The Emperor Team

At the Heaven Dou Royal Academy, in a small bamboo grove.

Seven young men and women, each with their own distinct demeanour, sat around a square stone table, sipping tea. The table was also laden with various fruits and snacks. Unlike other students, they weren't wearing the academy's yellow uniforms, but the students passing by didn't seem surprised. They kept their distance, as if afraid to provoke them.

Sitting at the center of the stone table was a tall young man with long black hair. He wasn't particularly handsome, and his expression was stern, as if his facial muscles were stiff.

Beside him was a girl leaning lazily against his shoulder. Her short, deep purple hair gave her a bold look, and her unusual green eyes added a sense of mystery. While not a great beauty, she possessed a strange allure. She was currently pouring tea for the young man with his eyes closed, resting.

"Yan, why do you think Teacher Qin Ming called us here? School doesn't officially start until the day after tomorrow, and we're not like those slackers who hang around school doing nothing."

The speaker was a handsome young man with short golden hair. He had one leg propped up on the table and looked completely carefree. As he spoke, he glanced sideways at a passing student, scaring the student into quickening his pace and hurrying away.

The purple-haired girl glanced at him with disdain. "How would I know? And if you don't put that leg down soon, you won't be able to keep it."

"Alright, alright, I'll put it down, okay?" the golden-haired youth replied with a bitter smile as he lowered his leg.

Just then, another young man in black, also with golden hair, spoke up with a teasing tone. "Have you heard? That fool Xue Beng got beaten up by two freshmen at noon today."

"Haha, is that true? That's interesting. I've never liked him anyway. If it weren't for my old man stopping me, I'd have beaten him up long ago," a young man in blue chimed in.

Meanwhile, the last member of the group, a girl dressed in black with a black veil covering her face, stood silently to the side, gazing into the distance.

These seven were none other than the members of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy's Emperor team.

Captain: Yu Tianheng, Martial Soul: Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, Rank 39 Power Attack Spirit Master. Spirit Rings: Two Yellow, One Purple.

Vice-Captain: Dugu Yan, Martial Soul: Jade Phosphor Serpent, Rank 38 Control System Spirit Master. Spirit Rings: Two Yellow, One Purple.

Team Member: Shi Mo, Martial Soul: Black Turtle, Rank 38 Defense System Spirit Master. Spirit Rings: Two Yellow, One Purple.

Team Member: Shi Mo, Martial Soul: Black Turtle, Rank 37 Defense System Spirit Master. Spirit Rings: Two Yellow, One Purple.

Team Member: Yu Feng, Martial Soul: Wind Chime Bird, Rank 36 Agility Attack Spirit Master. Spirit Rings: Two Yellow, One Purple.

Team Member: Osler, Martial Soul: Black Leopard, Rank 36 Agility Attack Spirit Master. Spirit Rings: Two Yellow, One Purple.

Team Member: Ye Lingling, Martial Soul: Nine Heart Begonia, Rank 35 Support System Spirit Master. Spirit Rings: Two Yellow, One Purple.

As they joked and chatted, Qin Ming arrived with Zuzong and Xiao Wu.

The group quickly stood up to greet Qin Ming, even the usually silent black-veiled girl joined them.

"Teacher, you've gotten even more handsome in just a few days!"

"Come, Teacher, I've already prepared tea for you."

At that moment, Ye Lingling, who had been silent, spoke up. "Who are they?"

For some reason, her Nine Heart Begonia Martial Soul seemed to resonate with the blue-haired boy, giving her a sense of familiarity.

Ye Lingling's words caused quite a stir—not because everyone was interested in the newcomers, but because they were shocked that she spoke at all. Even though they had spent so much time together as a team, they had barely heard her say a word.

Qin Ming, feeling a bit awkward from all the attention, almost forgot why he was there.

"Let me introduce them. These are the two new members of the Emperor Battle Team, Zuzong and Xiao Wu. Everyone, introduce yourselves."

Qin Ming's words clearly made most of the Emperor team unhappy. Aside from Ye Lingling, who maintained her usual cold expression, everyone else looked displeased.

Geniuses often have their own pride. In their eyes, the seven of them were already the perfect team. The newcomers, who appeared to be only twelve or thirteen years old, were immediately rejected. 

Being good-looking wasn't enough, and they assumed these two must have been brought in through connections. This had happened before, and they had driven those people away in the past.

"Teacher Qin, don't tell me some 'big shot' pulled strings to get their son and daughter in," Dugu Yan said disdainfully. She despised useless nobles, and with her grandfather being a Title Douluo respected by even the emperor, she spoke her mind freely.

Zuzong thought to himself: "So, this is Dugu Yan, one of the few female characters in the original story who never even looked Tang San in the eye."

Truth be told, Dugu Yan's fate was quite tragic. Her boyfriend's family was wiped out, and the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well was taken over by Tang San's family. Even though her grandfather Dugu Bo helped Tang San so much, they didn't receive a single herb, while the Shrek Seven Devils benefited greatly. It was truly ironic.

Zuzong didn't mind being ignored, but Xiao Wu was already fuming. She stomped her foot and said angrily, "Hmph, you guys are the ones who got in through connections! Xiao Zong and I earned our spots with our strength."

Dugu Yan was intrigued by Xiao Wu's boldness. Most people were too intimidated by her Jade Phosphor Serpent to speak up. But Xiao Wu wasn't afraid at all.

Dugu Yan licked her lips. "Little girl, if you want to join the Emperor team, you'd better prove you're strong enough. Otherwise, why don't you go home with your little boyfriend and drink milk?"

Provoked, Xiao Wu's competitive spirit flared up. "Ah! I'm going to beat you, you old hag!"

Old hag? Everyone's foreheads broke out in cold sweat. Even the usually stoic Ye Lingling couldn't help but twitch her lips.

Zuzong rolled his eyes: "If she's an old hag, then what does that make you, a 10,000-year-old rabbit?"

Xiao Wu (angry): "Ah! Whose side are you on, you blockhead?"

Dugu Yan's lips twitched. "Old...old hag? You're looking for trouble!" The two glared at each other, neither willing to back down.

As the leader, Qin Ming couldn't help but sigh. "What a bunch of troublemakers."

—

T/N - Don't worry, these chapters are just for introduction, the story will pick up pace in the future.

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