On the training ground, two groups of people were running around a large circle, each carrying a sandbag. The group
in front was led by Ma Hongjun and his nine-man team, while the group behind was led by Su Dashan and his dozen or so smaller teams.
The training ground was large; ten laps would cover approximately five kilometers.
However, this training volume was clearly not a problem for Ma Hongjun, as he had already undergone three months of special training back in Majia Village.
Therefore, after the fifth lap, Ma Hongjun and Yan Xing each had an additional five kilograms added to their load.
The devil never explains himself; his training methods are largely derived from the military, and efficiency is paramount. If you try to negotiate with him, you're likely to be taken out for individual training.
After the run, various training exercises followed: high-speed obstacle courses, vertical ropes, sprints with loads, and even mud rolling.
Ma Hongjun felt like he was in a special forces training camp, perhaps even more so.
What's even more infuriating is that the devil clearly holds a grudge; he deliberately added something smelly to the mud beforehand, causing everyone to smell terrible after training.
Ye Xingchen and the others dared not speak out, and Ma Hongjun, seeing how cowardly his underlings were, and remembering the deep impression he had left on the devil the night before, had no choice but to back down as well.
The devil, meanwhile, smiled wickedly, feeling much better, and thought to himself,
"A bunch of little brats, daring to mess with me."
The devil could only settle his personal score in this way, since he really couldn't beat a bunch of kids now. But it was clear that his gaze towards these kids held not only admiration but also a touch of care.
"Go back and wash up before class, don't stink up your teacher!"
Sure enough, after washing two or three times, the smell was still there.
Because he had joined the special training team, Ma Hongjun no longer attended classes with his nine underlings, but instead held separate classes with Ye Xingchen and a few other older underlings.
The teacher was a stunningly beautiful woman with an exceptional aura. Her long legs, barely concealed by her short skirt, were incredibly alluring, her figure resembling that of a European or American model. Even a book held to her chest couldn't quite support her ample bosom. Long, flowing blonde hair cascaded down her sides, radiating charm.
"Don't look around. That's the devil's lover, Teacher Qianling. She's a healing-type Soul Master. The devil was injured last night, and it was Teacher Qianling who healed him,"
Ye Xingchen whispered, nudging Ma Hongjun.
Whether it was because of the beautiful woman or the influence of his inner demons, Ma Hongjun found his self-control weakening. Upon seeing a beautiful woman, his gaze would uncontrollably be drawn to her private parts, and his mind would already be conjuring up scenes from adult films.
Back in the classroom, a special training room for the special training team, there were only ten students, including Ma Hongjun.
"Why does it smell so bad so early in the morning? Did you fall into the toilet?"
Teacher Qianling covered her nose, but a slight smile played on her lips, as if she was trying to suppress a laugh.
It seems she knows what's going on. Two devils, one with a devil's heart and the other with a devil's figure, they're definitely in cahoots, Ma Hongjun thought darkly.
"Yuanyuan, open both windows to let in some fresh air."
"Okay, Teacher Qianling."
"Today's lesson is about Soul Hunting Teams. First, let's talk about the composition of a Soul Hunting Team.
A truly excellent Soul Hunting Team must consist of at least five parts: a Food-type Soul Master responsible for supplies, a Recovery-type Soul Master responsible for status and soul power recovery, an Agility-type Battle Soul Master responsible for reconnaissance, a Strength-type Battle Soul Master responsible for defense, and an Attack-type Battle Soul Master responsible for eliminating the enemy.
Only a team composed of these five parts can be considered a complete team. And the cooperation between them requires a long period of practice and refinement. Just the process of developing tacit understanding alone requires at least several years of collaboration. More importantly, members of the same team must trust each other. Absolute trust. Otherwise, it is easy to collapse instantly when encountering danger.
I watched your battle last night. Your cooperation was not bad, and the effects of these years of practice are there, but the flaws are also obvious.
Before evaluating your cooperation, I would like to introduce our new member.
Ma Hongjun, please introduce yourself."
"Oh!"
Ma Hongjun stood up, seemingly bewildered. He introduced himself, but there wasn't much to introduce; everyone already knew him, including the teacher he'd only met today.
"My name is Ma Hongjun, male, six years old, martial soul: silver spear, level thirteen, one-ring battle soul master."
"Very good, Ma Hongjun. Your performance last night was outstanding. You played your role in the team very well. Although you hadn't cooperated with them before, you understood your position, knew how to seize opportunities, and acted decisively. It can be said that you played a crucial role in last night's victory.
Now, I want to hear your opinion. You can summarize last night's battle and objectively evaluate the teamwork of those nine."
Ye Xingchen and the others looked at Ma Hongjun expectantly. Indeed, Ma Hongjun's outstanding performance last night completely won them over. Moreover, whether in terms of strength or talent, they were no match for Ma Hongjun; they had no choice but to admit defeat.
"Teacher Qianling, this is also my first time participating in a team battle. I have no experience at all. I just went for it whenever I saw an opportunity.
Ye Xingchen and the others performed very skillfully. Their formation from the beginning was excellent, and I couldn't see any problems with it. It was just that Andra's fireball missed and hit Benson, but that was because Teacher Chu reacted too quickly."
Ma Hongjun's evasive answer disappointed Qianling, and she asked Ma Hongjun to sit down.
Ma Hongjun had noticed some problems, but he couldn't think of a good alternative. For example, the overly linear positioning prevented Benson, Andra, and Lin Mufeng from fully utilizing their abilities, but arranging them differently would put the two backline supports in danger.
Most importantly, it was the first day of class, and it was best to be humble. Even if Ye Xingchen and the others made mistakes, Teacher Qianling would definitely notice, and she would explain them later. Ma Hongjun didn't need to try to stand out.
Sometimes, being too outstanding can leave you friendless, regardless of whether you're truly excellent.
Sure enough, Teacher Qianling began her lecture.
"First, let's talk about your positioning. To deal with a Soul Master like Chu Tianye, who combines agility and power, the most important thing is control. Ye Xingchen did a good job in this regard, knowing how to anticipate.
But what's the point of having so many people in front? Two defensive Soul Masters aren't fast enough to defend against the agile Blood Wolves.
Why not split them up, placing one in the front and one in the back, letting Dashan protect the two support Soul Masters from the back, and then letting Mu Feng go to the front to provide flank support? This way, his agility-type Soul Masters can be effectively utilized.
Also, Andra, you should be flying to the side or behind the team, not directly overhead. You need to have a clear view of the entire battle from the air, and you should learn to anticipate when releasing fireballs, instead of just casting them whenever you see someone."
"...
Of course, this doesn't mean we should fight like this from now on. Different opponents require different tactics, and we need to be adaptable.
This is something I need to learn from Ma Hongjun—always be clear about your position, role, and tasks within the team, don't wait for others to remind you. Teamwork starts with recognizing your own value."
Teacher Qianling analyzed for a while, and indeed found many problems. She didn't forget to praise Ma Hongjun at the end.
This lesson had truly taught Ma Hongjun a lot.
The Soul Master Academy teaches you to understand and integrate into the Soul Master community, and how to survive in the Soul Master world.
Although the world is different, the essence is the same; it's still the same society, still full of competition.
To do better in the Soul Master world in the future, Ma Hongjun decided to study diligently. (