Making an Example to Warn the Rest

Wu Zhangkong said blandly, "All right, that's enough about Mecha knowledge for today. There are only two key points you need to remember.

First, truly powerful Mechas are known as Battle Armor. The weapons truly powerful Soul Masters rely on all exist in the form of Battle Armor.

Second, within three years, you need to choose a second profession related to Mechas for yourselves."

It was easy to remember, and it was all what Nan Fusheng and the others were most interested in. This class had been very simple.

At that moment, Tang Wulin suddenly said, "Teacher Wu, when can you let us see real Battle Armor?" He had been listening attentively the entire time, only voicing the question he most wanted answered now.

Wu Zhangkong glanced at him. "Once you complete the first stage of practical combat training, you may see Battle Armor. Whoever finishes first gets to see it first. As you are now, you are not qualified."

Practical combat training? Combat practice between Soul Masters?

Before the students could ask, Wu Zhangkong continued, "The rest of today's lesson will be practical combat training. Right here. Nan Fusheng, Tang Wulin, you two help them push the desks to the sides and clear out the center of the classroom."

Here? Wouldn't using a Soul Master's abilities make it easy to damage the room?

The same doubt arose in the hearts of all six students, yet they still did as Wu Zhangkong instructed.

"Tang Wulin, come before me." Wu Zhangkong nodded at Tang Wulin.

"Yes." Tang Wulin quickly stepped forward.

"What did you think of yesterday's match?" Wu Zhangkong asked coldly.

After pondering for a moment, Tang Wulin said, "We were all too eager for quick results. We're classmates, after all, so we shouldn't have hurt each other. We should have stopped at the right point."

Wu Zhangkong waved a hand. "That isn't what I'm asking. I'm asking about how the battle felt. How do you think you performed during the match?"

Tang Wulin said, "It was a little chaotic. It was the first time we'd seen each other's abilities, so we got a little flustered while responding, and our coordination wasn't good enough. I mean the four of us. They coordinated during the fight, but they didn't seem particularly in sync either."

Wu Zhangkong said icily, "Chaotic? It was far more than chaotic. It was an absolute mess."

Aside from Nan Fusheng, the other five were all stunned. As the cream of the crop among the first-year students and members of the specially approved Zero Class, everyone other than Tang Wulin had great confidence in their own abilities. How could their performance be called chaotic?

Wu Zhangkong stared into Tang Wulin's eyes. "To be honest, I'm very disappointed. You four have studied under me for three months. Your coordination with one another could barely be considered proficient.

Yet from the start of the match, you abandoned your own advantages. Xie Xie deserved to have his arm broken."

Xie Xie's expression stiffened. He had not expected such an evaluation from his teacher.

Wu Zhangkong then unleashed a torrent of criticism at the six of them, pointing out every flaw they had displayed in the Class Promotion Tournament and tearing them down until they were worthless. Yet they had no way to refute him.

Wu Zhangkong's few criticisms struck straight at the heart of the matter.

Finally, Wu Zhangkong said coldly, "The six of you share one common problem. It is also the problem that our upcoming Combat Practice Class will address.

That is, you severely lack practical combat experience and techniques. I am not referring to your combat experience when using Martial Souls and Soul Skills.

You are lacking in that area as well, but not too severely. What you lack even more is basic combat ability when you are not using your Martial Souls."

Basic combat ability? Did Soul Masters need such things? Didn't Soul Masters only need to release Soul Skills to achieve their combat goals?

"Do you think the basic combat ability I mentioned is meaningless?"

Gu Yue said, "Yes, Teacher Wu. My ability is Element Control. During battle, I only need to continuously suppress my opponents through the elements.

Whether facing a single enemy or a group, as long as the elements I control are powerful enough, I can end the battle.

Basic combat ability doesn't seem to hold any meaning for me. What I should be doing is improving my Soul Power and spiritual power."

Wu Zhangkong nodded.

"If that is what you believe, then let us conduct a test. Gu Yue, come out as well.

You and Tang Wulin will attack me together. I will not use any Soul Skills, and I will suppress my Soul Power to the same level as yours, around rank thirteen. Let us see whether you can defeat me. Hmm, you may summon your Martial Souls."

As he spoke, Wu Zhangkong turned and picked up a teaching pointer from the lectern. Then he returned to the center of the room.

Gu Yue had already stepped forward and come to Tang Wulin's side. Same level, and he would not use Soul Skills? He would not even use his Martial Soul? He was looking down on them too much, wasn't he?

After three months of training, Gu Yue and Tang Wulin had developed a certain degree of understanding. Working together, one specialized in close-quarters combat while the other attacked from range.

Unfortunately, no matter how well they understood each other, they could not stir up any waves against Wu Zhangkong. Instead, Wu Zhangkong gave them a thorough lesson with exquisite swordsmanship and the Tang Sect's ultimate techniques. When the battle ended, the other four looked at one another.

This...

He was so strong.

The classroom instantly fell silent. Wu Zhangkong reappeared before Tang Wulin, but his gaze was fixed on the golden scales gradually fading from Tang Wulin's right arm, a thoughtful look appearing in his eyes.

"Teacher, were those all basic techniques you used just now?" Xie Xie's eyes were wide as he stared at Wu Zhangkong.

Wu Zhangkong nodded. "Do you still think basic techniques are useless? Basic techniques are the foundation of everything.

Martial Souls and Soul Skills can certainly make Soul Masters powerful, but how you use them is what determines just how powerful you can become.

Basic techniques are the means of applying them. The same applies to Battle Armor and ordinary Mechas. Therefore, starting today, basic practical combat technique training will be one of your most important subjects for a long time to come."

Of course, Wu Zhangkong's greater purpose was to make an example of them and crush the arrogance of Zhang Yangzi and Wang Jinxi, who were watching from the side. The two had been genius-level figures in their original class, with virtually no opponents.

If he did not put them in their place first, they might become troublemakers in later training.

As for why he chose Tang Wulin? Naturally, it was because Tang Wulin had beaten Zhang Yangzi and Wang Jinxi the hardest during the Class Promotion Tournament, leaving both of them with a bit of psychological trauma.

Gu Yue had merely been included because she had stepped forward to refute his view. To better lead Zero Class in the future and make Gu Yue recognize her own shortcomings, Wu Zhangkong had her join in as well.

After all, during the previous Class Promotion Tournament, Gu Yue had also forced Zhang Yangzi and Wang Jinxi to use their Martial Soul Fusion Skill through her own strength alone. Defeating the two together would also make the others more convinced by his words.

However, he had not chosen Nan Fusheng for a simple reason. If another near-disfigurement incident like last time happened, it would not help him establish his "authority as a teacher." What he wanted was an absolute, crushing victory.

Besides, because Nan Fusheng had held back earlier, Zhang Yangzi and Wang Jinxi did not have a deep impression of him.

Actually, Wu Zhangkong had privately spoken with Nan Fusheng about the matter while under the Worm of Time's influence, asking whether something had gone wrong. But the other boy seemed to have explained himself afterward, and Wu Zhangkong had accepted that explanation.

But what had Nan Fusheng explained? Why could he not remember it now? Never mind. Since there was no problem, there was no need to ask again. That would damage his authority as a teacher.

And the result was very successful. Zhang Yangzi and Wang Jinxi were now sitting upright, listening carefully to every word Wu Zhangkong said.