The events that shocked Zhu Zhuqing did not stop there.
The items from the other students were also passed to Xiao Lin through Ye Lingling.
There was Yu Tianheng's medicinal bath formula, rare ore that Yu Feng and Oslo's families had found…
And finally, Xiao Lin even received something that left him speechless — a storage soul tool in the form of a ring, sent by Ning Rongrong.
Inside it was a black card from the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, a number of precious gems collected by the sect, and in addition, a slip of paper.
Written on the paper was:"Brother Xiao Lin, if you ever run out of pocket money, just tell me. There's still one million gold soul coins on this black card. When I get more allowance, I'll give you more."
Ning Rongrong actually wants to financially support me?Xiao Lin snorted inwardly. How could someone like me be kept by money!?
Without a moment of hesitation, Xiao Lin took the black card—then wrote a reply note to Ning Rongrong:
"This year's allowance is five million. We still need four million more."
After asking Ye Lingling to secretly pass the message along, Xiao Lin began dividing the "loot" with Tang San.
He looked down on almost everything—aside from the Xuanming Stones and the healing crystal which had research value, Xiao Lin gave nearly all of it to Tang San.
"Brother Lin, how about you keep the money yourself?"
Tang San was no emotional fool; he had long noticed Ning Rongrong's feelings for Xiao Lin.
If he took the black card, Ning Rongrong would definitely pester him to death.
And then maybe Xiao Lin would escape into Sunset Forest, leaving him alone behind…
Absolutely not happening.
"Fine."
Seeing Tang San clearly did not want the one million gold soul coins, Xiao Lin could only accept it himself.
I'm all by myself… what am I even going to do with so much money?Maybe I'll go check out the auction house later?
Xiao Lin's eyes lit up. He immediately suggested it to Tang San.
"Sounds good. There might be something useful at the auction."
Ever since arriving in Heaven Dou City, Tang San had observed most of the city. He had long wanted to visit the auction—perhaps there might be materials needed for his hidden weapons.
"Xiao Wu, do you want to come with us?"
Having decided to visit the auction, Tang San quickly asked Xiao Wu.
Meanwhile, on the podium, Qin Ming's face was dark.
Ever since Xiao Lin returned, the entire classroom had been whispering nonstop, and no one was writing anything he assigned.
At first, he wanted to remind them.
But when students openly began passing notes back and forth—
He realized this class was impossible to continue.
"Xiao Lin, you're breaking classroom discipline, you—!"
Suddenly, Qin Ming shouted. The classroom went silent instantly.
But in the next moment, faced with everyone's gazes, Qin Ming's intention to punish Xiao Lin vanished immediately.
Punish Xiao Lin? Which teacher would not give special treatment to a genius?
Forget passing notes—if he started singing and dancing in class, Qin Ming still wouldn't dare reprimand him!
Very quickly, Qin Ming came up with another solution.
"Ahem… since no one wants to attend the lecture, we'll switch to a team battle instead."
"I recently came up with a method to quickly build team coordination."
Qin Ming explained the rules.
The rules were simple: the two strongest members of the Emperor Team would each pick teammates to form two squads for a team battle.
Currently, Emperor Team had thirteen members, but Zhu Zhuqing was too weak, so it would be a six vs. six format.
Six-man battle closely resembled seven-man team combat as well.
However, although this idea was good, there was one enormous problem.
And that problem… was Xiao Lin.
With his current combat strength, he was no longer inferior to a Soul Sage.
As long as he was on a team, that team could basically declare instant victory.
His fifth spirit ring was 100,000-years.Who could possibly stop that?
Not even Qin Ming.
So before Qin Ming could choose the two strongest players, Tang San already refused to fight against Xiao Lin.
You're kidding, right?As the person who had spent the most time with Xiao Lin, Tang San understood Xiao Lin's power far too well.
He even suspected Xiao Lin still had hidden strength besides the 100,000-year ring.
"Teacher Qin Ming, why don't you and Brother Lin switch roles instead?"
Tang San's face was serious, and everyone who didn't know the truth was stunned.
"Tang San, are you serious?"
Qin Ming looked at the honest Tang San, who clearly wasn't lying, and couldn't help but ask again.
"Could Xiao Lin be stronger than me?"
Tang San did not confirm nor deny.
From every angle, Qin Ming had no advantage over Xiao Lin.
Qin Ming wasn't even a Soul Sage. Which meant—
Aside from possibly having slightly higher soul power, he lost in everything else.
He might not even have more soul power—Tang San knew better than anyone how much Xiao Lin compressed his soul power.
The sacrifice of a 100,000-year soul beast only raised him six levels.
That alone showed the terrifying extent of Xiao Lin's compression.
Tang San just couldn't reveal the secret of Xiao Lin's 100,000-year ring; otherwise Qin Ming would immediately understand Xiao Lin's true strength.
A 100,000-year ring represented a 100,000-year soul bone.
Which meant, revealing it would attract people who coveted his soul bones.
People who possessed such rings were always Title Douluo.
Who would fear a Soul King?
To protect Xiao Lin, Tang San and the others had sworn not to say a word.
"Xiao Lin, would you like a sparring match with me?"
Not understanding Xiao Lin's true power, Qin Ming could only choose actual combat.
"I can."
"Good. Let's go to the Duel Arena."
Hearing Xiao Lin agree, Qin Ming immediately assigned a new task: everyone would observe the battle.
Soon, at the Duel Arena—
Qin Ming was already on the stage, fully confident in his strength.
After all, he was the second fastest record-breaking Soul Emperor in history.
Now he was close to ascending to Soul Sage—defeating Xiao Lin should be simple.
He would use this match to prove to everyone that absolute power made teamwork useless without coordination.
Meanwhile, as Xiao Lin was about to step onto the stage—
Zhu Zhuqing quietly tugged his sleeve, placing a gem radiating a faint blue light into his hand.
"Take this. It's my meeting gift."
Zhu Zhuqing's expression was cool, though faint sadness lingered beneath it.
This Cat's Eye Gem was something her Zhu Clan had given her. It was said to increase the compatibility of the Nether White Tiger martial spirit fusion.
But Zhu Zhuqing had long given up on Dai Mubai. The gem was useless to her now.
Seeing Xiao Lin's extraordinary status within the Emperor Team and being the grandson of Grandmaster Xiao Yan, she decided to give it to him—just like Ye Lingling and the others.
After handing it to him, Zhu Zhuqing turned to leave, unaware that Ning Rongrong was glaring dagger at her.
Very good, Zhu Zhuqing. I treated you as my best friend, and on the first day you try to seduce my future husband??
Ning Rongrong swore silently that she would never play with Zhu Zhuqing again.
"What are you giving me this for? What meeting gift?"
Forced to hold the gem, Xiao Lin was bewildered and grabbed Zhu Zhuqing's arm to stop her.
"Didn't Ye Lingling and the others already give you something?"
Being held suddenly, Zhu Zhuqing's cold face flushed lightly, even her pale neck turning pink.
"They only did that because they ate the immortal herbs I gave them…"
Realizing the misunderstanding, Xiao Lin sighed and released her.
"What does this gem do? If it's good, I'll give you an immortal herb in exchange. But you must swear on your martial spirit not to tell anyone about it, and never betray me."
"Immortal herb? That's the reason Emperor Team got so strong??"
Hearing a chance for power-up, Zhu Zhuqing immediately grew excited.
"This gem increases the compatibility of the martial spirit fusion skill… but only for the Nether White Tiger…"
Gradually, her voice weakened.
"That's it? Just this can increase fusion-skill compatibility?"
Xiao Lin looked curiously at the Cat's Eye Gem in his hand.
This was extremely important for someone researching martial spirit fusion.
Xiao Lin and Tang San were stuck on their final step (aside from Xiao Lin obtaining his second spirit).
If he could unlock this gem's mystery, perhaps he and Tang San could use a fusion skill as well.
End of Chapter