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"Next, we invite His Majesty Emperor Xue Ye of the Heaven Dou Empire, Sect Master Ning of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, and Bishop Salas of the Heaven Dou City Spirit Hall to personally award the qualification certificates and bonuses to the six advancing teams."
The qualification certificates were just a formality: a simple document to mark the occasion. The teams that had advanced were already famous, so the certificates didn't really matter.
As for the bonuses, the second to sixth place teams each received 10,000 gold soul coins. But the first place team, the main squad from Heaven Dou Imperial Academy, had brought great pride to the empire. They were awarded 100,000 gold soul coins, more than the other five teams combined.
The awards were handed out quickly, and the emcee passed the stage to the three members of the Spirit Master Committee.
First to speak was Emperor Xue Ye of the Heaven Dou Empire.
His eyes scanned the captains and vice-captains of the six advancing teams. After a short, routine speech, he granted the title of viscount to the captains and vice-captains of the second to sixth place teams, and baron to their members.
Then he turned to Ning Tian and Zhu Zhuqing. He named them earls and made their team members viscounts.
This decision clearly annoyed Bishop Salas. After all, even a viscount in the empire came with a small city as a fief. An earl, like Ning Tian and Zhu Zhuqing, was a much bigger deal.
But Emperor Xue Ye paid no attention to Salas's displeasure. He went on to promise that the empire would help the six advancing teams hunt a soul beast under 30,000 years old for their next soul ring.
Ning Tian smirked inside. 'In a world where the strong eat the weak, only real power matters,' he thought.
Next, it was Ning Fengzhi and Salas's turn to speak.
Ning Fengzhi couldn't resist stirring trouble. When Bishop Salas tried to recruit talented spirit masters from the advancing teams, Ning Fengzhi cut in with sharp, mocking comments, poking at him relentlessly.
Salas clenched his teeth in frustration.
Ning Tian watched this reckless display and winced. No wonder the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect got wiped out in the original story. If you push someone that far, who else would they target?
Emperor Xue Ye, though, seemed to enjoy the tension. As the two traded words, he stepped in to smooth things over, as usual.
With a warm look, he gazed at the twelve standout competitors from the preliminary rounds and said, "The promotion round is in one month. I hope you all grow stronger during this time. The Heaven Dou Empire's gates are always open to you."
With that, Emperor Xue Ye left, flanked by the three education committee members of Heaven Dou Imperial Academy and a group of imperial officials.
"Ning Tian, Miss Zhuqing, I'm excited to see how you do in the promotion round and the finals. Same goes for you, Tang San, and the rest," Ning Fengzhi said before departing.
Salas, meanwhile, gave Ning Tian and Tang San a long, thoughtful look but said nothing as he walked away.
When Ning Tian and Zhu Zhuqing stepped out of the Great Spirit Arena, their teammates were already waiting.
The preliminary rounds were over, and with a month until the promotion round, Yufeng and Osler planned to head back and use the academy's simulated training grounds to push for level 40 before the finals.
Ning Tian also wanted to return and keep training. He figured he'd have Zhu Qing look into Seven-in-One Fusion Technique while he was at it.
Just as the New Heaven Dou Battle Team prepared to leave for the academy, a sharp voice rang out.
"Stop right there."
They turned to see a striking girl with long, wavy red hair, dressed in a bold gold-and-red outfit, striding toward them.
She stopped a few steps away and glared at Ning Tian. "Ning Tian, do you dare fight me without using your martial soul?"
The New Heaven Dou Battle Team burst into laughter. Even the Shrek crew, waiting nearby for Tang San and Dai Mubai, looked stunned.
Oscar, especially, knew better. During those three months of hauling rocks and chugging saltwater, he and Dai Mubai had carried a filthy Tang San while taking plenty of hits from Ning Tian. The guy was a beast, with or without his martial soul.
"Sure," Ning Tian said, calm as ever, meeting everyone's expectations.
The moment he spoke, he vanished in a blur. When he reappeared, he was right behind Huo Wu.
Huo Wu glanced around, panic rising as she lost sight of him. Sensing trouble, she threw a punch backward.
Ning Tian caught her wrist with ease and gave it a light twist. Huo Wu spun gracefully, forced to bend forward, her back to him, locked in place.
She yelped in pain. "You jerk! Let me go! Sneaking up like that, what kind of man are you?"
Before she could finish, Ning Tian spanked her ass. Huo Wu gasped as a sting shot through her, and she stumbled forward into Huo Wushuang's arms, who had just rushed over.
It wasn't a hard spank with his full strength, but it'd leave her sore for a bit, a lesson to stop pestering him.
"Calling a one-move loss a sneak attack? That's impressive. If you can't handle losing, maybe being a spirit master isn't for you. Go home, find a guy, settle down, and have kids."
With that, Ning Tian led his team away.
"You jerk, I'll kill you–ow!" Huo Wu, caught by her brother, tried to lunge again but winced as the pain flared. She stumbled like she'd twisted something dancing, nearly hitting the ground. Huo Wushuang grabbed her just in time, sparing her more embarrassment.
"Sis, you okay?" he asked, concerned.
"I'm fine, brother. Help me up. I'm going to kill that guy..." Huo Wu's voice cracked, tears welling up from frustration.
Losing to Ning Tian twice was bad enough. But his words had stabbed right through her competitive spirit.
'What did he mean, go home, find a guy, settle down, and have kids? Who was he looking down on?'
Huo Wushuang sighed and shook his head. "Save your energy. You'll never beat him, no matter how you try. Not just you, even one of the Spirit Hall's three Spirit Kings might not win. If you want to take him down, stop making a scene. Train harder. After level 50, progress slows way down, especially for those with less talent. You get what I mean."
"Yeah, yeah, Huo Wu, let's work hard together!" Feng Xiaotian popped out of the crowd, full of enthusiasm.
In the original story, Huo Wu might've been swayed by Feng Xiaotian's strength. But after Ning Tian's jab about quitting and marrying, she couldn't stand him.
"Get lost! You lost to Ning Tian, so our deal's off. Don't bother me again." Wiping her tears, Huo Wu limped off, ignoring the ache in her backside.
Huo Wushuang gave Feng Xiaotian a complicated look, patted his shoulder, and followed her.
Feng Xiaotian stood there, dazed.
The rest of the Divine Wind Academy team watched with pity. Their captain had been shot down again.
Meanwhile, not long after leaving the Great Spirit Arena, Ning Tian's group was stopped again. This time, it was a servant from the Prince's residence, driving a carriage.
"Lord Ning Tian, His Highness the Prince requests your presence."
Glancing at the carriage, Ning Tian knew he couldn't dodge this one. He turned to Zhu Zhuqing, Ning Rongrong, Zhu Qing, Ye Lingling, and the others. "You all head back. I've got a meeting with the Prince. I'll be back by morning at the latest."
They nodded without suspicion.
......…
Soon, Ning Tian arrived at the Prince's residence.
From the outside, it was massive. walls stretching six or seven meters high, radiating authority.
You'd expect a lavish mansion inside. But stepping in, Ning Tian found it different. Elegant, not extravagant, with a quiet, scholarly vibe, like an ancient academy from his old life on Earth.
A servant led him to a tidy courtyard deep within the estate.
After a maid brought tea, the servant left.
About fifteen minutes later, 'Qian Renxue' stepped in, her voice carrying ahead of her. "Brother Ning Tian, you're finally here. I've been waiting."
"Brother Xue," Ning Tian started, moving for his usual bear hug. But she didn't pull away.
Instead, after a brief pause, she met him with open arms.
Ning Tian froze mid-step, switching to a handshake. "So, Brother Xue, what's this about?"
He'd already figured it out, this Qian Renxue was a fake, probably someone Qian Renxue had set up to play Xue Qinghe.
Her next words proved it. "Brother Ning Tian, you're so forgetful. Didn't I say last time I'd introduce you to a friend? Miss Chi Xue, come in."
A crisp tap of heels echoed from outside.
He looked over. A pair of flawless legs stepped into view: white boots with gold trim, pure white stockings that caught the eye, and a golden-threaded palace dress with a high slit. Though safety shorts underneath dashed any hopes.
Higher up, curves led to a breathtaking face with a hint of command. Snow-white skin, a sharp nose, narrow phoenix eyes, and flowing golden hair that swayed with her steps.
Her features echoed Ye Lingling's after her martial soul's second awakening, but Ning Tian still paused, caught off guard.
Her identity was obvious: Qian Renxue, the top beauty of the Douluo Continent.
"Your Highness, what do you need me for?" Qian Renxue asked, catching Ning Tian's reaction with quiet satisfaction, then turning to 'Xue Qinghe.'
The fake prince faltered for a second at being called 'Your Highness' before smiling. "Miss Chi Xue, didn't I tell you I'd introduce you to a friend? This is Master Zhu Qing's disciple and captain of the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy's main team, Ning Tian. Fourteen years old, martial soul Azure Bamboo cloudswarm Sword, level 48 Battle Spirit Ancestor. Just now, he led his team to first place in the preliminary rounds."
Then he faced Ning Tian. "Brother Ning Tian, this is the friend I mentioned. Chi Xue, twenty-four years old, martial soul Flame Holy Sword, level 65 Battle Spirit Emperor."
Both Ning Tian and Qian Renxue gasped on cue.
"Fourteen years old, level 48!"
"Twenty-four years old, level 65!"
'Xue Qinghe' smiled faintly. "Miss Chi Xue comes from a hidden family. She is the most gifted member of the Flame Holy Sword lineage in centuries. I only managed to invite her here because of an old tie with her clan leader. I just thought, since you both wield top-tier sword martial souls, you might enjoy meeting."
He shot Ning Tian a knowing glance, as if saying, 'Here's your chance with a beauty, don't waste it.'
Ning Tian groaned inwardly. So Qian Renxue was pulling a beauty trap on him and starring in it herself.
That was her plan: leave a lasting mark on him, then vanish. Later, through 'Chi Xue' and 'Xue Qinghe,' she'd reel him in, step by step, until he was hers.
It was Qian Renxue's scheme to snag the flirtatious Ning Tian.
...…
Meanwhile, as she worked her plan, the New Imperial Team reached Heaven Dou City's exit.
Right outside the gate, a ragged figure blocked their path; Yu Xiaogang, looking twenty years older, reeking of rot, now a beggar.
The Shi brothers stepped forward, shielding the group. "Who are you? What do you want?"
Yu Xiaogang, smarter after Ning Tian didn't recognize him last time, held back his name. "You're Shi twins right?"
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