Make an Example

Wu Changkong said calmly, "All right, that's all for today's lesson on mecha knowledge. There are only two core points you need to remember.

"First, truly powerful mechas are known as 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."

It was easy to remember, and it was all material Nan Fusheng and the others were most interested in. This class was very straightforward.

At that moment, Tang Wulin suddenly said, "Teacher Wu, when can we see real Battle Armor?" He had listened attentively until now, only voicing the question he most wanted answered.

Wu Changkong glanced at him. "Once you complete the first stage of combat practice, you may see Battle Armor. Whoever finishes first will see it first. As you are now, you are not qualified."

Combat practice? Actual combat practice between Spirit Masters?

Before the students could ask, Wu Changkong continued, "The rest of today's class will be combat practice. Right here. Nan Fusheng, Tang Wulin, you two help move the desks to the side and clear out the center of the classroom."

Here? If Spirit Master abilities were unleashed, wouldn't it be easy to damage the room?

The same question arose in all six of Nan Fusheng's minds, yet they still did as Wu Changkong instructed.

"Tang Wulin, come here." Wu Changkong nodded at Tang Wulin.

"Yes." Tang Wulin quickly stepped forward.

"What did you think of yesterday's match?" Wu Changkong asked coldly.

After considering for a moment, Tang Wulin said, "We were all too eager for quick results. We are classmates, after all, and we shouldn't have hurt each other. We should have stopped at the right point."

Wu Changkong waved a hand. "That's not what I'm asking. I mean how it felt during the battle. How do you think you performed during the match?"

Tang Wulin said, "It was a little chaotic. It was our first time seeing each other's abilities, so we were somewhat flustered while dealing with them, and our coordination wasn't good enough. I mean the four of us. Their side had some coordination at the time, but it didn't seem especially seamless either."

Wu Changkong said icily, "Chaotic? It was far more than that. It was a complete mess."

At those words, everyone except Nan Fusheng was stunned. As the best freshmen in 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 the word "chaotic" even apply?

Wu Changkong stared into Tang Wulin's eyes. "To be honest, I am 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 beginning of the match, you threw away your own advantages. Xie Xie deserved to have his arm broken."

Xie Xie's expression stiffened. He had not expected his teacher to evaluate him this way.

Wu Changkong then launched into a barrage of criticism toward the six of them, listing every flaw they had displayed in the Class Promotion Tournament and disparaging them until they seemed utterly worthless. Yet they were unable to refute him.

Every one of Wu Changkong's criticisms hit the mark.

Finally, Wu Changkong said coldly, "All six of you share one common problem, and it is what the upcoming Combat Practice Class will address.

"That is, you severely lack actual combat experience and practical combat techniques. I am not referring to your experience fighting with martial souls and Spirit Skills.

"You are lacking in that regard as well, but not too severely. What you lack even more is Basic Combat Ability when you are not using your martial souls."

Basic Combat Ability? Did Spirit Masters need such things? Didn't Spirit Masters only need to release Spirit Skills to achieve their combat objectives?

"Do you think the Basic Combat Ability I mentioned 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 is a single enemy or a group of enemies, as long as the elements under my control are powerful enough, I can end the battle.

"Basic Combat Ability seems to have no meaning for me. What I should do instead is improve my Soul Power and Spiritual Power."

Wu Changkong nodded.

"If that is what you believe, then let us conduct a test. Gu Yue, come out as well.

"You and Tang Wulin will attack me together. I will not use any Spirit Skills, and I will suppress my Soul Power to the same level as yours, around rank thirteen. Let us see whether you can defeat me. Mm, you may use your martial souls as well."

As he spoke, Wu Changkong turned and took a Teaching Whip from the podium. Then he returned to the center of the room.

Gu Yue had already stepped forward and come to stand beside Tang Wulin. Same level, no Spirit Skills? He would not even use his martial soul? He was looking down on them far too much, wasn't he?

After three months of training, Gu Yue and Tang Wulin had developed a certain degree of coordination. Together, one specialized in close-quarters combat while the other attacked from range.

Unfortunately, no matter how well they coordinated, they could not stir up any trouble against Wu Changkong. Instead, Wu Changkong gave them a thorough lesson with exquisite swordsmanship and the Tang Sect Secret Techniques. When the battle ended, the other four stared at one another.

This...

He was 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, and a thoughtful look appeared in his eyes.

"Teacher, were those all basic techniques you used just now?" Xie Xie's eyes were wide as he looked at Wu Changkong.

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 powerful, but how you use them is what determines just how powerful you can become.

"Basic techniques are the methods of applying them. The same is true for Battle Armor and ordinary mechas. Therefore, starting today, 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 mainly to make an example of them and crush the arrogance of Zhang Yangzi and Wang Jinxi, who had been watching from the side. The two had been genius-level figures in their original class, with practically no opponents.

If he did not put them in their place first, they might become troublemakers during later training.

As for why he had chosen Tang Wulin? Naturally, it was because Tang Wulin had beaten Zhang Yangzi and Wang Jinxi the hardest in 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 out to refute his point of view, Wu Changkong had her join in so that he could better lead Zero Class in the future, while also making Gu Yue recognize her own shortcomings.

After all, in the previous Class Promotion Tournament, Gu Yue had also forced Zhang Yangzi and Wang Jinxi to use their Martial Soul Fusion Skill through her strength alone before defeating both of them. That would make the others more willing to believe his words as well.

He had not chosen Nan Fusheng for a simple reason: if another scene like before happened, where he nearly got disfigured, it would not help Wu Changkong establish his "authority as a teacher." What he wanted was an absolutely overwhelming victory.

Besides, because Nan Fusheng had held back earlier, Zhang Yangzi and Wang Jinxi did not have much of an impression of him.

In fact, Wu Changkong had privately spoken with Nan Fusheng about it while under the Time Worm's influence, asking whether something had gone wrong. Later, the other party seemed to have explained it to him, and he had accepted the explanation.

But what exactly had Nan Fusheng explained? Why could he not remember it now? Never mind. Since there was no problem, he should not ask again. That would damage his authority as a teacher.

And the result was quite successful. Zhang Yangzi and Wang Jinxi were now sitting upright, carefully listening to every word Wu Changkong said.