Heh Heh, Teacher Wu, Listen to My Explanation (Seeking Recommendation Tickets, Seeking Follow-up Reads)

"Xu Xiaoyan, I remember you saying your control is stronger at night. Would you mind demonstrating it?" Tang Wulin asked.

Xu Xiaoyan pondered for a moment before saying, "Alright."

After dinner, as the heavy night curtain draped across the sky, the group arrived at a small grove where interlacing leaves cast patches of shadows.

Xie Xie rubbed his hands together, his eyes filled with excitement. Lin Chen gave him a strange look and asked, "Xie Xie, what are you doing?"

Xie Xie was stunned, "Huh? What's wrong, Captain?"

Lin Chen looked at him with a half-smile, "You get so excited the moment we enter a small grove. Are you plotting something weird?"

Xie Xie scratched the back of his head and laughed, "It's nothing, Captain. I'm just feeling really pumped."

Xu Xiaoyan looked up at the night sky dotted with shimmering starlight, then turned to Lin Chen, Gu Yuena, and the others behind her, warning, "I'm starting now."

As soon as she finished speaking, a yellow spirit ring rose slowly from beneath her feet. A slender ice staff appeared in her hand, and Xu Xiaoyan's expression turned serious.

She chanted softly, "Stars in the sky, shining bright, eternal brilliance, peace tonight, grant me your power, my Star Wheel."

Lin Chen rubbed his chin with his fingertips, muttering to himself, I feel like this incantation could be changed to 'Balala Energy'.

No sooner had the thought crossed his mind than a ball of golden light appeared at the tip of Xu Xiaoyan's ice staff, gradually forming a golden light wheel containing a hexagram. The young girl flicked her wrist, and the hexagram flew toward Xie Xie's feet.

Xie Xie: ??? Are you kidding me, sister?

The golden star pattern spread rapidly across the ground, and dense chains of starlight instantly wrapped around Xie Xie's limbs. His entire body froze in place, and even the spirit power circulating within him felt obstructed by an invisible force. The speed at which he could activate his Martial Soul Possession slowed significantly, leaving him to look at Xu Xiaoyan with a helpless expression.

Xu Xiaoyan then explained her Martial Soul to the group. Hearing about its absolute binding nature shocked everyone except Lin Chen.

Curious about what that sensation felt like, Lin Chen lifted his chin and ordered, "Xiaoyan, use it on me once."

Xu Xiaoyan complied, and the hexagram light flew toward Lin Chen. The moment the golden light touched the ground, star lines accompanied by ice chains pinned Lin Chen in place. However, after just one second, he broke free.

Lin Chen flexed his wrists, his brows furrowed slightly, "That feeling... it's actually quite uncomfortable."

The others were stunned by his words. Gu Yuena raised an eyebrow and asked, "Lin Chen, are you just purely curious about the feeling of being restrained?"

Lin Chen looked calm and nodded cleanly, "Yes."

Xie Xie gave a wry smile, "Captain, others would do anything to avoid this, but you're the only one who actively seeks out suffering. The feeling of being restrained is just too awful."

Tang Wulin was lost in thought, his gaze fixed on the ice staff in Xu Xiaoyan's hand, "With this absolute binding skill, our chances of winning against Teacher Wu tomorrow have increased significantly. We should prioritize having Xiaoyan lock down the opponent at the start of the fight, and we can take the opportunity to close in for a heavy attack."

Xu Xiaoyan held her ice staff and smiled faintly, "My control is strongest at night; the effect will be significantly weakened during the day."

Gu Yuena glanced at Lin Chen beside her, a hint of a smile flashing in her eyes. She quietly condensed a small flame at her fingertip and teased, "Lin Chen, since you like being restrained so much, how about I use ice and fire to try it with you again?"

Lin Chen quickly waved his hands in surrender, "Cough, cough, let's skip that. I was just purely curious... just curious."

Xie Xie smacked his lips in regret and sighed, "It's a pity we can't change day into night. Otherwise, with Xiaoyan's control maxed out under the night sky, we could definitely give Teacher Wu a huge surprise tomorrow."

Lin Chen suggested aloud, "Then what are we waiting for? Let's meditate right here, recover to our best state, and then go challenge Teacher Wu. He surely won't refuse."

Hearing this, the four of them agreed and sat down on the spot to meditate.

"Are you sure you want to start now?" Wu Changkong asked, somewhat surprised.

Lin Chen said with a serious face, "Yes, Teacher Wu. Please guide us."

A flash of realization crossed Wu Changkong's eyes. Seeing that Lin Chen already had a plan and the training ground was already closed, Wu Changkong simply took them to the sports field.

Lin Chen felt his backside tighten under Wu Changkong's meaningful gaze; he couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong.

The group stood in their respective formations, having already prepared the tactical coordination they practiced at night, full of anticipation to join forces and surround Wu Changkong.

But once Wu Changkong spoke, everyone present was stunned: "Lin Chen, you will fight the other four alone. I will observe from the sidelines to identify the flaws and weaknesses in your tactics."

Lin Chen was petrified on the spot, his heart in turmoil: No way, Teacher Wu! You can't play like this!

Seeing Lin Chen frozen in place, Wu Changkong said solemnly, "Actual combat is ever-changing. You must be prepared for your opponents to switch at any time."

Gu Yuena cast a sympathetic look at Lin Chen and comforted him via telepathy, "It's okay, Lin Chen. I'll go easy on you."

Lin Chen responded with a bitter smile, "If I had known, I would have let Tang Wulin say it. I guess I have no choice but to accept my fate."

Lin Chen coughed lightly, his expression instantly turning grave and earnest. "Since Teacher Wu has arranged it this way, then come at me. To avoid hurting you, I will only use my first spirit skill throughout the fight."

As he spoke, his Azure Dragon Martial Soul Possession activated. His cyan-glazed eyes transformed into reptilian vertical pupils, and cyan lightning crackled around his body.

Tang Wulin's thousand-year spirit ring lit up as his Blue Silver Grass shot toward Lin Chen's limbs. From the side, Gu Yuena controlled fireballs that tore through the air, bombarding Lin Chen, while Xie Xie prepared for a sneak attack.

In the rear, Xu Xiaoyan stood quietly with her ice staff. Under the night sky, starlight slowly gathered at the tip of the staff. She suppressed the urge to strike, patiently waiting for Lin Chen to reveal an opening while dealing with the onslaught before casting her hexagram to bind him.

Lin Chen's lips curled upward as he thought, Alright, time for me to show off. To capture the bandits, capture the leader first; in a team fight, target the backline. The Thunder Dragon Left Leg Bone skill activated, and his figure turned into a dazzling cyan streak, instantly breaking through the three-pronged attack in the front.

Tang Wulin's Blue Silver Grass and Gu Yuena's fireballs missed completely. Xie Xie, who was waiting for an opportunity to sneak attack, saw his pupils shrink as Lin Chen suddenly appeared in front of Xu Xiaoyan.

Xie Xie's jaw nearly hit the ground, "Captain, are you a Power Attack type or an Agility Attack type? This is too cheap."

Xu Xiaoyan was startled by Lin Chen's sudden appearance and instinctively took half a step back. Wu Changkong, watching from the sidelines, said calmly, "Xu Xiaoyan is out."

Xu Xiaoyan retracted her Martial Soul in frustration and retreated to the sidelines, leaving only Tang Wulin, Gu Yuena, and Xie Xie on the field.

Taking advantage of the moment Lin Chen turned around, Xie Xie's figure flickered as he activated teleportation, quietly closing in from the side to launch a surprise attack on his blind spot.

A faint light flashed from the spirit ring at Lin Chen's feet as he activated his first spirit skill, Thunderous Might, with sixty percent of its power.

Fine, crackling lightning instantly wrapped around Xie Xie's limbs. His whole body went numb, and he let out a miserable cry as he fell straight to the ground, his body twitching uncontrollably, completely losing the ability to continue the fight.

Wu Changkong said indifferently, "Xie Xie is out."

Tang Wulin intended to go head-to-head with Lin Chen using his own physical strength, but Lin Chen was not foolish enough to compete in raw power against the Golden Dragon King.

With a single strike of lightning, Tang Wulin was out.

In the blink of an eye, only Lin Chen and Gu Yuena remained on the field, facing each other.

Lin Chen looked at the graceful young girl opposite him and spoke softly, "Na'er, there are only the two of us left on the field."

A faint smile tugged at the corners of Gu Yuena's lips. "When we clash in a moment, I won't be holding back."

As soon as the words fell, a telepathic message rang out in Gu Yuena's mind: "Na'er, go easy on me later."

Gu Yuena gave a subtle, imperceptible nod. Her palm surged with energy, and a fireball with a gentle temperature drifted lazily through the air toward Lin Chen.

Lin Chen did not defend himself; he feigned an inability to dodge, letting the fireball graze his body before stumbling to the ground and lying flat with practiced ease.

"Ah, I'm out..."

The clumsy acting caused the corner of the cold, arrogant male god's mouth on the sidelines to twitch violently.

Three black lines appeared on his forehead.

Lin Chen was still immersed in his performance, continuing to wail, when he sensed someone approaching. He turned his head to look, and what met his eyes was none other than the visibly exasperated Wu Changkong.

Lin Chen chuckled sheepishly, "That... Teacher Wu, let me explain."