Qin Ming's Delight

Once they entered the academy, the scenery was even more beautiful than that of Heaven Dou City.

Flowers of every color lined both sides of the paths, and butterflies flitted among them.

A faint floral fragrance drifted through the air. One breath left them feeling considerably refreshed.

The buildings in the distance were grand and imposing, with white stone walls and roofs covered in golden glazed tiles.

Ming Dashan swept his gaze around, inwardly marveling.

Decades had passed, and the academy no longer resembled the place in his memories.

The Reception Room.

A dark red carpet covered the floor, and several paintings hung on the walls. A row of dark sofas stood against one wall, furnished with thick cushions.

"Senior, students, please wait here for a moment. I'll notify the director right away."

Teacher Wang warmly invited them to sit and poured each of them a cup of hot tea before hurrying out the door.

Oscar plopped onto a sofa, sinking into its soft cushions.

"Boss, Principal, why do I feel like I'm dreaming?"

He lowered his head and stroked the sofa beneath him.

It was smooth and silky, with a delicate texture.

He had never seen fabric like this before. It felt even nicer than silk.

"Hahaha! Stick with your boss, and you'll see plenty more amazing things."

Yu Chen leaned back against the sofa and patted Oscar's shoulder.

Oscar was already immensely talented. There was no second food-type Soul Master with innate full soul power to be found anywhere on the continent.

In the original story, even without eating immortal herbs or undergoing divine trials, he still stood a strong chance of becoming a Titled Douluo through his own talent and hard work.

He had simply grown up poor and never experienced anything like this.

Back then, he had stayed at Shrek Academy, spending his days showing off and chasing girls. His personality had grown increasingly effeminate, turning a first-rate genius into a sleazy middle-aged man.

Now that Oscar had become his companion, Yu Chen would naturally pull him onto the right path.

Before long, Teacher Wang hurried back with two people following behind him.

Both looked to be in their forties.

The man on the left wore a black robe. His expression was stern, with thick eyebrows and large eyes, and he radiated authority without a trace of anger. One glance was enough to tell that he held a high position.

The man on the right wore a fitted silver-white outfit and looked somewhat younger.

But his eyes were sharp. The moment he entered, his gaze landed on Yu Chen and Oscar.

It frightened Oscar enough that he instinctively drew his neck back.

This man's soul power is far above Uncle Dashan's. He must be at least a Soul Emperor.

Yu Chen silently assessed the man's aura.

"Director, Teacher Qin, this is Yu Chen, and this is Oscar. They're both new students."

Teacher Wang stepped aside to introduce them, his tone respectful.

Teacher Qin's eyes shone as he looked at the two boys, like a hunter who had spotted his prey.

A faint smile appeared on his face, and excitement entered his voice. "Boys, may I see your martial souls?"

He neither requested their martial soul records nor checked their documents.

For a truly powerful Soul Master, directly sensing a martial soul's aura was more revealing than any proof on paper.

"Yes, Teacher."

Yu Chen nodded, then turned toward Oscar, who was hiding behind Ming Dashan, and said with a smile:

"Oscar, you go first."

"Huh?"

Oscar froze, failing to react.

"Hurry up. All that hemming and hawing-you don't look like a man."

Yu Chen put on a stern face, his voice carrying a measure of severity.

Perhaps because of his soul incantation, Oscar had been mocked since childhood.

Despite his talent, he always hesitated over things and shrank back timidly.

That habit needed to be corrected as early as possible.

"Okay, Boss."

Oscar took a deep breath. He straightened his back and puffed out his chest as soul power surged from his dantian.

Hum-

His right palm lit up, and a steaming Big Sausage appeared out of thin air. Its flesh-colored skin glistened with oil in the sunlight, and its aroma spread throughout the room.

At the same time, two bright yellow soul rings rose from beneath his feet and slowly revolved.

"It really is a food-type martial soul, and meat at that."

Teacher Qin's eyes lit up, his voice brimming with undisguised delight.

An eleven-year-old food-type Soul Grandmaster was a rare genius indeed.

Food-type Soul Masters cultivated much more slowly than combat-type Soul Masters. Anyone who reached rank twenty-one at eleven would receive the treatment of a core disciple even in a major sect.

Teacher Qin stepped forward and gave Oscar's shoulder a firm pat. "Oscar, you have excellent talent. Work hard, and your future will have no limits."

"Thank you, Teacher."

The pat made Oscar sway, but most of his nervousness dissipated, and he offered a bashful smile.

Next, Yu Chen stepped forward.

He turned his right palm upward, and silver-white light burst from it. Xiao Bai Dragon spread his wings and hovered above his shoulder.

At the same time, two bright yellow soul rings rose into view.

"These soul power fluctuations really are at rank thirty!"

Teacher Qin keenly sensed Yu Chen's soul power fluctuations, and a smile appeared on his face.

Then his gaze lingered briefly on Yu Chen's second soul ring.

He did not know whether he was imagining it, but he felt that faint threads of purple were mixed into the yellow soul ring.

Perhaps this soul ring was of exceptional quality.

"Hahaha! A twelve-year-old Quasi-Soul Elder! The academy has truly found a treasure!"

The other man, the director in the black robe, burst into booming laughter.

He had taught for many years and seen plenty of geniuses, but talents like Yu Chen and Oscar were as rare as phoenix feathers and qilin horns.

Even among the direct descendants of major sects, who enjoyed the finest resources, very few could achieve such a frightening cultivation speed.

Especially Yu Chen-a twelve-year-old Quasi-Soul Elder!

There was no second example of such talent even in the continent's historical records.

"Students, my name is Xue Bai, and I'm the academy's admissions director. Welcome aboard!"

Director Xue laughed again.

"Yu Chen, could you tell us how you cultivate?"

He asked curiously.

Yu Chen smiled and reached up to stroke Xiao Bai Dragon's head. "It may be because my martial soul is a mutated martial soul. Xiao Bai Dragon exists outside my body and can't possess me."

"It's precisely this unusual form that makes my cultivation much faster than most people's."

Those words were not entirely fabricated.

After leaving his body, Xiao Bai Dragon continuously consumed soul power, constantly tempering Yu Chen's reserves.

His cultivation was somewhat faster than that of Tang San and Xiao Wu, who also possessed innate full soul power.

Of course, the true reason for his soaring soul power was that Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone.

Moreover, Yu Chen was actually only nine, not twelve as his records stated.

"A detached martial soul... Martial souls in that form are indeed rare."

Director Xue nodded thoughtfully.

He recalled that the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan seemed to have someone with a similar mutated martial soul.

However, Yu Xiaogang's martial soul had undergone a malignant mutation. His cultivation was outrageously slow, and he probably had yet to break through rank thirty.

Otherwise, given his personality, he would have published a new theory long ago.

Director Xue did not pursue the matter of his martial soul any further.

There were too few examples of detached martial souls for anyone to clearly explain how they worked.

He smiled and said to Yu Chen, "Yu Chen, I understand your circumstances now. On behalf of the Heaven Dou Intermediate Soul Master Academy, I welcome you both!"

"Director Xue, I have an idea. Let Yu Chen and Oscar enter the advanced academy directly."

Qin Ming suddenly spoke, his voice tinged with excitement.

This man was indeed Qin Ming. Ever since the academy's leadership had decided to form the Imperial Fighting Team, he had been searching everywhere for talent.

There were certainly plenty of promising students in the advanced academy. At the same time, he had also selected some from the intermediate academy to train as reserves.

Yu Chen and Oscar's arrival had both surprised and delighted him.

There were still five years until the next Soul Master Tournament. With Yu Chen's talent, he would surely become a Soul Ancestor by then-and a high-ranking one at that.

When the time came, he would shine brilliantly in the tournament, winning glory for the Heaven Dou Empire and the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy.

"No!"

Yet Director Xue rejected him outright, his tone firm.

He came from the Heaven Dou Imperial Family. Regarding the formation of the Imperial Fighting Team, he too had received orders from the Crown Prince to assist Qin Ming in selecting reserves from the intermediate academy.

Every student selected pleased him as well. After all, it was a form of recognition for the intermediate academy.

But if Yu Chen skipped the intermediate academy and joined the team directly, that glory would have nothing to do with it.

He could also see Yu Chen's future potential. The boy would surely become renowned throughout the continent.

If the intermediate academy did not latch onto his coattails now, who would acknowledge it when it tried to sidle up to him after he became famous?

"Director Xue, why are you refusing?"

Qin Ming asked in bewilderment.

To him, Yu Chen joining the team was only natural, and it was the most suitable choice.

"These two students have only just arrived in Heaven Dou City. They still need to take some foundational courses. Besides, we'll arrange for specialized teachers to guide them individually."

Director Xue spoke with his chin raised.

He intended to keep Yu Chen at the intermediate academy. Even if the boy stayed for only a month, he would still be his student.

When Yu Chen became famous in the future, he could be described as a genius who had emerged from the Heaven Dou Royal Intermediate Academy.

"Director, are you going to defy His Highness the Crown Prince's orders?"

Qin Ming failed to see Director Xue's intentions and assumed he simply refused to release them.

"His Highness the Crown Prince has ordered me to oversee every arrangement for the team-personnel, coaches, and resources. The intermediate academy must fully cooperate with my work. I have the authority to decide where Yu Chen goes."

Director Xue stroked his chin and smiled unhurriedly. "Teacher Qin, Yu Chen and Oscar haven't enrolled yet. They don't count as students of our intermediate academy."

"If you insist on forcing them into the team, then I simply won't enroll them. Instead, I'll have the academy's senior teachers tutor them privately, one-on-one."

"You!" At those words, Qin Ming's eyebrows shot up, and his face flushed slightly.

After a moment, however, he took two deep breaths, calmed down, and stared at Director Xue for several seconds.

"Director Xue, don't tell me you're unwilling to let them go because they're so talented?"

Qin Ming asked doubtfully.

Director Xue raised his chin, the corners of his mouth curling upward as he declared without a trace of shame:

"That's right. You've figured me out. But so what?"