Trying

Before long, Yu Xiaogang left, and Shi Yi did not rush to tell the two girls the news.

It was not until lunchtime, when they stopped training, that Shi Yi slowly told them about it.

Zhu Zhuqing looked at Shi Yi in confusion. "Didn't you say team spirit battles weren't all that useful?"

Shi Yi took out the stack of materials Yu Xiaogang had given him from his Soul Tool and casually handed it over. "How should I put it? It's not like there are no benefits at all. There's naturally no need to face a trash team, but opponents like these are worth trying. Aside from being a little older than you, they're also top-tier geniuses. If you can defeat them, it'll help build your confidence. You'll be more motivated to complete the training ahead, and it can also improve your training state."

"Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon..." Zhu Zhuqing murmured in surprise as she looked at Yu Tianheng's information.

"This team really is impressive. They're all Soul Elders. Aren't you afraid of crushing their confidence?" Zhao Wuji said with a smile.

"Isn't the person Zhuqing has to face a near-perfect match for this team? I feel like this team was tailor-made as a target for Zhuqing. They're also an academy's ace team, and they have a Ghost Leopard soul master with a similar nature. They're just the right amount older, too. If they had a Martial Soul Fusion Skill, the resemblance would be even stronger. Let her test the waters. She can also test herself against Dai Mubai while she's at it. If she can't get past this hurdle, how can she expect to defeat Star Luo Royal Academy?" Shi Yi said with a soft chuckle.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Zhuqing's expression immediately turned serious as she looked over the information in her hand.

"Maybe I shouldn't go. You should go with Zhuqing instead," Ning Rongrong said, her gaze flickering.

Over the past month, Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing had grown close. Ning Rongrong had long since been won over by the spirit Zhu Zhuqing displayed during training.

The more a person lacked something, the more they tended to seek it. Friendship, willpower, focus—these were all things Ning Rongrong lacked, while Zhu Zhuqing embodied them perfectly. That was why Ning Rongrong's attitude toward training had undergone such a drastic change.

Shi Yi smiled faintly. Naturally, he understood Ning Rongrong's intentions. Her refusal to take part in the team spirit battle was clearly because she wanted him to fill her place and help Zhu Zhuqing win.

"When Zhuqing faces those matters in the future, even you, the young lady of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, may not be able to help her. As an ordinary soul master, I won't be able to interfere. I can help her for a while, but not for a lifetime," Shi Yi said calmly.

"But..." Ning Rongrong looked at Shi Yi, unable to find the words.

Zhu Zhuqing looked at Ning Rongrong and said softly, "Rongrong, he's right. If there had truly been another way, I wouldn't have come to Shrek in the first place."

"Let her try. Maybe with you, the young lady, Zhuqing will win? If Zhuqing can't resolve those problems in the future, you, the young lady of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, can just act cute with your two grandfathers. Your grandfather, Bone Douluo, is hailed as the most elusive among Title Douluos. Quietly saving someone without anyone noticing should be easy for him," Shi Yi said with a light laugh.

"That's right. How did I not think of that?"

Ning Rongrong's eyes lit up. Shi Yi was right. As long as she was willing, saving Zhu Zhuqing would be as simple as acting cute with her grandfather.

Zhu Zhuqing looked at Ning Rongrong with a complicated expression. Indeed, after hearing Shi Yi's words, she could not help but feel more at ease. Matters concerning her very fate were sometimes that simple in certain people's eyes. But if she truly chose to do that, then what would all her effort amount to?

Just as Zhu Zhuqing was about to politely refuse, Shi Yi noticed the strange expression on her face. He smiled and looked at her. "Do you feel like the gap in your heart is a little too great? That was how I felt when Rongrong spent two hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins to buy a few words from me. But this is reality. Don't celebrate too early. Even if Rongrong can have someone save you, gaining true freedom will still require your own effort. A living person disappearing, especially one with the Hell Spirit Cat martial soul—Star Luo will investigate to the end. You should understand how seriously every clan values its martial soul. No clan will allow its martial soul to spread outside the family. And the stronger you become, the more determined they will be to hunt you down, until you become so powerful that they cannot afford the price."

Zhu Zhuqing looked at Shi Yi, recalling the pursuit she had faced when she first came to Heaven Dou. Her expression returned to its usual coldness as she said flatly, "I understand that better than you do."

"What's there to fear? At worst, Zhuqing can join the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect," Ning Rongrong said naively.

Shi Yi smiled. "You're thinking too simply. If Zhuqing joined the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, that would be a real disaster. First, Star Luo would suspect the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect of deliberately trying to control Star Luo through her. With the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's power, it would be far too easy to support another White Tiger as a puppet. Second, Heaven Dou, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's close ally, would suspect the sect of colluding with Star Luo, causing it to distance itself from or even guard against the sect. Even if you are the young lady of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and its future sect master, the most you can do is provide Zhuqing with a safe environment to cultivate after saving her, so that she can continue striving on her own."

Zhu Zhuqing nodded as well. Having grown up amid schemes and intrigue, she was far more mature than Ning Rongrong. Her eyes were full of gratitude as she looked at Ning Rongrong. "Thank you, Rongrong. But I still hope to change all of this with my own hands."

Ning Rongrong looked at Zhu Zhuqing and nodded seriously. At that moment, she understood the persistence in the other girl's heart. But as a friend, she would still do everything within her power to help Zhu Zhuqing when it mattered most.

Shi Yi looked at Ning Rongrong and chuckled. "If this teacher of yours runs into danger in the future, remember to come help."

Ning Rongrong rolled her eyes at Shi Yi. "Get lost. What danger could a lousy teacher like you possibly face?"

Shi Yi smiled. "You never know. A talent like me is sought after everywhere. What if someone can't have me and decides to destroy me instead?"

"Pah!" Ning Rongrong spat, wanting to retort, but after thinking it over carefully, it really did seem possible. For a moment, she could not find any reason to argue back.

Shi Yi's talent was excellent. Reaching Title Douluo was only a matter of time, and his martial soul was especially unique. If a Title Douluo were simply considered equivalent to a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, then Little Ant would clearly be able to display the combat power of a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast in the future. Added to that were his extensive theoretical knowledge, passable teaching skills, and delicious cooking. Other than being obsessed with money and having a somewhat nagging mouth, he was also...

At that thought, Ning Rongrong shook her head and silently scolded herself, Ning Rongrong, Ning Rongrong, you're the dignified young lady of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, the sect's greatest genius in a hundred years. What are you even thinking?

"Do you think I'm right?" Shi Yi asked with a grin when he saw that Ning Rongrong had been unable to come up with a response for so long.

"Get lost! Right about what?" Ning Rongrong glared at Shi Yi.

Shi Yi smiled and stopped teasing Ning Rongrong. He said to the two girls, "Then let's leave after lunch. Get some proper rest this afternoon. Team spirit battles usually begin at night."

A trace of anticipation flashed through both girls' eyes.

"Are you really not participating?" Ning Rongrong asked Shi Yi in confusion.

"Do I need to? With Little Ant's build, the strength it can unleash with that kind of mass is several times mine. Even the strength of ordinary high-age thousand-year Soul Beasts is no more than that. If I went into the Great Soul Arena, wouldn't I just be bullying people? What fun would it be if Little Ant smacked them down one by one? Besides, with a little rich girl like you around, why should I bother making money? I can just collect your tuition fees," Shi Yi said indifferently.

"..." Ning Rongrong glared at Shi Yi, but there was nothing she could do about him.

Zhu Zhuqing looked at Shi Yi. She understood Little Ant's strength, but what intrigued her even more was Shi Yi's individual capability. She had always followed Shi Yi's training routine, yet she could never see the limits of his personal strength.

Thinking of this, Zhu Zhuqing looked toward Zhao Wuji, who was not far away, pointed at Shi Yi, and asked, "Teacher Zhao, what level do you think he's at now?"

After finishing his meal, Zhao Wuji lay in a rocking chair. He slowly opened his eyes and said, "This brat? With his martial soul, that turtle you ran into in the Star Dou Great Forest back then probably isn't his match anymore."

Ning Rongrong could not help looking surprised. She pursed her lips in disbelief. "Is that exaggerated?"

"This brat has taken the classic path of pushing a single attribute to the limit. You know the Single Attribute Four Sect Clans, right? He's no different from that old ape. Coupled with the uniqueness of his martial soul, with his exceptional strength and a two-against-one fight, dealing with that turtle shouldn't be a problem. After all, it's only a defense-type soul master and doesn't have much offensive power. Speaking of which, I beat up that old ape's younger brother back then, and that old bastard chased me for ages because of it," Zhao Wuji said, unable to resist complaining as he looked at Shi Yi.

Remembering the Strength Clan's almost shameless protectiveness in the original story, Shi Yi silently gave Zhao Wuji his approval.

After lunch, Shi Yi found a villager to tidy things up, and the three of them set off with Zhao Wuji.

Before long, under Zhao Wuji's lead, the three arrived at a hotel beside the Suotuo Great Soul Arena. There, Shi Yi saw several familiar faces he had not seen in a long time.

"Long time no see, Xiao San," Shi Yi said with a light smile.

Tang San nodded as well. "Long time no see, Senior Disciple Brother."

Seeing the two greet each other, Ning Rongrong could not help rolling her eyes at Shi Yi inwardly. After training together for so many days, she had come to understand that this senior disciple brother was not particularly fond of his junior disciple brother.

What puzzled Ning Rongrong was why Shi Yi still maintained this superficially harmonious, false relationship.

Zhu Zhuqing did not think much of it. Based on what she had learned about Shi Yi during training, she believed everything he did had a deeper purpose.

"Xiao Ao." Shi Yi also greeted Oscar. As for the others, Shi Yi seemed too lazy to even give them another glance.

A trace of envy flashed through Oscar's eyes as he looked at Shi Yi. He nodded slightly. "Xiao Yi."

Xiao Wu did not say anything as she looked at Shi Yi. She had a strange feeling. From the first time she met Shi Yi, he had felt extremely unpleasant to her. She felt that the way he looked at her always carried some other meaning. For one instant, she had even thought Shi Yi knew her true identity, but that was impossible.

At that moment, a figure slowly walked up to Zhu Zhuqing and said gently, "Zhuqing, you're here."

Dai Mubai's tone was gentle, seemingly lacking his usual impatience. He was dressed neatly and appropriately, with a faint orange fragrance wafting from him. Clearly, he had prepared carefully.

Zhu Zhuqing's face remained as cold as ever. She looked at Dai Mubai expressionlessly and said nothing, merely sitting down casually with Ning Rongrong some distance away.

Dai Mubai's fist tightened beneath his sleeve, then slowly relaxed.

Yu Xiaogang, the teacher leading the team, sighed inwardly. He could clearly sense the change in atmosphere. The moment Shi Yi arrived, the mood of the entire team seemed to become subtle.

Everyone sat in the same room, each with their own thoughts. Seeing that no one spoke, Shi Yi yawned and said to Yu Xiaogang, "Teacher, I'm full and a little sleepy. You can discuss tactics with them. I'll get a room and sleep for a while. Just call me when it's time."

Yu Xiaogang secretly breathed a sigh of relief and nodded. Shi Yi then slowly left.

As night fell, the Suotuo Great Soul Arena, located in the bustling center of Suotuo City, became brightly lit once more.

Spectators coming to watch spirit battles streamed in from all directions. From time to time, luxurious carriages could be seen entering the Great Soul Arena through the VIP passage under the protection of attendants.

Those were Nobles or members of major clans. The only spirit battles worthy of their attention were naturally the matches held in the central arena of the Suotuo Great Soul Arena. Just as Shi Yi had said, team spirit battles were merely entertainment performed for noble lords.

Today was the end of the month, and it also happened to be the weekend. The Suotuo Great Soul Arena naturally became the best place for the people of Suotuo to relax. Not only could they watch thrilling spirit battles, they could also place small bets to test their luck and cheer for the soul masters they supported.

After Yu Xiaogang finished arranging the registration and other matters, Shi Yi followed him and sat with the Shrek teachers in the VIP room to watch the matches.

"Ah, teachers, long time no see," Shi Yi said with a smile, greeting the Shrek teachers.

The Shrek teachers all nodded slightly in response.

Flender looked at Yu Xiaogang with concern. "Xiao Gang, they haven't participated in a team spirit battle before, yet you're having them face opponents like this right away. Losing isn't a big deal, but I'm afraid it'll crush these children's spirit."

Yu Xiaogang said flatly, "If we wanted to win, we could just send Xiao Yi in. Winning is not the objective. What matters is what they can learn. If they retreat when faced with difficulty, they will never become true powerhouses."

"If I go in, who gets taken out? I'm not doing something that offends people," Shi Yi said, rolling his eyes at Yu Xiaogang.

Beside them, Zhao Wuji fanned the flames with gleeful malice. "Haven't you offended enough people already? I saw you sneaking peeks plenty of times during training. Now you won't go on stage when asked?"

"Those were sneaking peeks? I was observing their cultivation progress as their teacher," Shi Yi declared righteously.

Yu Xiaogang's face darkened. He coughed awkwardly, then said flatly, "Watch the match."