All twelve team members who had completed their hunt for their third Soul Rings had gathered. Bai Yu stood among them too. Though she was only rank twenty-four, she stood straighter than anyone else.
Feng Xiaotian had called everyone to the training ground.
It was evening. The setting sun slanted over the low wall on the western side of the training ground, stretching the shadows of the wooden posts long. Twelve people stood in two rows on the training ground, with Feng Xiaotian facing them, a sheet of paper in his hand. The handwriting on it was his, and the ink had long since dried-he had arranged this roster in his mind more than once.
"Today, we're deciding the regular members and substitutes." Feng Xiaotian's voice was not loud, but everyone on the training ground heard him clearly. He paused, his gaze sweeping over everyone present. "Before I read the roster, let me make one thing clear-regulars and substitutes aren't ranked above or below each other. These are simply different arrangements for tactical needs. Who starts and who enters later depends on the opponent, the formation, and the situation on the field. But I can guarantee that everyone will have a chance to compete. Not just in the future All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament, but also when we arrange to go to the Soul Fighting Arena later. I have several formation plans on hand. We'll try them out one by one when the time comes."
The training ground fell silent for a breath. Feng Xiaotian glanced down at the paper in his hand and began to read.
"Feng Lingtian, Agility Attack System, high-speed assault."
"Lu Hanxiao, Agility Attack System, stealth and ambush."
"Zhong Yue, Defense System, frontal barrier."
"Ji Ning, Agility Attack System, single-target assassination."
"Su Mei'er, Control System, multi-element field control."
"Ye Qingyu, Support System, group buffs."
With each name called, that person stepped forward. The six stood in a row, and Feng Xiaotian turned to face them. "With me, that makes seven. The main team."
No one on the training ground spoke. Feng Xiaotian continued reading. "Substitutes. Shi Yan, Cheng Luo, Jiang Lin, Lu Qing, Su Ran, Bai Yu." The six remained where they stood.
Shi Yan's phantom tortoise shell flickered involuntarily, so briefly that most people did not notice at all. But Feng Xiaotian noticed. He offered no explanation, only glanced at Shi Yan. Seeing that look, Shi Yan's phantom tortoise shell steadied again.
Next, Feng Xiaotian's gaze swept toward the row of substitutes. Shi Yan, Su Ran, Bai Yu-Shi Yan's look just now had already said everything. Su Ran had never needed anyone to worry about him, and Bai Yu was still too young; this pressure should not fall on her shoulders. Feng Xiaotian said nothing to them, merely swept his gaze over the three and gave a slight nod. Each of them nodded in return.
Feng Xiaotian's gaze then settled on Cheng Luo. Cheng Luo leaned against the wall, his expression unchanged. Feng Xiaotian only glanced at him without speaking. Cheng Luo said nothing either. Their eyes met, and Cheng Luo nodded. Feng Xiaotian nodded too. That was enough.
Feng Xiaotian turned to Jiang Lin. Jiang Lin stood at the very end of the substitutes' row, that layer of pale golden light glowing quietly in his light brown eyes. "Jiang Lin, what do you think?" Jiang Lin spoke. "The later the abilities of Spirit Eyes are revealed, the greater their deterrent effect. Once we reach the Soul Fighting Arena, they'll know. You've kept me as your last card, the finale-I know." Feng Xiaotian nodded slightly.
Su Mei'er leaned against a wooden post. Her three tails swayed gently, and she glanced at Jiang Lin. "You've kept that trump card well hidden." Jiang Lin did not respond, but the light in those pale golden pupils flickered slightly.
Finally, Feng Xiaotian looked at Lu Qing. Lu Qing stood beside Shi Yan with his arms folded, his Wind Scythe withdrawn into his body, his whole person like a sheathed blade. Before Feng Xiaotian could speak, Lu Qing spoke first. "Call me when we're using two power attackers." Feng Xiaotian nodded to Lu Qing. Lu Qing nodded too.
"Before formal training begins, everyone report your third soul skill. Starting with Feng Lingtian."
Feng Lingtian stepped forward, and Soul Rings rose beneath his feet-yellow, yellow, purple. "Third soul skill, Wind Plume · Feather Blade. Multiple feather-shaped wind blades scatter outward, forcing the opponent to expose an opening."
Su Mei'er stepped forward, her three tails spreading behind her as Soul Rings rose beneath her feet-yellow, yellow, purple. She curved her ice-blue tail. "Third soul skill, Wind and Water Confinement. With the enhancement of ultimate ice, the confinement carries an ice seal effect."
Jiang Lin opened his eyes. Pale golden light flashed in his Spirit Eyes, and Soul Rings rose beneath his feet-yellow, yellow, purple. "Third soul skill, Spirit Eyes · Observation. Dynamic vision and detail detection, with doubled trajectory prediction ability."
Lu Qing stepped out, his Wind Scythe forming in his palm as Soul Rings rose beneath his feet-yellow, yellow, purple. "Third soul skill, Wind Scythe · Consecutive Slashes. Multiple rapid slashes, each faster than the last."
Ye Qingyu held her Wind Zither, and Soul Rings rose beneath her feet-yellow, yellow, purple. "Third soul skill, Wind Zither · Requiem. Removes negative mental states."
Lu Hanxiao stepped out, his snowy owl martial soul forming behind him as Soul Rings rose beneath his feet-yellow, yellow, purple. "Third soul skill, Cold Wind · Wing Slash. An area ice-blade attack that also builds up freezing."
Su Ran brushed at the wheat husks he had yet to clean off his sleeves, and Soul Rings rose beneath his feet-yellow, yellow, purple. "Third soul skill, Wind Grain · Rise. Increases speed for a short time."
Ji Ning stepped out, his hummingbird martial soul hovering behind him as Soul Rings rose beneath his feet-yellow, yellow, purple. "Third soul skill, Hummingbird · Phantom. High-speed wingbeats produce multiple afterimages to disrupt judgment."
Cheng Luo raised his hand, a wind-binding vine coiling around his wrist as Soul Rings rose beneath his feet-yellow, yellow, purple. "Third soul skill, Wind Vine · Strangle. The vines tighten and strangle, dealing continuous damage."
Zhong Yue stepped out, a phantom tortoise shell floating before him as Soul Rings rose beneath his feet-yellow, yellow, purple. "Third soul skill, Wind Armor · Rebound. Reflects part of the damage when the tortoise shell is attacked."
Shi Yan stepped out, his bell martial soul humming in his palm as Soul Rings rose beneath his feet-yellow, yellow, purple. "Third soul skill, Bell Toll · Heart Protection. A single-target shield that continuously absorbs damage."
Bai Yu was the last to step out. She glanced down at the wind chime on her wrist, and Soul Rings rose beneath her feet-yellow, yellow. "Second soul skill, Wind Chime · Gale. Increases a single teammate's attack speed."
Her voice was softer than everyone else's before her.
"I heard you," Feng Xiaotian said.
Bai Yu's fingers loosened a little around the wind chime.
"Starting tomorrow, we'll work on coordination with the regular lineup. Next, we'll go to the Soul Fighting Arena and bring out every formation for practice. The five-academy exchange isn't far off. The lineup we take there cannot have any weak links."
No one answered, but everyone unconsciously stood a little straighter.
As everyone dispersed, Shi Yan walked over to Feng Xiaotian and asked quietly, "Captain, how long can I hold this substitute position?" "Until you don't want to hold it anymore," Feng Xiaotian said. Shi Yan froze for a moment, then broke into a grin.
Feng Lingtian walked beside Feng Xiaotian, their footsteps sounding just as they had in years past-Feng Lingtian's steps were light, and Feng Xiaotian's were heavy. The two rhythms mingled, but their pace was always the same.
"How long did you spend arranging the roster?" Feng Lingtian asked.
Feng Xiaotian did not answer. He simply took the folded sheet of paper from inside his clothes and handed it to Feng Lingtian. Feng Lingtian unfolded it and took a look-there was more than one layer of handwriting. Some names had been crossed out, then written again beside them. Ink overlapped ink. It had been revised many times.
Feng Lingtian returned the paper to Feng Xiaotian. "Brother, thanks for all your hard work."
Feng Xiaotian took the paper, folded it, and tucked it back inside his clothes.
But he did not tell Feng Lingtian that at the very bottom of this roster was another line, its ink fresher than any line above it. That line read-"Soul Fighting Arena. First formation: swift assault."
End of Volume Two.