"Junior Brother, I still remember you!" Gongyang Mo winked at Xu Sanshi.
About three years ago, when Wang Nan and Gongyang Mo went to Tianming City to perform a supervisory mission, they caused some misunderstandings by Sea God Lake in the Outer Courtyard, and several Disciples mistook Gongyang Mo for a girl.
Among those who praised Gongyang Mo's beauty was Xu Sanshi.
"Cough!" Xuan Zi couldn't help but cough lightly, interrupting Gongyang Mo. "Alright, next up are the reserve team members."
"Outer Courtyard fifth-year, Beibei, forty-second Rank attack system Spirit Ancestor."
"Soul Guidance System fourth-year, He Caitou, Rank four Soul Master."
"Outer Courtyard fifth-year, Xu Sanshi, forty-third Rank defense system Spirit Ancestor."
"Outer Courtyard fifth-year, Jiang Nannan, forty-first Rank agility-attack system Spirit Ancestor."
"Outer Courtyard second-year, Xiao Xiao, twenty-ninth Rank control system Battle Soul Master."
"Outer Courtyard second-year, Huo Yuhao, twenty-sixth Rank control system Battle Soul Master."
"Outer Courtyard second-year, Wang Dong'er, thirty-first Rank attack system Spirit Elder."
Although Wang Dong'er no longer concealed her gender, her appearance was still as Wang Nan had seen it before, with short pink-blue hair. Aside from her face being slightly softer, there wasn't much difference from a male, appearing very neutral. It seemed she was also afraid her appearance would cause some trouble.
Hearing the introductions of Huo Yuhao and the other two, the expressions of the other Disciples were a bit strange. After all, it was the first time that second-year Disciples had been selected as reserve team members for the Soul Duel Tournament.
Wang Nan, however, had known all this long ago. There was no surprise in his heart, but rather more emotion, a feeling of people from his memories appearing right before him.
"Alright, now that you've all been introduced, it's time to familiarize yourselves with each other's abilities." Xuan Zi spoke, drawing everyone's attention. "As for how to get familiar with your abilities—there's no faster way than actual combat."
"Wang Nan, Dai Yueheng, you two will each lead a team. Each of you will select two main team members. You can decide who picks first, but the one who picks first must take one less reserve team member." Xuan Zi looked left and right. "Any other questions?"
The Disciples all shook their heads.
Dai Yueheng stepped forward and spoke generously, "Senior Brother, why don't I pick first?"
Upon hearing this, Huo Yuhao's eyes darted between Wang Nan and Dai Yueheng. Beibei, beside him, looked back at Huo Yuhao, seemingly having noticed something.
"I'll pick first." Wang Nan shook his head. "After all, my spirit power Rank is slightly higher."
Dai Yueheng's expression remained unchanged, and he nodded slightly. "Alright then, Senior Brother, please."
Wang Nan scanned the Disciples and then spoke. "Gongyang Mo."
"Xiao Nan, I knew you'd pick me." Gongyang Mo smiled "seductively" and gracefully walked to Wang Nan's side, standing still.
Xu Sanshi, standing among the reserve team members, didn't care that Xuan Zi was still standing nearby. He went around He Caitou and reached out to pull Beibei.
"What's wrong?" Beibei looked at Xu Sanshi in confusion.
"You think Senior Brother Wang and Senior Brother Gongyang are…" Xu Sanshi didn't finish his sentence, merely putting his two thumbs together.
Beibei's expression became a bit strange, and he lowered his voice. "Luckily, a Senior Sister isn't here today. You absolutely must not let anyone else hear what you just said."
"Why is that?" Xu Sanshi was puzzled.
"You'll know when the time comes." Beibei finished speaking and stood up straight, no longer reacting no matter how much Xu Sanshi pulled him.
"Oh right, I didn't notice until you mentioned it, but isn't one of the main team members missing?"
"This Junior Brother, another main team member has gone to acquire a spirit ring, so he's temporarily not present."
Hearing the familiar tone, Xu Sanshi turned his head and saw Gongyang Mo staring at him. He immediately felt goosebumps all over his body and quickly returned to his position, not daring to speak again.
Wang Nan looked at Gongyang Mo with a bit of amusement, only to see him give him an innocent look.
"Cough, for the reserve team, I choose Huo Yuhao." Wang Nan recomposed his expression.
As soon as he said this, almost everyone looked at Wang Nan. Most surprised was Dai Yueheng, who hadn't expected Wang Nan to choose the reserve team member with the lowest spirit power Rank, even with the priority to pick.
Wang Nan's gaze swept around, and he silently sighed in his heart.
At the two-ring and three-ring stage, a few Ranks of spirit power difference were not important at all. What he valued was the power of a million-year spirit ring.
Dai Yueheng probably still felt quite grateful to Wang Nan.
"Ling Luochen, Xiao Xiao." This was indeed the case; Dai Yueheng didn't pick one of Beibei or Xu Sanshi but also chose Xiao Xiao, who had a lower spirit power Rank.
"Ye Xiaosheng, He Caitou." Wang Nan saw Huo Yuhao stand beside him and then spoke two more names.
Since he already had the ability of mental detection, which was like "x-ray vision + auto-aim," he might as well prepare more spirit tools.
Dai Yueheng hadn't realized the seriousness of the situation, but Beibei had already frowned. He felt as if Wang Nan somehow knew what Huo Yuhao's abilities were in advance.
"Xi Xi, Xu Sanshi." Dai Yueheng had already chosen Xiao Xiao, and in the second round of picking, he was no longer polite, directly choosing Xu Sanshi, who had the highest spirit power Rank among the reserve team members.
"Beibei." After Wang Nan finished picking, the remaining Jiang Nannan and Wang Dong'er naturally went to Dai Yueheng's side.
"Very good, you have ten minutes to arrange your tactics. After ten minutes, the sparring will begin. As for the losing side, just shout 'I am a pig' and that's it."
During the past six months of training with Xuan Zi, the Inner Courtyard Disciples had already shouted everything from 'pig' to 'dog' and were completely immune.
Wang Nan led his team members to one side.
"Senior Brother Wang." Huo Yuhao's tone held undisguised excitement.
"Alright, we only have ten minutes. Let's put catching up aside for now." Wang Nan patted Huo Yuhao's shoulder. "Come, you first show everyone your abilities."
With that, his consciousness communicated with the Evil Breaking Dragon in advance to prevent it from accidentally harming Huo Yuhao.
Huo Yuhao suppressed his emotions, and two white spirit rings rose around him as his mental force spread towards everyone.
However, just as his mental force touched Wang Nan, his heart still couldn't help but tremble, and he involuntarily took half a step back.
"Are you alright?" Wang Nan quickly asked when he saw Huo Yuhao's movement.
"I'm fine, Senior Brother Wang." Huo Yuhao shook his head, but in his Sea of Consciousness, he couldn't help but speak to the Tianmeng Iceworm.
"Brother Tianmeng, what exactly happened just now?"
The first time Huo Yuhao displayed Mental Sharing to Fan Yu, he had felt a very terrifying sensation, but that feeling couldn't compare to what he just experienced. In that instant, Huo Yuhao felt his whole body had solidified, and by the time he reacted, he had unconsciously retreated half a step.