"Everyone, quiet!"
The team's teacher pressed down with his hand, forcibly bringing the situation under control.
"This is an arrangement specifically requested by the higher-ups."
"And Qian Renxue, the young mistress, strongly recommended him. No one has the authority to object."
At the mention of Qian Renxue, the crowd's chatter immediately quieted.
Everyone's faces once again showed utter shock.
Qian Renxue's eye had always been exceptionally discerning. How could she have taken a liking to some kid with only twenty levels of Soul Power?
They didn't know Gu Sheng's identity. Only the higher-ups of Spirit Hall had attended that wedding, and afterward, because of the awakening of Puni's Martial Soul, Qian Daoliu had ordered the information concealed.
Everyone looked Gu Sheng over again, unable to help wondering.
Could this kid have some powerful backing?
Or was there really something extraordinary about him that they didn't know?
Though they had their misgivings, the ironclad rule of the Soul Master World was that strength spoke for itself.
Yan snorted coldly and stepped forward, staring straight at Gu Sheng.
"So what if the young mistress recommended you?"
"In the Soul Master World, strength has always been what matters!"
"I don't buy this backdoor business. If you want to be our captain, you'll have to show us what you can really do!"
Yan challenged him without the slightest courtesy, flames on his body showing signs of catching fire.
Seeing this, the team's teacher immediately felt a headache coming on.
These arrogant geniuses didn't always listen even to him, their teacher.
Getting them to submit to a Soul Grandmaster was indeed asking too much.
Caught in the middle, he was at a loss, with no idea how to resolve things.
Just then, Gu Sheng, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke.
He wasn't angry in the slightest at Yan's provocation.
Instead, he nodded appreciatively and spoke up to help the teacher out.
"You're absolutely right. In the Soul Master World, strength should indeed be what matters."
Gu Sheng looked at Yan, his tone steady and utterly unflustered.
"I understand how you feel. If I were in your shoes, I wouldn't blindly obey someone who seemed weak, either."
"Teacher, you don't need to worry."
Hearing Gu Sheng's understanding words, the team's teacher finally breathed a sigh of relief.
He had been afraid the young master would lose his temper and make the whole situation turn ugly.
Gu Sheng glanced around at the rest of the team and continued, explaining what he had in mind.
"Since none of you are convinced..."
"Then, to win everyone over, we might as well have a match."
"If I win, I'll have earned the captain's position fair and square."
At that, a look of disdain crossed Yan's lips.
He rolled his wrists, his knuckles cracking.
"Not bad, kid. You've got some guts."
"I, Yan, never pick on the weak. I don't want people saying I bullied you."
Yan pointed at the rest of the team.
"Pick any one of us as your opponent. We'll settle this one-on-one."
"If you can last the time it takes for a stick of incense to burn, you win."
The other team members all looked on, eager for a show.
In their eyes, this contest would be a complete, one-sided beatdown.
But Gu Sheng's next words left everyone present utterly dumbfounded.
Gu Sheng stood with his hands behind his back, his posture straight as a pine.
He raised his chin slightly and announced in a calm voice,
"No need to make things so complicated."
"I'll take on all of you at once."
The entire place fell into deathly silence.
The teacher and every team member stared wide-eyed.
They looked at one another, wondering if their ears were playing tricks on them.
A Soul Grandmaster with only twenty levels of Soul Power wanted to take on the Spirit Hall Golden Generation, along with every member of the team?
That was sheer madness!
"Is this kid out of his mind?"
"Does he even know what he's saying?"
After a brief silence, a wave of uproar erupted across the training ground.
The teacher was so anxious that sweat poured down his forehead.
This was someone the young mistress, Qian Renxue, had personally arranged to bring onto the team.
If he got hurt at the hands of these hotheaded youngsters, how could the teacher answer to the higher-ups?
The teacher hurried forward and grabbed Gu Sheng by the arm.
"Gu Sheng, don't be reckless!"
"For your own safety, you should pick just one person to fight."
"Everyone can hold back. There's no need to let this get so out of hand."
The teacher pleaded with him, trying to get things back on track.
But Gu Sheng stubbornly shook his head, unmoved.
"Teacher, if I said I'd fight all of them, I won't go back on my word."
"Please step aside. I know what I'm doing."
Seeing how nonchalant Gu Sheng was, the team members were enraged.
They were top talents, carefully cultivated by Spirit Hall. When had anyone ever treated them with such contempt?
His arrogant attitude was a blatant trampling of their dignity.
"What a big mouth!"
"If he's asking for it, then let's give it to him!"
"Today, we'll teach this ignorant kid a lesson!"
The crowd burned with anger and released their Soul Power one after another.
Powerful waves of Soul Power surged through the training ground, pressing down on everyone around them.
Seeing that there was no way to talk them out of it, the teacher could only withdraw to the side.
The group quickly moved to a dedicated battle arena.
The air between the two sides of the ring was taut with tension.
Yan stood at the front of the group, flames blazing all over him.
Looking at Gu Sheng on the opposite side, he gave one final warning.
"Kid, the match hasn't officially started yet."
"If you're willing to apologize for your arrogance and then get out of here like a good boy..."
"We'll let you off this once."
Yan clenched his fist, flames leaping at his fingertips.
"Otherwise, once we start fighting, you're bound to get a few bruises!"
Faced with this aggressive warning,
Gu Sheng still stood tall, his hands behind his back.
He looked at the others, ready for battle, and shook his head, unconcerned.
"There's no need."
"Go ahead and attack. Give it everything you've got."
At this point, there was no use saying more.
The fight was about to begin.
Hu Liena stood at the back of the group, a sly glint in her eyes.
She immediately activated her Demon Fox Martial Soul.
A pink halo rapidly spread out from her body.
This was her signature ability: Charm.
Hu Liena tried to control Gu Sheng right away and put an end to this farce.
The pink light instantly enveloped Gu Sheng.
He stood perfectly still, his eyes fixed straight ahead.
He seemed to have been completely charmed, making no move to defend himself.
Seeing this, Hu Liena wore a smug expression.
"I thought he'd be capable of something. Turns out he's nothing special."
She gave her teammates a meaningful look, signaling that the control had worked.
Seeing this, the others didn't hesitate in the slightest.
Seizing this fleeting opportunity, they all channeled their Soul Power and attacked Gu Sheng from every direction.
Yan led the charge, his enormous flaming fist tearing through the air as it shot toward Gu Sheng's face.
Brilliant Soul Skills burst into light across the battle arena.
Yet faced with this overwhelming barrage of attacks,
Gu Sheng still stood perfectly motionless.
He didn't even blink, showing no sign of striking back.
The teacher watching from outside the arena saw what was happening.
He slowly raised a hand and, despairing, pressed it to his forehead.
He couldn't help but wail inwardly.
Why hadn't he tried harder to talk the kid out of this?
Before you continue