"..."
Tang Wulin and the others couldn't help looking toward Gu Yue. She had fused the elements of ice, fire, and wind.
That magnificent elemental force...
It was so powerful they wanted to fall to their knees!
"The first match is over."
Just then, Lu Li appeared beside them, his calm voice reaching their ears.
"Yes, Teacher Lu Li!"
The group obediently came over. With the boost from her wind element, Gu Yue made an elegant leap and was the first to reach him.
"In the match just now, aside from Gu Yue..."
"...the rest of you performed terribly."
Lu Li first glanced at Gu Yue, then turned his gaze to the boys. His expression was cold as he spoke indifferently.
"..."
Tang Wulin and the others lowered their heads one by one. They knew perfectly well how useless they'd been.
In this battle against the Tyrant Dragon, Gu Yue had accounted for a full 99% of their team's contribution, while the rest of them...
Had barely done a thing.
"In that battle, the only one who helped buy Gu Yue some time was Zhang Yangzi, with his Dark Sky Curtain. As for the rest of you..."
"All I saw was acting."
"One of you nearly bit his teeth to pieces; another went flying, then another, then another. You were even weaker than I'd expected."
Lu Li spoke slowly. Hearing his words, the others felt even more embarrassed. By comparison, Gu Yue, standing beside them with a smile on her face, seemed to shine above the rest.
"Zhang Yangzi did well this time. Keep it up. Now, next..."
"Wulin, let's start with your problem."
"Turning your Blue Silver Grass into vines is the key to becoming more than an ordinary Blue Silver Grass Soul Master. You can use it for control or for attacks, but when faced with someone stronger than you, someone you can't hold back..."
"You can also use it as a way to draw their attention and support your team."
Lu Li looked toward Tang Wulin and spoke calmly.
"Su...support?"
Tang Wulin blinked, clearly not understanding what he meant.
"Wulin, don't listen to him!"
"How could Blue Silver Grass be used for support?"
At that moment, Tang San, inside his mind, was practically furious. Using Blue Silver Grass for support was utterly ridiculous!
The Control System was the best path!
How could it possibly be used for support?
"I thought this kid had the potential to become a god. Turns out he's just a mediocrity, completely useless..."
"Shut up."
A cold look flashed in Tang Wulin's eyes as he listened to Tang San's muttering. His teacher Lu Li was teaching him. What business did this outsider have butting in?
Who said you could speak, Old Tang?
Who did you think you were, acting like you had the right to criticize?
Teacher Lu Li would never harm him. As for that despicable, vile, shameless Old Tang, every disaster in his life had started after he met him!
Tang San: "..."
What an unfilial son! What an unfilial son!
"Your Blue Silver Grass is tougher than most people's, and more than twice as flexible. Its abilities are much more useful to you."
"In a one-on-one fight, you can use Blue Silver Entanglement on a single opponent. In a team battle, whether you're facing one person stronger than you or several..."
"You can disrupt them and draw their attention."
Lu Li had no idea Tang San had already begun to resent him. He continued speaking.
Before Wulin's Blue Silver Grass evolved and gained its royal bloodline, having him focus on control and disruption support was a good choice.
He had considered having Wulin focus on life-based healing, but at this stage, there was hardly any life force in his Martial Soul...
"Blue Silver Has Spirit, everlasting and unceasing."
"Your Blue Silver Grass is excellent. Use it to pull and restrain your opponents in battle, and you'll become an indispensable member of the team. It'll also make your fights much easier. Do you understand?"
"..."
"I understand, Teacher Lu Li."
Lu Li's words left Tang Wulin deeply moved. He understood what his teacher meant.
Just as Lu Li had said, if he'd disrupted the Tyrant Dragon and drawn its fire during the match, his teammates would have had more chances to fight.
That was what Lu Li meant by a disruption-support role.
Compared to Blue Silver Entanglement, which could be cut through in an instant, Teacher Lu Li's suggestion was so much better.
But what moved Tang Wulin most was Lu Li's praise: his Blue Silver Grass was excellent.
How many times had he been mocked for his Martial Soul on the road he'd traveled? When he'd first enrolled at Red Mountain Academy in Aolai City, everyone had called him the Blue Silver Grass kid. Only Big Brother Lu Li was different.
He was the only one who treated him like a genius!
He was different!
He always would be.
Old Tang, you've got a lifetime of learning ahead of you!
"Next, Xie Xie."
"Yes!"
When Lu Li called his name, Xie Xie immediately looked up. His handsome, aloof little face showed he was ready. He'd been waiting for Lu Li's advice!
"Your problem has more to do with your Martial Soul. I can't explain it in just a few words, so I'll speak with you privately when I get the chance."
"For now, you need to seize every opportunity. Wait for Tang Wulin and Zhang Yangzi to disrupt the enemy and control the field. Stay sharp and look for your chance..."
"I believe you can do it."
Lu Li looked at him and spoke slowly.
He couldn't offer the boy much concrete advice, because his weakness was his innate Martial Soul.
A dagger Martial Soul.
It had some dragon attributes, but when facing Xiao Ba, it was countered by the pure, top-tier subspecies bloodline. That made it a disadvantage instead.
Unless they figured out how to make a Martial Soul evolve early, it would be very difficult for Xie Xie to make any major progress at this stage.
"Yes, Teacher Lu Li!"
Xie Xie committed every word to memory. Stay sharp, get faster—he understood!
He also took Lu Li's compliment to heart: he was excellent!
That praise made him feel even more pleased with himself.
"Xiao Feng, like Wulin, you haven't found your place yet. In a team, your Green Shadow Strike actually makes you even better suited to drawing the enemy's attention."
"You have just as much potential to become a master of battlefield control who can carry the whole team. I believe in you."
Lu Li spoke calmly.
"..."
"Yes, Teacher Lu Li! Yes, sir!"
Wei Xiaofeng was so excited he felt as if he'd been injected with adrenaline. He nodded respectfully.
A master of battlefield control!
Teacher Lu Li said he could become a master of controlling the field!
He was a master!
With Lu Li believing in him, he'd make something of himself in this lifetime!
"And Jin Xi, your Bone Dragon King Martial Soul gives you powerful ways to attack. You need to keep up the pressure."
"You may have lost to Xiao Ba, but that wasn't your fault. It was the suppression from a higher-ranked dragon bloodline. You're still one of the strongest Power Attack System Soul Masters among your peers."
"Keep working to improve. Of course, your main problem is your spiritual power. I've read your file. If you don't improve it, you'll regret getting stuck at the Soul Elder level."
Lu Li looked toward Wang Jinxi and spoke slowly.
"Thank you, Teacher. I'll keep working hard..."
Wang Jinxi nodded quietly. He was always so reserved, but after Lu Li's guidance, the unease on his face had already vanished.
"Yangzi, I think you already know your role. Your flying Martial Soul gives you an advantage, and you can control the field. What you need are teammates who work well with you."
"They won't let you down."
"Yes, Teacher!"
Zhang Yangzi nodded with a smile. He'd been worried Teacher Lu Li might blame Jin Xi, but now Jin Xi had even received praise. He couldn't have been happier.
"Gu Yue."
"Hmm?"
At Lu Li's voice, Gu Yue immediately looked at him, a lovely smile already on her face.
Truthfully, this was a rare moment of secret satisfaction for her, the Silver Dragon King. Hehe, Big Brother Lu Li...
Now he'd praise her.
Praise me, praise me, praise me!
She'd been waiting for this moment.
"Wait..."
"Why do I sound like a lovesick puppy?"
Remembering the romance novels she'd read in the human world when she'd taken on Na'er's identity, Gu Yue's expression froze. She instinctively restrained her smile and put on a serious face.
But only for an instant.
The next moment, her smile returned, with an air of absolute certainty:
Of course Lu Li should praise her.
After all, she wanted more than just his praise.
She wanted him, too.
"Hmph..."
Gu Yue gave a soft snort to herself. Someday...she'd make him kneel down and praise her!
Lu Li was different from everyone else.
"..."
Before you continue