Join my Patreon to be 30 chapters ahead of the webnovel releases:
patreon.com/ZeroMoney
I would appreciate your help if you could join my Patreon and support me because it would keep me motivated.
For every 5 Patreon memberships I receive, I'll release 15 chapters all at once. Your support means a lot to me.
******
Regarding the team's configuration, since the main team (Team 1) needed to fight their way through the qualifiers, the Academy provided them with three substitutes. Two of them were the former captain and vice-captain of the second team (swapped out for Su Wen and Ning Rongrong), and the third was the strongest remaining Power Attack system Spirit Elder from the original second team.
As for the actual second team, they recruited a random new student to fill the gap.
Su Wen remained indifferent. He knew he would eventually have to take action regardless of the arrangement. The three Education Commissioners, well aware of Su Wen's "monstrous" performance during the spirit battles on the road, had intentionally weakened the second team's support cast. The weaker the second team appeared, the more Su Wen's individual dominance would shine. To the Commissioners, this was the best way to polish their own political records.
Their true focus was on the seven members of the main team plus Su Wen and Ning Rongrong. Everyone else was simply there for the ride. As for building a "Dream Team" for Su Wen to challenge Spirit Hall for the championship? The Commissioners never seriously considered it—not after hearing rumors about Spirit Hall's "Golden Generation." If they were to chase the crown, it would be in the next tournament, once Su Wen had truly come into his own.
Beyond Huo Wu, leaders like Feng Xiaotian and others scanned the ten-man Royal Team roster. Not finding Su Wen, they felt a simultaneous wave of confusion and relief.
That guy is just too abnormal, they thought. If possible, we'd rather not face him at all.
The Emperor's Proclamation
With the help of an amplification soul tool, Emperor Xue Ye began the opening declaration. He announced that every member of a team reaching the ranking matches would receive imperial rewards, and those who made it to the finals in Spirit City would be directly granted noble titles. The atmosphere in the arena instantly reached a fever pitch.
As the VIPs settled back into their high-altitude seats, the first match prepared to begin. Flanking Emperor Xue Ye were Ning Fengzhi and the Platinum Bishop Salas. Behind them sat Prince Xue Xing and the three Education Commissioners. Several other powerhouses of the Heaven Dou Empire were also present.
Among them, Su Wen spotted a "familiar" face: Huyan Zhen!
The old man sat in the VIP section, looking calm and composed. Sensing Su Wen's gaze, Huyan Zhen glanced over. His good mood vanished instantly, his face darkening.
Three spirit bones! Huyan Zhen would remember that loss for the rest of his life, and it was all because of this boy, Su Wen.
Knowledge is Power
"Meng Shenji," Huyan Zhen said, addressing the head Commissioner. "If I recall correctly, doesn't your academy have a genius named Su Wen? Why isn't he participating in the matches?"
Meng Shenji narrowed his eyes. He wasn't sure what the old fox was up to. Bai Baoshan interjected indifferently, "Su Wen is in the second team. He will participate directly in the finals."
They couldn't ignore a question from the Sect Master of one of the Seven Great Sects, especially a peak Spirit Douluo.
Huyan Zhen's question caught the Emperor's attention. "Su Wen... I remember him. Didn't Qinghe transfer him to the Research Institute?"
The Emperor addressed Crown Prince Xue Qinghe.
'Xue Qinghe' replied with poise, "Yes, Imperial Father. I felt Su Wen's talent in research was extraordinary, so I moved him there. It seems he truly belongs there."
"Oh?" The Emperor looked at his son, curious. "What do you mean by 'belongs there'?"
"Imperial Father, Su Wen has already produced results in the Institute. This research has, in turn, facilitated his cultivation. It is a cycle of mutual achievement. That is why I say the Institute suits him."
The Emperor nodded, surprised. He hadn't known Su Wen was also a theoretical researcher. His strongest impression of the boy came from the Commissioners' report about his "two-vs-seven" victories across various cities.
"Su Wen adheres to a specific truth," the Crown Prince added with a sigh of admiration. "He believes that 'Knowledge is Power.' Strictly speaking, his primary identity is that of a scholar—one who transforms his knowledge into strength."
Everyone in the VIP section—from Ning Fengzhi, who knew Su Wen well, to Huyan Zhen, who hated him, to those who didn't know him at all—was struck by that phrase.
"Knowledge is Power..."
They whispered the words, finding them deeper and more profound the more they pondered. It was a universal truth. Even Huyan Zhen couldn't help but feel a shred of respect.
The Hidden Dagger
However, respect was one thing; three lost spirit bones were another.
"Sigh, what a pity," Huyan Zhen lamented. "I was looking forward to seeing him compete. When he traveled with the Royal Team to our Elephant Armored City, he caused quite a stir."
Emperor Xue Ye ignored the comment; he already knew about Su Wen's battle record. But Huyan Zhen wasn't finished.
"If I remember correctly, the number of spirit skills Su Wen has mastered is simply too vast. I couldn't even categorize his 'base' spirit skills."
Bishop Salas and several others narrowed their eyes. Huyan Zhen's words were subtle, but the implication was crystal clear to everyone present: If a Spirit Master has more skills than his rings allow, and those skills can't be traced back to his spirit, then he must possess spirit bones.
Huyan Zhen went silent, having successfully planted the seed. He hadn't broken his promise to Dugu Bo by explicitly revealing the secret, but he had "reminded" everyone of the obvious.
Emperor Xue Ye frowned, glancing at Huyan Zhen with displeasure. He caught Prince Xue Xing's eyes flickering with greed and shot him a warning glare. The Prince lowered his head, but his mind was already racing, calculating how to get his hands on Su Wen's bones.
Ning Fengzhi felt a massive headache coming on. Su Wen didn't just have spirit bones—he had a lot of them, including the ones the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan had given him.
(End of Chapter)