"I'm sure of it."
Qin Ming wore a confident smile, his expression calm and composed—tinged with pride.
After all, he was a dignified Spirit Emperor, and his Martial Soul was the fire-type Inferno Grey Wolf—a natural counter to plant-type spirits like Ye Yu's.
As a Spirit Emperor—and a teacher no less—it would be beneath his dignity to let a student land even a single move.
"Make your move," Qin Ming said with a nod of encouragement.
Ye Yu responded with a knowing smile.
"Very well then."
"Teacher Qin Ming—don't blame me for not holding back!"
As soon as he spoke, Ye Yu swept his hand outward.
Behind him, his towering Blue Silver Spirit Jade Tree Martial Soul sprang to life. Massive root-like tendrils exploded from the base of the tree, each one resembling a sapphire crystal python—thick, sinuous, and brimming with power.
Some burrowed into the earth, while others burst from the ground, smashing through the soil in a rising wave as they surged toward Qin Ming with overwhelming momentum.
"Fourth Spirit Ability—Wolf's Breath!"
Seeing the sheer power behind Ye Yu's strike, Qin Ming narrowed his eyes. Taking several quick steps back, he leapt into the air and immediately activated his fourth spirit ability.
A brilliant glow surged from his fourth millennium spirit ring as a massive Inferno Grey Wolf emerged behind him with a feral roar.
In the next moment, the wolf let out a pillar of blazing crimson fire that erupted downward like a meteor of flame.
BOOM!
The moment it struck the earth, the flame burst apart—engulfing the area in a sea of seething fire that swept straight toward Ye Yu.
Hovering in the air, Qin Ming wore a confident smirk on his handsome face.
He was convinced that Ye Yu's Blue Silver Spirit Jade Tree had been reduced to cinders.
But then—
Countless thick, glimmering blue-silver roots exploded out from the heart of the inferno, surging upward to encircle Qin Ming in the air!
"What?!"
Qin Ming's expression shifted drastically—he could hardly believe what he was seeing.
Impossible!
Ye Yu was only a Spirit Ancestor.
Qin Ming was a Spirit Emperor, and he had already unleashed his fourth spirit ability! How could his fire have failed to burn through a plant-type Martial Soul?
Even if Ye Yu's Blue Silver Spirit Jade Tree had evolved through three refinements, reaching the level of a top-tier plant-type Martial Soul...
Fire counters plants.
That's elemental logic—it shouldn't matter how rare or strong the plant-type spirit is!
"Sixth Spirit Ability—Heaven-Scorching Blaze!"
Realizing too late that he'd underestimated his opponent, Qin Ming roared in fury, instantly activating his strongest ten-thousand-year spirit ability.
A red wolf-patterned formation lit up beneath his feet.
With a thunderous boom, a pillar of crimson flame erupted from the array and surged toward the roots wrapping around him, attempting to burn them away.
But—
Even under the power of a ten-thousand-year ability, the flames couldn't leave so much as a scorch mark on the Blue Silver Spirit Jade Tree.
Ye Yu simply stood unmoving below, watching with cold eyes.
This was because Ye Yu had once trained in the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, where he consumed both the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and the Infernal Delicate Apricot—undergoing a special dual-elemental tempering of his body and Martial Soul.
As a result, both Ye Yu and his Martial Soul had gained immunity to sub-extreme-level fire and ice attacks.
Qin Ming's flame—even empowered by a ten-thousand-year spirit ring—was still below that threshold.
It couldn't harm Ye Yu's Blue Silver Spirit Jade Tree at all.
He was fire-immune!
"How is this possible?!"
Even his strongest flames had no effect. Qin Ming's face twisted in shock, his heart shaken to its core.
His entire worldview seemed to teeter on the edge.
On the ground, Yu Tianheng, Shi Mo, Shi Mu, and the other watching students were completely stunned.
In the next moment—
Dozens of thick, gleaming blue-silver roots shot upward again, wrapping Qin Ming in midair like a giant silken dumpling—leaving only his head exposed.
No matter how many spirit abilities he unleashed, no matter how hard he struggled—
He couldn't break free.
"Teacher Qin Ming—" Ye Yu slowly approached, smiling faintly.
"You've lost."
His voice was calm, unhurried.
Qin Ming, still suspended midair, was dazed at first, unable to process what had just happened. But slowly, as the shock faded and reason returned, he sighed deeply.
Looking at Ye Yu, his expression grew complex.
He let out a bitter laugh.
"...Yes. I lost."
"I thought you were just being arrogant. But it turns out—I was the one being ignorant. Like a frog at the bottom of a well."
"To defeat me in a single move... You truly are a genius."
"With you here, perhaps Heaven Dou's Team One really can win the Elite Spirit Master Tournament this year."
"I owe you an apology for doubting you."
Ye Yu simply smiled, withdrawing the roots and releasing Qin Ming from the tangle of vines.
"It's nothing. I am only a 'Spirit Ancestor,' after all."
"It's normal for people not to believe in things they've never seen before."
"Now that I've proven myself, I'll be taking my leave."
At that moment, the others came over to the training ground.
Seeing the ruined field, and the clear victor standing calmly while Qin Ming recovered nearby—
Everyone's expressions were full of disbelief. No one knew what to say.
Only Dugu Yan walked forward and slipped her hand through Ye Yu's arm. Her striking, heroic features lit up with a proud smile.
On his other side, Ye Lingling approached as well. Beneath the long curtain of deep blue bangs, her eyes glowed with quiet pride.
"You've proven you're strong enough," Qin Ming said with a wry smile.
"Whether you choose to stay and join the team battle or not—doesn't matter anymore."
But he couldn't help asking one more question.
"Your Martial Soul is a plant-type. How... how is it that my flames didn't work at all?"
Ye Yu chuckled. There was a teasing gleam in his eyes.
"Who says fire always burns plants?"
"My Martial Soul just happens to be immune to fire. That's not allowed?"
"Fire... immune?" Qin Ming echoed in disbelief.
Yu Tianheng, Shi Mo, and the others stared blankly as well.
A plant-type Martial Soul... immune to fire?!
—
After defeating Qin Ming in a single move, Ye Yu departed Haagen Imperial City and flew straight toward Soto City.
Thanks to his flight technique, the journey took just over a day.
Soto City was located within the Balak Kingdom, at the center of the Lima Plains.
It was one of the two most important cities in the kingdom—
Known far and wide as the "Granary of Balak."
"Finally here," Ye Yu murmured as he arrived.
He gazed up at the towering walls and the bustling streets of the city. With a faint smile on his lips, he stepped through the gates.
Inside, the streets of Soto City were alive with people, wagons, and Spirit Masters coming and going.
The shops lining both sides of the road shouted over one another, hawking their wares.
It was noisy, chaotic—and brimming with life.
This was, after all, the start of the new term for Spirit Master academies.
After entering the city, Ye Yu first set out to find a hotel.
As expected during the enrollment season, most inns were nearly full.
But with a little coin—
He quickly booked a presidential suite at the upscale Zirui Grand Hotel.
Still, he didn't stay long.
Because his External Spirit Bone, the Thunder Hell Prison Spear, possessed a unique spirit ability—Lightning Devour—which allowed it to absorb and integrate the properties of metals.
Ye Yu knew that in Soto City's Owl Shop, there was a rare metal known as Fajin (Spirit Gold).—a crystal ore capable of reshaping under spirit power.
Naturally—
He wasn't going to let that kind of treasure slip through his fingers.