Summary

"Regarding yesterday's exam, aside from An Ping and Gu Yuena, I was relatively satisfied. From your performance in the Spirit Ascension Platform, I could see that this semester had not been wasted." The next day, Wu Changkong stepped onto the podium and got straight to the point. His tone was calm, giving no indication of where his happiness lay.

"First, Tang Wulin's control has improved significantly. He no longer relies solely on his own strength while neglecting the role of his Martial Soul. Keep working hard. Yesterday, you all absorbed a great deal of spiritual energy. After the Final Exam, I will conduct physical tests for you to determine the limits of how much spiritual energy your bodies can absorb. Before then, do not attempt to cross that line."

Next came a summary of every battle in the Spirit Ascension Platform the previous day. Speaking of their experience in the Riot Period Spirit Ascension Platform, they could not help but marvel at An Ping and Gu Yuena's strength.

After hearing their summaries, Wu Changkong said, "The reason An Ping and Gu Yuena were able to do that is because they understand their own Martial Souls better and can control their Soul Power more effectively to achieve the results they want. Other than your daily training, I hope you will also spend more time understanding your Martial Souls. Only then can you better unleash your full strength."

"Yes," they replied in unison.

Wu Changkong looked at Tang Wulin. "Tang Wulin, the main reason I chose you as captain is because you are a Control System Soul Master. The most important thing for a Control System Soul Master is to think calmly even when facing the most brutal battlefield. Only a calm mind can give you better control over the entire battlefield."

Tang Wulin said, "Yes, Teacher Wu. I have been working toward that as well."

Wu Changkong nodded. "Mm. Your control over the battlefield has been fairly good, but you are still not calm enough at times. You need to pay attention to that."

"Yes." Tang Wulin nodded firmly.

After speaking to Tang Wulin, Wu Changkong looked at Xie Xie. "Next is Xie Xie. As an Agile Attack System Soul Master, you have done fairly well whether supporting your teammates or seizing opportunities. In the future, besides strengthening your training in those areas, you should try to understand your Martial Souls. As someone with Twin Martial Souls, perhaps you can develop a Self Martial Soul Fusion Skill."

At the mention of a Self Martial Soul Fusion Skill, everyone looked at Wu Changkong, especially Wang Jinxi, Zhang Yangzi, and Xie Xie himself, since Wang Jinxi and Zhang Yangzi possessed a Martial Soul Fusion Skill. Xie Xie asked somewhat doubtfully, "A Self Martial Soul Fusion Skill?"

Wu Changkong nodded. "A Self Martial Soul Fusion Skill refers to a Martial Soul Fusion Skill formed by the two Martial Souls of a Twin Martial Soul wielder. Both of your Martial Souls are daggers, and there is no conflict between them. You have a good chance of developing a Self Martial Soul Fusion Skill."

"Thank you, Teacher Wu. I'll work hard." Xie Xie nodded.

"Then there is Wang Jinxi. When you encountered the Man Faced Demon Spider again this time, you did not retreat. That shows you have overcome your psychological barrier. Well done. Keep working hard. The same goes for Zhang Yangzi. Keep working hard."

Wang Jinxi and Zhang Yangzi said, "Thank you, Teacher Wu."

"Finally, An Ping and Gu Yuena. I will not say much about matters of cultivation. The only thing I am curious about is what exactly drove you to take the initiative to challenge the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear?" Naturally, Wu Changkong did not know that the two had learned beforehand that the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear possessed a Soul Bone.

The others also turned their gazes toward An Ping and Gu Yuena. They were all somewhat curious how these two, who normally seemed so steady, could have made such a decision. The Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear had been covered in their Soul Beast-related classes. With such a distinctive Soul Beast, there was no way they could have failed to recognize it.

Gu Yuena glanced at An Ping. Other than An Ping, none of them understood that Gu Yuena was signaling for her to speak. "Teacher Wu, I made that decision. On one hand, I wanted to know whether the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear, as a king among Soul Beasts, would possess more spiritual energy. On the other hand, I wanted to know how far my strength had progressed after cultivating for an entire semester."

Wu Changkong looked coldly at the two of them, his voice icy. "You made such a dangerous decision for reasons like that? Gu Yuena, do you know that if An Ping had been even one step slower, you would have been torn to pieces by the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear? No one knows what consequences that could have caused. Are you treating your own safety as a joke?"

Seeing Gu Yuena press her lips together without saying a word, Wu Changkong turned to An Ping. "And you, An Ping. Why did you not stop her? Where did all your usual caution go? I know the two of you are close, but because you are close, you followed her into this kind of recklessness?"

An Ping said, "Teacher Wu, we know we were wrong."

Wu Changkong swept his gaze over everyone. "Not just the two of them. All of you must remember this: you only have one life. No matter what benefits are at stake, nothing is more important than staying alive. If you die, even the greatest benefit will have nothing to do with you."

"Yes."

"Class dismissed. We will conduct combat training this afternoon." With that, Wu Changkong turned and left directly.

Watching Wu Changkong's departing back, Zhang Yangzi muttered, "Teacher Wu really is something else. It's already the end of the semester, and we still have to continue combat training."

Xie Xie curled his lip. "Be content. Over in the Advanced Department, who knows how many Cadets want Teacher Wu to teach them."

Tang Wulin patted his shoulder as well. "Teacher Wu is doing this so we can improve our strength more effectively. Haven't you felt how much our strength has improved over the past few months?"

After chatting casually for a while, the group headed to the cafeteria for lunch.

That afternoon, Wu Changkong brought them to the Training Ground. Once they were standing in position, he said, "Because you absorbed a large amount of spiritual energy in the Spirit Ascension Platform yesterday, you are not suited to enter it for trials again anytime soon. I will be giving you team training."

Hearing the words "team training," Xie Xie immediately grew eager. "Three against three? How are we splitting up? Just don't put An Ping and Gu Yuena on the same team, or there'll be no point in fighting."

"No. It will be all six of you against me." Wu Changkong said, "Remember, this is not the Spirit Ascension Platform. In reality, you only have one life, and I may not be able to hold back. I will suppress my Soul Power to roughly the same level as yours and will not use Soul Skills to enhance myself, but I will use my Martial Soul."

When Wu Changkong mentioned that they only had one life, he deliberately glanced at An Ping and Gu Yuena. Afterward, he directly released his Martial Soul, and ring after ring of Soul Rings rose around him.

Two yellow, two purple, and two black—a perfect Soul Ring configuration. As the ice-blue Longsword appeared, a terrifying aura flashed past before rapidly dropping to a level the group could endure. Even so, at the instant that aura erupted, their hearts all tightened.

Holding the ice-blue Longsword, he took a few steps back to widen the distance between himself and them. Then, in an icy voice, he said, "Begin!"