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"So, Ning Tianchen and Ning Rongrong joined Shrek Academy with the goal of poaching our members to form their own team. Such underhanded behavior deserves to be condemned by all and despised by the masses!"
Yu Xiaogang's words were passionate and fiery.
If words could kill, Ning Tianchen would have been pierced through the heart by ten thousand swords by now.
Tang San, who had previously held a favorable impression of Ning Tianchen, gradually began to feel repulsed after being repeatedly influenced by Yu Xiaogang's rhetoric.
Had Ning Tianchen not left, Shrek Academy wouldn't have had to hastily recruit three chaotic troublemakers to fill the gaps in their team. The overall strength of Shrek Team could have improved significantly.
It was because of Ning Tianchen's selfishness—taking half the students with him—that they nearly couldn't even participate in the team soul battles.
"That despicable bastard deserves to be cut into ten thousand pieces!" Dai Mubai clenched his fists tightly, seething with anger as if he wanted to skin Zhu Zhuqing alive.
Qin Ming hadn't expected that merely mentioning Seven Treasures Academy would provoke such a strong reaction from Shrek Academy's members.
He shot a pleading look at Flender, desperate to understand the reason behind it.
Flender let out a deep sigh.
The letter of withdrawal hadn't specified the exact reason for leaving. Even now, Flender didn't know whether Ning Tianchen and the others were dissatisfied with Yu Xiaogang's training plan or unhappy with the academy's atmosphere.
If only he had resolved the conflicts within the team immediately after the start of the school year, perhaps things wouldn't have deteriorated so badly.
"Ning Tianchen, Ning Rongrong, Oscar, and Zhu Zhuqing were once part of Shrek Academy, about half a year ago." Flender didn't mention the reason for their departure but simply recounted the events.
Qin Ming sighed regretfully. "What a pity. Ning Tianchen's strength far surpasses Yu Tianheng's. If Shrek Team had such a powerful member, they might have stood a chance at winning the Soul Masters Tournament championship."
Yu Xiaogang was displeased with Qin Ming's statement. "Xiao San and Mubai both have excellent talent. Together, they're more than capable of handling Ning Tianchen. As for this year's Soul Masters Tournament championship, Shrek Team might have little hope. But for the tournament two cycles from now, the championship will undoubtedly be ours."
According to his vision, the next Soul Masters Tournament would serve as a trial for the Shrek Seven Monsters to experience the atmosphere of the competition. By the tournament after that, they would shock the world.
Qin Ming didn't refute Yu Xiaogang's words but instead asked, "By the way, Principal, do you know if the academy has secured a spot to participate?"
This topic was Flender's sore point.
The conditions set by the Balak Kingdom were that all students and teachers of Shrek Academy had to pledge allegiance to the kingdom in order to pass the Ministry of Education's review.
Because Flender didn't want to align with any faction, he had founded Shrek Academy with a few old friends. Serving the Balak Kingdom was completely out of the question.
"Sigh~ Children, it's late. You should go rest first. Xiao Ming, come with me." Flender waved his hand and led them to an empty room in the hotel.
Before he could speak, Zhao Wuji preemptively said, "Xiao Ming, the academy still hasn't secured a spot to compete."
Flender gazed out the window, his tone unusually calm. "Unless something unexpected happens, this year will likely be the last batch of students for Shrek Academy."
"Principal…" Qin Ming hesitated, unable to continue.
He understood the situation at Shrek Academy better than anyone.
Yu Xiaogang couldn't help but say, "Flender, it doesn't matter if you've given up on yourself. But have you thought about the children? Not being able to participate in the Soul Masters Tournament—do you want them to live with regret for the rest of their lives?"
"Xiao San is my disciple, and Hongjun is yours. Don't you want to see them shine on the tournament stage with your own eyes?"
Yu Xiaogang's words reignited a spark of determination in Flender's heart.
Taking this opportunity, Qin Ming voiced his idea.
When Flender heard that it involved joining the Tiandou Imperial Academy, he instinctively rejected it. However, after hearing the conditions Qin Ming proposed, he wavered but still couldn't make up his mind.
In the end, he decided to think it over for the night and give Qin Ming an answer the next day.
---
It wasn't until late at night that Qin Ming returned to the hotel where the team was staying.
However, when he used his key to open the door, he found a half-dressed man and woman in his bed.
"Who are you?" Qin Ming instinctively asked.
The man was hot-tempered and immediately shouted at Qin Ming.
His voice echoed throughout the entire hotel.
The members of the Imperial Team, who had been cultivating in their rooms, came out to watch Qin Ming's embarrassment.
Qin Ming didn't understand what had happened or why this man and woman were in his room.
Only after the hotel staff arrived did he learn that his room had been canceled by the members of the Imperial Team. The couple was the room's new occupants.
After apologizing profusely, Qin Ming managed to resolve the situation.
Once the onlookers dispersed, he stormed off to confront Yu Feng.
Based on his understanding of the Imperial Team members, this prank was most likely orchestrated by Yu Feng.
However, Yu Feng ignored his lecturing, picking his ears with an expression of annoyance. "Who are you? Do I know you? These days, there are still people trying to guilt-trip others over teacher-student relationships. How strange."
With that, he slammed the door shut, remaining unmoved no matter how much Qin Ming threatened him.
Qin Ming didn't care about the students' well-being, returning at such a late hour—did he even deserve to be the team leader?
Others quickly closed their doors, ignoring Qin Ming altogether.
It was already late at night, and even if other hotels had available rooms, they wouldn't open them to guests.
Tonight, Qin Ming was destined to spend the night outside.
---
Yu Tianheng lay in bed, tossing and turning, unable to sleep.
During the soul battle, he had caught a glimpse of Yu Xiaogang sitting in the audience out of the corner of his eye.
At first, he wasn't sure, but near the end of the battle, upon hearing the man's voice, he confirmed his identity.
This uncle hadn't returned to the family in years, and Yu Tianheng wanted to find out what had happened.
Not long after, he made up his mind. Deciding not to sleep, he got dressed and walked out of his room.
Qin Ming was sitting in the hotel lobby. Seeing Yu Tianheng's figure, he hurriedly asked, "Tianheng, where are you going?"
Yu Tianheng ignored him.
To this day, Qin Ming still didn't understand why the entire team had suddenly grown cold toward him.
Yu Tianheng rushed out of the hotel and began searching the streets for Yu Xiaogang.
Underneath an overpass, a voice called out to him. "Tianheng."
Yu Tianheng turned sharply and, upon seeing the face, could no longer conceal his excitement. "Uncle Xiaogang, it really is you!"
After learning the Imperial Spirit Team's lodging from Qin Ming, Yu Xiaogang had guessed that Yu Tianheng might come looking for him and waited here.
"Uncle Xiaogang, Father misses you, and Grandfather wants you to return." Yu Tianheng ran toward Yu Xiaogang, one hand reaching out to embrace him. Before he could extend his other hand, he instinctively patted Yu Xiaogang's shoulder.
Compared to before, Yu Xiaogang had clearly lost a lot of weight.
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