Ning Tian and the other two froze, their smiles slowly stiffening.
They were supposed to fight their instructor? He had to be joking.
Wu Feng stepped forward and asked seriously, "Instructor, you're not joking, are you?"
"What would I be joking about? If you let me lose to Class One in the New Student Assessment three months from now, you'd better be ready for a beating!"
As he spoke, the Golden Dragon Spear in Yu Daoyun's hand was already thrusting toward the fastest of them, Nanmen Yun'er.
Nanmen Yun'er's expression shifted. She abruptly ducked, dodging his attack, then activated Martial Soul Possession and launched a flurry of counterattacks against Yu Daoyun.
She was an agility-attack Soul Master, the sewer of Soul Master professions, commonly known as the King of Scratches.
But Nanmen Yun'er's Martial Soul was exceptionally high-grade: the Jade Green Bird, a top-tier agility-attack Martial Soul. It was no ordinary escape-only Martial Soul like the Sharp-Tailed Swift that could hold a candle to it.
Her first strike missed, so she decisively retreated before attacking again.
Nanmen Yun'er's two Soul Rings lit up in succession. She unleashed her two attack Soul Skills, Jadeite Blade and Jade Slash, launching a flurry of attacks at Yu Daoyun.
Ning Tian didn't sit idle either. Holding the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda, she called out, "Seven Treasures turn, revealing glazed light: one for speed, three for strength."
The two enhancement Soul Skills landed on Nanmen Yun'er and Wu Feng respectively.
The former received a 30% speed boost, while the latter received a 30% increase in strength. The strength boost wasn't much use to Wu Feng, but it was better than nothing.
Without a word, Wu Feng's Soul Rings lit up one after another.
"First Soul Skill, Dragon's Fire."
Whoosh—!
The moment her Red Dragon Martial Soul possessed her, Wu Feng spewed dragon flame at Yu Daoyun. She dodged his attacks while trying to beat the instructor senseless with her fists.
As Yu Daoyun swung his Dragon Spear to disrupt her rhythm, he said, "Remember this: don't fight in turns. Don't wait for your teammates to finish using their Soul Skills before you use yours. Combat is all about catching your opponent off guard. Make them think you're going to take turns, then do the unexpected."
"Wu Feng, you'd do best to unleash two Soul Skills in a row and lock onto the weakest Soul Master on the opposing team for a precision strike."
"Nanmen Yun'er's Martial Soul is incredibly fast and has offensive power as well. It's the finest kind of agility-attack Martial Soul, with formidable killing power. Never underestimate yourself."
"Agility-attack is a system that Soul Masters have overlooked. Its real weakness is that it's fragile and can get into trouble when targeted by a power-attack Soul Master. But if you're fast enough, even power-attack Soul Masters will fear you."
"What if people think you only give them scratches, but you scratch fast and hard? Then you've got an absolutely overwhelming fighting style."
"Lastly, Ning Tian. There's not much to say. Take medicinal baths to strengthen your body and avoid getting caught at close range and taken out by a string of Soul Skills."
After the fight and that whole speech, Wu Feng, Nanmen Yun'er, and Ning Tian all gained a great deal.
So combat didn't have to be turn-based. It was best to do the unexpected.
Nanmen Yun'er was even more surprised by her senior's advice.
Agility-attack Soul Masters weren't limited to scratching their opponents. They could scratch fast and hard, with tremendous offensive power.
Wasn't that exactly the path she'd been searching for?
After more than a hundred exchanges, Ning Tian and the others had all taken a beating. Each had bruises here and there on her face and body, and they hadn't been able to fight back at all.
Even so, they'd all benefited greatly from the special training.
Starting the next day, their training improved markedly. Wu Feng and Nanmen Yun'er worked together more smoothly, and the two stopped sticking to conventional turn-based combat. Gradually, they gained a wealth of fighting experience from Yu Daoyun.
So agility-attack Soul Masters could scratch their opponents—but faster and harder.
All three benefited greatly.
After that came medicinal baths and cultivation to increase their Soul Power.
After training that day, Yu Daoyun took a long drink of fruit juice and said, "Good. In a few more days, we can start a new round of training. You'd better stick with it, all of you. Don't embarrass me. I'm going to rub that old woman's face in it."
"The New Student Assessment champion can only be from Class Nine. Understood?"
Wu Feng immediately stood up and shouted, "We'll get it done!"
Ning Tian and Nanmen Yun'er voiced their agreement as well.
Just then, students from Freshman Class Five happened to walk by. The blond man at the front casually glanced at Wu Feng, then broke into a mocking smile.
The cat-eared girl beside him also snickered.
What kind of shabby Freshman Class Nine thought it could win the championship? Even with an Inner Court student training them, the gap in Soul Power Level was insurmountable.
A pair of second-ring Soul Grandmasters thought they could win the championship? They were crazy.
These two were the strongest duo in the freshman grade: Dai Huabin and Zhu Lu. Their Martial Souls were the Evil-Eyed White Tiger and Hell Spirit Cat respectively.
Wu Feng frowned, displeased. "What, looking down on us?"
Dai Huabin sneered. "No. People should have dreams, after all. What if they come true? Don't you agree, Soul Grandmaster?"
"You've gone too far!"
Wu Feng had a hair-trigger temper. She understood what he meant and immediately cursed Dai Huabin out.
Even Ning Tian couldn't stand it. She stepped forward and angrily rebuked Dai Huabin.
Dai Huabin carried on regardless, mocking Ning Tian's team for overestimating themselves and claiming he'd crush them in the New Student Assessment.
Just then, Yu Daoyun grabbed Dai Huabin by the collar and said coldly, "If you've got nothing to do, go train. Why do you spend all day wandering around like a street thug?"
Dai Huabin's face darkened. He tried to break free.
But Yu Daoyun's hand was like stone. Once he had Dai Huabin in his grasp, there was no getting loose.
Dai Huabin snapped, "What's that supposed to mean? Are you trying to beat up a student? Don't forget, you're an instructor now. I only mocked them a little, and you're already hitting me? I'm reporting you to the dean!"
The Second Young Master White Tiger, pampered at home, had never been treated like this. He was furious.
Yu Daoyun chuckled. "What do you think the dean can do about it? Even if the Heavenly King Laozi showed up, you'd still get a beating. And I'm not just talking about you, Dai Huabin. Even if your older brother came here today, I'd beat him just the same."
As he spoke, he raised his fist and punched Dai Huabin, leaving him stunned.
Dai Huabin froze, his Soul Power erupting in an instant.
But Yu Daoyun still had him in a firm grip. He couldn't break free at all.
A Soul Elder in the thirties was like a little kid in front of Yu Daoyun.
Zhu Lu hurriedly said, "Senior, Huabin just has a foul mouth sometimes. Please don't take it to heart. Let him go."
"Zhu Lu, don't beg him. I'm reporting him to the Martial Soul Department!" Dai Huabin insisted stubbornly.
Yu Daoyun chuckled and flung him into the garden. "Go report me to Dean Yan. See what the dean says. Anyone who doesn't report me is a coward."
"I won't report you, and I'll be your son!" Dai Huabin threw out a threat, then stormed toward the Martial Soul Department office.
Zhu Lu immediately followed, afraid Dai Huabin would get himself into trouble.
Picking a fight with an Inner Court student was a very serious matter.
Back where they stood, Ning Tian and the others exchanged anxious looks, worried their instructor would be punished.
Ning Tian said, "Instructor, Dai Huabin is from the White Tiger Duke's Mansion. Maybe we should let this go to avoid trouble. His older brother is an Inner Court student, too."
Wu Feng lifted her chin. "Tian Jie, you're just too nice. What's the White Tiger Duke's Mansion? The academy won't just take his word for it."
Ning Tian sighed and said nothing.
Wu Feng was great in every way except that she had no brains.
At that, Yu Daoyun simply replied, "Don't worry about me. Dai Huabin's brother wouldn't dare fart in front of me. The White Tiger Duke's Mansion is nothing to fear."
"After dinner, we'll continue training and prepare for the New Student Assessment!"
Ning Tian and the others answered in unison, "Yes!"
Before you continue