Chapter 99

Facing Yang Xiong's words, Ning Fengzhi glanced at Tang San and Yu Xiaogang.

Yu Xiaogang finally spoke: "Yang Xiong, I've always known you've been hiding your strength. From our current power, we may find it hard to defeat the Spirit Hall team, but I have a method that might break the deadlock, at least prevent the Spirit Hall from being so overbearing."

Yang Xiong suddenly became interested: "Master, may I ask what good method you have? Could it be that you have other tactics you haven't shown yet?"

Yu Xiaogang's face darkened: "It's not a matter of tactics. Given the current situation, Heaven Dou Team One should have four Soul Ancestors able to enter the finals. Then I'll transfer you, Tang San, and Dai Mubai into one team, giving us roughly seven Soul Ancestors' combat power, which can definitely rival the Spirit Hall team."

Yang Xiong thought carefully: "That's indeed an idea, but among all of us there isn't a Support System Soul Ancestor, and the highest soul power right now is Yu Tianheng's level 43, which is at least eight or nine levels lower than those of the Spirit Hall, so the gap is still far too large."

"Not to mention there's hardly any coordination between Team One and Team Two; once on the arena, it would probably be quite chaotic."

Yu Xiaogang nodded: "You're right, I'm aware of that, so the Soul Master Competition's Qualifying Tournament is the final chance to smooth things out. Team members can still be adjusted before the finals, so I plan to transfer Yu Tianheng, Dugu Yan, and Shi Mo and Shi Mo, the two brothers, into Heaven Dou Team Two, which will make our strength greater."

"However, this creates a major flaw in the team: we have no Agility Attack System Soul Master. With your speed, you could certainly serve as an Agility Attack System Soul Master."

Yang Xiong scoffed at the suggestion: "What kind of crazy idea is this? I've been a Defense System Soul Master for two years; why suddenly make me an Agility Attack System Soul Master? How am I supposed to fit the new tactics? And which idiot suggested combining the two teams, tearing apart all our existing coordination?"

Nevertheless, Yang Xiong smiled: "Master, Sect Leader, rest assured, I'll definitely be a good Agility Attack System Soul Master."

Yu Xiaogang grew serious: "It's not enough to just be a good Agility Attack System Soul Master; you must give it your all, otherwise we can't win, especially since no one knows your soul skill."

Yang Xiong then nodded: "Fine. If the crucial moment comes, I'll let people know what my soul skill is, but my soul skill is self‑amplifying, so it probably won't affect the tactics."

At this moment Ning Fengzhi spoke again: "Xiao Xiong, I know you're formidable. If you win the championship, the soul bones earned will be divided among us from the top three sects, and the guarantee from the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect will be yours."

Yang Xiong, despite countless inner scoffs, finally nodded in agreement. However, of the three soul bones, aside from the skull he wasn't interested in the other two, and given Tang San's and Yu Xiaogang's tendencies, there was no way the skull would be given to him.

After Tang San and Yu Xiaogang left, Ning Fengzhi spoke alone: "Xiao Xiong, this matter is of great importance. Even if you reveal the soul bone you possess, I can use the sect to ensure your safety; when you go on future trials, you'll have at least a Soul Douluo‑rank master protecting you. Moreover, whatever soul bone or soul beast you need, we'll do our best to obtain it for you."

Yang Xiong remained silent for a while before speaking: "Thank you, Sect Leader, but I also have a question for you; please consider it carefully."

Ning Fengzhi and Gu Douluo showed a hint of doubt: "Speak plainly. In the future, don't call me Sect Leader; just call me Uncle Ning."

Yang Xiong's expression turned serious: "Sect Leader, you're well aware of the situation of the top three sects. The Clear Sky Sect has long gone into seclusion, and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan has rarely ventured out in recent years. If we proceed, the Spirit Hall will likely bear a grudge against us and may target us specifically; at that point, those two families might not have the strength to lend aid."

Ning Fengzhi's face grew solemn upon hearing this, and he remained silent for a long while before speaking lightly: "I've considered this issue, but the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect is fundamentally a Support Soul Master sect, giving us a definite disadvantage against the other two families. Moreover, it's either advance or retreat now; our sect is at its zenith and has no way back."

Yang Xiong nodded: "Sect Leader, I understand. I'll work hard and won't lose to anyone."

After Ning Fengzhi and Gu Douluo left, Yang Xiong finally couldn't help but sigh.

As Sect Leader, Ning Fengzhi operates on a level far above mine; his thoughts naturally differ from mine. Especially since he has brought the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect to its peak strength—beyond being a merchant, he's also a scheming hero, likely harboring great ambition.

Looking at the original work as a whole, Ning Fengzhi is quite the opportunist: on one hand he opposes the Spirit Hall, on the other he colludes with the Heaven Dou Imperial Family and even tries to shield Tang San and his group, which is a major taboo for the Spirit Hall and ultimately provokes its harsh retaliation.

Especially since everyone fell into a loophole: his prized disciple turned out to be a Spirit Hall undercover, ending up with a failed ploy that backfired, and he himself even fell under the Heaven Dou Empire's suspicion; otherwise, no matter how much they talk about the Grand Master position, it would never go to Yu Xiaogang, a powerless, insignificant person.

……

The Heaven Dou Empire indeed moved swiftly, quickly summoning all personnel from Heaven Dou Team One and Team Two and rapidly reassigning every member.

The current Team Two roster includes Yang Xiong, Tang San, Dai Mubai, Xiao Wu, Yu Tianheng, Dugu Yan, Shi Mo, Shi Mo, Ye Lingling, Zhu Zhuqing, and Ning Rongrong.

Poor Oscar ended up in Heaven Dou Team One, but with Qin Shuang accompanying him, the two weren't exactly lonely.

As for bringing Zhu Zhuqing into Team Two, it's mainly because Zhu Zhuqing and Dai Mubai can combine into the Martial Soul Fusion Technique Nether White Tiger, which might have some effect at a critical moment.

Yang Xiong finally understood why Dai Mubai sought him out alone; the lineup is indeed solid, but compared with the Xing Luo Royal Academy there's still a gap, and Zhu Zhuqing lacks any real main‑line strength.

Yang Xiong couldn't help glancing at Flanders; compared with the others, Flanders looked even more desolate. Although Team Two's name is still the Heaven Dou Royal Academy Shrek Team, it no longer resembles the original Shrek at all.

Moreover, his direct disciple Ma Hongjun was also transferred to Team One; Team One not only lacks Soul Ancestors, but even senior Soul Elders are scarce, making it look like they're just giving up.

Meanwhile, the original Team One leader Qin Ming became Yu Xiaogang's deputy, as if there's an unspoken understanding that they've completely abandoned Team One.

Normally such player swaps aren't permitted, but Heaven Dou Team One and Team Two belong to the same academy, and both Ning Fengzhi and Dugu Bo are on the judging committee, so even if Salas objects, it has little effect.

It should be noted that in the original, Shenfeng Academy and Chi Huo Academy went even further, swapping members between two different academies.

When the Heaven Dou Royal Academy Shrek Team appeared again, everyone present gasped, especially the guests Salas and Hu Yanzhen, whose faces turned pale; they certainly didn't want the Heaven Dou Royal Academy to be that powerful.

After the two teams were recombined, the first to appear were Yu Tianheng, Dai Mubai, Dugu Yan, Tang San, Yang Xiong, Shi Mo, and Shi Mo.

The opponent was the Zixing Academy, but unfortunately elder brother Yang Wei didn't take the field.

The Shrek Team's roster comprised five Soul Ancestors, with Yu Tianheng as captain and Tang San and Dai Mubai as deputy captains.

Even Shenfeng Academy and Tian Shui Academy were unusually solemn, yet this team's strength exceeded their expectations, especially its terrifying attack power, thanks to two Control System Soul Masters who can dominate the field.

Feng Xiaotian, Huo Wushuang, and the people of Shui Bing'er were unusually solemn, which made them spot the problem in an instant.

Feng Xiaotian said: "Hold on, the team looks decent, but they have no Agility Attack System Soul Master, so their arena flexibility will be severely reduced. They couldn't have missed that issue."

Huo Wushuang also nodded: "I think the Heaven Dou Royal Academy won't be that simple; we might have other remedial measures."

Agility Attack System Soul Masters, while not able to forcefully break through the opponent's formation or draw attention like a Strong Attack System Soul Master, and not serving as the team's brain like Control System Soul Masters, are nonetheless extremely important.

Agility Attack System Soul Masters must locate the opponent's weak points for a lethal strike, and even occasionally rescue and aid others; the formation's flexibility essentially relies on them.

The Shrek Team deployed a 2‑2‑1‑2 formation: at the rear were the two Control System Soul Masters Tang San and Dugu Yan, followed by the Shi Brothers, two Defense System Soul Masters, then Yang Xiong as the Agility Attack System Soul Master, and at the front were Dai Mubai and Yu Tianheng as Strong Attack.

Sure enough, as the match began, Dai Mubai and Yu Tianheng charged straight at the Zixing Academy's formation; the White Tiger Spirit Soul and Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon are top‑tier, extremely domineering and fierce, quickly disrupting the opposing formation.

Tang San and Dugu Yan controlled the field, instantly filling the arena with countless Blue Silver Grass that swiftly tangled everyone from Zixing Academy, while Dugu Yan's Jade Phosphor Snake emitted various toxins, enveloping the arena in an instant.

The Shi Brothers, though Defense System Soul Masters, were powerful but unfortunately slow, still pushing forward with the main force.

Yang Xiong, however, was overtaken by the Shi Brothers in an instant; while the opponents were unaware, Yang Xiong's figure flashed and he appeared at the rear of Zixing Academy's formation, directly attacking their Control System Soul Master.

Especially as Yang Xiong's speed was extreme, and he also wielded Teleportation; his five fingers resembled a pair of Silver Dragon Claws, forcefully grasping at the Control System Soul Elder…

Only after a few exchanges, the Zixing Academy instantly lost front‑to‑back coordination; the original support and Control System Soul Masters were knocked out of the Arena by Yang Xiong, the formation was likewise scattered by the four of them in a flash, and in less than two minutes every member of Zixing Academy was knocked out of the Arena, giving the new Heaven Dou Royal Academy Shrek team its first victory.

Feng Xiaotian and the others grew more solemn as they watched the Arena, and Huo Wu asked with some puzzlement, "Isn't this Yang Xiong a Defense System Soul Grandmaster? How did he become an Agility Attack System Soul Master now?"

Feng Xiaotian shook his head, "It's not that simple; this guy is not only a Defense System Soul Grandmaster, he can also serve as a strong‑attack and an Agility Attack System Soul Master. His strength, speed, and defense are all outstanding, and I might not be able to defeat him easily even myself."

Huo Wu felt indignant, "Those Heaven Dou Royal Academy guys are being too chaotic, swapping players at a time like this. I think their behavior is downright shameless."

Huo Wushuang, standing nearby, said, "They were originally students of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy, and they even have a direct‑entry slot for the tournament, so swapping players is reasonable."

By contrast, Hu Yanzhen was even more furious; Xiangjia Academy had performed averagely, always at the bottom of the Five Element Academies, yet it could still contest the final qualification spot with the Shrek team. In this situation, how can they still compete? It might become Xiangjia Academy's first time in years of missing the advancement tournament.

(End of Chapter)