, what was the point of inviting Qin Ming to serve as the Imperial Fighting Team's guiding teacher?