Team Battle Prelude, Flender's Scheme

After training at the Soto Great Soul Arena for nearly half a month, Flender gathered all eight students in a lounge at the Great Soul Arena one evening.

Flender adjusted his glasses, wearing his usual crafty merchant's smile, though his gaze was rather serious. "I've seen your recent results in individual and duo matches. Not bad. Especially Ling Yun—you've already earned a Silver Soul Douluo badge and brought fame to Shrek Academy."

Everyone's eyes naturally turned to Ling Yun, whose expression remained calm.

Flender abruptly changed the subject. "However, the world of Soul Masters has never been a stage for lone fighters. True powerhouses are often born from teams with flawless coordination. Therefore, starting from the next match, the eight of you will compete as a whole under the team name 'Shrek Seven Devils' in Seven-on-Seven Team Battles!"

Shrek Seven Devils? Everyone exchanged looks. Weren't there eight of them?

Flender explained, "Team Battles are fought by seven people, so seven of you will take the field each time while one rests. Master and Teacher Zhao will decide the lineup according to the opponents and tactical needs."

Yu Xiaogang took over, a trace of seriousness on his stiff face. "Team Battles differ from individual matches. They emphasize coordination, tactics, and making the most of your strengths while avoiding your weaknesses. I have already analyzed each of your Martial Soul characteristics. Next, I will design several basic tactics for you."

He took out a notebook and began explaining. "Control is the core of a team. Tang San, your Blue Silver Grass possesses exceptionally strong control abilities. You will be the team's control core, responsible for restraining opponents and creating opportunities for your teammates. Dai Mubai, you are Assault Type, so the task of breaking through head-on falls to you. Xiao Wu, you are Agility Type, responsible for cutting into the enemy's rear line, disrupting and eliminating their Support System Soul Masters..."

He assigned a role to each of them one by one. Even Light Spirit Sparrow, responsible for scouting and harassment; Heavy Armor Rhinoceros, the secondary tank; and Shadow, who handled sneak attacks, were given their own assignments.

Finally, his gaze fell on Ling Yun and A Qing. His brows furrowed slightly, as if he found it difficult to decide.

Ling Yun was unquestionably the strongest, the team's trump card. Yet his fighting style was far too independent, requiring almost no coordination. How to integrate him into the team's tactics was a difficult problem. A Qing's Precognitive Spirit Eyes provided a very special form of support, but their uncertainty was too great. Moreover, she herself was extremely fragile and required priority protection.

"Ling Yun, you are the strongest. You will serve as a free agent within the team, deciding your own targets according to the battlefield situation. Your main task will be to defeat the opponent's strongest point or break apart their formation." Yu Xiaogang gave him a rather vague role, effectively granting Ling Yun the greatest degree of autonomy.

"A Qing, stay at the rear of the formation, under Heavy Armor Rhinoceros's protection. Your task is to use your precognitive ability to provide the team with as much warning as possible, especially against sneak attacks by the enemy's Control Type and Agility Type Soul Masters."

This was the most reasonable arrangement for now. Ling Yun did not mind, while A Qing nodded earnestly.

Tang San listened to Yu Xiaogang's tactical arrangements. When he heard Ling Yun being designated a "free agent," practically the core among cores of the team, he felt deeply uncomfortable. He was the Control Type Soul Master and should have been the team's commander and brain, yet now Ling Yun had completely stolen the spotlight.

"Teacher, who will be our opponent in our first Team Battle?" Dai Mubai asked.

A strange smile appeared on Flender's face. "Your first opponent is a strong team. Supervisor Ao personally arranged it. They are one of the most renowned Soul Elder-level teams at the Soto Great Soul Arena—the Imperial Dou Team!"

"The Imperial Dou Team?" Dai Mubai's expression changed. "Aren't they at the Heaven Dou Great Soul Arena? Why have they come to Soto?"

Yu Xiaogang said solemnly, "It is said that they came here to train. Every member of the Imperial Dou Team comes from Heaven Dou Royal Academy. Their captain, Yu Tianheng, is a genius of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, a level thirty-nine Assault Type Battle Soul Elder. Their vice-captain, Dugu Yan, possesses the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Martial Soul. She is a level thirty-eight Control Type Battle Soul Elder and an expert poison user. The other members are formidable as well. Their average level is higher than yours, their Martial Souls are of excellent quality, and they coordinate seamlessly."

Upon hearing of their opponents' background and strength, everyone besides Ling Yun wore grave expressions. Heaven Dou Royal Academy and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan were both names that rang loud throughout the world of Soul Masters.

Flender looked at them and chuckled. "What? Scared? Let me tell you, the stakes for this match aren't small. If you win, each of you will receive one thousand Gold Soul Coins! If you lose, heh, you'll be covering your own meal expenses for the next three months!"

A generous reward brought forth brave men. Hearing about the enormous prize of one thousand Gold Soul Coins, several students from ordinary backgrounds had their eyes light up. Even Tang San was tempted. He was badly short of money to buy Hidden Weapon materials.

Xiao Wu waved her fist. "Don't worry, Dean. We'll definitely win!"

Tang San also took a deep breath, battle intent blazing in his eyes. This is a good chance to prove myself! In a Team Battle, the role of a Control Type Soul Master is crucial! He would show everyone that Tang San was no worse than Ling Yun!

Flender nodded in satisfaction. His gaze casually swept over the calm-faced Ling Yun as he thought to himself, The Imperial Dou Team was a hard enough whetstone. Now let's see what sparks Ling Yun, the sharpest blade, and Tang San, an unpolished jade that needs refining, can create when they collide. Of course, most importantly, he had wagered quite a bit of money on Shrek's victory...

A hard battle carefully arranged by Flender to temper the students—and make a fortune on the side—was about to begin. This Team Battle would also become the starting point of the Shrek Seven Devils' rise to fame.