Wu Changkong said blandly, "All right, that's enough about mechas for today. There are only two core points you need to remember:
First, truly powerful mechas are called Battle Armor. The weapons truly powerful Spirit Masters rely on all exist in the form of Battle Armor.
Second, within three years, you need to choose a Secondary Profession related to mechas for yourselves."
They were easy to remember, and they were exactly what Nan Fusheng and the others were most interested in. This class had been very simple.
At that moment, Tang Wulin suddenly said, "Teacher Wu, when can we see real Battle Armor?" He had been listening attentively the entire time, only voicing the question he most wanted answered now.
Wu Changkong glanced at him. "Once you complete the first stage of practical combat training, you'll be allowed to see Battle Armor. Whoever completes it first gets to see it first. Right now, you aren't qualified."
Practical combat training? Training between Spirit Masters?
Before the students could ask, Wu Changkong continued, "The rest of today's lesson will be practical combat training. Right here. Nan Fusheng, Tang Wulin, you two help them move the desks to the side and clear out the middle of the classroom."
Here? Wouldn't Spirit Master abilities easily destroy the classroom?
The same doubt arose in all six students' minds, but they still did as Wu Changkong instructed.
"Tang Wulin, come here." Wu Changkong nodded to Tang Wulin.
"Yes." Tang Wulin quickly stepped forward.
"What did you think of yesterday's match?" Wu Changkong asked coldly.
After thinking for a moment, Tang Wulin said, "We were all too eager for quick results. We're classmates, after all, so we shouldn't have hurt each other. We should have stopped before things went too far."
Wu Changkong waved a hand. "That isn't what I'm asking. I'm asking about how the battle felt. How do you think you performed during the match?"
Tang Wulin said, "It was a little chaotic. It was the first time we had seen each other's abilities, so we were somewhat confused while responding. Our coordination wasn't good enough. I mean the four of us. They had some coordination at the time, but it didn't seem particularly seamless either."
Wu Changkong said icily, "Chaotic? It was far more than chaotic. It was an absolute mess."
At those words, everyone except Nan Fusheng was stunned. As the outstanding freshmen of grade one, students selected by the academy to form the special Zero Class, everyone besides Tang Wulin had great confidence in their own abilities. How could their match possibly be called chaotic?
Wu Changkong stared into Tang Wulin's eyes. "To be honest, I'm very disappointed. The four of you have studied under me for three months. Your coordination with each other could barely be considered proficient.
But from the very start of the match, you abandoned your own advantages. Xie Xie deserved to have his arm broken."
Xie Xie's expression froze. He had not expected such an evaluation from his teacher.
Wu Changkong then launched into a barrage of criticism aimed at the six of them, pointing out all their flaws during the Class Promotion Tournament and belittling them until they seemed worthless. Yet none of them could refute him.
Wu Changkong's few criticisms struck straight to the heart of the matter.
Finally, Wu Changkong said coldly, "All six of you share a common problem. That problem is also what the upcoming Combat Practice Class will address.
That is, you severely lack practical combat experience and combat techniques. I'm not talking about your experience fighting with Martial Souls and Spirit Skills.
You are lacking in that area as well, but it isn't too serious. What you lack even more is basic combat ability when you aren't using your Martial Souls."
Basic combat ability? Did Spirit Masters need something like that? Didn't Spirit Masters only need to release Spirit Skills to accomplish their combat objectives?
"Do you think the basic combat ability I'm talking about is meaningless?"
Gu Yue said, "Yes, Teacher Wu. My ability is Elemental Control. During battle, I only need to continuously suppress my opponents through the elements.
Whether it's a single enemy or a group of enemies, as long as the elements I control are powerful enough, I can end the battle.
Basic combat ability doesn't seem to have much meaning for me. What I should be doing is improving my Soul Power and Spiritual Power."
Wu Changkong nodded.
"If that's what you think, then let's conduct a test. Gu Yue, come out as well.
You and Tang Wulin will attack me together. I won't use any Spirit Skills, and I'll suppress my Soul Power to the same level as yours, around Rank 13. Let's see whether you can defeat me. Hmm, you may activate your Martial Souls as well."
As he spoke, Wu Changkong turned around and took a Teaching Whip from the podium. Then he returned to the center of the classroom.
Gu Yue had already stepped forward and taken her place beside Tang Wulin. Same level, no Spirit Skills, not even Martial Souls? He was looking down on them too much, wasn't he?
After three months of training, Gu Yue and Tang Wulin had developed a certain degree of tacit understanding. The two joined forces, with one specializing in close-quarters combat and the other launching long-range attacks.
No matter how well coordinated they were, however, they could not stir up any trouble against Wu Changkong. Instead, he gave them a thorough lesson with exquisite swordsmanship and Tang Sect Secret Techniques. When the fight ended, the other four stared at one another.
This... so strong.
The classroom instantly fell silent. Wu Changkong appeared before Tang Wulin again, but his gaze was fixed on the Golden Scales gradually fading from Tang Wulin's right arm, a thoughtful look appearing in his eyes.
"Teacher, were those all Basic Combat Techniques?" Xie Xie stared at Wu Changkong with wide eyes.
Wu Changkong nodded. "Do you still think basic techniques are useless? Basic techniques are the foundation of everything.
Martial Souls and Spirit Skills can certainly make Spirit Masters stronger, but how you use them is what determines just how strong you can become.
Basic techniques are the methods of applying them. The same is true for Battle Armor and ordinary mechas. Therefore, from today onward, Basic Combat Technique training will be one of your most important subjects for a long time to come."
Of course, Wu Changkong had done this more to make an example of someone and warn the rest, crushing the arrogance of Zhang Yangzi and Wang Jinxi, who had been watching from the side. In their original class, those two had been geniuses with virtually no rivals.
If he did not knock them down a peg first, they might become troublemakers in the training to come.
As for why he had chosen Tang Wulin? Naturally, it was because Tang Wulin had beaten Zhang Yangzi and Wang Jinxi the hardest during the Class Promotion Tournament, leaving both of them with a bit of psychological trauma.
Gu Yue had merely been included as well. Since she had stepped forward to refute his point, Wu Changkong had her join in so that he could better lead Zero Class in the future and make Gu Yue recognize her own shortcomings.
After all, during the previous Class Promotion Tournament, Gu Yue had also forced Zhang Yangzi and Wang Jinxi to use their Martial Soul Fusion Skill through her own strength alone. Defeating both of them together would also make the others more convinced by his words.
However, he had not chosen Nan Fusheng. The reason was simple: if something like that near-disfigurement happened again, it would not help him establish his "authority as a teacher." What he wanted was an absolutely overwhelming victory.
Moreover, because Nan Fusheng had held back earlier, Zhang Yangzi and Wang Jinxi did not have a particularly deep impression of him.
Actually, Wu Changkong had privately spoken with Nan Fusheng about it while under the influence of the Time Worm, asking whether something had gone wrong. The other boy seemed to have explained himself afterward, and Wu Changkong had accepted the explanation.
But what exactly had Nan Fusheng explained? Why couldn't he remember it now?
Never mind. Since there was no problem, he should not ask again. It would damage his authority as a teacher.
And the result was a success. Zhang Yangzi and Wang Jinxi were now sitting primly, listening carefully to every word Wu Changkong said.
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