The Promotion Tournament Begins

The two brothers had just arrived at the academy gates when they saw Gu Yue standing there.

Judging by her appearance, she seemed to be waiting for someone.

Tang Wuyang walked over. "Gu Yue, why are you here?"

Gu Yue looked at Tang Wuyang. "Wuyang, I need to talk to you. Would it be convenient to take a walk?"

Tang Wuyang said, "Sure."

He then turned to Tang Wulin. "Then your brother and Gu Yue will head off first."

With that, he followed Gu Yue away.

Tang Wuyang followed Gu Yue to the academy's small lake.

There was a small bridge in the middle of the lake. The two walked onto it and leaned against the railing.

Tang Wuyang looked over the lake. "Gu Yue, what did you want to see me about?"

Gu Yue fixed her bright eyes on Tang Wuyang. "Wuyang, I'm a little curious. What exactly is your Martial Soul?"

"Why is your Soul Skill Water Element Control? And there's something about you..." Gu Yue pursed her lips. "You give me a very familiar feeling."

Tang Wuyang found that strange as well. "My Martial Soul is a Qilin!"

As he spoke, he released his Martial Soul. A majestic, dignified Qilin appeared behind him.

"As for my Soul Skill, I'm not too sure either. After I fused with my Soul Spirit, I gained Water Element Control."

A small white beast appeared on Tang Wuyang's shoulder. He stroked its head. "This is my Soul Spirit, Xing Yu."

Gu Yue looked at Xing Yu, then at the Qilin behind Tang Wuyang, surprise in her eyes.

The moment Tang Wuyang released his Martial Soul, she had sensed a peculiar fluctuation.

"Y-your Martial Soul is a little special."

As she looked at the rainbow-colored halo surrounding the Qilin, a meaningful glint flashed through Gu Yue's eyes.

"Huh? Is that so?" Faced with Tang Wuyang's confusion, Gu Yue nodded firmly.

The days that followed were fulfilling for Tang Wuyang. Every day, he attended class, trained, underwent special training, and went to Mang Tian's workshop with Tang Wulin during breaks.

Days passed one after another. It was not until Wu Changkong called the four of them into his office and informed them that the first match of the Promotion Tournament would begin next week that Tang Wuyang realized more than two months had passed.

Over those two months, all four of them had changed considerably.

Under Wu Changkong's inhuman special training, they had developed excellent coordination, and their relationships had grown much more harmonious.

Xie Xie's Soul Power had already reached Nineteenth Rank. Once he advanced one more rank, he could absorb the Second Soul Ring provided by his Soul Spirit and advance to become a Soul Grandmaster.

Gu Yue's Soul Power had also reached Seventeenth Rank. Two months of cultivation had raised it by two ranks.

Tang Wuyang and Tang Wulin had also raised their Soul Power by two ranks while balancing cultivation and Forging, reaching Thirteenth Rank and Fourteenth Rank respectively.

Although the brothers' Soul Power still lagged far behind Gu Yue and Xie Xie's, neither of them felt jealous. They were quite satisfied with their own progress.

"Teacher, who will Class Four send to compete against us? Do we have any information?" Xie Xie asked Wu Changkong eagerly.

Wu Changkong said coldly, "If you need information just to defeat a mere Class Four, are you worthy of being my disciples?"

"You have only one task in next week's match: crush them! Do you understand?"

"Yes!" the four answered in unison.

Wu Changkong said, "The Promotion Tournament is about to begin. There will be one match every day until all matches are finished."

"I'm giving you a goal: defeat Grade Four."

Defeat Grade Four?

Upon hearing those words, Tang Wulin's eyes filled with shock. Although Xie Xie was highly confident in himself, he could not help swallowing when he heard the words Grade Four.

After all, some talented students had already reached the Two Ring level by Grade Four. There were even Two Ring Soul Grandmasters among Grade Three students.

They were only in Grade One. Defeating Grade Four would be no easy task.

Wu Changkong said flatly, "I mean Grade Four Class One. Defeat Grade Four Class One, and you will receive all the rewards. Otherwise, everything will be confiscated and used as the Class Fund."

Xie Xie protested, "Teacher, isn't that too harsh?"

Wu Changkong said, "If you think it's harsh, you can withdraw. Tang Wuyang, Tang Wulin, and Gu Yue can compete as a three-person team."

"Fine by me! I didn't want this deadweight around anyway." Gu Yue played with her fingers and spoke indifferently.

"You!" Xie Xie turned around and glared at her furiously.

Because Gu Yue had always suppressed him in terms of strength, Xie Xie had always been hostile toward her.

Gu Yue tilted her head at him. "Not convinced?"

Xie Xie looked toward Tang Wulin, who said, "When has anything Teacher decided ever changed? Work hard, young man!"

Tang Wuyang nodded beside him in agreement. "Exactly!"

A trace of amusement flashed through Wu Changkong's eyes. He was still very satisfied with these four disciples.

Although Tang Wuyang and Tang Wulin's Soul Power was on the lower side, as long as they were given enough time, their talent would surely allow them to become powerful Soul Masters.

"Enough. Today's training begins. Tang Wulin, you and Xie Xie will form one team against Gu Yue and Tang Wuyang."

Xie Xie chuckled and looked smugly at Gu Yue. "Yueyue, watch how your big brother teaches you a lesson!"

Gu Yue looked at him coldly. "You will pay for calling me that!"

Tang Wuyang and Tang Wulin exchanged looks and shook their heads helplessly. These two were at it again.

Another day of special training began.

For Eastsea Academy, the Promotion Tournament was an annual grand event.

Because it was the only competition in which every grade throughout the academy participated.

The Advanced Department had its own Promotion Tournament, and the Intermediate Department had one as well.

Students who performed exceptionally in the Promotion Tournament would have their achievements recorded and added to their files.

This would provide an extremely important recommendation for entering higher-level academies in the future. Of course, the material rewards were also quite generous.

Classes that achieved outstanding results in the Promotion Tournament would not only see changes in their rankings, but their homeroom teachers would also receive commendations.

Thus, after so many years of development, the Promotion Tournament had become a symbol of honor at Eastsea Academy.

Being defeated by a lower-ranked class was a disgrace, while defeating a higher-ranked class was glory.

The reason the Promotion Tournament was held three months after the start of school was to give every class time to select students and thoroughly prepare their tactics.

The weather was beautiful today, and the clear blue sky was cloudless.

A Competition Stage had been set up in the center of the Intermediate Department's field. Calling it a stage was somewhat misleading; it was actually a circular area one hundred meters in diameter, paved with metal plates ten centimeters thick, taking up a large portion of the field.

Special Soul Guidance Shield Generators had been installed around the Competition Stage to prevent accidents during the matches.

Today was the first day of the tournament. To avoid disrupting the students' studies, the match was held after school.

The dismissal bell had already rung, and students poured out of the school buildings. However, very few headed toward the Competition Stage.

Grade One newcomers, Class Five against Class Four—what was there to watch?

The upper-grade classes did not care about such a match. Only several Grade One classes had come, especially Class Three, who would compete tomorrow and had arrived in full to watch.

After the dismissal bell rang, the students of Grade One Class Five ran onto the field in neat formation and stood at one side.

Three months of special training had given Class Five an entirely new feeling. Although their talents were not particularly outstanding, Wu Changkong's instruction had greatly improved their physical fitness, and even their Soul Power had been advancing much faster than before.

The students of Grade One Class Four arrived more slowly, coming over in twos and threes. They did not seem to care much about the match.

A short, plump teacher walked toward Wu Changkong with a smile plastered across his face. "Teacher Wu, the students you've taught are truly impressive! Just look at that formation."

"I can't compare. The brats in our Class Four are used to being undisciplined. You'll have to go easy on us in today's Promotion Tournament!"

"We may not be able to advance to Class Three, but you really must help us hold on to Class Four."

Wu Changkong glanced at him, then looked straight ahead, treating him as if he were air.

Kong Hanwen, the homeroom teacher of Grade One Class Four, was so angered that his nose nearly twisted. This guy really was unbelievably arrogant.

Fine, you're strong. But how strong could the trash class you taught possibly be, no matter how capable you were?

"It seems Teacher Wu is very confident! Then we'll meet on the Competition Stage." Throwing out that sarcastic remark, Kong Hanwen walked toward his own class.

Wu Changkong's lips moved slightly. Tang Wulin, who stood beside him, vaguely made out that Teacher Wu seemed to have said something rather unpleasant.

At that moment, the dean of studies, Long Hengxu, stepped onto the Competition Stage.

"Today, the Promotion Tournament begins. Grade One Class Five will challenge Grade One Class Four."

"Teacher Wu Changkong, has your class confirmed how many participants you will send?"

Promotion Tournament matches for lower grades generally did not draw much attention. As the host and referee, the only thing Long Hengxu was interested in was what kind of disciples Wu Changkong had produced after three months, especially the ones he had insisted on accepting even after personally admitting his mistake.

Wu Changkong nodded. "Our class will send four participants."

Long Hengxu turned toward Kong Hanwen. "Class Five will send four participants. Teacher Kong, you have five minutes to assign your competitors."

Kong Hanwen dropped the smiling expression he had worn before Wu Changkong and said disdainfully, "Against Class Five, it doesn't matter who Class Four sends."

"Jialong, Lin Zunyuan, Mosi, Jiang Nan, the four of you go."

"Remember, you represent the honor of Class Four. Show them Class Four's spirit."

Wu Changkong merely waved his hand, and Tang Wulin, Tang Wuyang, Xie Xie, and Gu Yue walked onto the Competition Stage.

Long Hengxu looked curiously toward Wu Changkong's side. Generally speaking, because Class Five was weaker overall, they would send as few people as possible when challenging a higher-ranked class. Choosing their three best students would be enough.

Yet Wu Changkong had sent four people into the match. Could it be that he had trained Class Five's overall strength to such a high level?

The four students from Grade One Class Four were led by Jialong. He was not tall, squat and stocky, but looked extremely solid.

Lin Zunyuan was a frail-looking youth. Mosi was of average build, with an eager expression on his face.

As for Jiang Nan, who stood last, he wore a calm expression without any emotional fluctuation and silently followed behind the others.

Tang Wuyang's group stood in an inverted trapezoid formation. Tang Wulin and Xie Xie stood at the front together, while Gu Yue and Tang Wuyang stood diagonally behind them.

"Both sides, prepare!" The teams from the two classes stood fifty meters apart as Long Hengxu raised his right hand. "The first match of the new school year's Promotion Tournament: Grade One Class Four versus Grade One Class Five. Begin!"

At Long Hengxu's command, the four Grade One Class Four students almost instantly released their Martial Souls and Soul Rings.

Four white Soul Rings rose beneath their feet. Jialong, standing at the front, suddenly took a large step forward. His body swelled slightly, and he let out a low growl. His originally brown eyes turned yellow, while his arms visibly thickened.

Lin Zunyuan muttered an incantation. A long staff appeared in his hand, and the Soul Ring beneath his feet flashed. A beam of red light shot from the top of his staff and landed on Jialong.

A streak of blood-red appeared in Jialong's yellow eyes. His body swelled again, and with an imposing aura, he charged toward Tang Wulin.

Meanwhile, Mosi's figure flashed as he hid behind Jialong.

Several yellowish-brown ropes appeared beneath Jiang Nan's feet and extended toward the other three.

The four moved quickly and smoothly, showing excellent coordination. They did not look like a team that had been casually selected, as their homeroom teacher had claimed.

In contrast, Tang Wuyang's group did not release their Martial Souls immediately. Tang Wuyang, Tang Wulin, and Xie Xie charged at their opponents together, while Gu Yue remained where she was without moving.

"Mosi!" Jialong shouted. Mosi, hidden behind him, immediately chased after Xie Xie.

If an Agile Attack System Battle Soul Master got close, Lin Zunyuan, as a Support System Soul Master, would be eliminated in an instant.

Sending Mosi after him could not only block Xie Xie from reaching Lin Zunyuan, but also support Jiang Nan of the Control System.

As for Tang Wuyang in front of him, Jialong was completely confident he could stop him.

Unfortunately, that confidence did not last long.

Though Jialong's body had expanded significantly with the enhancement of his Martial Soul, he was still a little short in Tang Wuyang's eyes.

As the distance between them closed, Jialong silently found it strange. This guy should be an Offensive System Soul Master too, so why had he not even released his Martial Soul?

Just then, Tang Wuyang's fist came straight at him.

As an Offensive System Battle Soul Master, Jialong was highly confident in his own strength. Faced with Tang Wuyang's plain, unadorned punch, he reached out with his right hand, intending to catch it.

Gu Yue, standing in place, waved her hand. Jialong suddenly felt his footing slip, causing his grasping hand to veer off course, while Tang Wuyang's fist smashed directly into his chest.

Bang! Jialong was sent flying seven or eight meters by Tang Wuyang's punch.

On the other side, Tang Wulin and Xie Xie had also finished their battle.

After Xie Xie bypassed Jialong, his steps accelerated instantly as he rushed straight toward Lin Zunyuan.

Just as Jiang Nan tried to stop Xie Xie, Tang Wulin stepped in front of him with the Holy Dragon Spear in hand.

With the sharpness of the Holy Dragon Spear, he directly cut apart the ropes attempting to Entwine him.

When Xie Xie struck Lin Zunyuan on the head with the Light Dragon Dagger, Long Hengxu declared Lin Zunyuan eliminated.

Then Xie Xie turned and arrived in front of the approaching Mosi. Mosi's Martial Soul was a short sword, somewhat similar to Xie Xie's Light Dragon Dagger, but his Soul Power was only at Thirteenth Rank.

This was a battle without suspense. Their Martial Souls clashed only once before Xie Xie slipped behind Mosi and placed the Light Dragon Dagger directly against his neck.

At the same time, the Holy Dragon Spear vanished from Tang Wulin's hand. A gentle blue glow radiated from his right palm, and countless vines surged forth, binding Jiang Nan into a dumpling.

Five or six Ice Swords instantly appeared around Jialong, who had been sent flying by Tang Wuyang's punch, surrounding him completely.

At the same time, a fireball ready to launch hovered beside Tang Wuyang.

Only at this moment did all of Grade One Class Five's competitors release their Martial Souls.

White, white, yellow, yellow!

Two Ten-Year Soul Rings, two Century Soul Rings!

Kong Hanwen, Class Four's homeroom teacher, stared blankly at the scene before him. From start to finish, the entire match had lasted ten seconds—less than ten seconds.

He desperately wanted to ask Long Hengxu on the stage: was this really Grade One Class Five? Was it not Class One?

Xie Xie curled his lip and walked to Tang Wulin's side with an unsatisfied expression, bumping fists with him in celebration.

Tang Wuyang also went to Gu Yue's side and high-fived her in celebration.

Only then did the students of Grade One Class Five react, and cheers suddenly erupted.