The Final Battle Begins and Wang Billy

Eastsea Academy.

This typhoon that struck Eastsea City came very suddenly and had an enormous impact on the entire city. Shops were unable to open, schools were unable to hold classes, and traffic was paralyzed for a time. Every department of the Administration Bureau was kept endlessly busy.

The typhoon lasted an entire week. At its peak, it could even uproot great trees, and quite a few buildings were damaged as well.

Fortunately, it had all passed.

After the typhoon, the air in Eastsea City seemed exceptionally fresh, carrying a faint moisture. Sunlight spilled across the land, and the glow of rainbows could occasionally be seen on the horizon. The blue sky stretched cloudless for miles.

When Nan Fusheng stepped into the classroom, he saw Xie Xie fidgeting restlessly in his seat. The moment Xie Xie saw Nan Fusheng, his eyes lit up. "Fusheng, have you seen Wulin?"

"Wulin? No. What happened?" Although Nan Fusheng had a rough idea of Tang Wulin's situation, he decided to play dumb. Tang Wulin would most likely make it back in time anyway.

Even without Tang Wulin, three against three or four against four would not make much difference to him.

"I don't know what's going on with that guy. He still hasn't replied to any messages. His Communicator seems to be out of power, so I can't reach him." Xie Xie spoke anxiously.

"Do you know where his workshop is? Should we go look for him at noon?" Gu Yue asked from the side, her brows tightly furrowed and worry evident in her eyes.

Xie Xie gave a bitter smile. "I've never had any interest in Forging, so how would I know where his workshop is? He even contacted me specially that day to tell me he'd be staying at the workshop the whole time. If he was there, nothing should have happened to him! Why haven't we heard anything from him yet? Could he have lost track of time?"

Gu Yue's expression darkened. "Do you know anything? We'll go to the Blacksmith's Association at noon. They might have his workshop's location on file."

For once, Xie Xie did not argue with Gu Yue. He nodded. "That's a good idea. We'll go later."

Even when school let out at noon, Tang Wulin still had not appeared. Xie Xie, Nan Fusheng, and Gu Yue went to ask Wu Zhangkong for leave, then rushed out of the academy and headed straight for the Blacksmith's Association.

However, half an hour later, when they came out of the Blacksmith's Association, all three wore gloomy expressions.

The Blacksmith's Association's reply was simple: information on any forging workshop registered with the Association was confidential and could not be disclosed. They would need special official authorization. Moreover, Tang Wulin's records had a higher level of confidentiality than those of ordinary Blacksmiths.

"What do we do now? Should we ask Teacher Wu to apply for official authorization, then come back and ask where he lives?" Gu Yue asked Xie Xie.

Xie Xie smiled bitterly. "It'll still be too late! Official authorization isn't something that can be processed so easily. It always takes time. It definitely won't be done today, so for tonight's match, it looks like only the three of us can compete. Wulin isn't an unreliable person. He must have run into something, or he wouldn't have skipped school."

Nan Fusheng's brows were also tightly drawn. "Let's go back first. No matter what, we should ask Teacher Wu to apply for official authorization. How could the match be more important than Wulin's safety?"

"Mm."

"Official authorization?" Wu Zhangkong looked at the three students before him, and his already icy face immediately darkened further.

Tang Wulin still had not come to class, and they had failed to find him when they went looking.

"Alright, go back to class first. I understand." Wu Zhangkong spoke coldly.

"Teacher, will it just be the three of us competing tonight?" Xie Xie asked.

Wu Zhangkong glanced at him. "Just the three of you."

"Yes."

The afternoon classes passed quickly. Perhaps because the Primary Division students had been stifled by the week-long typhoon for too long, as soon as school ended, a huge crowd of students gathered on the field. Even teachers were among them, all waiting to watch Grade 1's final Class Promotion Tournament match.

"Have you heard? This year's Class Promotion Tournament is so bizarre! Grade 1 Class 5, a bottom-ranked class, has actually charged ahead all the way and won three matches in a row. Maybe this dark horse will keep winning to the very end."

"Stop dreaming. Do you know how terrifying Freshman Class One is this year? They weren't called the strongest Freshman Class in history for nothing. Three of their students are already two-ring Soul Grandmasters, and more importantly, all their Martial Souls are extremely powerful. The four competitors from Grade 1 Class 5 are only one-ring Soul Masters. That's a qualitative difference—they're down a Soul Skill and behind in Soul Power too. They don't stand a chance. What I want to see is how far Freshman Class One can get in the later Class Promotion Tournament matches. I heard every class in Grade 2 is feeling immense pressure. Heh heh."

The students discussed the match eagerly, while the teachers who had arrived around the competition grounds also gathered together.

Surrounded by the students of Grade 1 Class 5, Wu Zhangkong walked at the front as they headed toward the Competition Stage. Behind him were Nan Fusheng, Xie Xie, and Gu Yue.

Just as Wu Zhangkong led the Grade 1 Class 5 students to the edge of the grounds, a commotion arose on the other side as well.

The students consciously made way, opening a passage.

Walking proudly at the front was a female teacher who looked around twenty-seven or twenty-eight. She resembled Ye Yingrong by at least sixty percent, though she was even more beautiful. However, there was a haughty air between her brows that Ye Yingrong did not possess.

Following behind her were the Grade 1 Class 1 students, hailed as the strongest Freshman Class in years.

The two sides gathered on opposite sides of the Competition Stage, waiting for the Class Promotion Tournament to begin.

The dean of studies, Long Hengxu, had already stepped onto the Competition Stage. He first nodded to the homeroom teachers of both classes, then said gravely, "The Class Promotion Tournament was delayed due to the typhoon. Today is the fourth Class Promotion Tournament match, with Grade 1 Class 5 facing Grade 1 Class 1. Teacher Wu, how many competitors will Grade 1 Class 5 be fielding today?"

"Our class will field..." Wu Zhangkong was just about to say three when a voice suddenly came from behind Grade 1 Class 5.

"Teacher Wu, wait."

Upon hearing that familiar voice, Xie Xie and Gu Yue, who stood behind Wu Zhangkong, could not help but reveal delighted expressions.

Pushing through the crowd, Tang Wulin ran to the front, looking travel-worn and exhausted.

His current appearance was truly hard to praise. His hair was a mess, his face somewhat pale, and even his aura looked extremely unstable.

"Where the hell did you run off to? Why are you only getting here now?" Xie Xie demanded irritably.

Tang Wulin gave a bitter smile. "It's a long story. Let's compete first. Teacher Wu, I can fight."

Wu Zhangkong looked at him expressionlessly and nodded before saying to Long Hengxu, "Our class will field four."

"Grade 1 Class 1, please field four competitors as well," Long Hengxu said.

Ye Yingluo raised her head. "Alright."

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

What surprised Nan Fusheng and the other three was that Grade 1 Class 1 used the same formation as them, also arranged in a triangular formation.

"My name is Zhang Yangzi." The calm youth standing at the center front spoke evenly.

"Wei Xiaofeng. We already know each other." The thin youth standing on the left extended his right hand. It seemed that he had clashed with Xie Xie and the others before. He raised a thumbs-up, then slowly rotated his wrist until his thumb pointed down in a provocative gesture.

"You!" Xie Xie flew into a rage and impulsively tried to charge forward, only for Tang Wulin to grab his shoulder and pull him back.

Xie Xie looked at him in surprise. This guy seemed to have gotten even stronger!

"Wang Jinxi." The gaunt student standing on the right spoke indifferently.

"Wang Billy." The tall, dark-skinned youth protected behind the other three spoke brightly. He even flashed Nan Fusheng and the others a mouthful of white teeth.

Tang Wulin said, "Grade 1 Class 5, Tang Wulin."

"Gu Yue."

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

"Nan Fusheng." Nan Fusheng stared curiously at Wang Billy, who was being protected by the Grade 1 Class 1 students. With that appearance, anyone would believe he was an upperclassman! And despite being so tall and powerfully built, he was not a Power Attack-type Soul Master.

Seeing that the air between both sides was already thick with gunpowder before the match had even started, Long Hengxu could not help frowning. "Let me emphasize this: this is an academy match. During the match, stop when appropriate and only determine victory or defeat. Do not deliberately injure your opponents, or the academy will impose additional punishment."

"Yes!" All eight answered in unison.

"Good. Prepare for the match. Both sides, fall back." Under Long Hengxu's supervision, both sides retreated, putting a certain distance between themselves.