Just then, the soft-voiced, short-haired girl Ning Rongrong exclaimed,
"So it really is the Immovable King Zhao Wuji—he disappeared from the continent for years! I didn't expect him to be teaching at Shrek Academy. I heard he had serious conflicts with Spirit Hall and was even hunted down by them."
After Dai Mubai briefly went over some of Zhao Wuji's background, he urged the group,
"Alright, everyone, get to know each other and come up with a strategy quickly."
Lin Jie, though rolling his eyes mentally, Strategy? Against someone who can crush us with brute force? No amount of coordination is going to change that.
Still, he chose to play along. After all, he needed to build rapport with his new companions—especially Tang San. Sooner or later, he needed to get the list of immortal herbs out of him.
"Lin Jie. Martial Soul: Lightning. Rank 32 Control-type Soul Master."
He had thought about saying he was an Assault-type, but considering his soul skills, Control was more accurate.
"Zhu Zhuqing. Martial Soul: Hell Civet. Rank 28 Agility-type Soul Master."
"Ning Rongrong. Martial Soul: Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda. Rank 27 Support-type Soul Master."
Hearing that, Tang San's expression changed noticeably.
"Your Martial Soul is the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda? That means... you're from the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan?"
The Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda was a unique inherited Martial Soul, only possessed by direct descendants of the clan. No one outside the clan could awaken it.
He remembered Grandmaster once said that it was the strongest Support-type Martial Soul on the continent.
Ning Rongrong stuck out her tongue playfully and said proudly,
"Don't look at me like that. I'm really not that different from you. I sneaked out of my clan, actually. But let's focus on passing this test first. My Martial Soul grants two soul skills right now—boosting strength and speed. The boost is about 30%, and it lasts a full incense stick."
After everyone briefly shared their Martial Souls, soul power levels, and roles, Lin Jie spoke up.
"Ning Rongrong, you'll handle support. Xiao Wu, you'll take the main offense. Tang San and I will focus on controlling Teacher Zhao's attacks. We'll try to limit his movements as much as possible."
He turned to Xiao Wu with a teasing smile,
"Unless you don't think you're up for it. If you'd rather I take the lead, that's fine too."
Xiao Wu snorted, "Who says I'm not up for it? You're the one who should worry. I'll be the main attacker."
Then Lin Jie leaned toward Zhu Zhuqing and said gently,
"Zhuqing, I'll need you to flank him—use your speed to harass and distract. Be careful, and just do your best."
He glanced around at the group.
"Everyone okay with that?"
Ning Rongrong nodded. Zhu Zhuqing gave him a quick glance and nodded as well. Xiao Wu huffed, but didn't object. Tang San, seeing everyone else agree, also nodded. To be fair, Lin Jie's plan matched what he had been thinking anyway.
This would be their first time going up against someone so overwhelmingly powerful. Lin Jie couldn't help but feel a tinge of excitement. Finally, a proper fight. Hopefully it won't end too quickly—this is a rare chance to test my skills.
Zhao Wuji stood up and stretched, yawning.
"You done strategizing? Good, let's get this over with. I've got lunch waiting."
His loud voice echoed through the training field as Lin Jie turned and noticed that the incense stick was nearly burned out.
"We're ready," Lin Jie said to Zhao Wuji.
Dai Mubai stepped back to the sidelines to observe. Although there was a massive power gap, there was a lot to learn just by watching this fight.
Lin Jie clenched his fists, the corners of his mouth twitching upward. Let's go. Time to throw some fists.
Zhao Wuji walked to the center of the field. He rotated his wrists and cracked his neck, making a symphony of bone-popping sounds that made everyone wince.
Before Zhao Wuji could light another incense stick, Ning Rongrong made the first move.
"Seven Treasures, appear as Glazed Tile!"
With a graceful spin, seven-colored light erupted from her body. A small, brilliantly radiant pagoda about a foot tall materialized in her palm.
"First treasure: Strength!"
Her first soul ring lit up, and two beams of colorful light shot from the pagoda—landing on Lin Jie and Xiao Wu.
A warm current surged into Lin Jie's limbs, immediately invigorating his entire body. Even his soul power began surging.
Zhao Wuji raised an eyebrow.
"Didn't expect a member of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan this year. Not bad. Flender's going to be thrilled."
As he spoke, he casually lit his incense and planted it firmly into the ground.
"Second treasure: Speed!"
Another two beams of light burst forth, this time activating her second soul ring.
The newfound agility made Lin Jie secretly impressed. No wonder this is the number one Support Martial Soul—speed and strength boosts of 30% are insane.
But just then, Zhao Wuji made his move.
He didn't charge at them—he crouched slightly and smashed both fists into the ground.
The moment Lin Jie saw it, he knew exactly what Zhao Wuji was planning: Target the support.
It was textbook. Ning Rongrong was the greatest threat in long-term combat. Zhao Wuji was trying to take her out early.
Tang San also noticed it and was about to act.
But Lin Jie was faster.
He lashed out with a whip of electricity—an advanced application of his third soul skill, Thunder Net—wrapping it carefully around Ning Rongrong's waist.
With precise control, he leapt into the air, dragging Ning Rongrong with him.
Boom!
A deafening impact rocked the ground as a shockwave of yellow-brown energy surged outward from Zhao Wuji's fists.
But his greatest weakness was his lack of speed.
Let's see if you can even touch me, Lin Jie thought smugly.
He landed beside Ning Rongrong and caught her gently in his arms.
"You okay?" he asked.
Ning Rongrong shook her head with a cute little motion.
"I'm fine."
"Stay sharp. You're target number one now."
With that, Lin Jie carried her out of harm's way.
Tang San had also planned to protect her, but Lin Jie was simply too fast.
He looked at the crater Zhao Wuji had created and thought grimly, As expected of a Soul Sage. I could never make this kind of destruction with my current strength.
Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing reacted quickly as well—Xiao Wu flipping forward from the front, Zhu Zhuqing dashing in from the side, both avoiding the shockwave with agility.
Tang San jumped in simultaneously.
Now, Lin Jie joined the fray.
Zhao Wuji, seeing his ground slam had failed, actually smiled. When Xiao Wu leapt toward him, he didn't dodge—instead, he clasped his hands behind his back and invited the hit.
Xiao Wu, naturally, wouldn't waste the opportunity. Twisting in midair, she activated Spirit Possession and aimed both feet at Zhao Wuji's shoulders.
Bam! Bam!
She landed both strikes cleanly, but Zhao Wuji didn't even flinch.
With a smirk, he said,
"Little girl, you don't seem to have much strength."
Xiao Wu snorted.
"Is that so? Then I'll show you some real strength."
Her feet clamped onto his shoulders like suction cups, her toes pressing into the arteries at either side of his neck. She twisted her waist, preparing to launch her Waist Bow technique.
At that exact moment, Zhao Wuji suddenly felt a tightness all over his body.
A shimmering web of blue-white lightning had wrapped around him—arms, legs, torso—all securely bound.
It was Lin Jie's third soul skill: Thunder Net.
The net didn't just immobilize. As a soul skill refined from a Thunder Spider, it carried not only electrical paralysis but also a nerve-numbing poison.
The moment the Thunder Net activated, a wave of numbing electricity and venomous toxin surged into Zhao Wuji's system.