First Lesson

The next day, class began.

Wu Changkong wore black, gray, and white plaid pants today, while his top was still a white shirt. The simple outfit accentuated his tall, slender figure.

"Today, classes officially begin. I'll be responsible for most of your courses." He was as cold as ever.

"Everyone, stand."

All the students quickly rose to their feet.

"Follow me." Wu Changkong turned and took the lead, hands in his pockets as he left.

The students swarmed after him. Though they were not lined up and looked rather disorderly, no one made a sound beneath his frosty presence. Everyone remained quiet.

Everyone arrived at the training ground.

His dark green eyes swept over the students clustered in disarray. Wu Changkong said in a deep voice, "Stand properly in rows of two!"

In the oppressive atmosphere, the students quickly formed pairs and lined up.

"My classes will focus on actual combat. Today's first lesson will be to display your strength!"

"Actual combat will begin shortly. I will serve as the Referee. When I call your names, you will fight in pairs. A single loss means elimination."

The students erupted into an uproar. Their very first lesson was fighting each other? That was too direct.

"Su Qiu." Wu Changkong's gaze swept over the most conspicuous Little Blondie in the crowd, and he pondered for a moment.

"You come out first. You don't need to participate in their matches. After everyone is finished, you'll fight me."

Thirty-second-rank Soul Power was far too high. Among students who were mostly only rank eleven or twelve, he was like a wolf among sheep. His true strength could not be displayed at all.

The surrounding students repeatedly turned to look at Su Qiu, inwardly breathing sighs of relief. They did not want to fight such a genius either. Other than asking for a beating, there was no point.

Su Qiu silently stepped out of the crowd and stood to one side. That was exactly what he wanted as well. Even if Wu Changkong had not said it, he would have brought it up himself.

At that moment, a girl timidly raised her hand and asked, "Teacher, I'm an auxiliary Soul Master. Do I have to fight too?"

Su Qiu watched the show with a grin. Someone was about to get scolded.

"Why not? On the battlefield, if you tell your enemy you're an auxiliary Soul Master, will he stop trying to kill you?"

Sure enough, Wu Changkong's icy voice carried a reprimanding edge. "On the contrary! I can responsibly tell you that on the battlefield, the first people to be killed are auxiliary Soul Masters like you!"

"You cannot rely entirely on your teammates to protect you."

"You must keep your own life in your own hands."

That was indeed the truth. Auxiliary Soul Masters might seem like they did not need to fight, but in actual battle, the enemy's first target was always the auxiliaries.

Unless you had a food-type Martial Soul and could stay in the rear to cook.

Seeing the girl lower her hand and bow her head, Wu Changkong casually pointed at Tang Wulin and Zhou Changxi, who happened to be standing together.

"You two will start."

The two exchanged a glance. Zhou Changxi was extremely excited. He had always been hung up over being sent flying by Tang Wulin's punch before, believing that he had merely been careless.

He was a Great Strength Divine Ape. How could he lose to Blue Silver Grass in terms of strength? It was perfect that he could openly win it back now.

Especially since Tang Wulin had been acting strangely lately, always secretly peeking at him and giving him the chills.

"Come on, let's compare strength. I definitely won't lose to you this time!"

That reminded Wu Changkong of something. He said blandly to all the students, "There are no rules in combat. You may use any means to defeat your opponent."

Then he looked at Tang Wulin and Zhou Changxi.

"Begin!"

A white Soul Ring rose beneath his feet. Zhou Changxi let out a roar, and his entire body instantly swelled, growing a full size larger. Massive muscles stretched his school uniform taut.

A small brown monkey leaped out onto his shoulder. It was clearly his Soul Spirit.

First Soul Skill, Strength Enhancement!

Zhou Changxi stomped forward, imposing and aggressive, reaching both hands toward Tang Wulin's shoulders.

He was actually only competing in strength!

Tang Wulin was an honest fellow too. He did not use Blue Silver Grass, throwing both fists out to meet Zhou Changxi head-on.

Bang!

Zhou Changxi was knocked backward. Tang Wulin's assault did not let up as he closed in and threw another punch.

Zhou Changxi had not yet regained his footing. Gritting his teeth, he forcibly swung his fist, but it was useless. In the end, he was knocked to the ground.

"Stop!" Wu Changkong barked coldly, pointing at Zhou Changxi. "You're eliminated."

Then he looked at Tang Wulin.

"Why didn't you use your Martial Soul?"

"He said he wanted to compare strength with me." Tang Wulin scratched his head.

Wu Changkong frowned and delivered a classic line. "If he told you to eat shit, would you eat it?"

"Even a lion uses its full strength to catch a rabbit. You must take every battle seriously. Victory is your only goal, and you cannot give your opponent any opportunity!"

"You advance. Wait for the next match."

If he told you to eat shit, would you eat it?

That line truly was an indispensable part of every student's experience of being criticized by a teacher.

"Next match!"

After that, every match looked like children playing house, completely lacking any method or order.

One match in particular was between two auxiliary Soul Masters. The sight of it made Wu Changkong frown repeatedly.

He had known Class Five was bad, but he had not expected them to be this bad. With this level of skill, how were they supposed to fight in the Class Promotion Tournament later?

Could he really train these people until they could defeat Class One?

That would be too difficult. He had been bragging.

His initial speech had only been meant to give the students confidence. Belief was the most important thing.

For now, the only ones worth looking at were Tang Wulin and Xie Xie.

There was also Su Qiu, whose true depth was still unknown. But with thirty-second-rank Soul Power, no matter how weak he was, he could not be that weak.

After all the students had finished fighting.

Wu Changkong's dark green eyes turned toward Su Qiu.

"It's our turn. Come."

"I'm looking forward to it."

Su Qiu's eyes lit up. He exhaled slowly, stretching and warming up his limbs as he walked toward Wu Changkong.

"I'll suppress my Soul Power to the same thirty-second rank as yours. Use all your strength and let's see how many moves you can withstand."

Wu Changkong pulled out his belt, infusing it with Soul Power and using it as a sword.

"Teacher, you're underestimating me a little."

Su Qiu slowly walked forward and stopped a short distance in front of Wu Changkong. The circulation of Soul Power within him accelerated, ready to erupt at any moment.

Suppressing himself to the same Soul Power rank? Was he planning to defeat me with technique?

Narrowing his eyes slightly, Su Qiu looked at the belt in Wu Changkong's hand, which had become straight and rigid under the effects of Soul Power.

In a pure contest of combat technique, even Su Wuyan would not dare look down on him like this. That Old Man often secretly cheated.

Wu Changkong was even less qualified.

In this regard, Su Qiu could say without the slightest hesitation.

Let Yun Ming come!

Of course, if Yun Ming really came, Su Qiu would be unhappy again.

A terrifying aura spread outward. Three Purple Soul Rings rose up.

Before the other students could cry out in surprise.

A long, piercing cry resounded across the entire training ground. A mighty, imposing Soul Beast with the body of an eagle flew out from behind Su Qiu.

Its pressure cast a shadow over every student's heart. Where had they ever seen such a ferocious beast before?

Thousand Year Soul Spirit, Rending Sky Screaming Vulture!

Beneath its enormous wingspan, every beat of the Rending Sky Screaming Vulture's wings in the sky was accompanied by a violent boom of air.

Its sharp pupils narrowed vertically as it fixed its gaze tightly upon Wu Changkong's entire body.

Su Qiu casually clenched his hand and summoned the Sword of Promised Victory.

The sword flashed in his hand and vanished, concealing itself as the Invisible Sword.

Wind King Barrier!