End

Sword Domain, similar to a Domain Skill.

It spread a domain of swords centered on himself, generating an uncertain number of Sword Qi according to the Soul Power consumed. They moved with Su Qiu's will and possessed immense killing power.

What Su Qiu had just used was another method he had developed through practice.

He had slashed out Sword Qi beforehand as anchors to unfold the domain, forming a Killing Formation with Wu Changkong trapped at its center.

"What is this..." With a single glance, Wu Changkong saw that every inch of space around him had been sealed off by Sword Qi. Every step was fraught with killing intent. Even with Wu Changkong's experience, he found it astonishing.

The more extraordinary Su Qiu proved to be, the more Wu Changkong looked forward to seeing what his third Soul Skill would be.

With a hum, the sword formation activated.

"No way out..." Wu Changkong narrowed his eyes as the sword formation descended upon him like a collapsing Sky Curtain.

The position of every strand of Sword Qi was impeccable. Even with his strength, he could not find a path to survival.

"Since that's the case."

Wu Changkong flicked his wrist. At the same time, the Frost Sword in his hand began to tremble wildly, and blue-white frost mist suddenly erupted around him, shrouding the surroundings and obscuring his figure.

"Can't escape, so you're hiding yourself?" Su Qiu shook his head. "Unfortunately, I can hit you even with my eyes closed."

That was what fighting with Intuition was like.

All the intense Sword Qi, condensed almost into substance, erupted in an instant. The Sword Qi below darted like silver snakes, while the Sword Qi in the sky fell like meteors, weaving together into a dense net of light.

After every Sword Qi attack pierced into the frost mist, there was no further movement.

Letting out a long breath, Su Qiu quietly waited for the result.

Slowly, the frost mist dispersed.

Wu Changkong's tall, upright figure was revealed. At a glance, he was completely unharmed.

As he looked at Su Qiu across from him with admiration, Wu Changkong could not help feeling inferior. Back when he had been at Shrek, he too had been a genius at the pinnacle of his era. Yet now, compared with Su Qiu, he seemed ordinary.

The Sword Qi had actually all struck him just now. Even with his cultivation as a Soul Emperor, he could not block every single one.

Though the Sword Qi would not have injured him even if they hit, it would not have looked good.

So, at that instant, Wu Changkong had donned his Battle Armor to block all the Sword Qi, then returned to normal.

After all, the students were watching. He had to maintain his dignity; looking too disheveled would not do.

"How is that possible?"

Su Qiu frowned deeply. That move had nearly drained all his Soul Power. How had it failed to even damage a corner of Wu Changkong's clothes? He was completely fine?

Countless thoughts flashed through his mind before Su Qiu hesitantly asked, "Teacher, did you use Battle Armor?"

Wu Changkong: "Hm?"

The corner of his mouth twitched. Even someone as Ice Cold as Wu Changkong silently shifted his gaze away, not daring to meet Su Qiu's eyes.

"Ahem." Wu Changkong coughed and changed the subject. "What about your third Soul Skill?"

He recalled the Rending Sky Screaming Vulture from the sky back into his body. He had originally wanted to coordinate with his Soul Spirit, but the plan had not kept up with the changes.

"No, I'm almost at my Limit." Su Qiu's third Soul Skill was called Collapse Liberation.

It enhanced the power of Holy Sword Liberation.

He and Wu Changkong were merely sparring. There was no need to unleash the Holy Sword.

Besides, his Soul Power was nearly depleted.

"Ah." Su Qiu sighed. He still had the Holy Spear's power unused. Forget unleashing the Holy Spear—even the powers of the three elements of wind, water, and fire granted by the Holy Spear had yet to make an appearance before his Soul Power ran out.

Having too many skills was a kind of trouble too.

Even with his current Soul Power Level of thirty-two, it was not enough to use all his skills in sequence even once.

Of course, he had also spent too much Soul Power on the Sword Domain. Otherwise, he could still barely use a few more moves.

"Teacher, how much of your strength did you use?" Su Qiu asked curiously.

How much strength had he used?

Wu Changkong thought for a moment, estimated it, then answered honestly, "Thirty percent."

"Thirty percent?"

Su Qiu was extremely surprised. Not because it was too little, but because it was too much. Wu Changkong had not used any Soul Skills or Battle Armor during that battle.

Well... he might have used the Battle Armor once. That was still questionable.

He had actually used thirty percent?

After calculating silently, Su Qiu realized that although he still had the Holy Spear's power left unused, he had still gone all out. After all, his Soul Power had truly been completely exhausted.

"You are the most talented person I've ever seen. Setting aside Soul Skills and Battle Armor, I already used my full strength."

"It's just that the gap in Soul Power Level is not so easily bridged."

Wu Changkong admitted it frankly, without his usual cold words. "When I was a Soul Elder, I would not have been a match for you even in a single exchange."

Looking at Su Qiu across from him, Wu Changkong had been too engrossed in the previous battle to notice until now that his opponent was only nine years old.

He had already begun to look forward to what kind of brilliance Su Qiu would bloom with in the future.

"All students, assemble!" Wu Changkong's gaze swept over the students on the training ground, who had long since gone blank with shock. His icy aura returned.

The students gathered together like walking corpses. They had been dumbfounded by the battle just now. Those with steadier mindsets were better off, barely managing to calm themselves.

Some students with strong competitive spirits had already had their confidence shattered, repeatedly turning their heads to look at Su Qiu.

This was a nine-year-old? The same age as me?

The most obvious was Xie Xie. His eyes were vacant, his heart lost. At that moment, he suddenly felt that his previous arrogance was utterly laughable.

Tang Wulin was doing better. He had always been somewhat insecure, and now he merely admired Su Qiu even more. He quietly encouraged himself, determined to become someone just as powerful in the future.

Some students cheered and worshipped Su Qiu, while others were so devastated by the blow that their spirits sank.

Wu Changkong felt a slight headache. Under normal circumstances, he would not even bother with students acting like this, but this time was different. Su Qiu's performance had truly dealt them too great a blow.

Even he would have cracked at nine years old.

"Rotten wood cannot be carved!" Wu Changkong forced himself to lecture them. "Stop thinking about how others are."

"Can someone else's talent become your reason for giving up on yourselves?"

"Your sparring just now was also an utter mess."

"You have disappointed me twice!" His voice was cold as ice.

"However!"

"Even if you are scraps of iron, I will forge you into steel through a hundred refinements."

"Stop constantly thinking about comparing yourselves to others. Your first priority is to become the best version of yourselves..."

Wu Changkong paused for a moment, then continued, "Through these matches, the greatest weakness many of you revealed is that your physiques are inadequate."

"The foundation is the most important thing. Starting tomorrow, physical training begins."

With that, Wu Changkong said no more. That was simply his personality. If the students wanted to work hard afterward, he would teach them. If they did not, he could not be bothered to care.

"Xie Xie and Tang Wulin, stay. Everyone else, dismissed."

Wu Changkong's dark green eyes turned toward Su Qiu. He did not specifically keep Su Qiu behind. He understood that there was nothing he could teach him; he had even learned much from their battle just now.

Besides, he remembered what Su Qiu had said yesterday about why he had come to Class Five.

After the battle just now, Wu Changkong understood. Su Qiu had simply come to spar with him.

Tang Wulin and Xie Xie were left behind alone.

Next, Wu Changkong intended to put great effort into training those two in preparation for the Class Promotion Tournament.

He had never considered letting Su Qiu compete. That would be too much of a bullying advantage. Little Blondie was no longer on the same level as others his age.