"Tianyang, since you can't participate, could you at least accommodate us and free up another spot?"
Ma Hongjun rubbed his hands together eagerly. "Our opponents this time are just too overpowered—not only do they have combination skills, but fusion skills as well. How are the five of us supposed to fight them?"
"That does make sense." Xiao Tianyang seemed lost in thought for a moment, stroking his chin before replying, "If this were before, the five of you would've stood a chance. But now… it's truly uncertain."
Ma Hongjun's face lit up with hope. "So… you agree?"
"No. I refuse." Xiao Tianyang shook his head decisively.
Disappointment washed over the group. Oscar couldn't help but ask, "Mind telling us why?"
"Because if I free up a spot, you won't give it to Jiang zhu or the others—you'll just keep it for yourselves."
"In that case, it's better to let all seven of you fight together. That way, your chances are more stable."
Xiao Tianyang paused before adding, "Besides, a same-tier competition is just a warm-up for you. If you can't even clear this hurdle, how will you face the real challenge—the Spirit Hall's seeded team?"
His words left them speechless. Even Tang San couldn't say anything as Xiao Tianyang was right.
Of course, there was nothing inherently wrong with Xiao Tianyang's stance. With Yu Xiaogang absent, he was simply exercising his authority—a right explicitly granted to him.
In other words, they had no choice but to comply.
Yet, just as silence settled over them, Xiao Tianyang suddenly smirked.
"However, while the original plan stands, I can offer you some advice. This battle may be unavoidable, but victory isn't as difficult as you think…"
The moment he spoke, surprise flickered across everyone's faces.
No one understood Xiao Tianyang's capabilities better than them.
After all, most of their current strengths were shaped by him—whether in combat techniques, experience, or even the seamless teamwork among the Shrek Seven Monsters.
"Tianyang, if you had a plan all along, why didn't you say so earlier?" Ning Rongrong pouted, displeased. "Were you just toying with us?"
"Not at all. I simply wanted to see if you had the courage to fight."
Xiao Tianyang shrugged. "But honestly, if I were to think from the grandmaster's perspective, do you know what I'd do?"
"Fight alone?" Xiao Wu ventured after a brief pause.
"Wrong. My suggestion would be to forfeit this match."
Ignoring their stunned expressions, Xiao Tianyang bit his finger and continued, "First, the current Blazing Academy is at their peak—sharp and relentless. Engaging them head-on is your first disadvantage."
"Second, while you're all geniuses, you're not invincible. In this tournament, there are opponents stronger and more formidable than you. Never forget that."
"Lastly, you need to conserve your strength. The battles ahead will only grow tougher. Is it really worth exhausting half your energy now?"
His words left them only half-convinced.
After all, Tang San and the others didn't fully grasp the intricacies of strategic competition.
To them, the Continental Elite Young Soul Master Tournament was about fighting relentlessly until the championship was won.
But in Xiao Tianyang's eyes, that wasn't the case.
True victory required method, planning, and adaptability—knowing both yourself and your enemy.
That was the essence of competition.
Of course, the Douluo Continent had long revered brute strength above all else, so their lack of strategic thinking was understandable.
But Xiao Tianyang was different.
His philosophy revolved around beginning, process, and result.
A strong beginning paved the way for smooth execution.
The process was secondary—as long as it didn't conflict with his principles, it could even be overlooked.
But the result—that was everything.
Without it, the first two were meaningless.
Tang San and the others, however, prioritized the process over the beginning.
As for the result? They believed effort alone was enough.
Neither approach was inherently right or wrong—it simply reflected their core differences.
Just as no two leaves in this world were identical, Xiao Tianyang's mindset was naturally incompatible with theirs.
As a transmigrator, he leaned toward the path of greater benefit.
Tang San, despite sharing his transmigrator status, had been shaped by a different era, environment, and experiences—leading to entirely divergent ideologies.
Thus, though they were both outsiders, their philosophies couldn't have been more different.
It was precisely this contrast that prompted Zhu Zhuqing's puzzled question: "Why?"
Xiao Tianyang didn't elaborate. Instead, he simply stated: "The effort isn't worth the reward."
One sentence summed it all up.
Tang San and the others nodded in reluctant understanding.
But Xiao Wu pressed further: "Brother Tianyang, what was that idea you mentioned earlier?"
"Xiao San, why don't you share your original plan first?" Xiao Tianyang added, "The one you had before my reminder."
Tang San was momentarily taken aback but soon fell into deep thought.
Xiao Wu immediately jumped to his defense. "Brother Tianyang, if you already have a solution, why make things difficult for Brother?"
"This isn't about making things difficult—it's a test."
Xiao Tianyang remained unbothered, smiling faintly. "You can't rely on me for advice every time you face trouble, can you?"
Xiao Wu opened her mouth to argue, but Tang San cut in: "If I hadn't considered your perspective, my lineup would've been Boss Dai, Oscar, Jiang Zhu, Tai Long… and me."
"Why you and not Fatty?" Dai Mubai asked, surprised. "In a Flame Hell environment, Fatty's the only one who can move freely. Not to mention, your Blue Silver Grass is weakest against fire."
The others exchanged bewildered glances. Even Xiao Wu, who always stood by Tang San, was confused.
But Xiao Tianyang only smiled mysteriously.
"Seems like you haven't shared your secret with them yet. Too late? Or did you not expect this scenario?"
"I truly didn't expect to face Blazing Academy so soon," Tang San admitted with a helpless smile. "Nor did I anticipate they'd undergo such drastic changes before our match."
Ma Hongjun scratched his head in utter confusion. "Wait, what are you two even talking about?"
"The key to your victory lies with Xiao San. As for the specifics of the arrangement, I'm sure he already has a plan." With that, Xiao Tianyang motioned for Tang San to step aside and whispered his strategy.
The others could only watch in anxious curiosity, unable to hear a word.
They didn't understand the need for secrecy.
The match was about to begin—and it wasn't as if there were any spies among them.
Could Xiao Tianyang actually suspect betrayal within their ranks?
…
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