Douro Continent

Chapter 219 Heaven Dou Royal Academy (Part 2)

A moment later, accompanied by a series of hurried footsteps, Qin Ming strode in from outside, his face beaming with joy.

"Dean Flander, you've finally arrived! I've been waiting with bated breath!" he said, quickly stepping forward to bow to Flander and several Shrek Academy teachers.

Flanders helped him up and laughed, "Don't be so formal. Speaking of which, we'll be following you from now on. Have you made all the arrangements here?"

Qin Ming quickly nodded. "Dean, don't worry, I've arranged everything. I've spoken with the higher-ups at Tiandou Academy, and they warmly welcome all of you teachers. Although they don't quite believe our juniors are that strong, the kids from the Royal Fighting Team have proven it. Everything's fine. Here's what we'll do: you teachers and juniors have come from afar, so please rest today. I'll arrange accommodations for you, and tomorrow I'll introduce you to the academy's higher-ups to finalize this matter."

Flander was very satisfied with Qin Ming's arrangements. Qin Ming immediately led them to a courtyard on the west side of the main campus of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy. The place had been cleaned up and tidy, and each person had a private room, as well as a separate reception room. All the living supplies were brand new, and the entire courtyard was like a separate entity, with conditions far superior to those of Shrek Academy.

Not only were the teachers satisfied, but the Shrek Seven Devils were also pleasantly surprised, thinking to themselves, "This senior Qin Ming is really capable. Everything was arranged so perfectly."

With everything arranged, everyone gathered in the reception room. Qin Ming sat next to Flander and earnestly asked the teachers, "I wonder if you teachers and junior students are satisfied? After finalizing this matter with the academy last time I came back, I considered many options and still felt that this place was the most suitable. You can see the mountain scenery as soon as you step out of the courtyard, and you can also see the lake below. There is a separate road from here that leads directly to the foot of the mountain, making it very convenient to go to Tiandou City."

Zhao Wuji laughed and said, "Qin Ming, you're really something. You've arranged everything very well."

Qin Ming said, "It's all in the best of our ability, and it's getting late. I originally wanted to invite all the teachers and junior students to a nice place in Tiandou City to welcome you. But it's a bit late today, so we'll just have something to eat at the academy. Once everything is settled tomorrow, I think the academy will host a special banquet for you all."

Flander said, "Qin Ming, you know we don't care much about worldly etiquette, so you don't need to go to so much trouble."

Qin Ming looked at Flander, his eyes filled with deep emotion. "Dean Flander, without you and all the teachers, there would be no Qin Ming today. Now that I finally have the opportunity to repay you, how could I not do my best?"

The banquet was much more lavish than expected. Although it was done in a hurry, Qin Ming still prepared the best dishes to entertain everyone. The meal didn't end until the stars were high in the sky.

After traveling for so many days, the Shrek Academy students finally arrived at their destination. They were all quite tired and went back to their rooms to rest.

Nothing happened that night. The next morning, just after Tang San finished practicing his Purple Demon Eye technique, Qin Ming arrived, bringing a hot breakfast specially prepared by the chef hired by the academy.

"Little San, you're up so early?" Qin Ming saw Tang San jumping down from the roof and greeted him with a smile.

Tang San chuckled and said, "Senior, you're here early too!"

Qin Ming patted Tang San on the shoulder and said, "Of all the Shrek Seven Devils, you've impressed me the most. I really don't know how you cultivated such skills at such a young age. You're much more outstanding than I was back then."

Hearing Qin Ming's praise, Tang San said somewhat awkwardly, "Senior, you flatter me."

Qin Ming said solemnly, "I'm speaking from the heart. I've been at the Heaven Dou Royal Academy for several years now, and I've seen many exceptionally talented students. People like Yu Tianheng and Dugu Yan are also very talented. However, they lack one quality compared to you. What impressed me most about you wasn't your mutated Blue Silver Grass spirit, but your calm and collected mind. In that battle against Tianheng and his Royal Dou team, they lost not so much to your strength, but rather to your wisdom and control of the battle. Given time, you will definitely become a top-tier control-type spirit master."

After a pause, Qin Ming's eyes hardened. "Being able to unleash the full potential of your comrades is already the mark of a qualified control-type Soul Master. But being able to control the battlefield and defeat the strong with the weak—that's the potential of a top-tier control-type Soul Master. You are Grandmaster's disciple, and his teachings are far beyond what I can offer. What I can teach you is the word 'confidence.' No matter the situation, when facing the enemy, always maintain an unwavering belief in victory. Only then can you maximize your strength."

At this point, Qin Ming patted Tang San on the shoulder again, "Junior, keep it up. To be honest, I really want to see what level you can reach when you're thirty. I believe you will definitely surpass me."

The students of Shrek Academy got up one after another. While everyone was having breakfast, Qin Ming gave a brief introduction to the personnel structure of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

The students of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy are divided into three levels. The first level consists of newly enrolled students and those whose strength is below level 25, called the Heavenly Micro level. The second level is the Heavenly Supreme level, which is between level 25 and level 30. Those above level 30 enter the highest level, the Heaven Dou level. The seven members of the Royal Fighting Team are all top performers in the Heaven Dou level, while those that the Shrek Academy students encountered at the foot of the mountain the day before were all Heavenly Micro level students.

Teachers are graded the same as students, but with higher requirements. Reaching level 40 in soul power is the entry threshold for teachers at the Heaven Dou Royal Academy, and indeed, most advanced soul master academies. At Heaven Dou Academy, teachers between level 40 and 50 are considered "Tianwei" level teachers. Those between level 50 and 60 are "Tianzhi" level teachers, and those above level 60 are "Heaven Dou" level teachers. Sun Buyu, whom they met yesterday, is a level 53 "Tianzhi" level teacher, while Qin Ming has only recently become a Heaven Dou level teacher.

Because the Heaven Dou Royal Academy is affiliated with the Heaven Dou Empire's royal family, and its nominal dean is the current Emperor of the Heaven Dou Empire, the position of dean is no longer held within the academy. Instead, a teaching committee is formed by the three most senior and powerful Heaven Dou-level teachers; this is the high-ranking student body Qin Ming referred to.

All matters, large and small, of the academy are decided by the Education Committee, and some important matters require approval from the royal family of the Heavenly Dou Empire.

The Heaven Dou Empire's royal family attaches great importance to the academy. Although the Heaven Dou Emperor is too busy to oversee everything, he usually appoints a high-ranking member of the royal family to manage the academy's affairs. For some important decisions, the Education Committee also needs to consult with higher authorities.

Currently, the three veteran teachers on the teaching committee of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy are all Soul Douluo of level 80 or above, making the teaching staff extremely strong. There are as many as eight Heaven Dou-level teachers, which is extremely rare in the entire Heaven Dou Empire.

Hearing Qin Ming's words, Flander laughed and said, "So, does that mean we can all become Heaven-level teachers, yay?"

Qin Ming laughed and said, "Of course. Heavenly Dou level teachers have a very high status in the academy and generally only instruct Heavenly Dou level students. And Heavenly Dou level students only account for one-tenth of the total number of students in the academy. The teaching work is very easy, but the pay is very high. In addition to the academy taking care of all their living expenses within the academy, they also receive an extra three thousand gold soul coins as compensation every month. In special circumstances, there will be other income as well."

"Three thousand? That's extravagant." Flander, having once been a dean, was very concerned about income but had never dared to ask. Hearing Qin Ming mention three thousand gold soul coins, he was greatly satisfied, and his smile deepened. His satisfaction with the Heaven Dou Royal Academy naturally soared.

"Qin Ming, lead the way. Let's go meet those three senior members of the Education Committee."

"Yes."

The Academic Committee of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy is located in the center of the academy's main campus. It is the largest building in the entire main campus. Although it is also a single-story building, the highest point is ten meters high, giving it a somewhat Spirit Hall feel.

Upon their arrival, everyone from Shrek Academy, including the teachers and the Shrek Seven Devils, followed Qin Ming's lead. No matter how good the conditions were, this wasn't Shrek Academy, not their own place, so they couldn't be as at ease as before.

Although Flander maintained a smile throughout, a bittersweet feeling welled up inside him after so many years of accustomed freedom. No matter how small Shrek Academy was, he was still its dean. And no matter how good the Heaven Dou Royal Academy was, it could never compare to the warmth of his own home.

However, Flander's mood quickly improved. When they arrived at the entrance of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy's Academic Committee, the three old men were already waiting there.

Although the three elderly men simply stood there, they exuded a very special aura, as if they were the core of the main campus of the Heavenly Dou Royal Academy, or even the entire academy. Even with gentle smiles on their faces, the special aura of powerful individuals could not be concealed.

The three elderly men were all dressed in long black robes embroidered with strange patterns in gold thread. These robes were not exclusive to them; they were custom-made formal attire, awarded by the Spirit Hall to Soul Masters of level 80 and above who held the title of Soul Douluo, signifying their status. They were second only to the red formal attire of Title Douluo.

(End of this chapter)