After the Typhoon

This typhoon in Eastsea City had come very suddenly, causing enormous disruption throughout the entire city. Shops could not operate, and schools could not hold classes.

In a short time, it had brought traffic to a standstill, and every department of the Administrative Office had been run off its feet.

The typhoon had lasted an entire week. At its strongest, it could even uproot large trees, while quite a few buildings had suffered damage.

Fortunately, it was all over now.

After the typhoon, Eastsea City's air felt exceptionally fresh, carrying a faint hint of water vapor. Sunlight spilled across the earth, and occasionally, the glow of a rainbow could even be seen at the horizon beneath a clear, cloudless sky.

"What's going on with those two? Why haven't they replied to their messages yet? Wulin's communicator seems to be low on energy. I can't get through to him at all."

"Hey, did you call Wuyang? Did he answer?" Xie Xie had no mood to appreciate the beautiful scenery outside the window. Sitting in the classroom, he was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan.

The reason was simple: Tang Wuyang and Tang Wulin had gone missing.

During the days when the typhoon had struck, he had finally made a breakthrough under Wu Changkong's personal guidance.

After making progress, the first thing Xie Xie had thought of was sharing the good news with the brothers, Tang Wulin and Tang Wuyang.

But who would have thought that neither of their Soul Tools could be reached?

More importantly, classes had resumed today, yet those two still had not sent any word.

The resumption of classes also meant that the Promotion Tournament would continue after school today.

And the opponents they were about to face were Freshman Class One, known as the strongest in history!

"No. Do you know where their workshop is? Should we go find them at noon?" Gu Yue's eyebrows were tightly furrowed as well, worry showing in her eyes.

Xie Xie gave a wry smile. "I'm not interested in forging, so how would I know where their workshop is?"

"That Day, Wulin had specifically called me and told me that he and Wuyang would stay in the workshop the whole time."

"If they were there, nothing could have happened to them! Why was there still no news at all?"

Gu Yue's face darkened. "Do you know something? At noon, we'll go to the Forging Master Association. They might have their workshop location on record."

For once, Xie Xie did not argue with Gu Yue. Nodded in agreement, he said, "That's a good idea. We'll go in a little while."

Until school let out at noon, Tang Wuyang and Tang Wulin still had not appeared. Xie Xie and Gu Yue went to ask Wu Changkong for leave, then headed straight for the Forging Master Association.

However, Half an hour later, when they emerged from the Forging Master Association, both wore gloomy expressions.

The Forging Master Association's reply was simple: information on every Forging Master registered with the association was confidential and could not be disclosed unless they had special official authorization.

"What should we do now? Should we ask Teacher Wu to apply for official permission, then come back and ask for the exact location of Wuyang's workshop?" Gu Yue asked Xie Xie.

Xie Xie gave a wry smile. "It would still be too late! Official permits aren't that easy to get. They always take time, and it definitely can't be done today."

"If they aren't here, what do we do about this afternoon's match? At least three people have to take the field!"

"If we replace them with someone else, we've never practiced together. How could we possibly win?"

Gu Yue lifted her pretty face, her eyebrows tightly knit. "Let's go back first. No matter what, we should have Teacher Wu apply for official permission first."

"Besides, how could the match be more important than Wuyang and Wulin's safety?"

Xie Xie nodded. "Um~."

"Official permission?" Wu Changkong looked at the two disciples before him. His already icy face immediately darkened even further.

Xie Xie said anxiously, "Teacher Wu, Wulin and Wuyang still haven't come back. We wanted to go look for them at their workshop, but the Forging Master Association wouldn't give us the address."

"Alright. Go back to class first. I understand." Wu Changkong's voice was cold.

"Teacher, then today's match..." Xie Xie asked cautiously. He could clearly sense the oppressive chill coming from Wu Changkong.

Wu Changkong glanced at him. "Yun Xiao will fill in when the time comes."

"Yes." Xie Xie answered, then returned to class with Gu Yue, both of them weighed down by worry.

The afternoon classes passed quickly. Perhaps because the typhoon had lasted for a week, the students of the Intermediate Department had been stifled for too long.

As soon as school ended today, a huge number of students gathered on the field. Even Teachers had come, all waiting to watch the final First Grade Promotion Tournament match.

"Did you hear? This year's Promotion Tournament is so bizarre! A bottom-ranked class like Grade One Class Five has actually charged ahead all the way, winning three consecutive matches."

"Maybe this Dark Horse will ride its streak all the way to the end."

"Stop dreaming. Do you know how terrifying Freshman Class One is this year? They weren't called the strongest new student class in history for nothing."

"Four students in their class are already Two Rings Soul Grandmasters. More importantly, their Martial Souls are incredibly powerful."

"The four competitors from Grade One Class Five are only One Ring. That's a difference in quality. They're short one Soul Skill, and their Soul Power is weaker too. They don't stand a chance."

"I just want to see how far this Freshman Class One can go in the Promotion Tournament afterward."

"I heard every Second Grade class is feeling tremendous pressure. Hehe."

The students discussed it enthusiastically, while the Teachers who had arrived at the Outer Perimeter of the competition grounds also gathered together.

Kong Hanwen, the Homeroom Teacher of Grade One Class Four, repeatedly searched through the crowd, a cold smile lingering on his face.

"Teacher Kong, what are you looking at?" Ye Yingrong, the Homeroom Teacher of Grade One Class Three, asked in confusion.

Kong Hanwen said, "I'm looking for Wu Changkong. Wasn't that guy awfully arrogant?"

"I want to see how his students can possibly defeat Class One today."

Kong Hanwen had been holding in his anger the entire time. After all, once the class he led had been defeated by Tang Wuyang's Four People, it meant they would become the bottom-ranked class of First Grade!

That was undoubtedly a tremendous humiliation, and it would leave a major stain on his evaluation at the academy.

Ye Yingrong sighed softly. "Yes! This year's Class One is truly too strong."

"I think even Second Grade would have a hard time fighting them."

"Second Grade Class One currently only has two students who have just broken through to Two Rings."

"I estimate they'll definitely make it to Third Grade in the future Promotion Tournament."

Kong Hanwen only sneered without speaking. He had come today to see what expression this so-called Cold and Arrogant God would wear after his students lost.

"They're here," Ye Yingrong exclaimed softly.

Kong Hanwen looked in the direction of her gaze. Sure enough, surrounded by the students of Grade One Class Five, Wu Changkong walked at the front, heading toward the Competition Stage.

Behind him were none other than his two prized disciples, Xie Xie and Gu Yue.

However, to Kong Hanwen's surprise, he did not see the two especially handsome brothers in Class Five's group. Their names seemed to be Tang Wulin and Tang Wuyang.

Just as Wu Changkong led the students of Grade One Class Five to the Outer Perimeter of the grounds,

a commotion arose on the other side as well, and the students consciously made way for a path.

Walking at the very front was a female Teacher who looked to be twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old.

She resembled Ye Yingrong by at least sixty percent, but was even more beautiful. However, her eyebrows carried an arrogance that Ye Yingrong did not possess.

Following behind her were the students of Grade One Class One, hailed as the strongest new student class in many years. At the front were four students, the very people the students and Teachers had been discussing.

Both sides gathered on the Both sides of the Competition Stage, waiting for the Promotion Tournament to begin.

Ye Yingrong hurried over to the female Teacher and said quietly, "Sister."

The Homeroom Teacher of Grade One Class One was Ye Yingrong's biological older sister, Ye Yingluo, the woman Wu Changkong had once ruthlessly rejected.

Ye Yingluo Nodded at her, but her gaze was unconsciously drawn to the person across from her. Seeing Wu Changkong, her eyes became somewhat complicated.

Wu Changkong seemed to sense the gaze from across the way and subconsciously glanced in her direction.

Although Ye Yingluo's heart was filled with resentment toward him, when Wu Changkong looked over, she unconsciously straightened her chest, wanting to show him her most beautiful side.

But...

What kind of look was that?

Ye Yingluo was suddenly furious. When Wu Changkong's gaze landed on her, it did not pause in the slightest, nor did it show any emotion. It was as if he had merely seen the most ordinary thing, his eyes sweeping past her.

Bastard! This guy was still such a bastard.

Seeing the expression on her sister's face, Ye Yingrong knew this was going to go badly.

She knew her proud sister too well. Ever since childhood, Ye Yingluo had been called a genius, but after failing to gain admission to Shrek Academy, she had suffered a tremendous blow and become somewhat extreme.

That was precisely why she had become the way she was after Wu Changkong rejected her confession.

"Yang Zi, teach them a ruthless lesson." Ye Yingluo turned around and fiercely instructed the Steady Youth behind her.

"Yes, Teacher." A glint flashed through the eyes of the Young man she called Yang Zi, but he quickly returned to his previous steady state.

Director of Teaching Long Hengxu had already stepped onto the Competition Stage.

He first Nodded in greeting to the Homeroom Teachers of both classes, then said in a deep voice, "The typhoon caused the Promotion Tournament to be postponed."

"Today is the Fourth Promotion Tournament, with Grade One Class Five facing Grade One Class One."

"Grade One Class Five, Teacher Wu, how many competitors will your class field today?"

Long Hengxu's feelings were complicated as well. From the bottom of his heart, he naturally hoped Grade One Class Five would lose quickly.

Otherwise, if this Dark Horse kept climbing upward, he, the Director of Teaching responsible for Class Assignment, would be too ashamed to show his face!

The academy would certainly question how he had assigned the classes. If Grade One Class Five could continue rising like this, it was certainly related to Wu Changkong's teaching, but it was also inseparable from his mistaken Class Assignment.

However, Wu Changkong's formidable strength that day had somewhat helped him out of his predicament. At the very least, he could claim that Wu Changkong was an excellent teacher, and most of the School Board Members now accepted that.

This Teacher Wu's standing in the hearts of the academy's High-level officials had risen sharply!

After all, having such a powerful expert stationed here was a great thing for all of Eastsea Academy.

Academies in the major cities competed fiercely, especially Intermediate Academy institutions with such vast student populations.

The Advanced Department's most important task was to secure strong results for the academy in major competitions. The more famous an academy became, the better students it could attract, thereby forming a Virtuous Cycle.

Therefore, after what had happened That Day, Long Hengxu truly did not dare offend Wu Changkong anymore.

"Our class will field..." Wu Changkong had just been about to say three people when two voices suddenly came from behind Grade One Class Five.

"Teacher Wu, wait a moment."

"Teacher Wu, please hold on."

Hearing the familiar voices, surprise unconsciously appeared on the faces of Xie Xie and Gu Yue, who stood behind Wu Changkong.

Pushing through the crowd, the brothers hurried to the very front of the group, looking travel-worn.

Their appearance at that moment was truly hard to praise. Their hair was a mess, their faces were pale, one more than the other, and their entire auras seemed extremely unstable.

Xie Xie asked irritably, "Where did you run off to? Why are you only getting here now?"

Tang Wulin gave a wry smile. "It's a long story. Let's focus on the match in front of us first."

Noticing the worried look Gu Yue sent his way, Tang Wuyang shook his head slightly to indicate that he was Okay. "Teacher Wu, we can take the field."

Wu Changkong looked at them expressionlessly, Nodded, then said to Long Hengxu, "Our class will field four people."

Long Hengxu said, "Grade One Class One will also field four people."

Ye Yingluo raised her head. "Fine."

Long Hengxu said, "Competitors from both sides, enter the arena."

Gu Yue asked in a low voice, "Wuyang, can you really do it? Is your body Okay?"

She could tell that Tang Wuyang's aura seemed to have changed somewhat, making her feel that something was strange.

Tang Wuyang gave her a confident smile. "I'm fine."

Gu Yue nodded. "Let's Add Oil together."

Tang Wulin and Xie Xie still led the way, with Tang Wuyang and Gu Yue following behind them. The four walked onto the Competition Stage together.

On the other side, the four students from Grade One Class One also stepped forward.

The Steady Youth at the front calmly said, "My name is Zhang Yangzi."

"Wei Xiaofeng." Wei Xiaofeng extended his right hand, raised his thumb, then rotated his wrist downward, pointing his thumb at the ground in a provocative gesture toward Xie Xie.

"You!" Xie Xie flew into a rage and was about to charge forward, but Tang Wuyang quickly grabbed his shoulder and pulled him back.

Xie Xie turned in surprise to look at Tang Wuyang behind him. This guy seemed to have become even stronger!

"Wang Jinxi." Among Class One's other two students, the gaunt student spoke calmly.

"My name is Nangong Shuang." The only Girl in Class One's group spoke confidently.

Tang Wuyang said, "Grade One Class Five, Tang Wuyang."

"Gu Yue."

"Tang Wulin."

"Xie Xie!" Cold light flickered in Xie Xie's eyes as he stared at Wei Xiaofeng.

Long Hengxu looked at both sides. The match had not even begun, yet the smell of gunpowder was already thick in the air, making him frown.

"I'll emphasize one point: this is a match within the academy."

"During the match, stop when appropriate. Only determine Victory or defeat. Deliberately harming an opponent is forbidden, or the academy will impose additional punishment."

"Yes!" Eight people answered in unison.

"Good. Prepare for the match. Both sides, step back."

Under Long Hengxu's supervision, both sides retreated and opened a certain distance between themselves.

"Begin!"

With the Director of Teaching's loud shout, the ultimate showdown between the First Grade new student classes finally began.