Class Competition

Watching Zhang Yangzi stroke his hand, the smile on Wei Xiaofeng's face instantly turned mournful. He hurriedly begged for mercy:

"Bro... smile! Come on, smile! Stop messing around, you're scaring me... Here's your hundred. Will you let go of me...?"

Terror flashed in Wei Xiaofeng's eyes. He hurriedly took out a hundred-Federation-Coin bill and handed it over, hoping to end this game that didn't seem very fun. But Zhang Yangzi didn't seem inclined to stop.

"Xiaofeng, you can keep the hundred. How about we go discuss life in the bathroom?"

Zhang Yangzi seized him and dragged him toward the bathroom, while Wei Xiaofeng shook his head in terrified refusal.

"No! Bro! I'm really begging you! No!"

Wei Xiaofeng's bloodcurdling screams echoed through the dormitory. Worse still, Wang Jinxi pressed up from behind, catching him between the two of them. The three headed for the bathroom.

Bang!

The bathroom door slammed shut. Chen Jianshu, who had witnessed the whole thing, fell silent. What kind of underworld nonsense was that? Could anyone still live in this dorm?

I suspect I never actually survived that pandemic. Otherwise, why would I be seeing things that only exist in the underworld? This is beyond unholy...

For the sake of his own safety, he wondered whether he should move out. Otherwise... with Zhang Yangzi and Wang Jinxi around, he really didn't feel safe sleeping in this dorm.

After some thought, Chen Jianshu decided to upgrade his tent.

"Projection!"

He unleashed his First Soul Skill, and a layer of sheet-metal protection appeared around his one-piece tent. He even secured the tent's zipper with a lock.

Chen Jianshu didn't sleep that night, choosing to cultivate instead. It was a peaceful night, and nothing happened.

The next day, classes resumed as usual. That morning's class was practical combat. Wu Changkong led everyone to the field, his face as eternally unmelted as ten-thousand-year-old ice.

"Next, those whose names I call will step forward and fight. Xu Xiaoyan, Na'er, you two are the only Soul Elders in the class. Start us off."

"Okay, Teacher Wu."

The two, suddenly called on, both answered and stepped onto the platform. They then summoned their Martial Souls, each with three purple Soul Rings.

"Go easy on me, Sister Xiaoyan~"

Na'er winked playfully at her. Xu Xiaoyan thought that since Na'er had called her sister, she probably didn't have much practical combat experience...

Besides, the Control System had an advantage against the Power Attack System to begin with, so it wouldn't hurt to hold back a little. She immediately replied:

"Sure."

Once both sides had released their Martial Souls, Wu Changkong announced the start of the match from the side. Na'er immediately charged out with her silver spear in hand. At the same time, her First Soul Ring flashed, and specks of silver Dragon Scales radiating seven-colored light appeared on her body.

"Silver Spirit Body!"

Na'er was incredibly fast. The fifty meters that had separated them closed in an instant. Xu Xiaoyan, who had been calm and ready to hold back, suddenly narrowed her eyes. Wait, girl?! You're serious?!

"First Soul Skill, Ice Lock!"

Several chains of ice shot up from the ground and wound toward Na'er. The next second, just as they were about to wrap around her, silver light suddenly flashed, and the ice chains caught nothing.

"Where'd she go?!"

Xu Xiaoyan's heart, which had just settled, leaped back into her throat. The next second, she suddenly heard footsteps to her left and immediately activated her Second Soul Skill.

"Ice Spirit Feedback!"

A thin shield appeared, enveloping Xu Xiaoyan. Na'er's dragon spear struck in an instant, its tip flashing with a cold gleam as it arrived.

Bang!

With a dull impact, Xu Xiaoyan's shield was instantly covered in cracks. Its shield strength was comparable to that of the life-saving Doctor Bai next door.

The Silver Dragon Spear landed on the shield. The next moment, a rebounding force struck, and Na'er swiftly pulled back her spear to defend herself. Xu Xiaoyan's shield shattered, turning into several Ice Cones that came hurtling at her.

Na'er spun and swung her long spear continuously, smashing every incoming Ice Cone. Several more ice chains attacked at the same time. Na'er fought as she retreated, while Xu Xiaoyan immediately opened up the distance, fine beads of sweat trickling down her temples.

That was close... I nearly got taken out in an instant. Good thing my skill was a notch higher. It's a pity it isn't nighttime here. If it were night, or if I borrowed the ancestor's power, I could definitely bind her.

Na'er smashed the many incoming ice chains and charged at her again, spear in hand. Xu Xiaoyan didn't dare be careless at all. If her First and Second Soul Skills couldn't do anything to Na'er, she would use her Third.

Heroes can't run away in the middle of battle. As the older sister, wouldn't it be embarrassing if I lost to my little sister?

"Third Soul Skill, Extreme Cold Storm!"

The Star Wheel Ice Staff in Xu Xiaoyan's hand blazed with light. A huge tornado of ice rapidly formed and swept straight across the entire arena.

"Damn! Is this still a spar?"

"They're trying to kill someone!"

The people below the platform watched the two fighting fiercely onstage, cold sweat pouring down their faces. This was fucking class! Just a practical spar during class! Was this necessary?

Xie Xie was sweating too. This was his first time seeing Xu Xiaoyan fight at full strength. Back at the junior academy, the rules had been strict and fighting was basically forbidden, though they had still refused to submit to one another in private and fought it out.

Every time they fought, they arranged to meet in the evening, when a few stars were beginning to appear. Xu Xiaoyan had always taken them out with one move.

Now, looking at the enormous tornado of ice, Xie Xie finally realized that she had been holding back before.

Tang Yin, meanwhile, looked thoughtful. He hadn't expected the geniuses of today to be this strong. But it wasn't a big problem. Back then, he too had faced Dai Mubai at the Soul Elder level while he himself was a Soul Grandmaster.

As it happened, now that he had been reincarnated, he also needed to build up his own following. He thought this Xu Xiaoyan was quite good.

She could fight the Silver Dragon King's incarnation, so she was someone worth cultivating. If she wanted to become his subordinate, he would be magnanimous and take her in.

Everyone below the platform had their own thoughts, while the battle onstage continued. Watching the tornado bear down on her, Na'er retreated again and again.

"Na'er, surrender quickly so I can stop. This Soul Skill isn't very easy to control."

Watching Na'er retreat repeatedly under her pressure, Xu Xiaoyan once again breathed a sigh of relief inwardly. Fortunately, she had managed to preserve her dignity as an older sister.

At the same time, she kept an eye on Na'er so she could stop the attack in time if Na'er couldn't block it. Under everyone's watchful gaze, Na'er's second Soul Ring shone.

The next moment, seven-colored light swirled around Na'er. She closed her eyes, then opened them again a second later. Her lively, beautiful silver eyes had become purple vertical pupils.

"Second Soul Skill, Silver Dragon True Eyes!"

Seven-colored light spread through the surroundings. Na'er stared at the Extreme Cold Storm before her, and the Silver Dragon Spear in her hand instantly transformed into a staff, which she pointed at the storm.

The once-raging Extreme Cold Storm, which had seemed on the verge of going out of control, began to slowly disappear. Calm returned once more.

"Huh?"

Xu Xiaoyan was dumbfounded. Where's my Soul Skill?!

The overwhelming Extreme Cold Storm, which had looked like a demon about to swallow the petite Na'er whole, vanished without a sound.

Below the platform, Chen Jianshu smiled. Xu Xiaoyan was probably completely baffled. Using elements in front of the Silver Dragon King—wasn't that like brandishing a broadsword before Guan Gong?

Na'er then charged at her with the silver dragon staff. Xu Xiaoyan was almost incapable of resisting, but she stubbornly put up one last fight.

This is the last of my Soul Power!

The Star Wheel Ice Staff in Xu Xiaoyan's hand fired an Ice Cone that struck the ground, instantly freezing a two-meter-wide area.

Na'er stepped onto the ice as though walking on level ground. Ridiculous! Would the dignified Silver Dragon King really slip and fall?

In the end, the silver dragon staff stopped in front of Xu Xiaoyan. Clearly, the match had been decided. Hajina had won!

"Thanks for going easy on me, Sister Xiaoyan."

Na'er put away her Martial Soul. Her fierce presence vanished in an instant, and she returned to her usual lively, adorable self.

"Na'er, you're so strong! How did you counter my Third Soul Skill? I couldn't quite understand it..."

Xu Xiaoyan looked at Na'er, who was half a year younger than her, and a sense of defeat washed over her. Na'er was half a year younger, yet her cultivation was equal to hers, and Xu Xiaoyan still couldn't beat her. Wasn't that a real blow?

In any case, Haji Yan had certainly been dealt a blow. In particular, her ultimate move, Extreme Cold Storm, into which she had poured more than half her Soul Power, could only be escaped from by her brother Xu Xiaoyu, even though he was a Soul Ancestor. Yet Na'er had unexpectedly blocked it with ease.

"Silver Dragon Spear, silver. This perhaps starts with the Silver Dragon, the source of silver."

Wu Changkong had seen it very clearly. Na'er and Xu Xiaoyan both looked at Teacher Wu beside them as he began to explain.

"According to ancient accounts, beneath the Dragon God and the Nine Great Dragon Kings, the Dragon Clan also had two powerful, highly representative kinds of dragon: the Golden Dragon and the Silver Dragon."

"The Golden Dragon represents the Golden Clan, which embodies absolute strength and physical power. The Golden Clan's representative today is the Emperor Auspicious Beast of the Soul Beasts, the Three-Eyed Golden Lion, who wields the Golden Dragon Spear."

"The Silver Dragon, the Silver Clan's representative, embodies power over elements and the spirit. Na'er's Silver Dragon Spear Martial Soul belongs at least in the Super Martial Soul category. Its Elemental Control has priority over your Star Wheel Ice Staff's, which is why she could easily seize control of your Elemental Storm."

Listening to Wu Changkong's explanation, Xu Xiaoyan suddenly understood. So that was it. Her Martial Soul had been absolutely suppressed. In that case, it was fine; the problem wasn't with her.

"Thank you for clearing that up, Teacher Wu."

"Mm. Your Xu Clan isn't a clan that established itself through ice, either. Its truly powerful aspect is no inferior to the Silver Clan's. Keep working hard."

"Yes, Teacher!"

After Na'er and Xu Xiaoyan left the platform, the next fight was Chen Jianshu against Xie Xie.

"Haji Shu, I haven't seen you all summer. You haven't gotten rusty, have you? I've improved quite a bit."

Xie Xie rolled up his sleeves, eager to give it a try. As geniuses, they naturally had their own pride.

"Of course not. Who knows? I might break through to Soul Elder soon."

Chen Jianshu turned his hand over, and a fist-sized Card resembling a gemstone appeared. An utterly ordinary Iron Sword was engraved on it.

"Go, Brother Jianshu!"

Na'er cheered him on from below the platform, while Xu Xiaoyan looked at Xie Xie opposite him and teased:

"Xie Xie, don't get taken out in one move!"

"How could that happen? I'm the great young master Xie of Eastsea! How could I get taken out in one move? I'll show you my strength right now!"

Xie Xie raised his hands and clenched them, the Light Dragon Dagger in his right hand and the Shadow Dragon Dagger in his left. Two Yellow Soul Rings circled his body.

"Match, begin!"

As Wu Changkong announced the start, Xie Xie charged confidently at his opponent. Chen Jianshu raised a hand and pointed at the sky. Before everyone's eyes, a full three hundred Iron Swords flashing with cold light were projected into existence.

Xie Xie stopped dead, staring blankly at the Iron Swords covering the entire field. What the fuck! He's cheating!

"Projecting Iron Swords costs next to nothing. Xie Xie, I can project another five batches. Want a taste?"

Chen Jianshu wore a playful expression. His current Spirit Sea Realm Spiritual Power allowed him to control hundreds of Iron Swords at once, but he could only direct their flight in a simple way; he couldn't control them with precision or anything like that.

It was like smashing everything down all at once. Xie Xie gave a bitter smile. How the fuck am I supposed to fight that? I give!

"Fall!"

At his shout, the three hundred Iron Swords fell together, bearing down like a fierce storm. Xie Xie swallowed and immediately activated his Second Soul Skill.

"Second Soul Skill, Twin Dragon Storm!"

This time, he didn't dare hold anything back and immediately went all out. Twin Dragon Storm collided with the rain of Iron Swords. After the two sides held each other at bay for a moment, the sword rain instantly engulfed the storm.

Xie Xie continuously swung both daggers to block the incoming Iron Swords. One, two, three, four!

When the fifth came, it passed to his left, and a few strands of hair fell. He froze on the spot.

Looking at the Iron Swords planted in the ground all around him, he knew that if they had all been aimed at him upright, he would definitely have been turned into a hedgehog. Instead, the Iron Swords stood straight around him, trapping him in place like a cage.

"Over."

Chen Jianshu snapped his fingers, and the Iron Swords vanished like shattering mirrors. Xie Xie fell silent. He had been taken out in one move again.

Last time, Tang Wulin had taken him out with one punch. Now Chen Jianshu had taken him out with one move. Am I really that weak?

"Haji Xie, you need more practice."

He stepped forward and patted Xie Xie on the shoulder, indicating that he needed more practice. Xie Xie's face flushed red. He really had been taken out in one move. Damn it!

The fight was also a shocking sight, chiefly because no one could have withstood Chen Jianshu's Sword Rain.

The firepower was simply too fierce. With a full three hundred Iron Swords smashing down, an ordinary Soul Master would be turned into a hedgehog, let alone block them.

The following fights were Zhang Yangzi against Wei Xiaofeng and Tang Yin against Wang Jinxi. Tang Yin immediately summoned his Martial Soul, Blue Silver Grass. Two Soul Rings circled him as he shouted.

"Second Soul Skill, Blue Silver Entanglement!"

Numerous strands of Blue Silver Grass wound toward Wang Jinxi, but the enhancement that just two ten-year Soul Spirits gave the Blue Silver Grass was simply too small.

Wang Jinxi had the top-tier Undead-Attribute Bone Dragon King Martial Soul, the same Martial Soul Bone Douluo Gu Rong had possessed twenty thousand years ago.

A mere Blue Silver Grass couldn't possibly bind the Bone Dragon King. With just a light shake, he shattered all the Blue Silver Grass, then charged at Tang San and threw a punch.

Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track!

Tang Yin used Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track to repeatedly evade Wang Jinxi's attacks. Wu Changkong immediately frowned, recognizing it as the Tang Sect's Footwork Technique, Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track. Could this Tang Yin be from the Tang Sect?

Which branch of the Tang Sect was he a junior from? As Wu Changkong wondered, Purple Light flashed in Tang Yin's eyes. Wang Jinxi froze for a moment, as though he had been disturbed. Then he threw a punch at him.

P.S. The first and second updates for July 20, combined into one long chapter.