"Changkong, your Martial Soul is a weapon."
"So this time, I'll only use this."
Lu Li smiled faintly as he spoke.
"That's not 'only' at all."
"Brother Lu, your spear is as divine as ever. It takes me right back to when you crushed me back then."
On the arena, Wu Changkong looked at the spear in Lu Li's hand, his eyes filled with deep wariness. He sighed.
The Holy Dragon Spear...
It was only the other man's companion soul weapon, yet its powerful effects had nearly driven every weapon-type Martial Soul Master of their generation to despair.
Back then, even when he had five rings, he couldn't beat Lu Li. Now he had six rings, while Lu Li had nine...
Could he win?
He'd better stop dreaming.
"Brother Lu, let's begin."
"First Soul Skill, Frost Mark!"
"Second Soul Skill, Frost Mist!"
Wu Changkong came back to himself. As his skills activated, the first and second rings beneath his feet lit up.
Powerful Ice Element burst from his sword. The first skill transformed into countless sharp points of ice, while the second became a shimmering, icy mist. Both swept toward Lu Li.
Frost Mark! Frost Mist!
These were his two most basic Soul Skills, and both had control effects. They were among the skills he used most often.
"Break."
But Lu Li merely glanced at them.
He didn't even move. Golden light flashed as Soul Power surged through him, and the incoming skills vanished in an instant, as though they had never existed.
"You know this already."
"I told you that your Soul Ring path was wrong. You don't need to use these probing attacks, which only work on low-level Soul Masters, against me."
Lu Li blinked and spoke slowly.
"..."
"Fourth Soul Skill, Frost Ice Language."
Wu Changkong said nothing. The second purple Soul Ring beneath his feet lit up, and blue runes glimmered on the Heavenly Frost Sword. The sword's aura surged dramatically.
Frost Ice Language was his fourth Soul Skill, and the sort of skill combat-type Soul Masters favored most. Its effect was simple and direct:
It doubled his attack power!
"Third Soul Skill, Heavenly Frost Slash!"
Without the slightest hesitation, Wu Changkong followed up. A cold glint flashed in his eyes as his third Soul Ring lit up. He gripped his sword and charged straight at Lu Li!
With Frost Ice Language's boost, he no longer feared any Soul Emperor and even dared to fight a Soul Saint. But his third Soul Skill was the real centerpiece.
Heavenly Frost Slash unleashed a powerful attack whose force more than doubled under his existing boost.
It was a truly fearsome strike. At the Soul Emperor and Soul Saint levels, he didn't think he had many rivals...
And this was his only chance to show Lu Li the full extent of his strength.
"I admit Teacher Wu looks cool again right now, but, guys, do you really think he can even hit Teacher Lu?"
Wei Xiaofeng had somehow gotten his hands on a bucket of popcorn. Watching Wu Changkong, he spoke up.
"No."
Everyone answered in unison. Even Gu Yue spoke up. They didn't deny Wu Changkong's cultivation, but...
Compared with Lu Li, he was like a firefly beside the moon!
"Boom—"
And that was exactly what happened. As everyone watched, Lu Li met Wu Changkong's attack with nothing more than a glance and a light sweep of his spear.
The instant the Heavenly Frost Sword touched the Holy Dragon Spear, the tremendous rebound nearly numbed Wu Changkong's hand. The force sent his entire body flying.
Teacher Wu had flown.
Lu Li was taken aback. In a flash, he appeared below the arena and caught Wu Changkong. He couldn't help smiling helplessly.
"Changkong, you really need to do better than that."
He knew Wu Changkong couldn't beat him, but getting knocked flying just by hitting him seemed a bit much.
Could it be...
Was the other man trying to fake an injury?
"..."
[Master, you're just too cool!]
[Congratulations on surviving three of Wu Changkong's Soul Skills. To have this kind of ability as a Soul Master is something worth bragging about.]
[Challenge Wu Changkong: Complete]
[Congratulations. You have received the following rewards: Ultimate Ice Affinity, one random ten-thousand-year-old natural treasure.]
As Lu Li completed the so-called challenge, the system's jubilant announcement sounded once more.
[Drawing natural treasure...]
[Congratulations. You have received a Ten Thousand Year Profound Ice Grass.]
"Hm?"
"A Ten Thousand Year... Profound Ice Grass?"
Hearing the voice echo in his mind, Lu Li's gaze shifted involuntarily to Wu Changkong before him, his eyes thoughtful.
The Profound Ice Grass.
He wasn't unfamiliar with this spirit herb. It was a lesser variant of the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and ranked among the very best natural treasures. It had tremendous effects on ice-attribute Soul Masters.
At ten thousand years, it could greatly benefit Soul Masters between the Soul Emperor and Soul Douluo levels. It could even heal old injuries...
As Lu Li thought this over, his gaze settled on Wu Changkong, who wore a helpless expression, as if he'd run out of options. Lu Li considered the matter.
The best person to receive this treasure was right in front of him.
"What?"
"Brother Lu, do you still want to keep going?"
Wu Changkong gave a cold snort and shot the other man a resentful look as he asked coolly.
This annoying talent freak, this walking stat monster...
He was practically a monster!
"No need."
"Having you spar with me makes me nervous. I'm afraid I'll accidentally knock you to death."
Lu Li shook his head. With Wu Changkong as he was now, they clearly couldn't spar again until Lu Li became a god.
And after he became a god...
Wu Changkong could forget about it even more.
Thinking this, Lu Li couldn't help smiling helplessly at the man before him. It seemed their battles would have to end here.
Well, assuming the system didn't pull any more stunts.
"Lu Li, I think..."
"You really are a terrible person."
Wu Changkong gave the man a helpless glance. Lu Li knew he might accidentally beat him to death...
And he still went ahead and fought him! Wu Changkong considered Lu Li a friend, but he wasn't letting this go today!
As they thought this over, the two returned to the students. Xie Xie politely stepped forward.
"Teacher Lu, Teacher Wu, so the gap between the strong and the weak can really be this huge?"
"..."
Wu Changkong quietly filed away that remark, then nodded without trying to defend himself.
"Exactly. Your Teacher Lu is very strong. Against someone like him, even if you take the initiative, your attacks can be turned against you..."
"So from now on, if you can, don't fight someone stronger than you. If you have to, though, make sure you're fully prepared."
Wu Changkong paused.
"What does 'fully prepared' mean?"
Xie Xie and Wei Xiaofeng asked in unison.
"Being as strong as him."
Wu Changkong gave a cold snort and pointed at Lu Li.
"If you're confident you can become as strong as he is, you can fight above your level—or even beat me up."
"..."
"That's all for today's class. You're dismissed."
"Teacher Lu, come by my office in a bit. I want to talk to you about the kids."
The rest of the lesson took place on the field. Before leaving, Teacher Wu gave Lu Li another look and spoke calmly.
"All right. I'll talk to Wulin, then head over."
Lu Li silently gave him an OK sign. The kid Wu Changkong meant was Wulin, but sometimes a speaker's meaning and a listener's interpretation differed.
"The kids?"
Gu Yue seized on the key phrase and furrowed her brow, lost in thought.
"Wulin, tell me. What did you want to talk to me about?"
Before long, only Lu Li and Tang Wulin remained on the field. Lu Li smiled as he spoke.
"Big Brother Lu Li, I..."
Tang Wulin was about to speak when a voice suddenly rang out in his mind. It was Old Tang.
"Wulin, you're clever. You picked the right person. Teacher Lu Li will be your greatest asset in breaking the Golden Dragon King Seal."
"With him by your side, the road ahead will be smooth sailing, and you'll be able to use his strength to reach even greater heights."
"Quick, tell him which natural treasures you need."
Tang San was in high spirits, his voice animated.
Having a Titled Douluo as a teacher—especially one so young—was a blessing that came once in a lifetime.
But as Tang Wulin listened, he fell silent. His heart gave a sudden lurch.
He had called Lu Li over to tell him about his situation: the Golden Dragon King Seal, the natural treasures he'd need later, and even...
The fact that Old Tang existed.
He didn't trust anyone. But he trusted his parents and Big Brother Lu Li.
And now Old Tang could sense everything?
"Old Tang, you shameless leech! You can't just—"
"I'll make you pay for this!"
Tang Wulin gritted his teeth and swore silently.
If one day he gained the power to reach the heavens...
Then...
The first thing he'd do was wipe Old Tang out completely!
Erase his soul and spirit alike.
"..."
Before you continue