Rotating Battles, Defeating the Enemy

During the days Tang San was away obtaining his Spirit Ring, Chen Ming sparred with Xiao Wu every day.

The sparring had gradually changed from him mostly taking hits while passively defending himself to him often being able to seize Xiao Wu by waiting defensively for her attacks, and even taking the initiative to attack Xiao Wu, whose agility surpassed his own.

Even Xiao Wu grew envious of his determined progress, wondering whether the Soft Technique she had painstakingly trained was not as effective as she had imagined.

Yet because of those repeated physical clashes filled with sweat and passion, the relationship between Chen Ming and Xiao Wu steadily grew closer. At the very least, Xiao Wu now regarded Chen Ming as her friend, rival, and little brother she absolutely had to tame.

But over these few days, because of Xiao Wu's temperament, the long-standing conflict between the Work-Study Students and the ordinary students rapidly intensified. The two groups openly became hostile, nearly coming to blows right in the classroom.

In the end, under the mediation of the dean of studies, Xiao Wu, the nominal leader of Dorm Seven, and Xiao Chenyu, the leader of the ordinary students, agreed to battle on the back mountain three days later.

Yes, the dean of studies personally stepped in to guide the students on both sides in having an organized group brawl. In Soul Master Academies throughout Douluo World, this was nothing unusual.

The ordinary students' discrimination against the Work-Study Students was never a secret, and the discord between the two sides had not started just yesterday. If not for the teachers keeping them in check, they would have fought long ago.

Now that the situation could no longer be controlled, and the teachers did not want either side to get hurt, they personally arranged a time and place for the two groups to compete.

Chen Ming was not particularly surprised when he heard about it. Over the past few days, he had also been pestered endlessly by a bunch of idiots, but since the conflicts usually happened in the classroom, neither side had ever been able to fight outright.

Chen Ming found it hard to understand whether these people were even human. Why did every one of them seem as though they had no brains? These past few days had truly broadened his horizons regarding what a stereotypical villain was and what a brainless villain was.

Whether to gain experience or simply from his own perspective, Chen Ming, who had sparred with Xiao Wu for so long, really wanted to hit someone.

While Xiao Wu rested and gathered her strength and Chen Ming continued his usual cultivation, three days passed in a flash. The Work-Study Students and ordinary students gathered on the back mountain, divided into two sides.

There were very few Work-Study Students. There had originally been only eleven of them, and even with Chen Ming and Xiao Wu, there were only thirteen. The ordinary students, meanwhile, numbered over a hundred. Even though only some had come, there were still more than fifty of them.

Chen Ming and Xiao Wu might have been good fighters, but without using tools, there was no way thirteen people on Chen Ming's side could defeat more than a hundred. Rather than an opportunity for the Work-Study Students, this match was, in the teachers' eyes, more of an opportunity for the school bullies.

Bound by the rules agreed upon by both sides, the vastly unequal groups faced off on the back mountain.

"As long as I win, you'll obediently become my pet!" Xiao Chenyu stared at Xiao Wu with lecherous eyes and openly spoke such obscene words. Hearing him, the students' faction not only showed no disgust, but started egging him on.

"That's right, pet rabbit."

"Such a fine girl being a Work-Study Student is such a waste. Wouldn't it be much better for her to become Boss Xiao's pet rabbit?"

"Hehe, when the time comes, I want to touch your ears too!"

Xiao Wu bared her teeth and looked ready to bite someone, while Chen Ming could not help clenching his fists at the sight of these clearly young yet thoroughly vile people.

"First round, we'll send out Liu Long."

A student taller than the average academy student stepped forward. With his head held high, he summoned his Martial Soul, and a Willow Wood Staff appeared in his hand.

"Liu Long is one of our best. The Work-Study Students are done for."

"I..." Wang Sheng had long held a grudge against Liu Long. Though he knew he would have a hard time defeating Liu Long, he was still about to volunteer when he saw Chen Ming silently walk out.

"Chen Ming, Martial Soul: Heavy Armored Earth Dragon." As his Martial Soul was released, Chen Ming transformed into a half-man, half-beast form. Ten sharp claws gleamed coldly, and his tail lashed the ground, sending dirt flying in every direction.

"Dr... Dragon..."

Looking at Chen Ming, who seemed to be clad in heavy armor in his half-beast form, Liu Long looked at the Willow Wood Staff in his own hand. The expression on his face became utterly bizarre.

I'm fighting a Spirit Master with a Dragon Martial Soul? Can I win?

Can I...?

Chen Ming steadily advanced toward Liu Long. Liu Long swallowed and raised his staff, striking at Chen Ming's head. Chen Ming merely slowly tilted his body aside, and Liu Long's blow landed directly in the dirt.

Liu Long raised his hand to lift the staff and continue attacking, but Chen Ming suddenly grabbed the other end with one hand and gave it a shake. A gentle force traveled down the staff into Liu Long's hands. Though the Willow Wood Staff was Liu Long's own blood-bound Martial Soul, his grip still loosened, and the staff ended up in Chen Ming's hand.

Just as Liu Long had struck him before, Chen Ming swung the staff at Liu Long's shoulder before Liu Long could react and dismiss his Martial Soul. The blow made Liu Long cry out in pain before dropping to his knees.

"Next." Chen Ming looked at Liu Long on the ground and continued issuing his challenge.

"I'll do it." Ling Feng leaped out, intending to use his speed advantage to circle around Chen Ming. Before he could make a move, though, Chen Ming's fist landed on his face along a bizarre arc.

To the onlookers, Ling Feng looked as though he had voluntarily slammed his face into Chen Ming's fist.

In less than ten seconds, Ling Feng, who had just entered the fight, clutched his face and rolled back into his camp alongside Liu Long.

Watching Chen Ming defeat two of their strongest fighters in just two moves, Xiao Chenyu silently swallowed.

Although he had his first Spirit Ring, he did not dare claim that he could take down the two of them so easily.

If I really go up there, can I win?

"Boss Xiao, teach him a lesson!"

"That's right, Boss Xiao! You're a Spirit Master, don't embarrass yourself!"

Hearing the encouragement around him, Xiao Chenyu barely gathered some confidence. He walked up before Chen Ming and summoned his Martial Soul. A white Spirit Ring flickered beside him, signifying his cultivation as a Spirit Master.

"Let's spar, just spar. Don't damage our relationship." Xiao Chenyu swallowed, intending to probe Chen Ming's abilities by circling around him. Yet Chen Ming, who had been standing there like a stone, suddenly burst forth with astonishing speed and charged toward him.

In that brief instant of hesitation, Xiao Chenyu lost his final opportunity. Before he could even release a Spirit Skill, Chen Ming rammed him with a shoulder charge, sending him flying and knocking over several people.

It was true that the Heavy Armored Earth Dragon was not adept at agility, but that only applied to turning and fine movements in small spaces. Chen Ming's straight-line burst speed was unaffected.