Battle Against Wu Changkong (Part 1)

"Yesterday's exam earned all of you high scores. The main reason was that each of you did exactly what you should have done. These three months were not wasted. At the very least, you are now a complete team."

The next day, Wu Changkong was clearly praising his students, yet his words still sounded so cold and harsh that it was hard to tell whether he was truly happy about it.

After praising them, Wu Changkong brought up the matter of everyone absorbing Spirit Power yesterday:

"But you absorbed too much Spirit Power yesterday. Once the Final Exam is over, you will undergo a comprehensive Body Test to determine the maximum amount of Spirit Power your bodies can currently withstand.

Remember, do not try to cross that red line. Otherwise, the consequences will be beyond your ability to bear."

After reminding them, Wu Changkong summarized the events of yesterday. First, he turned to Su Hao.

At the mention of the Riot Period Spirit Ascension Platform from yesterday, the six members of Class Zero, aside from Su Hao, could not help looking animated. Especially when it came to their battle against the Man Faced Demon Spider, everyone still found it somewhat unbelievable.

"Su Hao, I have a question for you.

"When you planned to deal with the Man Faced Demon Spider, did you consider that its venomous spider silk might later help you kill other Soul Beasts?"

Su Hao shook his head upon hearing that, then answered Wu Changkong in a firm voice:

"To be honest, I never expected that spider silk to help us kill so many Soul Beasts and gain so much Spirit Power.

"What I was thinking was that if I let it finish setting up its web, it would be more likely to let down its guard. At the same time, those webs could at least serve as a barrier to protect us.

"If we truly had no way to kill that Man Faced Demon Spider in the end, I would use all my strength and forcibly kill it."

Hearing Su Hao's answer, Wu Changkong frowned and asked:

"All your strength? Are you referring to the power you erupted with when you killed the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear?

"Then why didn't you use it from the start? Or are there restrictions on using it?"

At Wu Changkong's question, the others in Class Zero also looked at Su Hao. Seeing this, Su Hao said:

"Teacher Wu, you know that my Martial Soul cannot actively use offensive Soul Skills. All of my current Soul Skills were created bit by bit through extensive study.

"My initial Soul Spirit was strength-type, but a strength-type Soul Spirit is destined to be unable to give me long-range attacking power. It can only enhance my close-combat abilities.

"Only through a great deal of study and research did I barely manage to create a long-range strength-type Soul Skill, Air Cannon.

"While researching this Soul Skill, I accidentally developed a method that could temporarily erupt with more than ten times my usual strength by overdrawing the power of my Soul Spirit.

"And the success rate of overdrawing Soul Spirit power is extremely low. Once its power is overdrawn, the Soul Spirit will remain weakened for several days. It may even lose years of cultivation."

After speaking, Su Hao released his Mighty Demonic Bull Soul Spirit as well, lest Wu Changkong and the others doubt him.

When Wu Changkong and the others saw that Su Hao's Mighty Demonic Bull was indeed as weak as he had described, they all believed what he said.

Wu Changkong looked at Su Hao and offered a few comforting words.

"Su Hao, I wasn't doubting you. I was merely curious how you managed to kill a Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear.

"But if you encounter a Soul Beast or enemy like the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear again, you must not think of relying on this method to win.

"You said earlier that the success rate of this method is extremely low. If you encounter one again, the best choice is to run away immediately.

"I'm not telling you to flee whenever you encounter a strong enemy. Don't think that running away is shameful.

"You only have one life. Only by staying alive will there be hope. As long as the green hills remain, there will always be firewood to burn.

"Take yesterday's Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear, for example. Fortunately, you were inside the Spirit Ascension Platform. If that had happened in reality, none of you might have escaped."

As he spoke, Wu Changkong turned his gaze toward everyone, offering Tang Wulin and the others the same warning.

Several days after the previous debriefing ended.

Zhang Yangzi said ingratiatingly to Wu Changkong as he entered the classroom, "Teacher Wu, the last subject of the Final Exam is coming up. Can we put off today's Practical Combat Class?"

With the holiday just around the corner, the students from ordinary classes had long since started slacking off. Class Zero, however, had been told by Wu Changkong a few days ago that they still had one Final Exam left, so none of them dared relax their recent cultivation. They had all been pushing themselves hard, until Zhang Yangzi was the first to lose patience and speak to Wu Changkong as he entered.

Wu Changkong merely said flatly:

"Because you absorbed too much Spirit Power in the Spirit Ascension Platform, the academy has been contacting people these past few days to arrange your Soul Ring Year Test and Body Test.

"Do not think that being young means you can squander your time. If you do not work hard while you are young, it will be too late to start trying when you are old. Isn't your coordination quite good?

"Practical Combat Class will continue. I have given it some thought. Given your current condition, the Spirit Ascension Platform is temporarily unsuitable for you. Practical Combat Class will need some changes as well. Follow me."

As soon as he finished speaking, Wu Changkong took the lead in walking out of the classroom.

Hearing that, Zhang Yangzi said despondently under his breath, "Teacher Wu really is heartless."

Xie Xie curled his lip. "Be content. Who knows how many classes in the Advanced Department wish Teacher Wu would teach them?"

Wang Jinxi, who had already run outside, reminded Zhang Yangzi and the others to catch up. He then caught up with Su Hao and Gu Yue, and they headed toward Wu Changkong together.

Only then did Xie Xie and Zhang Yangzi, who had still been talking, look up and see that Su Hao and the others had already gone far away. They hurriedly followed.

Next, the six followed Wu Changkong straight to the Academy Trial Hall.

This was a place specifically for students to practice practical combat with Soul Skills. Since Soul Skills could cause damage, Soul Tool Shields were installed here for protection, naturally preventing destructive effects from spreading.

After entering the Trial Hall, Wu Changkong found the teacher in charge and requested one of the trial grounds.

Standard trial grounds like these ranged from thirty to fifty meters in diameter. The Trial Hall had three floors, each with four trial grounds of different sizes for students of various grades to use.

Wu Changkong requested a ground on the third floor. Since no other classes were using it, it was very quiet.

This trial ground was fifty meters in diameter and exceptionally spacious. Wu Changkong led the six of them inside.