"You want to leave for a while?"
"Why? Do you have something especially important to take care of?"
Faced with Ye Yu's request, Qin Ming frowned and didn't agree immediately. Instead, he questioned him directly.
"There's something very important I need to do," Ye Yu replied, a faint smile on his handsome face—but he didn't answer the question directly.
After all, what could he even say? That he planned to sneak into Shrek Academy in Soto City?
He was a registered student of Heaven Dou Imperial Academy. There was simply no way he could say that out loud.
Noticing Ye Yu's refusal to explain clearly, Qin Ming—who had already been hesitant—grew even less inclined to agree.
From his perspective, they had just begun the team's training journey away from the academy, and yet Ye Yu already wanted to act on his own because he couldn't currently participate in team battles?
Was this not throwing his weight around?
Qin Ming didn't believe Ye Yu truly had some "urgent business."
As a teacher, and a disciple of Flender, Qin Ming was well aware that to lead a team properly, a teacher must first establish authority.
He had been wondering how to build his authority over the Heaven Dou team, and now Ye Yu had walked right into the perfect opportunity.
Qin Ming decided—he would use Ye Yu to assert his presence.
"I don't agree."
Qin Ming rejected Ye Yu's request flatly.
"Unless you can give me a clear and convincing reason, I won't approve your departure."
"Even though you can't participate in battles just yet, once Tianheng and the others are familiar with team combat, you, Dugu Yan, and Ye Lingling can start playing."
"The Emperor Battle Team will then participate in Soul Ancestor–level team battles for training. That will be even more effective."
"If you leave now, who knows how long you'll be gone?"
"What if it affects the whole team's training?"
Ye Yu took a deep breath. He knew Qin Ming's words weren't unreasonable.
But from his perspective? He was the core of the team. With him around, Heaven Dou's chances of winning this year's Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament were a lock.
But the upcoming trip to Shrek Academy had a lot riding on it—his grandfather Dugu Bo's external soul bone could be at stake. If he missed the chance, he might never get it again.
So, Ye Yu responded firmly:
"It might affect training, but that doesn't matter."
"With me on the team, Heaven Dou will definitely win this year's tournament."
His voice was calm but full of unshakable confidence.
Qin Ming chuckled in disbelief.
"Ye Yu, I know you're a Rank 48 Soul Ancestor, and your martial soul is indeed powerful."
"But aren't you being a little too arrogant?"
"Do you even understand the scale of the Continental Elite Tournament?"
"Every year, Spirit Hall's team includes Soul Kings. The Star Luo Empire's Royal Team has two high-ranking Soul Ancestors with the Evil-Eyed White Tiger and Nether Civet martial souls."
"The key is—they can unleash the Martial Soul Fusion Technique: Hell White Tiger, which is stronger than most Soul Kings."
"Your Rank 48 cultivation isn't that impressive in the grand scheme of the tournament."
"Confidence is good—but arrogance will cost you."
Qin Ming's tone was earnest. He truly wanted to bring Ye Yu back down to earth.
But what could Ye Yu say?
Compressed soul power. A Soul Core. Soul Emperor–level strength.
None of that could be revealed publicly.
So, he simply smiled.
"Teacher Qin Ming, you don't understand."
"If I say I can do it, then I have the strength and confidence to back it up."
He added with a faint grin:
"In any case, I'm not asking for permission—I'm informing you."
"This is important, and whether or not you approve, I will be leaving."
"If that offends you, I hope you'll understand."
Qin Ming prided himself on being calm, but he couldn't help getting angry.
"Not a request, but a notice?"
He was a respected teacher at Heaven Dou Imperial Academy and the leader of this team. Was this not incredibly disrespectful?
Qin Ming chuckled coldly, his tone turning sharp.
"Fine. I'll allow it—if you prove to me that you truly have the power to lead this team to a championship."
"I won't make it too difficult. Just last ten moves against me."
"Ten moves?"
Ye Yu laughed softly.
"That's far too easy."
"If I just have to survive ten moves from you, what does that prove?"
"How about this—"
His smile brightened, handsome face full of confidence.
"Let's make it simple: I'll defeat you, Teacher Qin Ming."
"If I win, you let me go."
"If I lose, I won't bring it up again."
Qin Ming couldn't help but laugh in exasperation.
This kid was way too full of himself.
"Fine!"
The duel between Ye Yu and Qin Ming wasn't held in a Spirit Arena, but in the forested outskirts of Häagen-Dazs City.
They stood on opposite ends of a wide clearing.
Watching from the side were Dugu Yan, Ye Lingling, Yu Tianheng, and the others.
None of them could understand what Ye Yu was thinking.
Sure, he was strong—but Qin Ming was a Soul Emperor with a fire-type martial soul, the Blazing Flame Wolf—a natural counter to plant-based martial souls like Ye Yu's Blue Silver Spirit Jade Tree.
Holding out for ten moves might be possible...
But to actually defeat Qin Ming?
They couldn't even imagine how Ye Yu thought that was possible.
"Blazing Flame Wolf, Possession!"
With a loud shout, Qin Ming summoned his martial soul—an enormous red-flamed wolf—and entered Martial Soul Possession.
In an instant, his body grew taller, muscles swelling, arms transforming into sharp claws covered in flame-like fur. His hair blazed like fire, and his eyes turned into golden beast pupils.
Six soul rings rose from beneath him—yellow, yellow, purple, purple, purple, black—circling him with rhythmic pulses of light.
Ye Yu also activated his martial soul.
With a thought, he summoned the Blue Silver Spirit Jade Tree—a dazzling tree of crystal blue, shot through with golden veins and laced with red, blue, and purple lightning patterns. Thick, wide leaves rustled among its branches, which bore delicate white flowers.
Shrouded in the illusion of the Blue Silver Domain, four soul rings rose from beneath him—yellow, yellow, purple, purple—dancing around his body.
"Are you ready?"
Qin Ming's golden eyes flared with fire.
"As your teacher, I won't take advantage of you. You may strike first."
Hearing this, Ye Yu's expression turned… odd.
"Teacher Qin Ming, are you sure?"
PS: Read Advance Chapters at https://www.patreon.com/c/ReadJin