The Imperial Fighting Team's Reserve Team

"Selection for the Imperial Fighting Team?"

Yu Chen rubbed his chin.

Over the past six months, he had heard bits and pieces of news about the Imperial Fighting Team.

Several senior students at the academy had taken part in the Reserve Team selection.

But most of them had been eliminated.

"That's right. Senior Ye needs to focus on preparing for training. She doesn't have time for romance right now."

Oscar chuckled.

But when he saw Yu Chen's icy gaze, he immediately dropped the subject.

"I heard you need rank twenty-five soul power just to enter the Imperial Fighting Team's Reserve Team. The full members are already Soul Elders."

Oscar's expression turned serious.

"And even if you become a full member, you can still be replaced at any time."

With that, Oscar curled his lip.

He had no interest in joining the Imperial Fighting Team.

Daily Pot-Carrying Training already left him half-dead. If he added team training on top of that, wouldn't they train him into the ground?

"Mm, got it."

Yu Chen nodded.

When he first enrolled, Qin Ming had invited him to join.

But he hadn't seen Qin Ming again in the past six months. Presumably, the man had been too busy.

At present, the Imperial Fighting Team was still being assembled.

Members, facilities, training plans...

Ye Lingling was only rank twenty-nine, and the others, such as Osler and Yu Feng, had yet to appear.

"I'll go ask Director Xue about the Imperial Fighting Team."

Yu Chen spoke quietly, then turned and headed toward the Academic Affairs Office.

Oscar hurried after him, catching up in a few strides. "Boss, are you joining the Imperial Fighting Team right now?"

He tilted his head and studied Yu Chen's profile.

Suddenly, his eyes lit up, as though he had discovered some earth-shattering secret.

"Boss, are you really abandoning me to pursue Senior Ye?"

As Oscar spoke, he pressed one hand to his chest and used the other to wipe away nonexistent tears.

"Get lost, you idiot!"

Yu Chen slapped Oscar on the head.

The Academic Affairs Office.

Director Xue Bai sat with his hands folded on the desk, staring at Qin Ming across from him with an expression that said he had nothing left to live for.

"Teacher Qin, you come here once a month. What exactly are you trying to do?"

Xue Bai spoke helplessly.

For the past six months, Qin Ming had come once every month without fail, come rain or thunder.

Every time, he asked:

"How is Yu Chen progressing with his basic theory studies?"

"When can he join the Imperial Fighting Team?"

"Can't he progress a little faster?"

But each time, Xue Bai told him that Yu Chen was cultivating in seclusion and couldn't be disturbed.

How could he possibly let him go?

Such a promising seedling-he wasn't about to hand him over so easily.

Yet here Qin Ming was again today.

He was like a dogskin plaster, impossible to peel off.

"Director Xue, I've come five or six times, and every time you say Yu Chen isn't here."

Qin Ming leaned against the back of his chair and sneered. "I don't care today. I'm not leaving until I see Yu Chen, and you'll have to feed me, too."

He crossed his legs, his raised foot bobbing back and forth.

"Aren't you... just being a shameless pest?"

Seeing Qin Ming acting so shamelessly, Director Xue Bai grew so angry that the flesh on his face twitched.

If he could beat him, he would have thrown the man straight out the window.

Unfortunately, he was only a Soul King, while Qin Ming was a Soul Emperor.

"I've long heard that Teacher Qin Ming was involved in the underworld before joining the academy. The Blazing Fire Wolf has quite a reputation in the Soul Master World, too. Seeing you today, I can tell that reputation is well deserved."

Xue Bai's voice dripped with sarcasm.

"You've got a whole arsenal of shameless tricks. You're even more practiced than the street ruffians."

The corners of Qin Ming's mouth lifted. "Thank you for the compliment."

"Heh."

Director Xue Bai was utterly speechless.

Was that supposed to be a compliment?

How could anyone be so thick-skinned that he couldn't even distinguish praise from insults?

What a curse.

Director Xue Bai leaned back in his chair and rubbed his temples, feeling a headache coming on.

Knock, knock, knock-

A series of knocks came from outside the door.

Director Xue Bai stood, straightened his collar, and walked toward the door. "Qin Ming, I have a visitor. Hurry up and leave."

Though he didn't know who had come, he felt as though his savior had arrived.

"Hmph!"

Qin Ming snorted coldly and remained firmly planted in his chair.

Still, he composed himself a little.

After all, he was a teacher at the advanced academy. He had to mind his appearance in front of outsiders.

Director Xue Bai opened the door and was immediately startled by the person standing outside.

"Yu Chen?!"

The name escaped his lips, his voice changing pitch.

Xue Bai instinctively glanced back, only to see Qin Ming, who had been sitting upright a moment before, shoot to the doorway as though launched by a spring.

"Hahaha! Yu Chen, we meet again!"

Qin Ming laughed heartily and gave Yu Chen's shoulder two heavy pats.

His smile was three shades brighter than the sun outside.

"Ah, it's over."

Director Xue Bai sighed, his shoulders slumping.

Now that Qin Ming had caught Yu Chen red-handed, there was no escaping him.

Creak~

He pushed the door all the way open.

This matter was beyond his control now.

"Teacher Qin, long time no see."

Yu Chen smiled as he spoke.

He hadn't seen Qin Ming in six months and had thought the man had forgotten him. Instead, Qin Ming greeted him so warmly that he was caught a little off guard.

"Yu Chen, how has your soul power cultivation progressed over these past six months?"

Qin Ming studied Yu Chen with an intent gaze and asked directly:

"Have you decided when to join the Imperial Fighting Team? With your current strength, you could become a full member right away without any trouble."

Six months ago, he had reported Yu Chen's situation to the Three Education Committee Members.

All three had been eagerly awaiting this genius's arrival on the Imperial Fighting Team.

Over the past six months, he had visited the Intermediate Academy once a month, only for Director Xue to turn him away with one excuse after another.

Today, he had finally caught Yu Chen. No matter what, he had to settle this matter.

"Teacher Qin, Director Xue."

Standing in the doorway, Yu Chen glanced between them. "That's exactly what I came to discuss today."

Hearing this, Director Xue Bai straightened up as well.

He folded his arms across his chest, wanting to hear Yu Chen's thoughts.

"I heard everyone on the Imperial Fighting Team had to pass through multiple rounds of selection. I can join the Reserve Team first and train from the basics."

Yu Chen spoke.

"There's no need to go to all that trouble."

Qin Ming waved a hand. "I've already reported your situation to the Three Education Committee Members. You can join the main team directly..."

Yu Chen cut him off:

"Teacher Qin, Soul Masters let their strength do the talking."

"If a newcomer like me parachutes straight into the team, everyone will say I got in through the back door because of my connections. Without a rightful place or a legitimate standing, I wouldn't be able to win the team's respect."

He paused, then continued:

"Besides, I still have some theoretical knowledge left to study, and I'd like to strengthen my foundation a little more. Joining the main team may have to wait another six months."

Despite his words, what he truly wanted was to use the selection as an opportunity to get closer to Ye Lingling.

Ye Lingling was going to take part in the Reserve Team selection. If he joined the Reserve Team too, they would have opportunities to meet.

Ye Lingling might have books about immortal herbs, but he couldn't simply show up at her door and ask for them. That would be too presumptuous.

The best approach was to get to know her during training.

Then, when he asked to borrow books or the like, it would feel perfectly natural.

"Is that so... All right, then."

Qin Ming considered it for a moment, then nodded.

There were actually quite a few advantages to Yu Chen joining only the Reserve Team.

For one, someone of his strength joining the Reserve Team would spur the other reserve members on.

For another, having someone like him in the Reserve Team would give the full members a sense of crisis, ensuring they wouldn't dare slack off in training.