The final round of nighttime special training had finally ended. The night was deep, and only a few Soul Guidance Lamps cast their dim glow across Eastsea Academy's field. A faint mist mixed with the boys' heavy breathing and slowly dispersed beneath the moonlight.
Xie Xie shook his aching wrist, but his eyes shone brightly, and a hint of smugness curled his lips. "With our current strength, taking on three opponents each in the Class Promotion Tournament wouldn't be a problem, right?"
He grinned at Tang Wulin and Gu Yue. "Those guys from the other classes aren't even qualified to be our sparring partners!"
Tang Wulin let out a deep breath, feeling the surging power of his bloodline within him. A trace of confidence flashed through his eyes as well.
Though he did not say it as openly as Xie Xie, he knew very well that after Wu Zhangkong's strict training over this period, the three of them had advanced far beyond the level of ordinary students.
The gap between them and the others might already have become enormous.
Gu Yue gave Xie Xie an indifferent glance. Though she said nothing, the slight upward curve of her lips revealed her thoughts. She had always been calm and rational, but even she could not keep a sense of pride from stirring within her now.
They were Class Five, the bottom-ranked class. So what?
Tonight's special training had already proven that the three of them together were enough to challenge stronger opponents.
"Training ending does not mean you are allowed to become complacent."
Wu Zhangkong's voice suddenly rang out, cold as frost. At some point, he had appeared in the shadows, the moonlight outlining his tall, slender figure. His sharp gaze swept across the three of them, and his tone carried a warning. "Improving your strength is a good thing, but underestimating your opponents is courting death."
Xie Xie stuck out his tongue and muttered softly, "But we really are strong..."
Before he could finish, an invisible pressure suddenly bore down on him, frightening him into quickly closing his mouth.
Wu Zhangkong snorted coldly, the warning in his eyes unmistakable.
Unlike the confidence of the three youngsters, Wu Zhangkong's eyes faintly revealed concern.
That afternoon, that unusually powerfully built boy, those incredibly fierce fists, that overwhelmingly formidable strength with no weaknesses...
If he was not mistaken, Grade One Class Three would likely become their most troublesome opponent.
He thought of Situ Xuan's appearance as he trained diligently without fearing hardship or danger.
Then he looked at Xie Xie, who was laughing and fooling around, not taking anyone else seriously...
For no apparent reason, Wu Zhangkong felt a surge of anger. "Extra training tonight. Gu Yue, spar against Tang Wulin."
As he spoke, Wu Zhangkong turned toward Xie Xie. "You. Spar with me!"
The smile on Xie Xie's face instantly froze, and his Adam's apple bobbed unnaturally.
Teacher Wu was going to spar with him personally?
This was practically asking for half his life!
He looked toward his two companions for help, only to find Tang Wulin lowering his head to loosen his wrists, while Gu Yue had silently retreated to the edge of the training ground, a pale silver glow winding around her fingertips—both of them were clearly ready to begin their nighttime training.
Bang!
Wu Zhangkong raised a hand and chopped down with a hand blade. Xie Xie hurriedly crossed his arms to block, but the impact still sent him staggering back three steps. The numb ache spreading through his right arm made him grimace. Only then did he realize that his teacher was getting serious.
"You still dare to lose focus in battle?"
Wu Zhangkong shouted coldly. His white training uniform cut sharp lines through the moonlight. "Bring out that arrogance you had just now!"
"Still training this late?"
In the C7 Training Room, Wu Zhangkong pushed open the door and looked at Situ Xuan, who was drenched in sweat. He asked in surprise and confusion, "Where is Teacher Long?"
Situ Xuan turned around upon seeing the handsome man in white with ice-blue hair, unsurprised by his arrival. Familiar with the task, he continued replacing the Soul Guidance Core in an Iron Puppet. "Lao Long went on a date with his fiancée. I'm off today."
Though he called it a day off, Situ Xuan did not actually know what to do with himself. After thinking it over, he had ended up training in the Training Room for the entire day.
At the words "fiancée," a trace of loneliness flashed through Wu Zhangkong's eyes, as though the lovely girl who had once smiled at him had appeared before him again.
"Hey, Teacher Wu."
After replacing the Soul Guidance Core, Situ Xuan turned around and looked at Wu Zhangkong's melancholy expression. "Want to have a match?"
"I can't give you any grand speeches, and I can't be bothered to. Instead of standing there reminiscing about something, why not come give this good student some guidance?"
Wu Zhangkong was slightly startled by Situ Xuan's words. Then a bitter smile appeared on his face. His long fingers unconsciously brushed across his waist, where a jade pendant had once hung—until it had forever lost its owner on a snowy night.
"I never expected..."
His voice lowered, carrying a note of self-mockery. "To be lectured by a little brat."
Moonlight slanted through the Training Room window, stretching his shadow long.
For that instant, a weariness Tang Wulin and the others had never seen surfaced on this man who had always stood so aloof.
But the next moment, Wu Zhangkong suddenly raised his head, his fingers already pressing against his belt buckle.
Clang—
A crisp metallic tremor rang out, and the black belt glinted coldly beneath the moonlight.
With a flick of Wu Zhangkong's wrist, the entire belt straightened like a living thing. Ice crystals spread from the hilt at a visible speed, transforming in the blink of an eye into a three-foot-long icy flexible sword.
The tip of his sword lightly touched the ground, and the temperature in the Training Room abruptly plummeted. A thin layer of frost formed across the floor. His ice-blue hair drifted slightly under the agitation of his Soul Power. The instant his blade pointed at Situ Xuan, the entire space seemed to fall silent.
"Let me see,"
Wu Zhangkong's voice became cold once more. "Just how capable Eastsea Academy's most hardworking student really is."
Situ Xuan's mouth split into a grin that reached his ears, a savage smile that did not belong on a boy's face.
Moonlight fell across his powerfully built body. Beneath his skin, the pattern of the Big Dipper seemed to flow faintly. His pupils shrank to pinpoints, and the aura radiating from him began to distort the air around him.
"Then..."
Before the final word had stopped reverberating through the air, Situ Xuan had already vanished from where he stood. The metal floor beneath his feet groaned under the strain, two clear footprints sinking into it, with spiderweb-like cracks even appearing around their edges.
"...please instruct me!"
The instant his voice fell, Situ Xuan appeared less than a meter in front of Wu Zhangkong. His right fist drew back at his waist, every muscle in his body tightening like twisted steel cables. A visible cyclone coiled around his knuckles.
North Star Dragon Strikes Tiger!
The same opening move as always, the same punch as always.
There was nothing fancy about this punch. It was the purest, most straightforward straight punch.
Yet wherever the fist passed, the air was compressed to the limit, producing a piercing sonic boom.
More terrifyingly, though this punch appeared direct and simple, it contained seventy-two possible follow-up variations. No matter how his opponent blocked or dodged, the following attacks would pursue them like a shadow.
A hint of surprise flashed through Wu Zhangkong's eyes, but his hands did not slow in the slightest.
The Ice Sword slashed downward at a tricky angle. Wherever its edge passed, moisture in the air condensed into tiny ice shards.
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