Let This Moonlight Shine Across Every River!

With a wolf's howl, Qin Ming leaped into the air and hurled masses of fierce flame down at Lin Ye.

"This is bad. Teacher Qin's move packs a real punch. Can Lin Ye hold out?" Osler could not help asking.

"No idea. Let's hope Teacher Qin Ming can keep its power under control."

Yu Feng shook his head as well. Once this move came out, no one thought Lin Ye could win—except Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing, who had come with him.

Yet Lin Ye did not panic at the masses of flame. He swept both arms outward, and a barrier radiating a dense golden glow instantly unfolded around him.

"Steady as a Rock!"

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The fireballs slammed down, drawing muffled booms from the shield, but all they stirred up were ripples of golden light!

Qin Ming's pupils contracted at the sight.

What incredible defensive power this defensive soul skill had!

He had not used his full strength, but this was still an attack from a Soul Emperor. How could that shield block it all?

Everyone at the sidelines stared dumbstruck. Osler's mouth hung wide open.

"M-my god... Brother Lin's defensive skill is way too insane! And he's actually going toe-to-toe with Teacher Qin?"

Yu Feng rubbed his eyes hard.

"That sword! That shield! They're so cool! What soul skills are those?"

Yu Tianheng stared fixedly at Lin Ye in the arena, his expression frighteningly dark.

That incomparably swift swordsmanship, that peculiar shield—every thrust of the sword seemed to stab him in the heart.

A profound sense of helplessness and fierce jealousy coiled around him like venomous snakes.

He clenched his fists, digging his nails deep into his palms.

Only twelve! A Soul Ancestor!

Why? Why was he allowed to be this strong?

Those admiring gazes should have belonged to me!

The Shi Brothers were utterly shocked, while Dugu Yan had long since cast aside her languid air and begun watching intently. She could not help murmuring in admiration.

"Such incredible combat strength..."

The incense stick had burned past its halfway point, and Qin Ming had abandoned every trace of condescension.

Lin Ye's strength far exceeded his expectations!

Qin Ming prepared another fierce assault. This time, he wanted to test his opponent's limits, so he decided to unleash his true strength without holding anything back.

Lin Ye, however, drew a deep breath and exhaled a wisp of cold air. The next instant, the ice-blue longsword in his hand suddenly erupted with dazzling light!

Alarm bells immediately screamed in Qin Ming's mind!

"This is bad!"

He immediately circulated his soul power, and flames surged over his entire body!

Yet Lin Ye's gaze had already turned icy. With a light leap, he rose into the air.

"Let this moonlight..."

As those words fell, everything before Qin Ming's eyes abruptly changed!

Though it was still early morning, the bright sunlight vanished in an instant.

Dark night surrounded him, and only an enormous full moon, radiating a cool azure glow, suddenly hung high in the heavens!

The moonlight was like frost, carrying threads of terrifying cold as it enveloped the entire training ground!

It illuminated Lin Ye's airborne figure. The ice-blue longsword in his hand seemed connected to that illusory moon, and heart-stopping icy energy gathered along its edge!

"Shine across every river!"

His icy voice rang out like a sentence being passed. The next instant, a supremely condensed arc of azure sword energy slashed before Qin Ming, carrying a chill that could freeze the soul!

The attack was like a ribbon of light that froze time and space, tearing through the illusion of the moonlit night!

Fast!

Too fast!

Qin Ming barely had time to cross his arms before him and unleash his soul power without reservation!

The Sixth Soul Ring flashed!

"Fierce Flame Guard!"

BOOM—!!!

A thunderous explosion rang out!

A violent shock wave of energy burst outward, and the blast of air left the students at the sidelines struggling to stay on their feet.

Ning Rongrong cried out, and Zhu Zhuqing immediately caught her.

Osler and Yu Feng nearly fell onto their backsides.

Even Yu Tianheng was forced a step backward, his face turning pale.

The moonlit illusion shattered and faded piece by piece like a broken mirror. Dazzling sunlight spilled down once more, revealing the devastation at the center of the training ground.

Weblike cracks covered the hard ground, and a thick layer of white frost had even formed over it.

Crack... crack...

The sturdy flame shield on Qin Ming's arms gave a series of overburdened cracking sounds, then collapsed completely!

Qin Ming stood where he was, his breathing somewhat unsteady.

His arms trembled slightly. Though he appeared to have suffered no serious injuries, his teeth chattered involuntarily.

He could feel a chill penetrating to the marrow, madly scouring his meridians and blood. Even gathering his soul power had become somewhat sluggish.

What move was that just now?!

Towering waves of shock surged through Qin Ming's heart. Lin Ye was absurdly powerful—even more outrageous than he had imagined!

Dead silence fell over the sidelines. Everyone stared blankly at Lin Ye.

The ice sword dissipated, and Lin Ye withdrew the soul rings surrounding him.

He looked at Qin Ming and asked, "Well, Teacher Qin?"

Only after several deep breaths did Qin Ming barely suppress that agonizing chill. A complicated smile appeared on his face.

"I'm fine... Ha! Good! Very good!"

"I understand your strength now."

Such talent, such combat strength!

He was nothing short of a monstrous prodigy about to rise!

Qin Ming instantly made his decision. Lin Ye would become the Imperial Fighting Team's true ace!

"Next, it's your turn."

Qin Ming turned his gaze toward Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing.

"Perhaps you should take a break first, Teacher Qin," Lin Ye said with a smile.

"No need."

Qin Ming refused. This time, he held back considerably.

He was simply testing the two girls' abilities.

The results soon became clear.

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda's amplification effects were outstanding, perfectly filling the Imperial Fighting Team's gap in enhancement support.

Although Ye Lingling's healing was also very useful, adding amplification would be like giving a tiger wings.

As for Zhu Zhuqing, Qin Ming's assessment was that her attacks were swift and fierce, her speed exceptional, and her combat instincts excellent, but her level was still somewhat low.

"Zhu Zhuqing, your speed and explosive power are excellent! But your level is currently too low. For now... you'll fight as Osler's substitute."

The arrangement was reasonable, and Zhu Zhuqing had no objections.

The gap in their levels was an objective fact. Zhu Zhuqing also needed time to grow.

After announcing the arrangements for the two girls, Qin Ming looked at everyone.

Then he solemnly declared, "Furthermore! From today onward, Lin Ye will become another ace of our Imperial Fighting Team! A true cornerstone!"

His voice was as firm as a blade cutting through iron, leaving no room for discussion.

Osler, Yu Feng, and the Shi Brothers all watched with burning eyes. None of the four objected to this decision.

Lin Ye had thoroughly won them over with his strength.

Yu Tianheng, meanwhile, had clenched his fists so tightly that blood seeped from his knuckles.

An ace!

The final hammer had fallen!

And Qin Ming had said "another ace"—perhaps even the more crucial one!

This newcomer had stolen everyone's attention the moment he arrived and become the center of the team.

Yu Tianheng felt as though someone had slapped him hard across the face.

His former confidence and pride seemed so laughable now.

"All right!"

Qin Ming, however, seemed not to notice Yu Tianheng's subtle reaction.

He began arranging their training.

"To improve everyone's physical fitness and endurance, today's basic training will be one hundred weighted laps around the training ground!"

At that, the corner of Lin Ye's mouth twitched again.

This training method was exactly the same as Shrek's. Though Qin Ming had improved some of the weight equipment, its core was still running.

Training that consisted of nothing but weighted running? This was simply a waste of time!

After being tempered by that Flat-Chested Immortal of Shenzhou, his understanding of training methods had long since surpassed that of ordinary people.

The training regimen on Mount Taixu also included weighted running, but it was countless times more efficient than this method of running on brute strength alone.

He did not need such a clumsy method to squeeze out his potential. For him, it offered practically no improvement at all.

At the mention of weighted running, a stir passed through the team.

Though they were used to it, the thought of one hundred weighted laps still left them wearing bitter expressions.

Qin Ming motioned for everyone to quiet down and prepared to distribute the weights.

But Lin Ye stepped straight forward.

"Wait a moment, Teacher Qin Ming."