Shen Qingling clapped her hands.
"Xiao San, Xiao Wu, release your Martial Souls!"
"Yes!" ×2
Blue light flashed in Tang San's eyes. He opened his palm, and a Blue Silver King Martial Soul appeared, its thick roots and lush leaves gleaming like crystal. Two Soul Rings, one yellow and one purple, rose beneath his feet.
A pink-and-blue phantom of a Moon Soul Soft Bone Rabbit appeared behind Xiao Wu. Like Tang San, she had one yellow and one purple Soul Ring.
"Holy shit!" ×3
The three of them swore. They hadn't meant to, but this was so damn shocking! Her Second Soul Ring was a thousand-year one at minimum. How could that not be terrifying?
Qian Renxue's small mouth fell slightly open, and her eyes widened before she could stop herself. She thought to herself:
A thousand-year Soul Ring. Big Brother, you really are good at teaching your disciples. If you hadn't left back then and had taught me like this, could I have become this strong too? Maybe I would have even reached the Soul Emperor realm!
Zhilin stepped forward, staring at the Blue Silver King in Tang San's hand. "This is Blue Silver Grass? No, Blue Silver Grass isn't like this!"
Seeing Zhilin's expression, Tang San explained:
"This is the Blue Silver King!"
Zhilin suddenly understood and nodded repeatedly.
"The Blue Silver King. No wonder, no wonder! The Blue Silver King Martial Soul is a top-tier Plant-type Martial Soul, even stronger than my Sky Azure Vine."
Zhilin and Bai Baoshan looked at Xiao Wu's Martial Soul. It didn't seem to be a Soft Bone Rabbit, either.
"My Martial Soul is the Moon Soul Soft Bone Rabbit," Xiao Wu said with a bright smile.
The Moon Soul Soft Bone Rabbit!
The two exchanged a glance. They both felt they'd struck gold!
The three of them looked at Shen Qingling and Gu Yuena, an immortal couple that anyone would envy.
"Are you two the teachers of these children?"
Shen Qingling nodded. "I'm their teacher. My name is Shen Qingling, and this is my wife, Gu Yuena."
Meng Shenji excitedly grasped Shen Qingling's hands.
"Young Master Shen, please come teach at Heaven Dou Royal Academy. We need talented people like you."
To have taught his disciples so well, Shen Qingling's strength was easy to imagine.
"Since the chief has asked, I'll accept."
Shen Qingling had planned to lead the Imperial Fighting Team anyway, so agreeing on the spot was only natural.
Meng Shenji's smile widened, and he nodded again and again.
"Wonderful! Teacher Shen, choosing to join Heaven Dou Royal Academy is certainly the wisest decision. With you here, the academy is sure to achieve even greater results in the upcoming Soul Master Tournament."
He secretly rejoiced. He'd been worrying that the Imperial Fighting Team lacked a capable leader, and now a powerful teacher whose disciple had a thousand-year Soul Ring had practically fallen from the sky. It was an unexpected delight.
Qin Ming was good, but he'd only recently reached the Soul King realm. With a better candidate available, why wouldn't they take him?
Bai Baoshan stepped forward and cautiously asked:
"Teacher Shen, might we be fortunate enough to spar with you? It would be an eye-opening experience."
He was curious about just how strong a teacher capable of instructing disciples like these really was.
"If you'd like to test my strength, that's fine," Shen Qingling said calmly, showing no hint of hesitation.
"Let me," Zhilin said, stepping forward, a faint green glow rising at his fingertips. "Teacher Shen, shall I take the honors? We'll keep it friendly."
Zhilin considered himself an eighty-third-level Soul Douluo. As a control-type Soul Master with a Sky Azure Vine, he was particularly skilled at probing an opponent's strength. He could gauge Shen Qingling's capabilities without harming their relationship.
"Of course."
Shen Qingling nodded slightly and walked unhurriedly to the center of the hall.
Gu Yuena folded her arms and watched with amusement. She knew Zhilin wasn't strong enough to even brush her husband's sleeve. This spar was nothing more than a formality.
Seeing Shen Qingling invited to join the academy, Qian Renxue was quite happy. Now she'd have a chance to spend time with Big Brother.
If she joined the Imperial Academy, wouldn't she be able to learn from Big Brother? It could also make up for the regret of never having been taught by him.
She had to think of a flawless excuse.
Just as she was feeling pleased, Gu Yuena approached with graceful steps and stopped in front of Qian Renxue. In a soft voice only the two of them could hear, she said:
"Your Highness, I don't know what you're thinking, and I know nobles have plenty of tricks. But put away those dirty thoughts of yours. He's my husband. If I hear even the slightest rumor, I won't go easy on you!"
Qian Renxue met Gu Yuena's gaze. She'd weathered all manner of storms; how could a mere threat frighten her?
"Mrs. Shen, you're mistaken. I had no such intention. I simply admire him. But is this really appropriate?" Qian Renxue said with a light laugh.
She wasn't the slightest bit afraid.
"Hmph. That's none of your concern."
Gu Yuena gave her a playful smile, then returned to Shen Qingling and looped her arm through his. Pursing her red lips, she kissed Shen Qingling and sweetly called, "Husband."
Shen Qingling shivered and looked at Gu Yuena.
"What is it?"
Gu Yuena shook her head.
"Nothing. I just wanted to kiss you."
Shen Qingling instinctively started to turn around and see what was going on, but Gu Yuena pinched him lightly at the waist. Her lowered voice carried a hint of warning.
"Dare to look back, and you'll see what's coming to you tonight."
Shen Qingling understood at once. She was jealous and deliberately staking her claim in front of Qian Renxue.
He smiled helplessly, obediently turning his gaze back to Zhilin in the middle of the hall. He didn't spare so much as a sideways glance.
He knew Gu Yuena's temper all too well. If he truly angered her, he'd be the one suffering tonight.
Qian Renxue stood where she was, her fingertips clenched until they turned white and her back teeth nearly ground to dust.
She watched Gu Yuena deliberately flaunt her relationship with Shen Qingling. Anger and bitterness churned inside her, a ball of fire lodged in her chest.
But she couldn't lash out. Right now, she was the Heaven Dou Crown Prince, Xue Qinghe. She couldn't let her identity be exposed, and she couldn't lose her composure over something so trivial.
She took a deep breath and slowly suppressed the turmoil in her heart, forcing herself to calm down.
What was this little provocation? There was plenty of time ahead.
She hid the emotions about to spill over and put on a gentle, refined smile again, as if nothing had happened. Then she turned her gaze toward the sparring, as though she truly cared only about its outcome.
Afterward, everyone headed to the area in front of the Education Committee's main hall.
Zhilin released his Sky Azure Vine Martial Soul. Two yellow, two purple, and four black Soul Rings rose slowly. He looked at Shen Qingling, who stood opposite him with a calm expression, and said in a low voice, "Teacher Shen, pardon me!"
"Fifth Soul Skill: Sky Azure Frenzy Dance!"
Countless green vines writhed like dancers in a frantic frenzy, surging toward Shen Qingling in attack.
Shen Qingling released his Blue Silver Emperor Martial Soul. Two purple, three black, and one red Soul Ring rose. As Shen Qingling took a step, the Sky Azure Vines seemed to receive an order and surged forward.
"A Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Ring!"
Everyone cried out in shock. Even more astonishing, the Sky Azure Vine's Soul Skill had no effect!
Zhilin's gaze fixed on the Blue Silver Emperor in Shen Qingling's hand.
"This Martial Soul!" Zhilin felt a foreboding.
"The Blue Silver Emperor is an even more powerful Martial Soul than the Blue Silver King," Shen Qingling said calmly. "Blue Silver Domain!"
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