Sparring

If Lucy had not possessed genuine skill, she could never have become the homeroom teacher of Heaven Character Class One.

The second Spirit Ring behind her lit up. The same spatial-element fluctuations appeared, and her body instantly flashed ten meters away, perfectly evading Gu Yuena's thrust.

This was the second Spirit Ability of Lucy's Magic Book Martial Soul—Flash.

The moment Lucy landed, the third thousand-year Spirit Ring behind her lit up, and the Magic Book in her hand erupted with scorching energy.

Third Spirit Ability—Scorching Ray!

A beam of flame surged from the Magic Book and shot toward Gu Yuena.

But Gu Yuena was the Silver Dragon King who controlled the seven great elements. Why would she fear a fire attack?

Gu Yuena's first Spirit Ring lit up as Elemental Tide was unleashed. At the same time, a flaming shield appeared before her. It offset the attack—no, it would be more accurate to call it devouring. The flaming shield devoured the energy of the Scorching Ray and converted it into Gu Yuena's own Soul Power.

Yet just as Gu Yuena devoured the flames, Lucy's lips curved slightly upward. Her fourth Spirit Ring quietly lit up, and icy power silently gathered beneath Gu Yuena's feet.

The next instant, ice burst through the ground and swept upward toward Gu Yuena.

However, Gu Yuena possessed spiritual power at the level of a Soul Douluo. She easily detected Lucy's move.

At the same time, a victorious smile appeared on Gu Yuena's face. She had already realized that Lucy's six Spirit Abilities were likely all related to Elemental Control.

And her own ability to control the elements was far beyond Lucy's!

Water Element Control was unleashed, and the frost beneath Gu Yuena's feet immediately turned into droplets of water and seeped into the earth.

Spatial Confinement!

Gu Yuena used her command of the Space Element to forcibly confine the space around Lucy, effectively rendering her second Spirit Ability useless.

Then, amid a ripple of spatial energy, Gu Yuena appeared before Lucy. She summoned the Silver Dragon Spear, its sharp tip piercing toward Lucy's throat before stopping 0.00001 centimeters in front of it.

"Teacher Mei, you lost." Gu Yuena smiled sweetly, released Lucy from the Spatial Confinement, recalled the Silver Dragon Spear, and spoke.

Lucy merely nodded, showing none of the dejection of defeat. "Gu Yuena, your combat skills are already powerful enough, and your Soul Power is nearly unmatched among those your age. I have two suggestions for your cultivation. First, you can go to the Great Soul Arena in Spirit City every day to participate in soul battles. Through constant practice, you can hone your combat ability. Also, I recommend that you do not use Elemental Control. Fight only with that spear of yours, or use only a single element in battle. Only then can your strength improve in every aspect."

"Second, I suggest that you spend at least five shichen every day cultivating at the Dragon Valley Mimic Cultivation Ground. Your Martial Soul is the Seven-Colored Dragon, and Dragon Valley is undoubtedly the place most suited to you."

Gu Yuena merely nodded. "Thank you, Teacher. I will."

Lucy looked toward Xue Youyou and the others who had yet to fight, as well as Feng Ming, the support who had been completely useless just now, and Hua Bu Luo, the controller. "I'm going to help Gu Chen find Teacher Lin now. Hua Bu Luo, join Xuan Mo's group. Feng Ming, join Xue Youyou's group. The two of you can have a three-on-three sparring match."

The group nodded. Gu Chen and the others found a bench outside the sparring grounds and sat down to watch, leaving only the six of them to battle within the arena.

More than ten minutes later, with Feng Ming providing support, Feng Xiaoyu attacking the backline, and Xue Youyou launching a powerful assault with the Ice Snow Sword, Xue Youyou's group claimed victory.

Not long afterward, Lucy arrived with Teacher Lin.

"This is your Dean of Studies, Teacher Lin. His Martial Soul is the Light Annihilation Holy Sword, and he is a level 73, seven-ring Weapon Soul Sage. Gu Chen, Teacher Lin will be your sparring partner shortly," Lucy said.

The bald Teacher Lin smiled and nodded at Gu Chen. "We meet again, Gu Chen."

Gu Chen nodded at Teacher Lin. "I'm ready. Let's begin."

"Young people really are impatient!" Teacher Lin stepped into the sparring grounds first. Once Gu Chen entered, he released his Martial Soul, the Light Annihilation Holy Sword.

It was a golden greatsword, yet it was covered in jet-black patterns that seemed to devour one's mind.

Gu Chen said no more. The Golden Dragon King Martial Soul possessed him, golden scales perfectly covering his entire body. Even his eyes were protected by a faint membrane of energy.

This was his first time facing a Soul Sage powerhouse alone. He had to be cautious!

With a wave of his right hand, the Golden Dragon Spear appeared in his grasp. The third Spirit Ring behind Gu Chen, a ten-thousand-year Spirit Ring, shone with black light as Golden Dragon Wings spread from his back.

Gu Chen soared into the air and glided toward Teacher Lin. The Golden Dragon Spear in his hand shot forward fiercely, like a bolt of lightning. Its golden spear aura extended several feet, carrying a razor-sharp edge.

Teacher Lin hurriedly swung the Light Annihilation Holy Sword. His second Spirit Ring lit up, and a golden sword aura slashed out, colliding with Gu Chen's Golden Dragon Spear.

But the sword aura shattered instantly, while the tip of the Golden Dragon Spear struck the blade of the Light Annihilation Holy Sword. Soul Power flowed continuously through the Light Annihilation Holy Sword, siphoned away by the Golden Dragon Spear.

"Soul Power devouring? This..." Teacher Lin was somewhat startled.

But Gu Chen gave him no time to think. Using Golden Dragon Soars, he had already arrived before Teacher Lin. The black-and-red ninety-thousand-year Spirit Ring behind him lit up as Gu Chen extended his right Golden Dragon Claw.

Golden Dragon Claw Strike!

Penetration, tearing, and shattering—three attributes were concentrated in this claw, along with the terrifying energy of a ninety-thousand-year Spirit Ring.

Even as a Soul Sage, Teacher Lin's expression changed drastically in the face of this attack. He no longer concerned himself with the Golden Dragon Spear as his fifth Spirit Ring lit up.

A terrifying golden halo spread outward from Teacher Lin, forcibly knocking the Golden Dragon Spear away and slowing the Golden Dragon Claw Strike for a second.

This was Teacher Lin's fifth Spirit Ability—Repulsion Halo.

Teacher Lin had naturally possessed considerable combat ability to attain the position of Dean of Studies. Almost at the very moment he unleashed Repulsion Halo, his sixth Spirit Ring lit up.

Pitch-black rays bloomed from the sword tip and shot toward Gu Chen.

This was the sixth Spirit Ability of the Light Annihilation Holy Sword—Annihilation Ray!

Due to the momentum of Golden Dragon Soars, and without Delicious Fried Rice, Gu Chen had no time at all to change direction before the Annihilation Ray arrived. He could only cross his arms and take the Annihilation Ray head-on.

The Annihilation Ray was immensely destructive. Even the Golden Dragon King's golden scales on Gu Chen's body were gradually corroded, revealing the powerful muscles beneath.

However, the Golden Dragon King's defense was no joke. Relying on his formidable physique and defensive power, Gu Chen forcibly withstood the Annihilation Ray.

Only, Gu Chen's skin had been corroded black, exposing the vivid red flesh beneath.

"Your defensive capabilities are very strong. They are already comparable to those of a defense-type Soul Emperor," Teacher Lin estimated conservatively. "Even my sixth Spirit Ability cannot injure you. The test ends here. Lucy, take him to the training room and test his maximum speed and maximum strength."