Practical Combat 1

Ever since Zhou Yurou fell into deep thought that day, everyone else in the class had been having a miserable time.

Especially Ling Xuan. Every day, the moment he stepped into the classroom, he would inexplicably be dragged into some scene, all while the darkness in his heart was constantly being stirred up.

At first, he had no idea what was going on. But after being dragged into one scene after another, he finally understood who was behind it. His fists itched.

But whenever he saw that girl lazily flipping through a book beside her, he could only unclench his tightly balled fists.

Can't beat her, can't beat her!

After the fourth prank, Lin Li reminded her, "That's enough. Don't forget, practical combat starts tomorrow."

Zhou Yurou, who had been smug just moments ago, instantly shuddered. "Do you think I can take leave tomorrow?"

Lin Li stared at her. "Tell me. How many people have you messed with?"

Zhou Yurou hesitantly replied, "The Class Monitor, Rou'er, Wang Ning, Wang Ming, and Gao Zhuang."

The corner of Lin Li's mouth twitched. Good lord, she had provoked everyone in the class who was above level ten. They could probably form a victims' alliance!

Lin Li looked toward the people Zhou Yurou had so kindly sparred with. Rou'er's expression was calm and her face looked perfectly normal—so long as one ignored the way she glared at Zhou Yurou through gritted teeth.

Wang Ning and Wang Ming both looked hostile. Though Ling Xuan said nothing, he clearly had been provoked badly too.

The most at ease was probably Gao Zhuang. He was fine because he was a Support Spirit Master.

But if his Martial Soul had any offensive capabilities, Zhou Yurou would have been poked full of holes too.

Good lord, what a masterful way to draw aggro.

Lin Li said in despair, "I understand Ling Xuan, but what about everyone else?"

Zhou Yurou looked slightly awkward. "While eating, I made Wang Ning feel like he was eating chili peppers. I had Rou'er experience tears of joy during a spar. Wang Ming was dozing off in class, so I let him experience Wailing Ghosts. Gao Zhuang was fine—I just let him experience a happy day!"

Lin Li: ...

She knew how disgusting that spirit ability was, but she had never expected Zhou Yurou to develop it into something this disgusting!

Perhaps that Clear Ripples Lotus never knew, even to its death, that someone would use its spirit ability like this. It would probably be enraged to death!

Lin Li patted her shoulder. "When we have practical combat later, let's stop being friends for a while. I'm afraid of getting beaten up."

Zhou Yurou: No, is our friendship really this fragile?!

Everyone arrived early and in full attendance that day, but their eyes were all fixed eerily on Zhou Yurou.

They had never expected Zhou Yurou, who had been timid and submissive when she first enrolled, even shy and reserved, to do something like this. Still, they figured Lin Li had probably led her astray!

Lin Li: That is absolutely slander!

Did the other teachers not know Zhou Yurou was causing such trouble? Of course they knew, but Ye Lian had blocked them all.

Looking at these energetic students, Ye Lian felt her long-silent heart regain a little vitality.

As long as no one died, she would let them have their fun. In her eyes, Spirit Masters and ordinary people were fundamentally different. Spirit Masters were noble in the eyes of ordinary people, impossibly precious—but the struggles between Spirit Masters were far fiercer than those between ordinary people.

When ordinary children got into fights, teachers at regular academies would intervene, because the children needed to learn things such as reading and writing.

Soul Master Academies were the same as regular academies at the elementary level, but Ye Lian taught only knowledge concerning Spirit Masters and Soul Beasts.

Subjects like writing and language were almost always taught by the Dean of Students. Ye Lian only had two Spirit Master classes, while most of the remaining classes each week belonged to the Dean of Students.

Yes, all writing and language classes.

Although Ye Lian had wanted to change all the classes into meditation classes, after the Dean of Students learned of the extremely unreliable things she had been doing, he decisively revised Class One's schedule.

A small number of students in Class One were dissatisfied, but since most of them were commoners, their objections did not cause much of a stir in the class.

A young man dressed in black, elegant and handsome in appearance, walked in carrying a book.

He said gently, "Students, we will continue with our Douluo script lesson. Take out your textbooks and prepare for class."

Lin Li greatly disliked these sorts of classes, but she still listened very attentively.

The next day, the first practical combat class began. Everyone from Class One gathered around the arena.

Ye Lian clapped her hands. "Starting today, we'll be having practical combat classes."

Then she pointed to two people. One was Rou'er, the Swift Shadow Cat King Spirit Master, and the other was Wang Ming, the Crimson Flame Azure Wolf Spirit Master.

In a voice that brooked no refusal, she said, "Rou'er, Wang Ming, go."

Upon hearing this, Rou'er immediately activated Martial Soul Possession. A sleek grayish-white cat phantom appeared, except there was a tuft of yellow fur atop its head.

Because of Martial Soul Possession, Rou'er's body became even more slender and delicate. A graceful cat tail appeared behind her, swaying unconsciously.

The moment Zhou Yurou saw this, her eyes filled with affection. She tugged Lin Li's sleeve and blurted out, "Rou'er is so cute in Martial Soul Possession! I really want to pet her."

Hearing Zhou Yurou's words, Lin Li's mouth twitched. Fine, very Zhou Yurou! Habitually out of touch.

Spirit Masters with cat-type Martial Souls had extremely sharp hearing. Even though Zhou Yurou had spoken quietly, Rou'er still heard her and could not help but shudder.

Seeing Rou'er use Martial Soul Possession, Wang Ming immediately summoned the phantom of a lone wolf standing upright behind him.

However, seeing the roaring flames burning across the wolf's body, as well as its sharp and fierce eyes, one could imagine how powerful its attacks were!

Yet because of the Crimson Flame Azure Wolf's appearance, Lin Li's disgust toward Wang Ming nearly reached its peak. The Blood Fiend Demonic Phoenix was even more disdainful, almost ready to rush out and tear it apart.

This was the absolute confidence born of a top-tier, supremely evil Martial Soul's overwhelming strength. It would not allow a supremely holy Martial Soul to exist within its territory.

Even the faintest trace of holy aura was enough to make it loathe it.

At that moment, the battle on the arena began.

"Rou'er, Martial Soul: Swift Shadow Cat King. Level twelve Agile Attack Battle Spirit Master. Please instruct me."

"Wang Ming, Martial Soul: Crimson Flame Azure Wolf. Level twelve Assault System Battle Spirit Master. Please instruct me."

After the two announced their levels, Rou'er's eyes flashed. First Spirit Ability, Cat Shadow Void Shatter Strike!

Her First Spirit Ring flashed, and her delicate body moved like a swift cat, so fast that she seemed like a gust of wind. Her hands formed claws!

Her nails had already grown long. Beneath the sunlight, they looked immensely threatening, no less sharp than the daggers she and Zhou Yurou had carried in the Soul Hunting Forest.

Just as her cat claws were about to rake toward Wang Ming, he immediately unleashed his First Spirit Ability. Holy Fire Blessing!

In an instant, pure white flames spread across his body, while his muscles swelled slightly.

Lin Li narrowed her eyes. An augmenting spirit ability like my First Spirit Ability?

Augmenting spirit abilities could be said to be extremely useful in the later stages, but they had little offensive power in the early stages. Against such a swift Spirit Master—

the scales of victory would easily tilt toward the side with an offensive spirit ability!