The Match

Wu Zhangkong looked at the two who had been left behind and said in a low voice, "Do you know why I asked you to stay?"

Xu Xiaoyan obediently shook her head to show she didn't know.

Xie Xie was a little proud, but then he remembered Wu Zhangkong's cultivation and shook his head as well.

"Because you're the two weakest people in this class."

"Everyone else has broken through to the two-ring level, but you're both still at one ring."

"The final team competition will have seven members, so one of the eight of you will have to be a substitute."

Xu Xiaoyan and Xie Xie were both startled.

Wu Zhangkong looked at them and continued, "First, Xu Xiaoyan. You were able to enter this class because we knew you'd awakened the Star Wheel Martial Soul."

"I hope you won't hold back and will develop it properly."

"If you can't develop it..."

Wu Zhangkong shook his head and didn't finish.

He turned to look at Xie Xie.

"As for you, I can tell you quite clearly that the only reason you were able to enter this class is because you're a nepotism hire."

"I don't think I need to spell out whose connections got you here."

Xie Xie felt a little embarrassed at that, but in the end, he held back and didn't argue.

"That's all I have to say. I hope you'll both develop a sense of urgency."

"All right, you can go."

Without waiting for them to ask anything, Wu Zhangkong took Long Bing by the hand and left the classroom.

Xie Xie and Xu Xiaoyan were both rather dejected.

"What's your Soul Power level?"

"Nineteen. What about you?"

"Me too. Level nineteen."

Thanks to the widespread teaching of the Mysterious Heaven Skill, their Soul Power was a little higher than it had been in the original timeline, but the two were still evenly matched.

Meanwhile, Tang Wulin held Na'er's hand, while Long Yue held Dai Yun'er's.

Gu Yue and Yuan'en Yehui walked behind them.

In the end, Tang Wulin was the first to speak. "We have a match this afternoon. Why don't we start by introducing our names and Martial Souls?"

The others neither agreed nor objected.

"My name's Tang Wulin, and my Martial Soul is Blue Silver Grass. What about you?"

"Elemental Envoy. I've already given you my name."

Tang Wulin hadn't expected Gu Yue to be the first to answer.

"Dai Yun'er. Hell Spirit Cat."

"Yuan'en Yehui. Titan Giant Ape."

"..."

Once the first person had answered, the others followed, giving their names and Martial Souls in turn.

Time flew by, and before they knew it, afternoon had arrived.

Wu Zhangkong led them to the combat area.

"For this match, we'll start with a team battle."

"However, since one of you has already broken through to the three-ring level, that person may choose only two teammates."

Everyone was surprised. In their understanding, having Soul Power around level twenty-six or twenty-seven at their age was already impressive.

But three rings? What did that even mean?

"Long Yue, you can choose your two teammates first."

Long Yue stepped forward, his tall figure imposing. At his signal, Dai Yun'er immediately moved to stand behind him.

After thinking for a while about who to choose as his second teammate, Long Yue said, "Gu Yue, I'd like you to join my team."

He chose Gu Yue because her powerful Mountain Dragon King Martial Soul was practically invincible among those of the same rank.

But, strangely enough, he sensed a hint of danger from her.

And Gu Yue was only at the two-ring level!

The Douluo Continent was truly full of talented people—far stronger than the Star Luo Empire.

Long Yue sighed inwardly.

Gu Yue's brows furrowed slightly when she heard him, but she didn't say anything. In the end, she moved to stand behind Long Yue.

"All right, the teams are set. You can discuss your strategies now."

On Long Yue's team...

Long Yue looked at Dai Yun'er and said, "Yun'er, just support me the way you usually do."

Dai Yun'er obediently nodded.

Then he turned to Gu Yue. "I don't know what your abilities are, so just support me from the sidelines."

"I'll carry the team."

Long Yue wore an extremely confident smile.

Meanwhile, Tang Wulin and the other four were deep in discussion.

Wu Zhangkong stood on the platform above, taking everything in.

"Is this a team battle?"

Xie An suddenly appeared beside Wu Zhangkong and asked curiously.

Seeing Xie An arrive, Wu Zhangkong bowed in greeting.

"That's right. I want them to work better together through team battles and gain a better understanding of their own abilities."

Xie An nodded. "I trust your teaching ability. So, do you think these kids can beat Shrek Academy's team?"

Wu Zhangkong hesitated. "That young man named Long Yue is truly a monster. As for the others, Yuan'en Yehui is the only one who's any good."

"The others..."

Wu Zhangkong didn't finish, but it was clear he wasn't optimistic about the youngsters.

Xie An smiled and shook his head without saying anything.

The match began soon after.

On Long Yue's team, Long Yue took the lead, Gu Yue stood in the middle, and Dai Yun'er stayed at the rear.

Three rings—yellow, purple, purple—appeared as Long Yue charged straight toward Tang Wulin's team.

On the other team, Yuan'en Yehui stepped forward and released her Titan Giant Ape Martial Soul, intending to test her strength against the Mountain Dragon King.

"Bring it on!"

Long Yue roared as he surged toward Yuan'en Yehui.

At that moment, an ice spike suddenly appeared from the ground, trying to slow him down.

Long Yue nimbly dodged it.

Just as his momentum ebbed and he was unable to gather more strength, several strands of Blue Silver Grass suddenly sprang from beneath his feet and wrapped around his legs.

It was Tang Wulin's first Soul Skill, Blue Silver Entanglement!

As the saying went, a first surge of energy was followed by a second, then a third—but each was weaker than the last.

Long Yue had been obstructed twice before colliding with Yuan'en Yehui, whose momentum was at its peak.

"Bang!"

With a loud crash, they both staggered back two steps.

Just then, Xie Xie and Na'er attacked from opposite sides.

However, a fireball blocked Na'er. She furrowed her brows slightly as she saw a fireball hovering in Gu Yue's hand.

Xie Xie tried to continue his sneak attack from behind, only to find that Long Yue seemed to have eyes in the back of his head. Without even turning around, he blocked the attack.

"Long Yue's mental power and control over his own body are astonishingly strong."

Wu Zhangkong spoke with disbelief from the platform.

Xie An shook his head and explained, "Look at the person at the very back of their team."

Wu Zhangkong looked over. At the rear of the team, a purple Soul Ring rose beneath Dai Yun'er's feet, while her eyes gleamed brightly.

"Could this be... Twin Martial Souls?"

Wu Zhangkong asked uncertainly.

Xie An nodded. "The Spirit Eyes of Huo Yuhao from ten thousand years ago and the Zhu Family's Hell Spirit Cat Martial Soul are both concentrated in this girl."

"Gu Yue's Martial Soul is Seven Element Control."

"There's no need to say more about the Mountain Dragon King Martial Soul."

"Yuan'en Yehui also has Twin Martial Souls. That young man named Tang Wulin is already a level-four blacksmith, but to conceal his ability, he only took the level-three exam."

"Also, his bloodline holds tremendous power."

"If Xu Xiaoyan can develop her Star Wheel Martial Soul, she'll become the strongest controller."

"The only one who surprised me was the girl named Na'er. I didn't expect her to come here."

"I've brought you the most talented youngsters of the younger generation from across the continent. So, are you confident now?"

Wu Zhangkong's heart trembled. He replied in a low voice, "I understand."