Frost spread across the Frost Sword as the Second Soul Ring on Wu Changkong's body lit up, and he unleashed his attack.
Terrifying frost swept through the area. Wu Changkong had put his full strength into this attack, but Chen Ye wasn't afraid.
The frost covered his body without having any effect.
With the Golden Dragon King Martial Soul, he was just like the legendary Pure Yang Body.
The moment the frost struck him, the heat generated by his scales melted it.
Seeing that his attack had no effect on Chen Ye, a trace of surprise appeared in Wu Changkong's eyes.
But before he could react, Chen Ye stepped forward. His fist, covered in golden scales, shot out, unleashing terrifying power.
Wu Changkong's eyes flickered. His Fifth Soul Ring lit up, and sharp Sword Intent gathered as he swung his sword down once more.
This casual strike could have killed a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast. When it hit Chen Ye, an even more terrifying sword aura descended alongside the frost.
Chen Ye staggered back two steps and glanced at his body. A scratch had appeared, but the blow had barely cut through the Golden Dragon King's scales.
"Still a little short. If I were at the Fourth Ring right now, Teacher Wu probably wouldn't be able to beat me."
"As expected of a top-tier Martial Soul. It has the potential to reach Extreme Douluo."
As Chen Ye thought this, he gave a small salute. "I admit defeat, Teacher Wu. You're very strong."
Chen Ye was being very respectful, but Wu Changkong, who had kept a straight face the whole time, could barely hold it together.
He was a Soul Emperor fighting a Three Rings opponent, and he'd nearly failed to suppress him.
The problem was, Chen Ye was only nine, while he was already over twenty. As Shrek's top genius, for the first time, he felt a little inferior.
"Ahem. You did very well. I won't make you write five times the homework this time." Wu Changkong coughed, then led the group back to class.
Wu Changkong had said it so casually that Chen Ye was left dumbfounded.
So even if he lost to you, he'd have to write five times the homework?
If he hadn't performed well, he really might have had to write five times as much.
Their homework was no small amount, either. Five times the usual work would take at least three hours.
But when he saw his classmates looking utterly devastated, their former friends turning against them in an instant, Chen Ye almost laughed.
These classmates' friendships were as flimsy as plastic. The only thing that surprised him was that Xu Xiaoyan still cheerfully followed Gu Yue around afterward.
Chen Ye was the last to enter the classroom. As soon as he came in, quite a few eyes turned toward him.
Although this was a class of geniuses, the students still fell into two groups. One group had given up, and Chen Ye's displayed strength didn't faze them much.
After all, they'd already known he was strong since yesterday.
The other group was determined to excel, and seeing Chen Ye's strength had nearly broken them.
Especially when they remembered that they were the same age as him. Many of their Dao Hearts had already shattered.
Seeing the resentful looks on his classmates' faces, Chen Ye could only smile bitterly.
It had nothing to do with him. If they hadn't been sparring, he could've simply used his Third Soul Skill.
Combined with the terrifying area of effect of Golden Dragon Blast, it might even have destroyed the whole training field.
If he hadn't been afraid of hurting his classmates, he would've fought Wu Changkong with everything he had.
Thinking of this, he no longer felt guilty. Instead, he looked at his classmates with a gaze that said he was disappointed in them.
Wu Changkong coughed, and Chen Ye awkwardly returned to his seat.
Seeing the resentful looks from the students, Wu Changkong felt a headache coming on.
He wanted to encourage them by saying that surely someone had more talent and strength than Chen Ye.
But a nine-year-old with Three Rings, whose displayed strength already let him contend with an ordinary Soul King—
In this situation, Wu Changkong really couldn't bring himself to say, against his conscience, that anyone was stronger than him.
Even as he looked at the students, Wu Changkong's expression grew complicated.
In their entire lives, these students would never again meet a genius as astonishing as Chen Ye.
"When you see someone talented, instead of learning from them, you give up on yourselves. You're the worst class I've ever taught!"
Wu Changkong rapped on the desk and looked at the students.
Hearing his words, most of them lowered their heads, guilt showing on their faces. Only Chen Ye blinked.
"Teacher, aren't we the first class you've taught? How can we be the worst of all time?"
"Shut up!" Wu Changkong glared at Chen Ye. He'd been trying to create a serious atmosphere, but Chen Ye had ruined it before it could even settle in.
Chen Ye awkwardly mimed zipping his lips. Wu Changkong didn't hold it against him, and turned his gaze back to the class.
"Forget your strength for a moment. Your practical training just now was a complete mess!"
"Either you couldn't aim your Soul Skills properly, or you lost steam halfway through."
"Starting tomorrow, you'll each run ten laps carrying twenty pounds!"
Wu Changkong said it calmly, but the students below erupted as soon as they heard him.
"Teacher, twenty pounds? How are we supposed to run ten laps with that? We can't handle it!"
"Waaah, Teacher, there's no scientific basis for this kind of training!"
"Have you heard of Lingbing Douluo, the founder of the Spirit Pagoda? He's one of Shrek's most iconic figures."
"Do you know that this was how he trained in his early days?"
"He trained like this, and you still dare say there's no basis for it?"
Wu Changkong's gaze swept over the students, and they immediately fell silent.
Quite a few of them had heard that Wu Changkong had come from Shrek, so they instinctively believed what he said.
Seeing how much the students trusted him, Wu Changkong nodded.
Only Chen Ye had a rare, complicated look on his face. He stared at his foolish classmates and said nothing.
He didn't mind running with weights, but he was afraid Wu Changkong would make him carry two hundred pounds. He couldn't handle that.
"Chen Ye, Xu Xiaoyan, Gu Yue. You three stay behind. The rest of you can go home."
After following Wu Changkong to the small training field, the three of them looked at him in confusion.
Wu Changkong coughed, then looked at the three of them. "The Promotion Tournament is about to begin. Our class needs to defend its position, and this time, you'll be the ones defending it."
"Teacher, are you sure you still need Gu Yue and me?" Xu Xiaoyan asked, glancing at Chen Ye.
She hadn't understood what it meant to be the chosen one before, but now she did. This kid was freakishly strong.
Seeing Xu Xiaoyan look at him like he was a freak, Chen Ye gave a scornful snort. "We're in the same class. You're really planning to make me fight all three of them alone?"
"Forget three against one. I don't think their whole class could beat you. If all three of them went up, wouldn't they just be lining up to get beaten?"
Xu Xiaoyan couldn't help teasing him. She'd never seen anyone this young with such absurd strength.
Wu Changkong looked helplessly at the two bickering students. "This will benefit you, too. Chen Ye will be your anchor during the tournament. The two of you will do most of the fighting."
Before you continue