The Tournament

Wu Changkong turned to look at Xie Xie. "As for you, Xie Xie."

"To be honest, among the three of you, I think you're the worst."

Xie Xie immediately bristled, but before he could say anything, Wu Changkong continued, "Hiding your Twin Martial Souls was fun, wasn't it? Eighteenth Rank Soul Power."

"More importantly, you relied on the innate advantage of Twin Martial Souls. You possess Innate Full Soul Power. That makes you quite proud, doesn't it?"

Xie Xie stared at Wu Changkong in shock. "Teacher Wu, how did you..."

Wu Changkong said coldly, "You still have a long way to go! There are plenty of useless people with Twin Martial Souls. Your Soul Power is six ranks higher than Tang Wulin's, yet he still defeated you."

Xie Xie's face flushed bright red. "I..."

He wanted to argue, but for a moment, he was completely speechless.

Wu Changkong did not even spare him a glance. "All right, let's get to the main matter."

Xie Xie perked up. Were they about to receive rewards?

"Every new school year, the academy holds a tournament. Both the Intermediate Department and Advanced Department take part."

"Our Intermediate Department has six grades in total, and all of them will participate. This competition is called the Promotion Tournament."

"The Promotion Tournament?" Tang Wuyang could not help muttering.

Confusion appeared in both his and Tang Wulin's eyes.

Wu Changkong said, "The so-called Promotion Tournament starts with the weakest classes, which select students to challenge the classes above them. Class Five challenges Class Four, and so on."

"If the challenge is won, the class prefixes are exchanged."

"In other words, if we defeat Grade One Class Four, then we will no longer be Grade One Class Five, the bottom-ranked class. We will become Grade One Class Four."

"The lower-ranked class decides how many people will participate. After winning, they can continue challenging upward until they lose, starting from Grade One and going all the way to Grade Six."

"At the highest, you can earn the title of Class One of First Grade. If you continue upward and defeat classes from higher grades, every successful cross-grade challenge will earn rewards."

Xie Xie said, "So that means our class is the first to issue a challenge?"

There were six grades in total, with five classes in each grade. Class Five ranked last, meaning their class was at the bottom of the entire Intermediate Department.

"That's right!" Wu Changkong nodded. "For a class, this is a Battle of Glory."

"At the same time, if you can challenge across grades, the rewards will be extremely generous."

Xie Xie said proudly, "No problem, Teacher Wu. Leave it to me. I'll challenge my way up alone. Maybe I can go straight to Grade Six."

Wu Changkong snorted disdainfully. "The minimum number of participants is three. And do you really think Twin Martial Souls make you invincible? Do you know what kind of people are chosen for Class One?"

"This world is never short of geniuses, and plenty of geniuses fall before they can grow."

"In the Intermediate Department, your talent can only be considered average."

Xie Xie barely heard the rest. He only caught Wu Changkong's first sentence, then turned toward Tang Wulin and Tang Wuyang in shock. "Teacher, you don't mean you want me to compete with them, do you?"

Wu Changkong leaned back in his chair, suddenly appearing quite generous. "You can choose someone better if you have a better option."

"I..." Xie Xie wanted to say that he would not team up with those two, but after thinking back over the classmates whose abilities had been unbearable to watch during the class sparring match, he truly could not say it.

Ignoring Xie Xie's unwillingness, Wu Changkong continued, "The tournament will be held in one month. Therefore, starting tomorrow, aside from classes, I will give the three of you special training every night."

"The task I've set for you is simple. Change our class's name into Class One of First Grade."

Tang Wulin asked instinctively, "What if we can't do it?"

"Heh heh!" Wu Changkong smiled. Already exceptionally handsome, his smile left Tang Wuyang, Tang Wulin, and Xie Xie staring blankly.

Yet even as they stared, the three of them felt a bone-chilling cold rise abruptly from their tailbones.

After leaving Wu Changkong's office, Tang Wulin's furrowed brow gradually relaxed, and a faint smile appeared on his face.

Tang Wuyang lightly patted his brother's shoulder and gave him a thumbs-up.

He understood that although Tang Wulin claimed not to care, how could he truly remain unmoved? Things were better now. Even Teacher Wu believed that his Blue Silver Grass was very likely a top-tier Martial Soul, the Blue Silver Emperor!

"Hey!"

Just as the brothers were both happy that Tang Wulin's Blue Silver Grass was not a Useless Martial Soul, Xie Xie called out to them coldly.

Tang Wuyang turned to him. "What? Don't worry, I'll fight you again. I won't eat your Meal A for nothing."

Xie Xie froze. Wasn't this guy supposed to love money? Yet he actually...

"I'm not talking about that. I'm telling you not to hold me back in next month's tournament." Xie Xie said proudly.

Tang Wulin, standing nearby, sighed softly. "Does your face still hurt?"

The pride on Xie Xie's face instantly froze, and his fists clenched tightly.

Tang Wuyang patted his shoulder. "My brother and I have something to do tonight. Tomorrow night, then. I'll fight you."

After their several clashes, Tang Wuyang no longer found fighting Xie Xie quite so unpleasant.

After all, these exchanges had greatly improved his control over the Water Element.

Under Wu Changkong's instructions, the morning classes ended early.

Tang Wuyang had originally planned to head straight for the cafeteria, but Tang Wulin pulled him back. "Brother, what is it?"

Tang Wulin waved the photographs in his hand, and Tang Wuyang immediately understood. Together, they ran over to wait outside the Advanced Department.

When the dismissal bell rang, the brothers soon saw Liu Yuxin emerge with several female classmates.

"Senior Yuxin." Tang Wulin waved at her.

Liu Yuxin spotted them at once and hurried over with her classmates.

"Wow, Yuxin, so you like cute little boys? These two little brothers are pretty handsome. They'll definitely become big heartthrobs when they grow up." An Advanced Department female student with phoenix eyes smiled at Liu Yuxin suggestively.

Liu Yuxin said irritably, "Don't talk nonsense. These are Tang Wulin and Tang Wuyang, junior students from Grade One of our Intermediate Department."

"Wulin, Wuyang, is something the matter?"

Tang Wulin handed over the Soul Guidance Camera he had been holding.

"Senior, I took some pictures for you, but it doesn't feel right to keep carrying it around, so I'm returning it."

Liu Yuxin's pretty face reddened as she shot him a glare. "All right, all right, then that's that. Thank you. As thanks, your senior sister will treat you two to a meal."

Tang Wuyang hurriedly shook his head. "No need. My brother and I will go back to the Intermediate Department to eat."

He knew his own limits. If she was treating them to a meal, she would not be treating them to the free Meal C. It would at least be Meal B or better.

Considering his and Tang Wulin's appetites, he was afraid they might eat Liu Yuxin broke. That would be far too embarrassing.

Watching Tang Wulin and Tang Wuyang's departing backs, the phoenix-eyed female student asked in confusion, "Yuxin, what did you have them photograph for you?"

Liu Yuxin said mysteriously, "Wulin and Wuyang are students in Teacher Wu Changkong's class."

"Ahhh! The Cold and Arrogant God! Let us see!"

When they turned on the camera, Wu Changkong's image immediately appeared on its tiny screen. The photographs had been taken in rapid succession, capturing the entire series of movements as Wu Changkong unfastened and pulled off his belt.

The girls' eyes widened, their faces flushed red, and they looked as though they were just short of drooling.

"One Meal A, Yuxin. Sell me the pictures."

"Exclusive rights! I absolutely refuse to let anyone else see the prince charming in my heart taking off his belt!"

"Two meals! Same reason!"

Tang Wulin and Tang Wuyang had no idea that their photographs had sparked fierce competition among several senior girls.

After lunch, the two returned to their classroom and continued with their afternoon lessons.

The Meditation Technique taught by Wu Changkong was indeed far more complicated than the one from their elementary academy, but its effects were clearly much better as well.

It was said to be a simplified version of the Super Meditation Technique derived from the continent's legendary academy, Shrek Academy.

Under the pressure of Wu Changkong's cold, stern gaze, the students learned quickly. By the end of the afternoon, nearly everyone had mastered the basic circulation method.

After school, Tang Wuyang dragged Tang Wulin into the cafeteria first. The brothers devoured dinner like a whirlwind, then dashed outside just as swiftly.

Today, they had an important matter to handle: heading to the Forging Master Association to collect their respective Forging Master Badges and accept some Forging Tasks.

Saving money was undoubtedly the most important thing for them right now.

After all, a Century Soul Spirit was worth a million Federation Coins. If they had any extra money in the future, they also wanted to buy Meal A.

After just one Meal A that morning, Tang Wuyang and Tang Wulin could both clearly feel the changes in their bodies.

The brothers headed excitedly toward the academy gates. Just after they stepped outside, a black Soul Guidance Car suddenly sped toward them. It was moving so fast that Tang Wulin hurriedly pulled Tang Wuyang, who had been walking ahead, two steps back.

"Move aside!" A crisp voice rang out behind them.

The brothers turned to see a golden-haired girl glaring at them.

They instinctively stepped aside. The girl passed by them, and by then, a driver had already gotten out of the black car and opened the door for her.

The girl got into the car. The driver carefully shut the door before returning to the vehicle and driving the black sedan away in a cloud of dust.

The brothers exchanged a glance, understanding that they shared the same thought. Another child from a wealthy family.

Claiming they felt no envy at all would certainly have been a lie.

But Tang Wuyang and Tang Wulin were not jealous. They understood that this was the result of someone else's hard work and effort, and they too would have a chance through hard work.

Putting this small interruption behind them, the brothers continued toward the Forging Master Association.

Mu Xi had been in an especially gloomy mood these past two days.

Originally, the day before yesterday should have been a glorious day for her, but an unexpected development had ruined it.

When she successfully completed Hundred Refinements Purification on Rare Metal, passed the test, and became a Second Rank Forging Master—

Before she had even had time to celebrate, she learned that before her own assessment, a pair of brothers only nine years old had already passed the Second Rank Forging Master examination.

Nine years old. How was that possible?

Ever since she was very young, her favorite thing had been watching her father forge.

Her father had told her that girls were not suited for Forging. Swinging a hammer was something men should do.

But stubborn Mu Xi insisted on pursuing what she loved. From the age of five, she had begun swinging a specially made little hammer.

At first, her father thought she was merely playing around. But she persisted for a full two years, imitating his movements every day. Only then did she truly move Mu Chen, president of the Eastsea City Forging Master Association, and he formally began teaching her Forging.

Mu Xi had inherited her father's Martial Soul and was naturally well suited for it. On top of that, she was willing to work hard.

Mu Chen had no choice but to find special medicinal herbs to help his daughter maintain her figure, allowing her to develop enough strength without turning into a burly, muscular girl.

Mu Xi loved Forging from the bottom of her heart!

At eleven, she officially became a Level One Forging Master. Under Mu Chen's guidance, she advanced at an astonishing pace.

Not long after her thirteenth birthday, she finally attempted the Second Rank Forging Master examination and passed on her first try.

Mu Xi remembered clearly that her father had said she had surpassed him at the same age and was absolutely a little genius of the Forging World.

But why had two children who were only nine become Second Rank Forging Masters just like her? And why had the evaluators praised them so highly?

Although the evaluators had not said so directly, it was obvious from the looks in their eyes. In their eyes, those two children were clearly stronger than she was!

She had heard they would come to collect their badges today. She wanted to see exactly what kind of people they were!

Tang Wuyang and Tang Wulin looked up at the giant hammer sign and strode into the Forging Master Association together.

When Yun Xiaoling, who had received them before, saw the brothers, she quickly came over. "Tang Wuyang, Tang Wulin, you're finally here."

In fact, she had been instructed by her superiors to wait specifically for these two little ones.

Yun Xiaoling's gaze was filled with curiosity as she looked at the brothers.

Nine-year-old Second Rank Forging Masters!

How on earth had they done it?

It was said that their ages had already broken the headquarters' records.

The record for the youngest Level One Forging Master in the Forging Master Association was held by the current president of the association, who had attained it at eight years old.

Yet even a genius like the president had only become a Second Rank Forging Master at eleven, two full years later than the two children before her.

The association placed great importance on these two children. They had instructed the front desk early on that as soon as they arrived, they were to be brought upstairs immediately.

"Hello, Sister Xiaoling."

Tang Wuyang and Tang Wulin both had good memories and clearly remembered this older sister's name.

Yun Xiaoling smiled. "You two are amazing. I heard that both of you passed the Second Rank Forging Master assessment."

As she spoke, she bent down and leaned closer, studying the two handsome little boys seriously.

Tang Wuyang scratched his cheek shyly, while Tang Wulin looked even more embarrassed. "Not really. Wuyang and I were just lucky."

Yun Xiaoling laughed. "You already know how to be humble at such a young age? Come on, I'll take you upstairs."

"Thank you, Sister."

After thanking her in unison, they followed Yun Xiaoling into the Soul Guidance Elevator.

Tang Wuyang was surprised to see Yun Xiaoling press the button for the top floor and could not help asking curiously, "Sister Xiaoling, where are we going?"

Tang Wulin naturally noticed as well and also looked toward Yun Xiaoling.

Yun Xiaoling smiled. "To the place where you receive your rank badges."