Early the next morning.
Chen Ye was the first to arrive at class. As a boarding student, he lived closest to the classroom.
Besides, Chen Ye wasn't in the habit of sleeping in, so he arrived earlier than anyone else.
It was nearly half an hour before the other students had all arrived.
By then, Wu Changkong had also entered. As always, he wore a blue-green trench coat.
Standing there, he had the air of an immortal descended from heaven.
His gaze swept across the room. He saw that everyone was present, but there was no sign of satisfaction on his face.
"Classes officially begin today. I'll be in charge of your lessons from now on."
"Everyone, stand up. Follow me to the field."
Wu Changkong led the way out as he spoke. The other students didn't know what was going on, but they still followed behind him.
Wu Changkong walked quickly. The students whispered among themselves as they followed, but no one dared say much with their cool, aloof teacher there.
Once they had taken their places on the field, Wu Changkong looked over the group. "Everyone, split into two lines. Pair up and stand facing your partner."
The students didn't understand the instruction, but they quickly formed pairs and stood facing one another.
Wu Changkong glanced over them, then looked at Chen Ye. "Come out here. I'll teach you myself."
"Is Teacher Wu giving him special lessons?" Quite a few students gave each other strange looks.
Chen Ye was taken aback too, but then he walked over to stand opposite Wu Changkong. There was no hint of pleasure on his face.
The others didn't know what Wu Changkong was planning, but Chen Ye did.
Sure enough, noticing the complicated looks on the students' faces, Wu Changkong said calmly, "We're starting practical combat now. Pair off! The loser will have five times as much homework today."
Wu Changkong spoke calmly, but the students erupted at once.
This was especially true of the students who thought of each other as close friends and had ended up facing one another.
Some looked at their partners and saw a Power Attack System Soul Master, while they themselves were an Auxiliary System Soul Master. More than a few looked like they were about to break down.
One girl in particular stared at her best friend, who was already at level 18, while she was only level 11 and an Auxiliary System Soul Master.
She timidly raised her hand and looked at Wu Changkong with pleading eyes. "Teacher Wu, do those of us in the Auxiliary System have to fight too? We can't beat them."
Her voice was soft and sweet, and she seemed very well-behaved. Another teacher might have felt sorry for her.
But Wu Changkong merely gave her a cold look. "I think what Chen Ye said yesterday made a lot of sense. On the battlefield, no one will pity you.
"In a fight to the death, either you die or I die."
"Get ready to fight in pairs. We're starting practical combat. I'll repeat myself: the loser gets five times as much homework, and no one else is allowed to do it for them!"
Wu Changkong's voice remained calm. Many students glared resentfully at the friends standing opposite them, while others looked toward Chen Ye, who stood off to the side.
Chen Ye could only cry out in protest. Somehow, he'd been saddled with the blame.
What did this have to do with him? He hadn't organized these fights.
But when he looked at Wu Changkong's righteous expression, Chen Ye fell silent.
And that was that.
The field filled with wails and cries. Most of the students couldn't last even two moves before being defeated by the Power Attack System Soul Masters.
Then it was Gu Yue and Xu Xiaoyan's turn. The two girls were also standing face to face, so naturally, they were opponents.
Xu Xiaoyan looked at Gu Yue with a hint of fighting spirit. "Come on, Sister Gu Yue. Let's have a match."
Excitement shone in the girl's eyes as a Yellow Soul Ring lit up around her.
Her First Soul Skill was a forced-control ability that could immobilize an opponent for at least one second.
As long as she timed it right, practically no One-Ring Soul Master could beat her in a situation like this.
"All right." Gu Yue nodded. Quite a few students watched the two of them with anticipation or curiosity in their eyes.
Only Chen Ye wore a slightly amused expression as he looked at Xu Xiaoyan.
The more confident she was now, the worse things would go for her later.
Sure enough, when Xu Xiaoyan gripped her Ice Staff and released her Yellow Soul Ring, she clearly saw the two purple Soul Rings around Gu Yue.
The girl stared in disbelief, but before she could react, several Ice Cones took shape in Gu Yue's hand and shot straight at her.
The Ice Cones shattered as they neared Xu Xiaoyan, but the force of the blast still knocked her to the ground.
No one looked down on Xu Xiaoyan for it. Most of the students were focused on Gu Yue.
Gu Yue had introduced herself as a Two-Ring Soul Master earlier, but no one had realized she had two Thousand-Year Soul Rings.
Wu Changkong furrowed his brows and looked at Gu Yue. "You're quite strong. Why didn't you participate in yesterday's Class Monitor selection?"
"Because I can't beat Chen Ye. We fought in private, and I lost." Gu Yue said it without a trace of embarrassment.
After all, she wasn't the sort of child who would knowingly pick a fight she couldn't win just to get beaten up.
Wu Changkong fell silent for a moment, then nodded, accepting Gu Yue's explanation.
Once the students' matches were over, everyone turned to look at the two of them.
Wu Changkong tilted his head slightly and glanced at Chen Ye, who stood beside him.
"It's our turn. Come on! Let me see what's so special about your three golden Soul Rings."
Wu Changkong's voice was calm, but he said far more than he usually did.
Chen Ye smiled too, his eyes brimming with overwhelming fighting spirit.
The two stood facing each other as the Golden Dragon King's power churned wildly inside Chen Ye.
Wu Changkong raised his hand slightly, and the Heavenly Frost Sword appeared in it.
Frosty light gleamed along the blade as six Soul Rings appeared, bringing down a terrifying force of suppression.
An ordinary Three-Ring Soul Master would have no chance of resisting a Six-Ring Soul Master. But as Chen Ye looked at Wu Changkong, he smiled.
The next instant, a deafening dragon's roar rang out.
The roar shook the air. Soul Rings appeared around every student, and several of the weaker ones dropped straight to the ground.
The moment the dragon's roar sounded, the force suppressing Chen Ye vanished.
"Teacher, you're underestimating me. That suppression has no effect on me." Chen Ye took a step forward as he spoke.
The First Soul Ring around him lit up abruptly, and he thrust out a punch.
Terrifying golden power surged forth. Wu Changkong's eyes gleamed with interest as he raised his sword slightly and slashed forward.
Frost collided with a golden sea of power, and the two forces canceled each other out.
Wu Changkong hadn't suppressed himself to three rings to fight Chen Ye. During their match yesterday, he had already realized that the boy's vitality and strength were extraordinarily powerful.
At the same level, an ordinary Three-Ring Soul Master would never be a match for him.
But Wu Changkong had never expected that even at full strength, he wouldn't be able to suppress Chen Ye right away.
That genuinely piqued his interest.
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