Battle Against Wu Changkong

"Hm?" Wu Changkong looked at her.

Gu Yue said calmly, "I'm a transfer student. I don't want to affect anyone else because of me. So please rescind your decision. I won't compete."

Wu Changkong was stunned. Ever since becoming a Spirit Master, he had always been one of heaven's chosen. Even when he had reluctantly come to Eastsea City and entered Eastsea Academy, that had remained true. It wasn't as though no one had ever threatened him, but those people had all ended up miserable.

Yet when the little girl before him said those words, he realized there was nothing he could do to her.

Xie Xie's Twin Martial Souls were already something he valued greatly, but compared to Gu Yue's Elementalist Martial Soul, Xie Xie was still a level below.

Tang Wulin had not expected Gu Yue to speak up for him. He could not help looking at her gratefully.

"Thank you, Gu Yue, but Teacher Wu is right. This concerns our class's honor. Naturally, it's better for the strongest people to compete.

"But don't worry, I'll work hard too. It's not as if only three people can enter the competition. If I can become strong enough within three months, I think Teacher Wu will let me compete as well."

Wu Changkong looked at Tang Wulin with some surprise.

"Teacher, what will the special training involve? It won't still be physical training, will it?" Xie Xie's concern was clearly different from theirs.

Wu Changkong said, "Of course not. No matter what kind of training it is, there is only one objective: to increase your strength. Strength is divided into hard strength and soft strength. In my view, all strength originates from actual combat. Therefore, your special training will consist solely of actual combat. Use real combat to stimulate your potential and improve your combat experience. I'll first explain the key points for each of you, then we'll begin."

"Xie Xie, your speed is already fast enough for someone at your level. However, your physical stamina is too poor, and you cannot sustain it for long. Therefore, during battle, pay attention to managing your stamina. Your second Martial Soul can produce unexpected results, but don't use it lightly. Once you do, you must achieve a sufficiently good effect."

"Gu Yue, I observed your elemental control today. Although I don't want to say this, I have to admit that with your current cultivation, your control over the various elements is already extremely good. Tomorrow, I'll take the four of you to have your Spiritual Power tested."

Tang Wulin said, "Teacher, I've had my spiritual—"

Wu Changkong coldly cut him off. "I only trust my own eyes."

He continued to Gu Yue, "Therefore, during training, I hope you will try more combinations between different elements. Today, I carefully considered your Martial Soul.

"An Elementalist is essentially highly compatible with all kinds of elements. However, because you lack the specialized enhancement of Soul Rings, you cannot become especially powerful in any single element. You may seem to have an advantage in the early stages because you can use different elements to display abilities of different attributes.

"But once your cultivation reaches a certain level in the future, you will discover that you have no powerful Spirit Skills as a foundation. The Spirit Skills you gain in the future can only enhance your control over the elements and increase the intensity of your Soul Power."

"In that case, there is only one path you can take if you wish to truly become strong: combining multiple elements.

"This is an unprecedented approach, but I realized it today when I saw you combine the Earth Element and Ice Element to restrain Xie Xie.

"If you can fuse elements of different attributes and control that power, then you will certainly stand at the pinnacle of this world someday."

For Wu Changkong to give such an evaluation was no easy matter. It showed how highly he regarded Gu Yue.

"Yes, thank you, Teacher." Gu Yue nodded.

Wu Changkong turned to Tang Wulin. "As for you, the first thing you need to do now is control your Martial Soul properly. Only by controlling it perfectly can you truly master it, allowing you to develop in the direction of a Control System Battle Soul Master."

"Also, your strength is tremendous, and it is still very useful at your current level. Soul Tools are forbidden in the class competition, but ordinary weapons are not. Perhaps you could find a hammer or something similar to use as your weapon."

"Yes."

Finally, Wu Changkong turned to Nan Fusheng. "As for you, Nan Fusheng, at your current level, you are also among the very best. Your Martial Soul has undergone a beneficial mutation and leans more toward the mental type.

"If your First Soul Skill is used well, it can even achieve an instant kill upon first encounter. Your physical qualities also far surpass those of ordinary Assault System Soul Masters. This is the first time I've seen a situation like yours. My personal suggestion is that you develop in the direction of a Mental System Soul Master."

"I understand. Thank you, Teacher Wu."

Nan Fusheng answered as well.

"Then the special training begins immediately," Wu Changkong said flatly.

The moment Xie Xie heard that it was not physical training but direct combat training, he immediately perked up. Eager to try, he asked, "Teacher Wu, who goes first against whom?"

Wu Changkong said, "There is no order. The four of you will attack together. Your opponent is me!"

Tang Wulin, Nan Fusheng, Xie Xie, and Gu Yue all froze at the same time.

A flash of light appeared in Wu Changkong's hand, and a wooden sword appeared. "I won't use the power of my Martial Soul or any Spirit Skills. Go all out. Begin!"

As he spoke, he flicked the wooden sword in his hand and thrust it toward Xie Xie.

Xie Xie reacted swiftly, rapidly retreating. But Wu Changkong's sword was like a bone-clinging maggot. Though Xie Xie retreated quickly, the wooden sword drew closer and closer.

"Whoosh!" A deep, heavy sound tore through the air. Tang Wulin had made his move.

He thoroughly carried out Wu Changkong's words. The Thousand-Refined Tungsten Steel Hammer flew from his hand, smashing straight toward Wu Changkong. A strand of Blue Silver Grass was attached to the hammer behind it.

Although Wu Changkong was somewhat surprised by the incoming Thousand-Refined Tungsten Steel Hammer, he did not even look at it. His wooden sword remained pointed forward, and the tungsten steel hammer flew straight past behind him.

Tang Wulin was embarrassed. He had missed...

A gust of Qingfeng blew in from the side, pushing Xie Xie away and causing Wu Changkong's sword to strike empty air.

Immediately afterward, the ground beneath his feet softened, and he rapidly sank downward. Several Ice Spikes shot out, also aimed at the ground. Gu Yue had used the same trick again.

Wu Changkong smiled faintly. With a flick of his wrist, his wooden sword was about to strike the Ice Spikes, but at that moment, he suddenly felt dazed.

Nan Fusheng had seized the opportunity and directly Steal his consciousness. By the time Wu Changkong came to his senses, the Ice Spikes were already right before him. His pupils contracted as he finally understood the helplessness of those who had faced Nan Fusheng before.

The wooden sword circled, seeming to carry a strange current of air. The Ice Spikes appeared to lose control and flew to one side.

At the same time, his body rose sharply, leaping free of the ground and out of the muddy trap.

"Whoosh!" Tang Wulin's Thousand-Refined Tungsten Steel Hammer came again. This time, it was no longer one hammer but two, sweeping horizontally with a much wider range.

Wu Changkong casually tapped out with his wooden sword, striking each tungsten steel hammer. The two hammers halted in midair, then immediately fell.

A trace of surprise flashed through Wu Changkong's eyes. This little fellow's strength truly was extraordinary!

A Fireball arrived beside Wu Changkong. Gu Yue's attack had appeared at just the right moment.

Wu Changkong's weapon was a wooden sword. Using fire to burn it should have been most effective.

Wu Changkong used the same trick again, redirecting the Fireball toward Xie Xie. Xie Xie slashed out with his Light Dragon Dagger, shattering the Fireball. His body curled slightly, yet he still charged close to Wu Changkong. His left hand moved faintly, and an invisible blade light swept forth as the Light Dragon Dagger stabbed out simultaneously.

Tang Wulin's Thousand-Refined Tungsten Steel Hammers swung up again, bombarding Wu Changkong from below.

Three Fireballs flew out at just the right moment. The three of them had finally managed a small coordinated attack.

Unfortunately, their opponent was simply too powerful.

The wooden sword transformed into layers of sword shadows, yet Wu Changkong did not seem to exert any force. The two Thousand-Refined Tungsten Steel Hammers were knocked away.

Xie Xie was directly struck on the shoulder by the sword and swept sideways into the three Fireballs. If not for his valiant response, swinging the Light Dragon Dagger and Shadow Dragon Dagger in rapid succession, he would likely have been injured.

Wu Changkong descended from the air. This time, his target was Tang Wulin. The wooden sword thrust straight toward Tang Wulin.

At that moment, Xie Xie was still in a fluster and could not help him. Gu Yue was blocked by the fallen Xie Xie and had no time to come to his rescue.

Nan Fusheng, meanwhile, had been watching from the side ever since using his Spirit Skill once at the start. All of this had been deliberately engineered by Wu Changkong, meant to isolate Tang Wulin in an instant and create a one-on-one situation.

Wu Changkong had done this in the Advanced Division before, using actual combat to stimulate his students' potential. Under immense pressure, a student's reactions could fully reveal that student's potential.

With the wooden sword aimed at his chest, Tang Wulin's gaze became focused instead. He seemed to enter a wondrous state. Two gray lights lit up at the same time. His right-hand hammer rose before his chest, blocking the wooden sword, while his left-hand hammer swung straight at Wu Changkong.

Clang! The wooden sword struck the gray hammer in Tang Wulin's right hand, producing a sound like metal clashing.

Tang Wulin only felt a tremendous force surge toward him. The Thousand-Refined Heavy Silver Hammer immediately slammed into his chest, knocking him backward.