Lin Yi Gets Called Out

Lin Yi doodled a little figure in his notebook, though he rolled his eyes in his heart.

He's started spouting that conservative theory again. If we actually followed his logic, how many powerhouses could the Douluo Continent possibly produce?

Besides, are you sure you've even read the complete data? Internal research reports from the Martial Soul Hall show that a spirit master with a sufficiently strong physique can absorb a six-hundred-year-old first spirit ring without any issues.

Furthermore, every spirit master has a different physique, spirit soul quality, and spirit power purity. How can you possibly apply the same standard to everyone?

As Lin Yi grumbled internally, Xiao Wu, sitting beside him, was already turning bright red from holding back her laughter.

She snuck a glance at Lin Yi, then looked at Yu Xiaogang on the podium—who clearly thought he was being profound—and suddenly found this theory class more interesting than ever before.

Yu Xiaogang swept his gaze over the very quiet classroom and nodded with satisfaction. "It seems everyone is in agreement with my theory."

The classroom was silent.

But if one looked closely, most of the students had faces twisted in suppressed laughter.

Agreement?

This "Grandmaster" is only level twenty-nine himself; he hasn't even seen a third spirit ring. Only this bunch of kids could be fooled by him.

Lin Yi sighed, feeling a sense of helplessness in his heart.

"Pfft!"

Suddenly, a teacher sitting in the back row couldn't hold it in any longer and let out a laugh.

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

Teacher Li quickly waved his hands. "No, no, Grandmaster's theory is very... rigorous."

He paused noticeably when he said "rigorous," his eyes drifting toward Lin Yi's direction.

The others took the opportunity to cover their mouths and giggle, but they quickly composed themselves, staring at Yu Xiaogang on the podium with feigned seriousness, though they were thinking: We may be children, but we aren't being fooled; we're just too afraid to laugh.

Yu Xiaogang frowned, turned around, and wrote "Spirit Skill Selection and Spirit Soul Compatibility" on the blackboard. "Since no one has any questions, let us continue. The choice of spirit skill is of vital importance; it must be highly compatible with the characteristics of your own spirit soul..."

He's started talking nonsense again. Who doesn't know that a spirit skill needs to match the spirit soul?

The question is how to match them? What are the specific criteria?

What are the optimal spirit skill combinations for different spirit souls at different stages? He doesn't mention any of these key points; he just knows how to spout empty words.

Lin Yi couldn't help but yawn.

This class was truly boring.

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

Her eyes were bright and filled with obvious anticipation as she asked.

Lin Yi paused for a moment, then lowered his voice to reply, "It's... it's quite good. The Grandmaster's theory is very systematic."

Though he said this, his heart was a storm of complaints.

Good, my foot. 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 in this academy?

Hearing these inner thoughts, the corners of Xiao Wu's mouth couldn't help but curl upward.

She found this new work-study student increasingly interesting.

In the corner of the classroom, Tang San watched Xiao Wu and Lin Yi whispering to each other, his brow furrowing tighter and tighter.

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

And now, she was even whispering to him during class?

Tang San took a deep breath, deciding he would find Xiao Wu after class to get to the bottom of this.

On the podium, Yu Xiaogang continued his lecture: "According to my research, the optimal direction for a first spirit skill for plant-type spirit souls is entanglement or binding types. For beast spirit souls..."

Here we go again, a classic case of leading students astray.

Plant-type spirit souls are vastly different. Are a Man-eating Flower and Blue Silver Grass the same concept?

Can a healing-type plant and an attack-type plant be treated the same?

How dare he present such a sweeping conclusion? Does he really think the students are all idiots?

Lin Yi couldn't take it anymore and simply slumped over onto his desk.

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

Lin Yi jolted and lifted his head. "Present!"

"I see you are distracted. Are you dissatisfied with my class?" Yu Xiaogang kept a straight face, making his already stiff features look even more bizarre.

Damn it, why is he targeting me? Can't I take a nap if I'm bored?

Besides, I'm not the only one slumped on the desk, am I?

Lin Yi grumbled internally, but on the surface, he answered honestly, "Teacher, I am not dissatisfied."

"Then why were you slumped on the desk just now?" Yu Xiaogang frowned, looking at Lin Yi. "Is my class that boring?"

The entire class held their breath at that question.

Everyone was waiting for Lin Yi's answer—or rather, waiting for his inner voice.

"It's not that," Lin Yi hurriedly shook his head. "I just... didn't sleep well last night."

[Not sleeping well is part of it, but being bored is also the truth.]

[After all, that hard wooden bed in the work-study dormitory is no different from sleeping on a rock.]

[Plus, Wang Sheng in the next bed snores like thunder; it's a miracle I managed to sleep at all.]

Wang Sheng, sitting in the row behind, turned red and lowered his head in embarrassment.

The whole class knew about his snoring, but this was the first time someone had pointed it out so bluntly.

Yu Xiaogang stared at Lin Yi for a few seconds, then suddenly said, "Then, do you remember what I was just lecturing about?"

"I remember," Lin Yi quickly replied. "Teacher was just talking about the first soul skill selection for Plant-type Martial Souls and Beast Martial Souls."

[Talked about nothing, it was all nonsense; I'd be better off figuring it out myself.]

"Then tell me," Yu Xiaogang continued to press, "what direction should a Beast Martial Soul master prioritize for their first soul skill?"

The entire class looked at Lin Yi in unison.

Everyone's eyes held the same meaning: Hurry, say what you really think!

Lin Yi stood up, his mind racing.

[Damn, why did he have to pick me to answer? I just wanted to keep a low profile.]

[But this first soul skill selection for Beast Martial Souls...]

[This question is too broad; a Tiger Martial Soul and a Rabbit Martial Soul can't be the same, right?]

[But according to the original setting, most first soul skills for Beast Martial Souls do indeed enhance one's own attributes: attack-type souls add attack, agility-type souls add speed, defense-type souls add defense...]

[But is saying that too direct? Should I dress it up a bit?]

Lin Yi hesitated for a few seconds before saying, "I believe the first soul skill selection for a Beast Martial Soul master should be decided based on 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 could choose to increase speed..."

He spoke very conservatively, sticking to what was essentially common knowledge.

However, Yu Xiaogang shook his head. "Too general. My research indicates that a Beast Martial Soul master's first soul skill should prioritize long-range attack abilities to compensate for the shortcomings of a melee Martial Soul."

[What kind of theory is that?!]

Lin Yi almost blurted it out, but fortunately, he held it back in time.

But his inner thoughts had already exploded in 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 an amateur do you have to be to suggest that?]

[The advantage of a Beast Martial Soul is melee combat; not strengthening that advantage but instead trying to patch up weaknesses? That's putting the cart before the horse!]

[Besides, many Beast Martial Souls can't even learn long-range skills. Forcibly absorbing mismatched soul rings will, at best, drastically reduce the effectiveness of the soul skill, and at worst, damage the very foundation of the soul.]

[If anyone actually believes this, their life will be ruined.]