Drew the Same Number as Tang San

The teachers heard Lin Yi's inner voice and exchanged glances, then nodded in unison.

Want to forfeit?

Then they would just add a rule to the second round: no forfeiting allowed.

Let's see what you do then.

Lin Yi was unaware of the teachers' schemes; it was his turn to draw a lot.

He reached into the wooden box, pulled out a numbered ball at random, and handed it to Teacher Zhang without even looking at it.

Teacher Zhang glanced at him and recorded it on the list, "Number one."

Lin Yi nodded and turned to walk off the stage.

However, he had only gone halfway when he heard Teacher Zhang's voice, "Tang San, yours is also number one."

This was clearly said on purpose.

The goal was naturally to let Lin Yi know that his opponent was Tang San.

Lin Yi's footsteps faltered. He looked back at Tang San, who had just finished drawing, and felt speechless once again.

[What the hell?]

[How did I end up matched with Tang San?]

[Forget it, forget it. If I have to forfeit, so be it. Losing to Tang San with an auxiliary-type Martial Soul isn't exactly shameful.]

[But if I do that, won't I look like a total coward?]

[Whatever, saving my skin is more important. Who knows if Tang San will use this chance to play dirty.]

When they first heard Teacher Zhang announce that Tang San and Lin Yi were opponents, everyone was thrilled, thinking they were in for a good show.

But after hearing Lin Yi's inner voice, they were disappointed.

If Lin Yi was going to forfeit, there would be no fun in it.

However, they didn't know that the disappointment was only temporary.

After all the members had finished drawing, Teacher Zhang scanned the crowd, cleared his throat, and said, "Students, after the academy's deliberation, to ensure the fairness and entertainment value of the competition, a new rule has been added starting from the second round: unless you have lost the ability to fight, you are not permitted to forfeit voluntarily."

"What?!"

Lin Yi snapped his head up, looking at Teacher Zhang in disbelief.

[Holy crap, can they really just add rules on the fly like this?]

[Why do I feel like this is targeted at me?]

[No, that can't be right. How could the academy target a regular work-study student like me? It must be a coincidence...]

Lin Yi didn't dwell on it, but when he saw the surrounding students looking as pumped as if they'd been injected with adrenaline, he couldn't help but complain internally.

Especially Tang San—that look in his eyes was pure excitement.

If one had to describe it, it was the kind of excitement that made him want to pin Lin Yi to the ground and rub his face in the dirt.

[I'm done for. Tang San has found his chance to settle the score with me.]

Teacher Zhang coughed and explained, "This is the academy's decision, and I hope everyone understands. After all, the year-end competition is a rare opportunity for practical combat, and forfeiting voluntarily defeats the purpose of the training."

He paused, then added, "Of course, if the disparity in strength is truly too great, the referee will terminate the match in time to ensure safety."

[That rule is understandable, I guess.]

[But 'disparity in strength'? Isn't the gap between me and Tang San already big enough?]

[A Twin Martial Soul with both power-attack and control-type abilities fighting me, an auxiliary-type? Isn't that just blatant bullying?]

[What exactly is the academy trying to do?]

Lin Yi cursed inwardly, but his face remained calm.

He looked toward the podium, where Director Su was smiling in his direction and even gave him a nod.

That look, no matter how he interpreted it, seemed to carry a certain expectation.

As for the others looking at him, they all wore expressions that said, "Keep pretending."

Lin Yi took a deep breath, pondering how to make his loss look natural.

[Can't forfeit, and can't expose my true strength, so there's only one way: play weak.]

[Although my parents are unreliable, they did leave me one good thing: something that can mask my Innate Full Soul Power as only level three.]

[But that's not important. What matters is, with level three soul power, isn't it normal to run out of energy while manifesting a Martial Soul? Fainting or something like that should be normal, right?]

Thinking this, Lin Yi's mood calmed down slightly.

As for the others, hearing this inner voice left them both shocked and helpless.

It really lived up to the saying: "For every policy from above, there is a countermeasure from below."

They knew that even though Lin Yi's Martial Soul was only auxiliary-type, it was definitely not weak.

Furthermore, his inner voice revealed that he possessed a treasure to hide his soul power, and his background was clearly not simple.

Although everyone had their own suspicions about Lin Yi, they all acted as if nothing were out of the ordinary.

It wasn't until Teacher Zhang's voice rang out, interrupting everyone's thoughts.

"The first match of the second round, number one versus number one: Lin Yi versus Tang San. Will both parties please take the stage."

As soon as the words fell, Lin Yi and Tang San walked onto the platform.

The two stood no more than two meters apart, bowing to one another.

The crowd below watched the scene; even though they knew the match might be one-sided, they couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation.

As for Lin Yi, he looked at Tang San standing opposite him, his mind filled with complaints once again.

This Tang San, his eyes are practically spitting fire. Is it really that serious?

Whatever, forget it. I'll just follow the plan: pretend my Innate Soul Power is insufficient and collapse on the ground. Let's see what you do then.

Lin Yi made up his mind, though his face remained solemn, as if he were facing a life-or-death battle.

Teacher Zhang looked helpless, but the procedure had to be followed.

He raised his hand to signal the two to prepare and shouted, "The match begins!"

No sooner had the words been spoken than Tang San refrained from making a move.

He scrutinized Lin Yi and spoke slowly, "Classmate Lin, you are a support-type soul master. By rights, I should let you go first. However, since this is a competition, I hope you will give it your all."

Good grief, he wants me to go first? Is he trying to see what kind of trump cards I have?

Too bad, Tang San. My trump card is that I don't have any; I'm just an ordinary support-type soul master right now.

Lin Yi rolled his eyes internally, but still put on a show as he summoned his martial soul. "Classmate Tang, you jest. I am a support-type; what kind of offensive means could I possibly have?"

Tang San didn't respond to this, instead staring intently at Lin Yi's martial soul.

It was a crystal the size of a fist, its surface shimmering with a faint starlight. It certainly looked like a support-type martial soul.

Seeing the harmless-looking crystal in Lin Yi's hand, he furrowed his brows slightly.

Is this Lin Yi's Myriad Star Core?

It truly looks like an ordinary support-type martial soul, perhaps even a useless one.

But why is everyone so focused on this Lin Yi?

He simply couldn't figure it out.

Though he remained puzzled, Tang San gestured for him to begin. "Classmate Lin, please make your move."

Lin Yi watched Tang San's earnest expression and complained frantically in his mind.

Make a move? What move am I supposed to make?

I don't even have a single soul skill! Right now, the Myriad Star Core is nothing more than a flashlight.

Besides, I'm just a support-type with level three Innate Soul Power. My physical fitness is only slightly better than an ordinary person's. You want me to compete in stamina against a cheater who has been practicing Tang Sect internal arts since childhood?

Are you kidding me?

Lin Yi groaned inwardly, yet he had to maintain his composure on the surface.

He took a deep breath, his hands trembling slightly as he raised the Myriad Star Core before him, muttering, "Myriad Star Core, grant me power."

He looked exactly like a fledgling support-type soul master, full of awe for his own martial soul.