The next morning.
After listening to the details of the Empire Glory Plan from Xue Qinghe, Yun Ming looked at the stack of personnel files in his hand and felt a sense of admiration for how much effort the other had put in. He flipped through the list; two of the individuals were indeed decent, but he was currently more concerned about the two he had specifically requested. Yun Ming asked.
"Your Highness, I wonder what the response is from Feng Xiaotian and Shui Binger?"
Among the files on advanced Soul Master Academy students he had reviewed earlier, he felt that two individuals possessed exceptional talent: Feng Xiaotian of the Shenfeng Team and Shui Binger of Tianshui Academy. These two were also the ones Yun Ming considered to have the most potential for cultivation.
Qian Renxue replied helplessly.
"Feng Xiaotian is willing to join, but Shui Binger has explicitly refused."
Yun Ming's expression remained calm as he asked.
"And what was Shui Binger's reason for refusing? Is it to help Tianshui win the championship?"
Qian Renxue shook her head and explained.
"That's not it; Shui Binger simply wants to compete representing Tianshui."
Upon learning the reason, Yun Ming remarked.
"I see! Very well, if she is unwilling, then let it be."
With Yun Ming's store of knowledge and the ample resources provided by the empire's treasury, it was not actually difficult to train a team capable of winning the championship in just over a year. His requirements for the candidates did not have an extremely high ceiling of talent.
Yun Ming had mentioned Feng Xiaotian and the others to Xue Qinghe only because he felt they had good potential and wanted to refine them. It was their opportunity, not a necessity for Yun Ming. Since they had refused, he would simply move on.
Afterward, Yun Ming gave Xue Qinghe two more names, and together with Feng Xiaotian and the two individuals from the previous list, he confirmed the final selection with Xue Qinghe.
"."
"Then I will trouble Your Highness to arrange for these five people to enroll in the Heaven Dou Royal Academy."
Once Xue Qinghe confirmed Yun Ming's choices, he ordered his subordinates to make the arrangements. He then continued to chat with Yun Ming.
"I heard, Brother Yun, that you managed to anger Clear Sky Douluo to death."
"I didn't realize it before, but I hadn't expected Brother Yun to have such a sharp tongue."
When Chen Xin had reported the incident to Ning Fengzhi, Qian Renxue was also present. Since Ning Fengzhi did not intentionally hide anything regarding a disciple he valued highly, Qian Renxue had learned the full sequence of events.
Knowing that Tang Hao had been angered to death by Yun Ming, Qian Renxue felt immense joy. Tang Hao had killed her father, yet he had died in such a humiliating fashion in Heaven Dou City. She felt refreshed and found herself even more interested in and favorably disposed toward Yun Ming.
Hearing Xue Qinghe praise his eloquence, Yun Ming replied calmly.
"Since Your Highness is aware of this matter, you must also know what Tang Hao did."
"Rather than saying I have a sharp tongue, it is more accurate to say that he brought it upon himself."
In response to Yun Ming's words, Qian Renxue feigned a look of deep sorrow.
"To think that the dignified Clear Sky Douluo was such a person; it is truly a pity."
Afterward, Qian Renxue recalled Yun Ming's assessment of Tang Hao and continued to ask.
"Qinghe has also heard that in Brother Yun's eyes, Clear Sky Douluo was merely a useless object with nothing but cultivation talent. I wonder, is there anyone in this world whom you consider a hero?"
Yun Ming asked back with an unchanging expression.
"What does Your Highness think? What kind of person counts as a hero?"
Qian Renxue responded directly.
"In Qinghe's view, there are only two heroes in this generation: the first is the Pope of Martial Soul Hall, Bibi Dong, and the second is Brother Yun himself."
Qian Renxue left out two people: her grandfather and herself. Her grandfather had been retired for many years, and she was still undercover, so it was not appropriate to mention them.
Faced with such high praise from Xue Qinghe, Yun Ming cupped his hands in a salute and replied modestly.
"Your Highness is too kind."
"However, in my view, anyone in this world can be a hero."
"As long as one strives for what they love in their heart, that is enough."
Qian Renxue: "???"
Xue Qinghe was somewhat shocked and unable to fully grasp Yun Ming's perspective. In the Douluo Continent, where class distinctions between Soul Masters and commoners, and nobles and civilians, were so rigid, she found Yun Ming's idea to be arrogant and bold—he clearly did not care for the rules of hierarchy at all; yet, it also seemed strangely grounded.
After all, Yun Ming came from a later era, and his ideology differed from the present. In the Federation era, although the peak power of the world was still held by top Soul Master factions, the collective consciousness had awakened; commoners could become Federation councilors or high-ranking government officials. Those in high positions and the powerful might be heroes, but who is to say that the ordinary, steadfast individuals are not?
It was true that Yun Ming was arrogant, but his arrogance stemmed from his capabilities, not from a sense of inherent superiority.
Yun Ming did not intend to continue this discussion with the two-thousand-year-old antique before him, so he spoke up.
"Your Highness, I intend to head to the Heaven Dou Royal Academy now."
Hearing Yun Ming's polite dismissal, Xue Qinghe did not dwell on it further and replied tactfully.
"Qinghe also has official business to attend to, so I shall not intrude any further."
Yun Ming stood up to see Xue Qinghe off. Afterward, he went downstairs to call for Oscar and Yang Yi, who had just arrived in Heaven Dou City. They left the hotel and headed toward the northern part of Heaven Dou City to find the people at the construction site of the new Breaking Clan residence.
That was correct; the Breaking Clan had decided to relocate their entire clan back to Heaven Dou City.
Now that the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well had fallen into the hands of the Breaking Clan, they naturally could no longer keep their clan based in the Star Luo Empire. Thus, they had asked Dugu Bo to help purchase a large plot of land just outside the east of Heaven Dou City, closest to the Sunset Forest, to serve as the new clan land.
And the person Yun Ming was currently going to find was a team member he had set his sights on.
Yun Ming and his two companions arrived at the new site of the Breaking Clan, a construction zone.
The environment of the construction site was noisy and busy, with various shouts interweaving to form a unique symphony. The air was thick with dust, as if a dusty feast were being staged. All around were mountains of building materials, and various tools and equipment were placed in conspicuous positions, resembling a large labyrinth of earth and stone.
Yun Ming spotted a young man moving bricks at the site and called out to him.
"Niu Bi, let's go."
"Our team is assembling today, it's time to go train."
Hearing Yun Ming's call, the young man's eyes lit up. He tossed the bricks he was carrying onto the ground beside him and ran toward Yun Ming, shouting excitedly.
"Yun Ming, you've finally come."
"Quick, quick, quick!"
"Let's get out of here fast; I don't want to stay here for even another second."
Niu Gao, who was busy arranging work for his clansmen nearby, saw his grandson acting so impatient after being at the site for only half an hour. He let out a sigh and finally said to Yun Ming.
"Kid Yun Ming, I'll leave this brat Bi in your hands."
"If this kid acts like a fool at the Heaven Dou Royal Academy, feel free to hit him or scold him. Don't be polite at all."
Hearing Niu Gao say this, Yun Ming couldn't help but smile bitterly as he replied.
"Don't worry, Grandpa Niu Gao, I will definitely train him well."
Hearing their conversation, Niu Bi remained unimpressed. He, Niu, had been possessed by the god of trouble for so many years; how could he be so easily subdued?
As for why Niu Gao's grandson joined Yun Ming's team, it all started a few days ago.
After the Four Clans Gathering ended, Yang Wutian chatted with Niu Gao after discussing their cooperation. Upon learning that Yun Ming had put together a team to participate in the Soul Master Competition, he mentioned to Yang Wutian that he hoped his young grandson, Niu Bi, could also join in to get some training and bring some peace to the Clan. Because this kid was always looking for trouble while staying in the Clan, he couldn't settle down for even a moment.
After Yang Wutian understood the situation, he mentioned it to Yun Ming. Yun Ming felt it was no problem, and Niu Bi also thought it sounded interesting, so he joined.
Afterward, the four of them traveled together to the Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
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Translated by: randomtranslator.com
Proofread by: DaoistReader