"What a fast punch!"
Watching Zhao Tao make his move, Zhou Changxi had still been thinking about fighting back. But the moment the thought crossed his mind, his body was sent flying, slamming heavily into the dormitory wall with a thud.
"You bastard! Great Strength Divine Ape, possess me!"
Although he had been caught off guard by Zhao Tao's first strike, Zhou Changxi had the Great Strength Divine Ape Martial Soul and a thick, tough hide, so he hadn't suffered any real injury.
Glaring at Zhao Tao in the distance, Zhou Changxi roared and got back to his feet!
A dense brown glow flickered over his body.
His already muscular frame swelled, and thick fur sprouted all over him.
As his Martial Soul possessed him, a White Soul Ring appeared behind Zhou Changxi, and his aura grew far more fierce.
He swung his fists and charged at Zhao Tao!
"You're just a curly-haired gorilla. And you call yourself the Great Strength Divine Ape?"
"Break!"
Watching Zhou Changxi use Martial Soul Possession, Zhao Tao smiled scornfully and activated his own Martial Soul with a thought.
"Come forth, Spring Autumn Cicada."
At Zhao Tao's call, a faint silver light shimmered in his palm, and the Spring Autumn Cicada Martial Soul appeared!
Unlike Zhou Changxi, however, Zhao Tao didn't use any kind of Spring Autumn Cicada Possession.
After all, the Spring Autumn Cicada wasn't a beast-type Martial Soul. In essence, it was more like Blue Silver Grass, closer to a Tool Martial Soul.
When used, it didn't change the Soul Master's appearance. Instead, it manifested by leaving the Martial Soul's body.
"Hmph. A little bug? So that's the source of your confidence?"
Looking at the Spring Autumn Cicada Martial Soul Zhao Tao had summoned, Zhou Changxi's face filled with disdain. He swung a heavy punch at Zhao Tao's face.
"Time Burial Sword!"
Though the fist was already close enough to touch him, Zhao Tao's eyes remained as calm as a still well as he silently channeled his Soul Power.
The next moment, a Purple Soul Ring suddenly flickered behind Zhao Tao.
As it glimmered, an ancient-looking sword appeared in Zhao Tao's hand, wreathed in a magnificent silver glow. The space and time around it seemed to twist ever so slightly.
"A Thousand-Year Soul Ring? That's impossible!"
Seeing the Purple Soul Ring flash behind Zhao Tao, Zhou Changxi's eyes widened in shock.
Even many Soul Elders didn't have a Thousand-Year Soul Ring!
How could this kid have one?
While Zhou Changxi was still reeling, Zhao Tao had already raised the Time Burial Sword and slashed at his neck.
In an instant, a sharp streak of silver sword light tore through the air, swift as a startled dragon, and shot straight for Zhou Changxi!
Facing Zhao Tao's fierce strike, Zhou Changxi felt his life was in danger and raised both hands to block the sword light.
But the instant his palms touched the Time Burial Sword, something miraculous happened—
At that moment, Zhou Changxi's hands and the Time Burial Sword seemed to exist in two different spaces of time!
His palms passed through the sword as if they had touched nothing but air. He lost his balance and nearly fell forward.
Meanwhile, the Time Burial Sword in Zhao Tao's hand passed right through Zhou Changxi's defense and continued toward his neck!
"No! Spare me! I don't want to die!"
With the blade close enough to touch him, fear flashed in Zhou Changxi's eyes. He couldn't help crying out for mercy, and a large patch of his pants instantly grew wet.
As Zhou Changxi begged in terror, the Time Burial Sword in Zhao Tao's hand thrust straight toward his neck.
In an instant, the sharp sword light pierced Zhou Changxi's neck, leaving a deep gash that poured blood without stopping!
"Will you admit defeat?"
Watching Zhou Changxi tremble uncontrollably with fear, Zhao Tao looked at him coldly and asked in an even tone.
"I admit defeat! I admit defeat!"
At Zhao Tao's words, Zhou Changxi, who had already wet himself in terror, turned ashen and begged for mercy again and again.
Just then.
A teacher from Eastsea Academy suddenly appeared outside the dormitory, eyeing the four students inside with a stern expression.
"Very good, very good. You've made quite an impression. You get into a fight on your very first day, and you even engage in an unauthorized Soul Fighting match!"
"All of you, come with me. We're going to the Academic Affairs Office to discuss your punishment!"
The teacher looked at Zhao Tao, who still held the Time Burial Sword, and at Zhou Changxi, who was begging for mercy in front of him.
With a stern gaze, the teacher led the four students from the dormitory to the Academic Affairs Office.
Several minutes later.
Eastsea Academy, Intermediate Division, Academic Affairs Office.
"So, Zhou Changxi, you were the one who provoked Zhao Tao and Tang Wulin first, and that led to this unauthorized Soul Fighting match?"
Looking at Zhao Tao, Tang Wulin, Xie Xie, and Zhou Changxi standing before him, Long Hengxu, the director of discipline at Eastsea Academy, regarded them sternly.
After hearing what had happened, Long Hengxu turned a dark expression on Zhou Changxi and questioned him.
"Yes, that's what happened."
Faced with Long Hengxu's question, Zhou Changxi remembered Zhao Tao's terrifying strength. He didn't dare argue or twist the facts, and could only nod repeatedly.
"Zhou Changxi, your Martial Soul is pretty good. Your Soul Power is just too low, so I'd planned to assign you to Class Three."
"I didn't expect you, a Soul Master, to bully someone weaker than you. As punishment, you'll go to the worst class, Class Five!"
Looking at Zhou Changxi, Long Hengxu announced his punishment.
"Zhao Tao, unauthorized Soul Fighting on academy grounds and injuring a classmate could get you expelled under the school rules!"
"But I know you weren't the one at fault here."
"A man should have some fire in him when someone provokes him. That's a good thing."
"Besides, you're new here and didn't know Eastsea Academy's rules."
"Still, you did injure Zhou Changxi..."
"As punishment, you'll also have to start your studies at Eastsea Academy in Class Five. Are you willing to accept that?"
Looking toward Zhao Tao, Long Hengxu revealed a trace of admiration deep in his eyes before speaking.
"I accept, Director Long."
At Long Hengxu's words, Zhao Tao nodded expressionlessly, secretly delighted.
My plan worked!
Compared to Class One, Zhao Tao thought Class Five, where Wu Changkong taught, would undoubtedly be more interesting.
Besides.
Tang Wulin was in Class Five too.
By joining Class Five, he could look out for Tang Wulin and thoroughly rework his way of thinking.
One day, he'd let Tang Wulin see the ugly truth about Divine King Tang, and then stage the legendary "loving father and filial son" scene.
"Good!"
"Zhao Tao, with your talent, I believe you can pass the Class Promotion Tournament and fight your way back to Class One!"
Seeing how composed Zhao Tao was, Long Hengxu nodded approvingly and encouraged him.
"I'm sorry, Brother Tao. This is all my fault. I dragged you into this."
Beside him, Tang Wulin heard Long Hengxu's punishment for Zhao Tao and felt guilty and upset.
"What's the big deal? It's just a little setback. From now on, we'll work together and fight our way into Class One!"
At that, Zhao Tao smiled and patted Tang Wulin on the shoulder, reassuring him.
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