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 everyone else because of me. So please take back your order. I won't be competing."

Wu Changkong was momentarily stunned. Ever since becoming a Soul Master, he had always been a favored prodigy. Even when circumstances had forced him to come to Eastsea City and enter 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 spoke those words, he realized there was nothing he could do to her.

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

Tang Wulin hadn't expected Gu Yue to speak up for him, and he looked at her gratefully.

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

"But don't worry, I'll work hard too. It's not like 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 be physical training again, will it?" Xie Xie was clearly focused on something entirely different from the others.

Wu Changkong said, "Of course not. No matter what kind of training it is, there is only one goal: to increase your strength. Strength can be divided into hard strength and soft strength. In my view, however, all strength originates from actual combat. Therefore, your special training will consist solely of actual combat. Actual combat will draw out your potential and improve your battle 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. But your stamina is too poor, making it difficult for you to sustain it. Therefore, you must pay attention to conserving your stamina during battle. Your second Martial Soul can produce unexpected effects, but don't use it lightly. Once you do, you must achieve a sufficiently good result."

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

Tang Wulin said, "Teacher, I've had my spirit tested before..."

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

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

"An Elementalist is essentially someone with great affinity for all kinds of elements. However, since you lack the specialized enhancements brought by Soul Rings, it means you can never become particularly powerful in any single element. You may appear to have an early advantage by using different elements to unleash abilities of different attributes.

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

"Under these circumstances, there is only one path you can take if you want to truly become powerful. That is combining multiple elements.

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

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

For Wu Changkong to give such an evaluation was no easy matter. It was clear just 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 is control your Martial Soul properly. Only by controlling it perfectly can you truly master it. Then you can develop in the direction of a Control System Battle Soul Master."

"Also, your strength is great, and it is still quite useful at your current level. Soul Tools are prohibited in the class competition, but ordinary weapons are not. Perhaps you can find something like a hammer 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 most outstanding. Your Martial Soul has undergone a beneficial mutation and leans more toward a mental-type Martial Soul.

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

"I understand. Thank you, Teacher Wu."

Nan Fusheng responded as well.

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

The moment Xie Xie heard that it wasn't physical training but direct combat training, he perked up considerably. Eager to try, he asked, "Teacher Wu, who goes first?"

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

Tang Wulin, Nan Fusheng, Xie Xie, and Gu Yue all stiffened at once.

A flash of light appeared in Wu Changkong's hand, and a Wooden Sword appeared. "I won't use my Martial Soul's power or Soul Skills. Give it everything you have. Begin!"

As he spoke, he flicked his Wooden Sword and thrust it toward Xie Xie.

Xie Xie reacted quickly and retreated at once. But Wu Changkong's sword was like a bone-clinging maggot. Though Xie Xie retreated rapidly, the Wooden Sword drew closer and closer.

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

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

Though Wu Changkong was somewhat surprised by the incoming Thousand-Refined Tungsten Steel Hammer, he did not even glance at it. His Wooden Sword remained pointed forward, while the tungsten steel hammer flew straight past behind him.

Tang Wulin was embarrassed. He had missed...

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

Immediately afterward, Wu Changkong's footing softened, and he began sinking rapidly into the ground. Several Ice Spikes shot out, also aimed directly at the ground. Gu Yue had repeated her earlier tactic.

Wu Changkong smiled calmly. With a flick of his wrist, his Wooden Sword was about to strike the Ice Spikes when he suddenly felt dazed.

Nan Fusheng had seized the opportunity and directly Stolen his consciousness. By the time he came back to his senses, the Ice Spikes were already right before him. Wu Changkong's pupils contracted as he finally understood the helplessness his opponents had felt when facing Nan Fusheng earlier.

The Wooden Sword whirled, seemingly carrying an unusual current of air. The Ice Spikes appeared to lose control and flew off to the side.

At the same time, he shot upward, breaking free from the ground and leaping out of the mud.

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

Wu Changkong casually jabbed out his Wooden Sword, striking each tungsten steel hammer. The two hammers halted in midair before immediately dropping to the ground.

A flicker of surprise crossed Wu Changkong's eyes. This little fellow's strength truly was extraordinary!

A Fireball reached Wu Changkong's side as Gu Yue's attack appeared at just the right moment.

Wu Changkong's weapon was a Wooden Sword. Burning it with fire should have been the most effective approach.

Wu Changkong repeated his tactic, guiding the Fireball toward Xie Xie. Xie Xie slashed out with his Light Dragon Dagger, shattering the Fireball. His body curled slightly, but he still charged toward Wu Changkong. His left hand moved subtly, and an invisible blade aura swept out as the Light Dragon Dagger stabbed forth at the same time.

Tang Wulin's Thousand-Refined Tungsten Steel Hammers also swung up once more, smashing upward at Wu Changkong from below.

Three Fireballs flew out at the right moment. The three of them had finally pulled off 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 struck directly on the shoulder by the sword and sent sweeping sideways into the three Fireballs. Had he not performed brilliantly, swinging the Light Dragon Dagger and Shadow Dragon Dagger in rapid succession, he would likely have been injured by that blow.

Wu Changkong descended from the sky. This time, his target was Tang Wulin. The Wooden Sword thrust directly toward Tang Wulin's chest.

At that moment, Xie Xie was still scrambling to recover and could not help him. Gu Yue was blocked by the fallen Xie Xie and had no time to rescue him.

Meanwhile, after using his Soul Skill once at the start, Nan Fusheng had merely watched from the side. Wu Changkong had deliberately created all of this to isolate Tang Wulin in an instant and form a one-on-one situation.

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

With the Wooden Sword before his chest, Tang Wulin's eyes became focused. He seemed to enter a wondrous state. Two gray lights lit up simultaneously. His right hammer rose before his chest to block the Wooden Sword, while his left hammer swung straight out at Wu Changkong.

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

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