Yu Tianheng suddenly raised his head, his eyes filled with struggle. Leaving the Imperial Fighting Team he had fought for so many years? Leaving his partners with whom he had spent every day? This was an extremely difficult decision for him.
"Second Uncle... I... I need to think about it." Yu Tianheng said in a dry voice, then nodded to Yu Xiaogang and Tang San, turned and left somewhat unsteadily.
Watching Yu Tianheng's dejected figure, Tang San frowned slightly. "Teacher, is it... appropriate to recruit Brother Tian Heng so directly?"
Yu Xiaogang waved his hand, his gaze profound. "This is the best choice for him. A Soul Master who cannot find his place in a team will have his confidence constantly eroded, and even the best talent will be wasted. The heir of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan should not remain so obscure."
After returning to the academy, Yu Tianheng mustered his spirits and tried to integrate into the new training.
In the following days of practical training exercises, the problems were still exposed.
On the training field, Lin Yan commanded with composure.
" Yu Feng, harass from the left flank, draw enemy fire!"
" Shi Mo Shi Mo, push it up, activate defensive Soul Skill!"
" Osler, find an opportunity to cut into the back row!"
" Yanzi, cover the enemy's support area with poisonous miasma!"
" Lingling, pay attention to the timing of your shield!"
The instructions were clear and the execution was swift. The team members, empowered by their newfound strength, moved with effortless grace, their offensive flowing like mercury. Yu Feng's figure was so fast that only a blur of green remained; Osler appeared and disappeared like a ghost; Shi Mo Shi Mo were like insurmountable mountains; Dugu Yan's poisonous mist enveloped the entire field; Ye Lingling's azure light shield always lit up at the most crucial moment, defusing the crisis.
Yu Tianheng remained valiant, charging forward with his Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul roaring, but his attacks could no longer deliver the decisive blow they once did. His speed couldn't keep up with Yu Feng and Osler's pace; his bursts of power couldn't easily tear through the defenses built by the Shi Mo Shi Mo and his new Soul Skill; and when facing Dugu Yan's bizarre illusionary poison, he even needed to distract himself to resist Mental Interference.
Due to a miscommunication, Yu Tianheng's Thunder Dragon Claw and Osler's Shadow Assault overlapped, disrupting Osler's attack rhythm and nearly resulting in him being hit by a counterattack from his "opponent" ( Simulation by Teacher Sun Buyu ).
Training was paused, Yu Feng, outspoken and somewhat dissatisfied, grumbled, "Captain, you were a bit slow. If you had kept up, we could have taken down the 'opposite' defensive Soul Master in no time."
Although Osler didn't speak, a hint of helplessness flashed in his eyes.
The word "captain" sounded incredibly sarcastic to Yu Tianheng. His face turned ashen, and his knuckles turned white from his clenched fists. He looked at his comrades, at the Soul Power surging around them that far surpassed his own, at Lin Yan's natural demeanor as the core of the team... Yu Xiaogang's words echoed in his ears once more.
"You've been excluded from the Core Circle..."
"Your position will be very awkward, and you might even hold the team back..."
"Come to Shrek Academy, this is the place where you can truly unleash your talents..."
At that moment, all the hesitation and struggle seemed to find their answer.
He didn't argue with Yu Feng, nor did he look at anyone. He simply walked silently to the sidelines, picked up his jacket, and said in a low voice, "I'm not feeling well. I'll go back and rest first." Then, he left the training field without looking back.
The crowd exchanged bewildered glances, and the atmosphere became somewhat tense. Lin Yan watched Yu Tianheng's departing figure and sighed softly; he seemed to have a premonition of something.
That night, the lights in Yu Tianheng's dormitory stayed on all night. He weighed his honor, friendship, personal future, and dignity repeatedly. In the end, the pride that belonged to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, and the desire for great strength and recognition, overwhelmed his attachment to the familiar environment of the past.
The next morning, Yu Tianheng went straight to the three education committee members and submitted his application to withdraw from school.
When the three Soul Douluo, Meng Shenji, Bai Baoshan, Zhi Lin, heard this news, they were extremely shocked and regretful.
" Tian Heng, have you reconsidered?" Meng Shenji earnestly advised, "A temporary setback doesn't mean anything. Your foundation is solid, and your future potential is limitless. The academy will provide you with the best resources to help you break through as soon as possible."
Bai Baoshan added, "Yes, team cohesion takes time, and Lin Yan and the others are by no means xenophobic. You are the captain of the Imperial Fighting Team; is this sense of camaraderie less important than a temporary difference in strength?"
Zhi Lin, the education committee member, was more direct. " Tian Heng, you should understand that leaving the Heaven Dou Royal Academy means giving up many readily available resources and connections. Shrek Academy is newly established, and its future is uncertain. Your move is far too impulsive."
Despite the three education committee members' earnest attempts to persuade him to stay, Yu Tianheng felt a pang of emotion, but his mind was made up. He bowed deeply, his tone firm yet tinged with a barely perceptible bitterness. "Thank you for your kindness and guidance. Tian Heng have failed the academy's expectations. However, my mind is made up. Staying in Imperial Fighting may not be the best choice for me or for the team. I need a place where I can pursue my goals and prove myself without any reservations. I beg you, the three education committee members, to grant my request."
The three education committee members exchanged glances, each seeing helplessness in the other's eyes. They understood that Yu Tianheng's heart was no longer here, and forcing him to stay would be futile. Meng Shenji finally sighed and signed the withdrawal application.
"Very well, child, since you've made up your mind to leave, we won't force you to stay. We wish you a bright future and hope you never forget that Heaven Dou Royal Academy was your alma mater."
Yu Tianheng bowed solemnly once more, then turned and left the Education Committee office, thus leaving Heaven Dou Royal Academy forever.
His departure caused quite a stir within the academy.
The Imperial Fighting Team cannot be without a leader for even a day. After discussions among the three education committee members, teacher Sun Buyu, and all team members, Lin Yan was unanimously elected as the new captain.
On the training field, Lin Yan stood at the front of the team, looking at his teammates in front of him— Shi Mo, Shi Mo, Yu Feng, Osler, Dugu Yan, and Ye Lingling.
He took a deep breath, his gaze sweeping over everyone, and said, "Everyone has their own choices, and we respect those choices. But the Imperial Fighting Team's journey must continue, and we must strive to do even better! From today onwards, I will be the captain. I hope we can work together, work hard to become stronger, and then, in the tournament, tell everyone the name of our Imperial Fighting Team!"
"Yes, Captain!" everyone shouted in unison.