Once most of the others had left, Flender turned to Oscar and Ning Rongrong.
"Everyone has a different Martial Soul, and different ways of cultivating. The academy doesn't teach you how to cultivate, but how to use it."
Ning Rongrong showed little reaction. When it came to using the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, no one understood it better than the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
Oscar merely shrugged, clearly having heard this more than once.
"Both of you have support-type Martial Souls. One enhances attributes, while the other provides food. On the battlefield, both of you need your teammates' protection to survive."
"Oscar, tell me: as a support-type Soul Master, how do you preserve your life on the battlefield?"
Oscar's expression turned solemn, and he answered without hesitation.
"Stay behind your teammates whenever possible, use every available factor to avoid risks, and keep as far away from dangerous areas as possible."
Flender nodded, a trace of approval crossing his face.
"You're absolutely right, but there's one thing you left out. As a support-type Soul Master, knowing how to run away is essential."
Flender smiled, confidence flashing across his face.
"A support-type Soul Master who can't run away isn't a good Soul Master."
"Then I have a question. What about their teammates?"
Lin Yang suddenly cut in, forcing Flender to swallow the words he had been about to say.
"What?"
"If a support-type Soul Master has to run away to survive, does that mean all her teammates are dead?"
Lin Yang looked at Flender and spoke each word distinctly.
"Support-type Soul Masters are extremely vulnerable. When facing a Battle Soul Master, would they wait to die instead of running? What is it, student Lin Yang? Do you have a different opinion?"
Flender adjusted his glasses, narrowing his eyes.
The others also turned their gazes toward Lin Yang, some curious, others surprised.
"Why would a support-type Soul Master have to face a Battle Soul Master?"
"Because support-type Soul Masters play a major role while also being vulnerable. Taking out the support Soul Master first is common practice."
"Then, since they play such a major role, wouldn't their Battle Soul Master teammates protect them?"
"Doing nothing but defending only puts you on the back foot. If all her teammates revolve around her, how are they supposed to fight?"
Flender spoke without the slightest change in tone, clearly considering this only natural.
Ning Rongrong's delicate brows furrowed slightly. They needed support Soul Masters to contribute, yet refused to provide protection, expecting the support Soul Masters to keep themselves alive instead.
Tang San also folded his arms and began to think. He felt Flender had a point, but something still seemed wrong.
Xiao Wu watched Lin Yang with sparkling eyes, clearly paying little attention to the discussion.
"Doesn't the other side have a support-type Soul Master?"
That single question from Lin Yang made Tang San's eyes light up. Right, the other side had a support-type Soul Master too.
In that case, both sides would be targeting the opposing support-type Soul Master. There would be no situation where one side could only defend.
Flender froze. Clearly, he had realized it too.
Lin Yang paused, then spoke calmly.
"A Battle Soul Master who can't protect a support-type Soul Master isn't a good Soul Master."
Ning Rongrong's eyes lit up as she looked at Lin Yang.
The most important foundation of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was undoubtedly the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda's powerful support capabilities.
But there was another crucial factor: the countless Battle Soul Masters who protected them, such as Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo.
Support-type Soul Masters enhanced Battle Soul Masters, and Battle Soul Masters protected support Soul Masters. It was a mutually beneficial partnership.
After hearing Lin Yang's words, she thought back to what Flender had said. No matter how she looked at it, it felt wrong.
The way Oscar looked at Lin Yang changed as well. He had barely formed an impression of this new junior student, but right now, he thought Lin Yang was practically a god.
Flender's expression darkened a little. A student had talked back to him in public, and worse, his argument was well founded.
"No one can watch all eight directions at once. An enemy will eventually seize an opportunity to close in. Running away is simply about having a chance to survive that moment."
"Only an agility-type Soul Master could bypass the defensive line directly. So, do you think a support-type Soul Master could outrun an agility-type Soul Master?"
"What if it's a Power Attack System Soul Master?"
"A Power Attack System Soul Master bypassing the defensive line directly? Only if he has overwhelming strength. But in that situation, do you think it makes any difference whether the support Soul Master runs?"
Flender's face was now as black as the bottom of a cooking pot, though being challenged by a student was not enough to make him lash out in humiliation.
He was an old hand, after all, and immediately threw out a question.
"So you mean support-type Soul Masters don't need to train and can just rely on their teammates, is that it?"
Even Tang San, who had found Lin Yang's arguments convincing, frowned slightly at this. That really would be unfair to Soul Masters of other types.
Ning Rongrong also offered Lin Yang a timid reminder.
"Yang, my father actually makes me exercise too."
Seeing their reactions, the corners of Flender's mouth lifted slightly.
"Physical fitness is naturally a basic requirement. Support-type Soul Masters are no exception."
Flender smiled and was just about to say something.
"But strengthening your body isn't about running away, and running away shouldn't be its central purpose."
Flender's smile stiffened, though he quickly recovered.
"All right, I admit you have a point. I'll revise their training plans."
Oscar had the strongest reaction to those words. His eyes seemed to shine. Could it be?
"Oscar, take Ning Rongrong for a lap first. I'll have other arrangements for you when you return."
The light in Oscar's eyes gradually faded. He lowered his head and acknowledged the instruction, then ran off with Ning Rongrong.
Flender turned toward Lin Yang and the others, though his gaze rested mainly on Lin Yang.
"Having your own opinions is a good thing. But jumping to conclusions without experience can sometimes bring trouble down on your head."
He gave Lin Yang a long look, then turned away, leaving one last remark before he departed.
"Go back and prepare properly. Tonight's class won't be easy."
Lin Yang glanced at his retreating figure and let out a breath of relief.
Fortunately, Flender had not flown straight into a rage. He was the dean of an academy, after all.
Lin Yang had been taking a gamble too, testing whether his talent gave him a little room to maneuver here, rather than leaving him to be led around by the nose.
But the result was clear. Flender would not move against him for now, at least not openly.
For one thing, if he left, Xiao Wu would most likely leave too.
And if Flender showed himself to be overbearing and unreasonable in front of the students, it would still affect his academy.
At the very least, he needed a valid reason.
"Aren't you afraid...?"
Tang San walked over to Lin Yang and spoke softly.
"Afraid? Of what? If it doesn't work out, we'll all leave together. If it weren't for Grandmaster, we wouldn't have come here in the first place."
Xiao Wu's ears were sharp. She immediately stepped forward, planted her hands on her hips, and looked at Tang San.
"Uh, he is my teacher, after all..."
Tang San scratched his head, genuinely unsure what to say.
"Let's go. We still have class tonight."
Lin Yang withdrew his gaze, called to the others, and turned toward the dormitories.
Xiao Wu hurried after him, while Tang San cast a long look in the direction Flender had gone before turning to follow.
As Lin Yang walked toward the dormitories, he rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
Next up was... the Soul Fighting Arena?
Before you continue