Chapter 17: The Team

Li Xun turned to Ning Fengzhi and smiled gently, “The items won’t disappear just sitting there.”

“All right, but it’s best not to delay too long. These two soul bones will still grant you some benefit if you absorb them now. Once your soul power grows stronger, absorbing them won’t bring much improvement.”

Seeing Li Xun’s insistence, Ning Fengzhi glanced at Ning Rongrong and decided not to argue further. He hoped these two children would come across good soul bones.

“Teacher... may I practice the distraction control technique of our Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect?” Li Xun asked hesitantly, relieved that Ning Fengzhi no longer pressed the matter.

As his level rose, he needed more time for meditation, and refining chakra was exhausting. He refined chakra by day and practiced meditation by night. It was becoming overwhelming. He had persisted for two years, lucky that meditation could substitute some sleep, or he might have collapsed from exhaustion by now.

“Such a small matter, just ask Rongrong to teach you,” Ning Fengzhi said, patting Li Xun’s head with a smile. This disciple was fine in every way except that he was overly concerned with pride and was often too shy to speak up.

“Thank you, Teacher...” Li Xun said softly.

As the sect leader, Ning Fengzhi had many matters to attend to personally. Seeing Li Xun and Ning Rongrong in good spirits, he left with Sword Douluo.

“Brother Li Xun, I heard what you said just now. If I absorb a good soul bone, does that mean I don’t have to work so hard training?” After Ning Fengzhi left, Ning Rongrong hopped over and grabbed his arm, her eyes bright with hope.

“You really never miss a chance to slack off,” Li Xun laughed, pinching her cheek gently.

“Hehe, so when can we absorb those soul bones? Don’t make me wait too long...” She didn’t mind his teasing and started dreaming of the rapid advancement absorbing soul bones would bring.

“When I become a god, I’ll definitely get you a hundred-thousand-year soul bone to boost your level fast.”

“You’re so annoying.”

“Rongrong, do you think a hundred-thousand-year soul bone isn’t good enough?”

They ended up playfully wrestling each other.

...

After the classroom incident passed, Qin Ming, who had been missing for days, suddenly showed up to take Li Xun and the others to visit the battle team. Naturally, Li Xun wouldn’t refuse. He needed to meet Dugu Yan and prepare to recruit Dugu Bo.

To outsiders, Dugu Bo might seem questionable—after all, he once harbored murderous intent when his granddaughter lost a match to Tang San. But he was genuinely kind to those close to him, always stepping up to help. Many times, he risked his life to save Tang San. Though Tang San once cured the grandfather and granddaughter, favors are not infinite. Tang San had taken many precious herbs from him, and while Dugu Bo didn’t recognize them personally, he knew the value of the medicinal herbs in the Eyes of Fire and Ice. After all, no one is a fool.

“This is the gathering place of our Royal Tian Dou First Team,” Qin Ming said as he led Li Xun and the others to a platform behind the academy. The platform was vast, about the size of a football field.

Members of Tian Dou First Team were running laps on the platform, their faces flushed and gasping for breath, yet gritting their teeth to persevere. Behind them was a younger team, training less intensely but also looking strained.

“They are training using a method I developed through research to stimulate human potential and enhance physical fitness,” Qin Ming explained proudly. “Combined with the simulation training grounds of Tian Dou Academy, the results are even better.”

Li Xun was dumbfounded; Ning Rongrong turned pale. When Qin Ming mysteriously led them up the mountain earlier, they had expected some extraordinary, secretive training method. Instead, Qin Ming was like a second Yu Xiaogang. A running training method anyone could think of?

“Teacher Qin Ming also likes research?” Li Xun asked stiffly.

“Not really, just since becoming a teacher I think about these things more,” Qin Ming smiled subtly, clearly in good spirits.

Perhaps sensing the count was reached, the team members stopped running and looked curiously towards Li Xun and Ning Rongrong.

“Come, I’ll introduce you to the Tian Dou battle team members,” Qin Ming said, striding ahead and leaving Li Xun and Ning Rongrong exchanging glances.

“Brother, I miss home,” Ning Rongrong tugged on Li Xun’s sleeve, looking up at him pitifully.

“Don’t worry, we’ll take it slow,” Li Xun reassured her.

Qin Ming’s ideas were quite something. This running training method did improve physical fitness and was flawless by any standard—a philosophy shared by masters: eat well, drink well, and exercise. Of course, adding some additional training would be even better.

“Come, let me introduce you,” Qin Ming waved to Li Xun and then called over the younger team members. “Li Xun, Ning Rongrong, these will be your future teammates. Get to know each other.”

“Yu Tianheng, thirteen years old, Martial Soul: Blue Electric Tyrannosaurus, Soul Power Level 29, Offensive type.”

“Dugu Yan, thirteen years old, Martial Soul: Azure Scale Serpent, Soul Power Level 27, Control type.”

“Ye Lingling, thirteen years old, Martial Soul: Nine Heart Begonia, Soul Power Level 24, Support type.”

“Shi Mo, thirteen years old, Martial Soul: Black Tortoise, Soul Power Level 25, Defense type.”

“Shi Mo, thirteen years old, Martial Soul: Black Tortoise, Soul Power Level 25, Defense type.”

“Yufeng, thirteen years old, Martial Soul: Wind Chime Bird, Soul Power Level 25, Agile Attack type.”

“Aosilu, thirteen years old, Martial Soul: Ghost Leopard, Soul Power Level 26, Agile Attack type.”

After the introductions, they scrutinized Li Xun and Ning Rongrong. Compared to their ages, these two were very young, barely awakened for long. They wondered if such young recruits would be a liability.

Yu Tianheng was surprised and looked Li Xun over carefully. He had seen Li Xun before in the Tianwei-level classroom, but hadn’t expected him to join their reserve team.

“Li Xun, eight years old, Martial Soul: Thousand-Hand Buddha, Soul Power Level 19, Control type.”

“Ning Rongrong, eight years old, Martial Soul: Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda, Soul Power Level 17, Support type.”

Li Xun nodded slightly at Yu Tianheng, then looked towards Dugu Yan—his true target. But that matter could not be rushed. They still lacked several illustrations of the key celestial herbs and were waiting on news from Yang Qianjun.

Hearing Li Xun and Ning Rongrong were only eight years old shocked the others. Their talents were already among the top of their age group, unmatched even by members of Tian Dou First Team. Now, two even more gifted prodigies had appeared at once, prompting them to wonder aloud, “Are geniuses really so common now?”

Among them, Ye Lingling felt a pang of unease in her heart.