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Yu Xiaogang pushed up his glasses, his eyes behind the lenses dimming slightly, and slowly began to speak:
"Erlong is right. Among the team members we can assemble right now, the strongest is Dai Mubai, but he is only a level 42 Soul Master."
At this level, they'd be considered upper-tier in the entire continent's competitions, far from being able to form the core of a strong team.
Mentioning Dai Mubai made the three of them even more somber.
As the eldest of the Shrek Seven Devils, Dai Mubai has always worked hard, but without the opportunities brought by Tang San in the original work, his soul power improvement has always been mediocre. His level 42 soul power may be considered impressive in an ordinary academy, but it is not enough in the continent-wide competition where masters gather.
"And Zhu Zhuqing and Ma Hongjun..."
Yu Xiaogang paused, his tone tinged with regret, "Zhu Zhuqing is a stubborn girl who works harder than anyone else in her cultivation, but her martial soul's upper limit is limited. Without external assistance, she is only a level 35 Soul Master, a full seven levels behind Dai Mubai."
As for Ma Hongjun, Yu Xiaogang shook his head helplessly:
"That kid's problem with his evil fire has never been solved. Without immortal herbs to suppress it, he can only relieve his fire by going to the brothels in Tiandou City every day. His mind is not on cultivation at all. He is only a level 34 Soul Venerable now, and his soul power is increasing more slowly than a snail."
At this rate, it's questionable whether I can even keep up with the team's pace, let alone compete.
Flander scratched his head in frustration:
"Our academy does have a few Soul Masters at level thirty-seven or thirty-eight, but they are all ordinary Soul Masters with mediocre talent. They don't have special Martial Souls or good teamwork. Even if we put them together with Dai Mubai and the others, they would only be a team that 'barely makes it into the competition.' How can they compare to those established strong schools?"
Liu Erlong bit her lip, a ruthless glint flashing in her eyes:
"How about... we go to the Soul Master Guild in Heaven Dou City again? Maybe we can find a few powerful, unemployed Soul Masters to temporarily form a team?"
"It's useless."
Yu Xiaogang immediately denied it, and then continued:
"The rules of the Continental Tournament stipulate that participating team members must be formal students of the academy and no older than twenty. Truly talented young Soul Masters have long been snapped up by the top schools; why would they stay in the Soul Master Guild as idle Soul Masters?"
Even if they did, they might not be willing to come to our little-known college.
The three fell silent again.
Only the chirping of birds outside the window could be heard in the council chamber, making the atmosphere inside seem even more oppressive.
They all knew that facing such a predicament in their first competition meant that if they couldn't come up with a solution, Shrek Academy would not only fail to gain fame but might also become a laughing stock across the continent, and all their years of hard work would be in vain.
Yu Xiaogang looked at the competition rules on the table, tapping his fingers lightly on the surface, his mind racing as he considered countermeasures:
Should we really give up this opportunity? But if we miss this one, we'll have to wait another five years for the next competition, and by then Dai Mubai and the others will be too old... No, we absolutely cannot give up!
There must be another way! He raised his head, a glimmer of light rekindling in his eyes, and looked at Flander and Liu Erlong:
"Perhaps... we can change our approach. Our players may not be strong enough, but we can work on our tactics."
I've studied the match records from previous tournaments, and I've found that many weaker teams have defeated stronger teams through special tactics.
Dai Mubai's defense and strength, Zhu Zhuqing's speed, and Ma Hongjun's fire attacks all have untapped potential. With the right tactics, they might very well be a match for each other!
Flander and Liu Erlong exchanged a glance, their eyes also showing a hint of anticipation.
Although this is just a desperate measure, given the current predicament, we have no choice but to take a gamble.
"Okay! I'll do as you say!"
Flander slammed his hand on the table, stood up, and continued:
"From today onwards, the three of us will personally lead the training, focusing all our energy on refining our tactics! Even if we're not as strong as others, we'll show the whole continent that Shrek Academy's Soul Masters have backbone!"
Liu Erlong nodded, the worry on his face easing somewhat:
"I'll go and inform Dai Mubai and the others right away, and tell them to immediately stop their lax training and begin closed-door intensive training tomorrow!"
Watching the two busy figures, Yu Xiaogang took a deep breath and turned his gaze back to the competition rules.
He knew it would be a tough battle, but for the future of Shrek Academy, they had to rise to the challenge.
However, he felt a vague unease in his heart—facing an opponent as formidable as Xue Tianxing, would tactics alone be enough?
Yu Xiaogang's gaze fell on the competition rules, but Tang San's image involuntarily surfaced in his mind.
His disciple, who possessed twin martial souls and astonishing talent, and who amazed everyone, and his "mistress," who respected him immensely and obeyed his teachings in everything, remained his greatest concern.
Two years ago, Tang San suddenly left with his father, Tang Hao. Before leaving, he specifically sought me out, his eyes red with tears, and said, "Teacher, I will definitely come back to find you after I have finished dealing with things."
Over the past two years, Yu Xiaogang has thought of this sentence countless times. Whenever the academy encounters difficulties, he can't help but ponder it:
If Xiao San returns, with his twin martial souls and his unparalleled skill in using hidden weapons, coupled with Dai Mubai and others, Shrek Academy might be able to compete for a ranking in the continental competition, and even have a chance to strive for higher honors.
"Sigh, if only Xiao San were here..."
Yu Xiaogang sighed softly, his eyes filled with anticipation. Just then, a muffled "Teacher" reached his ears, the voice both familiar and distant.
Yu Xiaogang was stunned for a moment, then shook his head—it must be because he missed Tang San too much that he was hallucinating. How could it be such a coincidence that he returned just as he was thinking of him?
But the next second, a clearer, more urgent "Teacher!" rang out.
It rang out again, and this time, the sound was right next to me; there was no mistake!
Yu Xiaogang turned around abruptly and saw a tall, upright young man standing at the entrance of the council hall. The young man was much taller and more robust than he had been two years ago. He had shed his youthful naiveté and gained a sense of composure and determination. But that face, those eyes filled with a familiar light, were clearly Tang San!
Behind Tang San stood two men—one with a resolute face, sharp eyes, and an aura of power emanating from him.
The other person appeared much gentler, with a faint smile on his lips, and his gaze toward Tang San was full of concern.
"Xiao San... is it really you?"
Yu Xiaogang's voice trembled slightly, and his eyes were filled with disbelief.