"You are all walking the path of spirit-type control Soul Masters."
Wang Zhong immediately deduced the reason behind their confident statement as he looked at the smug expressions on their faces.
Given Lu Xiaoshuang's mutated double-layer thick armor turtle's defensive capabilities, even Soul Kings and Soul Emperors would be helpless, let alone Soul Sects. Only spirit-type attacks would render the opponent, who had not yet reached Soul King and lacked a fifth spirit-type defensive ability, unable to resist.
"Ha, it seems you're truly a cultivation fanatic who pays no attention to anything outside your studies. You even need to guess about such things."
"We five are renowned figures in the academy."
The only male among the five spoke with arrogance, showing contempt for Wang Zhong's ignorance in not recognizing them.
"Hmph, who do you think you are? Gold Soul Coins or Soul Bones? Everyone is after you! Hanging a dog's head above the city gate, what a preposterous display of authority!"
Wang Zhong's brows furrowed instantly, and his retort nearly made the other party explode with anger.
"Wang Zhong, you..."
"Me, what about me? If you have something to say, then hurry up and say it! If not, then get out of the way."
"Don't block my path!"
Wang Zhong's tone was impatient, and he looked at the group of five with ill intentions, his disgust unconcealed.
Lu Xiaoshuang had been direct and to the point, stating her challenge was for the one million Gold Soul Coins. But these guys, who had been boasting and belittling Wang Zhong for half the conversation, had yet to utter a single word about their purpose or reasons, completely draining Wang Zhong's limited patience.
"Heh, as expected of a young genius who can defeat a third-year student as a first-year. Such arrogance and temper; it's quite substantial."
"Since you've put it that way, it would be beneath us seniors to keep hiding our intentions."
A peerless beauty in an ink-wash dress raised her hand to stop her companions from speaking, her expression calm as she said.
"Our reason for stopping you here is the same as Lu Xiaoshuang's."
"Because you won another battle of surpassing your level, you now have access to ten million Gold Soul Coin resources monthly. Such an enormous sum, almost equivalent to half a year's total financial expenditure of an empire, honestly, as your seniors, we are tempted."
"So, you're here to challenge me." Wang Zhong's expression improved significantly. Speaking directly when there's business to be done resolved everything. That previous roundabout and hypocritical demeanor was simply sickening.
"You could say that, but our challenge is different from Lu Xiaoshuang's."
"Because the challenge is not for any one of us, but for all five of us together."
The woman in the ink-wash dress calmly stated the purpose of their presence.
Five against one! How despicable!
No, this was a new challenge format.
A team battle, or rather, a group battle, would be more fitting.
After advancing to the third year, individual strength, with the addition of three Soul Rings, had begun to show its power. But this was just the beginning. Each student, due to the teacher's plans or the deficiencies of their own Martial Souls, had various flaws and weaknesses.
To address these at the current stage, every student in the third and fourth years would spontaneously form teams with acquaintances or close friends to compensate for their deficiencies.
This was the reason for team battles among third and fourth-year students.
Wang Zhong's expression turned grim. If it were a one-on-one battle, he was confident of victory against any of them, even the woman in the ink-wash dress.
However, a team battle made things difficult.
Currently, Wang Zhong had only four close friends: Hu Liena, Xie Yue, Yan, and Qian Renxue. Including himself, that made a total of five people, barely enough to form a five-person team.
But the problem was that Hu Liena, Xie Yue, and Yan were currently only around level ten Soul Masters, not on the same level as the opponents' five.
Qian Renxue was better, already a Soul Elder above level thirty. Her strength was slightly weaker, but her Angel Martial Soul was a top-tier Martial Soul, which could fully compensate for the gap.
"The time is the year-end all-grade competition next year. The five of us will issue a challenge to you before your battle with Teacher Eagle."
"Little junior brother, good luck."
"We hope you will still be as arrogant as you are today."
The group left together. Wang Zhong stared at their retreating backs, feeling a sense of trouble for the first time.
Fighting five people alone was something Wang Zhong couldn't achieve at this stage. Even if he gained another Soul Ring, it would still be impossible.
This was an advantage in numbers! Without absolute power suppression, there was no way to overcome it. Moreover, the opponents were all Soul Sects with at least twenty levels higher than Wang Zhong. To overcome this, he would need to be at least at the same level as Ying Yanyang.
Yes, it was possible, and even then, not guaranteed. Because a well-coordinated Soul Master team's combat power would skyrocket, and they could have a chance to win even by surpassing ten or twenty levels.
"Things are a bit difficult."
Wang Zhong scratched the back of his head, his expression extremely vexed.
Why couldn't they have a good one-on-one fight? They had to go for a team battle, as if looking for trouble. True men fought one-on-one, wasn't that exciting?
With his hands behind his head, Wang Zhong listlessly resumed walking towards the dormitory apartment.
"I'm back!"
He shouted heartily as he pushed the door open, completely devoid of his earlier dispiritedness.
"Zhong, how did things go?"
"Yeah, what's the teacher's attitude?"
"Are we really going to fight the teacher with all our might? Then what about future classes? Should we follow his plan for obtaining Soul Rings? Will he make things difficult for us?"
In the hall, Hu Liena, Xie Yue, and Yan were seated neatly. The moment Wang Zhong returned, they immediately surrounded him, a barrage of questions pouring out like popping beans.
Wang Zhong pressed his hands down, signaling his three companions to calm down. Once they quieted, he walked to the sofa in the hall and said leisurely.
"Things cannot be changed. Teacher Eagle's decisions are irreversible. This means that for at least the next three years, he will be our opponent."
"Furthermore, the teacher also told me that what he hopes to see most is for us students to surpass him. Every challenge between us will be fought with full effort, and he requires us to do the same."
"By the way, Yan, why are you asking such strange questions! What do you mean about future classes, and whether we should obtain Soul Rings according to his plan, and about him making things difficult for us?"
Wang Zhong looked at the worried Yan with a strange gaze and said with a chuckle.
"Teacher Eagle is a teacher. He's not some dark-hearted villain. Challenges are challenges, and teaching is teaching! He won't neglect our education because of the challenges between us. Rest assured."