Fighting over a Recruit

"This..."

Qin Ming was suddenly at a loss for words. His mouth opened, but not a single word came out.

Director Xue wore a warm smile, but Qin Ming knew this man was no easy person to deal with.

Xue Bai had worked at the Intermediate Academy for years, and his word had always been law.

Moreover, Director Xue Bai was a member of the imperial family. Even if he belonged only to a collateral branch, Qin Ming could do nothing about him.

To the imperial family, whether Yu Chen attended the Intermediate Academy or the advanced academy, he would still be serving the Heaven Dou Empire. Xue Bai had seized on precisely that point, which was why he dared to fight so openly over the recruit.

"Yu Chen, may I have a word with you?"

Qin Ming turned around, his gaze settling on Yu Chen.

Director Xue Bai had cut in, but Qin Ming refused to give up.

As long as Yu Chen himself agreed, Qin Ming could use a special admission slot to recruit him directly into the Imperial Fighting Team.

"Please go ahead, Teacher Qin."

Yu Chen spoke with a smile.

Naturally, he was delighted to see Qin Ming and Director Xue fighting over him.

Whatever the outcome, he would be the one who benefited in the end.

Meanwhile, Ming Dashan's face was also wreathed in smiles.

The more outstanding Yu Chen was, the more gratified he felt.

"Yu Chen, if you join the Imperial Fighting Team, I'll personally oversee all your training."

Qin Ming's tone was sincere, almost coaxing.

He pointed to himself, his gaze earnest.

"I've traveled through the Soul Master World for years, visiting dozens of cities in Heaven Dou and the Star Luo Empire."

"I've seen no fewer than a thousand kinds of martial souls, and I've personally fought at least several hundred soul masters."

"My practical combat experience is far richer than that of the Intermediate Academy's teachers. What I can teach you will certainly exceed what you could learn in a classroom."

No sooner had he finished than Director Xue Bai spoke up.

"Teacher Qin, I acknowledge your strength, but I cannot tolerate you belittling the Intermediate Academy's teachers!"

"Even if our teachers have less soul power than you, when it comes to practical experience, we can invite several teachers from different fields to tutor Yu Chen exclusively."

At Director Xue Bai's words, Qin Ming could not help frowning.

Instruction from several teachers dedicated to one student was a privilege reserved for core disciples of major sects. They could invite teachers into their homes or have their own elders teach them personally.

The Intermediate Academy's teachers were a shared resource, and there had never been a precedent for several teachers tutoring a single student.

Director Xue Bai really was sparing no effort to wrest Yu Chen away from him.

Seeing that Qin Ming remained silent, Director Xue continued.

"Yu Chen, as long as you enroll in the Heaven Dou Royal Intermediate Academy, you can use our top-tier Mimicry Cultivation Environment whenever you like. That is something the advanced academy absolutely cannot promise!"

"Furthermore, I can apply for a special grant for you, enough to keep you comfortably fed and clothed for the next ten years."

"Hah!"

Qin Ming snorted. "The Imperial Fighting Team's students are carefully selected talents from major sects such as the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect and the Xuanming Sect."

"That kind of cultivation atmosphere isn't something a mimicry environment or gold soul coins can compare to."

The two stared at each other, neither willing to yield, and even the air in the room grew heavier.

Beside them, Ming Dashan and Oscar watched in stunned amazement.

"Principal Ming, how much do you think that promise of 'comfortably fed and clothed for the next ten years' is worth?"

Oscar muttered under his breath.

His hands twisted together, and he had rubbed his fingers red.

He was practically bursting with envy.

At the Junior Academy, he had been something of a celebrity himself.

Although people mocked him because of his soul incantation, no one disputed his soul power.

Yet before Yu Chen, the talent he took such pride in was hardly worth mentioning.

Even among geniuses, there were gulfs!

"I don't know either."

Ming Dashan raised an eyebrow.

He had studied in Heaven Dou City and spent years as a principal in Nuoding City, so he had seen a fair bit of the world.

But even his mind was reeling as he listened to their offers.

"I actually hope Boss joins the Intermediate Academy."

Oscar spoke softly.

"Oh? Why?"

Ming Dashan asked in a low voice.

"Teacher Qin's offer is pretty good too, but there isn't much ready to collect. Teaching resources, training facilities-you still have to work hard before those things bear fruit."

"Director Xue not only promised similar benefits, he's also handing over money directly."

As Oscar spoke, the corners of his mouth lifted.

He was Yu Chen's number-one follower. Once Boss Yu struck it rich, surely he would not leave Oscar empty-handed?

Ming Dashan nodded at that, keeping his expression composed.

Inwardly, however, he was secretly grateful that he had changed Yu Chen's age from nine to twelve.

If Director Xue and Qin Ming knew Yu Chen was only nine, they might flip the table on the spot and start fighting over him.

A twelve-year-old quasi-soul elder was already frightening enough.

But a nine-year-old?

That was no longer a genius, but a monster.

Moreover, Yu Chen's second soul ring was a thousand years old. If that news got out, the entire Soul Master World would boil over.

Yu Chen, the person at the center of it all, was much more relaxed.

"Teacher Qin, what exactly is your teaching approach? Could you explain the Imperial Fighting Team's training methods in detail?"

Yu Chen looked at Qin Ming earnestly.

Seeing Yu Chen take the initiative to ask, Qin Ming felt a surge of delight.

As he saw it, his offer had already moved Yu Chen.

It's in the bag!

Qin Ming took half a step forward, his tone even more enthusiastic than before.

"Our training focuses primarily on actual combat. Theory classes make up only a small part of it. Most of our time is spent fighting real battles in the Soul Fighting Arena."

"Among our confirmed regular members, some come from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect, others from the Xuanming Sect. They're all leading talents of their sects' younger generations. Training and exchanging ideas with them is far better than building a cart behind closed doors."

He paused, then added:

"We also travel regularly, visiting Soul Fighting Arenas across the continent to compete. Soul masters from different places have vastly different fighting styles. That kind of practical experience can't be learned in a classroom."

As Yu Chen listened, his eyes lit up.

Traveling the continent was what he most wanted to do in the future.

In the original story, Tang San had started in Nuoding City, then gone to Heaven Dou City, the Blue Silver Forest, Slaughter City, Sea God Island...

He had traveled almost the entire continent.

In his previous life, Yu Chen had worked for over a decade and had finally been ready to set off on a spontaneous trip.

Instead, two Pokémon had knocked him into the void.

That was his greatest regret.

Watching from beside them, Director Xue's smile gradually stiffened.

Yu Chen had yet to commit to anything, and instead was drawing deeper and deeper into his conversation with Qin Ming. An uneasy feeling slowly rose in Director Xue's heart.

"Yu Chen, actually, the academy can also..."

But before Director Xue could finish, Yu Chen interrupted him.

"Teacher Qin, I think I'll study at the Intermediate Academy for a while first."

Yu Chen's voice was sincere.

"I really admire the training methods you described, but my foundational knowledge is still weak. I haven't even finished reading the complete Intermediate Soul Beast Pokédex."

He paused, then added:

"Once I've studied at the academy for a while and thoroughly mastered the theory, it won't be too late to join the Imperial Fighting Team."

Yu Chen had come to Heaven Dou City for better cultivation resources and surroundings.

Joining the Imperial Fighting Team directly would move things along too quickly for him.

At those words, Director Xue's eyes instantly lit up.

He stepped forward and patted Yu Chen's shoulder. "Exactly, exactly! The fundamentals matter most! Rest assured, Yu Chen, the entire academy library will be open to you, and you can use any of our resources!"

As Director Xue spoke, he even turned to shoot Qin Ming a glare.

Standing beside them, Qin Ming briefly showed his disappointment.

Yu Chen's talent surpassed even that of the students he had already found.

Yu Tianheng, fifteen years old, was a rank-thirty-two battle soul elder. His martial soul was the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, and he was one of the strongest disciples of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect's younger generation.

Shi Mo and Shi Mo, fifteen years old, were rank-thirty-one battle soul elders. Their martial souls were the Black Tortoise, and they came from the Xuanming Sect, a clan with a thousand-year history.

All of them were talented, but they still fell well short of Yu Chen.

Yu Chen needed only one more soul ring to advance to soul elder, yet he was just twelve years old!

"Yu Chen, I have a proposal."

Qin Ming truly could not bear to give up, so he continued:

"While attending classes at the Intermediate Academy, could you join the Imperial Fighting Team as a reserve member? You wouldn't need to attend daily training, only take part in the occasional soul fight."

"Then you could formally join the Imperial Fighting Team after graduating from the academy. What do you think?"

Qin Ming's gaze burned with intensity.

There were still five years until the next Soul Master Tournament. If Yu Chen first filled the gaps in his theoretical knowledge at the Intermediate Academy, then joined the team for practical training, the results might be even better.

Yu Chen considered it, then nodded. "Sure, no problem."

As the continent's second-youngest soul emperor, Teacher Qin surely had an effective training method.

Balancing both sides could work too.

At his answer, the disappointment vanished from Qin Ming's face, replaced by a smile.

"Then it's settled! Come find me whenever you have time. I'll show you around the team's training grounds and introduce you to the other members."

With that, he cupped his hands toward Director Xue. "Director Xue, I'll leave Yu Chen in your care."

"Rest assured, no one values Yu Chen's development more than the academy does," Director Xue said, puffing out his chest and smiling until his eyes narrowed into slits.

Qin Ming nodded, gave Yu Chen another look, then turned and left.

Director Xue turned to Yu Chen, his tone earnest.

"Yu Chen, your soul power has already reached rank thirty, so you need to hunt for your third soul ring. Tomorrow, the academy will arrange a dedicated soul-hunting team to make sure you find the most suitable soul beast."

"Tomorrow? That soon?"

Yu Chen froze for a moment, then his eyes filled with delight.

Back in the Blue Silver Forest, he had wanted the Blue Silver King to help him condense his third soul ring.

Unfortunately, Xiao Bai Dragon needed a water-type soul ring, which was beyond the Blue Silver King's ability, so it had been delayed until now.

"Of course."

Director Xue raised his chin. "The academy places great importance on every student's development. Cultivation resources, mimicry environments, teaching staff-everything is the very best!"

What he did not mention, however, was that even with such excellent conditions, the Intermediate Academy's students still were not particularly capable in combat.

Most of its students came from major sects and powerful families. Raised in comfort from childhood, they were indolent and could not endure the hardships of cultivation.

The academy's senior staff could do nothing about that either.

They could hardly expel all those noble children, could they?

Thus, many teachers actually preferred students from smaller, out-of-the-way places.

"Since we're going soul hunting..."

An idea stirred in Yu Chen's mind, and he turned his gaze toward Ming Dashan. "Director Xue, my uncle has also broken through to rank fifty. Could you help him hunt a soul beast too?"

Ming Dashan blinked, then instinctively shook his head in refusal. "Forget it. There's no need to trouble the academy."

"Not a problem!"

Director Xue swept out his hand and agreed without hesitation.

"Your uncle has brought the academy such an outstanding student. What's a single soul ring in return?"

"I'll request the academy's highest-level soul-hunting squad, personally led by a soul saint, to hunt the most suitable ten-thousand-year soul beast for your uncle."

"Thank you, Director Xue!"

Yu Chen spoke gratefully.

Ming Dashan needed his fifth soul ring, and entering the forest alone would be too dangerous.

Besides, as far as Yu Chen knew, Ming Dashan had no particularly powerful friends. He would probably be able to hunt only a thousand-year soul beast at best.

Beside him, warmth welled up in Ming Dashan's heart.

He had originally planned to hunt for his fifth soul ring after getting Yu Chen settled.

Of the thirty thousand gold coins rewarded for killing the Wolf Bandits, he had kept twenty thousand for himself, intending to find people to form a team and hunt a ten-thousand-year soul beast.

But while finding people was easy, finding trustworthy people was not.

One careless move, and he could lose both his money and his life.

Now, a single sentence from Yu Chen had solved that problem.

Yu Chen has grown up!

Ming Dashan gazed at Yu Chen's profile, his eyes filled with complicated emotions.

Yu Chen was no longer the little boy who needed his care.

He could even shelter Ming Dashan from the wind and rain now.

Early the next morning.

A sliver of white light appeared in the east, and the ornaments on the academy rooftops reflected golden light.

Yu Chen and Ming Dashan waited at the academy gates bright and early.

Before long, Director Xue emerged from the academy with a group of teachers.

Director Xue still wore a black robe, his gaze steady.

The man beside him wore a golden uniform. He was rather lean, and a faint aura radiated from him. One glance was enough to tell that his cultivation was far from shallow.

Five teachers followed behind them, all dressed in fitted silver-white outfits.

Their auras gathered together, making even the surrounding air seem heavier.

"You must be Yu Chen. Well done, lad-already at rank thirty at twelve!"

The man in gold walked over and patted Yu Chen on the shoulder.

Director Xue introduced him with a smile. "This is Jin Ying, one of the academy's board members, a rank seventy-two Soul Saint. The others are teachers who specialize in Soul Hunting for the academy. They are all Soul Kings."

"Greetings, sir, and teachers."

Yu Chen gave them a slight bow.

One Soul Saint and five Soul Kings.

The fact that the academy had sent such a lineup showed just how much importance it placed on this Soul Hunting Operation.

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Jin Ying led the group off to hunt Soul Beasts, while Director Xue returned to the academy to continue overseeing admissions.

The group arrived at the eastern city gate, where several carriages were already waiting.

Yu Chen and Ming Dashan boarded a carriage and headed swiftly east.

Several days later.

The houses and fields along the road gradually disappeared, leaving only an unbroken stretch of forested mountains.

Within the mountain forest.

The deeper they went, the narrower the road became, and the air grew noticeably colder.

"We're here."

The convoy stopped, and Jin Ying raised his hand to point ahead.

"The outskirts of Sunset Forest are just up ahead. Wait here."

"Yes, sir."

The drivers nodded as they answered.

The group continued onward.

Sunset Forest had a rather cold climate, and its vegetation consisted mostly of fir trees.

The Soul Beasts here had also adapted to this climate. Several large lakes lay within the forest, renowned gathering places for water-type Soul Beasts.

Jin Ying came over to Yu Chen and asked curiously:

"Yu Chen, what sort of Soul Ring do you want for your third Soul Ring?"

Yu Chen had long since made up his mind. "A water-type one, two or three thousand years old will do."