T/N: "A special bonus chapter for my sister's birthday today—celebrating you and all the joy you bring into our lives!"
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Chapter 76 – Possessing Wisdom Like Ancestor Tang San
By the time the last student stepped into Class One's classroom, a few seats had already been vacated.
Naturally, these seats belonged to the unlucky souls who had been expelled by Zhou Yi immediately upon enrollment.
As for Tang San, aside from a faint shadow crossing his expression, there were no signs of lingering anger. He walked directly to a seat and sat down. Once his mind regained its calm, he began to contemplate.
No wonder Huo Yuhao had not ended up in Class One like in his previous life—he should have figured that out sooner.
But… who was the silver-haired girl beside him nearby?
Why did he have absolutely no recollection of her?
Never mind—it wasn't important.
Although Huo Yuhao's reincarnation had surprised Tang San, on further reflection, it was ultimately beneficial.
A reincarnated Huo Yuhao, like him, was destined to oppose the Tang San of the Divine Realm. While they could not join forces, at least Tang San would not have to face his former self alone.
There was only one thing that remained puzzling.
Why hadn't Huo Yuhao attacked him earlier?
Given the depth of his hatred for Huo Yuhao, Tang San had never imagined he would spare him.
Could it be… that fighting inside the academy was prohibited?
Or perhaps… Huo Yuhao had sensed something Tang San had yet to discover?
He instinctively cast a glance at Wang Dong'er, who had enrolled without concealing her identity. An inexplicable, almost eerie feeling surged through him, and he couldn't help but furrow his brow slightly.
Before he could dwell further, Zhou Yi returned to the classroom. Her gaze swept across the few empty seats, and she nodded slightly.
"Alright, now that everyone is present, let's begin today's formal lesson."
She turned to the blackboard, and under the students' attentive eyes, wrote two characters: Offense and Defense.
"Today, we will discuss the most fundamental concept among Spirit Masters—offense and defense."
As she spoke, her gaze settled directly on the distracted Tang San. Her tone was straightforward.
"Tang San, stand and answer my question. Among the various Spirit Master types—Offensive, Agile, Defensive, Control, and so forth—tell me, which type leans toward offense, and which specializes in defense or support?"
Tang San, momentarily taken aback, recalled that he had once been an apprentice to a master renowned across the continent. How could such a simple question stump him?
After a brief pause for thought, he rose and smiled calmly.
"Teacher Zhou, I believe the answer to this question can be traced back to Ancestor Tang San, from ten thousand years ago."
"Oh?" Zhou Yi's brows arched, her interest piqued. "Explain in detail."
Clearing his throat, Tang San spoke with a composed smile.
"Back then, although Tang San possessed Twin Martial Spirits, he rarely relied on the Clear Sky Hammer Spirit in his youth, a type of pure offensive power.
As a Control-type with the Blue Silver Grass Spirit, lacking effective offensive capabilities, he ingeniously sought alternative methods to compensate for his weaknesses.
Through wisdom far beyond ordinary comprehension, he invented hidden weapons to bolster his striking power and created multiple innovative Spirit Skills that granted him the agility of an Agile-type and the strength rivaling Offensive-type Spirit Masters. Eventually, he founded the great Tang Sect, passing down his unparalleled techniques and benefiting countless Spirit Masters.
Even ten thousand years ago, with the aid of hidden weapons, first-generation Shrek Seven Devils' supportive Spirit Master Ning Rongrong could wield considerable combat prowess."
Pausing briefly, Tang San concluded his answer.
"Therefore, I believe a Spirit Master's approach to offense and defense cannot be defined by a single type."
"Indeed," Zhou Yi nodded slightly, a hint of approval in her expression. "I did not expect you to have such insight. You do possess a spark of intelligence—sit down."
She turned to survey the class.
"While Tang San's theory is correct, the example he used has flaws. Tang San's hidden weapons could indeed empower support-type Spirit Masters with offensive capabilities, but they had numerous drawbacks. This is evident from the eventual decline of the Tang Sect he founded, which stands today far from its former glory."
Tang San's smile immediately stiffened at Zhou Yi's critique, a shadow passing over his eyes.
In his previous life, he had revered the Tang Sect, even breaking sect rules to spread its inner teachings, aiming to restore its former glory on the Douluo Continent. Tang San had never forgotten his roots—not in his past life, nor in this one.
And now, someone openly belittled the Tang Sect's hidden weapons and ultimate techniques before him. How could he silently tolerate it?
Even the master of his previous life had spoken highly of his hidden weapons and the Tang Sect's ultimate skills.
Yet, despite his inner anger, he restrained himself. Zhou Yi, seemingly unaware of his change in demeanor, continued.
"The Spirit Guidance Device, also known as spirit tools, which I will discuss next, is the focus of today's lesson. Unlike the Tang Sect's ultimate skills, it does not require long-term training to grant the offensive power of Offensive-type Spirit Masters and the speed of Agility-type Spirit Masters. Its offensive capabilities are even more versatile than the hidden weapons of the Tang Sect.
Most importantly, Spirit Tools allow Spirit Masters lacking defensive skills to achieve defensive strength on par with Defensive-type Spirit Masters—a capability Tang Sect never possessed. Tang San, do you have a question?"
Raising his hand mid-sentence, Tang San spoke. Zhou Yi's brows furrowed slightly, yet she acknowledged him.
"Teacher Zhou, while the introduction of Spirit Guidance Devices is convenient, a Spirit Master's cultivation should fundamentally rely on themselves. External tools are merely external. Overreliance on Spirit Guidance Devices will breed dependence. Should one lose access to such devices, their strength would suffer drastically."
"Hmph. That's typical of the narrow-minded thinking from secluded sects."
Zhou Yi let out a derisive laugh.
"Of course, we considered that. Even among the Shrek Academy's Spirit Guidance-type Spirit Masters, we prioritize enhancing the body and combining skills, unlike the Spirit Masters of the Sun Moon Empire, who blindly pursue raw Spirit Power.
And let me ask you—did Ning Rongrong and Oscar, the first-generation Shrek Seven Devils, lose strength simply because they did not rely on hidden weapons?"
Tang San's expression remained unchanged. He had anticipated this line of questioning. Calmly, he answered:
"Hidden weapons do not consume Spirit Power.
The master once said that after years of study, the optimal cultivation method for Spirit Masters is to pursue personal extremes while maintaining team balance—each maximizing their strengths, complementing one another. That is the hallmark of a successful team.
A single Spirit Master has finite Spirit Power. If a support-type Spirit Master expends much of it to operate defensive or offensive Spirit Tools, reducing the duration of supportive skills, what then?"
The classroom fell into stunned silence. None had expected Tang San to openly challenge Zhou Yi.
Although the argument sounded reasonable, it lacked a solid foundation. Zhou Yi cast a sidelong glance and replied coolly:
"Setting aside whether support-type Spirit Masters might face that issue, any Spirit Power spent can be offset elsewhere.
Using a defensive Spirit Guidance Device allows allied Attack-type Spirit Masters to avoid wasting time on defense, conserving Spirit Skills and Spirit Power. Using an offensive Spirit Guidance Device grants the team an additional attacker, ending the battle sooner.
Tell me, if the fight ends early, why would support-type skills even be needed?"
Tang San faltered slightly. Before he could speak, Zhou Yi shook her head, sighing.
"I had thought you were clever, but now it seems I overestimated you. Asking such a foolish question… I have heard of the Clear Sky Sect's slight prejudice against Spirit Guidance Devices, but here, you will curb your backward arrogance!
This time, I will let it pass. Next time you dare defy me, you will be expelled! Understand?"
Her expression darkened, and a wave of formidable Spirit Power immediately pressed down on Tang San.
Feeling the immense pressure, Tang San's face shifted, his fists instinctively clenching.
Was this the same world where once his teacher had praised him as a genius? Now they deemed him foolish?
He reminded himself: his Tang Sect's ultimate techniques were the culmination of countless generations of his ancestors.
In his past life, with the first Tang Sect's hidden weapon "Guanyin Tears," he had severely injured the Angel God as a mere mortal.
If his strength were sufficient now, Zhou Yi would witness just how terrifying Tang Sect techniques truly were.
But for the moment, he had to endure. He could not yet contend with Zhou Yi. After all, he was just a student compared to an outer-academy teacher at Shrek Academy.
After a long moment, he drew a deep breath and, under the gazes of his classmates, uttered a single word through gritted teeth:
"…Yes."
Zhou Yi's expression softened slightly.
"Do not be arrogant just because your Martial Spirit resembles Ancestor Tang San's, or because you can wield hidden weapons. In Shrek Academy's ten-thousand-year history, countless gifted Martial Spirits far surpassed Tang San's, yet none achieved the same greatness.
And this applies not only to him, but to all present here. To succeed like Ancestor Tang San, one needs not only talent and effort, but wisdom equal to him! Understood?"
"Yes!"
(End of Chapter)