Sorry for not uploading yesterday. To make up for it, I will release 4 chapters today.
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"Hmm! You guys must think those two aren't strong enough, right?" Qin Ming said.
Hearing his words, the members of the Emperor team fell silent, indirectly admitting it.
At that moment, Yu Tianheng, the captain of the Emperor team, who had been sitting at the stone table with his eyes closed, finally spoke.
"Teacher Qin, you are the teacher of our Emperor team and also the 'second youngest' Soul Emperor. You've helped us a lot in our training, and we respect you for that. But that doesn't mean just anyone can join the Emperor battle team."
Qin Ming rubbed his forehead in frustration. His disciple had many good qualities—bravery, decisiveness, and keen insight—but he was also too competitive and arrogant. His spirit, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, was known as the "number one beast spirit under the heavens." In Yu Tianheng's mind, he considered himself the top of his generation on the Douluo Continent.
Calming himself, Qin Ming turned his attention to Zong and Xiao Wu, and said seriously, "Zong, Xiao Wu, introduce your martial spirits and spirit power."
Xiao Wu glanced at Zong, seeking his approval. When Zong nodded, she began.
In the next moment, a brilliant light surrounded Xiao Wu and Zong. Under the soft glow, their bodies began to change slightly. Gentle waves of spirit energy flowed around them as three spirit rings rose beneath their feet—two yellow and one purple—circling their bodies.
"Zong, martial spirit: Blue Silver Grass, control and enhanced attack type, 38th rank, three-ring Tool Spirit Elder."
"Xiao Wu, martial spirit: Rabbit, strong attack type, 33rd rank, three-ring Battle Spirit Elder."
The Emperor team members gasped in shock.
Two Spirit Elders at the age of twelve or thirteen? What kind of joke was this? When did geniuses become so common?
Dugu Yan couldn't help but exclaim, "How is that possible? They're just kids!"
Even Yu Tianheng was too stunned to speak. Twelve or thirteen years old and already at the 38th rank—his pride had taken a serious hit.
On the other hand, Qin Ming felt much better. His problem students had always acted like they were the best of the best, and it was about time they were humbled a bit. After all, he had been just like them at their age.
Seeing their reactions, Xiao Wu smirked mischievously. She stuck out her tongue and made a face at Dugu Yan, "Bleh! Old hag, do you still think Zong and I got in through connections?"
"You—" Dugu Yan was furious, her forehead forming a tic-tac-toe pattern in anger. But the ever-proud Dugu Yan wasn't about to back down easily. "Hmph! Just having high spirit power means nothing. The real test is in combat. If you can beat me, I'll admit your strength."
"Bring it on! I'm not scared!" Xiao Wu, provoked by Dugu Yan, immediately accepted the challenge.
Seeing Xiao Wu agree so readily, Dugu Yan's lips curled into a slight smile. "What a naive girl," she thought to herself.
Dugu Yan's martial spirit was the Jade Phosphor Serpent, adept at using poison and a control-type spirit master. In same-level combat, she believed that no one, except her boyfriend Yu Tianheng, could defeat her—let alone a mere rabbit spirit user who was five ranks below her.
And as for the Blue Silver Grass user at the 38th rank? What even is Blue Silver Grass? A trash spirit, no matter how much it was cultivated, it was still trash.
"Emperor Battle Team's Vice-Captain, Dugu Yan, martial spirit: Jade Phosphor Serpent. 38th rank control-type Battle Spirit Master. Are you two coming at me one by one or together?"
As she spoke, Dugu Yan summoned her Jade Phosphor Serpent, and three spirit rings—yellow, yellow, purple—rose beneath her, the optimal configuration.
Although Xiao Wu knew her spirit power was lower, giving up wasn't in her nature. She stepped forward, but before she could speak, a hand rested on her shoulder. It was Zong who stopped her.
Zong shook his head. "Let me handle this. Her Jade Phosphor Serpent is highly toxic, and you're several levels lower than her. You could get hurt."
This time, instead of complaining, Xiao Wu blushed and stood still, her mind racing with thoughts of Zong's words: "You'll get hurt, and that would make me feel terrible." (Okay, she might have imagined that last part.)
"Darn, this rabbit is acting all lovestruck again," Zong thought. He turned his focus to Dugu Yan and said seriously, "You're at the 38th rank, and so am I. We're both control-type spirit masters, so this battle is fair."
Dugu Yan didn't take Zong's words seriously. In her eyes, whether they fought her one-on-one or two-on-one, the result would be the same. "Fine, let's head over to that clearing over there. It's a better spot for fighting."
"Wait a second, I'm not finished," Zong said.
"What else is there?" Dugu Yan asked, a bit impatient.
Zong's expression changed, and a sly smile appeared on his face. "If we lose, we'll leave the Emperor Battle Team. But if we win and get nothing in return, that's just not fair."
"What do you want then?" Dugu Yan asked.
"Not much," Zong replied. "The silly rabbit behind me is missing a storage soul tool." Talking about soul tools gave Zong a headache. Even though he had a system, he hadn't managed to get his hands on a soul tool. And since he had his own system space, he hadn't bothered to buy one.
But the problem was, the silly rabbit didn't have one either. After graduating, she dumped all her stuff on him, from clothes to personal items, and it was driving him nuts.
"You—" Dugu Yan was disgusted by Zong's words. He really expected to win a free storage soul tool? Even though she didn't think she'd lose, and didn't care much about the tool, she wasn't about to let him take advantage so easily.
At that moment, Yu Tianheng, who had been silent, patted Dugu Yan on the shoulder and whispered, "Yan, be careful. That guy's not simple."
"I know, Tianheng," Dugu Yan replied, listening to Yu Tianheng's advice, though she still didn't think much of Zong. In her eyes, he was just a pretty boy—a decorative vase that was all show and no substance. Blue Silver Grass? How strong could it really be?
Turning her gaze back to Zong, Dugu Yan said seriously, "Fine, but if you lose, not only will you leave the Emperor team, but you'll also leave Heaven Dou Imperial Academy."
Zong readily agreed, "No problem!"
Everyone moved to a clearing outside the bamboo forest, where Qin Ming, as the team leader, acted as the referee.
Zong and Dugu Yan stood in the center, facing each other.
"Remember, this is just a sparring match between classmates, so don't take it too far," Qin Ming reminded them. He was well aware of Dugu Yan's strength—she was among the top of her generation—but he was even more curious about Zong's capabilities. With a Blue Silver Grass martial spirit imbued with fire, which even Soul Douluo Zhilin had said was comparable to a top-tier martial spirit, how powerful could it be?
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T/N - Don't worry, these chapters are just for introduction, the story will pick up pace in the future.
Check out my pa**on to read 100 advanced chapters. Link is in synopsis/description of this fic.
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If any of you find any error in the chapter, please point it out in the paragraph comments and I will correct it as soon as possible.