Making Up for That Beating

Flender turned to the group of students, already exhausted beyond measure, and said loudly:

"All right! Everyone worked hard on this trip to the Star Dou Great Forest."

"Though the journey was full of twists and turns, we all made it back safely. Three of you even obtained your third Spirit Rings. That is worth celebrating."

"Go back and rest. You have a day off—get some proper sleep!"

"Long live the Headmaster!" Oscar and Ma Hongjun cheered, supporting each other as they ran toward the dormitories.

Tang San supported Grandmaster, casting a cold glance in the direction Ye Liuyun had disappeared before silently leaving as well.

Boys' Dormitory.

Ye Liuyun closed the door. The reason he had always stuck close to Xiao Wu and Tang San was simple.

First, it was for "human presence."

As a Spirit Beast rebuilding its cultivation as a human, the most crucial factor during the Transformation Stage, aside from accumulating Soul Power, was contact with humans.

This was not for some so-called "understanding of human nature," but to remain wrapped in the human presence of human society over a long period.

That would completely conceal his original beastly aura and speed up the fusion of his soul with his human shell.

Second, it was because of the advantage of being a "prophet."

This world was filled with uncertainties.

If he went off alone to cultivate somewhere and happened to encounter a passing Title Douluo, his six-year-old body would not be able to support excessive combat exertion. That would be troublesome.

Staying by Xiao Wu's side was safe, at least until the National Spirit Master Tournament.

But the National Spirit Master Tournament would gather too many powerful experts, so he had no intention of participating.

Ye Liuyun lightly tapped his fingers against his knee, his gaze deep and distant.

"Is it time to leave?"

"I hope the plan can wrap up smoothly."

The next morning.

The sunlight over Shrek Academy's training field was thin and pale.

The one standing at the front today was not the usual crafty headmaster, Flender, but Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang, dressed in black with a stiff expression.

Flender stood off to the side, seemingly intending to step back into a supporting role.

Grandmaster stood with his hands behind his back, his cold gaze sweeping over the group of children known as "little monsters" before he slowly spoke.

His voice was hoarse, carrying an overly deliberate depth:

"Starting today, I will be fully responsible for your training."

"On this continent, those who know me all address me as 'Grandmaster.'"

At that, he slightly raised his chin and let his gaze drift into the distance, as though he were immersed in past glory:

"Headmaster Flender, another Spirit Saint, and I once formed the Golden Iron Triangle, renowned throughout the Spirit Master world. I was the Wisdom Horn."

"Over the years, I have traveled far and wide. Whether it is the archives of Spirit Hall or the secrets of the major clans, I know them all inside and out."

"As for my background..."

Grandmaster paused. A trace of deliberate desolation and pride flashed through his eyes—the expression only a "man with a story" would put on:

"The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan... never mind. Let the past remain in the past."

"But from here on, I will serve as your lead teacher and put you through three months of intensive physical training."

His words were vague yet suggestive, putting on airs to the fullest.

First "Grandmaster," then "Golden Iron Triangle," and now he had dragged in the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, one of the Upper Three Clans.

To this group of teenagers who had barely seen the world, it was incredibly intimidating.

"Wow... so Grandmaster is that amazing!" Oscar's eyes widened, his face full of admiration.

"The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan? No wonder Tang San is so strong. So he has such a famous teacher guiding him!"

Ma Hongjun was equally impressed without really understanding why, completely stunned by all those grand titles.

Even Dai Mubai, usually so proud, now looked at Grandmaster with a few more traces of respect.

Only Ye Liuyun, standing at the back of the group, had drooping eyelids and a listless expression.

He rolled his eyes inwardly.

Tsk.

Wasn't this routine exactly like those "experts" from infomercials in his previous life?

Their titles were always more impressive than the last—some international association, some ancestral secret recipe—yet the medicine they sold was all made from kneaded flour.

He was clearly only level twenty-nine, yet he had packaged himself as some peerless master.

As long as someone was thick-skinned enough and knew how to brag, they really could fool people.

"Ye Liuyun."

At that moment, Grandmaster's voice suddenly turned cold as he called his name.

"Here." Ye Liuyun answered lazily.

Seeing his careless demeanor, disgust and... regret flickered deep within Grandmaster's eyes.

The night before, he had learned from Flender that Ye Liuyun's Soul Power Level was thirty-four.

Yu Xiaogang had been stunned for a full minute.

How could a twelve-year-old child, without the guidance of a famous teacher or the resources of a clan, cultivate faster than Dai Mubai, who had access to top-tier resources, and Tang San, whom he personally taught?

He had thought about it all night and searched through every theory before finally reaching a conclusion he was "certain beyond doubt" about:

It was thanks to Twin Martial Souls.

Ye Liuyun must have cultivated both Martial Spirits at once in pursuit of rapidly raising his Soul Power Level, attaching Spirit Rings to his second Martial Spirit as well!

He had forcibly raised his Soul Power Level through absorbing Spirit Rings.

Only that could explain why he had advanced so quickly.

But precisely because of that, his body could not bear the pressure of Spirit Rings from two Martial Spirits, damaging his foundation and leaving his aura unstable.

Fool! What an absolute fool!

This child was already ruined.

For such petty gains before his eyes, he had thrown away his path to becoming a Title Douluo.

This was the consequence of lacking theoretical guidance!

At that thought, the trace of shock in Grandmaster's heart completely transformed into a sense of superiority.

He looked at Ye Liuyun as though he were a bad student who had scored full marks only by cheating.

Over the past several centuries, a few people with Twin Martial Souls had appeared, but the only one who had survived was his...

In any case, without Yu Xiaogang's guidance, cultivating Twin Martial Souls meant death.

"Since everyone is here, I need to better understand your strength so I can formulate the training plan going forward."

Grandmaster kept his hands behind his back as his gaze swept over the group, finally settling on Dai Mubai.

"Dai Mubai, step forward."

"Yes!" Dai Mubai took a step out, his tiger-like eyes brimming with force.

"Ye Liuyun, step forward."

Grandmaster's voice rang out again.

Ye Liuyun raised an eyebrow and slowly walked out.

"The two of you will fight."

Grandmaster said it expressionlessly.

The moment those words came out, the entire field erupted.

"Grandmaster, isn't that unfair?"

Ning Rongrong could not help speaking up.

"Dai Mubai is a level thirty-seven battle Soul Elder, and his White Tiger is a top-tier beast Martial Spirit. Ye Liuyun is only level thirty-four, and he has a plant-type Martial Spirit. How is he supposed to fight?"

Grandmaster gave Ning Rongrong a cold look:

"Will enemies on the battlefield talk to you about fairness?"

"Besides, since Ye Liuyun was able to survive alone in the forest, he must have exceptional abilities. I am giving him an opportunity to demonstrate them."

Though that was what he said, Grandmaster's calculations were clicking away in his heart.

He knew perfectly well that Ye Liuyun could not possibly defeat Dai Mubai.

A plant-type Martial Spirit was restrained by a Power Attack System beast Martial Spirit, and there was a three-level gap between them.

His script was as follows:

First: have Dai Mubai beat Ye Liuyun badly. It would both crush Ye Liuyun's arrogance and show him the difference between an amateur and a proper force, while also helping Dai Mubai establish his authority.

Second: have Dai Mubai continue challenging the others and rack up victory after victory.

Third: arrange for Tang San to enter last and defeat the exhausted Dai Mubai.

That way, Tang San could rightfully become the soul and captain of this team.

His disciple had to be the captain.

How could that position go to a playboy like Dai Mubai, or a brat like Ye Liuyun who was already ruined?

"Ye Liuyun, do you dare accept?"

Grandmaster looked at Ye Liuyun, a barely noticeable cold smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

"If you are afraid, you can admit defeat. There is no shame in admitting you are inferior to others."

Ye Liuyun looked at Grandmaster's sanctimonious expression, then at Dai Mubai beside him, whose fighting spirit burned as he cracked his knuckles.

He instantly understood what that shabby old bastard was thinking.

Want to use me as a stepping stone?

Paving the way for your precious disciple?

Ye Liuyun smiled.

He stretched lazily and rolled his neck, producing a series of crisp cracks.

"Sure."

"Since Grandmaster wants to see it so badly..."

Ye Liuyun turned around, recalling how Dai Mubai had flirted with Xiao Wu at the Rose Hotel and bullied ordinary people on the day they enrolled.

He crooked a finger at Dai Mubai, the laziness in his eyes instantly turning into a teasing, icy glint:

"Come to think of it, I still owe you a beating. I'll make it up to you today."