Inside the classroom, after seeing all the students put down their pens, Qin Ming began asking for answers.
Naturally, the first person he called on was Zhu Zhuqing.
As someone who had only just joined the Imperial Battle Team, Zhu Zhuqing might not fully understand the team's overall strength.
Her answer was bound to have many weaknesses—which was perfect for Qin Ming to use as a counterexample.
So Qin Ming asked Zhu Zhuqing to speak.
"Um… my team would be: Dugu Yan, the Shi brothers, Oslo, Ning Rongrong, Ye Lingling, and me."
Zhu Zhuqing spoke without confidence, and then explained the reasoning behind her team composition.
"Mm, mm… very reasonable."
From the stage, Qin Ming nodded encouragingly. And in the end, he had to admit that Zhu Zhuqing's lineup matched the requirements very well.
But… it still wasn't the perfect answer.
"Alright, Zhu Zhuqing, you may sit down. Does anyone have a different answer?"
Qin Ming waved his hand and looked across the classroom.
Suddenly, a figure at the entrance caught his eye, and Qin Ming's eyes widened.
Xiao Lin?
Why are they here?
As more figures behind Xiao Lin stepped into sight, Qin Ming's confusion deepened.
It's so dangerous outside. Instead of staying under Dugu Mian's protection, why did they come here?
"Teacher Qin Ming, I have a different answer."
In the classroom, Ning Rongrong raised her small hand proudly, trying to get Qin Ming's attention.
After seeing Xiao Lin outside the door gesture for silence with a finger to his lips, Qin Ming immediately understood.
Whatever. Xiao Lin isn't someone who acts without thinking. If he's here, there must be a reason.
"Ning Rongrong, tell us your answer."
"My team is: Sister Dugu Yan, Yu Feng, Oslo, Sister Ye Lingling, me, and Zhu Zhuqing."
Ning Rongrong's delicate face was full of pride, as if she was extremely satisfied with her team setup.
Hmm? Isn't that only six people?
Zhu Zhuqing immediately sensed something was wrong—but that was allowed?
But without a defensive-type spirit master specializing in defense, what was an auxiliary spirit master like Ning Rongrong supposed to do?
No protection at all?
Yet to her surprise, Qin Ming nodded with great approval, looking clearly impressed with Ning Rongrong's answer.
"Ning Rongrong's answer is also excellent. Explain your strategy."
"Teacher Qin Ming, it's very simple. To deal with a team of seven defense-type spirit masters, Sister Dugu Yan's poison alone is enough to defeat them. Since that's the case, all we need to do is protect ourselves."
"And how do we protect ourselves?"
"My method is—we don't protect ourselves at all. We attack with everything we have."
"Because we have Sister Ye Lingling's group healing. Against defense-type spirit masters who have poor attack strength, we support-type spirit masters don't need to worry about being hurt."
"Yu Feng uses his Yellow Wind skill to maintain maximum control so they can't get close; Oslo and Zhu Zhuqing use agility to harass and stall; and my support boosts ensure that Oslo and the others will have attack power stronger than power-attack spirit masters."
"The opponents will never break through our line. Six people are enough."
"And I'm not without offensive ability either—I've mastered Master Xiao Yan's Seven-in-One Fusion Technique."
"I can fully use the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda to fuse rings and then attack directly."
On the stage, Qin Ming's eyes widened the instant he heard that Ning Rongrong had already mastered the Seven-in-One Fusion Technique.
How long has it even been?
She had actually mastered it already?
Aside from talent, she must have been working incredibly hard behind the scenes.
"Excellent, excellent, excellent! Ning Rongrong, your answer is almost perfect. Anyone else?"
Qin Ming couldn't stop himself from repeating excellent three times.
Even Yu Tianheng and the other veterans were shocked—this was almost unheard of.
All eyes turned to Ning Rongrong in surprise, and she proudly raised her snow-white swan-like neck.
During earlier experimentation, she realized the fusion technique was practically designed specifically for the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda.
It served perfectly as a spirit power relay point.
Not to mention her fourth spirit ring allowed her to perfectly receive and enhance teammates' spirit power.
Meaning that Ning Rongrong now had offensive capabilities as well.
However, the Seven-in-One's strongest output was still when channeling spirit power into a powerful attack-type spirit master.
When she discovered this, Ning Rongrong was so proud she nearly fainted from happiness.
She now strongly suspected that was why Xiao Lin deliberately told her to choose the Nine-Colored Flower spirit ring.
Xiao Lin must have a crush on me…
Ning Rongrong smugly thought.
"Anyone have another answer?"
Qin Ming looked around again.
But this time, no one spoke.
Because Ning Rongrong had already assembled the weakest possible lineup.
If someone wanted a different answer, they would need to reduce her six-person team even further.
A five-person team defeating seven Soul Kings was theoretically possible—but even Yu Tianheng wouldn't dare guarantee success.
In a group battle of seven vs. seven, entering with only five was practically treating the enemy like idiots.
And using two support spirit masters, while improving the other three, would also create two huge weaknesses.
That was why Yu Tianheng lacked confidence.
Also, the problem required concealing as much strength as possible, meaning they couldn't expose things like his fourth and fifth spirit skills.
After confirming no more answers, Qin Ming nodded firmly.
"Very good. In fact, Ning Rongrong's answer is already nearly perfect. Even I can't think of a better solution."
"Looks like I still couldn't drag some of you out."
Just as Qin Ming was about to end the problem, Xiao Lin's voice came from the classroom entrance.
"I have a different answer."
Hearing his voice, the team turned to look.
Isn't that Xiao Lin?
"Xiao Lin!"
"Xiao Lin!"
"You're here!"
"And Tang San, Xiao Wu, Tang Ni too!"
The appearance of Xiao Lin and the others excited the members of the Imperial Battle Team.
They owed their current strength entirely to the immortal herbs Xiao Lin and his group had provided.
Not just increased spirit power—they had gained enormous talent potential as well.
Cough cough.
Qin Ming suddenly coughed twice to restore order.
"Xiao Lin, since you say you have a new answer, how about you tell us?"
With his hands casually in his pockets, wearing an expression of absolute confidence, Xiao Lin spoke:
"What's so hard about it? I'll just go alone."