Armor Warriors

Time flew like an arrow, vanishing in a blink.

A year of cultivation passed in the blink of an eye.

Yu Tianheng, Osler, and Shi Mo gathered in the plaza, looking somewhat weary.

Osler and Shi Mo appeared utterly exhausted, while Yu Tianheng, though equally tired, had eyes that shone with intensity.

"I told you Teacher Qin's training methods were effective!"

"Even though our Soul Power didn't increase much this year, we gained something far greater!"

Greater benefits?

Osler and Shi Mo exchanged a glance.

Unlike Yu Tianheng, Osler was quite familiar with Yu Feng, and Shi Mo was the biological brother of Shi Mo.

They knew exactly what state the others were in.

However, they kept their thoughts to themselves.

They just wanted this year of devilish special training to be over and done with.

They never wanted to see Qin Ming's face again.

Nor did they want to spend any more time with Yu Tianheng.

Yu Tianheng was practically an automated praise machine; regardless of what training decision Qin Ming made, he would praise him first before doing anything else.

And all of this was simply because Qin Ming also idolized his uncle, Yu Xiaogang, who had become a laughingstock!

Birds of a feather.

At least they had finally made it through the year.

Now, they just needed to satisfy the damned competitive desires of Qin Ming and Yu Tianheng by putting on a show at the Great Soul Arena, and it would all be over.

Not far away, Meng Shenji, Bai Baoshan, and Zhi Lin arrived at the edge of the plaza with a team of people.

This group was naturally Xia Yuan and his companions.

Unlike the fatigue etched on the faces of Yu Tianheng's group, Xia Yuan and his team were visibly full of vigor.

Though Osler and Shi Mo didn't know the full story, they knew a thing or two.

Seeing this, Yu Tianheng couldn't help but sneer.

"They don't look like they've trained at all. It seems they really slacked off for the whole year!"

"Heh," Qin Ming walked over with a smile, "Did you really expect that wet-behind-the-ears Xia Yuan to have any good training strategies?"

"For the upcoming display of training results, all of you had better perform well!"

"Let them see the true gap between you and them!"

"Don't worry, Teacher Qin." Yu Tianheng rubbed his hands together, filled with bravado, "I will make them understand what it truly means to be a genius!"

As the two teams converged, the three committee members looked toward Qin Ming.

"Teacher Qin, the one-year deadline has arrived. Should we head to the Great Soul Arena to verify the results?"

Qin Ming said, "Wait, Committee Member Meng, Committee Member Bai, Committee Member Zhi, I have something to say."

"Oh?" Meng Shenji nodded, "Then please, Teacher Qin, speak your mind."

Qin Ming took several masks out of his storage Soul Tool.

The masks looked greenish and somewhat comical, revealing only the eyes, mouth, and nose.

"I had these masks specially made. They can wear them during the soul fights, and we can adopt specific external titles as well."

The three committee members exchanged glances, having no objections to this.

"No way, I refuse!" Ning Rongrong was the first to object.

Qin Ming had brought out more than three masks; it was clear he intended for both sides to wear them.

They were too ugly and too ridiculous; Ning Rongrong didn't want to wear one at all.

Yu Tianheng didn't seem to mind, even appearing proud of the idea.

Osler and Shi Mo slightly lowered their heads.

Because Qin Ming had already prepared the masks, he had even thought of their nicknames.

Yu Tianheng would be the "Shrek Dragon," Osler the "Shrek Leopard," and Shi Mo the "Shrek Turtle"...

This was simply...

The three committee members didn't know that Qin Ming had already prepared all of this, but they were quite interested in his proposal to use masks and titles to conceal their identities.

After all, they were preparing this team well in advance; normally, such preparations would only begin a year or two before the next Soul Master Tournament.

As for Xia Yuan's side, besides Ning Rongrong, Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling also had no desire to wear such masks.

They would just have to design their own masks and titles; regardless, with the power of a Soul Master, it wouldn't take long to craft a mask.

Meng Shenji said, "We can discuss the masks and titles later."

"Qin Ming, you previously mentioned using the Great Soul Arena to compare the results of both sides."

"Then shall we begin in three days at the Tiandou Great Soul Arena?"

"No," Qin Ming shook his head, "not just the Tiandou Great Soul Arena."

Meng Shenji: ?

Qin Ming said, "Committee Member Meng, I hope they can start from the Tiandou Great Soul Arena and head all the way south."

"Every time they pass a city, they will fight in that city's Great Soul Arena."

"In this way, it will continue until it concludes at the Suotuo City Great Soul Arena."

"Uh..." Meng Shenji was somewhat puzzled. "I can understand fighting in different Great Soul Arenas to some extent."

"But why set the final destination at the Suotuo City Great Soul Arena?"

"Isn't that the territory of the Balak Kingdom?"

"Exactly!" Qin Ming revealed a mysterious smile.

Watching that mysterious smile, Meng Shenji couldn't be bothered to pry further.

He suspected the academy Qin Ming came from was likely located in Suotuo City.

He turned to look at Xia Yuan.

Forget about going to the Great Soul Arena for a real, no-holds-barred fight; even without that, he could already tell.

The mental outlook of the two groups was simply not on the same level.

However, since the agreement had been made a year ago, it wouldn't be right for him to snub Qin Ming to his face.

"Xia Yuan, you all should go get some masks and come up with some titles."

"Yes." Xia Yuan acknowledged.

"Very well. I will find someone to assist you in making the masks later. For now, prepare according to this plan and gather here in three days."

Once Meng Shenji, Bai Baoshan, and Zhi Lin had departed, Dugu Yan and the others gathered around Xia Yuan.

"Xia Yuan, what kind of masks are we going to make?" Dugu Yan asked first.

Xia Yuan looked at them, a flash of inspiration hitting him, and he chuckled.

"Eh?" Ye Lingling had never seen this expression on Xia Yuan before and couldn't help but feel curious.

"Ahem," Xia Yuan gave a light cough, "you'll find out when the time comes."

"So mysterious." Dugu Yan pursed her lips.

Ning Rongrong suddenly asked, "Wait, what about me?"

The five of them had the history of competing with Qin Ming, but she, Ning Rongrong, was only there to train along with them and didn't need to participate in the matches.

Xia Yuan said, "If you want one, I'll get you one too when the time comes."

"I... I didn't ask for one, Miss." Ning Rongrong turned her head away.

"Really? Then I won't make one for you."

"Hey, make one, you have to make one." Ning Rongrong gave a sheepish laugh. "I can cheer for you all when the time comes."

"Right, what about our titles?" Yu Feng asked.

Xia Yuan: "Let's call ourselves the Armor Warriors."

The five of them: "Huh?"

Armor Warriors?

What kind of name was that?

Still, it sounded fairly normal.

At the very least, Xia Yuan's masks shouldn't be as abstract as the green monster in Qin Ming's hands.

Three days later.

The group looked at the masks distributed to them and exchanged blank stares.

"This is the Armor Warriors?"