Chapter 107: Provocation
Emperor Xue Ye left, and as he departed, a satisfied smile hung on his face.
In the reception room, only the three members of the Faculty Committee and Lin Yang remained.
Chief Educator Meng Shenji patted Lin Yang on the shoulder. "Lin Yang, don't worry. Just treat it as a drill. If you need anything, just say so, and we will do our best to satisfy your requests."
Lin Yang shook his head.
Since he had decided to participate, he was naturally aiming for the final reward.
Even if that Soul Bone was mediocre, it was still a ten-thousand-year Soul Bone.
Before, he could only look but not touch.
Now that he had a chance to get his hands on it, how could he watch the duck that was already in his mouth fly into someone else's bowl?
"Three members of the Faculty Committee, what about Teacher Qin..."
Zhi Lin stroked his beard and said with a chuckle, "We will handle the explanation. I imagine that Xiao Ming won't refuse, as he highly recognizes your strength."
"I would like to meet the members of the First Team."
Chief Educator Meng Shenji agreed without a second thought. "I will take you there myself. It just so happens that the First Team has no match today."
Soon, at the first training ground, Lin Yang met the members of the First Team and their leader.
"Lin Yang, let me introduce you. This is the leader of the Heaven Dou First Team—Tang Nian."
Chief Educator Meng Shenji pointed to a middle-aged man and said, "He is also one of our academy's eight senior Heaven Dou Rank teachers."
Originally, the academy only had seven Heaven Dou Rank teachers. It was only after Qin Ming achieved his Breakthrough to Soul Emperor that he officially became the eighth Heaven Dou Rank teacher.
Lin Yang bowed slightly. "Teacher Tang!"
Tang Nian glanced at Lin Yang without paying much mind, then turned to Chief Educator Meng Shenji. "Chief Educator Meng, what is this...?"
Chief Educator Meng Shenji said in a flat tone, "This is Lin Yang. He is here to join the First Team and participate in the Grand Finals."
As soon as these words were spoken, not only did Tang Nian's expression change, but the faces of the First Team members behind him also shifted. Even their gazes toward Lin Yang were filled with suspicion and resentment.
"Absolutely not!"
Tang Nian, no longer concerned with Chief Educator Meng Shenji's status, retorted excitedly, "Faculty Committee, changing members mid-competition is a major taboo. This does not conform to school rules."
"If you just shove someone in now, how am I supposed to explain it to the team members? If we lose the competition, how will I explain it to Your Majesty?"
Chief Educator Meng Shenji's expression remained unchanged, but he said in a deep voice, "This is the will of Your Majesty."
Tang Nian, who had been agitated just a moment ago, looked as if he had been strangled; he choked, his eyes losing focus as he muttered, "Ho... how can this be?"
"The fact is that Your Majesty feels that the current First Team has little hope against Spirit Hall, which is why he is making an exception to let Lin Yang join."
"Just based on him?"
Tang Nian's sharp gaze fell upon Lin Yang, his eyes full of disbelief.
He did not know Lin Yang.
It could be said that apart from the three members of the Faculty Committee and Qin Ming, who was directly responsible for the reserves, other teachers and students did not know much about Lin Yang's background.
"Lin Yang," Chief Educator Meng Shenji turned to look at Lin Yang. "The rest is up to you."
Lin Yang nodded slightly, stepped forward, and two yellow and two purple Soul Rings appeared beneath his feet.
Soul Sect?
Tang Nian's expression changed slightly.
At this moment, ignoring the changing expressions of the others, Lin Yang said loudly, "My name is Lin Yang. I am a reserve member of the next Heaven Dou team. My Martial Soul is the Nichirin Blade, and I am a Rank 48 battle Soul Sect."
Boom!
Whether it was Tang Nian or the members of the First Team, it was as if a thunderclap had suddenly exploded in their minds, numbing their scalps.
What did he just say?
Rank 48?
And a reserve member?
This Soul Power Rank is even more impressive than their main team's captain; why the hell are you a reserve member?
"Now, does anyone have anything to say?"
At this point, Tang Nian had to bite the bullet and step forward, saying, "Chief Educator, our members have been working together for several years, and their coordination is seamless. If this student Lin joins abruptly, I am afraid that the coordination with the other members might..."
Although he did not finish his sentence, Tang Nian's meaning was clear.
No matter how strong an individual's power is, the Grand Finals depend on the overall strength of the team.
"Isn't that simple?"
Chief Educator Meng Shenji said nonchalantly, "Just let Lin Yang be the captain."
"What?"
Not only was Tang Nian stunned, but the face of the current First Team captain, Zhao Yu, also became extremely ugly.
He did not expect that the other party was aiming for his position as captain.
Just as Tang Nian wanted to say something more, Lin Yang took a step forward. "I know what you are thinking, and you are very unconvinced, but... I don't care about any of that."
"Now, I will give you a chance."
Lin Yang raised a finger, his gaze sweeping over the members of the First Team one by one. "You can come at me one by one, or you can choose to attack together."
"If I lose, I will leave immediately and never bother you again; if I win, you must honestly listen to the school's arrangements and follow my instructions. How about it?"
Upon hearing this, the First Team members instantly exploded in an uproar, looking at each other in dismay.
What is this?
A challenge?
He wants to challenge all seven of them alone?
This guy must be crazy.
Even if he is Rank 48, wanting to challenge all seven of them is absolutely impossible.
This is no longer a provocation; this is looking down on them.
For a moment, the entire First Team was filled with righteous indignation.
If gazes could kill, Lin Yang's body would likely already be riddled with holes.
However, Lin Yang's expression remained calm, and he did not even lift an eyelid.
He had already anticipated this situation before coming.
He didn't have time to have heart-to-heart talks and make friends with them one by one, or gain their approval.
He just needed them to listen to him temporarily during the competition.
The simplest way is... to beat them into submission.
Beside him, Chief Educator Meng Shenji's mouth twitched. It was the first time he realized that Lin Yang actually had such an arrogant side.
But this is also good; a young man should naturally have the Martial Soul of a young man.
Acting like an old man every day would be worse.
"Are you coming?"
Lin Yang beckoned with his finger, his expression still calm.
The faces of the First Team members opposite him turned completely black.
Arrogant!
Simply too arrogant!
"Captain, what are you waiting for?"
A member shouted, "Don't you see he is already stepping all over our faces?"
"That's right!"
"Captain, if you don't go, I will. I can't tolerate this anymore."
And Zhao Yu, as the captain, was burning with anger. Ignoring everything else, he gave the order, "Attack!"
Instantly, all seven of them moved at the same time.
They were rational enough not to choose a one-on-one fight, but instead chose to swarm him.
The one charging at the very front was naturally Zhao Yu. He was an attack system Soul Master, and his Martial Soul was a long spear.
With a flick of the spear tip, a cold glint came rushing towards his face.
At the same time, the agility-attack system Soul Master had already turned into an afterimage, flanking from the side.
"The Seven Treasure has fame; the first is Martial Soul, the second is Power, the third is Speed!"
Streams of light flew out from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, landing precisely on each person.
A forty percent boost caused the power, speed, and Soul Power of all of them to increase significantly.
A dangerous smile appeared on the corner of Lin Yang's mouth. "You have guts!"
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