"Yan is right. We, the Royal Battle Team, have no need for useless people who are all show and no substance. However, since he was sent by His Highness the Crown Prince, as long as he doesn't interfere with our training and studies, you don't need to pay him any mind. I'd rather not create unnecessary tension with the Crown Prince over something so trivial." The black-haired man sitting on the sofa slowly spoke, a trace of arrogance flashing in his eyes. His posture clearly indicated that he was the captain of the Royal Battle Team.
The captain of the Royal Battle Team, Yu Tianheng, possessed the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon martial spirit and came from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, one of the three top clans.
Yu Feng chuckled and said, "Boss, you're the young master of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. Are you really afraid of offending the royal family of the Heaven Dou Empire? You should know that the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan is one of the top three clans. Even if Emperor Xue Ye himself showed up, he'd have to show some respect to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. Besides, you're the young clan master."
"Yu Feng, don't speak nonsense," Yu Tianheng's brow furrowed slightly upon hearing this, and he rubbed his temples, saying, "The relationship between the Heaven Dou Empire's royal family and the three top clans is more complicated than you think. After all, we are still citizens of the Heaven Dou Empire."
"Alright, alright, Boss. I get it, I get it." Yu Feng replied with a mischievous grin.
While they were chatting, the door to the room suddenly opened, and two figures slowly walked in from outside.
Upon seeing the newcomers, the previously rebellious members of the Royal Battle Team immediately straightened up. Even Yu Tianheng, who was lounging on the sofa, stood up to greet one of the two.
"Teacher Qin Ming!"
"There's no need to be so formal. Just call me teacher." Qin Ming waved his hand at the respectful group and then smiled, explaining, "Today, a new member is joining the Royal Battle Team. His name is Cheng Xiao." As he spoke, he turned to the young man beside him.
"Greetings, seniors. I'm Cheng Xiao. It's an honor to join the Royal Battle Team. Please take care of me." Cheng Xiao, his face calm, took a step forward and clasped his hands in respect toward the others.
Only then did the team's gaze shift to Cheng Xiao.
The youth had a handsome face, a calm demeanor, and his dark eyes faintly glowed with a subtle purple light. His short black hair added a refreshing look to his appearance.
However, a closer inspection revealed that the youth, dressed in black, had a tall and slender figure. Simply by standing there, an invisible pressure emanated from him.
In the world of soul masters, good looks were commonplace, and seeing so many beautiful people could easily lead to aesthetic fatigue. After all, soul power nourished the body, and soul masters often had extraordinary appearances. However, Cheng Xiao instinctively gave off a feeling of dread, as though he was not merely a soul master but a humanoid beast.
Standing in front of Cheng Xiao, the others unconsciously avoided looking directly into his eyes. Only Yu Tianheng, the captain of the Royal Battle Team, sensed something amiss. He noticed that Cheng Xiao's shadow seemed to have dozens of eyes staring back at him, sending a chill down his spine.
Because of this, Yu Tianheng's gaze toward Cheng Xiao became filled with caution instead of arrogance. For some reason, he had the unsettling feeling that this youth wasn't as simple as he appeared.
Charmed by his extraordinary aura, even Dugu Yan, who was already spoken for, couldn't help but sneak a few glances at Cheng Xiao. Judging by his looks and demeanor alone, this youth didn't seem to be on the same level as her and her teammates.
"Oh, right, Teacher, what level is Cheng Xiao's soul power?" Yufeng, no longer as boastful as before, asked curiously after seeing Cheng Xiao.
"Before I tell you, I'd like to ask you something," Qin Ming smiled and asked, "How strong were you when you were twelve?"
"Teacher, when Tianheng and I were twelve, we were around twenty levels or so. Why?" Dugu Yan replied, puzzled.
"We were about the same, around nineteen or twenty levels," the other members of the Royal Battle Team echoed.
"Now, do you know what Cheng Xiao's soul power level is at twelve?" Qin Ming deliberately held back, not revealing the answer right away.
To Qin Ming, these students were all exceptional, but their arrogance wasn't entirely beneficial. After all, the Royal Battle Team was about to participate in the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament. Therefore, he wanted to curb their pride a little and show them that they weren't the only talented people in the world. It was important for them to stay humble.
"Teacher, just tell us already! The suspense is killing me!"
"Yeah, Qin Ming Teacher, how can you leave us hanging like this?"
The members of the Royal Battle Team exchanged glances, eager to know the answer.
"Hehe, I suppose it's fine to tell you now. The young man standing before you, Cheng Xiao, is twelve years old and has already reached the rank of Soul Elder. His current soul power is level thirty-five."
As Qin Ming's words fell, the members of the Royal Battle Team were stunned. A twelve-year-old Soul Elder, with a soul power of thirty-five? Are you kidding? The soul powers of the seven members of the Royal Battle Team were all above level thirty-five, but they were nearly twenty years old. Yet this boy, standing before them, had nearly caught up at the age of twelve. Could this be real? Even if he started cultivating in the womb, he couldn't have reached level thirty-five at such a young age!
"That's impossible, Teacher Qin! You can't just lie to us to teach us a lesson, can you?"
The one speaking was a blond man dressed in black, with looks as refined as a beautiful woman's. He held a drink in one hand, looking incredulously at Qin Ming.
This was Oslo, a thirty-sixth level agile attack-type Battle Soul Master whose martial spirit was the Ghost Leopard.
As a member of the Royal Battle Team, Oslo was immensely proud. Apart from Yu Tianheng and Dugu Yan, he was confident that no one else could surpass him. But now, their teacher was telling them a twelve-year-old boy, barely in his teens, had already reached level thirty-five. For Oslo, this was like a bolt from the blue.
Qin Ming wasn't offended by Oslo's skepticism and merely smiled. "Since you doubt me, I won't hide it any longer. Cheng Xiao, show them your martial spirit."
"Let's give these proud youngsters a reality check. Let them see that this world is full of extraordinary talents. Sometimes, it's good to remember that there's always someone better."
Qin Ming knew that most of his students came from prestigious aristocratic families on the continent. With their family's resources and the inheritance of powerful martial spirits, their paths to cultivation had been relatively smooth.
However, if a soul master doesn't face challenges on their journey, that could be truly dangerous.
Without facing setbacks, a soul master could never become truly strong. Only by being tempered through hardships could one grow into a formidable soul master.
"Understood, Teacher Qin." Cheng Xiao nodded, stretched out his right hand, and as wisps of black smoke appeared, the room's temperature dropped significantly.
The sudden appearance of black smoke immediately drew everyone's attention. With a low thud, shadowy soldiers began crawling out of Cheng Xiao's shadow, surrounding everyone in the room.
And that wasn't all. Three soul rings slowly rose from under Cheng Xiao's feet. His eyes gleamed with dark purple light as a powerful aura erupted, causing the floor beneath his feet to crack, spreading toward the surrounding area.
"Cheng Xiao, martial spirit: Shadow Monarch, thirty-fifth level attack-type Soul Elder." Cheng Xiao smiled as he glanced at the stunned group, casually revealing his soul rings.
"I'm suffocating just from his presence," Yu Feng muttered, wide-eyed as he trembled at the sight.
"Having high talent and soul power means nothing. In battles between soul masters, raw power isn't everything. If you think your high soul power level and powerful martial spirit are enough to intimidate us, then you've got the wrong idea."
"To stand firm in the Royal Battle Team, you'll need to show your true strength!"
At this moment, Yu Tianheng, the captain, finally spoke. Among the Royal Battle Team, his soul power was the highest, and he was the strongest. He could feel the terrifying pressure radiating from Cheng Xiao, especially from the black-armored shadow soldiers surrounding them. Whether they were real or an illusion, he had to step up—not just for himself, but for the Royal Battle Team!