Beside the First Soul Tool Proving Ground.
Gu Yuejin casually waved a hand, signaling for Huo Yuhao to take the three others aside for some basic teamwork drills.
Watching the four of them walk away, Xu Tianran shifted his gaze back. Though a gentle smile still lingered on his face, his tone grew more serious.
"Director Gu Yue, let's speak frankly."
"The All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Fighting Competition concerns not only the academies' reputations, but also the Empire's glory and even the prestige of the imperial family."
"I went against the objections of many to support your founding of the Martial Soul Department and let you personally select the Reserve Team. That trust comes with a price."
Xu Tianran turned the jade ring on his thumb, his gaze deep and measured.
"What specific tactics do you have in mind for this competition, Director Gu Yue? What makes you think you can beat Shrek Academy?"
Xu Tianran wasn't the only one who wanted to know. Jing Hongchen and Lin Jiayi, standing nearby, were listening intently as well.
After all, this was a problem that had plagued the Sun Moon Empire for thousands of years.
Gu Yuejin remained composed, as if he had expected the question.
"Your Highness, if we want to win, we first need to understand why we lose."
"What makes Shrek strong? They have the most exceptional martial souls on the continent. They have the strange and unpredictable Tang Sect techniques. More importantly, they have a teamwork system that's been passed down for ten thousand years."
"If we go head-to-head with them on their terms and pit our individual strength against theirs, we'll be using our weaknesses against their strengths. We're bound to lose."
Gu Yuejin raised one finger and gave it a gentle wag.
"My approach isn't to imitate them. It's to use our system to strike theirs from an entirely higher dimension."
"What are our strengths? A systematic approach to Soul Tools, the ability to mass-produce them, and devastating strikes from beyond the enemy's range."
He turned toward the students in the field, who were trying to coordinate with one another, and spoke in a steady, authoritative voice.
"In my vision, martial souls are simply a Soul Master's 'sword and shield,' their basic attributes."
"Soul Tools, on the other hand, are a customizable, endlessly stackable 'exoskeleton and arsenal.'"
"What we need to do is combine the two perfectly."
"Take Ma Rulong, for instance. His Great Head Spirit Ape martial soul gives him tremendous explosive power. Pair it with a specialized Instant Thrust Soul Tool, and he can unleash a supersonic 'lightning strike' that leaves his opponents no time to react."
"Then there's Xiao Hongchen. With his talent for Metal Control, a Soul Power Resonance Array would let him function as a fully automated Soul Tool artillery unit all by himself, hitting wherever he aims."
At this, Gu Yuejin paused, a glint flashing in his eyes.
"Of course, the key to all of this is Huo Yuhao."
"His Spiritual Detection Share can link the entire team into a 'Combat Network' with synchronized perception and shared thoughts."
"Within this network, there are no blind spots, no delays, and no need to communicate by speech."
"That's Informationized Warfare."
"Using a system from a whole new era to fight a traditional seven-member squad like Shrek's is like using guns and cannons against swords and spears."
"No matter how strong their martial souls are, this is a Dimensional Strike."
The light in Jing Hongchen's eyes practically blazed as he heard Gu Yuejin's words.
As a Rank 9 Soul Master, he understood all too well just how valuable this theory was. It was exactly the kind of deep integration he'd always wanted to achieve but never managed.
"Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!"
Jing Hongchen couldn't help applauding. "This is the future of Soul Engineers!"
Xu Tianran also clapped his hands and chuckled, his admiration growing stronger.
"What an excellent 'Combat Network.' And what an excellent 'Dimensional Strike.'"
"Director Gu Yue's vision goes beyond ordinary Soul Master combat. It has the makings of a strategy for deploying entire armies."
"I'm looking forward to it even more now."
Just then,
Xu Tianzhen, who had been standing silently to the side, suddenly stepped forward. Her bright eyes were fixed on Gu Yuejin.
"Um... Teacher Gu Yue!"
She raised her hand like an elementary school student answering a question, but her tone carried all the haughtiness and determination of an imperial princess.
"I want to join the Reserve Team too!"
"Hm?"
Xu Tianran froze for a moment, then turned to his younger sister and chuckled. "Tianzhen, don't be ridiculous. Back when I wanted you to come to the academy to study, you refused, saying it would be too exhausting. What's gotten into you today?"
"I'm not being ridiculous!"
Xu Tianzhen puffed out her chest, looking utterly righteous. "I want to bring glory to our country too! I'm part of the Sun Moon Empire, and I want to fight Shrek!"
Her words sounded lofty enough, but the way her eyes kept drifting toward Gu Yuejin gave away her true intentions.
Xu Tianran was perceptive enough to see through his sister at a glance.
That girl... has she fallen for Gu Yuejin?
The thought stirred something in him. He wasn't angry; instead, he saw it as a clever move.
A talent like Gu Yuejin, who wouldn't bend to force or persuasion—if the imperial family could bind him through marriage, or even just an emotional connection...
"Since Tianzhen is so eager..."
Xu Tianran didn't agree outright. Instead, he left the decision to Gu Yuejin. "What do you think, Director Gu Yue? My sister may be a little spoiled, but she has good talent."
Gu Yuejin's gaze settled on Xu Tianzhen.
The Sun Martial Soul.
It was the imperial family's inherited martial soul, a top-tier assault-and-control type with powerful area attacks and disruptive abilities.
She could certainly make up for the team's current lack of area-of-effect firepower.
And besides...
With a princess on the team, applications for funding and rare metals would sail through without a hitch.
This wasn't a princess. She was a walking ATM.
"Fine."
After a brief moment's thought, Gu Yuejin nodded.
"The Sun Martial Soul will make a good addition."
"However..."
He changed tack, his expression turning serious as he looked at Xu Tianzhen.
"There are only soldiers on my team. No princesses."
"It doesn't matter whose sister you are. Once you join my team, you follow my rules and endure the hardships like everyone else."
"If you can't take it and start crying, I'll kick you off the team. Don't expect me to spare you out of respect for His Highness."
"Don't worry!"
Xu Tianzhen agreed at once, a glint of cunning and anticipation in her eyes. "Your Princess isn't afraid of hard work! As long as you can make me stronger!"
If I get to see you every day, a little hardship is nothing.
"Good."
Seeing this, Xu Tianran gave his smiling approval, clearly in an excellent mood.
"Then I'll leave her in your capable hands, Director Gu Yue."
"The imperial family and the academy will provide every resource you need, whether Soul Tools, pills, or rare metals. There's no limit."
"I care only about the results."
"We look forward to seeing this brand-new team shine with the Sun Moon's Light at the competition and wipe away a thousand years of disgrace."
After seeing off Xu Tianran and his party,
Gu Yuejin watched Xu Tianzhen rush into the group like a cheerful little bird and chatter away with Meng Hongchen. He shook his head helplessly.
"Tsk. One more handful to deal with."
But the lineup was more or less in place.
Ma Rulong (frontline tank/assault), Xiao Hongchen (long-range artillery), Meng Hongchen (poisonous crowd control), Xu Tianzhen (Sun Martial Soul area damage), Huo Yuhao (all-purpose support/commander).
Plus the two positions they hadn't filled yet.
Once this team had learned to work together, it would be unbeatable at this point in time.
"The core tactics have to be built around Huo Yuhao's Spiritual Network."
Gu Yuejin watched Huo Yuhao carefully guide his teammates through their coordination drills. A cold smile tugged at his lips.
"Next, it's time to start designing a 'special greeting' for each of Shrek's key members."
"Ma Xiaotao's evil fire, Dai Yueheng's White Tiger, Ling Luochеn's Ice Control..."
"I'll prepare a grand gift for you."
"I hope you won't look too pathetic when you start crying."
Before you continue