Flender's expression also grew serious. "Listen up, everyone, this isn't a joke. Once the names are submitted, the people who will represent the academy in the Soul Master Tournament going forward will be chosen from right here."
Ma Hongjun had just bottled up a bellyful of righteous satisfaction, and he was the first to speak now. "Then what is there to choose? Wasn't the second match just now clear enough? Who can fight and who leads the team-hasn't that already been laid bare?"
As he finished speaking, he even deliberately glanced over toward Tang San, not bothering to hide his meaning at all.
Tang San's expression immediately darkened by several degrees.
Yu Xiaogang frowned on the spot. "You want to exclude Xiao San from the core based on a single internal spar? Are you people simplifying the Soul Master Tournament too much?"
Zhao Wuji laughed as soon as he heard that. "Xiao Gang, do you have to weld the word 'core' to Tang San's forehead? No one was blind to how his team lost just now."
"That was a temporary team!" Yu Xiaogang's voice suddenly spiked. "How many days had those six people coordinated with Xiao San? When it actually comes to the Soul Master Tournament, Xiao San has coordinated with Dai Mubai and the rest for so long. His crowd control and command abilities simply cannot be compared to that temporary team!"
Ling Yun had been leaning against the side listening for a long time, and he finally couldn't help laughing. "Master, your line of reasoning is truly fucking invincible. If they win, it's because Tang San led them well; if they lose, it's because the teammates weren't up to par. By your reckoning, he'll never lose in his entire life, won't he?"
Yu Xiaogang's face was already swollen, and now being blocked like this made it look even uglier. "I am speaking the truth!"
"The truth is that you just lost." Ling Yun didn't indulge him at all. "Don't keep talking to me about ifs, maybes, or giving it another month. Once you actually get on the Soul Master Tournament stage, can the opponents stop when they're beating you and ask, 'Master, do you need another half year to practice?'"
Just as Yu Xiaogang wanted to speak, Flender had already tapped the table. "Alright, figure things out before you start arguing. This form isn't just for submitting seven people; there are also substitute slots."
Only then did everyone look down at the bottom of the registration form again.
There were quite a few people who could be registered, but there were still only seven who could actually step onto the arena stage for every match.
After looking it over, Ling Yun immediately felt there was nothing left to argue about. "That's even simpler. Write down everyone who can be used, and when it's time to actually fight, whoever is suitable will go up."
Yu Xiaogang immediately asked, "Who decides who goes up?"
As soon as these words came out, the atmosphere shifted instantly.
What they had been arguing about just a moment ago was names.
What they were arguing about now was the real deal.
Whoever held the lineup arrangement rights was the person who truly called the shots for this team.
Yu Xiaogang had obviously been waiting for this question for a long time, and he said directly, "I suggest that for every match, I formulate the tactics based on the opponents, Xiao San takes charge of on-field command, and the lineup is arranged according to the tactics. That's the most stable way."
The look in Ling Yun's eyes toward him changed completely. "Master, the marks on your face haven't even faded yet, and you're starting to dream again?"
Zhao Wuji couldn't hold back a laugh.
Yu Xiaogang's face turned iron-blue. "Ling Yun! The Soul Master Tournament is not a place for you to show off personal bravado!"
"Then it's even less your turn to act like the head coach here-you, the one who just led the team to a loss." Ling Yun pointed at himself. "Who is the captain?"
Yu Xiaogang's lips moved, because the captain of the main team had long since been decided.
Flender could only nod. "According to the arrangements previously decided by the academy, the captain of the main team is indeed Ling Yun."
"Then aren't we done here?" Ling Yun pulled the registration form right in front of him. "You guys can give opinions, and anyone who thinks there's a problem anywhere can speak up, but as for which of the final seven go up, I have the final say. If you have to have seven or eight people making decisions together for a single match, then there's no point in fighting at all. By the time you finish discussing, the other side will have gone home to eat."
Dai Mubai was the first to speak. "I have no objections. The captain should have final decision-making power in the first place."
Zhu Zhuqing nodded. Ning Rongrong and Oscar likewise raised no objections, and Ma Hongjun looked as though he couldn't wait to shove the pen directly into Ling Yun's hand on the spot.
Xiao Wu glanced at Tang San, clearly somewhat worried, but she didn't stand out to argue stubbornly either. She had been present for the entire second match, and no one could open their eyes and talk nonsense about who won and who lost.
Tang San never spoke a word, but his mood was far from as calm as it appeared on the surface.
Ever since the Shrek Seven Devils truly formed, whenever there was a match, how to fight, and who was in charge of what, everyone would almost subconsciously look to him.
Yet ever since Ling Yun arrived, everything had changed: first the captaincy, then training rights, and now even who could take the field during the actual Soul Master Tournament had fallen into Ling Yun's hands.
What made Tang San feel even more uncomfortable was that Dai Mubai and the others had accepted it so quickly, as if that Shrek Seven Devils team that used to revolve around him was bit by bit turning into Ling Yun's team.
As for the things Ling Yun had said just a moment ago, Tang San didn't feel a shred of extra goodwill toward him because of them. Things like "whoever is suitable goes up" and "competing for a position based on performance" sounded pretty enough, but in Tang San's view, it all boiled down to the fact that Ling Yun had won, which was why he now had the qualification to stand here and say those things.
So-called rules were always set by the winners.
Today he had lost, and his position had been taken away by Ling Yun; he accepted that.
Yet admitting defeat did not mean acknowledging Ling Yun.
And it certainly didn't mean he was willing to stand behind Ling Yun forever from now on.
The Soul Master Tournament had only just begun. With so many academies and so many truly powerful soul master teams ahead of him, Ling Yun would inevitably encounter opponents he couldn't handle, and when that time came, he would personally take back the position that belonged to him.
Tang San finally spoke. "Write my name down."
Ling Yun raised his eyes to look at him. "Of course I'm writing it. You aren't actually too useless to use."
That sentence sounded like praise, but Tang San's gaze grew even colder. "I am not here to be your substitute."
The training ground instantly grew much quieter.
Ling Yun looked at him.
Tang San didn't look away either. "I lost today, so you arrange the lineup-I have nothing to say. But the Soul Master Tournament hasn't been fought yet, and I will prove who is more suited to command this team."
Hearing this, Yu Xiaogang's expression finally became much more comfortable. "Xiao San, that's right. A single failure doesn't count for anything; the real match is only just beginning."
Ling Yun, however, smiled. "Fine then, grab it if you want. As long as you have the ability, never mind command-I'll even give you the captaincy."
Just as Tang San was about to speak, Ling Yun added another sentence. "But let's get one thing straight first: don't go crying to Master about unfamiliar teammates, insufficient preparation, or needing another month the moment you lose. Once you actually reach the tournament, no one's going to accompany you for a makeup exam."
Tang San didn't speak again, simply locking those words away tightly in his mind. He would let Ling Yun know that next time, no excuses would be needed.
Seeing that the two sides had finally stopped arguing, Liu Erlong directly picked up the pen and slammed it down on the table. "Then write the roster! If anyone else utters a single word of nonsense, this old lady will cross their name off first!"
This time it really grew quiet.
Ling Yun, Dai Mubai, Zhu Zhuqing, Xiao Wu, Ma Hongjun, Ning Rongrong, Oscar, and naturally Tang San were all written in, along with Tai Long, Huang Yuan, Jing Ling, and Jiang Zhu as substitutes. The entire tournament roster was quickly finalized.
Flender checked it over carefully, finally signed his name, and put the registration form away properly. "The roster is just a qualification, it doesn't mean anyone gets to be a permanent starter. During the tournament, Ling Yun is responsible for the lineup. If any of you are dissatisfied, beat your value fiercely into the matches."
Hearing those words, Tang San slowly tightened his fingers into a fist.
That very evening, the registration form was officially sent off.
Early the next morning, when everyone arrived outside the Heaven Dou Great Soul Arena, even though they had already participated in quite a few soul fights, they were still heavily battered by the scene before their eyes.
Looking out as far as the eye could see, there were people everywhere.
The perimeter of the Great Soul Arena was packed almost solid, the banners of various academies fluttering above the crowd, shouts, cheers, and discussions blending together into a cacophony that numbed the ears from far away.
Ma Hongjun stood at the entrance for a long time, unable to hold back a swallow of saliva. "Damn it, compared to this, the crowd at the old soul fighting arena felt like a village gate brawl."
Dai Mubai also put away his usual casual demeanor.
Because today, the moment they stepped through this entrance, the people they faced would no longer be academy teachers, familiar students, or ordinary spectators.
The entire Heaven Dou Division was watching.
Ling Yun, on the other hand, smiled instead. Beating Tang San fiercely and beating Yu Xiaogang fiercely earlier had, when all was said and done, still been behind closed doors with their own people watching.
Now it was different. Starting today, win a match and tens of thousands of people would watch. Ling Yun suddenly felt that this Soul Master Tournament might be even more interesting than he had originally thought.
Just as everyone was preparing to enter the resting area, the teacher in charge of drawing lots hurried out from inside, his expression as bizarre as if he had just swallowed something.
Flender frowned the moment he saw him. "What is it? Who did we draw for the first round?"
That teacher first glanced at Dai Mubai, then looked at Ling Yun, and only finally handed over the draw results in his hand.
"Heaven Dou Royal Academy."
Dai Mubai's expression changed instantly.
The teacher paused, then added another sentence. "Second team."
The air fell silent for two seconds.
Ma Hongjun was the first to grin broadly. Back when they went to the Heaven Dou Royal Academy and were driven out after being beaten black and blue, no one present had forgotten.
Ling Yun reached out, took the draw results, glanced at the name on them, and his smile grew broader and broader. "Damn. So considerate? The opening match of the tournament-delivering your faces right to us."
Before you continue