Yu Xiaogang's Baffling Confidence

After thinking for a moment, Yu Xiaogang said proudly, "Shui Xinrou? I know her. We're from the same generation. Her talent wasn't all that outstanding back then, and her Martial Soul was only a high-grade Diamond Ice Bird, wasn't it? She's only a Soul Douluo now, isn't she? Take me as your teacher, and I can guarantee that with your talent, becoming a Titled Douluo will be no trouble at all. You must have heard of me. I was the one who published the Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul. People across the continent call me Grandmaster. Take me as your teacher, and I'll give you the most correct guidance."

With that, he looked proudly at Yu Tianshuang and confidently waited for him to take him as his teacher.

What did he mean, only a Soul Douluo? Sensing that the supremely confident uncle before him didn't even have the Soul Power of a Soul Elder, Yu Tianshuang had no idea where he found the confidence and pride to say such things.

And then there were his so-called Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul. Yu Tianshuang had always scoffed at them; they were either nonsense or common knowledge. To think something like that could... How should he put it? Right now, Yu Tianshuang could only think that this man had surely transformed every scrap of his inferiority into confidence. Impressive.

"My teacher, Shui Xinrou, is now a Titled Douluo, titled Ice Bird. And I don't think you can teach me anything. Sorry for the interruption. Goodbye."

"A Titled Douluo? How is that possible? With the quality of the Diamond Ice Bird Martial Soul and Shui Xinrou's talent, how could she have cultivated to Titled Douluo at her age? Something must be wrong. Oh, right, child, doesn't this fit another of my teaching principles perfectly? There are no trash Martial Souls, only trash Soul Masters. That is the theory and teaching principle I have always upheld. Look, hasn't your teacher proven it?"

No wonder. So he had always firmly believed those words, and that kept him from feeling inferior about being stuck at rank 29. To put it bluntly, his uncle's knowledge of Martial Soul Theory was not only incomplete; he was also misleading himself and others. How could Tang San have taken someone like that as his teacher?

"Uncle, may I ask, if you believe those words so firmly, why haven't you broken through to rank 30? Isn't your Martial Soul a mutated Trash Martial Soul too? By your own words, wouldn't that make you a trash Soul Master?"

With that, he turned and left without looking back. Behind him came Yu Xiaogang's furious roar, filled with shame: "What do you know? If my Martial Soul weren't Luo Sanpao, if my Innate Soul Power weren't only..."

Using Soul Power to block his hearing, unwilling to listen any longer to the nonsense of this uncle who took no responsibility and lived in his own world, Yu Tianshuang strode through the moonlight toward Skywater Academy.

The next morning, having returned to the academy, Yu Tianshuang took a shortcut to the Mimicry Training Ground. Usually, everyone cultivated there for a while in the morning, then went to the Great Soul Arena for combat practice after lunch.

When Shui Xinrou and the girls saw Yu Tianshuang's tall, handsome figure approaching from afar, they couldn't help feeling secretly delighted.

"Dummy, you're finally back! You have no idea, while you were gone, Lingling couldn't eat or drink, and..."

Before Shui Yue'er could finish, a blushing Ye Lingling covered her mouth.

Shui Bing'er, her graceful brows framing a pair of narrow phoenix eyes, glanced at the stammering Shui Yue'er and teased, "As if you didn't miss him. Weren't you going on about 'Dummy' this and 'Dummy' that all day too?"

With her feelings exposed, Shui Yue'er's pretty face turned as red as a ripe apple. She lowered her head and said softly, "N-no, I didn't. I-I just thought it was boring with him gone, that's all. It's not like I missed him."

After walking over and greeting each of the girls, they all began cultivating.

After lunch, they went to the Great Soul Arena together.

"Senior Sister, over the next few days, arrange for them to take turns joining me in team battles. They can get familiar with my recent abilities so we can work together better later."

"Mm, don't worry. I know."

Everyone sat in the waiting room with their eyes closed, resting as they waited for the day's first team battle to begin.

"Let's start with a quick introduction. Everyone on the team has acquired their Fourth Soul Ring except you. While you were away, we got used to working together, so now we need to focus on coordinating with you."

Xue Wu, the oldest of the girls, spoke first. "My Fourth Soul Skill is a powerful group attack skill, Xue Wu Ice Ribbon Hundredfold Strike. I extend my Martial Soul, the Snow Ribbon, to bombard a target area."

"As for mine, my Fourth Soul Skill is Sea Tide Barracuda Water Arrow, a group enhancement skill. It summons Coral Barracudas that attach themselves to targets. The attacks of anyone they attach to gain a slowing effect, and the attached Coral Barracudas can help them attack."

Yu Hairou, who looked more like a girl-next-door big sister than any of the others, spoke in a gentle voice.

"Dummy, my Fourth Soul Skill is amazing! Jade Wave Dolphin Wave-Chasing Shadow summons a phantom Jade Dolphin to lock onto a chosen target, then lets me teleport toward that target three times regardless of distance. If I lock onto an Auxiliary System Soul Master, haha, they can just wait for me to kick them right off!"

With that, she raised her cute little head and looked at Yu Tianshuang, utterly pleased with herself.

"That Soul Skill really is impressive. Once you lock onto them, it poses a huge threat to Auxiliary System and healing-type Soul Masters. A skill that powerful must have some restriction, right?"

There had to be a restriction. Otherwise, Shui Yue'er could lock onto the opposing team's Auxiliary System Soul Master as soon as a team battle began, teleport over, and take one opponent out right at the start.

"Well, the dolphin phantom can only travel ten meters, and... and it only flies in a straight line. Other people can block it too."

Mm, that made sense. There were conditions for using it; otherwise, the Soul Skill would be far too powerful.

"Netherworld Shadow Clone summons multiple clones. The clones can attack for a short time. They're not merely phantoms created through speed, so it's hard to tell which is real."

Powerful. It could confuse enemies, and most importantly, the clones could attack. This Soul Skill really was powerful.

"Big Brother Tianshuang, my Fourth Soul Skill increases defense."

Mm, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda's enhancement effects were the strongest among Auxiliary System types on the entire continent, and they worked regardless of the difference in Soul Power.

"Right, Rongrong, what realm have you reached in your Heart Separation Control?"

At Yu Tianshuang's question, Ning Rongrong immediately fidgeted and said, "Well, um, I'm still at the Three Aperture Governing Heart realm."

"Three Aperture Governing Heart, Three Aperture Governing Heart? Isn't that the very first realm?"

Yu Tianshuang stared at Ning Rongrong, speechless. He felt he really needed to have a talk with her. She had been practicing Heart Separation Control since childhood, yet even now she was still at the initial realm.

"Well, um, I feel like I might break through soon."

Feeling embarrassed herself, Ning Rongrong hurriedly spoke up.

"I remember Grandpa saying that Sect Master Ning had already reached Five Aperture Constant Heart at your age. You, honestly, you're too fond of playing. When are you going to settle down and focus?"

"Tianshuang, my Fourth Soul Skill is another healing skill, but this time it's for a single target. Flowers Bloom with Sound heals one target."

After the girls finished introducing their Fourth Soul Skills, they quietly waited for the team battle to begin.