The Competition Begins

Wu Changkong said, "The Class Promotion Tournament is about to begin. One match per day, until you fail a challenge. You have only one goal: fight your way up to Grade Four."

Grade Four? Hearing those words, the other two were stunned, while Nan Fusheng and Gu Yue looked completely unconcerned.

One had to know that within Eastsea Academy, some particularly talented students had already reached the two-ring level by Grade Four. There were even Soul Grand Masters among the Grade Three students. They were only in Grade One. Fighting their way up to Grade Four would be no easy task.

Wu Changkong said calmly, "Oh, right. What I just said was Class One of Grade Four. Defeat Class One of Grade Four, and you can receive all the rewards. Otherwise, everything will be confiscated as class funds."

Xie Xie protested, "Teacher Wu, isn't that too harsh?"

Wu Changkong said, "If you think it's harsh, you can withdraw. Fusheng, Wulin, and Gu Yue can compete as a team of three."

"Sure! I didn't want this deadweight around anyway." Gu Yue played with her fingers as she spoke indifferently.

"You!" Xie Xie turned around and glared at her.

Although he was often defeated by Nan Fusheng's First Soul Skill in one-on-one duels, he only ever looked for reasons within himself.

But Gu Yue was different. Not only had she always suppressed him in terms of strength, but she also occasionally looked at him as if he were trash.

More importantly, he always felt that Gu Yue had designs on his good brother, Tang Wulin—that she was lusting after him. That was why Xie Xie had always been hostile toward her.

Gu Yue tilted her head at him. "Not convinced?"

Xie Xie looked toward Nan Fusheng and Tang Wulin, hoping the two would speak up for him. Nan Fusheng said, "You know what Teacher is like. The two of us can't help you!"

Xie Xie: I'll endure.

A trace of amusement flashed through Wu Changkong's eyes. He was still very satisfied with these four disciples.

The Class Promotion Tournament was an annual grand event for Eastsea Academy, because it was the only event shared by every grade.

Students who performed exceptionally in the Class Promotion Tournament would be recorded and entered into the academy files. This would serve as an extremely important recommendation for their future admission into an Advanced Soul Master Academy.

The material rewards were also quite generous. Classes that achieved outstanding results in the Class Promotion Tournament would not only see their rankings change, but their homeroom teachers would also receive commendations.

Thus, after so many years of development, the Class Promotion Tournament had become a symbol of honor at Eastsea Academy. Being defeated by a lower-ranked class was shameful, while defeating a higher-ranked class was glory.

The reason the Class Promotion Tournament was held three months after the start of the school year was to give every class enough time to select students and arrange their tactics.

The weather was rather cool today. In the center of the Intermediate Division's field, a Competition Platform had already been set up. Calling it a platform was somewhat inaccurate—it was actually a circular area a hundred meters in diameter, paved with metal plates ten centimeters thick.

It occupied a large portion of the field. A dedicated Soul Guidance Shield surrounded the Competition Platform to prevent accidents during the matches, while special teachers stood nearby to oversee things.

Today was the first day of the tournament. To avoid affecting the students' studies, the matches were held after school. The dismissal bell had already rung, and students from every grade poured out of the Teaching Building. However, very few headed toward the Competition Platform.

Grade One freshmen, Class Five versus Class Four—what was there to watch? The classes from Grade Two and above could not be bothered, and only a few Grade One classes came, especially Class Three, which would compete tomorrow and had arrived in full to watch the match.

As soon as the bell rang, the students of Grade One Class Five ran onto the field in neat formation and took their positions to one side.

Three months of special training had changed the students of Class Five both physically and mentally. Perhaps their talents were not particularly outstanding.

But under Wu Changkong's instruction, their physical fitness had improved tremendously, and even their Soul Power had increased much faster than before.

The students of Grade One Class Four arrived more slowly, strolling over in groups of two and three. They did not seem to care much about this match.

A short, chubby teacher walked toward Wu Changkong with a broad smile. "Teacher Wu, the students you've taught are truly impressive! Just look at that formation. I can't manage that with my Class Four brats—they've gotten used to being undisciplined.

"Please go easy on us in today's Class Promotion Tournament! We may not necessarily be able to advance to Class Three, but you really have to help us hold on to our place in Class Four."

Wu Changkong glanced at him, then looked straight ahead and treated him as if he were air.

Kong Hanwen, the homeroom teacher of Grade One Class Four, was so angered by his attitude that his nose nearly twisted out of shape. This guy was far too arrogant.

Fine, you're strong, but how strong could the class you taught possibly be when it was ranked so low? The academy arranged class rankings strictly according to Martial Souls and Soul Power.

"Looks like Teacher Wu is very confident! Then we'll meet on the Competition Platform." Speaking in a strange, sarcastic tone, Kong Hanwen walked back toward his class.

At that moment, Long Hengxu, the director of studies, stepped onto the Competition Platform.

"Today's Class Promotion Tournament begins. Grade One Class Five will challenge Grade One Class Four. Teacher Wu Changkong, how many students from your class will be competing?"

The Class Promotion Tournament for the lower grades generally did not attract much attention. As the host Referee, the only thing Long Hengxu was interested in was what sort of disciples Wu Changkong had trained over the past three months—especially since Wu Changkong had specifically admitted his mistake to him last time and asked for someone.

Wu Changkong nodded. "Four students from our class will compete."

Long Hengxu turned toward Class Four. "Class Five will compete with four students. Teacher Kong, you have five minutes to assign your competitors."

Kong Hanwen no longer wore the smiling expression he had shown Wu Changkong. He said disdainfully, "Against Class Five, it makes no difference who Class Four sends out. Jialong, Jiateng Ying, Lin Zunyuan, Mosi, the four of you go. Remember, show them the spirit of Class Four."

Wu Changkong merely waved a hand, and Tang Wulin, Nan Fusheng, Xie Xie, and Gu Yue walked onto the Competition Platform.

Long Hengxu looked strangely toward Wu Changkong's side. Generally speaking, when a weaker class challenged a stronger one, they would send as few people as possible.

It was enough to select their two best students, yet Wu Changkong had sent four people onto the field. Could it be that he had trained Class Five's overall strength to such a high level?

But he still recognized that Tang Wulin. Wasn't the boy's Martial Soul a useless one?

Among the four students from Grade One Class Four, Jialong was the leader. He was not tall, but he was very sturdily built.

Lin Zunyuan was a thin, frail-looking boy. Mosi had an average build and looked eager to fight, while Jiateng Ying wore a gloomy expression.

Tang Wulin, Xie Xie, and Gu Yue stood in a triangular formation, with Tang Wulin in the middle. That was right—it was him. Standing in that position meant he was the main fighter. Nan Fusheng was protected behind the three of them.

"Prepare!" The two sides stood fifty meters apart as Long Hengxu raised his right hand high.