Dai Yueheng: It's in the bag, it's in the bag

Seven unlucky bastards.

As Chu Ge looked at the group before him, an inexplicable emotion flickered across his face, and he couldn't help thinking to himself.

"Unlucky bastards" was a title these people had thoroughly earned.

After all, despite representing the greatest talents of an era, they had nearly been wiped out on an excursion even with a powerful expert protecting them.

That had also been the battle that made Chicken Leg Douluo famous, delivering the feat that stunned the ages... a Super Douluo's pyrrhic victory over a Soul King.

"Sigh."

"Captain, you're here."

At the sight of Ma Xiaotao, the others stopped what they were doing, looked toward her, and greeted her.

Their captain rarely came here. What an honored guest!

Even Ling Luochеn, who had been quietly working on her cultivation, opened her eyes. Yet her gaze was soon drawn to the man beside Ma Xiaotao, a hint of surprise and doubt crossing her face.

Wasn't that the senior who lived next door to her? Why had he come here with their captain?

"Yes."

"You're all working hard."

Looking at her teammates as they talked, Ma Xiaotao smiled and spoke.

Everyone was working hard for the Continental Tournament.

As for why she hadn't joined them to practice their coordination, the answer was simple: she didn't need to.

She was already at rank 68, more than an entire major realm above Yao Haoxuan, the weakest member of the team. Even Dai Yueheng, their second-strongest member, was only rank 63.

Whenever she took the field, she only needed to coordinate properly with her teammates. As for anything beyond that, they could discuss it later.

She believed only in overwhelming strength shattering all techniques. Besides, she and her teammates were all dragons and phoenixes among men. Unless a whole string of accidents struck, she didn't believe they would lose in the future.

But how could any accidents possibly befall them?

They had the greatest talent, the strongest backing, and even Taotie Douluo Xuan Zi as their combat instructor. They were terrifyingly strong!

"Of course. We have to work hard."

A buzz-cut man spoke cheerfully.

"Of course we'll work hard. Otherwise..."

"Xiaotao will leave us far behind."

A lively young woman with her hair tied into two little buns smiled, jogged over to Ma Xiaotao, and spoke with a serious expression.

Her name was Xi Xi. She was Ma Xiaotao's close friend and a member of the Shrek Seven Devils.

"All right, all right."

Ma Xiaotao chuckled in response.

Just as Xi Xi had said, her talent really was far greater than that of her companions.

But she knew very well that her cultivation was becoming increasingly difficult to sustain.

Before, advancing had practically been as easy as drinking water. She had soared to become the academy's second-greatest genius, surpassed only by their eldest senior sister, Zhang Lexuan.

Now, though... it was hard to say.

What's more, Evil Fire had long plagued her body. Even though it hadn't flared up for quite some time, she kept feeling that another outbreak was probably close.

This was something that threatened her life.

"Captain, why is Brother Chu here too?"

At that moment, Ling Luochеn quickly appeared before the two women. Her puzzled gaze settled on Chu Ge, and she couldn't help asking.

She was clearly confused by his presence.

"Xiaotao, who's this handsome guy?"

Xi Xi's gaze soon settled on Chu Ge as well, curiosity showing on her face.

As far as she remembered, she had hardly ever seen him before.

What was equally astonishing was that Xiaotao had actually brought him here. Could this solitary tree that had stood alone for ten thousand years finally be about to bloom?

"Xi Xi, this is Chu Ge. I've mentioned him to you before. He's an academy teacher whom my teacher thinks very highly of. My teacher was also the one who asked me to bring him to meet everyone..."

Ma Xiaotao smiled and introduced him.

"Oh."

"So he's Teacher Chu. He's actually so young."

Understanding dawned on Xi Xi, and certainty appeared on her face.

Ma Xiaotao had indeed mentioned him to her quite a few times before. Still, mentioning him was one thing; how much she had said about him was another.

At the very least, she had never known-or even imagined-that Teacher Chu was so young!

"Hello, everyone. I'm Chu Ge."

"I'm an Inner Court teacher who only recently joined the academy."

Chu Ge remained composed as his gaze swept over the people before him, a smile on his face.

A teacher?

He...

So he wasn't a senior?

Of them all, Ling Luochеn had the strongest reaction, unable to suppress her astonishment.

She had always assumed he was a senior who had returned to the academy after completing a mission. She had never expected him to be a teacher.

The others were no less stirred, each marveling inwardly-he was actually an Inner Court teacher!

As members of Shrek, they naturally knew the academy's standards. Outer Court teachers had to be at least Soul Emperors, while those in the Inner Court were Soul Saints or even stronger.

Yet someone so young was already a Soul Saint. His talent was formidable too!

One had to remember that many Inner Court students became disciples of Titled Douluos. Thus, even if a teacher's cultivation was only at the Soul Saint level, they could practically crush opponents at the same level from an entirely higher dimension.

An Inner Court teacher-that means he's at least a Soul Saint.

That's some impressive talent!

At those words, a blond man among the group brightened, already exclaiming inwardly in admiration.

His name was Dai Yueheng, and he was Dai Hao's son.

As he looked toward Chu Ge, his gaze already held approval.

Impressive talent? That hardly did him justice. He didn't even look thirty. This was a truly first-rate genius.

A Soul Saint at such a young age. He'll at least become a Titled Douluo in the future. He certainly has potential.

If I can recruit someone like him, my chances of inheriting Father's position will improve.

With his blond hair and mismatched eyes gleaming, Dai Yueheng thought as realization dawned on him.

My foolish little brother, you even went and dug your own grave. Only your big brother can take the duke's seat now.

A smile spread across Dai Yueheng's face.

Previously, he had already given up hope of succeeding as duke. After all, his little brother was more talented than he was. But...

When he heard that Dai Huabin had lost a bet and kowtowed to someone in full public view, he knew that only he could take that position.

That foolish little brother of his.

Nothing to say. There really was nothing to say~

Dai Yueheng: "I don't know! He went and stabbed himself!"

(End of chapter)