Drawn Against Tang San

The teachers heard Lin Yi's Heart Voice, exchanged glances, and then nodded.

Want to admit defeat?

Then they would temporarily add a rule for the second round: no surrendering.

They would see what he did then.

Lin Yi had no idea what the teachers were thinking. It was his turn to draw lots.

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

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

Lin Yi nodded and turned to walk off the stage.

However, he had only made it halfway down when he heard Teacher Zhang say, "Tang San, yours is number one as well."

Those words had clearly been spoken deliberately.

The purpose was naturally to tell Lin Yi that his opponent was Tang San.

Lin Yi paused, turned back to look at Tang San, who had just finished drawing, and felt speechless once again.

What the hell?

I can run into Tang San even like this?

Forget it, forget it. I'll just admit defeat. It's not embarrassing for an auxiliary-type Martial Soul to lose to Tang San.

But won't that make me seem too cowardly?

Whatever. Staying alive is what matters. Who knows whether Tang San will take the chance to hit me hard?

When Teacher Zhang announced that Tang San and Lin Yi would be opponents, everyone had been incredibly excited, thinking they were in for a good show.

But after hearing Lin Yi's Heart Voice, they were disappointed again.

Lin Yi wanted to admit defeat. That made things boring.

However, they did not know that their disappointment would only be temporary.

After everyone had finished drawing lots, Teacher Zhang swept his gaze over the crowd, cleared his throat, and said, "Students, after consideration by the academy, a new rule will be added starting from the second round in order to ensure the fairness and entertainment value of the competition: unless you lose the ability to fight, you may not voluntarily admit defeat."

"What?!"

Lin Yi abruptly raised his head and looked at Teacher Zhang in disbelief.

Damn it, they can add rules on the spot?

Why does this feel like it's specifically targeting me?

No, that can't be right. Why would the academy target an ordinary Work-Study Student like me? It must just be a coincidence...

Lin Yi did not think too much about it, but when he saw the students around him all looking pumped up, he could not help complaining inwardly again.

Tang San in particular looked excited.

If he had to describe it, Tang San looked like he could not wait to pin Lin Yi to the ground and grind him into the dirt.

I'm done for. Tang San found his chance to deal with me.

Teacher Zhang coughed and explained, "This is the academy's decision. I hope everyone can understand. The Year-End Competition is, after all, a rare opportunity for real combat experience. Voluntarily admitting defeat would lose the point of training."

He paused before adding, "Of course, if the gap in strength is truly too great, the referee will stop the match in time to ensure everyone's safety."

I can understand that rule.

But if the gap in strength is too great, isn't the gap between Tang San and me great enough?

A Twin Martial Souls Soul Master with both assault and control types against an auxiliary-type like me—isn't that obviously bullying?

What is the academy trying to do?

Lin Yi cursed wildly in his heart, but he could only keep a calm expression on his face.

He looked toward the platform. Director Su was smiling in his direction and even nodded at him.

No matter how he looked at it, that gaze seemed to carry some kind of expectation.

Almost everyone else looked at him as if to say, go on, keep pretending.

Lin Yi took a deep breath and began considering how to lose naturally.

I can't surrender, and I can't expose my strength. Then there's only one way: act weak.

My parents may be unreliable, but they did leave me something good. It can conceal Innate Full Soul Power as Level Three Innate Soul Power.

But that isn't important. What matters is that with Level Three Soul Power, it's normal to lack enough Soul Power when releasing a Martial Soul, right? It's normal to faint too, right?

With that thought, Lin Yi calmed down slightly.

When everyone heard this Heart Voice, they were shocked but also rather helpless.

It really was a case of policies from above being met with countermeasures from below.

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

Moreover, his Heart Voice had revealed that he possessed a treasure that could conceal Soul Power, and that his identity was not ordinary either.

Although everyone had their own guesses about Lin Yi, they outwardly pretended that nothing was amiss.

Until Teacher Zhang's voice rang out and interrupted everyone's thoughts.

"First match of the second round: Number One versus Number One. Lin Yi versus Tang San. Both contestants, please take the stage."

As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Yi and Tang San walked onto the stage.

The two stood only two meters apart and exchanged bows.

Watching this scene from below, everyone could not help feeling somewhat expectant, even though they knew the match would likely be one-sided.

As for Lin Yi, when he looked at Tang San standing across from him, he began complaining inwardly again.

Tang San looks like his eyes are shooting fire. Is that really necessary?

But whatever. I'll follow the plan and pretend I don't have enough Soul Power, then faint on the ground. Let's see what you can do about that.

Lin Yi made up his mind, but his face wore a grave expression, as though he were facing a life-or-death battle.

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

He raised a hand to signal both sides to prepare and shouted, "Begin!"

As soon as he spoke, Tang San did not attack immediately.

He studied Lin Yi and slowly said, "Student Lin, you are an Auxiliary Soul Master. By rights, I should let you make the first move. But since this is a competition, I hope you will give it your all."

Well, isn't that something? Letting me go first? He wants to see what trump cards I have, doesn't he?

Too bad, Tang San. My trump card is that I have no trump cards. Right now, I'm just an ordinary Auxiliary Soul Master.

Lin Yi rolled his eyes inwardly, but he still summoned his Martial Soul with great ceremony. "Student Tang, you jest. I'm auxiliary-type. What offensive methods could I possibly have?"

Tang San did not respond. Instead, he stared intently at Lin Yi's Martial Soul.

It was a fist-sized crystal, faint starlight flowing across its surface. It truly looked like an auxiliary-type Martial Soul.

Seeing the crystal in Lin Yi's hand, which appeared to possess no offensive power whatsoever, he frowned slightly.

Was this Lin Yi's Martial Soul, the Myriad Star Core?

It truly looked like an ordinary auxiliary Martial Soul, perhaps even a useless one.

But why was everyone paying so much attention to Lin Yi?

He truly could not figure it out.

Although he could not understand it, Tang San still made an inviting gesture. "Student Lin, please make your move."

Seeing Tang San's serious expression, Lin Yi complained wildly in his heart.

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

I don't even have a Soul Skill. Other than serving as a flashlight for illumination, what can the Myriad Star Core do right now?

And I'm currently just an auxiliary-type with Level Three Innate Soul Power. My physical condition is only slightly better than an ordinary person's. Compete in stamina against a cheater like you, who has trained Tang Sect internal arts since childhood?

Are you kidding me?

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

He took a deep breath, raised the Myriad Star Core before him with slightly trembling hands, and muttered, "Myriad Star Core, grant me strength."

He looked exactly like a novice Auxiliary Soul Master, filled with reverence for his Martial Soul.