The next day.
Su Ming arrived at Training Ground No. 3.
By now, nineteen people had already gathered on the training ground. Including Su Ming, that made a full twenty.
Doing the math, eleven were from the first grade, eight were from the second grade, and then there was Su Ming.
"Senior Brother Su Ming is here."
Tang Wulin clapped his hands, gathering everyone together.
"Senior Brother Su Ming, let me introduce you."
Under Tang Wulin's introductions, both sides quickly became acquainted.
"Our numbers are still too high. The challenge match allows a maximum of fourteen participants, so we need to eliminate six people. Furthermore, the fourteen team members must be divided into main roster and substitutes. That's also today's goal."
"No problem here," Yuanen Yehui said calmly, her arms crossed over her chest.
She was currently in the form of a short young man.
"The selection criterion will definitely prioritize strength, but it's impossible for every pair to fight each other. So, how about we first vote to select seven universally acknowledged main roster members? Then, we can choose the substitutes from the remaining thirteen people?"
The proposal came from Yue Zhengyu.
As he spoke, he was also staring at Su Ming.
Logically, he had never met Su Ming before, but in reality, he had long heard of Su Ming's famous name; the technology for his family's Evil-Revealing Mirror was researched and developed by Su Ming.
"Alright!"
Tang Wulin had no objections.
On the second-grade side, Yuanen Yehui also had no objections.
With the two class monitors in agreement, the voting began.
"Senior Brother Su Ming definitely deserves a spot on the main roster," Tang Wulin stated first.
Yuanen Yehui narrowed her eyes.
She stared at Su Ming but did not refute.
From Su Ming's body, she sensed an unparalleled pressure.
"Yue Zhengyu and I should count."
"Gu Yue and I should count too."
And so, the two class monitors listed the people they believed were qualified to be directly selected for the main roster.
Finally, the seven-member group was formed: Su Ming, Yuanen Yehui, Yue Zhengyu, Tang Wulin, Gu Yue, Wu Siduo, and Ye Xinglan.
Ye Xinglan was controversial, so a fight was necessary. After a great battle with a second-grade Spirit Ancestor, she gained recognition.
Because both Ye Xinglan and that Spirit Ancestor had expended energy, and considering that Spirit Ancestor's formidable strength, he was unanimously approved to become a substitute.
"There are twelve people left. You will compete for the six remaining spots."
The twelve people were divided into two groups of six for a team battle.
In the end, the remaining six were selected. Xu Lizhi stayed because his support effects were excellent. Among the four talented youths Luo Guixing, Xu Yucheng, Yang Niansha, and Zheng Yiran, only Luo Guixing and Yang Niansha were chosen. Xu Xiaoyan and Xie Xie undoubtedly couldn't even come close. The other three were all second-grade students.
Tang Wulin felt helpless about this result.
But, he couldn't change anything.
Different from the original timeline, his relationship with Gu Yue wasn't that close. This led to Gu Yue absolutely not using a Martial Soul Fusion Skill with him; Tang Wulin didn't even know such a skill existed.
Because of this, whether it was the first-grade class monitor selection matches or the battles between the first and second grades, his performance was slightly worse than in the original timeline, lacking that kind of awe-inspiring status.
Without status, he didn't even have the qualification to speak up and keep his two close companions.
"For the next month, how about we come to Training Ground No. 3 every day before dinner for practical combat training?" Tang Wulin proposed.
As he spoke, he was staring at Su Ming.
When he had discussed this with Su Ming earlier, Su Ming had said he didn't need practical combat training.
He thought Su Ming would stand up and veto the idea now.
And in fact, that's exactly what Su Ming did.
"Unnecessary. In the challenge match, for the forging competition, I'll take the stage—guaranteed win. As for the individual battles, if I fight, victory is assured. For the two-on-two battles, if I participate, victory is assured. For the team battle, if I'm on the field, I can ensure the elimination of the opponent's strongest member."
As soon as these words were spoken, the scene fell into silence.
So arrogant!
Tang Wulin hesitated, wanting to speak but stopping himself.
His mouth opened and closed, unsure how to begin.
Gu Yue's lips twitched.
Second-grade students like Yuanen Yehui and Yue Zhengyu all frowned.
First-grade geniuses like Wu Siduo were even more shocked by Su Ming's tone.
"Your forging skills are impeccable; we can't fault you there," Yang Niansha couldn't help but speak up.
"But aren't you being a bit overconfident saying you can defeat the strongest of the third grade?"
In forging, we have nothing to criticize, but you're only thirteen years old. What makes you think you can defeat the generally nineteen or even twenty-year-olds in Shrek's third grade?
Moreover, the strongest among the third grade.
Although the quality of students in the third grade and the few years before hasn't been great, they are still geniuses.
Previously, Shrek had spots for the Inner Court; truly top-tier geniuses would directly enter the Inner Court for study, and those with outstanding performance in the Outer Court could also exceptionally enter the Inner Court.
Now, with the academy system reformed, everyone uniformly studies in the Outer Court before joining the Inner Court.
That's why the quality of this year's first grade far surpasses that of the second and third grades.
In the second grade, Yuanen Yehui and Yue Zhengyu both, for their own special reasons, did not exceptionally enter the Inner Court.
This is the reason for forming this challenge match team.
Because the first and second grades genuinely have hope of competing with the third grade.
Their serious attitude towards this challenge match is also based on this understanding.
"Tang Wulin, Wu Siduo, Yuanen Yehui, I can sense that the three of you are the most eager to fight me. You decide amongst yourselves: do you want to come at me all together, or one by one to experience my strength?"
Su Ming pointed at each of them with his index finger.
Named by Su Ming, the three didn't hide their fighting spirit.
"Me first." ×2
"Let's fight him together."
Yuanen Yehui and Wu Siduo simultaneously looked at Tang Wulin.
Are you even a man?
So cowardly?
Tang Wulin, under the gaze of the two girls, said with a stiff scalp, "Su Ming's strength is very, very strong!"
Yuanen Yehui raised an eyebrow.
"That's still no reason for me to gang up on him with others."
Even if I can't win, I, Yuanen Yehui, would absolutely never team up to fight a junior three years younger than me again!
"Senior Brother Su Ming possessed the power to instantly defeat me three years ago. At the very least, I currently have no confidence in defeating him as he was three years ago," Tang Wulin said.
Three years ago, even with Lao Tang's possession, he couldn't defeat Su Ming.
Now, if he only relies on his own skills, he still can't defeat Su Ming.
Even though he has unlocked more of the Golden Dragon King's bloodline, and even completed his Martial Soul evolution, possessing the Blue Silver Emperor Martial Soul, he still has no confidence in defeating Su Ming.
That's right, Tang Wulin's Martial Soul had evolved. During the Tianhai Alliance competition, because Tang Wulin's setback was too severe, Lao Tang had him collect Ten-Thousand-Year Plant Essences and, while breaking the Golden Dragon King's second seal, conveniently helped him awaken his Martial Soul.
Hearing Tang Wulin's words, Yuanen Yehui frowned.
How is that possible?
She was well aware of how strong Tang Wulin's current power was.
The two had fought more than once.
Yet Tang Wulin actually said he couldn't defeat Su Ming from three years ago?
Wu Siduo also found it hard to comprehend.
***
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(Chapter End)