Joining the Heaven Dou Battle Team

"Just as expected. The effect of his First Spirit Ability is only to make the Blue Silver Grass grow rapidly, while his Second Spirit Ability hardens it."

A sharp glint flashed through Osler's eyes, and his speed surged once more. In just two breaths, he had closed to within two meters of Shi Quan. To Osler, two meters was no more than a single breath away.

At that moment, Shi Quan lifted his hand, and the vines before him suddenly rose up, blocking the space between himself and Osler.

Osler's heart tightened. He swiftly shifted to the left without rashly launching an attack.

Seeing this, Shi Quan's eyes showed a hint more interest.

If Osler had attacked just now, Shi Quan was confident that at such close range, during the brief instant Osler paused after attacking, the rapidly growing Blue Silver Grass would have bound him directly.

Yet Osler had remained steady and refrained from attacking, choosing instead to look for another opportunity.

His reaction speed can keep up with mine?

A trace of shock filled Osler's eyes. He continued weaving swiftly through the vines, probing as he searched for an opening to attack.

Below the stage, Yu Tianheng's expression darkened as he watched the scene. He said in a low voice, "Osler is going to lose."

"How could that be?" Yu Feng said incredulously. "Boss, Shi Quan was just lucky enough to block Osler. As long as Osler finds an opening, he only needs one strike to win this fight."

"Look at the Blue Silver Grass on the stage."

At Yu Tianheng's reminder, everyone finally turned their attention to the vines on the Spirit Fight Stage.

Without anyone noticing, the tangled vines had already flooded the entire Spirit Fight Stage. Deep-blue Blue Silver Vines crisscrossed and layered over one another across the platform. The original shape of the arena could no longer be seen; it had become an ocean of vines. And the vines continued to grow, as though they had no limit.

"There are too many vines on the stage. The entire platform has become uneven, which will greatly affect Osler's speed. And that block just now—I don't think it was a coincidence..."

As they listened to Yu Tianheng's analysis, everyone's expressions changed again and again. As the saying went, onlookers saw more clearly. As spectators, they could always analyze the entire situation from the clearest perspective.

But Osler, caught in the battle, only thought Shi Quan was continuously wasting Soul Power. So what if there were many Blue Silver Vines? As long as they could not trap him, it was all meaningless.

The gap in their Soul Power levels was right there. Shi Quan's Blue Silver Grass could not keep up with Osler's speed. As long as Osler did not make a mistake, this battle would become a war of attrition.

"Watch out."

Shi Quan gave a warning. As his voice fell, he raised a finger, and the Second Spirit Ring beneath him lit up.

A massive number of branches and leaves burst forth from the dense Blue Silver Grass vines. Empowered by Hardening, those branches and leaves instantly stiffened, each more than ten centimeters long. They packed the ground like thorns.

Hardening was not an ability meant solely for controlling enemies.

It could also be used to attack.

The hard spikes covering the ground left Osler with nowhere to step.

"I'm not going down that easily!"

A fierce glint appeared in Osler's eyes as he stepped directly onto the thorns. The spike-like leaves pierced through his foot, and the intense pain made his body visibly tremble. Yet he did not pause in the slightest, instead launching himself forward.

As the Second Spirit Ring beneath Osler lit up, he pressed the Ri Li Claws in his hands together and slashed through Mid-air, sending a black crescent blade flying toward Shi Quan.

"I can control the hardened Blue Silver Grass as well." Shi Quan's voice was calm. The Blue Silver Vines on the ground suddenly rose upright, radiating waves of Ink Black light like an Ink Black stone wall.

Boom!

A violent collision rang out. The Blue Silver Vines shook fiercely, but remained standing firm.

Osler, on the other hand, was sent flying. The Blue Silver thorns across the stage still glimmered with devouring Ink Black light.

With the Blue Silver Vine Wall blocking his view, Shi Quan could not clearly see Osler's condition. If Osler landed on those thorn-covered vines, he would probably turn into a porcupine.

When the members of the Heaven Dou Battle Team below the stage saw this, their expressions changed drastically. Even the teacher beside the stage reacted the same way.

The teacher cried out, "Shi Quan, stop!"

In truth, just as the teacher's voice rang out, the Ink Black glow on the vines had already begun to fade, and they returned to their former soft state.

Only then did the teacher let out a sigh of relief. If someone died during a selection match, he, as the teacher in charge, would bear inescapable responsibility.

"Alright, we'll end the fight here. Osler, you lost." The teacher stepped onto the stage to stop the match, then looked at Shi Quan. "Shi Quan, you are now a member of the Heaven Dou Battle Team."

"Thank you, Teacher."

On the other side, Yu Feng of the Heaven Dou Battle Team sprang onto the stage and quickly carried Osler down.

"Lingling, hurry and treat Osler."

Ye Lingling said nothing. She merely raised her hand and summoned her Spirit Soul Nine Hearted Begonia. Streams of white light fell from the flower and merged into Osler's body.

It was a pink begonia flower composed of white and pink petals. Its colors were vivid, and its form was graceful.

"That's the Nine Hearted Begonia!?" Ning Rongrong covered her mouth in surprise from the stands.

Ning Rongrong knew the effects of the Nine Hearted Begonia. Under Ye Lingling's treatment, the injury on Osler's foot rapidly began to heal, and some color finally returned to his pale face.

"Thanks, Lingling." Osler's injuries were not serious. With the help of Ye Lingling, a Support Spirit Master focused on healing, he recovered quickly.

Ye Lingling nodded without saying a word.

"I'm sorry, Boss. I still lost." Osler lowered his head, his voice full of disappointment.

Yu Tianheng stepped forward and patted Osler on the shoulder. "It's not your fault. The opponent was simply too strong."

"Osler, work harder." Qin Ming, who had remained silent beside the Heaven Dou Battle Team from the beginning of the battle until now, finally spoke. "Come on. Let's welcome your new teammate."

As the team leader, Qin Ming spoke, and although Yu Tianheng and the others were reluctant, they had no choice but to shift their attention to Shi Quan on the stage.

"Shi Quan, the Three Great Education Committees have already informed me about your situation. I am Qin Ming, leader of the Heaven Dou Battle Team. You can call me Teacher Qin. I'm very happy that you've joined the Heaven Dou Battle Team." Qin Ming stepped forward warmly to greet him.

"Hello, Teacher Qin," Shi Quan said.

"Come on. There are too many people here. Let's go to the Heaven Dou Battle Team's Training Ground first, and I'll introduce you to your teammates." Qin Ming patted Shi Quan on the shoulder and nodded in satisfaction, leading Shi Quan and the six others, including Yu Tianheng, away from the Soul Arena.

Osler watched the six of them leave, his eyes filled with unwillingness. Victory and defeat were decided on the battlefield. A loss was a loss. All he could do now was work even harder and return to the Heaven Dou Battle Team through his own strength.

As for the Soul Arena, under the teacher's announcement and direction, the students who had come to watch gradually dispersed.

"He joined the Heaven Dou Battle Team that easily?" Ning Rongrong stared at the empty Soul Arena and did not recover for a long while.

A level twenty-two Spirit Master defeating a level twenty-nine Spirit Master—what kind of concept was that? For ordinary Spirit Masters, even with her support, they could at most fight opponents three or four levels above them. Yet Shi Quan had easily defeated an opponent seven levels higher than himself through his own ability.

The more Ning Rongrong learned about Shi Quan, the more insignificant she felt before him.

The dedicated Training Ground of the Heaven Dou Battle Team.

Though it was called a dedicated Training Ground, it was actually just an independent Sports Field. At the center stood a raised Spirit Fight training platform, while several rows of seats for resting were arranged on either side.

How should she put it?

It was shabby.

That was Shi Quan's impression. The Heaven Dou Royal Academy was so large, yet this was the Training Ground for its strongest Heaven Dou Battle Team?

He had thought it would be far more impressive.

But then again, even the Grandmaster's so-called training was nothing more than the most basic method of running while carrying stones.

Across the entire Douluo world, research into Physical Training could be said to be abysmally poor.

Even when it came to Soul Power cultivation, which everyone valued so highly, no one seemed to have researched any cultivation methods or techniques. There was certainly something rather unscientific about it.

"Shi Quan, this is Yu Tianheng. He is currently the captain of the Heaven Dou Battle Team. His Spirit Soul is the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon..."

With Qin Ming's introductions, Shi Quan and the six others, including Yu Tianheng and Dugu Yan, became acquainted for the time being.

Qin Ming nodded and smiled. "Alright, let me tell you about Shi Quan's situation. You must be very curious why Shi Quan's Second Spirit Ring is a thousand-year ring."

At once, everyone showed curious expressions and looked toward Qin Ming and Shi Quan.

"Shi Quan has developed an entirely new Spirit Ring Limit Theory..." Qin Ming slowly explained Shi Quan's theory and told the six members of the Heaven Dou Battle Team about the principles he had established.

At the same time, he explained why their Physical Training had suddenly intensified so greatly during this period.

"...Shi Quan's theory is already nearing completion, and he himself is the best proof. Furthermore, after discussing it with the Three Great Education Committees, I have decided that while Shi Quan joins the Heaven Dou Battle Team, he will also have the authority to instruct the team. In the days ahead, Shi Quan and I will formulate the training plans together."

As Qin Ming's voice fell, the brows of all six members of the Royal Fight Team furrowed tightly. Alongside their surprise, they felt even more admiration.

Dugu Yan waved her jade-like hand and said, "Teacher Qin, Shi Quan may have developed this new Spirit Ring Limit Theory, but that does not mean he has the ability to instruct us."

Qin Ming had not discussed letting him participate in the Heaven Dou Battle Team's training plans beforehand, nor had he asked for Shi Quan's opinion. Shi Quan had no interest in it anyway. Seeing Dugu Yan speak up, he immediately went along with her. "Teacher Qin, Dugu Yan is right. My strength is weak, and my theory only concerns Spirit Rings. I simply don't have the ability to instruct anyone. Just treat me as an ordinary team member."

Everyone was stunned. None of them had expected Shi Quan to tear down his own position.