Nine People, No Tenth Vote

Qin Ming didn't let anyone touch the pen first.

He closed the meeting room door first before placing the Education Commission document next to the tactics manual. The two documents looked somewhat awkward together. The tactics manual still bore everyone's handprints from training, while the other document had "Suggestions for Archiving Outstanding Soul Master Training Achievements" written in neat handwriting.

"Let's discuss how to manage the rewards first," Qin Ming said. "If we don't even figure out who has the authority to decide, then distributing them to whom is just empty talk."

The person sent by the Education Commission was surnamed Zhao. He was originally going to read out a set of college recommendations, but Yu Tianheng asked him to sit down next to him.

"Teacher Zhao, you can share the college's thoughts," Yu Tianheng said. "During the vote, please let the nine of us speak first."

Teacher Zhao hesitated for a moment, but then nodded. He suggested that the three Soul Bone be used first for the academy's future training and demonstration, arguing that the Imperial Fighting Team enjoys abundant resources and its achievements should also help future generations.

Shi Mo asked, "What are you showing? The patterns on the Soul Bone, or who absorbed it?"

"Primarily displays research records."

"Then let's clearly write down what we can see and what we can't," Shi Mo said. "We can't have our research records including our individual physical weaknesses."

Teacher Zhao had a set of prepared instructions in hand, but when Shi Mo asked about these details, she could only lower her head and look through the attachments she had brought.

Ye Lingling added, "The meridian records left during treatment are only for medical use. Whether to use them as a demonstration subject depends on who you first ask the patient."

Dugu Yan leaned back in her chair. "I don't object to teaching younger generations. But letting people know that 'there's a skull' is a far cry from writing about how many times Li Man had headaches and when she couldn't hold on any longer."

Li Man nodded. Her notebook remained on the table, but she hadn't handed it over.

Teacher Zhao changed the subject. "What about the distribution principle? There will always be someone who contributes more in the competition."

Yu Feng looked up. "Are you suggesting we line up based on the number of knockdowns?"

"Of course it can't be that simple."

"Then how should we calculate it?" Yu Feng asked. "The Shi Brothers blocked a lot of injuries, and no one was knocked out of the game by them. Ye Lingling saved people, but the referee didn't count her injuries. We ran back and forth, and Tian Heng was the one who broke the deadlock in the end. What does all that count?"

Yu Tianheng twirled the pen and placed it on the table. "The last time I hit them, they left me a way out. If we're really going to split the score based on the final blow, I disagree."

Dong Jian leaned back in his chair, his back still not comfortable sitting for long. Hearing this, he said, "The Divine Dragon Secret Realm can record how many times the Yin-Yang Force Redirection has processed power; but a team member choosing not to pursue and retreating to protect Lingling doesn't necessarily count as a remarkable number."

"Then how do you think we should divide it?" Teacher Zhao asked.

"First, let's talk about compatibility," Dong Jian said. "Then, let's consider whether the person is willing to take the risks. When it really comes to that, who gives way to whom is their own decision. Don't turn humility into a rule."

Osler had been flipping through the paper about the leg bone since earlier, and only closed it after hearing the last sentence. "I agree."

Yu Feng glanced at Osler, knowing full well that it was easy to say something nice at this moment, but making a real decision couldn't be achieved through their usual jokes.

Qin Ming proposed a slower approach. The three Soul Bone, as a reward won by the team together, would be temporarily sealed by both parties; the academy would be responsible for safety and necessary appraisal expenses, while usage permits would require discussion among team members and clear individual knowledge. If a candidate showed obvious danger during the suitability assessment, the allocation process would be stopped on the spot.

"What if the nine of us have different opinions?" Shi Mo asked.

Yu Tianheng asked everyone to think about whether they would be willing to reopen the discussion if they discovered in the future that they were not actually suitable for the Soul Bone they originally applied for. Several people nodded in succession. Dugu Yan then asked if others could refuse to sign an incomplete report if someone concealed meridian damage in order to protect a friend.

Ye Lingling answered directly, "Yes, and you should refuse. I don't decide other people's lives; I'm only responsible for telling everyone what I've personally discovered."

Upon hearing the words "concealing injuries," Dong Jian touched his back, which had recovered considerably, and proactively placed his medical examination report on the table. Li Man didn't explain for him, but also handed the mental recovery report to the doctor for confirmation. This small gesture made the people in the meeting, who had been polite to each other, put aside their concerns and begin to explain the specific risks one by one.

"Then don't rush to decide," Qin Ming said. "The Soul Bone won't disappear just because you sign three days later."

Teacher Zhao reminded them, "The Empire wants to announce the results as soon as possible."

Yu Tianheng looked up. "We can announce 'temporarily sealed pending inspection.' Whoever is dissatisfied, let him come and ask me."

"Captain, don't take on all the responsibility again," Dugu Yan said.

"This time, I'm in charge of explaining things to the public," Yu Tianheng said, looking at her. "The vote still needs to be taken by nine people."

The debate continued into the afternoon, with each person stating their inclination. Li Man clearly stated her willingness to undergo a follow-up assessment of the spirit bone's compatibility, but refused to allow it to be absorbed immediately while injured. Ye Lingling believed the assessment was reasonable, but proposed setting conditions for termination. The Shi Brothers stated they did not have priority in applying for the three Soul Bone; they were willing to record their long-term defensive risks for future training comparisons.

"You really don't want it?" Yu Feng asked.

Shi Mo shook his head. "Everyone wants a suitable Soul Bone. But these three pieces are in front of me, and they don't suit my path. What's the point of just getting one of them to store?"

Shi Mo continued, "If a suitable reward comes along in the future, don't say we owe the team something just because we didn't apply this time."

Yu Tianheng nodded solemnly and added this item to the discussion record. No one's voluntary temporary withdrawal will be counted as a future debt, nor will it be exchanged for a special status.

As for the Flame Arm Bone, no one has yet offered a reliable reason for its compatibility. Teacher Zhao suggested that the academy exchange it with other institutions, but Qin Ming stated that they would only discuss it after the nine people understood the specific conditions and the other party's intended use.

"That bone won't leave the cabinet for now," Dugu Yan said. "Who knows if what we get in return will be something unsuitable?"

The group first checked the terms of the seizure agreement, confirming that private transactions would not be permitted before the next discussion, before gradually expressing their agreement.

During the break, Ye Lingling asked Teacher Zhao a question privately, "If I write in the minutes today that I didn't apply, will I still be excluded from the award discussion if the Department of Therapy achieves good results in the future?" Teacher Zhao hurriedly explained that it wouldn't. She then asked if this explanation could be written down on paper, so that each new person in charge wouldn't change their wording. Teacher Zhao hesitated for a long time before finally adding it to the meeting minutes.

Shi Mo also pointed out that voting should not be done by having someone who is not present sign a pre-written letter on their behalf. If a team member is unable to attend due to a mission, the scope of the discussion should be explained and an alternative time should be set. In the past, everyone could pass on a role switch to their teammates on the competition stage, but now that it involves their own personal matters, they cannot use that tacit understanding to skip the procedure.

Yu Tianheng didn't find their troublesome. He arranged the opinions in order on a piece of paper and asked everyone to read the revised version. Dong Jian helped him flip to the end and found that the team leader's name was not placed in the most conspicuous place, and even the font size was the same as everyone else's.

What truly froze was the speed leg bone. Yu Feng felt it was necessary for takeoffs, landings, and body movement adjustments, Osler believed it was more effective for continuous ground pursuit. The two were used to joking around, so neither rushed to make a definitive statement today.

"I'd like to test it first," Yu Feng said.

"I want to too," Osler quickly added.

"But there's only one."

"So let's test it first."

Yu Feng turned to look at him. "Could you say something else?"

"You change first."

Some people laughed inside, but no one treated the two's request as children fighting over a toy. At this point, a single Soul Bone could influence a Soul Master's fighting style for decades, and everyone had the right to earnestly fight for it.

Li Man asked them, "What do you plan to do if both assessment results match?"

Osler thought for a long time, "Let the team know their plans before making a decision. I don't want to make him too embarrassed to speak up by competing with them privately."

Yu Feng also admitted, "I don't want to be selected just because I can fly high."

Qin Ming suggested that basic load-bearing tests be conducted on each individual tomorrow, without using the Soul Bone, only to assess their joint condition and the risks of long-term training. After the tests are completed, a decision can be made as to whether a more professional fitting plan is needed.

In the evening, the formal meeting adjourned. As Teacher Zhao put away the college's suggestions, he couldn't help but turn back and ask before leaving, "So, who do you plan to let make the final decision?"

Yu Tianheng neatly stacked the nine records. "There's no tenth person to vote for us. You can take the academy's opinion back; we will give the academy a reply."

Teacher Zhao glanced at Qin Ming. Qin Ming didn't say anything, but simply opened the door for him.

After everyone left, Yu Feng sat by the windowsill and raised his fist to Osler: "Don't deliberately go easy on me tomorrow."

Osler nudged him. "Don't try to be a hero. Teacher Qin wants to see the force applied, not who falls first."

Dong Jian stood up and stretched his back, while Li Man held onto the back of the chair for support. Yu Tianheng noticed this small movement and didn't tell anyone else who would stay behind for training. He put the meeting minutes in the cabinet and took out the test schedule for tomorrow separately.

The first time, only two names were written, and their handwriting was in the same column, with neither of them listed first.

Yu Feng and Osler finished reading side by side, without urging Qin Ming to immediately give the winner.

Both of them were present and could clearly see their names written on the same line.