74: Chapter 74 Divine-Level Martial Soul?
Master Yu finally recovered from his shock.
Catching a glimpse of the sorry state of his Dung Beetle Team, his face turned so livid it could drip water.
Just as he was contemplating how to reprimand them later, he saw Lin Mo and the other four supporting each other, with Lu Mengmeng protected in the middle, walking over slowly.
"Teacher An! Teacher Shen! We won!"
Lu Mengmeng's face was still a bit pale, and her voice sounded weak, but upon seeing the two teachers, she couldn't help but lift her chin in triumph.
Her shout felt like a needle pricking Master Yu's heart.
He turned his head abruptly to look at Teacher An Nuolan and Teacher Shen Yao, the rage in his tone barely suppressed: "Th-this... are these your students?"
The smiles that had just bloomed on the faces of Teacher An Nuolan and Teacher Shen Yao instantly froze, and they stammered, "Ye-yes, that's right..."
Only then did they belatedly remember.
Their squad had won against the team led by this Master Yu.
Both of them suddenly felt a bit guilty and subconsciously shrank back.
Upon receiving confirmation, Master Yu nearly choked on his breath.
His old face was completely disgraced today...
"Cough, cough, I'm going to check on my team members... You all, please excuse yourselves!"
He threw out those words, turned around, and left, his pace so fast it looked like he was fleeing; he really couldn't bear to stay any longer.
Watching his retreating back, Lu Mengmeng blinked her eyes and asked curiously, "Eh, who is that greasy uncle with the crew cut?"
Teacher An Nuolan and Teacher Shen Yao exchanged glances.
Teacher Shen Yao ruffled Lu Mengmeng's hair and smiled, "Just... an unimportant person. You all are the best. Come on, teachers will treat you to something delicious... Hmm..."
"Right, you all wait here for a moment. Teacher An and I are going to buy some oranges..."
In an inconspicuous corner of the arena, several pairs of hidden eyes watched Lin Mo and the seven of them leave.
"S-rank Martial Soul, awakened an Earth-rank high-level Soul Skill at the second tier..." a deep voice rang out.
"Within one minute, I want all the information on this 'Eastern Bully Squad'."
"Yes!" someone behind him immediately responded.
Lin Mo and the others didn't know yet that the news of them defeating the top-tier Martial Soul squad today had already spread through the arena as if it had grown wings.
Back to Master Yu.
His original plan had been sound: let the Dung Beetle Team rush to Bronze 4-star today, and then push hard to the Silver rank within three days.
This would not only create a "legend" in the arena to boost his reputation but also allow him to win money through this top-tier squad.
But who could have imagined that they would stumble badly in the very first match? Not only did the whole plan fall through, but even his savings were wiped out.
Perhaps some might wonder: would a dignified top-tier master be short of money?
That's true; if he really had the ability to accept many disciples, there would naturally be a constant stream of offerings coming in.
But Master Yu wouldn't do that.
To maintain the mystery of being a "top-tier master," he was always picky when accepting students, looking down on anything that wasn't a top-tier Martial Soul.
With few students, his income was naturally limited, and on top of that, maintaining his status and dabbling in strange "research" meant his expenses flowed like water.
Being able to take out two hundred million in spare cash to bet this time was already a figure he had gritted his teeth to scrape together.
However, losing money was a small matter; losing face was a big one.
The "Ace Squad" he had carefully selected had actually lost to a squad of students from a second-rate academy.
Therefore, the atmosphere in the Dean's office at this moment was so oppressive it was almost suffocating.
"Little Yu, Yuntian, I need an explanation for this."
The Dean of Vermilion Bird Academy stood before the massive floor-to-ceiling window, with his back to everyone. The cigarette pinched between his fingertips burned with a scarlet ember, and smoke curled slowly behind him.
The few academy executives and masters in the office held their breath, their breathing becoming shallow.
This old man was not only the helmsman of Vermilion Bird Academy.
He was also a Rank 9 Soul Saint who had mastered Heaven-rank Soul Skills.
One of the top experts in the Dragon Kingdom.
Master Yu tried hard to maintain his composure on his face.
However, his fingertips were unconsciously clutching the corner of his clothes, and he was extremely nervous inside.
Bai Yuntian was even less able to hide his panic, his eyes darting around.
He had only just learned the news that Lu Mengmeng could unleash an Earth-rank high-level Soul Skill.
At this moment, he was regretting it so much his intestines were practically turning green.
If he had known that girl had such potential, why would he have put on that haughty air, and even more so, he shouldn't have had thoughts about the girl's mother...
Now, not only did he miss a good opportunity to make a name for himself.
But he also angered the Dean; it was truly a case of trying to steal a chicken only to end up losing the rice.
The cigarette burned out, and the Dean stubbed it out and turned around slowly.
His gaze swept over everyone, finally landing on Master Yu Daruan and Bai Yuntian. His voice was not loud, but it carried unquestionable majesty.
"A top-tier Martial Soul squad lost to a student team from a second-rate academy, and it even became known to everyone... You, speak for yourself."
Master Yu's Adam's apple bobbed; just as he was about to speak, he was interrupted by the Dean raising his hand.
"I want the truth, don't give me that useless nonsense."
At this moment, his attitude was no longer as respectful as when he had first hired Master Yu.
"Dean, I admit, I underestimated the enemy this time."
"Underestimated the enemy?" The old man sneered.
"If I remember correctly, there is one in this squad who was the little guy you proposed to reject, right?"
"A C-rank Martial Soul that we rejected, using an Earth-rank group defense Soul Skill that even an SSS-rank Martial Soul couldn't break? This is truly a huge joke."
This was what the Dean of Vermilion Bird Academy was most angry about and focused on.
A C-rank Martial Soul, awakening an Earth-rank Soul Skill at the second tier, was already unprecedented in history...
And it even made an SSS-rank Martial Soul unable to break the defense.
"Th-this..."
Master Yu's face instantly turned ghastly pale, his lips trembled, and he couldn't speak.
Hearing the Dean's words, he finally remembered.
The biggest highlight of this duel didn't seem to be Lu Mengmeng, who had cleared the field with an Earth-rank high-level Soul Skill.
But that mediocre-looking furnace kid.
A C-rank Martial Soul could actually release a defensive Soul Skill that even an SSS-rank couldn't break.
And Bai Yuntian was struck as if by lightning, his legs going weak, nearly kneeling to the ground.
Because rejecting Lin Mo had been his suggestion in the first place.
"Hmph, I carefully observed his Soul Skill and discovered that this Soul Skill has similarities to a defensive martial art from ancient martial arts called the Golden Bell Shield."
The Dean of Vermilion Bird Academy was indeed a Rank 9 Soul Saint; he saw a clue at a glance.
Lin Mo had indeed been inspired by the ancient martial arts classics on the eighth floor of the academy and had let AI Xiao Bao combine some theories from his previous life's martial arts to generate the Soul Skill.
"Ancient martial arts?" Master Yu looked up abruptly, a flash of panic in his eyes.
He had studied Martial Soul theory his whole life, yet he scoffed at the long-declined ancient martial arts, believing them to be dregs that couldn't keep up with the times.
But the Dean's words were like a heavy hammer.
Lin Mo's Soul Skill might really have jumped out of the framework of his cognition.
"Sigh, forget it, let this matter pass for now, but I hope your team won't disappoint me in the Eastern District University Tournament three months from now."
The Vermilion Bird Dean decided to give Master Yu one more chance after all.
After all, he knew that the student named Tang Shan had not used his other Martial Soul.
This meant this battle was not the full strength of this squad.
"Don't worry, Dean!" Master Yu quickly stood up to guarantee.
If he couldn't prove himself again, the Dean's attitude toward him would only get worse, and it would be hard to return to how it was in the beginning.
And there were still three months; he didn't believe that with Tang Shan's talent, he couldn't awaken an Earth-rank Soul Skill.
After sending everyone out of the office.
The Dean walked to the desk and picked up a photocopy of a yellowed ancient book.
On it was drawn a tripod with three legs and two ears.
He picked up another sheet.
It was exactly Lin Mo's alchemy furnace.
Comparing the two, they were actually somewhat similar.
Especially the twisted patterns and trajectories on the furnace body; they were almost identical.
It was just that the shapes were very different.
Lin Mo's alchemy furnace was chubby, looking cute and Q-version.
While the tripod with three legs and two ears in the drawing looked more like the Medicine King Cauldron.
The Dean's eyes narrowed slightly.
He murmured softly to himself:
"God-rank Tool Martial Soul... Qiankun Cauldron..."