"What?"
"Classmate Gu Yuena, you're not participating in tomorrow's revival match?"
In Blazing Academy, Gu Yuena's words were like a deep-sea torpedo, stirring up a thousand waves.
"I have some matters to attend to these next few days. I've already discussed the competition with Teacher Bi Ji."
"She agreed."
Saying this, Gu Yuena leaned slightly behind Bi Ji.
Bi Ji: "…"
Do I dare disagree? Could I possibly disagree?
You're my boss!
"But it's the All-Continent Elite Soul Master Tournament! What could be more important than the competition?" Feng Xiaotian was unwilling to accept this. If they defeated Shrek tomorrow, they would secure a top-three position.
Even if they didn't win first or second, there was still a soul bone as a prize!
But without Gu Yuena, their key player, how could they possibly defeat Shrek Academy, which had two Soul Kings and a Martial Soul Fusion Technique?
The level disadvantage wasn't so easily overcome.
Moreover, since Shrek proposed the use of soul tools, they must have something even more powerful than the Zhuge Godly Crossbow.
In a few matches, due to some strategic missteps by Shrek's teacher, Grandmaster, their main lineup didn't compete.
The Shrek team had used the Zhuge Godly Crossbow to win matches.
And not long ago, the Seven Treasure Glazed Sect had also used soul tools. How could they win against that?
They barely understood what soul tools even were. If the livestream screen counted as a soul tool, then sure, maybe!
But could that be used in combat?
If Gu Yuena left the team at such a critical moment, it would be a disaster.
Not only Feng Xiaotian but also teammates like Xue Ke and Huo Wu couldn't understand Gu Yuena's decision.
Though they hadn't known Gu Yuena for long, it was clear she was as knowledgeable as Bi Ji, especially about soul beasts.
Looking at the group of students, Bi Ji forced herself to explain, "Well… Classmate Gu Yuena has some urgent family matters to deal with and needs to leave for a few days."
"Actually, you don't need to worry about winning or losing," Gu Yuena interjected at the right moment. "Whether you defeat the Shrek team or not, you'll still get your prizes. Bi Ji has prepared them for you."
When Gu Yuena spoke, she didn't even use the word "teacher."
Others might not have noticed, but Xue Ke did.
She felt that the relationship between Bi Ji and Gu Yuena wasn't like that of a student and teacher.
It was more like a superior and subordinate.
She couldn't understand it.
What kind of existence could be the superior of a level 99 Title Douluo? Of course, Xue Ke also knew such matters weren't something a mere Soul Ancestor like her could inquire about.
"Prizes? What prizes?" Huo Wu's eyes widened like copper bells.
Prizes were only for the top three!
If they placed fourth, would there still be prizes?
Weren't they just there to be the green leaves that set off the red flowers? Why so much drama?
"At the end of the competition, your team leader, Bi Ji, will tell you," Gu Yuena said cryptically before walking out the door. Bi Ji, silent for a long moment, followed her out.
The Blazing Academy students were left staring at each other, dumbfounded.
"My Lady, it seems we only prepared prizes for the top three. Blazing Academy…" Bi Ji began as she and Gu Yuena reached a corner, unable to hold back her question.
"I meant the top three! When did I say fourth?" Gu Yuena shrugged.
"But I don't think these students can beat Shrek's team."
Bi Ji knew their situation. Even with a sack of fruits from the Myriad Demon King to boost the Blazing Academy team, they still fell short of Shrek Academy's members.
Combat experience aside—Shrek's team had come out of the Killing City, something their students couldn't match in such a short time.
As for levels, even after eating so many fruits, Huo Wu was only level 49, the highest in Blazing Academy.
The weakest was Xue Ke, around the same age as Shrek's students.
Her martial soul was the Emerald Swan, and she was a level 43 Soul Ancestor.
"Who said you have to win?" Gu Yuena rolled her eyes. "Bi Ji, why are you getting so immersed in the role of a human team leader? Don't forget your identity."
"My Lady, I would never forget my identity," Bi Ji replied, not quite understanding what Gu Yuena was hinting at.
The Gu Yuena before her was essentially the same as the one in the Star Dou Forest.
But this version, reshaped with part of the Silver Dragon King's consciousness, seemed not only less imposing but also a bit playful.
She didn't know what caused it, but it made her seem more approachable, without that heart-shaking aura.
"Bi Ji, let me tell you something," Gu Yuena lowered her voice. "I studied Tang San's Zhuge Godly Crossbow after getting it from Qian Renxue."
"That thing isn't a soul tool. It doesn't rely on soul power to activate… It's called a hidden weapon."
"Do you understand what I mean?" Gu Yuena looked up at Bi Ji.
Bi Ji was silent for a moment before speaking, "Isn't this nitpicking? Soul tools don't have strict definitions nowadays."
"No, there are definitions; they're just not explicitly stated," Gu Yuena said, lightly flicking her wrist to produce a document outlining soul tool definitions, issued by the Seven Treasure Glazed Sect, adopted by Spirit Hall, and used as the rule for this tournament.
"Besides, Bi Ji, why would we strengthen our enemies?"
"I just told you, didn't I? Tang Chen led the Clear Sky Sect to invade the Star Dou Forest, trying to capture the Red King, but was driven off by Di Tian."
"Why wouldn't we do something to weaken our enemies?"
"And…" Gu Yuena paused briefly, "the Myriad Demon King, through its unique abilities, overheard their conversation."
"The Asura God secretly contacted the Sea God, who sent the High Priestess of Sea God Island to rescue them."
If not for the arrival of someone from Sea God Island, Di Tian might have taken down all the Clear Sky Sect soul masters except Tang Chen. But this involved higher-level gods.
Di Tian hesitated, unsure whether to risk alerting them.
"The one who saved them from Di Tian… is that Xi Xi, the one Qian Daoliu can't forget?"
Having spent so long in the human world, Bi Ji knew a bit about Sea God Island.
"She's not called Xi Xi. Her name is Bo Saixi, the High Priestess of Sea God Island, a level 99 Limit Douluo," Gu Yuena said, rolling her eyes.
"In human terms, Qian Daoliu doesn't even qualify as a backup. I really don't get what's so great about Tang Chen."
Gu Yuena couldn't help but rant, "In terms of looks and temperament, Qian Daoliu outshines Tang Chen by a mile, and he's more refined and principled."
Compared to Qian Daoliu, Tang Chen felt like an uncivilized Titan Giant Ape.
"Is that so…" Bi Ji took out a not-too-thick book from the soul tool on her wrist.
She began flipping through it rapidly.
"What are you looking for?"
"Looking up something about human personality strategies."
Before Gu Yuena could continue, Bi Ji's eyes lit up, stopping at a page and explaining, "In the human world, some powerful women with high status prefer unconventional love—perhaps something wilder or more thrilling."
"It's called a sense of contrast, or what some nobles call taboo."
"Bo Saixi might be this type of woman."
Gu Yuena: "???"
Bi Ji, have you lost your mind?
When I throw out a question mark, it's not me who has the problem—it's you!
What are you doing researching this in your spare time?
Your interests are way too broad!
"How about it? Doesn't it perfectly match Bo Saixi's behavior?" Bi Ji asked, looking down at the youthful Gu Yuena after reading the book's introduction.
Gu Yuena: "…"
I don't care if it matches her behavior.
That's not the point!
Gu Yuena coughed lightly, forcibly dragging the topic back.
"In short, Bo Saixi finding Tang Chen is related to the Sea God and the Asura God."
Getting to serious matters, Bi Ji put away the book and became serious.
"What do you plan to do?" Bi Ji asked.
"She's here for the Heart of the Sea God, which has already become the framework of this body of mine."
"She'd have a hard time finding it. What I'm worried about is that they might cause trouble after the soul master tournament ends," Gu Yuena said, pausing briefly. "Bi Ji, I'll be going into seclusion for a while to remove all the marks on me that could be detected."
"You go tell Bibi Dong and Qian Daoliu to delay the finals as much as possible."
"Based on the Clear Sky Sect's behavior, they'll likely wait until the end of the tournament to act."
"I understand," Bi Ji nodded, realizing this was why Gu Yuena was leaving the team.
"Oh, and don't forget to tell them about the Zhuge Godly Crossbow."
"Though I haven't been with Blazing Academy long, I'm still a short-term student there. Leaving without doing something doesn't feel right."
"In human terms, what's it called?"
"Oh, right—courtesy demands reciprocity."