Yu Xiaogang Deliberately Holds Lin Xuan Back; Tang Hao: You're Unfit to Be a Teacher!

Seven days of long-distance running with weights and no Soul Power soon passed.

At dawn, eight figures gathered in the open space at the village entrance.

After a week of recovery, Ma Hongjun rejoined the group.

The Soul King-level Healing Soul Master Flender had brought in clearly knew his craft. Ma Hongjun's broken ribs had healed completely, and a short layer of red hair had sprouted from his once-charred scalp.

Ma Hongjun stood at the edge of the group, sneaking glances at the three girls nearby.

He had learned nothing from his beating.

Xiao Wu turned away in disgust and edged half a step behind Lin Xuan.

Ning Rongrong rolled her eyes, waved a hand lightly in front of her nose, and pulled Zhu Zhuqing two meters away.

Zhu Zhuqing kept a blank face and treated Ma Hongjun as if he weren't there.

Ma Hongjun's face turned crimson, and his hands clenched into fists. But the thought of Xiao Wu's deadly Explosive Eight-Stage Fall and the Blazing Fire Lin Xuan could summon at will kept him from making a sound.

He could only shuffle over to Dai Mubai and Oscar.

Dai Mubai patted Ma Hongjun's shoulder and murmured something to him.

Dai Mubai and Oscar had been pushed to the margins, but with Ma Hongjun back, the three naturally formed a group of their own.

The divide within the team had not faded. If anything, it had hardened into two distinct circles.

The morning's physical training ended.

Everyone returned to their rooms to wash up and rest. After lunch, Yu Xiaogang summoned them all to the training ground.

Yu Xiaogang stood before the wooden steps, a Black-Leather Booklet in his hand.

"You each earned a fair number of points in the solo and two-on-two matches these past few days."

"But that's nowhere near enough."

"In the world of Soul Masters, the best test of a team's true strength is a seven-person team battle."

"Tonight, the Suotuo Great Soul Arena has scheduled Shrek's first seven-person team battle."

Yu Xiaogang closed the booklet and swept his gaze over the eight young students before him.

"The team will keep the name Shrek. I finalized tonight's lineup again last night."

"Captain: Dai Mubai."

"Vice-captain and tactical commander: Tang San."

"Primary attacker: Ma Hongjun. Flanking attackers: Zhu Zhuqing and Xiao Wu. Support and logistics: Ning Rongrong and Oscar."

Yu Xiaogang paused before reading out the last name.

"Reserve: Lin Xuan."

The moment he finished, Xiao Wu bristled and jumped out of the line.

"Why?!"

"Lin Xuan is level thirty-five, only two levels below Dai Mubai. His support boosts are strong, and he can even overpower a Battle Soul Elder head-on in close combat. Why is he the reserve?"

Ning Rongrong stepped forward too, plainly furious.

"This lineup makes no sense!"

"Lin Xuan's Talisman Control can boost speed and attacks, and he can throw out ice to control the field. Pair the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda with his Talismans, and the whole team's strength doubles. Why bench one of our strongest fighters?"

Zhu Zhuqing folded her arms and said coldly:

"I don't understand the logic behind this lineup either."

Yu Xiaogang faced the girls' rapid-fire questions with his hands behind his back, unmoving on the steps.

Tang San stood in the middle of the line, his expression troubled as well. He knew exactly how strong Lin Xuan was.

In a seven-person team battle, Lin Xuan would undoubtedly be their most important support. When needed, he could even hold his own against a Battle Soul Master. Even if he could not win, he could buy time.

By putting Lin Xuan on the bench, his teacher was clearly trying to knock him down a peg and curb his standing within the team.

On one side was the teacher who had guided him. On the other was a brother who had stood by him through thick and thin.

Caught between them, Tang San clenched and loosened his hands inside his sleeves, torn with indecision.

On the other side, Dai Mubai lifted his chin.

As far as he was concerned, his level thirty-seven White Tiger Martial Soul made him Shrek's rightful leader.

Lin Xuan and his friends had left him no room to breathe these past few days. Now that Yu Xiaogang had made him captain, things were finally back as they should be.

Lin Xuan stood where he was and gave a cold laugh to himself.

The old fool wants to put me in my place?

Yu Xiaogang raised a hand, signaling Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong to be quiet.

"Xiao Wu, Ning Rongrong, you're looking only at levels and individual strength. You haven't understood how a team is built."

Yu Xiaogang cleared his throat and launched into the explanation he had prepared.

"A mature seven-person team needs Martial Souls that complement one another, not simply a collection of high-level Soul Masters."

"Dai Mubai has the highest Soul Power on the team. His White Tiger Martial Soul has exceptional power to break through enemy formations. He deserves to be captain."

"Little San is a control-type Soul Master. His Blue Silver Grass dictates the pace of the whole battlefield. He is the obvious choice for vice-captain and tactical core."

"Zhu Zhuqing and Xiao Wu will break through on the flanks."

"Ma Hongjun's Evil Fire Phoenix can fly and scorch a wide area from a distance, providing essential fire suppression."

"As for support, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda is recognized across the continent as the strongest support Martial Soul. Its boosts are irreplaceable."

"Oscar's Martial Soul can restore Soul Power and heal injuries. His second soul skill can also remove various toxins at any time. He is the foundation of the team's staying power."

Yu Xiaogang turned toward Lin Xuan, whose expression had not changed.

"Lin Xuan's Martial Soul leans toward versatile Talismans. He can do a little of everything, but his abilities overlap with Ning Rongrong's and Oscar's. He lacks a clear role in a mature tactical system."

"There's nothing wrong with making him a reserve so he can watch the battle and be ready to respond to changing circumstances."

Oscar was delighted to hear it. He was irreplaceable to the team too!

Xiao Wu gritted her teeth.

"No clear role? You're doing this on purpose!"

"Xiao Wu, let it go."

Lin Xuan raised a hand to cut her off and drew the fuming Xiao Wu back to his side.

"If Grandmaster thinks his tactical system is already perfect, I'm happy to take it easy today. Watching from the sidelines suits me fine."

Xiao Wu puffed out her cheeks and muttered:

"Lin Xuan, he's deliberately targeting you..."

"Listen to me."

Lin Xuan gave Xiao Wu's hand a reassuring squeeze, calming her down.

Then he looked up and gave Tang San, who stood nearby caught in the middle, a quiet nod.

Tang San's heart sank when he saw Lin Xuan's reaction.

He knew Lin Xuan too well.

The less Lin Xuan argued, the closer he was to the end of his patience.

Lin Xuan was willing to sit on the bench today only out of respect for their six years of friendship, giving his teacher one last chance to save face.

If his teacher kept this up, the bond they had built as classmates would eventually wear away completely.

Do I really have to choose between my teacher and Lin Xuan?

This... This is too hard.

Seeing Lin Xuan yield, Yu Xiaogang's expression softened.

In his eyes, no matter how outstanding Lin Xuan was among his peers, once he joined Shrek, he still had to follow Yu Xiaogang's tactical direction.

"Good. Putting the team first shows you have the bearing of an excellent Soul Master."

Yu Xiaogang swept out a hand.

"Everyone, pack your equipment. We're heading to the Suotuo Great Soul Arena!"

Dai Mubai strode at the front of the group, full of confidence. Ma Hongjun and Oscar hurried after him.

Xiao Wu, Ning Rongrong, and Zhu Zhuqing deliberately slowed down, staying close to Lin Xuan on either side.

The four fell behind the main group and paid no attention to the three ahead.

Tang San walked in the middle. He glanced back at Lin Xuan, then at his teacher up ahead, his heart heavy.

In the treetop a hundred meters from the training ground, a broad black robe stirred gently in the wind. A tall figure stood motionless in the deep shade of the dense canopy.

Beneath his hood, Tang Hao frowned.

He had watched the entire exchange—from Yu Xiaogang announcing the lineup to his lofty-sounding explanation and Lin Xuan's decision to yield—and heard every word.

Tang Hao looked down at Yu Xiaogang walking at the front, undisguised disgust in his eyes.

A level thirty-five powerhouse who could provide formidable support boosts, fight on the front line, and control enemies would be a team's most valuable asset anywhere.

Yet Yu Xiaogang had benched a talent like that just to assert his pitiful authority as a theorist.

At best, it was rigid thinking. At worst, it was envy of talent and a deliberate attempt to suppress someone he saw as a threat!

Tang Hao snorted inwardly.

Back then, he had let Little San become Yu Xiaogang's disciple because he thought Yu Xiaogang's solid theoretical knowledge could guide a boy with Twin Martial Souls down the right path.

Now it seemed Yu Xiaogang was narrow-minded to the extreme. His own strength had been stuck at level twenty-nine all his life, and he was just as petty when teaching his students.

He had no business calling himself a teacher!

Lin Xuan, by contrast, was neither arrogant nor impatient. He knew when to stand firm and when to yield, and he kept a level head. He was exactly the kind of brother Little San could rely on in the future!