Chapter 56: Defensive Soul Master

"Freshman Class Two, Xie Huanyue."

"Freshman Class Two, Luo Tianlong."

"Freshman Class Two, Luo Tianba."

After exchanging names, Xie Huanyue gave Tang Wulin a goofy smile.

"Tang Wulin, right? I've heard of your great name; they say you're the strongest strong‑attack type of our cohort, and so far no one has lasted more than three punches against you. Don't disappoint me."

"You…"

Zhou Sichen was about to retort when the impatient referee beside him cut in:

"Both sides retreat to the arena edge and prepare for the match."

Zhou Sichen has already seen trash‑talk between him and opponents in the Ning Tian Squad and the Huang Chutian Squad; he doesn't want a third time.

Anyway, given Tang Wulin's team's past performance, this should be an easy win; the pre‑match trash‑talk is truly dead time for them.

Tang Wulin stepped back and asked Zhou Sichen:

"What are their martial souls and abilities?"

Knowing oneself and the enemy ensures a hundred battles without peril; intelligence is crucial in combat. It seems Xie Huanyue's team has already read Tang Wulin's group, yet Tang still doesn't know Xie Huanyue's martial soul, which is clearly a disadvantage.

Fortunately, Zhou Sichen has already gathered most of Xie Huanyue's team's intel, and he whispered hurriedly:

"I don't know what the Soul Elder Xie Huanyue's martial soul is, but it should be a defensive type; all opponents who've faced him struggled to hurt him. As far as I know, their previous opponents were the Ning Tian Squad; even Wu Feng, with Ning Tian's support, couldn't breach his defense, and he turned the tide single‑handedly after both teammates were eliminated."

"His two teammates are comparatively weaker; they're brothers, both with agile‑attack mantis martial souls. Though they're also great soul masters, they're not that strong and mainly support Xie Huanyue."

"Got it."

After hearing Zhou Sichen's briefing, Tang Wulin and Huo Yutong exchanged a glance, and their tension eased slightly.

Since they achieved martial soul fusion, there's always an unspoken connection; now they can subconsciously sense that the other's thoughts match their own.

If the situation is truly as Zhou Sichen described, this match's outlook is far better than they initially thought.

Wang Yan once lectured on the traits of defensive soul masters, saying that, in general, defensive soul masters aren't suited to be team leaders.

After all, no matter how strong the defense, it can at most guarantee "no defeat"; to win, one ultimately relies on powerful offense.

Regarding offense, defensive martial souls are the weakest among combat‑type martial souls; strong‑attack and agile‑attack are obvious, and even control types often surpass them.

Thus, defensive martial souls often become oversized sandbags—useful for teammates' support but unsuitable as the team's core.

They intend to use this trait as a breakthrough in this battle.

When the referee declared, "The match begins," Tang Wulin surged forward again.

Regardless of his condition, he's the only close‑combat specialist on the team; if he doesn't take the front line, their battle will be very tough.

Along with him rushed Zhou Sichen's two summons; in previous fights they couldn't keep up with Tang Wulin's speed, but this time they could strike together.

Opposite them, Xie Huanyue's already plump body swelled another layer, and the Luo brothers each manifested a massive mantis blade in both hands, matching Zhou Sichen's intel.

Facing Tang Wulin's proactive group, the Luo brothers flickered and engaged Zhou Sichen's two summons, while Xie Huanyue stepped directly in front of Tang Wulin.

Tang Wulin's eyes flashed as he hurled a fierce punch at Xie Huanyue's fat flesh.

He wants to test how formidable this defensive soul master's defense really is.

Xie Huanyue didn't dodge; just as Tang Wulin wanted to test his defense, Xie Huanyue wanted to test Tang's attack. When Tang's fist landed on Xie Huanyue, both their gazes changed simultaneously.

Tang Wulin felt his fist hit an extremely elastic ball; it sank into the fat instantly while a strong rebound force reduced the punch's power, dissipating much of his strength.

Xie Huanyue sensed a bizarre force from Tang Wulin's hand, and for the first time in this freshman assessment he was knocked flying outward.

He couldn't help but burst into a hearty laugh in the air.

"Ha ha, truly a worthy name lives up to its reputation—impressive! But Tang Wulin, just like this you can't beat me!"

He spoke arrogantly, yet Tang Wulin offered no rebuttal.

He could sense that most of the punch's force was neutralized, so although Xie Huanyue appeared to be knocked away, he was actually unharmed.

Normally, Tang Wulin would now draw his Golden Dragon Claw to crush him, but his condition is too poor, and without a guaranteed killing blow he dares not use the Golden Dragon Claw.

Moreover, Xie Huanyue hasn't used any of his three soul skills yet; for soul masters, soul skills can truly turn a battle's outcome, so facing an opponent who still hides soul skills while at a disadvantage is the worst scenario.

Fortunately, it's not that there's no chance of victory; on the contrary, a winning opportunity has already emerged.

On the other side, the Luo brothers also collided with Zhou Sichen's two summons.

Their first soul skill ignited simultaneously, the long blades on their arms lengthened twice as much, slashing toward the two summons.

Facing their attack, Zhou Sichen's Flame Tiger didn't dodge, lunging forward, apparently intending to trade damage for damage.

Luo Tianlong and Luo Tianba, both agile‑attack types, clearly couldn't use such a bold tactic; they paused, then leapt aside to evade.

Yet as they leapt, Ice Bear seemed to anticipate their landing spot, swiping its bear claw that way.

If it connected, although it couldn't eliminate them, it would significantly affect the subsequent fight.

The Luo brothers understood this, exchanged a glance mid‑air, a ruthless glint flashing in their eyes.

Immediately, their second soul rings glowed, and both bodies spun at high speed, the long mantis blades casting phantom arcs, ready for a head‑on clash with Ice Bear.

The two great soul masters unleashed their second soul skill at full force; Zhou Sichen's summoned Ice Bear couldn't withstand it.

Unexpectedly, at that critical moment, Ice Bear seemed to anticipate their second soul skill and retreated decisively.

Their attacks instantly missed empty space; the feeling of a grand move failing made them extremely uneasy, their feet staggered, and they almost couldn't stay upright.

The timing was perfect, right as the Luo brothers released their second soul skill; a fraction slower they'd be hit, a fraction faster they'd miss their own strike.

Clearly, this reflects not only a gap in combat experience but also in teammates.

As a defensive soul master, Xie Huanyue lacks any crowd‑control skill, whereas Huo Yutong, a control soul master, governs the battlefield's flow; she directed Zhou Sichen to execute this combo.

Now on the field, Xie Huanyue, just knocked away, hasn't returned; the Luo brothers' second soul skill is still in a vacant, stiff state, presenting the best reversal opportunity.

Guided by the shared mental detection map in their minds, the counterattack began.

Side note: I declare that none of the defensive soul master traits described in this chapter apply to Xu San Shi.

Because his setup simply doesn't resemble a defensive type.

Look at his first six soul skills: the first soul skill is attack, the second soul skill is defense, the third soul skill is amplification, the fourth soul skill is displacement (divine skill), the fifth soul skill is attack, the sixth soul skill is domain (divine skill), the soul bone Golden Cicada Sloughing cleanses debuff and also brings displacement.

Among all soul skills, only the second soul skill is a genuine defense soul skill, heh, 'Defense System'.

(End of chapter)