Tianshui Team

"Auntie will give you a brief introduction." Shui Qingrou handed the list to Bing Yekong. "The qualifiers for the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament are about to begin, and Tianshui Academy needs to form a team to compete. I picked four suitable candidates for you. With Bing'er, and you included, that makes seven people in total. You'll be the captain."

Bing Yekong took the list and quickly scanned the names and Martial Soul information on it.

Xue Wu, an auxiliary-type Soul Exalt. Her Martial Soul was Snowdance Satin, and she excelled at wide-area ice-attribute amplification. Bing Yekong knew her; she was a student in Shui Bing'er's class. She was usually quiet and unassuming, with little presence, but according to Shui Bing'er, her support abilities ranked among the best at Tianshui Academy.

He was naturally familiar with Shui Yue'er. She was an agility attack-type Soul Exalt with the Jade Dolphin Martial Soul, fast and agile.

Yu Hairou, a power attack-type Soul Exalt. Her Martial Soul was the Coral Barracuda. She specialized in direct water-attribute assaults and could summon Coral Barriers for defense and healing. She appeared to be a versatile fighter capable of both offense and defense.

Shen Liuyu, a power attack-type Soul Exalt. Her Martial Soul was the Enamel Fortune Crocodile. She specialized in heavy close-range attacks and was skilled at controlling water to create crashing tidal waves. She stood half a head taller than Bing Yekong, with clearly defined muscles in her arms. One look was enough to tell that she was the sort of fighter who relied on explosive power.

Gu Qingbo, an agility attack-type Soul Exalt. Her Martial Soul was the Azure Swordfish. Her name alone made it clear that she was a speed-type fighter. She had a slender frame, but her long legs were strong and powerful, so her explosive force should not be lacking.

With Shui Bing'er as vice-captain and primary controller, they had exactly enough members for a complete team.

"Captain?" Bing Yekong looked up at Shui Qingrou. "Wouldn't it be more suitable for Sister Bing'er to be captain? She knows the team members better."

Before Shui Qingrou could speak, Shui Bing'er spoke first. "You're more suitable as captain." Her voice was soft, but her tone was certain. "You're the strongest, and your soul skill configuration is also the most suited to being the core. I'll be vice-captain and support you."

The other team members nodded in agreement. Yu Hairou was even more blunt. "We've all heard about Bing Yekong's accomplishments. Two rings with a thousand-year fourth ring, and he can even use a Martial Soul Fusion Skill. If you aren't the captain, who would dare take the position?"

Seeing that no one objected, Bing Yekong stopped refusing and put away the list. "Alright, I'll do it. But since we're a team, having people isn't enough. We need a proper training plan and tactical system. Give me two days, and I'll bring everyone a proposal."

Shui Qingrou nodded in satisfaction. "Then Auntie won't worry too much about it. Discuss it among yourselves. If you need anything, come find me anytime."

Bing Yekong led the other seven people out of the office and found an empty classroom. After sitting down, he spread the list across the table and began sorting through it point by point.

"I'll start by explaining my thoughts." He looked around at the team members present and got straight to the point. "The Martial Souls at Tianshui Academy are primarily water and ice attributes. Our advantage lies in control and slowing. Whether in team battles or one-on-one fights, once the control chain gets going, it's hard for opponents to turn things around. But we also have an obvious weakness."

He paused, his gaze settling on Xue Wu. "We lack explosive power. Ice-attribute control is strong, but we're still missing a core attacker who can decide the battle in one blow. If our opponents have high-resistance defense-type Soul Masters or agility attack-type Soul Masters with strong control-breaking abilities, we could easily end up in the awkward position of being unable to kill them or control them."

Xue Wu nodded lightly. Clearly, she had noticed this problem as well.

"But things are different now." Bing Yekong curled his fingers and tapped the table. "My Heavenly Frost Sword Martial Soul possesses Ultimate Ice, and its explosive power is sufficient. What all of you need to do is fight around me—control, slow, support, and create an environment for me to deal damage. We don't need everyone to become an all-around fighter. As long as we bring our respective strengths to the limit, this lineup can win."

Shui Bing'er was the first to grasp what he meant. "You mean a single-core strategy built around you?"

"Exactly." Bing Yekong gave her an approving look. "Xue Wu's Snowdance Satin can amplify ice attributes over a large area. When the time comes, your ice-attribute control will become stronger, and my bursts will become fiercer. Shui Yue'er and Gu Qingbo, you two agility attackers will be responsible for harassment and kiting, forcing the other side to use their crucial evasion skills or movement soul skills and creating an opportunity for me to kill with one strike. Yu Hairou and Shen Liuyu, you two power attackers will withstand the pressure up front. Hairou, pay attention to healing and defensive support. Liuyu, you'll be responsible for breaking their formation and scattering their positioning."

Shen Liuyu's eyes lit up. "So you want me to be the vanguard who breaks their formation?"

"Right." Bing Yekong nodded. "Your Enamel Fortune Crocodile is large and has strong impact force. Charge straight into the middle of their formation, then Shui Yue'er and Gu Qingbo can cut in from both flanks. As long as they fall into chaos, I'll have enough time to charge up and unleash a fatal strike."

Yu Hairou thought for a moment before raising another question. "What if they have a high-speed kiting lineup? For example, powerful agility attackers paired with controllers, constantly circling us and wearing us down instead of engaging us head-on."

Bing Yekong smiled faintly. "Then we counter them the other way. If they kite, we move forward as a group. Xue Wu keeps the ice-attribute amplification active, while Shui Bing'er uses Ice Seal and her freezing soul skills to keep up the pressure. As long as they dare approach, they'll be slowed down and won't be able to escape. My fourth soul skill combines group control with explosive power. If they dare show themselves, I'll freeze them and clear the field in one wave."

After hearing him out, all seven people fixed their eyes on him. The probing and appraisal in their gazes gradually turned into trust and recognition.

Gu Qingbo was straightforward by nature. Once he finished, she said directly, "Fine. As long as you have a plan, Captain, we'll follow your arrangements."

Bing Yekong did not waste words. He immediately took out paper and pen and began drafting a training plan.

"The first week will be for building coordination. We'll conduct two hours of team practice every afternoon, mainly training positioning and skill coordination. Xue Wu's amplification timing, especially, must be precise." He looked at Xue Wu. "You don't need to release your soul skills frequently. Wait until Sister Bing'er and I are ready to exert force, then activate the amplification and maximize its effect."

Xue Wu silently took note of it and nodded.

"Starting in the second week, we'll add sparring training. I'll ask Auntie Shui to lend us resources from several other academies and find outside teams for friendly matches, so we can adapt to opponents with different styles." Bing Yekong continued writing. "During these matches, I'll deliberately reduce the number of times I take the initiative to attack, so everyone can learn how to fight without the core damage dealer. Once I'm locked down, you all must still be capable of holding the situation together."

He listed everything one point at a time, from positioning to timing, from skill combos to on-the-spot adaptation. Nothing was overlooked, and his thoughts were so clear that he did not seem like someone leading a team for the first time.

As Shui Bing'er watched his serious, focused expression from the side, her gaze softened without her realizing it.