Chapter 203: Qin Ming Feels Like a Clown!

The banquet turned out to be far more extravagant than expected. Despite the short notice, Qin Ming had managed to prepare the best dishes possible to entertain everyone. The meal lasted until the stars filled the sky before finally coming to an end.

After days of travel, the Shrek group was finally settled in, and exhaustion caught up with them. They each retired to their rooms to rest.

The night passed without incident.

Early the next morning, right after Yun Feng and Zhu Zhuqing finished their sparring session, Qin Ming arrived, bringing along freshly prepared breakfast made by the academy's chefs.

"Yun Feng, you're up this early?"

Qin Ming, seeing Yun Feng and Zhu Zhuqing walking side by side, greeted them with a smile.

Yun Feng chuckled.

"Senior, you're up early too."

Qin Ming casually patted Yun Feng's shoulder in a familiar manner.

"Out of all the Shrek students, you left the strongest impression on me."

"I really don't know how someone your age managed to train to this level. You're far more impressive than I was back then."

Hearing this, Zhu Zhuqing felt a bit awkward.

Impressive?

Qin Ming was only a Spirit Emperor, while Yun Feng was already a Spirit King.

At this rate, Yun Feng would surpass him in no time.

However, Yun Feng remained composed and played along.

"You flatter me."

Qin Ming's tone became more serious.

"I mean every word. I've been at Heaven Dou Royal Academy for years, and I've seen many talented students. Yu Tianheng, Dugu Yan, and the others are all exceptionally gifted."

"But compared to you, they lack a certain quality. What impresses me the most about you isn't your mutated Blue Silver Grass martial soul—it's your dedication."

"In the battle against the Emperor Team, they didn't just lose to your group's strength. More than anything, they lost to your effort. Given time, you'll definitely become a top-tier control-type soul master."

"After all, your records state that your innate soul power was only at level one. I can't even imagine how hard you had to train!"

Qin Ming paused, his gaze filled with admiration.

"A true control-type soul master enables their teammates to fight at their full potential. But a top-tier control-type soul master dictates the battlefield and defeats stronger opponents through sheer tactics."

"The teachers here can guide you in many ways, but the one thing I can pass on to you is confidence."

"No matter how dire the situation, as long as you maintain absolute belief in victory, you'll always be able to bring out your best."

Saying this, Qin Ming patted Yun Feng's shoulder again.

"Keep pushing forward, junior. Honestly, I can't wait to see where you'll be when you're thirty. I have no doubt you'll surpass me."

At this, Zhu Zhuqing couldn't hold it in anymore.

She burst out laughing and directly said to Qin Ming,

"Senior, do you really not know how old Yun Feng is right now or what his current strength is?"

"Think about it—how old is Yun Feng, and how old are you now? Isn't surpassing you already a given?"

"Besides, when Yun Feng fought the Emperor Team, he wasn't even using his full strength."

"What exactly are you thinking?"

Zhu Zhuqing's words left Qin Ming thoroughly embarrassed.

After all, she was merely stating the truth.

Lies don't hurt people. The truth does.

And the truth made Qin Ming feel like a complete clown.

Qin Ming had no ill intentions—he just didn't want to be so quickly overshadowed.

That was why he had spoken to Yun Feng from a senior's perspective, offering advice.

But Zhu Zhuqing, having been helped by Yun Feng multiple times, couldn't just stand by and listen to such nonsense.

Can just anyone compare themselves to Yun Feng now?

Of course, she wasn't deliberately trying to make enemies for Yun Feng. She simply found Qin Ming's words ridiculous.

Though a little annoyed, Qin Ming ultimately said nothing.

Because, at the end of the day, the facts were undeniable.

Afterward, the rest of the Shrek group gradually woke up, and as they ate breakfast, Qin Ming gave them a brief overview of Heaven Dou Royal Academy's hierarchy.

The students were divided into three tiers:

Those below Rank 25 were classified as Tianwei-level (Sky Minor).

Those between Rank 25 and Rank 30 were classified as Tianzhi-level (Sky Mid).

Those above Rank 30 belonged to the highest tier, Tiandou-level (Sky Major).

The seven members of the Emperor Team were among the elite Tiandou-level students. On the other hand, the ones they had encountered at the base of the mountain the previous day were merely Tianwei-level students.

The academy's teaching staff followed a similar ranking system, but with higher requirements.

Reaching Rank 40 was the minimum requirement to be an instructor, which was a common standard for advanced soul master academies.

Teachers between Rank 40 and Rank 50 were Tianwei-level instructors.

Those between Rank 50 and Rank 60 were Tianzhi-level instructors.

Those above Rank 60 were Tiandou-level instructors.

Sun Bu Yu, whom they had met the previous day, was a Rank 53 Tianzhi-level instructor, while Qin Ming had only recently become a Tiandou-level instructor.

Since Heaven Dou Royal Academy was directly controlled by the imperial family, its nominal headmaster was none other than the Emperor of Heaven Dou Empire himself.

As a result, the academy did not have an official headmaster.

Instead, the institution was overseen by a committee of three veteran Tiandou-level instructors—the strongest and most senior teachers in the academy.

This was what Qin Ming had meant when he mentioned "meeting the academy's leadership."

The committee made most of the decisions regarding the academy, though important matters still required imperial approval.

The Heaven Dou Imperial Family took the academy very seriously. Although the Emperor himself rarely had time to manage it, a high-ranking royal family member was usually assigned to oversee its affairs.

At present, the academy's committee consisted of three elders, all of whom were Spirit Douluo (above Rank 80), making its faculty exceptionally strong.

There were a total of eight Tiandou-level instructors.

Such a concentration of high-level instructors was rare even within the entire Heaven Dou Empire.

After listening to Qin Ming's explanation, Flender chuckled.

"So, does that mean we all qualify to be Tiandou-level instructors?"

Qin Ming smiled.

"Of course. Tiandou-level instructors hold high status in the academy and generally only teach Tiandou-level students, who make up only about one-tenth of the student body."

"The workload is light, but the benefits are substantial. Aside from having all expenses covered by the academy, Tiandou-level instructors also receive a monthly salary of 3,000 gold soul coins."

"There are also additional bonuses depending on the situation."

"Three thousand? That's extravagant."

Flender, who had been an academy head himself, was naturally very interested in the salary but had been too embarrassed to ask directly.

Now that he had heard the figure, he was thoroughly satisfied.

His smile grew even wider, and his opinion of Heaven Dou Royal Academy improved significantly.

"Qin Ming, lead the way. Let's meet these committee elders."

"Yes, sir."

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