At this moment, the Imperial Spirit Team, who had been basking in the cheers on the stage, returned to Qin Ming's side.
Yu Tianheng, seeing the situation, asked with a cold expression:
"Teacher, who are they? How do they know about us?"
Qin Ming shook his head, then scrutinized Chen Yuan, Ning Rongrong, and Zhu Zhuqing with sharp eyes. He was quite surprised. They were so young, probably around fourteen or fifteen years old, but their ability to recognize the team suggested they came from notable backgrounds.
Chen Yuan introduced himself:
"I'm Chen Yuan, with the Seven Kill Sword as my spirit. I'm a three-ring Spirit Elder."
Ning Rongrong followed:
"Ning Rongrong, with the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda as my spirit. I'm a two-ring Grandmaster."
Zhu Zhuqing added:
"Zhu Zhuqing, with the Nether Spirit Cat as my spirit. I'm a two-ring Grandmaster."
After the three introduced themselves, Chen Yuan looked at Qin Ming and smiled:
"We need a place to stay, train, and cultivate, so we'd like to join Heaven Dou Royal Academy. We're hoping you can take us with you when you return and arrange for our enrollment."
After their introductions, everyone present understood their identities. The members of the Imperial Spirit Team were either from major families or prominent sects—all of noble status.
Hearing their names and spirits, it was easy to guess their backgrounds. True heirs of major powers might be flawed, but they were never foolish.
Even Qin Ming didn't question whether they were qualified to join Heaven Dou Royal Academy. Instead, he asked for confirmation:
"You want to join Heaven Dou Royal Academy? Do your families know about this? And why are you here?"
Ning Rongrong answered Qin Ming's questions:
"I ran away from home to play and joined an academy called Shrek. Now that the academy has gone bankrupt and closed, I don't want to go home right away, so I thought of joining Heaven Dou Royal Academy."
"What!"
Qin Ming's face turned pale, and his hands and feet went cold. He asked urgently:
"Shrek Academy went bankrupt? What happened to the teachers there?"
Ning Rongrong found his reaction strange. Why was he so worked up about Shrek's bankruptcy? Still, she answered truthfully:
"The headmaster took the others to Heaven Dou City to seek refuge with a friend, who's also the headmaster of an advanced spirit academy. They're going there to retire."
Qin Ming gradually calmed down. Even before he graduated, he knew Shrek Academy was struggling financially. Its bankruptcy wasn't surprising, but he still felt a deep sense of nostalgia:
"I'm a graduate of Shrek Academy. I never thought that when I returned, the academy would be gone. I want to go back and see the place one more time."
"Tianheng, you're the captain. Take the team back to rest. Also, arrange accommodations for these three juniors. Once we return to the academy and report to the three deans, we can arrange their enrollment."
Yu Tianheng nodded and said solemnly:
"Teacher, don't worry. I'll handle it."
With that, Qin Ming left, ready to revisit his old stomping grounds and reminisce about his days training at Shrek Academy.
After he left, Yu Tianheng turned to Chen Yuan, Ning Rongrong, and Zhu Zhuqing, about to speak. But Dugu Yan beat him to it. Her eyes sparkled, her red lips parted, and a seductive voice emerged:
"Chen Yuan, it's been three years. You've changed so much I almost didn't recognize you. Do you still remember me?"
Chen Yuan looked at Dugu Yan, who had grown even more mature and alluring compared to three years ago. He smiled gently and replied:
"Of course I remember. Miss Dugu, granddaughter of Dugu Bo. Three years ago, I was only eight. It's normal for me to have changed after so long."
Their familiar conversation left the others stunned.
Ning Rongrong pursed her lips, her voice tinged with caution as she asked:
"Brother Chen Yuan, you know her?"
At the same time, Yu Tianheng's expression changed slightly. He looked at Dugu Yan, who was usually aloof but now unusually proactive, and asked with some urgency:
"Yanzi, you know him?"
Dugu Yan frowned slightly. Yu Tianheng was questioning her—what right did he have to do so? This displeased her, but she still gave him face, though her voice turned cold:
"Three years ago, my grandfather took me to hunt for the spirit beast I needed for my third spirit ring. In the Sunset Forest, we ran into Senior Chen Xin, who was helping Chen Yuan hunt for his second spirit ring. An eight-year-old Grandmaster, and now an eleven-year-old Spirit Elder. Chen Yuan, you never cease to amaze me."
Dugu Yan and Yu Tianheng hadn't gotten together yet. Perhaps it was because she had met someone too extraordinary in her youth—Chen Yuan, who dared to absorb a thousand-year spirit ring for his second ring—leaving a deep impression on her. As a result, even now, faced with the pursuit of a genius like Yu Tianheng, Dugu Yan remained unmoved.
If they had never met again, time might have gradually erased those memories. But now that they had crossed paths once more, the image of Chen Yuan from the past and the present overlapped, once again leaving Dugu Yan in awe.
After Dugu Yan finished speaking, Chen Yuan explained to Ning Rongrong:
"That's how it was. Back then, in the Sunset Forest, my teacher helped me hunt for the spirit beast I needed for my second spirit ring. I met Dugu Bo and Miss Dugu briefly. And now, here we are, unexpectedly reunited."
Of course, Chen Yuan was just saying this. He had been waiting here for so long precisely for Dugu Yan's arrival. Through her, he could connect with Dugu Bo and ultimately scheme for the Ice and Fire Immortal Herbs, as well as the Tear of the Autumn Dew.
Ning Rongrong nodded, suppressing her caution. But she couldn't shake the strange feeling that Dugu Yan's attitude toward Chen Yuan was somewhat different.
On the other hand, the rest of the Imperial Spirit Team, including Yu Tianheng, were all stunned. Looking at Chen Yuan's face, they could tell he was very young, but they hadn't expected him to be this young—only eleven or twelve years old, yet already a three-ring Spirit Elder. It made even these geniuses feel inadequate.
Yu Tianheng gritted his teeth, unknowingly developing a competitive spirit toward Chen Yuan. But now wasn't the time to challenge him.
He composed himself and said:
"To celebrate today's victory and the addition of three new juniors, let's go out for a big meal. As the captain, I'll treat everyone."
This suggestion was met with enthusiasm, and the plan was quickly settled.
Dugu Yan swayed her hips as she stepped forward, first looking at Chen Yuan, then at Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing beside him. Her eyes gleamed with amusement, and she smiled as she said:
"Chen Yuan, once you're enrolled, I'll take care of you. First, introduce me to the two little sisters beside you. Then, during the meal, I'll introduce you to my teammates."
Chen Yuan naturally didn't refuse and expressed his gratitude appropriately:
"Thank you, Miss Dugu. Perhaps in the future, I'll be calling you senior. This is Ning Rongrong, the daughter of the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect's leader… and this is Zhu Zhuqing, from the Star Luo Empire. She's our friend…"
Yu Tianheng's face darkened. His teammates—Yu Feng, Osler, Shi Mo, Shi Ge, and Ye Lingling—all looked at him with sympathy. They all knew Yu Tianheng had been pursuing Dugu Yan, but after meeting Chen Yuan, Dugu Yan's enthusiasm seemed a bit too much.
(End of Chapter)
Word Count : 1,276
---
Leave a 5 star Review and a Power.