Ending and Summary

Long Hengxu looked at the contestants from the two classes, who were already at each other's throats before the match had even begun, and frowned slightly. "Let me emphasize this: this is only an internal academy competition. Friendship first, competition second. Stop when appropriate. Deliberately injuring an opponent is forbidden, or you will face punishment from the academy."

The six spoke in unison. "Yes."

"Good. The match begins."

At Long Hengxu's command, Xie Xie and Wei Xiaofeng, who had long found each other displeasing, instantly released their Martial Souls and charged at one another.

Both were Agile Attack System Soul Masters, and their speed was extremely fast. The instant they moved, both revealed their Soul Rings. Each had two Soul Rings. Not only was Wei Xiaofeng shocked, but so were the spectators below. Including An Ping, who had not taken the stage, there were already six Two-Ring Soul Grandmasters among this year's new students.

In the blink of an eye, the two had clashed. Although Wei Xiaofeng did not know that Xie Xie possessed Twin Martial Souls, he could clearly sense that despite having just reached the Second Ring, Xie Xie's Soul Power was no weaker than his own Level 22 Soul Power.

Sensing the threat Xie Xie posed, Wei Xiaofeng's First Soul Ring flashed as he instantly unleashed his First Soul Skill, Azure Shadow Overlap. His body became illusory, trailing streaks of azure afterimages behind him. Though they were phantoms, they were almost impossible to distinguish from the real thing.

At the same time, Tang Wulin did not immediately release his Martial Soul. Instead, he sprinted toward Zhang Yangzi. Though he was not as fast as Xie Xie, an Agile Attack System Soul Master, the surge in his strength made him far from slow.

Seeing Tang Wulin charge at him, Zhang Yangzi did not meet him head-on. He stood firmly in place while Wang Jinxi strode forward to confront Tang Wulin.

Two Yellow Soul Rings rose around him as well. Wang Jinxi's already skeletal body expanded somewhat, but it was his bones that swelled, making him look rather bizarre.

With a bang, his fists collided with Tang Wulin's. Tang Wulin was forced to stop, while Wang Jinxi was knocked back several steps under the stunned gazes of the spectators.

Not only were the spectators below shocked, but even those on the Arena were momentarily dumbfounded. They had never expected this inconspicuous kid, whose Martial Soul was merely Blue Silver Grass with only one white Soul Ring, to possess such tremendous strength.

At the same time, Gu Yuena, who should have been hiding behind Tang Wulin according to their training tactics, did no such thing. Azure light flickered around her as Wind Element rapidly gathered in the air.

Almost instantly, it formed a massive wind pillar that swept in from the side toward the stunned Zhang Yangzi and Wang Jinxi.

Tang Wulin, who was closer, quickly retreated several steps. He could not understand what Gu Yuena was doing. She had made such a huge move right from the start. "Gu Yuena, what are you doing?"

Gu Yuena said nothing and continued controlling the wind pillar. Though Zhang Yangzi and Wang Jinxi were both Two-Ring Soul Masters, they were still far inferior to Gu Yuena. In an instant, they were swept into the massive wind pillar. The moment they were caught inside, they felt as though they had returned to a typhoon day.

The difference was that these Wind Blades were far more aggressive. They were not especially powerful, but they came without end, continuously draining the two's Soul Power.

They could only watch helplessly as the wind pillar carried them toward the edge of the Arena. Dizzy and disoriented, Wang Jinxi and Zhang Yangzi could do nothing.

With two bangs, Wang Jinxi and Zhang Yangzi were flung off the Arena. Their disheveled hair and school uniforms made them look utterly bedraggled, and the calm expression had vanished from Zhang Yangzi's face.

The two glared hatefully at the Maiden on the Arena and wanted to rush back up, but Long Hengxu stopped them from the side.

Long Hengxu's voice was somewhat deep. "You have been eliminated."

Thinking of how they had been sent off the Arena by a Little Girl before they even had the chance to use their Martial Soul Fusion Skill, the two looked at their homeroom teacher in shame. "Teacher Ye, we're sorry."

Seeing two members of her class eliminated in an instant, Ye Yingluo, the homeroom teacher of Class One, no longer had any pride on her face. She stared fixedly at Wu Changkong and gritted out, "Director Long, we concede."

Clearly, Ye Yingluo did not believe that Wei Xiaofeng alone could accomplish the feat of taking on three opponents. She could only concede helplessly.

"Good. You two, stop." With that, Long Hengxu flashed forward and separated Xie Xie and Wei Xiaofeng, who were still locked in combat on the Arena.

Xie Xie and Wei Xiaofeng both glared furiously at each other. Everything had happened too suddenly, and neither of them accepted the result when they had not yet determined a winner.

Tang Wulin was also somewhat dazed. Were Two-Ring Soul Masters really this powerful? He had only exchanged one blow with Wang Jinxi, yet Gu Yuena had seized the moment when the two were briefly stunned and thrown them off the Arena.

After separating Xie Xie and Wei Xiaofeng, Long Hengxu walked to the center of the Arena. "The winner of this Promotion Tournament is First Year Class Five. Due to the academy's latest regulations, Promotion Tournaments are only held within the same year. Therefore, the First Year Promotion Tournament ends here. Congratulations to First Year Class Five. From now on, you are Class One."

Upon hearing Long Hengxu announce the result, the Cadets behind Wu Changkong erupted in cheers, while the former First Year Class One Cadets all hung their heads in dejection.

Watching the scene before him, Long Hengxu felt conflicted. He had personally assigned Xie Xie and An Ping to Class Five, while Gu Yuena had been admitted with his approval at Wu Changkong's request.

He still understood Xie Xie well enough. But An Ping and Gu Yuena were different—he only knew that An Ping's Martial Soul was a Book with the strange name Sky of Truth, while Gu Yuena's Martial Soul was known only as the Elementalist.

Then there was Tang Wulin. A useless Martial Soul like Blue Silver Grass had somehow come with Innate Super Strength. Long Hengxu shook his head slightly and walked off the Arena with a bitter smile. Those few he had always dismissed had brought him an enormous surprise. The world truly was vast, and anything was possible. All kinds of Martial Souls could exist.

As the match ended, teachers continuously came forward to congratulate Wu Changkong. After all, for the first time in many years, a class had fought its way all the way to Class One.

Wu Changkong merely nodded expressionlessly at the teachers offering congratulations, fully deserving of his reputation as Eastsea Academy's cold and aloof male God.

Once the crowd gradually dispersed, Wu Changkong looked at the few people he had kept behind and spoke coldly. "I'm very disappointed in your performance today. Where was your coordination?"

Hearing Wu Changkong's words, Xie Xie muttered softly, "Didn't we win?"

Wu Changkong cast Xie Xie a cold glance. "Xie Xie, you first. You completely broke away from the team. This was a team match, not a chance for you to go up there and duel the other side's Agile Attack System Soul Master."

After spending several months together, Xie Xie had come to understand exactly what kind of person his teacher was. He immediately said, "Teacher Wu, I'm sorry. I know I was wrong."

"Then there's Tang Wulin. As a Control System Soul Master, where was your Martial Soul? Your so-called major breakthrough was just becoming stronger, wasn't it? Are you planning to become a Power Attack System Soul Master?"

Tang Wulin lowered his head in shame. "I was wrong."

"Gu Yuena, as the team's long-range support, you deliberately moved beyond your teammates' support range. If I were to grade your performance in today's match, it would be a failing mark. Always remember that you are a team, not individuals fighting alone. Otherwise, what is the point of a team?"

Gu Yuena pressed her lips together and said nothing.

"Reflect on yourselves properly." With that, Wu Changkong left without looking back.