Time flew by in the blink of an eye.
In the blink of an eye, three months had passed since Wu Changkong had stepped in!
They had witnessed Wu Changkong's strength.
The students of Class Five trained and cultivated with more enthusiasm than ever, and not one of them complained.
Thanks to all their hard work, the class's overall ability continued to improve.
The four students receiving Wu Changkong's special training—Zhao Tao, Gu Yue, Xie Xie, and Tang Wulin—made especially rapid progress.
First, after a month of training, all four had increased their Soul Power Level.
Zhao Tao and Gu Yue had each gained two levels, reaching Level 19 and Level 17, respectively.
As for Xie Xie and Tang Wulin, they had each gained one level, reaching Level 19 and Level 12.
Beyond their Soul Power, the four had also grown more and more in sync as a team under Wu Changkong's practical combat training and guidance.
With Zhao Tao organizing and directing them, they had even developed a highly effective set of tactics.
After their intensive training and the bond they had forged as comrades, the four had become much more lively around one another.
Gu Yue in particular had begun to open her heart, thanks to Zhao Tao's attentive care.
She often smiled when talking to him.
They were still a long way from being lovers, but they were friends now.
However, when Gu Yue faced Xie Xie and Tang Wulin, she remained just as aloof as ever, as if the two of them belonged to another world.
Of course, after spending this time together, Gu Yue had become much less hostile toward humans.
At last, it was time for the Class Promotion Tournament to begin.
To avoid disrupting classes, the tournament would be held after school each afternoon.
In preparation for the tournament, a hundred-meter-wide arena had been built on the East Sea Academy Intermediate Division grounds from thick metal plates.
Soul Tools designed to generate protective barriers had also been installed around the arena to keep the battles' shockwaves from affecting the academy.
When the school bell rang, the students of First Grade Class Four and First Grade Class Five made their way to the grounds.
There weren't many other students there to watch. After all, it was only a competition between lower grades.
"Now, the first match of the Class Promotion Tournament begins! First Grade Class Five will challenge First Grade Class Four!"
"Teacher Wu Changkong, please confirm the number of participants!"
Long Hengxu, acting as the referee, stepped onto the arena and announced the start of the match. His eyes were full of anticipation.
After all, he wanted to see just how strong the students Teacher Wu had devoted himself to protecting and training really were!
"Three students from my class will compete."
Wu Changkong replied calmly.
As soon as he finished speaking, Zhao Tao, Tang Wulin, and Xie Xie stepped onto the arena.
The four of them had agreed on this lineup.
Against their weakest opponents, they would give Tang Wulin, who was a substitute, a chance to compete and experience a real Soul Fighting match.
At the same time, it would help them conserve some strength for the matches to come.
"Jialong, Lin Zunyuan, Moss—you three, go!"
Seeing that Wu Changkong had already chosen his competitors, Kong Hanwen, the homeroom teacher of First Grade Class Four, sent out his own students.
"The two sides will start fifty meters apart. Get ready... Begin!"
Once both sides were ready, Long Hengxu gave the order and announced the start of the match.
The next instant, Zhao Tao, Xie Xie, and Tang Wulin each charged at their respective opponents.
The ensuing battle was nothing short of a rout.
Summoning his Time Burial Sword, Zhao Tao needed only one strike to easily take out the opposing team's captain, Jialong, a strong attack Soul Master with a War Wolf Martial Soul.
The Thousand-Year Soul Ring he displayed immediately became the center of attention, drawing gasps from the crowd!
Xie Xie and Tang Wulin also put on impressive performances!
With his Light Dragon Dagger in hand, Xie Xie darted forward and closed in on Lin Zunyuan, the opposing team's Auxiliary System Soul Master, in almost a single step.
As an Auxiliary System Soul Master, Lin Zunyuan was powerless against an Agility Attack System Soul Master who had gotten within striking distance. Xie Xie tapped him with the end of his Light Dragon Dagger, and he was immediately declared out.
Moss, the last member of First Grade Class Four, had a dagger Martial Soul and only thirteen levels of Soul Power. Tang Wulin set his sights on him.
Although his Soul Power Level was lower than Moss's, Tang Wulin's fight was just as decisive. He used the Entwining Soul Skill to bind Moss, then finished him off with a single punch.
The whole fight was a complete rout. Zhao Tao and the others needed less than five seconds to win.
"First Grade Class Five wins! They advance to First Grade Class Four and will face First Grade Class Three tomorrow!"
Watching the match, Long Hengxu announced the result without hesitation.
"Yeah! We won!"
After winning their opening match, Tang Wulin jumped up excitedly.
During their usual practical combat training, the four of them had worked together, yet Zhao Tao and the others had still been easily suppressed by Wu Changkong.
Now, at last, Tang Wulin had gotten a taste of victory.
"Tao, Teacher Wu's training really works!"
"Three months ago, I could've beaten my opponent easily too, but there's no way I could've taken him out that effortlessly!"
Xie Xie was just as delighted, and his admiration for Wu Changkong grew even stronger.
"This was only our first fight. There's nothing to be proud of yet. Let's keep working hard in the matches ahead!"
Zhao Tao merely smiled at the excited Tang Wulin and Xie Xie.
If this had been his first time transmigrating and he had defeated a powerful opponent, he might have been just as excited as they were.
But at that moment, his heart was as still as water.
After all, he knew that his ultimate enemies in the future wouldn't be a few Soul Grandmasters.
They would be Tang Hao and Ah Yin, the Plane Master and core of the plane, as well as the Divine Sense of Sea God Tang San.
He needed to grow stronger—and he had to.
Only then could he bring salvation to himself, to Na'er and Gu Yue, and even to the entire Douluo Continent!
The next afternoon arrived in the blink of an eye.
The match against First Grade Class Three began as scheduled!
Following the agreed-upon strategy, Tang Wulin, who was serving as their substitute, didn't compete this time.
Gu Yue, Zhao Tao, and Xie Xie stepped onto the arena one after another.
Their opponents were a very unusual team: three nearly identical triplet brothers named Gu Tianri, Gu Tianyue, and Gu Tianming!
Just like their identical appearances, all three had the same Martial Soul: the Sky-Soaring War Eagle, a bird Martial Soul renowned for its speed and ability to fly.
As soon as Long Hengxu announced the start of the match, the three brothers simultaneously chose Martial Soul Possession. A pair of gray wings appeared on each of their backs, and they took to the air.
"Zhao Tao, I admit your Class Five is strong. But we're in the air, and there's no way you can hit us. Just wait until your time runs out, then give up like good boys!"
Looking down at Zhao Tao, Gu Yue, and Xie Xie on the ground, Gu Tianming, the eldest of the three brothers, smirked and taunted them.
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