Chapter 172: The Unknown Man, "Azure Star," Yu Tianheng Gets Jealous.
[The Pope Herself]: If you don't take the field, then although the Royal Fighting Team is weak, they won't be that easy to deal with.
At this moment, Bibi Dong, the Pope of Spirit Hall, was seated upon the luxurious throne in the Pope's Palace.
Looking at the messages on the light screen, she slightly narrowed her eyes.
Her fingertips gently tapped against the armrest of the throne, a trace of interest flashing through her gaze.
A mere Royal Fighting Team meant nothing in her eyes.
At a similar age, Spirit Hall's Golden Generation already had Soul Kings.
People like Yu Tianheng and the others were no different from children playing house in her eyes.
But she also knew very well that aside from Lin Qingmo, the rest of the Shrek Team indeed had a considerable gap in soul power compared to the Royal Fighting Team.
If Lin Qingmo, this absolute ceiling of combat strength, did not take action, then this battle might not be so easy to win.
…
Qin Ming finally noticed everyone's lack of focus, as well as Yu Tianheng and Dugu Yan's absent-mindedness.
"Ahem!"
He coughed heavily, his tone turning stern as he shouted:
"All of you, focus!"
"Don't think you're guaranteed to win. The foundation of the Shrek Team far exceeds your imagination!"
"Even if they only have three Soul Elders, you must not underestimate them!"
Yu Tianheng snapped back to his senses by this shout, reluctantly suppressing his frustration and nodding.
But there was still no real seriousness in his eyes.
…
Inside the VIP lounge.
Qin Ming's serious explanation continued, yet Dugu Yan didn't take in a single word.
She leaned lazily against the floor-to-ceiling window, her fingers idly scrolling through the chat group interface only she could see.
But when Lin Qingmo mentioned this spirit fight, Dugu Yan's previously lazy gaze instantly froze.
Shrek Team? Royal Fighting Team?
Wasn't this exactly the match she was about to fight today?
Her fingers quickly scrolled upward through the chat history.
She had originally treated Shrek as just some unknown small team and didn't care at all, but now…
'So that means this Ah Qing in the chat group is in today's opposing team? And he's a Soul Ancestor?'
The moment this thought appeared, Dugu Yan's interest was instantly piqued.
She turned and quickly walked up to Qin Ming, directly interrupting his unfinished tactical briefing.
"Teacher Qin, wait a moment."
The moment she spoke, the lounge fell silent.
After all, ever since entering the room, Dugu Yan had acted completely indifferent.
Forget initiating conversation.
She hadn't even glanced at the tactical board once.
Now that she suddenly spoke, everyone's eyes immediately turned toward her.
Qin Ming was also taken aback.
He stopped what he was doing, pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose, and asked, "Student Dugu Yan, what's your question?"
"Teacher Qin."
Dugu Yan's gaze swept over the documents in his hands, her tone carrying a hint of urgency.
"Among the members of Shrek Team, is there a Soul Ancestor named Ah Qing?"
As soon as she said this, low laughter spread throughout the room.
Yu Feng played with the wind blade feather in his hand and sneered.
"Yan Yan, didn't you hear Teacher Qin just now? The highest on their side are only three Soul Elders. Where would a Soul Ancestor come from?"
Osler took a bite of the food in his hand and chimed in unclearly, "Exactly. It's not like we haven't fought Soul Ancestors before. If there really was such a person, would it not be mentioned in the data?"
The others also showed expressions of amusement.
Only Yu Tianheng, standing at the front, had his earlier nonchalance instantly disappear.
His brows furrowed sharply.
His lightning-filled eyes locked tightly onto Dugu Yan.
What he focused on wasn't the Soul Ancestor, but how Dugu Yan addressed someone.
Ah Qing?
Who was that?
He had known Dugu Yan for so long and had never seen her care this much about any man.
Even asking a question, her tone carried a trace of urgency he had never seen before.
She had been avoiding him lately… Could it be because of another man?
Yu Tianheng's fingers clenched until they turned pale.
Soul Power flickered uncontrollably at his fingertips, producing faint crackling sounds.
Jealousy and frustration surged wildly in his heart.
He stared fixedly at Dugu Yan's profile, waiting for what she would say next.
Qin Ming was also stunned by the question.
He lowered his head and quickly flipped through the thick stack of documents.
Page after page passed under his gaze.
After a moment, he pushed his glasses up and shook his head at Dugu Yan.
"There's no one named Ah Qing."
"When the Shrek Team registered, they used martial soul codenames. No real names were recorded, and there are no Soul Ancestors above rank forty."
He paused, then pointed to a line in the document and added:
"Among the seven known participants, the highest soul power belongs to the soul master codenamed Soft Bone Charm Rabbit, a rank 38 agility attack system Soul Elder, which is clearly below us."
"No?"
Dugu Yan's brows immediately knitted together, her fingers unconsciously rubbing her nails as doubt filled her heart.
That's not possible.
Could it be that Ah Qing isn't in the Shrek Team at all?
Or… was he lying?
Just as she was full of confusion,
Qin Ming seemed to recall something.
He flipped to the last page of the documents.
His finger tapped on a line labeled "substitute," his tone slightly hesitant.
"There is one special case."
He pushed up his glasses and continued, "Shrek Team registered with eight members. Only seven will take the field today. There is one substitute, codenamed 'Azure Star.'"
"This Azure Star has quite a number of battle records—solo, duo, and team fights—and without exception, all are victories."
"A substitute?"
Yu Feng curled his lips in disdain.
"Basically just someone to make up the numbers. Not even daring to reveal his soul power. Probably afraid of embarrassing himself. At most a Soul Grandmaster."
"Exactly. Just a substitute. What can he possibly do?"
Osler nodded, not taking Azure Star seriously at all.
Even Yu Tianheng merely glanced at the information without caring much.
In his view, let alone an unknown substitute, even if the opponent really had a Soul Ancestor, he still had the confidence to fight.
But his mind was now filled with that "Ah Qing" who had caught Dugu Yan's attention.
Only Dugu Yan, upon hearing the name "Azure Star," narrowed her eyes slightly, the fog in her mind instantly clearing.
Azure Star?
Unknown soul power? Undefeated record? Not taking the field?
She recalled Lin Qingmo's earlier message in the group—"I won't be participating today." Her fingers paused, and a faint, meaningful smile curved at her lips.
Interesting.
This Azure Star was very likely Ah Qing.
She wanted to see exactly what abilities this person, who could stir things up so easily in the group, was hiding.
Of course, the premise was that Lin Qingmo had to make a move.
But he had no intention of participating in this battle.
"Tsk… what should I do now?"
Dugu Yan felt slightly troubled.
End of Chapter