Bai Baoshan instructed a servant to bring over a young male teacher named Qin.
He looked ordinary, with black hair and black eyes, dressed plainly, completely out of place in the extravagant atmosphere of Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
Even Fang Ling was dressed better than him.
After all, his master once said that Heaven Dou Royal Academy was a noble institution, dressing too plainly would invite ridicule.
Fang Ling didn't want to stand out too much.
This kind of person looked capable. He certainly had some ability, but not enough yet, better to play it safe.
So, who was this man?
Fang Ling had a hunch.
Bai Baoshan clearly valued this person. When he saw him arrive, he quickly waved him over and smiled.
"Qin Ming, you're here?"
"Greetings, Commissioner," Qin Ming replied politely with a bow.
"Come, let me introduce you to someone."
Bai Baoshan grabbed his hand and said to Fang Ling,
"This is a little prodigy recommended by Count Hurricane, only ten years old and already at level 23."
Qin Ming glanced at Fang Ling's injured leg and frowned slightly.
"Commissioner, you know..."
"Ah, yes. We're not looking for someone just here to show off. He has to be hardworking, able to endure hardship, work well in a team, and no acting like a boss or flaunting noble status..."
Bai Baoshan recited Qin Ming's previous conditions like he knew them by heart.
These might be difficult for an average noble to meet.
But Fang Ling could definitely satisfy all of them.
"Fang Ling comes from humble beginnings, started at innate level 1, and has advanced solely through determination and relentless effort."
"Brother Fang?" Bai Baoshan called to him.
Fang Ling nodded at the commissioner and calmly looked at Qin Ming.
"I was born a beggar, started from innate level 1, and became a one-ring soul master in three years. I trained during the day and meditated at night while studying at the Battle King Intermediate Soul Master Academy."
"I've fought over 30 life-and-death battles in the Great Soul Arena, pushing myself to the limit through extreme danger to unlock my potential. That's how I've achieved my current strength."
"This is my Silver Battle Soul badge."
He handed over a silver badge.
Qin Ming rubbed the badge in his hand, unsure of what to say.
This resume was even more impressive than he expected.
Born a beggar, someone who understands hardship and the harshness of society.
Started from innate level 1, fought in deadly matches, dared to seek strength from the brink of death.
To survive over 30 life-and-death battles and become a Silver Battle Soul while still alive, his win rate must be extraordinarily high.
A true battle-hardened warrior.
Qin Ming glanced at the crippled leg again, almost in disbelief.
"You're really a beggar?"
"Yes, from Nuoding City in the Fasno Province. I lost the leg back then," Fang Ling added.
Qin Ming weighed everything in his mind and slowly nodded.
"Alright, in that case, follow me."
"Commissioner, I'll take him with me now."
Qin Ming gave Bai Baoshan a heads-up.
Bai Baoshan's expression changed slightly as he suddenly remembered something and quickly added,
"Make sure he holds back a little."
Don't let those death matches make him go too far and accidentally kill someone.
"Don't worry, Commissioner. I know what I'm doing."
Fang Ling followed Qin Ming out of the committee office.
Qin Ming still felt it was strange, this kid really was a bit too talented.
How could someone with innate level 1 cultivate so quickly...
Facing death head-on, huh?
"Aren't you afraid of dying?" Qin Ming eventually asked as they walked.
"I am. But I'm more afraid of fading into mediocrity, of not being able to shine my light on the world," Fang Ling replied, eyes glowing with determination.
Qin Ming was stunned by that resolute gaze.
After a long pause, he finally said,
"From now on, you're a member of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy's reserve battle team."
"Let's go. I'll first take you to your accommodations."
He led Fang Ling toward the base of the mountain.
Heaven Dou Royal Academy had only around 500 students, all of whom came from wealthy or noble families.
The academy wasn't short on money, so every student had their own room.
The battle team members had the best housing, villas by the mountains and water.
Fresh air, beautiful environment, and close to all kinds of simulated training grounds.
But because previous teams failed to produce results, the academy was forming a new elite team, so for now, the villas were occupied by the reserve team.
Qin Ming brought Fang Ling to his room.
It was fully furnished with everything needed for daily life.
"Meals for the reserve team will be delivered. The uniform will also be brought over shortly."
"You joined after the term started, so just rest for today. I'll take you to join training tomorrow. Any questions?"
"Yes," Fang Ling asked, puzzled. "When do I pay tuition?"
Qin Ming chuckled,
"The academy is directly funded by the Heaven Dou Empire. No tuition fees."
Fang Ling recalled the uniforms he'd seen on the way.
"Do I have to wear the uniform?"
Apparently, this was a frequently asked question. Qin Ming responded quickly,
"You don't have to wear it every day, but you must have it."
"Plus, the uniform represents your status."
"Being a student of Heaven Dou Royal Academy can save you a lot of trouble in the Great Soul Arena."
This reminded Fang Ling of what happened back in Vic Icewind City.
Many people had threatened him, some even tried underhanded tactics in the arena, but they backed off when they saw his teacher's uniform from the Battle King Academy.
Heaven Dou City, being the capital of the empire, had a population of over a million.
A mix of all kinds of people, nobles running rampant, trouble could come at any time.
Being a student of Heaven Dou Royal Academy was indeed a convenient and effective form of protection.
"Thank you for the advice, Teacher Qin." Fang Ling understood and expressed his gratitude.
So far, Qin Ming did seem like a decent person.
Polite, gentle, and composed.
And to survive a place like Shrek Academy with its notoriously high death rate, he must've been through a lot.
"It's nothing. Any other questions?" Qin Ming asked with a gentle smile.
He himself had no powerful background, so he felt more connected to geniuses from humble origins.
"My appetite is big. My body is growing fast, I need to eat at least five meals a day," Fang Ling mentioned.
Eat well, eat more, grow faster.
Since it's free, and made for nobles, the food wouldn't be bad.
Might as well eat to the fullest!
"Five meals?"
Qin Ming was surprised, then reached out and squeezed Fang Ling's arm.
Muscles were firm and powerful, far stronger than most weapon-type soul masters his age.
The defined muscle lines even gave him a beast-type soul master's vibe.
That made Qin Ming realize what "training hard all day" really meant for Fang Ling.
"How about just eating double portions at each meal? Would that work?"
"Sure," Fang Ling agreed after a bit of thought.
After all, this wasn't the Battle King Academy, where his master and teacher could train him non-stop all day.
Following a normal schedule here was acceptable.
Qin Ming recorded all of Fang Ling's requests, then gave a final reminder:
"Alright, get some rest today."
"Tomorrow morning I'll introduce you to your potential future teammates. You'll need their approval."
He paused, then added,
"Because of past failures, things are tough for the reserve team. Be mentally prepared, if you get eliminated, it'll be hard to get another chance."
Fang Ling smiled. Hardship was the one thing he never feared.
"Don't worry, Teacher Qin. I'll show you what I'm capable of!"
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