At Heaven Dou Imperial Academy, although the Emperor Battle Team was technically part of Team Two, the three teaching committee mbers weren't fools. They were well aware that these young talents chose Team Two only to gain more experience. If it ca to an actual fight, Team One wouldn't even last a single round against them.
As such, the academy's best mimicry training grounds and combat training arenas were fully available to them without conditions.
"You finally decided to co back, huh? You said you were just going to scout things out in Suoto City, but when we arrived, you'd already run off. Do you even have a shred of team spirit left?" Yu Tianheng, having waited ages for Tianlin to return, couldn't help but vent his frustrations. "Do you even know how I've been surviving since you left?"
Within the Emperor Battle Team, Gu Ran had shifted from an offensive to a defensive and counter-offensive role. Without Tianlin, the team had only one pure offensive soul master left—Yu Tianheng. Every group fight in Suoto City's soul battles had relied on him to carry the team's offensive burden, leaving him under imnse pressure.
"Exactly, Xiao Tian. Running off all the ti isn't going to work. The academy competition is just around the corner, and we need to build up our teamwork," Ye Lingling added, trying to persuade Tianlin.
"I'm sorry, Bother Tianheng, Senior Sister Ye. I didn't an to leave like that, but there was a reason for it…"
Tianlin was about to explain when Qin Ming interrupted him with a smile. "Enough, Xiao Tian. We already know. Gu Ran told us you had another fortuitous encounter and broke through to the Soul King level, right? Congratulations! I doubt there's another genius like you on the entire continent."
"Yeah, you're practically the darling of our team. None of us are really mad at you. Tianheng's just jealous," Oslo teased, slinging an arm around Tianlin's shoulder. "With you here, I'd say we've got the Soul Master Tournant in the bag."
"Oslo, don't get cocky. The competition is a team battle, not sothing Xiao Tian can carry by himself," Qin Ming admonished. He was most worried about the others relying too heavily on Tianlin.
Every one of them had the potential to beco a Title Douluo. If they stagnated because of this, it would be his failure as a teacher.
"That's right. So what if you're a Soul King? I'll catch up soon enough," Yu Tianheng declared with determination. Even if he couldn't surpass Tianlin, he wouldn't let go of his pride as the team captain.
"Xiao Tian, you may be ahead for now, but I, Sister Yan, will catch up soon enough. Don't forget my promise to protect my younger brother," Dugu Yan added confidently.
"As seniors, it's our duty to protect our juniors too," said the Shi brothers, their fighting spirit no less intense.
Seeing everyone's determination, Qin Ming finally nodded in satisfaction. The Emperor Battle Team was now fully assembled, and with the academy competition approaching, he began preparing the next round of special training.
That night, after a full day of training, Tianlin returned to his dormitory, only to find soone both unexpected yet unsurprising waiting for him.
"Brother Xue, why are you here?" Tianlin asked as he approached. He had guessed that since he was back, Qian Renxue would certainly co to see him, but he hadn't expected her to arrive so quickly.
"Of course, I ca to check on you. What dangerous thing did you do a few days ago? Even the Heavenly Snow Force was warning ," Qian Renxue said with a frown, her voice filled with concern.
Thanks to their years of cultivating the Heavenly Snow Force together, their connection had grown increasingly deep. Sotis, Tianlin could even sense Qian Renxue's presence.
However, he couldn't reveal the truth about the events involving the Skydream Iceworm. Instead, he dodged the question. "I had a bit of a fortuitous encounter a few days ago and broke through to the Soul King level. But my fifth soul ring was far too high in age, and I nearly died."
Upon hearing this, Qian Renxue montarily forgot to maintain her usual composure and angrily said, "You're too reckless! This isn't the first ti sothing like this has happened. No, I can't let you keep this up. When it's ti for your sixth soul ring, I'll accompany you personally to hunt for it."
"Wow, Xiao Tian. What luck you have! The person in front of you may look like a man, but she's a woman—and an incredibly beautiful one at that. She's even more stunning than your Rongrong. Heh, heh. This little transformation trick won't fool my million-year spiritual power," the voice of the Skydream Iceworm echoed in Tianlin's mind. "And I can sense that she genuinely cares about you. You should cherish her, Xiao Tian!"
"Brother Skydream, I've always known," Tianlin replied internally. Thanks to the external soul bone Golden Fla Eyes he gained from consuming the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and Infernal Delicate Apricot, Tianlin had always been able to see through Xue Qinghe's true appearance.
Due to his ti at Heaven Dou Imperial Academy, he spent as much ti with Qian Renxue as he had with Ning Rongrong. This was also why he often said he wasn't as disciplined as Ma Hongjun. Spending every day with soone as exceptionally beautiful as her—soone who treated him with such care—made it nearly impossible not to be moved.
In a way, her plan to win him over had half-succeeded. While Tianlin wouldn't betray the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan for her, if asked to harm her now, he wasn't sure he could bring himself to do it.
"Your Highness, sothing terrible has happened!" At that mont, a maid's panicked voice called from outside the door.
As the Crown Prince, Xue Qinghe naturally had attendants with her. However, without her permission, they wouldn't dare enter.
Already distressed over Tianlin's situation, Qian Renxue snapped, "What now? Co in and explain!"
The maid entered the room and imdiately noticed the tense atmosphere. The usually gentle Crown Prince seed to be in a foul mood, and Tianlin was silently standing to the side. Could it be that the brothers had quarreled? In her mind, these two were closer than most married couples. She had never heard of them arguing before.
Shaking off her thoughts, the maid rembered her purpose and urgently reported, "Your Highness, sothing terrible has happened! Prince Xue Beng… he killed soone in the academy!"
"What did you say?" Both Qian Renxue and Tianlin were shocked. The academy was filled with nobles. Even as a prince, Xue Beng killing soone here was no small matter.
The two of them rushed to Xue Beng's dormitory building. As a prince, Xue Beng didn't just have a single room to himself—he had the entire building. He could do whatever he wanted there.
By the ti they arrived, the area had already been sealed off. This was the work of the three teaching committee mbers, who were loyal to the Heaven Dou royal family and wanted to prevent any royal scandal from leaking out.
"Greetings, Your Highness," ng Shenji, along with Bai Baoshan and Zhi Lin, stepped forward to greet Xue Qinghe.
"No need for formalities. What has my useless brother done this ti?" Xue Qinghe asked.
"Well…" ng Shenji hesitated as if the matter was too shaful to speak of—even for soone of his Soul Douluo level.
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