Flandre's brow furrowed deeply. "Xiaogang, are you joking? How can we allow that? You know perfectly well what a difference a single Soul Ring makes. Are you trying to send the children to their deaths? Don't forget—three of them haven't even reached the thirty-second level. Against a forty-level Soul Master team, they'd have no chance whatsoever."
The Great Master shook his head. "Of course I wouldn't let the children take that kind of risk. Flandre, there are many different calibers of forty-level Soul Duel teams."
With that, the Great Master turned to the staff member. "You said earlier that we could choose any opponent we wished—is that still acceptable?"
The staff member nodded hastily. "Absolutely. And I can guarantee that this team battle will be held in the central main arena."
Challenges above one's level were extremely rare at the Grand Soul Duel Arena, especially in team battles. In a one-on-one situation, if one side possessed a particularly outstanding Martial Soul, there might still be a slim chance of defeating an opponent with one more Soul Ring. But a team battle was a collective effort—if an entire team was weaker than the opposing side by a full Soul Ring, how could they possibly fight? As a result, cross-level challenges in team battles virtually never occurred, and in the entire history of the Grand Soul Duel Arena, there had been only a handful of successful examples. But a cross-level challenge was undeniably one of the most spectator-friendly spectacles. It was far more likely to get the crowd excited, and once word was out, the central main arena was guaranteed to be packed to the rafters. Why would the arena ever refuse such a good thing?
The Great Master continued, "Among your forty-level teams, do you have any particularly vicious ones? The kind that have injured or killed their opponents in every match. The higher the casualty rate, the better."
"What?" The staff member stared at the Great Master in shock, thinking to himself—does this man want his team to commit suicide? He had assumed the Great Master would choose the weakest forty-level team available, but he never expected to hear something like this.
Flandre grabbed the Great Master's shoulder and growled in a low voice, "Xiaogang, have you lost your mind? You want to send the children to their deaths?"
The Great Master smiled faintly. "Flandre, do you really think I would send Xiao San to his death? Relax—I have my reasons."
Flandre paused. That was true—the Great Master would never put the children in mortal danger. Tang San was his only disciple, and from the way the Great Master normally doted on him, it was plain to see he regarded the boy as his own son. There was no way he would let him take such a risk.
Seizing the moment while Flandre was stunned into silence, the Great Master posed another question to the staff member. "Does such a team exist or not?"
"Ah—yes, yes they do," the staff member finally recovered. "The Fierce God Team. A forty-level Silver Soul Duel team. Since reaching the Silver rank, they've fought forty-six matches and won thirty-one, with a total of sixty-three opponent kills and ninety-eight injuries resulting in permanent disability. They're known as the weapon of the Silver Soul Duel tier. Most Silver-rank teams don't want to face them—their fighting style is far too brutal."
The Great Master nodded with satisfaction. "Good. Then we'll challenge this Fierce God Team. Our team is called the Shrek Seven Devils, and all seven members will be taking part."
"Great Master." Seeing that the Great Master was entirely serious, Zhao Wuji and the other three teachers hurried over, trying to intervene.
The Great Master shook his head at them and whispered something in a low voice. Only then did the group's faces clear with understanding, and the worry faded from their expressions.
Flandre hesitated. "But... is this really alright?"
The Great Master replied calmly, "Flandre, this is a form of training too. Sooner or later, they'll have to face situations like this. Which do you think is better—that we guide them through it while we're by their side, or they endure it on their own?"
Flandre's gaze collided with the Great Master's in midair, and sparks seemed to fly between them. In the end, it was still Flandre who conceded. He nodded and said, "Alright. I hope you're right."
The Great Master smiled faintly. "This is the best way to test their mental fortitude. And it's something they'll have to go through sooner or later."
Flandre glanced at the other teachers. "Let's do this—we'll vote. Those in favor of the Great Master's decision, raise your hand. Majority rules."
As he spoke, Flandre was the first to raise his hand. After a moment's hesitation, the other teachers raised theirs as well, one by one.
Only then did the Great Master turn back to the staff member. "Please make the arrangements."