Heaven Dou Imperial Academy.
The Royal Fighting Team's training grounds.
Xiao Lin had received from Teacher Qin Ming the detailed data of the Royal Fighting Team members, and at this moment, he was preparing Martial Soul data panels for the members who had just obtained soul rings (noted in the author's notes).
Thanks to the help of immortal herbs, the overall strength of the Royal Fighting Team now surpassed even that of the Spirit Hall's team (at least, based on Xiao Lin's memories).
Xiao Lin wasn't entirely clear about the strength of Hu Liena's team — he only vaguely remembered that they seemed to have three Soul Kings.
But the Royal Fighting Team now had five to six quasi-Soul King-level members.
Yu Tianheng and Dugu Yan — Yu Tianheng had already gone home to obtain his soul ring, while Dugu Yan was just a little short of the mark.
The remaining members — Ye Lingling and the Shi brothers — could also reach Soul King level within two years.
Oslo and Yu Feng were slightly behind, but they too would approach Soul King level.
As for Xiao Lin and his companions, their progress was a little slower — after all, part of their soul power had to be used to stimulate the growth of their qi and blood energy (even Xiao Wu had mastered the most basic form of qi and blood power).
Before long.
Qin Ming received the Martial Soul data panels personally written out by Xiao Lin.
Qin Ming's eyes lit up instantly as he stared at the data.
"Good, good, good — this time, our Heaven Dou Imperial Academy, the Royal Fighting Team, will surely win the championship and make our name known across the world!"
Qin Ming laughed heartily, then turned toward Xiao Lin, looking a bit troubled.
"Um… Xiao Lin, are you all free by any chance?"
"I'm not free. As for Xiao San and the others, they probably aren't either."
Xiao Lin shook his head. He was planning to meet with Dugu Bo, then head to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well to cultivate — to evolve his Chaos Right Leg Bone to the hundred-thousand-year level.
If there was a way to become stronger without any side effects, he absolutely wouldn't waste time dawdling.
And knowing Tang San, Tang San would surely keep researching soul tools and hidden weapons — his cultivation wouldn't fall behind either.
Tang Ni and Xiao Wu — one was a crazy training maniac, the other still had a surplus of the King of Herbs' medicinal power within her, so she also had to keep cultivating. Neither of them would have time.
"In that case, I guess this'll have to be left to Oslo and the others — but we're short-handed."
Qin Ming frowned as he spoke.
"Short-handed" usually meant "bad news." Xiao Lin immediately asked, "What's going on, Teacher Qin Ming?"
"It's just… I spoke with my former academy dean and agreed to have a friendly match with their students. But now, aside from Yu Feng and Oslo, everyone else has gone home — no one's here."
Qin Ming briefly explained, and Xiao Lin instantly understood.
So the Shrek people were coming here? But… in the original timeline, was it during this period?
Xiao Lin couldn't figure it out.
But Qin Ming wasn't wrong — Ye Lingling, the Shi brothers, all of them had returned to their families.
As far as Xiao Lin knew, they'd gone back to pick up treasures traded for immortal herbs.
Even Ye Lingling — she didn't want to just take such precious immortal herbs without earning them, even though she'd already agreed to Xiao Lin's five-year unlimited treatment offer.
"Wait — no, something's off!"
Xiao Lin suddenly sensed something wrong.
Did Shrek still even have that many people at this point?
"Wouldn't Oslo and Yu Feng alone be enough to beat Shrek's people?"
Hearing Xiao Lin's doubts, Qin Ming naturally also trusted Oslo and Yu Feng's strength.
But they'd originally agreed to a four-versus-four match — if it turned into two-versus-four and they still won, wouldn't that embarrass Shrek's juniors?
Had he known this would happen, Qin Ming wouldn't have sent the invitation letter in the first place.
Facing his alma mater Shrek and Dean Flender, Qin Ming felt a little awkward.
As for the available Dugu Yan — Qin Ming wouldn't dare let her spar.
"You truly don't have even a little time? If Yu Feng and Oslo alone defeat Shrek's four-person squad, I'll feel embarrassed."
Qin Ming pressed again.
"Teacher Qin Ming, I'm definitely not free, and Xiao San and the others absolutely won't be free either."
Xiao Lin could understand Qin Ming — aside from being somewhat foolishly loyal, Qin Ming was probably the most normal person in all of Shrek. It was natural for him to think this way.
But even so, Xiao Lin wouldn't agree to anything on behalf of Xiao San and the others — especially something that offered no benefit.
And besides, as for those Shrek perverts, Xiao Lin couldn't even be bothered with them.
Although, in Shrek, Zhu Zhuqing was still alright.
It was just a pity — a hardworking, diligent girl, destined to be ruined by Shrek.
Huh?
Xiao Lin smiled slightly — he seemed to have come up with a mischievous idea.
"Teacher Qin Ming, I think we can do this instead."
Then, Xiao Lin proposed a modification to the exchange match rules.
Namely, the Royal Fighting Team would select one member from Shrek, turning it into a three-versus-three.
And judging from Qin Ming's personality, he would definitely pick the weakest among the Shrek students — Zhu Zhuqing.
And Shrek certainly wouldn't let someone like Oscar, a powerful food-type soul master, join the Royal Fighting Team.
This way, after the exchange match, Teacher Qin Ming wouldn't feel too troubled either.
And the three Shrek members would be completely crushed by Yu Feng and Oslo — just thinking about it made Xiao Lin a bit happy.
Xiao Lin just didn't know what Zhu Zhuqing's opinion of Shrek's "three monsters" was.
If her impression of them was bad, Xiao Lin might even be interested in rescuing Zhu Zhuqing, to get her out of the tiger's jaws.
After hearing Xiao Lin's plan, Qin Ming thought for a moment — then his eyes lit up.
"This method isn't bad at all — as expected of you."
Having found a solution, Qin Ming was about to take the Martial Soul data panels to the teaching staff when something else seemed to cross his mind.
Then, Qin Ming walked up beside Xiao Lin and whispered:
"These are ten-thousand-year soul bones from the three teaching committee members. You should decide who should absorb them."
"Ten-thousand-year soul bones? Such precious items?"
Xiao Lin looked confused — ten-thousand-year soul bones were precious enough to make even Titled Douluo fight to the death over them.
If the three teaching committee members absorbed this soul bone, they might even become Titled Douluo.
"This is the Left Arm Bone of Chasing Wind — the three teaching committee members aren't compatible with it. I must hand it over to you."
Qin Ming grabbed Xiao Lin's hand, forcing him to take it.
Even after Qin Ming left, Xiao Lin was still staring blankly at the Chasing Wind Left Arm Bone.
Soul bones could be "incompatible"?Ordinary soul bone abilities didn't even affect Martial Souls.At most, soul bones with the same attribute as the Martial Soul would grant amplification — and only clashing attributes would make them unsuitable.
Xiao Lin didn't believe there was anything inherently "incompatible" about this Chasing Wind soul bone.
…
Forget it — he'd just take it.
Since the three teaching committee members valued him so highly, he'd conduct proper research on this soul bone, then return it later.
As for soul bones.
He had already made a small discovery.
That discovery was — soul bones could be upgraded.
This discovery wasn't only from Xiao Lin's own speculation — he also had the experience of the two Dragon Kings to guide him.
The two Dragon Kings had once told Xiao Lin that soul bones were, in essence, solidified soul cores.
Once he got this confirmed information, Xiao Lin was basically sure that soul bones could evolve.
And the way to evolve them was to turn the soul bone back into a "soul core," then allow it to grow together with the soul master.
For Xiao Lin, nurturing a soul core wasn't the hard part — he had the help of the two Dragon Kings.
The hard part was cracking the "password" of the soul bone — finding its original rotation direction, speed, and frequency.
And even if he figured out the password, he would still need to strip away the soul bone's "shell," exposing the soul core inside.
This was Xiao Lin's current research direction.
Martial Soul Data Panel:
Yu Feng: [Martial Soul: Windbell Bird]
Destructive Power: A (the fourth soul skill brings great destructive force)Speed: A (one of the fastest agility-attack soul masters of his rank)Attack Range: B+Endurance: A (after absorbing yellow essence, stamina has improved)Precision: BGrowth Potential: A-Special Energy: A (the fourth soul skill's Yellow Wind possesses powerful cutting ability and speed)
(End of Chapter)