Dai Mubai came before the five of them and put on a serious expression. "You'd better be careful. I didn't expect Teacher Zhao to personally make a move."
"What? Is this Teacher Zhao really that formidable? Could he be a Soul Emperor like that Teacher Li at the entrance?" Xiao Wu asked.
"No." Dai Mubai shook his head.
"If he isn't a Soul Emperor, what's there to be afraid of? If he's only a Soul King, Lin Qing alone can handle him." Xiao Wu spoke confidently, her words carrying clear disdain for Zhao Wuji.
When Ning Rongrong heard that Lin Qing's combat strength could easily deal with a Soul King, a trace of disbelief flashed through her eyes. After all, it was simply too absurd for a Soul Elder to defeat a Soul King alone.
Among those present, aside from Xiao Wu, who knew Lin Qing's true strength, only Zhu Zhuqing knew that Xiao Wu was telling the truth. Aside from Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing was the only one there who had seen Lin Qing finish off a Soul King and several Soul Ancestors with a single slash.
Disdain also flashed through Dai Mubai's eyes. He admitted that Lin Qing was strong, even stronger than himself, but at most he was around the level of a Soul Ancestor. Fighting a Soul King? What a joke.
"Xiao Wu, don't let your guard down. Remember, no matter when it is, never underestimate anyone. Since Little Tiger said this Teacher Zhao isn't a Soul Emperor, then aside from being a Soul King, he could very well be a Soul Sage or even stronger." Seeing Xiao Wu's attitude, Lin Qing rapped her on the head in annoyance.
"Ow, Lin Qing! Keep hitting me! Hit me again and I'll turn stupid!" Xiao Wu said, covering her head.
"A Soul Sage? I've heard of an expert in the Soul Master world who disappeared more than a decade ago. He seemed to be called the Immovable King, and his name was also Zhao Wuji—the same as this Teacher Zhao." Ning Rongrong suddenly recalled information she had heard in her sect. "I heard he somehow provoked Spirit Hall, then escaped from the pursuit of fifteen Soul Emperor experts and one Soul Sage expert from Spirit Hall. Judging by the time, that Immovable King should have become a Soul Sage by now."
"Then is this Teacher Zhao the strongest person in this academy?" Xiao Wu asked.
"No. Teacher Zhao is a level 76 Soul Sage, while the strongest person in our academy is our dean, a level 78 Soul Sage," Dai Mubai explained.
Xiao Wu had originally been worried that there might be a Soul Douluo in the academy who could see through her identity. Upon hearing that the strongest was only a Soul Sage, she immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
"A Soul Sage... not easy to fight, especially a Soul Sage with such strong defenses. We can't break through them." Lin Qing was somewhat irritated. Of course, with his true strength, he could naturally break Zhao Wuji's defenses. But he had to hide his strength now, so there was nothing he could do.
"Alright, let's introduce our Martial Souls and Spirit Skills first so we can arrange our tactics," Tang San interjected.
Seeing Tang San take the initiative to suggest it, Lin Qing did not react much. In a world where personal power reigned supreme, teamwork was practically nonexistent to Lin Qing. Besides, even with his strength concealed, none of these people together were his match.
"I'll go first. Tang San, Martial Soul: Blue Silver Grass. Level 29 Control-type Battle Soul Grandmaster. My first Spirit Skill is Entanglement, which can release Blue Silver Grass vines to bind..."
After that, everyone introduced themselves one by one. Only Lin Qing remained.
"Lin Qing. Martial Soul: Nichirin Blade. Level 33 assault-type Battle Soul Elder. As for my Spirit Skills... how should I put it? They're hard to explain."
"Hard to explain? How are they hard to explain? Isn't your first Spirit Skill that defensive Spirit Skill?" Tang San spoke up at this moment, trying to establish himself as the smart one by pointing out Lin Qing's supposed mistake in choosing his first Spirit Skill, thereby gaining leadership of the team.
But Lin Qing did not care what Tang San was thinking. Instead, he considered whether he should tell them about his Spirit Skills. Forget it. They'll all find out eventually. After pondering for a moment, Lin Qing decided to reveal some details.
"My first Spirit Skill is called Water Breathing. Its effect is to change the color of my blade."
"Change its color?!" Other than Xiao Wu, everyone was shocked by Lin Qing's first Spirit Skill.
"Impossible! Your first Spirit Skill is clearly a defensive Spirit Skill!" Tang San's face was filled with disbelief.
"My first Spirit Skill really does change the color of my blade. But just as its name suggests, after changing the blade's color, it adds a water-element coating to it," Lin Qing said. "And through the water-element coating of my first Spirit Skill, I developed eleven Self-Created Soul Skills."
"My second Spirit Skill is called Mist Breathing. It turns my blade white, then gives it the properties of mist. My third Spirit Skill is called Thunder Breathing. It turns my blade yellow and adds the lightning element to it. I've also developed some Self-Created Soul Skills from the latter two blade forms, just not as many as the first form."
Upon hearing Lin Qing's answer, everyone aside from Xiao Wu was left utterly dumbfounded.
Tang San believed it was simply impossible, because the techniques considered his Self-Created Soul Skills were actually martial arts from his previous life, things that anyone could learn.
But Lin Qing's were genuine Self-Created Soul Skills. Every move he had created was developed according to the characteristics of his Martial Soul, unlike Tang San's techniques, which he had possessed from the start. Tang San simply refused to believe that a native could be smarter than someone who had lived two lives.
Zhu Zhuqing had initially thought Lin Qing's sword techniques were Spirit Skills. She had not expected them all to be Self-Created Soul Skills, giving her an even clearer understanding of Lin Qing's genius.
If it were him, could he help me develop Self-Created Soul Skills too and become stronger? Zhu Zhuqing looked at Lin Qing, and a new glimmer appeared in her eyes.
Ning Rongrong's eyes shone brightly. This is amazing! He's not only handsome, but also incredibly talented—and not just ordinarily talented, either. I have to lure Brother Lin Qing back to my sect! Her resolve only strengthened.
Afterward, Lin Qing gave everyone a detailed explanation of the general effects of all the sword techniques from his three Breathing Styles. There was nothing he could not tell them, since his real trump card was his second Martial Soul. Everything about the Nichirin Blade Martial Soul was ultimately only there to conceal his true power.
"Alright, I've introduced all my Spirit Skills. So, what do you think? What tactics should we arrange?" Lin Qing asked.
"Brother Lin Qing, you're the strongest here, so you should decide," Ning Rongrong said.
Zhu Zhuqing and Xiao Wu also nodded, agreeing with that decision.
Tang San, standing to the side, had just wanted to object, but seeing everyone else agree, he could only reluctantly go along with it. Damn Lin Qing! I should be the one making the tactics! I'm obviously the wisest among us!
Lin Qing ignored what Tang San was thinking and began arranging everyone's roles. "Alright. When the time comes, I'll launch a frontal assault. Rongrong, can I call you that?"
"Of course, Brother Lin Qing. Then can I call you Brother Xiao Qing?"
"Of course." Lin Qing nodded, then continued. "Rongrong, you only need to boost us at the right moment. Xiao Wu, you'll protect Rongrong. Zhu Qing, look for opportunities to harass him from the flank. As for Tang San, you'll control the field and be ready to support Zhu Qing at any time."
Everyone was satisfied with this arrangement. Even Tang San could not find any fault with it.
Before you continue