Chapter 61 The Survival Rules of Assistance, and the Master's "Waste Paper Theory"
At Haotian Sect, the cold wind still blows.
The farce on the iron chain bridge had come to an end. But the ending was beyond everyone's expectations. There was no expected sect wrath, nor a relentless pursuit. Instead, there was only a suffocating silence, and… a deal concerning the future.
Tang Xiao clutched the piece of deep-sea sunken silver mother tightly in his hand, as if it were the straw that would revive the Clear Sky Sect. He glanced at Tang San, whose face was purplish-black and who was in a semi-conscious state, and then at Ye Feng, who looked indifferent, as if he had come to inspect the work. As the leader of a sect, he had to choose between "family" and "survival".
"Ye Feng." Tang Xiao took a deep breath, his voice hoarse. "Your proposal... the Clear Sky Sect accepts it." "We will provide you with forging technology in exchange for the resources you promised and... that so-called 'future'." "However, Tang Hao and Tang San are, after all, disciples of my Clear Sky Sect. Today's matter ends here. If you continue to be aggressive, although the Clear Sky Sect has declined, it still has the courage to fight to the death."
Ye Feng's lips curled into a satisfied smile. "Deal." "The sect leader is a straightforward man. As long as you obediently continue forging, I won't bother arguing with two stray dogs."
Ye Feng turned around, slung the Thousand Chance Umbrella over his shoulder, and waved to the Clear Sky Sect members with his back to them. "Oh, by the way, a word of advice." "That Tang San, it's best not to let him stay in the sect." "He's a troublemaker. Wherever he is, there will be trouble. You've finally managed to close the mountain for recuperation, don't let one bad apple spoil the whole bunch."
After saying that, Ye Feng activated the mechanical rotor again, taking the two women into the sky, leaving behind only a mess and the Haotian Sect members with complicated expressions.
The Seventh Elder, gazing in the direction Ye Feng had left, gritted his teeth: "Sect Master! Are we really just letting him go like that? And even promising to forge iron for him? This is an utter disgrace!" Tang Xiao sighed, his eyes weary: "A disgrace? If we can't even get food, if our lineage is severed, that's true disgrace." He looked down at Tang San, his gaze hardening. "Pass down the order." "Tang Hao will remain in the sect to heal, never to set foot outside again." "As for Tang San… after he's cured of his poison, let him descend the mountain." "Until he reaches the Title Douluo level, he is not allowed to publicly declare himself a disciple of the Clear Sky Sect." "We… cannot afford to gamble."
A tear of regret streamed down Tang San's face as he lay unconscious. He had thought his return would be a triumphant triumph, a return to his roots. But instead, Ye Feng's meddling had turned him into a burden "discarded" by the sect for its own gain.
Three days later, Shrek Academy.
Tang San returned. But his appearance startled everyone. Although the poison on his face had been neutralized, several faint purplish-black scars remained—marks left by Dugu Yan's Azure Phosphorus Poison, like humiliating branding marks. Even more terrifying was his aura: gloomy and oppressive, where was the slightest trace of "Third Brother's" gentleness?
"Xiao San! How could this happen? Did the Haotian Sect beat you up?" Oscar exclaimed. "It wasn't the Haotian Sect." Tang San gritted his teeth and squeezed out two words: "It was Ye Feng."
Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang rushed over upon hearing the news. Seeing his beloved disciple's miserable state, he trembled with rage. "It's him again! This Ye Feng is simply a disgrace to the Soul Master world!" Yu Xiaogang began his "theoretical consolation" while examining Tang San's injuries.
"Little San, don't be discouraged." The Grandmaster paced back and forth in the hall, hands behind his back, trying to regain some ground. "This time, you lost not because of strength, but because of 'intelligence' and 'despicable' tactics." "He attacked on the iron chain bridge, a special terrain that restricted your movement. Moreover, he used those unorthodox mechanical hidden weapons; that's an unfair victory!" "A true battle between Soul Masters should take place on the Soul Arena, a fair and square one-on-one fight!" "Your Clear Sky Hammer and Blue Silver Emperor twin martial souls have unlimited potential. As long as you cultivate according to my plan, you will surely be able to crush him in the future!"
Tang San lowered his head, remaining silent. In the past, he would have believed him without question. But now, touching the scar on his face and recalling Ye Feng's words, "A useless bookworm who only knows how to study," Tang San's heart wavered for the first time regarding Grandmaster. Fair and square? Where is there any fairness in a life-or-death battle? Teacher… can your theory really help me win?
Just then, a discordant clapping sound came from the doorway. Clap, clap, clap.
"Brilliant, truly brilliant." Ye Feng leaned against the doorframe, took a bite of an apple, and looked at the crowd inside with a half-smile. "Master is indeed a master. 'Losing is due to bad terrain,' 'losing is due to the opponent's despicable behavior.'" "According to your theory, if Tang San is eaten by a spirit beast in the forest in the future, will you blame the spirit beast for not fighting him on the Soul Arena because it lacked martial ethics?"
"You—!" Yu Xiaogang was furious. "This is Shrek Academy, you are not welcome here!"
"Don't be so stingy." Ye Feng swaggered in, his gaze sweeping over the Shrek Seven Devils (except for Xiao Wu, who wasn't there at the moment). Finally, his gaze settled on Ning Rongrong, who had an arrogant expression on her face. "The All-Continental Elite Soul Master Tournament is coming up soon." "I'm here to teach you all a lesson." "Especially you, the young lady of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School."
On the training ground, Ning Rongrong stood with her hands on her hips, looking at Ye Feng with a defiant expression. Although she knew Ye Feng was strong, as the little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, possessing the number one support martial soul in the world, she had absolute confidence in the support field. "Class? You're just a power-attack type battle soul master, what do you know about support?" Ning Rongrong raised her chin. "My Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda can amplify strength, speed, soul power... I'm the core of the team!"
"Core?" Ye Feng laughed, the kind of look one gives a naive, innocent person. "You're a 'battery,' not a core." "In my hometown (Glory), the support is the brain, the heart, and even more so... the most hated presence."
Ye Feng pointed to the targets in the distance. "Come on, since you're so confident, let's play a game." "There are ten moving targets here, representing enemy attacks." "I will control these targets to attack you. If you can last one minute without being hit, I'll consider it a loss." "During this time, you can use your soul skills, or you can have Oscar protect you."
"That's it?" Ning Rongrong sneered. "Oscar, protect me!" "Alright!" Oscar immediately stepped in front of Ning Rongrong, creating two sausages. "Rongrong, don't worry, with me here, no one will touch you!"
"Begin." Ye Feng flicked his finger, and the Thousand Chance Umbrella suddenly disintegrated, transforming into eight floating mechanical trackers (which were also self-destructing mini-robots), which roared towards Ning Rongrong.
"A mere trick!" Oscar tried to intercept them. However, the little robots didn't charge in a straight line; instead, they traced strange arcs. Three of them caught Oscar's attention, while the other five used Oscar's body as cover (his blind spot) to circle around to his side and rear! This was the Glory Tactics: Shadow Step (Mechanical Version).
"Watch out behind you!" Tang San shouted from the sidelines. But it was too late. Bang bang bang! The five mechanical trackers didn't explode, but crashed into each other. Ning Rongrong felt a heavy blow to her back, and she fell forward, landing face-first in the dirt, her delicate dress covered in mud.
"Too slow." Ye Feng's voice rang out coldly. "It's already down? Is this all the survivability you claim to have, the so-called number one support in the world?" "What's the use of your powerful amplification if you die?"
Ning Rongrong got up, her eyes red, and cried out in grievance, "I'm a support Soul Master! I need my teammates to protect me! It's Oscar's fault for not blocking it!"
"Wrong." Ye Feng flashed and instantly appeared in front of Ning Rongrong, his face chillingly cold. "Remember, Miss." "On a real battlefield, the support is the enemy's primary target (OTT)." "No one can protect you all the time. Oscar will die, Tang San will die, your teammates will all die." "A qualified support must first learn not how to buff teammates, but—how not to die."
Ye Feng grabbed Ning Rongrong's wrist and pulled her behind a tree. "Watch closely." Ye Feng manipulated the Thousand Chance Umbrella, simulating the enemy's attack route. "Use the terrain (block the line of sight)." "Use teammates' corpses (or even living ones) as meat shields." "Use aggro transfer." "This is the art of support. You have to be like a slippery eel, making the enemy want to kill you but unable to catch you, making them grit their teeth in frustration. That's the highest level of support."
Ning Rongrong was stunned. This completely overturned the teachings of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School. She had always been taught to stand at the back of the group and release her soul skills elegantly. But what Ye Feng taught her was a barbaric, despicable, yet extremely practical survival rule.
"Again." Ye Feng showed no mercy. "If you get knocked down again this time, you can go back to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School and be a decorative vase. Don't drag others down here."
Ning Rongrong's stubbornness flared up. She gritted her teeth and wiped away her tears. "Bring it on! Who's just a pretty face!" She started running, trying to use the trees and Oscar's movements to avoid attacks. Although she was still disheveled and fell several times, the delicate air in her eyes was fading, replaced by a wildness called "survival instinct."
Ye Feng watched Ning Rongrong rolling around in the mud, a barely perceptible smile playing on his lips. This was more interesting. Rather than treating her like a princess, it was better to throw her into the mud to train her into a warrior. That was the greatest "respect" he could show her.
Ning Rongrong's special training was just a side event. The real highlight was the team tactics.
Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang, watching Ye Feng torment Ning Rongrong until she was covered in dust and grime, finally couldn't hold back any longer. "Enough! Ye Feng!" "You're abusing your students! Support Soul Masters don't need this kind of high-intensity physical and dodging training!" "My 'Seven Monsters as One' tactic emphasizes absolute coordination and formation. Tang San, as the core of the control system, will protect everyone."
"Seven Monsters as one?" Ye Feng scoffed. "You mean that fusion technique where everyone stands in a row, transfers their soul power to Tang San, and lets him show off all by himself?" "That's not a tactic, that's 'creating a god.' Once Tang San is interrupted, the rest of them are lambs to the slaughter."
Ye Feng snapped his fingers. "Since Master is so confident, let's have a mock battle." "My team (Shui Bing'er, Huo Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, Dugu Yan) VS your Shrek Seven Devils (excluding Xiao Wu, plus the substitutes)." "I'll just stand here and not move, only responsible for commanding. If you can touch me, I'll consider it a loss."
The master's face turned ashen: "Fine! I'll show you what perfect teamwork looks like! Xiao San, Dai Mubai, form ranks!"
On the training ground, the two sides faced off. Shrek Academy's team: Dai Mubai (Attack), Tang San (Control), Ma Hongjun (Attack), Oscar (Support), Ning Rongrong (Support), Zhu Zhuqing (Since Zhu Zhuqing was on Ye Feng's team at the time, Shrek Academy replaced her with Tailong as a defense/strength substitute). Ye Feng's team: Shui Bing'er (Control), Huo Wu (Control/Attack), Dugu Yan (Crowd Control/Poison), Zhu Zhuqing (Agility/Sniper).
"Is this your lineup?" Ye Feng looked at Shrek Academy's standard "warrior-mage-priest" formation and shook his head. "Too rigid."
The battle began. The master shouted, "Mu Bai, hold the line! Xiao San, use Blue Silver Grass to control the field! Fatty, suppress the enemy with aerial firepower! Rong Rong, give us a buff!" This was indeed a textbook-perfect strategy.
However, Ye Feng simply uttered a few words. These were also the most classic tactical commands in "The King's Avatar". "Bing'er, one-shot kill, control the field." "Huo Wu, resist fire ring, split up." "Zhu Qing, Box-1 tactic, lock down Tang San." "Yan Yan, release poison, block movement."
In an instant, the situation changed drastically. Shui Bing'er's first soul skill, "Ice Seal," was unleashed, but this ice seal wasn't meant to freeze people; it was meant to freeze the ground! The Shrek Seven Devils' feet instantly transformed into an ice rink, and Dai Mubai, who was about to charge forward, slipped and lost his balance.
Immediately after, Huo Wu charged into the formation. "Resist Fire Ring!" A bright orange ring exploded, causing no damage but possessing immense repulsive force. This attack shattered Shrek's formation into pieces. Ning Rongrong and Oscar were thrown into a corner.
The most crucial player was Zhu Zhuqing. It was a Box-1 tactic: sending a defensive or agile player to relentlessly entangle the opponent's core leader, isolating them from the team. Zhu Zhuqing was like a ghost, completely ignoring the attacks of others, her eyes only on Tang San. She didn't engage in direct combat, but instead used her speed to harass him. Just as Tang San was about to unleash his Blue Silver Grass, Zhu Zhuqing's claws were already at his throat; when Tang San tried to use Ghost Shadow Steps to create distance, Zhu Zhuqing used Netherworld Thrust to close the distance. Tang San was completely unable to give orders!
"Damn it! I can't get rid of her!" Tang San was terrified. Zhu Zhuqing's speed and prediction were like those of a completely different person.
"Fatty! Attack that Zhu Zhuqing!" the master shouted from the sidelines. Ma Hongjun was about to breathe fire when Dugu Yan's purple poison enveloped him. "Little Fatty, want to take a couple of breaths?" Ma Hongjun's face instantly turned purple; he could barely breathe, let alone breathe fire.
In just thirty seconds, Shrek Academy's formation completely collapsed. Dai Mubai was dancing on the ice, Tang San was helpless against Zhu Zhuqing's close-quarters attacks, and the backline support was completely exposed.
Ye Feng stood there, still holding the unfinished apple. He looked at the sweating master, took a bite of the apple, and the crisp sound was particularly jarring in the quiet training ground. "Master, is this your perfect teamwork?" "Once your control core (Tang San) is severed, the whole team falls apart." "This isn't a team, this is—a bunch of giant babies revolving around a nanny."
The battle ended brutally. Shrek Academy suffered a complete defeat. Tang San sat on the ground with a gloomy expression. He had not only lost, but in his strongest area—"control"—he had been completely shut down by tactics. The feeling of being unable to use his strength was worse than death.
Ye Feng walked to a corner and looked at Ning Rongrong, who was covered in mud and still panting heavily. In the chaotic battle just now, because she lost her protection, she was the first one to be "invited" into the fray by Huo Wu.
"How do you feel?" Ye Feng extended his hand.
Ning Rongrong looked up at the hand, then at Ye Feng's annoying yet undeniably respectable face. She didn't throw a tantrum like she usually did, nor did she cry or make a scene. She remained silent for a moment, then placed her hand on Ye Feng's and used it to stand up.
"I lost." Ning Rongrong's voice was low but clear. "You're right. I used to be... just a pretty face." "When Huo Wu charged over just now, all I could do was scream, I didn't even release my second soul skill."
Ye Feng raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Oh, so the young lady has changed her ways?" "Didn't you go crying to your Sword Grandpa and Bone Grandpa to complain?"
"Hmph!" Ning Rongrong glared at him and dusted off her skirt. "I'm not that fragile." "Ye Feng, teach me." Her eyes turned serious as she looked directly at Ye Feng. "Teach me that... Shadow Step? And how to use the terrain." "I don't want to be a burden anymore. I want to be like Zhu Qing, able to control the game."
Ye Feng looked at her. At this moment, Ning Rongrong, though disheveled, finally possessed a fighting spirit that resembled a "Shrek monster." More importantly, the way she looked at Ye Feng had changed. She no longer saw him as a rude nouveau riche, but as a respectable…mentor, or, more profoundly, a man who could make her stronger.
"Want to learn?" Ye Feng leaned closer to her, grinning mischievously as he whispered, "The tuition is very expensive." "Besides, my training will make you cry in a very rhythmic way."
Ning Rongrong blushed, but stubbornly raised her head: "I have plenty of money! As for crying... whoever cries is a dog!"
Ye Feng laughed heartily and ruffled her hair (a gesture so intimate it broke Oscar's heart in the distance). "Okay." "Then let's start tomorrow. I'll show you what 'devil training' really means." "Also, don't call me Ye Feng anymore." "Call me—Ye Xiu… oh no, call me Captain."
It was late at night. Ye Feng returned to his residence. Shui Bing'er had already made his bed. "Today's tactics worked very well," Shui Bing'er said while pouring tea. "Tang San's mentality has completely collapsed. Grandmaster will probably need several days to explain his reasoning."
"It's better if it collapses." Ye Feng took the tea, his eyes deep. "People like Tang San are used to smooth sailing. Once they encounter real adversity, their hypocrisy and vulnerability will be exposed." "Moreover..." Ye Feng took out the Thousand Manifestations Umbrella. At this moment, a silver pattern faintly appeared on the umbrella—a sign of evolution after devouring the Deep Sea Silver Mother. "The competition is about to begin." "This is not only a competition for Soul Masters, but also a stage for the great powers to vie for power." "The Spirit Hall, the two great empires, the three upper sects..." "I will drag them all down from their pedestals on this stage."
Ye Feng looked out the window; the night sky over Tiandou City was dotted with stars. "Next stop, the All-Continent High-Level Soul Master Elite Tournament." "Tang San, I hope you can bring me some different kinds of fun on the field." "Otherwise, this game will be too boring."
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