Qin Ming had no particular thoughts as he looked at Yu Tianlong and Ning Rongrong before him.
"You're here to join our Imperial Fighting Team, right?"
Ning Rongrong and Yu Tianlong exchanged a glance before finally nodding.
"More or less."
More or less?
Qin Ming froze for a moment, then quickly caught on.
Who cares whether they are? Get them on board first!
"All right, from now on, you're both members of our Imperial Fighting Team. The team members happen to be training here right now. Would you like to come take a look?"
Yu Tianlong nodded. Ning Rongrong did not particularly care about this; after all, to her, the most suitable training was still the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's own training method.
After walking for a while, the three reached a doorway. Qin Ming opened the door, revealing a dazzling flood of light.
Clearly, the training grounds were outside the building.
At a glance, a vast open space lay before them, with obstacles and boulders set up across it and traces of fighting all around. The ground consisted entirely of sand and gravel, and there was also some equipment.
Its appearance alone made it clear that it was strength-training equipment.
At the very edge stood something resembling a Soul Tool, roughly two meters in size, though it appeared to be broken.
Yu Tianlong was somewhat surprised, but on second thought, there did not seem to be anything wrong with that.
After all, according to the original story, a technologically advanced Soul Tool civilization had existed before the era of Douluo I.
For some unknown reason, however, it had later been destroyed, and even the methods for making Soul Tools had been lost along with it.
Presumably, this thing was also a relic of the previous era. After all, some remnants were bound to survive.
Just like the ring Yu Tianlong was wearing now.
Beneath a large tree not far from the training grounds, seven people sat on nearby stone benches, drinking cold beverages and resting.
Only when they saw Qin Ming, Yu Tianlong, and Ning Rongrong approaching did they stand.
Since the Imperial Fighting Team had only returned to the academy today, none of them except Ye Lingling knew that these two had arrived at the academy.
Ye Lingling also froze for a moment when she saw Yu Tianlong.
A flicker of understanding crossed her eyes.
It really was him!
As for the others, apart from Ye Lingling and Dugu Yan, their faces fell at the sight of Ning Rongrong.
They all involuntarily took a step back.
Since this Little Demoness lived nearby, she would come to Heaven Dou Royal Academy to play whenever she had nothing to do, so naturally, everyone knew her.
Moreover, Ning Rongrong had previously been utterly lawless, fond of playing tricks on everyone she met. Yu Tianheng and the others could neither hit nor scold her, so they could only let her run wild.
Yu Tianheng had even had designs on Ning Rongrong before. After all, his position as young clan leader was nowhere near as secure as hers, with his talented older cousin Yu Tianxin still among those below him.
Thus, before setting his sights on Dugu Yan, he had wanted to woo Ning Rongrong. But Ning Rongrong had no thoughts of that sort whatsoever; she was too young and thought only about having fun.
He could therefore only change targets and turn his attention to Dugu Yan.
However, Dugu Yan had always kept him at arm's length, never clearly expressing her feelings.
Now that an opportunity had come, Yu Tianheng naturally did not want to let it slip!
But when Yu Tianheng got a clear look at the person beside Ning Rongrong, surprise and confusion flickered in his eyes, with even a hint of mockery.
"Teacher, don't tell me the monstrous genius you mentioned is the trash our Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan expelled?"
"Yu Tianlong, of all people?"
"That piece of trash with 0.1 Innate Soul Power?"
"Teacher, don't make me laugh. If he's over rank thirty, I'll run three laps around Heaven Dou City stark naked!"
Hearing this, Yu Tianlong instantly struggled to keep a straight face.
Who on earth gave him the confidence to be this bold?
Three laps around Heaven Dou City-if Yu Tianheng really did that, his so-called position as young clan leader might be lost for the time being!
With the other party getting right in his face like this, Yu Tianlong would not be himself if he could swallow it.
After all, in his view, no matter the world, anywhere strength reigned supreme had only three realms!
The Ant Realm, the Fellow Daoist Realm, and the Senior Realm!
The forms of address differed accordingly.
"Die, you ant!"
"Please wait, fellow Daoist!"
"Spare me, senior!"
And which one did Yu Tianheng fall into right now?
It was plain at a glance!
He had no idea how the other party dared to get in his face and attack him without even understanding the situation.
This time, before Ning Rongrong could step forward, Yu Tianlong took three steps forward himself.
"Oh, my dear cousin, is it true that you'll run three laps around Heaven Dou City naked if my Soul Power is above rank thirty?"
Seeing Yu Tianlong behave like this, without the slightest fear, Yu Tianheng immediately began to waver, his mind racing.
Could he really have done it?
But how could a good-for-nothing with 0.1 Innate Soul Power have cultivated to this level in two and a half years?
At that thought, Yu Tianheng immediately regained his confidence.
"My word carries the weight of nine cauldrons. But who knows what method a fraud like you used to deceive so many people? What if your strength doesn't live up to your rank?"
Yu Tianlong smiled.
"That's easy. If my strength doesn't reach the Soul Elder level, I'll run three laps naked."
At these words, everyone present was shocked.
Watching the two cousins clash the moment they met, Qin Ming was utterly bewildered.
He had originally wanted to give Yu Tianheng a pleasant surprise, but he had never expected so many hidden circumstances to be involved.
For a moment, he had no idea what to do.
Still, out of his duty as a teacher, Qin Ming stepped forward to mediate. After all, whichever side lost, he, as their teacher, would be directly involved.
"All right, all right. This is a happy day for Yu Tianlong and Ning Rongrong as they join the academy. Tian Heng, stop making trouble. He's your cousin, after all!"
"What deep grudge could there possibly be between family?"
At these words, both Yu Tianlong and Yu Tianheng laughed aloud.
Especially Yu Tianheng. In the past, he might have shown some respect for Qin Ming, the teacher he revered.
But today, that was absolutely impossible.
If he accepted this, wouldn't he be slapping his own grandfather in the face?
Besides, Yu Tianlong had been the one to leave the clan back then.
"Teacher Qin Ming, there's no need to say that. Yu Tianlong is no longer my cousin. He left the clan long ago. Right now, I just want to teach this fraud a proper lesson!"
Listening from behind them, Ning Rongrong could barely stand it. Just as she was about to step forward and start cursing, Yu Tianlong stopped her.
"Rongrong, can you leave this to me?"
"Just watch from the side. Don't you trust me?"
After Yu Tianlong said this, Ning Rongrong thought for a moment, then nodded.
"Okay, Brother Long. You have to beat that arrogant jerk until he squeals like a pig!"
"No problem!"