READ NOVEL ONLINE Chapter 42: chapter 42
There was an uproar when the crowd heard Yu Tianheng admit defeat. No one expected Tianlin, with his level 22 soul power, to defeat Yu Tianheng, who was at level 26. The result shocked everyone.
At less than eight years old, was Tianlin a genius or a monster?
This battle not only earned Tianlin recognition but also shifted the fear surrounding him, born from the incident regarding the rumors turn into admiration. His strength was undeniable but more impressive was his mercy during the fight and every move stopped short of causing serious harm and showcasing that he wasn't a bloodthirsty individual but rather a kind-hearted child.
Coupled with his universally adored face and it became hard not to like him.
"Wow, I never realized this junior is both strong and adorable. Plus, he has such a good temper!" someone in the crowd gushed.
"Everyone avoided him before, so they never discovered his good traits. What a waste! I should take him home and raise him while others stay away. Then, when he becomes a future titled Douluo, he'll belong to me" another murmured, scheming to make Tianlin their foster husband.
Though Tianlin had caused many to lose their gold soul coins, no one resented him and Being from noble families, they didn't care about losing a few hundred or thousand coins.
However, one person was devastated—Osler and he rushed to the edge of the ring crying out "Tianheng, how could you admit defeat? My life and fortune depended on you!"
"What the hell?" Yu Tianheng looked puzzled"I can't beat Xiaotian. Why keep fighting and get hurt?"
Yu Tianheng understood that Tianlin had shown him mercy during their battle. The sword energy only grazed him, leaving small scratches on his clothes and a minor wound on his body. With his physique, the injury would heal quickly and he Knows when to advance or retreat so Yu Tianheng chose not to act recklessly and besides losing in a fair fight was something he could accept.
At worst, he would double his training later and work hard to recover his honor.
"Why not give it a try, Tianheng?" Osler clung to his last hope"Maybe Xiaotian's soul power is nearly exhausted after using so many skills. You could still have a chance to win."
"Are you joking? Tianlin might be running low on soul power, but my soul ring is sealed. My strength has regressed to a soul master's level—I'd definitely lose," Yu Tianheng replied, firmly cutting off Osler's desperate attempt.
At that moment, a delicate hand tapped Osler's shoulder from behind. He turned to see Ye Lingling, her face as calm and expressionless as ever.
"Osler, I won. Tianlin's odds were 2 to 1. After returning the 130,000 gold soul coins I bet, you owe me an additional 260,000. That's a total of 390,000 gold soul coins. Since we're future teammates, I'll round it up to 400,000" she declared in an icy tone.
"You call that rounding down? That's clearly rounding up!" Osler panicked"Yufeng, help me out! Don't forget, you were involved as the banker!"
Yufeng immediately summoned his Wind Chime Bird martial soul and backed away "I was just helping manage the betting. Don't look at me."
With that Yufeng flew off, leaving Osler alone to face the consequences.
"Osler, pay up, or don't expect me to heal your injuries during training!" Ye Lingling warned, her tone unwavering.
As per her agreement with Tianlin and Gu Ran, Ye Lingling would split the winnings with them equally. After returning the 130,000 coins to the pot, her share would still be enough to cover her training expenses for a long time.
"Sister Lingling, can I write an IOU and pay in installments?" Osler asked pitifully. Though his family was noble, they were not as wealthy as the seven treasure glazed tile clan. Four hundred thousand gold soul coins were enough to sustain his family for years.
Ye Lingling nodded"Sure" She wasn't trying to make things hard for him and After all, they were teammates, and she couldn't abandon him.
"So, that's why you didn't want me to admit defeat," Yu Tianheng muttered, finally understanding. Osler had gambled on their match, while Ye Lingling bet a huge sum and made a fortune. No wonder Osler was devastated.
"Teacher Qin Ming always said gambling leads to losses. You should've listened" Yu Tianheng laughed as he walked off, holding Dugu Yan's hand. Though he wasn't physically injured but his soul and mental power were drained and With his girlfriend by his side, he could recover twice as fast.
"Senior Sister Lingling, use Osler's repayment for your training. Auxiliary soul masters need more resources than us and if there's extra, just share it with me and Gu Ran" Tianlin chimed in, delivering another blow to Osler.
"You—so this whole scheme was orchestrated by you and Gu Ran!" Osler gasped, feeling betrayed by the world.
"I didn't scheme; I'm just confident in my strength," Tianlin said with an innocent expression and which, combined with his young face, made him look completely trustworthy.
But to Osler, he seemed utterly devious.
"I just trust my boss's strength!" Gu Ran declared, hurrying to follow Tianlin. His loyalty was simple: stick with the boss and enjoy the rewards.
Meanwhile, Ye Lingling brought out a piece of paper. "Osler, I've prepared the IOU. Please leave your fingerprint."
In despair, Osler let Ye Lingling handle the paperwork, resigning himself to his fate.
After the day's match, Tianlin's reputation soared. Even though Yu Tianheng had lost, no one ridiculed him, as he had fought valiantly.
Qin Ming saw the value of showcasing strength through soul fights. Determined to make all nine of them renowned, he arranged matches for the remaining members over the next few days.
On the first day, the Shi brothers' double-defense combination faced Osler and Yufeng's agile attack duo.
The second day featured a showdown between the goddess team of Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling against the seven treasures team of Tianlin and Gu Ran.
On the third day, the Shi brothers teamed up with Ye Lingling to form an indomitable defense and recovery team, challenging the combined assault of Tianlin and Yu Tianheng. It took most of the day for the attackers to break through their defenses and secure victory.
Gradually, the reputation of this nine-member group spread throughout heaven dou Royal Academy. The three education committee members realized that Qin Ming aimed to form the strongest team, likely in preparation for the upcoming Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament.
The nine individuals he chose were exceptional, and within three years, they would be the best at heaven dou Academy. After some discussion, Meng Shenji issued an order to prioritize their training resources.
Thus, the nine-member team officially gained its name: the Emperor Team.
Tianlin vowed that since he joined, the Emperor Team would never lose to Shrek Academy or Spirit hall's Academy.