Battle Against Wu Changkong

"Elemental Tide!" Gu Yue fused the Fire Element and Wind Element, significantly reducing the blizzard around Meng Li.

Meng Li held Murasa and closed in on Wu Changkong.

"Gu Yue, don't worry about me. Do everything you can to interfere with him. During this time, I'll ensure your absolute safety."

"Mm."

Tang Wulin and the other three, huddled in the corner of the classroom and shivering from the cold, all sniffed.

"Should we wait outside until they're done fighting before going back in?"

"Agreed."

"Teacher was right not to let us stay with those bastards."

Seeing Xie Xie and the others leave the room, Wu Changkong increased the force in his hand.

His third purple soul ring slowly lit up.

"Sky Frost Slash!"

The force behind Wu Changkong's Sky Frost Sword suddenly multiplied several times. As the sword fell, a horizontal blade of ice slashed toward them.

Meng Li glanced at Gu Yue behind him, his gaze resolute. He pulled her into his arms to shield her. The ice blade swept across Meng Li's body, yet it caused no injury whatsoever.

Amid the howling wind and snow, the two of them seemed able to hear each other's heartbeats.

"Fine, there's no one else here now. As your comrade, Gu Yue's Martial Soul has strong compatibility. She'll be your companion on the road ahead, so she has every right to know your strength!" Seeing how close they appeared after separating, with even a trace of reluctance between them, Wu Changkong gave an almost imperceptible smile.

"Are you all right?" Gu Yue looked behind Meng Li and saw no signs of injury. Then it had to be an internal injury.

"I'm fine. Teacher Wu held back. Let's continue."

"Gu Yue, you don't need to hide anything either. Let me see your true strength!" Wu Changkong said.

Gu Yue said nothing, but her expression turned serious.

"Teacher Wu, my Second Soul Skill and First Soul Skill won't have much effect on you, so I'll let you witness my third soul skill this afternoon!" Meng Li planted Murasa on the ground, and all four soul rings of the Sacred Winged Angel Martial Soul behind him lit up.

"Third Soul Skill—Flowing Radiance!"

Centered on Meng Li, a golden radiance even more dazzling than the sun instantly enveloped the entire classroom. It was countless times stronger than the Light Element Gu Yue had released.

Only Gu Yue, standing within it, felt nothing at all. She merely felt waves of warmth driving away the previous chill, while her vision became exceptionally clear. Throwing caution to the wind, she gathered all her Soul Power. The fireball she released was several times larger than before as she hurled it at Wu Changkong.

Wu Changkong was different. He felt as though his body were being roasted by flames. He could not even open his eyes, while his body was also being assaulted by a powerful force of Soul Power.

The original icy landscape melted in an instant, and the desks turned to ash in moments. Meng Li had limited energy, so he could only protect Gu Yue and Wu Changkong's clothes from being burned away by the scorching heat.

Left with no choice, Wu Changkong had to resist. If he did not, he would be the one to lose. He raised the Sky Frost Sword, and his black soul ring lit up.

"Sixth Soul Skill—Condense Frost!"

Light and frost intertwined as the two battled with Soul Power.

After some time, Meng Li was the first to fall, his Soul Power running low.

From beginning to end, he stood in front of Gu Yue, his hand gripping hers and refusing to let her step forward. The cold wind blew! His Martial Soul and body froze into an ice sculpture, his frozen hand lightly clasping her right hand.

The battle was over!

"Teacher Wu, is he all right?" Gu Yue crouched down and looked anxiously at Meng Li. After living through countless ages, hundreds of thousands of years, she should have hated humans.

Yet now, for some reason, her heart ached for this human. Was it because of those memories? But she had clearly separated them from herself!

Seeing Gu Yue at a loss, Wu Changkong glanced at his own completely undamaged clothes and relaxed.

"He's fine. I know my limits," Wu Changkong said with confidence. This battle had given him a preliminary understanding of Meng Li.

Gu Yue let out a long breath, and her expression gradually calmed.

"Where am I?!"

"It smells so good!"

Meng Li sniffed and caught the scent of something burning. His eyes flew open, only to discover that he had been tied to a barbecue spit. Tang Wulin was vigorously turning the spit, while Xie Xie stood beside him grilling two chicken wings.

Gu Yue was tending the fire...

"Guys, let me down! I can still be saved..." Meng Li looked somewhat anxious.

"Gu Yue, hurry and add more fire! He's awake!" Xie Xie said excitedly.

"Believe it or not, I'll tie you to the grill next." Gu Yue knocked a huge bump onto Xie Xie's head before she was satisfied.

Seeing Meng Li awake, Tang Wulin untied him.

Meng Li lay on a blanket and pointed at Xie Xie.

"So you're the brat who wanted to grill me, huh? Gu Yue, get him. Tie him up."

"Hey, hey, hey, Sister Gu Yue, don't! You're not his lackey, you can't listen to him."

"Lackey?"

"I wonder what grilled Xie Xie tastes like."

"Save me, Tang Wulin! Have you forgotten all those Grade A Meals I treated you to?"

"If you two don't want to become ice sculptures, turn it faster!" With one hand on her hip, Gu Yue pointed at Wang Jinxi and Zhang Yangzi with the other.

The two of them rapidly spun the barbecue spit, shaking Xie Xie until he could not tell east from west.

"Help!"

Tang Wulin, meanwhile, was telling the two of them to turn it more slowly.

"Get some proper rest for the time being."

Meng Li was carried away by two academy staff members, with Gu Yue following behind.

Long Hengxu arrived shortly afterward. He first gave Zhang Yangzi and Wang Jinxi a scolding, then looked heartbrokenly at the wrecked classroom.

"Wu Changkong, look at the students you've taught. From now on, all students are forbidden from using Martial Souls indoors..."

For a long time, Meng Li had lived in the world of Soul Masters and had nearly forgotten the ways of ordinary people.

As he lay in his hospital bed, leisurely watching the loving couples on television, he could not help staring blankly for a long while.

"This kind of life really is nostalgic!"

There was nothing to think about, nothing to do...

"Here." Gu Yue handed him a peeled apple.

"No training today?"

Meng Li took the apple and bit into it.

"No classes today." A trace of puzzlement appeared on Gu Yue's fair face.

"Why do you always keep me behind you?"

"Because you're good to me. And because you're a girl!"

"No other reason?"

"What other reason could there be?"

"Fine, I understand..."

Meng Li fully recovered on the third day. During this period, he rarely enjoyed such peace and did not cultivate at all. He was injured already—if he still cultivated, wouldn't that make him a workaholic?

After recovering, Meng Li and Gu Yue once again faced Wu Changkong's special training, still as a team of two.

Even with Meng Li's formidable strength, he was finding Wu Changkong's training a little hard to endure.

Over those seven days, his strength improved substantially. He successfully reached level forty-seven, and his coordination with Gu Yue became increasingly practiced.

With almost a single glance, they could understand what the other intended to do.

Wu Changkong saw it all, but he never showed the two of them a pleasant expression. If anyone expected him to say something nice, they would have to wait until the day he was defeated.

Early that morning, Class Zero's first-years underwent physical fitness tests.

They began with a Spiritual Power test.

Xie Xie's Spiritual Power was thirty-one.

Wang Jinxi's Spiritual Power was eighteen.

Zhang Yangzi's Spiritual Power was forty-one.

Tang Wulin's Spiritual Power was sixty-six.

Gu Yue's Spiritual Power was one hundred and fifty-three.

Everyone turned their attention to the last person.

Meng Li sat down at the Spiritual Power testing device and sighed softly. Wu Changkong had set his Spiritual Power result in advance. If his true result appeared before everyone, then he would not be able to stay here any longer.