Comfortable [Please collect]

Zhao Wuji's intentions were clear: take out the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's Soul Master first.

This was Master's instruction to Zhang Yang and Tang San, and also the consensus shared by all Soul Masters on the continent.

Zhao Wuji intended to use his powerful Soul Power to interrupt Ning Rongrong's support effects. Naturally, Zhang Yang and Xiao Wu would not let him have his way.

"Rankyaku."

Zhang Yang kicked twice through the air at Zhao Wuji in the distance. Two transparent crescent slashes distorted the air as they shot toward Zhao Wuji one after the other.

"Interesting." Zhao Wuji smiled as he continued to unleash his area attack.

Zhao Wuji's immense Soul Power surged forth in an instant. 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 breeze.

Without Spirit Infusion and without using a Soul Skill, Zhao Wuji had blocked Zhang Yang's two Rankyaku attacks with nothing but his abundant Soul Power.

Zhang Yang's expression turned solemn. "A level seventy-six Soul Sage is actually this terrifying."

At the same time the Rankyaku was neutralized, Zhao Wuji's Soul Power shockwave, powerful enough to reach Ning Rongrong, swept over them. Tang San reacted swiftly, sending a black vine around Ning Rongrong's waist before leaping up with her and evading Zhao Wuji's attack.

The moment they dodged Zhao Wuji's attack, Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing were already charging at him.

Seeing two delicate little girls rush toward him, the level seventy-six Zhao Wuji confidently stood with his hands behind his back, looking as though he would let them attack as they pleased.

During her charge, Xiao Wu swiftly completed Spirit Infusion. Her feet planted fiercely on Zhao Wuji's shoulders, while Tang San's Blue Silver Grass wrapped around Zhao Wuji's legs and injected a powerful paralytic Poison into him.

Xiao Wu pressed backward while Tang San pulled forward. Zhao Wuji, so arrogant that he had not even summoned his Martial Soul, instantly lost his balance.

Xiao Wu and Tang San worked together flawlessly, intending to smash Zhao Wuji's head into the ground.

But Zhao Wuji was, after all, a level seventy-six Battle Soul Sage, especially one renowned for his strength. In just an instant, he steadied himself, and Xiao Wu and Tang San's coordinated attack ended in failure.

However, at that very 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 stacked together with their knuckles facing each other and aimed at Zhao Wuji's rugged face. He took a deep breath.

Zhao Wuji thought this boy was a little foolish. How could anyone use an attack with such an obvious charge-up right in front of an enemy?

"Looks like he still needs Teacher Zhao's guidance."

With that thought, Zhao Wuji extended his fist, as large as a sand bowl, and slammed it toward Zhang Yang's chest.

But this time, Zhao Wuji had miscalculated. Zhang Yang was not stupid. If he had not activated his First Soul Skill, how could he possibly stand so openly before Zhao Wuji and charge up his attack?

Faced with Zhang Yang's [Elementalization], Zhao Wuji's fist naturally struck nothing but air.

"A Soul Skill with an intangibility effect!"

The moment that thought arose, Zhao Wuji sensed that something was wrong.

Tang San's Blue Silver Grass had restrained him from afar, Xiao Wu's Waist Bow had limited his movements, and now someone temporarily immune to physical attacks had spent so long charging an attack aimed at his face. No matter how he looked at it, it had to be a Soul Skill with tremendous offensive power.

Realizing this, Zhao Wuji let out a low roar. His body suddenly swelled, the already terrifying muscles all over him nearly doubling in size. He grew another meter taller in an instant, and seven Soul Rings rose around him simultaneously.

"Clink, clink, clink, clink, clink, clink, clink, clink..."

A series of crisp sounds rang out behind Zhao Wuji. Zhu Zhuqing's sharp, spike-like nails struck Zhao Wuji's body, but could do nothing.

"Rokugan!!"

A powerful Shockwave erupted from between Zhang Yang's fists and struck Zhao Wuji squarely in the chest.

Of course, the Rokugan had originally been aimed at Zhao Wuji's head. But after Spirit Infusion, Zhao Wuji's body had instantly grown a meter taller, so the Rokugan could only hit his abdomen.

However, because the Rokugan's Shockwave was a vibrational, penetrating attack, even after being weakened by Zhao Wuji's abundant Soul Power and powerful physical defenses, it still affected Zhao Wuji's internal organs.

But as for the effect...

Zhao Wuji merely raised his eyebrows. That was the greatest damage Zhang Yang had inflicted on him.

A Soul Sage's strength after Spirit Infusion truly was terrifying.

"Fall back!" Tang San shouted. Blue Silver Grass instantly wrapped around Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing, pulling them back to his side with a clever application of force.

Meanwhile, Zhang Yang, still at the front, took a bow stance and threw a punch. Vigorous Soul Power surged rapidly within him, and a sharp, fierce aura burst from his body.

"Finger Gun!!"

This was the most powerful Finger Gun Zhang Yang had ever used. It condensed seventy percent of his level twenty-eight 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 erupted almost instantly. The grass, trees, and Crushed Stones within several meters were immediately blasted away.

Yet Zhang Yang's stance remained steady.

This Little Monster's Soul Skill is quite interesting. That thought flashed through Zhao Wuji's mind. The Next Moment, Zhang Yang's finger jabbed into Zhao Wuji's chest.

"Do you think such a straightforward attack can hurt anyone?" Zhao Wuji said as his palm, broad as a fan, violently slapped toward Zhang Yang's forearm.

If Zhao Wuji's blow landed, Zhang Yang's arm would be unable to exert force for at least ten days to half a month. Unfortunately, Zhao Wuji could not hit him.

Watching his palm pass through Zhang Yang's arm as though cutting through an illusion, Zhao Wuji froze again. "Damn it, Little Monster, your Soul Skill can be used again so quickly?"

Even someone as widely traveled as Zhao Wuji did not believe that an intangibility-type Soul Skill could be a low-consumption sustained skill. That was why he assumed Zhang Yang had activated it again.

Just like that, Zhao Wuji completely lost his chance to evade the attack and took Zhang Yang's Finger Gun head-on.

Everyone heard a muffled "pfft." Looking again, they saw that Zhao Wuji's chest, hard as rock, had been pierced by Zhang Yang, leaving a wound one finger joint deep.

After succeeding with one strike, Zhang Yang did not press his advantage. His figure instantly vanished from before Zhao Wuji.

Of course, given the near-unsolvable nature of his First Soul Skill, it would not have mattered much if Zhang Yang had pressed the attack. But he needed to reserve enough Soul Power to sustain his First Soul Skill for Half a Stick of Incense, so he had no strength left to launch another attack.

A level seventy-six Soul Sage's defenses were not so easy to break. The high-output Rokugan and high-output Finger Gun had consumed eighty percent of Zhang Yang's Soul Power.

Wiping a trace of blood from his chest, Zhao Wuji said irritably, "An eighty-year-old mother being thrown by her own child... Looks like I can't avoid getting serious with you little brats."

"Give up, Teacher Zhao," Tang San spoke from afar. "Without a [Silence] or [Dispelling]-type Soul Skill, there is nothing you can do to Zhang Yang. We have won this Fourth Stage examination."

"..."

That was indeed true, and Zhao Wuji felt somewhat discouraged. A Soul Sage like him could do nothing to a child not even level thirty. It was truly infuriating.

However, Zhao Wuji looked at the incense on the ground, which had less than half remaining. Then he looked at Zhang Yang, then at the four still on guard, and revealed a wicked smile.

Seeing Zhao Wuji's thoroughly wicked smile, Tang San and the others suddenly felt a chill run through their entire bodies.

"Hahahaha!" The two-and-a-half-meter-tall Zhao Wuji laughed wildly. "Not bad. By my rules, you have won this Fourth Stage examination."

Xiao Wu, Ning Rongrong, and Zhu Zhuqing unconsciously let out sighs of relief. Fighting a Soul Sage was still extremely stressful.

However, because of Zhao Wuji's wicked smile earlier, Tang San felt an ominous sense of foreboding.

"However..."

The four of them immediately tensed 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 alert again.

What Fight to the Last Moment? This is obviously settling personal grudges under the guise of teaching. Everyone present had the same thought.

Thus, during the remaining Half a Stick of Incense, aside from Zhang Yang, whom Zhao Wuji could not hit, and Ning Rongrong, the Support-Type Soul Master, the other three were thoroughly taught a "lesson" by Zhao Wuji, who held high the banner of righteousness.

As the only boy, Tang San had it the worst. It was not enough to break his bones or tear his tendons, but he certainly could not avoid suffering bruises and pain. His entire body was covered in purple and blue bruises, making for a truly miserable sight.

Still, Zhao Wuji had shown great restraint. At the very least, everyone looked mostly normal.

"Ah, comfortable. So comfortable." Zhao Wuji clapped his hands in satisfaction, looking utterly refreshed. "Dai Mubai, hurry and arrange for them to stay in the Dormitory. Then come back quickly and continue presiding over the Fourth Stage examination."

"Yes, Teacher Zhao." Dai Mubai nodded. He walked over to the badly injured Zhu Zhuqing, scooped her up, and carried her toward the girls' Dormitory. Zhang Yang, who had watched the entire show to the end, then moved closer to Ning Rongrong.

Zhang Yang asked with concern, "Rongrong, how are you? Are your injuries serious?"

"Thank you, but my injuries are not serious." Ning Rongrong shook her head and struggled to stand. Yes, she really was not badly hurt.

But Zhang Yang knew that a good woman feared a persistent man. Without the slightest embarrassment, he swept 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 not having it. "Hey, Zhang Yang, where are you going? Can't you see Xiao San is seriously injured?"

"If he is badly hurt, he can sit and recover. Can't you see that our Support-Type teammate needs my help more? Why are you Assault Type and Control System people acting weak around me?"

The way Zhang Yang snapped back at Xiao Wu showed no sign that they had known each other for years.

"Actually, I can walk by myself." Ning Rongrong lowered her head, her voice soft.

Zhang Yang replied forcefully, "No, you can't."

Ning Rongrong: "..."

Zhu Zhuqing: "..."

Dai Mubai: "..."

"You shouldn't have stood aside during the latter half of the battle." Up ahead, Zhu Zhuqing, held in Dai Mubai's arms, could not help saying. Every Battle Soul Master looked miserable, while Zhang Yang was still full of life. No wonder even the usually aloof Zhu Zhuqing had an objection.

"But I had to ensure our final victory," Zhang Yang retorted. "Teacher Zhao was our enemy at the time. Would you take an enemy's words at face value?"

"What if his so-called 'you have won' was merely a lie to trick us into lowering our guard?"

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."