Chapter 127

Wang Yan first distributed the materials in his hand to each member of the Shrek preparatory team, letting them review the data of the participants from the Dou Ling Royal Advanced Soul Master Academy, and then said:

"Since the specific format of the match will be decided by on‑site drawing, we must devise separate tactics for each possible format."

"First is the team battle; frankly, this is the format with our highest chance of victory, after all our strongest member, Yutong, is essentially a control-type soul master, and only in team combat can her abilities be maximized. Moreover, she and Wulin have as many as four Soul Fusion Techniques, which can greatly ease the pressure of team battles, and we also have some hidden cards that have not yet been revealed—Xu San Shi!"

"Here!"

Xu San Shi was startled when Wang Yan suddenly called his name, but he still quickly replied in a loud voice.

Wang Yan said seriously: "I recall that the effect of your fourth soul skill, Xuanming Displacement, is to forcibly swap positions with an opponent, right? Can you use it across the entire arena?"

Xu San Shi found the question a bit puzzling, but he still nodded.

"If I use it alone, the success rate is between seventy and eighty percent, but if combined with Yutong's spiritual detection, the probability can reach a hundred percent."

"Very good."

Wang Yan nodded satisfactorily, having to admit that the strength of this soul skill far exceeded his expectations.

He pointed at Xu San Shi and said: "Xu San Shi, I order you, if we draw the team battle, you must swap positions with the opposing team's captain, Gu Zhujian, at the very start of the match."

"... Huh?"

Xu San Shi was stunned.

He was so clever that he instantly understood Wang Yan's meaning, and couldn't help but reveal a bitter expression.

"Teacher, are you planning to use me as a sacrificial pawn!"

Wang Yan obviously intended to pit him against Gu Zhujian in a one‑for‑one exchange to the limit, but if Xu San Shi were suddenly swapped into the Shrek camp's core by Xuanming Displacement, not to mention the opponent being a rank‑57 Soul King Gu Zhujian, even if it were Dai Yaoheng who got swapped in, they could not escape elimination.

The specific situation can be referred to from that mock battle in the Academy; although Xu San Shi was then purely frightened by a strike from Huo Yutong and had no intention of trapping Dai Yaoheng subjectively, Dai Yaoheng was still slapped off the stage by Huo Yutong's palm when caught off guard.

But the problem is that Gu Zhujian is surely doomed to lose, and Xu San Shi himself would fare no better either; facing a siege of four Soul Kings and two Soul Ancestors, even he, this iron tortoise, could not escape defeat.

Wang Yan's face showed a faint smile.

"That's not how to put it; we have Yutong with extremely strong burst ability, and as long as we can eliminate Gu Zhujian quickly, we might still be able to pull you back. By then the gap between us and the Dou Ling Royal Advanced Soul Master Academy will greatly narrow, and you would be our greatest contributor. Besides, do you really think trading yourself for Gu Zhujian is a loss?"

"No, that's not the case."

Xu San Shi decisively shook his head.

He knows his own strength best; because of the failure of the awakening ceremony back then, even now it's not easy for him to initiate awakening on his own, and even if he succeeded, he might not possess the combat power of a rank‑57 Soul King.

Moreover, Gu Zhujian is the captain of the Dou Ling Royal Advanced Soul Master Academy's main team; his elimination would deal the opponent not only a strength blow but also a psychological one, and using Xu San Shi in exchange is absolutely worth it.

Afterward, Wang Yan, premised on Gu Zhujian's elimination, carried out some core tactical arrangements for the team battle, and then moved on to discuss the individual elimination tournament.

"For the individual elimination tournament, we won't send Yutong out first; we'll let Bei Bei go first."

Bei Bei asked curiously: "Teacher Wang, why is that?"

Wang Yan sighed.

"Because although we won the previous team battle quickly, we inevitably revealed some things—for example, our overall cultivation level is a crucial point; after the last match, everyone can see our weaknesses, and they will surely make targeted preparations."

Bei Bei quickly realized what weakness Wang Yan was referring to.

"Are you referring to our overreliance on Yutong?"

"Hmm." Wang Yan nodded, "At least on the surface, besides Yutong, our team doesn't even have a proper opponent who can one‑on‑one defeat a Soul King; therefore, if my guess is correct, most people facing us in the individual elimination tournament would assume Yutong goes out first. In fact, if I didn't know you had hidden cards, I would indeed arrange it that way." "I see."

Everyone suddenly understood.

The past is the past, the present is the present; previously, Shrek sent Huo Yutong out first purely because no one else could bear the burden, and she had to take the lead to ease the pressure on the later members.

But now it's different; since Bei Bei confidently said that he and Xu San Shi both have Soul King‑level burst techniques, Wang Yan naturally wants to treat them as Soul Kings, letting them go first and saving Huo Yutong for the final showdown.

Moreover, he has more in mind than just that.

"Yutong, can your spiritual detection penetrate the tournament's protective barrier?"

Huo Yutong heard Wang Yan's question, hesitated a moment, thought for a while, then nodded cautiously.

"It should be possible, though the consumption is estimated to be somewhat large."

Actually, during that period of thought she was querying Tianmeng in the Sea of Spirit, and the answer she received was affirmative.

"Then that's good."

Wang Yan let out a sigh of relief.

"Yutong, if we draw the individual elimination tournament, please use your spiritual detection from below the stage to assist our teammates when the opportunity arises."

Bei Bei's eyes widened instantly.

"Teacher, what do you mean?"

Wang Yan gave a wry smile and nodded.

"Exactly as you thought; I plan to keep Yutong back until the end, so that our first six members on stage can all enjoy her spiritual detection assistance, which should further narrow the gap between us and our enemies. How do you feel?"

Bei Bei nodded without hesitation.

"I think there's no problem; Yutong's intangible spiritual power is our advantage, and we should make good use of it."

Xu San Shi lazily echoed.

"I have no objections either."

He Caitou nodded honestly.

"I will follow the teacher's orders."

Wang Dong and Zhou Sichen also had no objections, merely feeling a bit emotional.

"Yutong, your spiritual detection is just too omnipotent, isn't it?"

Huo Yutong was somewhat hesitant, just about to speak, when a firm voice sounded.

"I disagree."

Everyone's gaze instantly focused on the speaker.

Tang Wulin, who had not spoken throughout the meeting, spoke up firmly: "Sorry, Teacher, I don't want to cheat."

(End of chapter)