Lin Yi Is Called On

Lin Yi drew a little figure in his notebook, but inwardly rolled his eyes.

He's starting to peddle that conservative theory again. If everyone followed his approach, how many strong Soul Masters could Douluo Continent produce?

Besides, are you sure you've even read the complete materials? Spirit Hall's internal research reports show that Soul Masters with sufficiently strong physiques can absorb a six-hundred-year Soul Ring as their first ring without any problem.

And every Soul Master differs in physical constitution, Martial Soul quality, and Soul Power purity. How can the same standard be applied to all of them?

As Lin Yi grumbled inwardly, Xiao Wu, seated beside him, was already holding back laughter until her little face turned red.

She sneaked a glance at Lin Yi, then looked at Yu Xiaogang on the podium, who considered himself profound, and suddenly found this theory class more entertaining than ever.

Yu Xiaogang swept his gaze over the unusually quiet class and nodded in satisfaction. "It seems everyone agrees with my theory."

The classroom was silent.

But on closer inspection, most of them were struggling not to laugh.

Agrees?

This Grandmaster is only level twenty-nine himself. He hasn't even seen a Third Soul Ring. Only a bunch of children would be fooled by him.

Lin Yi sighed inwardly, feeling somewhat helpless.

"Pfft!"

Suddenly, a teacher seated in the back row finally failed to hold it in and laughed out loud.

Yu Xiaogang's face darkened as he turned to the teacher. "Teacher Li, do you have a different opinion?"

Teacher Li quickly waved his hands. "No, no. The Grandmaster's theories are very... rigorous."

When he said "rigorous," he clearly paused, and his eyes even drifted toward Lin Yi.

The others took the chance to cover their mouths and snicker, but they quickly composed themselves and stared earnestly at Yu Xiaogang on the podium. Inwardly, they were all thinking, We may be children, but we haven't been fooled. We just don't dare laugh.

Yu Xiaogang frowned, turned around, and wrote "Soul Skill Selection and Martial Soul Compatibility" on the blackboard. "Since no one has any questions, let's continue. The selection of Soul Skills is of the utmost importance and must closely match the characteristics of one's Martial Soul..."

He's spouting nonsense again. Who doesn't know that Soul Skills need to match the Martial Soul?

The question is, how do they match? What are the specific criteria?

What are the optimal Soul Skill combinations for different Martial Souls at different stages? He doesn't mention any of these crucial points. He only knows how to spout empty nonsense.

Lin Yi could not help yawning.

This class was truly too boring.

Xiao Wu noticed his movement and quietly leaned closer. "Lin Yi, what do you think of the Grandmaster's lecture?"

As she asked, her eyes sparkled with obvious anticipation.

Lin Yi froze for a moment, then lowered his voice. "It's... it's quite good. The Grandmaster's theories are very systematic."

Though he said that aloud, he was complaining furiously inside.

Good my ass. It's more like systematically misleading people. But I can't say that out loud. If I offend the Grandmaster, how am I supposed to survive at the academy afterward?

Hearing his Heart Voice, Xiao Wu could not stop the corners of her mouth from curling upward.

She found this new Work-Study Student increasingly interesting.

In the corner of the classroom, Tang San watched Xiao Wu whispering with Lin Yi, and his brows drew tighter and tighter.

Ever since the cafeteria, Xiao Wu's attitude toward Lin Yi had been unusual.

And now she was even whispering to him during class?

Tang San took a deep breath and decided that after class, he would ask Xiao Wu what was going on.

On the podium, Yu Xiaogang continued his lecture. "According to my research, the best direction for a plant-type Martial Soul's first Soul Skill is Entangle or a restraint-type ability, while beast Martial Souls..."

Here we go again. A classic case of misleading students.

Plant-type Martial Souls vary enormously. Are a man-eating flower and Blue Silver Grass even the same concept?

Can healing-type plants and attack-type plants be treated the same way?

He dares present such broad conclusions? Does he really think all the students are idiots?

Lin Yi truly could not listen any longer and simply lay down on his desk.

Just then, Yu Xiaogang suddenly called on him. "Student Lin Yi."

Lin Yi jolted upright. "Here!"

"I see you're distracted. Are you dissatisfied with my class?" Yu Xiaogang asked with a stern face, making his already stiff expression look even stranger.

Damn it, why has he singled me out? Can't I take a nap just because I'm bored?

And I'm not the only one lying on my desk, am I?

Lin Yi complained inwardly, but outwardly answered obediently, "Teacher, I'm not dissatisfied."

"Then why were you lying on your desk just now?" Yu Xiaogang frowned at Lin Yi. "Is my class really that boring?"

That question made the entire class hold its breath.

Everyone was waiting for Lin Yi's answer—or rather, his Heart Voice.

"No." Lin Yi hurriedly shook his head. "I just... didn't sleep well last night."

Not sleeping well was part of it, but the boredom was real too.

After all, the hard plank beds in the Work-Study Student Dormitory are no different from sleeping on rocks.

And Wang Sheng in the bed next to mine snores like thunder. Being able to fall asleep at all is a miracle.

Wang Sheng, seated in the row behind him, blushed and lowered his head awkwardly.

Everyone in the class knew that he snored, but this was the first time anyone had said it so bluntly.

Yu Xiaogang stared at Lin Yi for several seconds before suddenly asking, "Do you still remember what I just taught?"

"I do," Lin Yi quickly replied. "Teacher just discussed the first Soul Skill choices for plant-type Martial Souls and beast Martial Souls."

What a load of nothing. It was all nonsense. I'd be better off figuring it out myself.

"Then tell me," Yu Xiaogang pressed on. "What direction should a beast Martial Soul Soul Master prioritize for their first Soul Skill?"

The entire class turned to look at Lin Yi in unison.

Their eyes all conveyed the same message: Hurry, say what you really think!

Lin Yi stood up, his mind racing.

Damn it, why am I the one answering? I clearly just want to keep a low profile.

But the choice of a beast Martial Soul's first Soul Skill...

This question is way too broad. Can a tiger Martial Soul and a rabbit Martial Soul be the same?

But according to the original setting, most beast Martial Souls really do use their first Soul Skill to enhance their own attributes. Attack-type Martial Souls boost attack, agility-type Martial Souls boost speed, defense-type Martial Souls boost defense...

But would that be too direct? Should I dress it up a little?

After hesitating for several seconds, Lin Yi said, "I think a beast Martial Soul Soul Master's first Soul Skill should be chosen according to the specific characteristics of the Martial Soul. For example, a power attack-type beast Martial Soul could choose to enhance attack power, while an agility attack-type one could choose to increase speed..."

He spoke very cautiously, saying things that were practically common knowledge.

Yet Yu Xiaogang shook his head. "Too broad. My research shows that a beast Martial Soul Soul Master's first Soul Skill should prioritize long-range attack abilities to compensate for the shortcomings of close-combat Martial Souls."

What kind of nonsense is that?!

Lin Yi nearly blurted it out, but fortunately held himself back in time.

But his Heart Voice had already exploded through the classroom like a bomb.

Long-range attack abilities? Make a White Tiger Martial Soul learn to breathe fire? Make a Soft Bone Rabbit learn to throw darts?

How much of a layman would someone have to be to make such a suggestion?

The advantage of beast Martial Souls is close combat. Instead of strengthening that advantage with the first Soul Skill, he wants to compensate for a weakness? Isn't that putting the cart before the horse?!

And many beast Martial Souls simply can't learn long-range abilities. Forcibly absorbing an incompatible Soul Ring could, at best, greatly reduce the Soul Skill's effectiveness and, at worst, damage one's foundation.

If anyone actually believed this, they'd ruin their whole life.