Douluo Continent: Tonight, a Fairy Tale Descends

The root of everything seems to lie in his selfishness and arrogance at that moment.

However, this feeling of guilt did not last long.

When reason returned, Qin Ming's heart began to sink little by little, and was then swallowed up by an even greater emotion: endless regret and panic.

He suddenly realized that what he had lost was far more than just the command of the game in front of him, or the fragile bond with his alma mater.

He ruined his own hard-earned, promising future!

He, Qin Ming, advanced to Soul Emperor at a young age; his talent, strength, and experience are all impeccable.

Being valued by three members of the teaching committee of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy and promoted to the position of team leader for the Heaven Dou First Team is an honor and a sign of great trust!

What is Team Tiandou One?

That was the future pillar that the empire had poured countless resources into cultivating, a team destined to shine in the continent-wide elite competition of advanced soul master academies, and even a favorite to win the championship.

It is foreseeable that in the future, as the Tian Dou team makes great strides in the competition and gains widespread fame, Qin Ming, as the team's coach, will also become famous throughout the continent, enter the sight of the empire's top leadership, and become a hot new star in the world of soul master education.

Fame, fortune, status, respect... everything will fall into place naturally, and the future will be as bright as a broad road paved with sunshine.

But now?

Because of his momentary lapse in judgment, his ridiculous sentimentality towards his alma mater, and his inappropriate request to show leniency, he completely enraged the princess, offended his teammates, and challenged the academy's bottom line.

Snow White sent a report, and the three education commissioners were urgently replaced.

Teacher Sun Buyu stood at the very front of the line, his composed back silently proclaiming Qin Ming's superfluity and mistake at this moment.

Although the academy only suspended him from his post and sent him back to the academy to reflect, without immediately expelling him, Qin Ming knew very well that in the minds of the higher-ups, and in the minds of those top students and their families, he had already been labeled as someone who couldn't distinguish between public and private matters, was unusable, and had an unstable stance.

Having lost the qualification to lead the Tian Dou team and the greatest opportunity to compete in major tournaments and accumulate prestige, Qin Ming's future path in the Tian Dou Royal Academy and even in the upper circles of the entire Tian Dou City has become narrow and bleak.

Those once luminous prospects, which were within reach, are now blurred and distorted, as if seen through a thick layer of frosted glass, and are rapidly receding into the distance.

Regret, like a venomous snake, gnawed fiercely at his heart.

He regretted coming to Soto City, regretted inquiring about Shrek, regretted arranging the match, and most regretted his damned, ill-timed soft-heartedness and arrogance!

For the sake of that vague nostalgia for his alma mater and his self-righteous sense of what was right, he actually ruined his promising future!

On the arena, the victorious Tian Dou team was slowly leaving the stage, supported by their teammates. They paid little attention to the miserable state of the Shrek Seven Devils, a natural indifference of the victors towards the vanquished.

On Shrek's side, Flander and Zhao Wuji had already rushed onto the ring, busy checking the children's injuries and distributing medicine.

Yu Xiaogang stood still, his gaze deep, seemingly lost in thought, and never glanced at Qin Ming again.

Qin Ming stood alone in the same spot, the cheers, discussions, and footsteps of his teammates leaving the field all seemed to be separated by a membrane, becoming blurry and distant.

Only the cold, sinking heart inside his chest, and the overwhelming wave of regret that nearly engulfed him, were incredibly real and incredibly painful.

He slowly closed his eyes and took a deep breath of the air in the arena, which was filled with the smell of dust, sweat, and blood.

Is there really any light left in the future?

……

The next day, Qin Ming stood in the shadow of the towering city gate of Soto City. The morning mist had not yet dissipated, and the damp, cold air clung to his dark blue outfit.

He watched as the convoy, representing the glory of the empire, slowly drove out of the city gate, rolled over the bluestone road, and disappeared at the end of the official road leading to the next city.

Team Tian Dou left, leaving him behind.

Sun Buyu walked at the head of the group, his steps steady. Snow White and Yu Tianheng were talking in hushed tones, their expressions calm.

Chapter 350 Pride

Dugu Yan didn't even glance back at the city she found boring.

Ning Rongrong still seemed excited about yesterday's victory, her little face beaming with joy.

No one said goodbye to Qin Ming, and no one cared whether he stayed or left.

It was as if he were just a tool that had been replaced and quietly left behind at the previous station.

Qin Ming's throat tightened. He subconsciously took half a step forward, raised his hand halfway, and then let it fall limply.

go back?

He returned to the Heaven Dou Royal Academy, the place he once thought would be the starting point of his career.

What happens after we go back?

Snow White, the only legitimate princess of the Tian Dou royal family, was deeply favored by the emperor. Offending her was tantamount to preemptively condemning himself to unpopularity within the future power structure of the royal family.

Ning Rongrong, the little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, is the precious jewel that everyone in the school cherishes.

Her dissatisfaction meant offending the wealthiest sect on the mainland, a behemoth known for its protectiveness and influence.

Dugu Yan is the only granddaughter of Poison Douluo Dugu Bo. That titled Douluo is notoriously eccentric and vindictive.

And then there's the Blue Lightning Tyrant Sect behind Yu Tianheng...

Any one of these forces, taken individually, would be enough to make it difficult for a Soul Emperor without a strong background to move forward. And he, Qin Ming, offended almost all of them in one fell swoop.

What awaits him when he goes back?

A promotion in name only? Marginalization? Cold treatment?

Or, more directly, in some unexpected mission or resource allocation in the future, silently wear down all his vigor and future potential?

Qin Ming's heart sank little by little into the cold abyss.

He could almost see the polite but actually distant looks from his colleagues when he returned to the Heavenly Dou Royal Academy, the indifferent expressions of the three education committee members, and his office that was gradually gathering dust and was no longer visited by anyone.

The Heavenly Dou Royal Academy, the gate that once opened for him to the heavens, now seemed to him as a prison entrance filled with thorns.

But if we don't go back, where can we go?

In all the vastness of the world, it seems there is nowhere for Qin Ming to stand.

Could it be... that I'm going to Shrek Academy?

The thought suddenly popped into his head, even surprising Qin Ming himself.

Shrek Academy?

That monster academy, located on the outskirts of Soto City, with dilapidated school buildings, scarce resources, and not even a decent Soul Emperor-level teacher.

That alma mater where he graduated with excellent grades, yet he secretly felt unworthy of his current status as a teacher at Tian Dou Royal Academy.

A bitter, self-deprecating smile appeared on Qin Ming's lips.

He is a proud man, deep down.

This pride can be glimpsed from the combination of his spirit rings: yellow, yellow, purple, purple, purple, and black.

It wasn't the optimal combination of two yellow, two purple, and two black rings. The fifth spirit ring, which should have been acquired when he was a Soul King, was merely a deep purple on him.

why?

Because of pride.

Qin Ming's talent is not bad; in fact, it can be said to be exceptional.

Otherwise, it would have been impossible for him to stand out from the rigorous selection process of Shrek Academy, let alone advance to Soul Emperor at a relatively young age by relying on his own efforts and a bit of luck without the support of a powerful background.

After graduation, he did have opportunities to join those major sects and families.

With his talent, he will always find a place that appreciates him.

As long as he is willing to humble himself and offer his loyalty, obtaining a ten-thousand-year fifth spirit ring will not be difficult.

But he refused.

He was unwilling to live under someone else's roof, unwilling to kowtow for resources, and unwilling to let his future be tied to the rise and fall of any power.

He always felt that he could make a name for himself with his own abilities.

He couldn't bring himself to ask Dean Flander and Teacher Zhao Wuji for help.

He knew the academy was poor, and he knew that the two teachers had exhausted themselves to keep the academy afloat. He couldn't bring himself to ask for help, and he didn't want to become a burden to them.

So he chose to become a free spirit master, sought help from mercenaries, and through desperate efforts and scheming, he finally managed to hunt down a spirit beast that was nearly eight thousand years old and obtain the purple fifth spirit ring.

He knew this limited his future, but he gritted his teeth and accepted it, believing that he could always make up for it through hard work.

Later, the Heavenly Dou Royal Academy extended an olive branch to him.

There is a well-established system, abundant resources, and a higher platform there.

More importantly, it didn't require absolute dependence like a sect. He accepted it and saw it as another way to realize his pride.

See, I can get accepted into the top universities and institutions on the mainland without relying on any sect.

With the academy's help, he successfully obtained his first black spirit ring and became a true Soul Emperor.

At that moment, he was full of vigor and felt that his persistence and pride were justified.

But now?

Where does this pride place him?

Shrek Academy... Dean Flander is stingy to the core, the academy is dirt poor, and the best teacher is no more than a Soul Saint like Teacher Zhao Wuji.

If he goes, at most he can help him obtain the seventh spirit ring he needs when he breaks through to the Soul Saint realm in the future.

But what about higher-level spirit rings?

Is the college capable of helping him obtain it?

I'm afraid it will be difficult.

That place couldn't provide him with the resources and vision of the Heavenly Dou Royal Academy, nor could it give him the opportunity to compete with the team in the Continental Elite Tournament and become famous throughout the world.

There were only dilapidated school buildings, rudimentary training grounds, a group of little monsters who might have some talent but had no background, and... a few teachers who, although not top-notch in strength, truly treated him as one of their own.

Our own people...

Qin Ming's heart suddenly ached.

He recalled Dean Flander's disappointed and distant gaze yesterday, and Professor Zhao Wuji's impatient wave of his hand.

Will they still consider themselves one of their own?

In their eyes, my actions yesterday were also a betrayal and a humiliation.