"Oh? I really didn't expect that you, Teacher Qi Ling, would become so popular with the students after only two classes. I'm truly impressed!" Meng Shenji said admiringly. "In that case, I think it's most suitable to entrust that matter to you, Teacher Qi Ling."
"Hmm? What is it?" A bad premonition suddenly rose in Qi Ling's heart.
"Actually, it's like this: Qin Ming was the team leader for the Imperial Fighting Team before, but the position has been vacant since he left," Meng Shenji said slowly.
"It's not that no one wants to be the team leader; on the contrary, many teachers are eager for the position, but they all seem to lack the necessary skills and are clearly not up to the task."
"So, Teacher Meng Shenji, you're telling me this because you don't mean to..." Qi Ling raised an eyebrow.
"That's right, I just wanted to ask Teacher Qi Ling, are you willing to become the new team leader of the Imperial Fighting Team?" Meng Shenji asked Qi Ling with great anticipation.
"We have witnessed your talent firsthand. We can say that in the entire Heaven Dou Academy, there is no one more suitable than you! Please do not decline this position!"
Qi Ling quickly refused, "No, no, Teacher Meng, you've forgotten, I'm from the Shrek Academy, how can I lead the members of the Imperial Fighting Team! Even if I agreed, my teachers wouldn't!"
"Oh, don't worry about that, Teacher Qi Ling. First of all, we should..." Meng Shenji was about to speak when a middle-aged man wearing glasses suddenly rushed in and interrupted him.
"Chief Meng Shenji, I heard you're going to hand over the leadership of the Imperial Fighting Team to that kid of unknown origin? I can't accept that!" the man who barged in said.
Meng Shenji frowned, somewhat embarrassed, and said to Qi Ling, "This is Teacher Huang Lizong, currently the teacher of the Heaven Dou Second Team."
Upon hearing Meng Shenji's words, Huang Lizong immediately turned hostile and said to Qi Ling, "So you're that brat of unknown origin? Hmph, you're some treacherous person who came from who-knows-where. What qualifications do you have to compete with me for the team leader position?"
"Hmm? I didn't say I wanted to compete, Ms. Meng. Since this Teacher Huang is so ambitious, why don't you just let him come?" Qi Ling said nonchalantly.
Meng Shenji hesitated, "But Teacher Huang is the leader of the Heaven Dou Second Team, and after considering everything, we still think that Teacher Qi Ling, you are more suitable."
Upon hearing Meng Shenji's words, Huang Lizong immediately reacted as if he had been insulted. "Chief Meng, are you saying that I'm inferior to this brat? How can a kid who hasn't even grown his first hair compare to me! You're insulting me!"
Meng Shenji said awkwardly, " Teacher Huang, please don't be impulsive, we didn't mean that..."
"If you want him to be the team leader, he'll at least have to prove he's better than me. Otherwise, what makes him qualified?" Huang Lizong looked at Qi Ling and said aggressively, "You brat, do you dare accept my challenge?!"
[Ding! A choice has been detected for the host. Please choose from the following options.]
Option 1: Refuse Huang Lizong's challenge, lose without a fight, and receive the following rewards: Heaven Dou Academy's popularity decreases by 50%, and Soul Power Level decreases by 1.
Option 2: Accept Huang Lizong's challenge and win to receive the following rewards: " God Skill: Ring Sealing Technique " proficiency increased to intermediate level, Heaven Dou Academy popularity +20, and Charm Points +1.
Qi Ling originally didn't intend to bother with Huang Lizong. If you want to be the one, then be the one. It'll save me the trouble.
But it seems that causing trouble for Qi Ling is the only fun this system has. Now he has no choice but to slap Qi Ling in the face again.
"Sigh, why is it so hard to be a good person?" Qi Ling said helplessly.
[Ding dong! Congratulations, host, you have chosen option two: accept Huang Lizong's challenge and won. You have received the following rewards: " God Skill: Ring Sealing Technique " proficiency increased to intermediate level, Heaven Dou Academy popularity +20, Charm Points +1.]
"Want to challenge me? That's fine, but let me make this clear beforehand: I'm only accepting your challenge, not the team leader position," Qi Ling said helplessly. "If you lose, you'll be the team leader again."
Huang Lizong was immediately enraged. Wasn't this an insult to his dignity? Did he, a Soul Emperor, need such charity from him?
"You brat, you're absolutely arrogant! If I lose, you don't even need to tell me, I definitely won't be the team leader anymore, and I won't even be the teacher!" Huang Lizong said angrily.
"Teacher Huang Lizong, don't be so impulsive!" Meng Shenji said helplessly, "You are a Six-Ring Soul Emperor, while Teacher Qi Ling is only a Soul Elder! What kind of competition is this?"
Six-Ring Soul Emperor? Qi Ling's eyes lit up. The highest-ranking opponent she'd ever faced was a five-ring Soul King; she'd never actually fought Soul Emperor before! She wondered if she could even win.
For Soul Master, each additional Soul Ring represents a qualitative leap, far exceeding a simple increase in Soul Power! Although the difference between Soul King and Soul Emperor may seem to be only one Soul Ring, the gap in their strength is worlds apart.
Thinking of this, Qi Ling felt not fear at all, but rather a surge of excitement. His inherent fighting spirit seemed to be leaping with joy, cheering for the opportunity to challenge a brand new and formidable enemy.
Huang Lizong was clearly surprised that Qi Ling was only a Soul Elder, considering his age, this was already an extraordinary achievement.
But then Qi Ling spoke up, "It's alright, Teacher Meng. Since this Teacher Huang wants to fight, I'll fight him. I just hope Teacher Huang will go easy on me."
Upon hearing this, Huang Lizong realized that Qi Ling's words were exactly what he wanted to hear. Once on the field, who would care whether you held back or not? Victory was the only goal, regardless of whether your methods were honorable or not.
"Alright! Don't worry, my only goal is the position of leader of the Imperial Fighting Team, I will never take your life!" Huang Lizong said. "In that case, I'll be waiting for you on the playground first thing tomorrow morning! Let's settle this with the whole school in front of us!"
"It's a deal!" Qi Ling said with a smile.
After Huang Lizong left, Meng Shenji said worriedly, " Qi Ling, you're being foolish! Although Teacher Huang is a bit of a scoundrel, his strength is absolutely genuine!"
"Don't worry, Teacher Meng, I never do anything I'm not sure I can handle. Since I've agreed to this battle, I naturally have my own plans," Qi Ling said confidently.
"So, what are your chances of winning?" Meng Shenji asked.
"As for the odds, I can't make any bold predictions without seeing his Soul Skill, but judging from the current situation," Qi Ling pondered, "It's about 50/50."
"Hmm? What's the odds?"
"50/50! Is there a problem?"
"No."
"By the way, Teacher Meng," Qi Ling suddenly asked, "Since there are no other candidates, why not let Teacher Huang be the leader of the Imperial Fighting Team?"
Upon hearing this question, Meng Shenji suddenly felt embarrassed. After thinking for a long time, he said helplessly, "Actually, we did consider this option, but it was unanimously rejected by the members of the Imperial Fighting Team."
"Why? As a Soul Emperor, his strength and knowledge should be quite good, so why did he refuse?" Qi Ling asked, puzzled.
"You'll know the answer to this question after you actually fight him tomorrow," Meng Shenji said with a strange expression. "I only have one piece of advice for you: remember to wear a mask!"