Douluo: Soul-Breaking spear

Chapter 96: Formation of the Heaven Dou First Team

After Yang Potian left the Deans' office, Qin Ming hesitated and spoke up, "Deans, I still feel somewhat unsatisfied. Could I have the chance to interact with the members of Heaven Dou's Second Team?"

Dream Machine Dean looked a bit exasperated. "Teacher Qin, aren't you known for training students well? There are nearly 50 students in the Tian Dou level class, each with spirit power above level 30. With five years remaining until the next Spirit Master Tournament, surely you can develop several Soul Ancestors from among them, just as Yang Potian is doing."

"Deans," Qin Ming replied, "it's mainly that Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling are ideally suited to my tactical approach. With the addition of these two, our team could achieve better synergy and strength."

"Qin Ming," said the Dean, "you may not be aware, but Dugu Yan's grandfather is Poison Douluo, Senior Dugu Bo, who has had a good relationship with the Po Zhi Clan for many years. And Ye Lingling is Yang Potian's girlfriend. Do you think these two will really leave the Second Team for the First?"

"Yang Potian began his training program over two years ago. When Niu Meng, Tai Long, and Bai Xiaofei first enrolled, they were only around levels 21 or 22. We're giving you an abundance of gifted students now—are you really unable to form a team of Soul Ancestors for the tournament?"

The Deans were clearly unimpressed by Qin Ming's insistence. Yang Potian had been diligently training his own team, while Qin Ming seemed focused on recruiting members from an already established group. Now that he'd been given equally talented students, surely he could train them to the required levels himself.

The Heaven Dou Royal Academy Second Team had historically been weak, but their students weren't lacking in talent. Admission requirements were a minimum of level 20 spirit power at twelve years old, matching the standards of Shrek Academy. Noble families spared no expense on their children's development, providing things like medicinal baths and spirit beast meat. Most incoming students included several twelve-year-olds with power levels of 25 or above.

However, Heaven Dou's environment posed challenges. Despite great resources for training, students often fell victim to the allure of privilege, status, and luxury. Many lost focus once surrounded by such comforts.

Yang Potian, meanwhile, was highly unimpressed by Qin Ming's attempts to recruit his team members, knowing that training them required more than just physical drills. It wasn't simply about daily endurance exercises; the effectiveness came largely from medicinal baths and precise treatments.

While Heaven Dou Academy provided basic medicinal baths, Yang Potian had secretly altered the mixtures with secret formulas from the Po Zhi Clan—the same ones used by the Clear Sky Clan in the past. Only Yang Potian, Yang Ping'an, and Teacher Li Xiang knew of these modifications. The rare ingredients he added were mostly acquired from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. Purchased on the open market, these ingredients would cost a fortune. And once refined, no one could easily replicate the formula, not even a skilled herbalist.

If anyone tried to follow Yang Potian's training methods without the proper formula, they would likely end up injuring the students instead. This hidden safeguard helped ensure the loyalty of his team members.

After some thought, Yang Potian called his entire team together but didn't invite the teachers this time.

Once they'd gathered, Yang Potian spoke directly, "The Deans just summoned me to the office. Recently, Heaven Dou Royal Academy's First Team has been forming. They tried to poach some of our team members, but I turned them down. Are any of you considering leaving?"

His team exchanged looks, surprised. They had been training together for over two years now, and their bond was strong. The team spirit was high, and everyone felt a strong sense of loyalty to the group.

Dugu Yan spoke up first, "Yu Tianheng, the First Team's captain, already approached me, but I rejected his offer. His spirit power isn't even as high as mine. I doubt their training methods can match what we've achieved here."

"And besides," she added, "you've done so much for us, Captain. I know who really has our best interests at heart."

Ye Lingling chimed in as well, "Yu Tianheng spoke to me too, but I turned him down."

She didn't elaborate, but everyone understood her reasons.

Yang Ping'an stood quietly, needing no explanation. His loyalty was clear to everyone.

The other team members each affirmed their commitment, promising to stay with the Second Team no matter what offers or promises the First Team made.

Seeing their steadfastness, Yang Potian finally spoke, "Regardless of your personal reasons, I won't allow anyone to leave the team."

"For the next Spirit Master Tournament, our goal is to win the championship. This isn't just my ambition—it should be a shared mission for all of you. If we win, the Single Attribute Four Clans will rise again, and no one will dare look down on us."

There was another reason he hadn't mentioned: the tournament's prize included three high-quality spirit bones. Even if he found them somewhat lacking for his own use, he had people around him who could benefit from them.

Of particular interest was a head spirit bone, over sixty thousand years in age—one of the rarest and most valuable spirit bones, on par with the legacy spirit bones of the Upper Three Sects. It would serve as a valuable heirloom for the Po Zhi Clan.

Qin Ming ultimately assembled a team from the students of the Tian Dou class. All members had spirit power levels over 30, including original characters such as Captain Yu Tianheng, whose spirit was the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon; team member Oslo, with the Ghost Leopard spirit; brothers Shi Mo and Shi Mo, who possessed the Black Tortoise spirit; and Yu Feng, with the Wind Chime Bird spirit.

They also recruited a control system spirit master with the Sky Vine spirit.

Qin Ming even managed to secure a Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda spirit master to join the team. With this lineup, they had the potential for strong team synergy. How effective they would be after Qin Ming's training remained to be seen.

Meanwhile, Yang Potian continued training his own team on basic foundations, skills that wouldn't be too revealing to outsiders. The real core of his training plan would only be revealed later.

Beyond training, Yang Potian and Ye Lingling's relationship was growing stronger, and the two were nearly inseparable. Their closeness even brought out a more cheerful side in Ye Lingling, who was now far more open and expressive than she used to be. Sometimes, she even surprised Yang Potian by taking the initiative, which delighted him immensely.

(End of Chapter)

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