Yu Xiaogang Backed Down (Seeking Reads)

The peaceful days of cultivation were shattered by a sudden commotion.

On this day, the gates of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy welcomed several figures radiating clear hostility and determination.

It was none other than the Golden Iron Triangle—Flender, Yu Xiaogang, and Liu Erlong—leading the Shrek Seven Devils (Dai Mubai, Tang San, Oscar, Ma Hongjun, Zhu Zhuqing, and Ning Rongrong) along with substitute member Tailong, arriving to issue a challenge!

Their goal was clear: win back Xiao Wu!

The news quickly reached the ears of Lin Yi, who was at the training grounds. He was not surprised; given Tang San's personality and the importance he placed on Xiao Wu, he would never let this go. He simply hadn't expected them to choose to show up directly before the Soul Master Academy tournament.

He brought the members of the Imperial Fighting Team and the inseparable Xiao Wu to the plaza in front of the academy gates. As the two sides confronted each other, the atmosphere instantly became tense and ready to snap.

The eyes of the Shrek group first fell upon Xiao Wu, who stood behind Lin Yi with her head lowered, not daring to meet their gazes. Tang San's fists clenched instantly, his nails digging into his palms, his eyes filled with pain and fury. Dai Mubai, Ning Rongrong, and the others also wore expressions of indignation.

"Lin Yi! Give back our academy's Xiao Wu!" Liu Erlong, possessing the most explosive temper, stepped forward and shouted angrily.

The scorching aura of a fire dragon churned around her, revealing the turmoil within her heart.

Flender adjusted his glasses, his tone relatively restrained, though his gaze was sharp: "Teacher Lin Yi, we accept our loss regarding the incident in the Sunset Forest."

"But Xiao Wu is an indispensable member of our Shrek. We have come today hoping to decide her belonging through a fair team soul battle."

"If we win, please let her return with us."

Yu Xiaogang did not speak, but his tightly pursed lips and profound gaze showed that he was the true mastermind behind this operation.

Lin Yi's gaze swept calmly over the Shrek group, lingering for a moment on Tang San, whose face was cold but whose eyes were locked onto Xiao Wu. A faint, mocking arc appeared at the corner of his mouth.

"You want a team soul battle? Fine." He agreed readily, causing the Shrek group to pause in surprise, but then he shifted his tone: "However, the stakes must be equal. If you win, you can take Xiao Wu. But if you lose..."

His gaze slowly swept over Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong, his voice carrying clearly across the entire field: "I want those two, Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong, to leave Shrek and join the Heaven Dou Royal Academy."

"What?!"

The Shrek side erupted in an instant uproar!

Not only were they trying to snatch Xiao Wu, but now they were targeting Zhuqing and Rongrong too?

This Lin Yi was simply insatiable!

A flash of anger crossed Zhu Zhuqing's cold face, and Ning Rongrong was so furious her little face turned red: "In your dreams! I would never join your team."

Dai Mubai and Oscar were even more incensed, nearly rushing forward.

Yu Xiaogang's expression turned incredibly ugly in an instant.

He stared fixedly at Lin Yi, his thoughts racing.

This stake was too ruthless! The importance of Xiao Wu was beyond doubt, but Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong were equally the core of their team!

Zhu Zhuqing was their only agility-type soul master, holding the potential for a Martial Soul Fusion Skill with Dai Mubai, and Ning Rongrong was the descendant of the world's number one support-type, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda! Losing either one would be a fatal blow to the Shrek team!

If they agreed and happened to lose... the Shrek Seven Devils would fall apart, so how could they even talk about participating in the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament?

They would likely struggle even to pass the preliminary rounds!

But if they didn't agree, they wouldn't even have a chance to fight to bring Xiao Wu back...

Immense pressure weighed upon the hearts of the Shrek group. They had originally thought that with their recent grueling training and Tang San's new hidden weapons, they had at least a fifty percent chance of winning Xiao Wu back, but they hadn't expected Lin Yi to be so vicious, aiming directly at their foundation!

Flender and Liu Erlong also looked toward Yu Xiaogang, waiting for his decision.

Yu Xiaogang remained silent for a long time, the veins on his forehead throbbing.

He weighed the pros and cons, and in the end, the rationality of a theoretical master and the consideration for the team's overall interests gained the upper hand.

He could not gamble the future of the entire team on an uncertain result, especially when facing the unfathomable Lin Yi and his Imperial Fighting Team, whose strength had surged.

Although he believed in Tang San, he could not gamble with the core of the team; his goal was to win the Soul Master tournament...

He took a deep breath, as if using all his strength, and spat out the words with difficulty: "...We do not accept this wager."

"Master!"

"Teacher!"

The Shrek group looked at Yu Xiaogang one after another, their eyes filled with unwillingness and disbelief, but seeing the heavy and resolute look in Yu Xiaogang's eyes, they understood that the Master had made the most rational, yet most painful, decision.

Tang San's body trembled violently. He looked at Xiao Wu, who was within reach but could not be brought back, and then at his teacher who had chosen to give up. A heart-wrenching pain and sense of powerlessness nearly swallowed him whole.

Lin Yi was not surprised by this result; he had long expected that Yu Xiaogang would not dare to take such a risk.

He smiled faintly, his tone carrying a hint of mockery: "Since you don't dare to bet, then please return! The Heaven Dou Royal Academy is no place for you to run wild."

"Lin Yi! Just you wait! At the Soul Master tournament, I will surely defeat your team!" Tang San suddenly raised his head, his blood-red eyes locked onto Lin Yi, and issued his vow.

"I shall wait and see." Lin Yi did not care in the slightest.

The Golden Iron Triangle, along with the Shrek group filled with humiliation and resentment, left the Heaven Dou Royal Academy in dejection amidst a stifling atmosphere.

They had failed to bring Xiao Wu back and had instead been outmaneuvered by Lin Yi, dealing a significant blow to their morale.

Watching their departing backs, a complex and indescribable emotion flashed in Xiao Wu's eyes—there was disappointment, guilt toward her companions, but also a trace of... something she herself had not yet realized: bewilderment toward an unknown fate.

After this incident, Lin Yi knew that the conflict with Shrek had completely intensified, and a collision at the Soul Master tournament was inevitable.

The Shrek group would undoubtedly spend these final seven months desperately improving their strength.

He, naturally, would not sit still and wait for death.

"There are seven months left until the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament." Lin Yi turned to the members of the Imperial Fighting Team beside him and said, "During these seven months, I will take Xiao Wu to a secret realm for special training, striving to help her break through to level 40 and add another Soul Ancestor to the team.

The team's daily training will be overseen by Yu Tianheng and Dugu Yan, following the plan I previously established; there must be no slackening."

Although everyone was curious about where Lin Yi was going, no one dared to ask further, and they replied in unison: "Yes, Team Leader!"

Lin Yi's gaze finally landed on Xiao Wu: "Pack your things; we are leaving immediately."

Xiao Wu nodded silently, offering no resistance.