Facing Ma Xiaotao's indignant scolding, Yu Daoyun calmly withdrew his hand and said, "You lost!"
Ma Xiaotao covered her chest, both embarrassed and furious. "I didn't lose! I was holding back my Evil Fire. If I'd gone all out, you wouldn't have survived. I was letting you win, and you still took liberties with me, you bastard. How infuriating..."
She was genuinely a little angry. She didn't mind men, but to be treated so brazenly—didn't an unmarried young woman deserve some dignity?
Yu Daoyun replied, "I wasn't going all out either. Otherwise, you'd be lying on the ground just like Dai Yueheng."
Ma Xiaotao gave a haughty little snort, secretly rather pleased.
The little guy was pretty interesting. He knew to hold back.
Her teacher had been right. That fellow's explosive power and strength were exceptional. Even if she went all out, she might not be able to beat him.
Such a genius, and he was only a Soul King.
What would happen when he became a Titled Douluo?
Thinking it over, Ma Xiaotao admitted defeat and simply stepped off the platform.
They were all from the same academy. There was no need to fight to the death, especially since she and Yu Daoyun had no grudge between them.
That left Chen Zifeng as the final opponent.
Facing Yu Daoyun, who possessed the Golden Dragon Martial Soul, Chen Zifeng didn't choose to forfeit.
An Inner Court student of Shrek would never forfeit. Geniuses had pride in their bones; even if they couldn't win, they would still fight to the death.
After a fierce contest, Chen Zifeng eventually lost, much to his regret.
The facts spoke for themselves: Chen Zifeng simply wasn't Yu Daoyun's match. No matter how powerful the Soul Chasing Sword was, it couldn't break through the Golden Dragon's defenses. In the end, one punch knocked him out.
After stepping down from the competition platform, Yu Daoyun breathed a sigh of relief.
At last, he no longer had to bear the burden of Shrek's ten thousand years of glory.
Just then, Yan Shaozhe came over and said seriously, "Since you passed the test, the academy will allow you to establish a second team for the tournament. Since you're from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, how about using the name Blue Lightning Academy?"
"Sure."
Yu Daoyun agreed without a second thought.
Yan Shaozhe might be stingy, but he was fairly reliable when it came to getting things done. He had even thought of Blue Lightning Academy, which suited Yu Daoyun perfectly.
After that, Yan Shaozhe organized the second selection round for the official team members and told Yu Daoyun, "Once the Outer Court selection is over, you can choose from among the students who passed."
Yu Daoyun frowned and said gravely, "Can't I choose for myself? Do they have to pass the selection round to compete? What about the support-type Soul Masters?"
Yan Shaozhe fell silent.
To be honest, in the current Continental Advanced Soul Master Tournament, support-type Soul Masters were generally selected from the Inner Court.
The Outer Court's support-type students weren't quite up to standard.
So he could only say, "We'll assign you a support-type Soul Master from the Inner Court."
"I don't want one assigned. I'll choose for myself."
Yu Daoyun rejected the arrangement and continued, "I think having a support-type Soul Master who's best suited to me is what matters most. That's why I want to choose for myself. Don't go back on your word, Dean."
Yan Shaozhe's face clouded over.
Yu Daoyun was still just a child. He had no idea how important the academy's reputation was.
If they paired such a powerful student with a support-type Soul Master from the Outer Court, they probably wouldn't even make it through the round-robin stage.
If something happened to Xiaotao's team, who would shoulder Shrek's burden? Who would carry on its ten thousand years of glory?
Yan Shaozhe could only patiently try to persuade him, hoping Yu Daoyun would follow the academy's arrangements.
Who would have thought that Yu Daoyun wouldn't give Yan Shaozhe an inch? He said bluntly, "If you won't let me pick my own teammates, I won't compete in this tournament. You can go compete yourself, Dean."
"You little..." Yan Shaozhe was left speechless.
Yu Daoyun really was a stubborn mule.
The students who competed carried Shrek's ten thousand years of glory. How could that be treated like a game?
"Shaozhe, step aside!"
Just then, Sea God Pavilion Master Mu En emerged from inside, his voice calm.
All the students saw Mu En and bowed together, calling out, "Greetings, Elder Mu!"
Mu En waved a hand and walked up to Yu Daoyun. He said in a low voice, "Shaozhe, don't treat ten thousand years of glory as so important. Over the years, how many students have been injured for its sake? Some have even died in the arena."
"That glory is like a shackle. We can't keep sinking deeper into it."
Yan Shaozhe immediately looked aggrieved. "Teacher, ten thousand years of glory determines our standing on the continent."
Mu En shook his head. "The students are everything to an academy. If we have no students left, what use is it to cling to ten thousand years of glory? Whoever wants it can have it. If we win the championship, that means we haven't fallen behind. If we don't, that's fine too. Maybe we'll win it back next time."
"Today, I'm making the decision: neither team is to fight for the sake of ten thousand years of glory. You're competing for your own honor and your own future. The academy won't bind you with the shackles of glory."
"As for Daoyun's choice, let him pick his own teammates. Going without one championship may not be a bad thing."
Yan Shaozhe opened his mouth as if to say more, but Mu En immediately overruled him.
As Sea God Pavilion Master, he had the final say.
Whatever Yan Shaozhe wanted to do to protect their ten thousand years of glory could wait until later—unless he became Pavilion Master himself.
Hearing this, Yu Daoyun was delighted.
The old man really was the only one who still had a clear head.
It was a pity he was old, and the respect Yan Shaozhe and Xuan Zi had for him was dwindling by the day.
Afterward, Mu En left the Inner Court's Soul Fighting Zone, leaving Yan Shaozhe standing there alone, utterly dumbfounded.
Yan Shaozhe had never imagined that his teacher would choose to give up their ten thousand years of glory.
A tradition that had endured for ten thousand years, and he was just going to end it?
Yu Daoyun found himself a seat nearby to watch the matches, waiting for the final official team selection round to end.
Just then, Zhang Lexuan came over and pulled her Child Groom into her arms. "You little rascal, you don't even know to sit with your senior sister. I'm not some man-eating monster. Why are you so scared?"
You are... Yu Daoyun wriggled his head out of her embrace and said, "Senior Sister, I'm afraid people will gossip about you behind your back. The academy will be full of rumors."
Zhang Lexuan didn't care in the slightest. She lifted her chin and stroked her Child Groom's head. "Let them gossip. This senior sister is tired. I don't want to bother with any of that anymore. I just want to stay by your side and watch you grow."
"Then... should we meet at the Rose Hotel tonight?" Yu Daoyun asked tentatively.
As soon as the words left his mouth, Zhang Lexuan beat him up.
Zhang Lexuan was so furious she practically howled, raining blows on the fellow who had matured way too fast for his age.
He was so young, and there were plenty of better things he could learn. Instead, he was trying to imitate those old hands from the Inner Court and pick up twins at the Rose Hotel. He was practically asking for a beating.
Yu Daoyun was tough as old leather and didn't fear a beating at all. He just kept burrowing into Zhang Lexuan's arms.
Zhang Lexuan arched an eyebrow. "Call me Mom!"
Yu Daoyun was at a loss.
Why did every girl want to be his mom?
He wasn't Heaven-Defying Tile Junior Disciple!
Before you continue