Zhao Wuji's intention was clear: eliminate the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's Soul Master first.
This was what Master had taught Zhang Yang and Tang San, and it was also the consensus of all Soul Masters on the continent.
Zhao Wuji wanted to use his powerful Soul Power to interrupt Ning Rongrong's support effects, but Zhang Yang and Xiao Wu naturally could not let him have his way.
"Rankyaku."
Zhang Yang kicked two transparent crescent slashes through the air at Zhao Wuji in the distance. The distorted-air strikes flew toward Zhao Wuji one after the other.
"Interesting." Zhao Wuji smiled as he continued unleashing his area attack.
Zhao Wuji's immense Soul Power surged out instantly. Earth-yellow light flashed all over his body as it collided with the two Rankyaku slashes, which then vanished soundlessly like spring rain melting into the wind.
Without Spirit Infusion and without using a Soul Skill, Zhao Wuji had blocked Zhang Yang's two Rankyaku strikes solely with his abundant Soul Power.
Zhang Yang's expression turned grave. "A Level 76 Soul Sage is truly terrifying."
As the Rankyaku was neutralized, Zhao Wuji's Soul Power shockwave, enough to reach Ning Rongrong, swept over as well. Tang San reacted quickly, wrapping a black vine around Ning Rongrong's waist and leaping away with her to evade Zhao Wuji's attack.
The instant they dodged Zhao Wuji's attack, Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing were already charging toward him.
Seeing two delicate little girls rush at him, Level 76 Zhao Wuji confidently stood with his hands behind his back, looking as though he would let them attack however they pleased.
During her charge, Xiao Wu swiftly completed Spirit Infusion. Her feet stomped hard onto Zhao Wuji's shoulders, while Tang San's Blue Silver Grass wrapped around Zhao Wuji's legs and injected powerful paralytic poison into him instantly.
Xiao Wu pressed backward, and Tang San pulled forward. Zhao Wuji, arrogant enough not to even release his Martial Soul, instantly lost his balance.
Xiao Wu and Tang San worked together flawlessly, intending to slam Zhao Wuji's head into the ground.
But Zhao Wuji was, after all, a Level 76 Battle Soul Sage, especially one known for his strength. In just an instant, he steadied himself, bringing Xiao Wu and Tang San's coordination to nothing.
However, at that moment, Zhao Wuji's vision blurred, and a tall, muscular figure appeared before him.
It was Zhang Yang, who had just launched those two kicks.
Zhang Yang's arms were slightly bent, his fists facing each other and stacked together before Zhao Wuji's resolute face. He took a deep breath.
Zhao Wuji felt that this boy was a little foolish. How could anyone use such an obvious charge-up attack right in front of an enemy?
"You still lack Teacher Zhao's guidance."
Thinking this, Zhao Wuji extended his sandbag-sized fist and slammed it toward Zhang Yang's chest.
But this time, Zhao Wuji had miscalculated. Zhang Yang was no fool. If he had not activated his First Soul Skill, how could he stand so openly before Zhao Wuji and charge up?
Faced with Zhang Yang's [Elementalization], Zhao Wuji's fist naturally passed through empty air.
"A Soul Skill with an intangibility effect!"
The moment he realized this, Zhao Wuji sensed that something was wrong.
After Tang San's Blue Silver Grass restrained him from afar and Xiao Wu's Waist Bow limited him, an opponent temporarily immune to physical attacks had spent so long charging an attack at his face. No matter how he thought about it, it had to be a Soul Skill with tremendous offensive power.
With that thought, Zhao Wuji let out a low roar. His body abruptly expanded. The already terrifying muscles across his body nearly doubled in size, and he shot up another meter in height in an instant as seven Soul Rings rose simultaneously.
"Clink, clink, clink, clink, clink, clink, clink..."
A series of crisp sounds rang out behind Zhao Wuji. Zhu Zhuqing's pointed nails struck him, but against Zhao Wuji in his current state, they achieved nothing.
"Rokuogan!!"
A powerful Shockwave burst from between Zhang Yang's fists and struck Zhao Wuji squarely in the chest.
Of course, the Rokuogan had originally been aimed at Zhao Wuji's head. But after Spirit Infusion, Zhao Wuji had instantly grown a meter taller, so the Rokuogan could only hit his abdomen.
However, because the Rokuogan's Shockwave was a vibrating, penetrating attack, even after being weakened by Zhao Wuji's formidable Soul Power and powerful body, it still affected Zhao Wuji's internal organs.
But as for the effect...
Zhao Wuji merely raised an eyebrow. That was the greatest damage Zhang Yang had dealt him.
The strength of a Soul Sage after Spirit Infusion was indeed terrifying.
"Fall back!" Tang San shouted. Blue Silver Grass instantly wrapped around Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing, pulling the two of them back to his side with clever force.
Meanwhile, Zhang Yang, still at the front, lowered into a bow stance and threw a punch. Vigorous Soul Power rapidly surged as a sharp aura erupted from him.
"Finger Gun!!"
This was the most powerful Finger Gun Zhang Yang had ever unleashed. It contained a full seventy percent of his Level 28 Soul Power, and with its enhanced penetration, it was powerful enough to pierce through refined iron ingots.
"Interesting." Zhao Wuji sensed danger from Zhang Yang's fingertip. His First Soul Ring lit up, and intense golden light nearly exploded in an instant. Grass, trees, and crushed stones within several meters were immediately blasted away.
Yet Zhang Yang remained steady.
This Little Monster's Soul Skill is rather interesting. The thought flashed through Zhao Wuji's mind. The next moment, Zhang Yang's finger jabbed into Zhao Wuji's chest.
"You think such a straightforward attack can hurt anyone?" Zhao Wuji said, swinging his palm-fan-sized hand fiercely at Zhang Yang's forearm.
If Zhao Wuji's blow landed, Zhang Yang's arm would be unusable for at least ten days or so. Unfortunately, Zhao Wuji could not hit him.
Watching his palm pass through Zhang Yang's arm as though it had crossed an illusion, Zhao Wuji froze again. "Damn it, Little Monster, your Soul Skill can be used again so quickly?"
Even Zhao Wuji, who had traveled far and wide, did not believe that such an intangibility-type Soul Skill could be a low-consumption sustained ability. That was why he assumed Zhang Yang had used it again.
Just like that, Zhao Wuji completely lost his chance to dodge and took Zhang Yang's Finger Gun head-on.
Everyone heard a soft pfft. Looking again, they saw that Zhao Wuji's rock-hard chest had been pierced by Zhang Yang, leaving a wound one finger-joint deep.
After landing the attack, Zhang Yang did not press his advantage. His figure instantly vanished from before Zhao Wuji.
Of course, given how unbeatable his First Soul Skill was, it would not have mattered much even if Zhang Yang had pressed onward. But he needed to reserve enough Soul Power to maintain his First Soul Skill for half a stick of incense, so he had no strength left to attack again.
A Level 76 Soul Sage's defenses were not so easily broken. The high-output Rokuogan and high-output Finger Gun had consumed eighty percent of Zhang Yang's Soul Power.
Wiping away the trace of blood on his chest, Zhao Wuji said irritably, "An eighty-year-old mother getting thrown by her child—looks like I have no choice but to get serious with you brats."
"Give up, Teacher Zhao." Tang San spoke from the distance. "Without Soul Skills like [Silence] or [Dispel], there is nothing you can do to Zhang Yang. We won this Fourth Stage examination."
"..."
That was indeed true, and Zhao Wuji felt somewhat dejected. A Soul Sage like him could do nothing against a child not even Level 30. It was truly infuriating.
However, Zhao Wuji looked at the incense stick, which had less than half remaining, then at Zhang Yang, then at the four still on guard, and revealed a wicked smile.
Seeing Zhao Wuji's wicked smile, Tang San and the others suddenly felt a chill run through their bodies.
"Hahahaha." Zhao Wuji, now two and a half meters tall, laughed heartily. "Not bad. According to my rules, you have won the Fourth Stage examination."
Xiao Wu, Ning Rongrong, and Zhu Zhuqing unconsciously let out sighs of relief. Fighting a Soul Sage had been incredibly stressful.
However, because of Zhao Wuji's earlier wicked smile, Tang San felt that something was terribly wrong.
"However..."
The four of their hearts leapt into their throats again.
"There is still less than half the incense left. So now, Shrek Academy's Vice Dean—your Teacher Zhao—will give you your First Lesson."
"This lesson is called—[Fight to the Last Moment]."
The four immediately became guarded once more.
What Fight to the Last Moment? This is obviously personal revenge under the guise of teaching. The same thought flashed through everyone's minds.
Thus, during the remaining half stick of incense, aside from the untouchable Zhang Yang and Ning Rongrong, the Support-Type Soul Master, the other three were thoroughly dealt with by Zhao Wuji, who proudly waved the banner of righteousness.
As the only boy, Tang San suffered the worst. His bones and tendons were not seriously injured, but he could not avoid a beating. His body was covered in bruises, making for a miserable sight.
Still, Zhao Wuji had been quite measured in his attacks. At the very least, everyone still looked fairly normal.
"Ah, comfortable. So comfortable." Zhao Wuji clapped his hands in satisfaction, looking utterly refreshed. "Dai Mubai, hurry and arrange dormitory rooms for them. Come back early and continue presiding over the Fourth Stage examination."
"Yes, Teacher Zhao." Dai Mubai nodded, walked over to the badly injured Zhu Zhuqing, picked her up, and carried her toward the girls' dormitory. Zhang Yang, who had watched the entire show to the end, then moved over to Ning Rongrong.
Zhang Yang asked with concern, "Rongrong, how are you? Are you badly hurt?"
"Thank you, but my injuries are nothing serious." Ning Rongrong shook her head and struggled to stand. Well, she truly was not seriously hurt.
But Zhang Yang knew that a good woman feared a persistent man. Without the slightest embarrassment, he scooped Ning Rongrong into a princess carry and followed behind Dai Mubai.
Seeing Zhang Yang forget his friends at the sight of a pretty girl, Xiao Wu was displeased. "Hey, Zhang Yang, where are you going? Can't you see Xiao San is badly hurt?"
"If he is badly hurt, then he should sit and meditate to recover. Can't you see that our Support-Type comrade needs my help more? Why are you Assault Type and Control System people acting fragile around me?"
Zhang Yang's retort to Xiao Wu showed not the slightest sign that they had known each other for years.
"Actually, I can walk by myself." Ning Rongrong lowered her head, her voice weak.
Zhang Yang replied forcefully, "No, you can't."
Ning Rongrong: "..."
Zhu Zhuqing: "..."
Dai Mubai: "..."
"During the latter half of the battle, you should not have stood by and done nothing." Ahead of them, Zhu Zhuqing, in Dai Mubai's arms, could not help saying it. All the Battle Soul Masters looked miserable, while Zhang Yang was still full of energy. It was no wonder even the aloof Zhu Zhuqing had an objection.
"But I had to ensure the final victory," Zhang Yang countered. "Teacher Zhao was our enemy at the time. Would you really take an enemy's words at face value?"
"What if his so-called 'you have won' was merely a lie to make us lower our guard? What would we have done then?"
Zhu Zhuqing: "..."
Zhu Zhuqing was beautiful, had a great figure, and possessed extraordinary talent, but clearly, her way of thinking had not yet caught up.
"Don't be so naive in the future, junior schoolmate Zhu Zhuqing."
Before you continue