"Yu Tianheng specifically said he wanted to see whether your ten-thousand-year fourth ring at thirteen was really as uncanny as the rumors claimed."
After Dugu Yan finished speaking, quite a few people on the training grounds turned their eyes toward Ling Yun.
Naturally, some at Blue Tyrant Academy had heard of the Imperial Fighting Team's reputation. Making it into Heaven Dou Royal Academy's core team was proof of talent and strength in itself, especially when its captain was a young prodigy of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's current generation.
Ling Yun showed no particular reaction. He merely asked, "Were those really his exact words?"
Dugu Yan nodded. "More or less."
"Then go back and tell him this."
Ling Yun thought for a moment, then smiled. "Instead of asking whether I'm uncanny, he should figure out how to explain his loss to his teacher before coming here. Making a special trip to inspect the goods, only to get himself inspected into the ground, would be a little embarrassing."
Dugu Yan raised an eyebrow. "You haven't even asked how strong Yu Tianheng is, and you already think you can win?"
"I just fought a seven-on-one yesterday."
Ling Yun spread his hands. "Hearing there are seven again today, I'm starting to feel pretty fond of that number."
Dai Mubai and the others' faces darkened at once.
Ma Hongjun muttered under his breath, "Do you have to remind us every time?"
"Yes."
Ling Yun answered seriously, "I worked hard for that record. Not publicizing it would be such a waste."
Dugu Bo burst out laughing. He had always appreciated Ling Yun's fearless disposition. As for fights between youngsters, he couldn't be bothered to interfere as long as no one died.
Dugu Yan glanced at the Shrek group. "The seven of you fought him alone yesterday?"
Ma Hongjun promptly shut his mouth. Dai Mubai tipped his head back to stare at the sky, while Oscar suddenly developed a keen interest in the training ground's surface.
Ling Yun nodded. "They did."
"And then?"
"And then Tang San ended up on the bench today."
Dugu Yan froze for a moment. "Tang San? Where is he now, then?"
Ling Yun nodded and waved a hand. "Him? Since becoming a substitute, his main business is observing from the sidelines. In plain terms, he's a cheerleader."
Ning Rongrong snorted with laughter. Even Dugu Yan couldn't keep the corners of her mouth from lifting.
Yu Xiaogang, however, wasn't in the mood for jokes. He was more concerned about the Imperial Battle Team. "If we really are going to have a seven-on-seven exchange match with the Imperial Battle Team, we may need to reconsider the lineup."
The moment Ling Yun heard that, he turned straight toward him.
"Grandmaster."
Yu Xiaogang frowned. "What?"
"The Imperial Battle Team hasn't even walked through the gates yet."
Ling Yun looked astonished. "Are you already planning to fish Tang San off the bench again?"
Yu Xiaogang said gravely, "This is about adjusting our lineup to the opponent. Yu Tianheng's Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon is exceptionally powerful in a head-on fight, the Shi Brothers have outstanding defenses, and Nine Heart Begonia possesses extremely powerful healing abilities."
"Against such a complete lineup, we need an excellent control-type soul master to coordinate the entire field. Little San is undoubtedly better suited."
There was nothing wrong with that analysis, and everyone fell quiet.
Yet Ling Yun smiled after hearing him out.
"Grandmaster, I've noticed you're remarkably consistent whenever you encounter a strong opponent."
"What do you mean?"
"The stronger the other side, the more you want Tang San."
Ling Yun counted on his fingers. "Just yesterday, you said benching him was meant to help him recognize his problems. Today, the moment the Imperial Battle Team's name comes up, you're ready to carry him right back in."
"So the starting lineup I put together as captain is just garbage? You really don't think I'm worth a place at the table."
Yu Xiaogang's expression darkened. "I'm talking about tactical requirements."
"Then let's talk tactics."
Ling Yun pointed at Dugu Yan. "Do I need Tang San to tell me how to deal with Jade Phosphorous Serpent Poison?"
Dugu Yan's face darkened slightly. Why had he suddenly turned her into teaching material?
Ling Yun continued, "Yu Tianheng specializes in power attacks. Dai Mubai can hold him off. The Shi Brothers have strong defenses, so we won't waste time on them. Yu Feng can fly, so Fatty and Water Shuriken will keep him in check."
"As for Nine Heart Begonia..."
Ling Yun smiled. "No matter how powerful the healing is, the person still has to be standing on the field."
Ning Rongrong understood immediately. "Take out Ye Lingling first?"
"Obviously. If we don't take out the support first, what are we keeping her for, New Year?" Ling Yun asked back.
Oscar instinctively took half a step back, suddenly feeling that those words were rather unfriendly toward every support-type soul master.
Yu Xiaogang said, "Breaking through the Imperial Battle Team's protection to reach Nine Heart Begonia isn't as simple as you make it sound."
"Of course it isn't."
Ling Yun looked at him. "That's why I need to practice, instead of swapping Tang San in every time we run into a difficult problem."
"A match is fought by seven people. You can't write 'Tang San' on the answer sheet for every question you encounter."
Although Dugu Bo didn't know the full story, he had caught the drift, and even his gaze toward Yu Xiaogang grew somewhat peculiar.
Yu Xiaogang looked grim, but he couldn't say Ling Yun's argument was entirely unreasonable.
Ling Yun patted the roster. "These seven haven't even mastered their first set of coordinated moves yet. If we swap Tang San in today, then swap someone else in against another team tomorrow, what's the point of having me as captain?"
"Am I just here to sign things?"
At that, Flender nodded. "This time, I agree with Ling Yun."
Yu Xiaogang turned sharply toward him.
Flender pushed up his glasses. "Xiaogang, an exchange match is meant to expose problems in the first place. Since we intend to keep practicing with this lineup, the Imperial Battle Team happens to be an excellent opponent."
"Even losing would be better than discovering our problems during the tournament."
Ling Yun immediately added, "I like what the dean just said."
"You could make a note of it too, Grandmaster. Try studying a theory that doesn't need patching once in a while."
Yu Xiaogang: "..."
Dugu Yan finally lost all restraint and laughed aloud.
She had only heard that Grandmaster had an eccentric personality and a wealth of theories. Today, she discovered that once Ling Yun stood beside him, Grandmaster's most notable trait seemed to become his extraordinarily varied facial expressions.
Dugu Bo waved a hand. "I won't interfere with how your academy arranges things. When does Yanyan's treatment begin?"
"We can start now."
Ling Yun took Dugu Yan to the medicine room nearby.
This treatment wasn't complicated. He only needed to adjust her medication based on her recent condition, continue slowly flushing out the residual toxins in her meridians, and reduce the backlash of the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Poison on her body.
Two hours later, when Dugu Yan emerged again, her entire right arm felt noticeably more relaxed.
She flexed her fingers a few times, delighted surprise growing in her eyes.
"It feels much better than last time."
Dugu Bo nodded, then looked at Ling Yun. "As for the Imperial Battle Team, I'll have Yanyan pass along the message."
"When are we fighting?"
"Qin Ming originally said three days from now."
Dugu Yan picked up the conversation. "But once Yu Tianheng hears you agreed so readily, he probably won't want to wait that long."
Ling Yun grinned. "That eager for a beating?"
"Win first, then talk." Dugu Yan rolled her eyes at him.
Ling Yun saw the two of them out of the academy. Before they left, he didn't forget to remind her, "Tell Yu Tianheng to protect Ye Lingling a little better when he comes."
Dugu Yan stopped in her tracks. "What do you mean?"
"Nothing much."
Ling Yun's smile was perfectly amiable. "Just announcing my target in advance, so he can't accuse me of launching a sneak attack."
Dugu Yan immediately felt the urge to kick him.
But no one expected Yu Tianheng to be even more impatient than they had imagined.
The following afternoon.
They had just assembled on Blue Tyrant Academy's training grounds when a teacher came hurrying over.
"Dean, the people from Heaven Dou Royal Academy are here!"
Everyone looked up together. A group of young people was already approaching from the academy entrance, led by Qin Ming.
The young man at the front was tall and slender, with short black hair and handsome features. A faintly forceful air accompanied his every movement.
Dugu Yan stood beside him.
Even without an introduction, Ling Yun knew who he was.
Yu Tianheng.
He likewise spotted Ling Yun immediately, and their gazes met across the training grounds.
Yu Tianheng spoke first. "You're Ling Yun? I heard you told me to figure out how to explain my loss in advance?"
Ling Yun nodded. "That's right."
Then he glanced at the Imperial Battle Team members behind Yu Tianheng, his gaze finally settling on Ye Lingling. "Everyone's here. Perfect. I'd also like to see whether Nine Heart Begonia can keep up with the healing."
Before you continue