As Soul Power surged, the Light Dragon Blade in Xie Xie's left hand burst into view, while the Shadow Dragon Dagger in his right coalesced from the shadows.
Both of Xie Xie's Light Shadow Dragon Daggers Martial Souls appeared at once, and his speed suddenly skyrocketed. His whole body transformed into a streak of light and shadow, lunging straight at Gu Yue.
But Gu Yue seemed not to have reacted. She simply stood there, staring blankly.
The Light Dragon Blade swept sideways, and the Hundred-Year Soul Ring beneath Xie Xie's feet lit up.
A golden blade aura shot through the air with a dragon's roar, aimed straight at Gu Yue's shoulder.
Just as the blade aura was about to hit, Xie Xie's figure suddenly blurred. He appeared like a ghost at Gu Yue's side, his Shadow Dragon Dagger thrusting toward a vital spot.
Just as everyone thought Gu Yue was done for, she finally moved.
A gust of wind surged beneath Gu Yue's feet. A wind blade struck the blade aura with pinpoint accuracy, blowing it off course and sending it into empty space. At the same time, the earth rose up, and a wall of soil appeared at her side.
Xie Xie's thrust with the Shadow Dragon Dagger slammed squarely into the earthen wall, too.
Then Xie Xie saw the blue light beside Gu Yue suddenly turn red. A fireball the size of a fist exploded right in front of him.
He immediately let go of the Shadow Dragon Dagger embedded in the wall, planted both feet against the earthen wall, and kicked off. As he soared into the air, he twisted his waist and spun sideways.
The tiny fireballs that split off from the explosion flew past so close they nearly brushed his face, scorching several strands of his hair.
The instant his toes touched the ground, Xie Xie retreated at high speed to put some distance between them.
Seeing that Xie Xie was unharmed, a flicker of surprise crossed Gu Yue's eyes.
Wu Zhangkong, watching from the sidelines, looked thoughtful.
Just the Wind, Fire, and Ice Element Control Gu Yue had displayed was enough to make Wu Zhangkong want to take her on as a disciple.
And Gu Yue finally began to take the fight seriously.
The elements around her suddenly surged. Wind blades rained down, fireballs came one after another, earth spikes burst up, and Ice Spikes shot out, surrounding him from all sides.
The overwhelming elemental attacks instantly sealed off every avenue of escape for Xie Xie.
The howling gale tore at the air, fireballs crashed down with waves of scorching heat, sharp earth spikes kept rising from the ground, and Ice Spikes shot in from every direction, carrying a bone-piercing chill.
Xie Xie's face scrunched up. Was this really necessary?
With no time to think, the golden light of the Light Dragon Blade in his hand flared.
He hacked apart the oncoming wind blades, fireballs, and Ice Spikes while barely dodging the sudden earth spikes. His terrifying speed left a string of afterimages behind him.
Xie Xie was starting to fall apart.
His arms were practically smoking from swinging so hard, and his legs were about to give out from running. How was Gu Yue's Soul Power like a bottomless pit? She was hurling elemental attacks at him as if they cost no Soul Power at all!!
In the midst of the chaos, Xie Xie stole another glance at Gu Yue.
Well, her little face was pale.
The fight had dragged on for nearly a minute. Gu Yue had clearly used up a lot of energy, and the fluctuations in her Soul Power were growing unsteady. Her fierce elemental assault suddenly faltered.
Xie Xie's eyes sharpened. He seized that fleeting opening at once.
Light and shadow flashed around him, and he teleported behind Gu Yue again.
The golden light of the Light Dragon Blade flared once more. It came slashing down with a sharp whistle, while the Shadow Dragon Dagger was poised at her side, ready to block every possible escape route.
He had poured nearly all his explosive power into this strike.
The Light Dragon Blade came crashing down with a gust of wind, but Gu Yue in front of him still made no move.
Xie Xie's heart tightened.
Had she used up all her Soul Power just now? Could she not defend herself anymore?
Shit, if I bring this blade down, won't I split her in half?
As Xie Xie hesitated, Gu Yue suddenly turned around. A sly curve lifted the corner of her mouth as she raised her hand and fired a fireball at him from point-blank range.
Xie Xie was blasted so hard his mind went blank, and his hair turned into a frizzy explosion.
Then he suddenly felt the ground give way beneath his feet, and his whole body sank straight into the earth.
There he was, sporting a frizzy head of hair, the corner of his mouth split open as a wisp of black smoke slowly drifted out. He looked just like a radish planted in the ground.
Gu Yue patted her hands together in satisfaction and even flashed a peace sign.
Wu Zhangkong nodded. "All right, the match is over. Congratulations to Gu Yue on becoming a member of First Grade Class Five."
"I'm not convinced... Mmph!"
Xie Xie had barely started struggling and shouting when a handful of dirt was stuffed straight into his mouth.
Gu Yue crouched down in front of Xie Xie with a smile and blinked. Her voice was full of mischief. "Not convinced? Then swallow it."
Xie Xie struggled and mumbled, eyes wide as saucers. But he couldn't move, so all he could do was glare furiously at Gu Yue.
The students around them had long since been unable to hold back their laughter. They covered their mouths, shoulders shaking.
Even Wu Zhangkong, who was usually so stern, paused slightly. The faintest hint of a smile flickered in her eyes.
Xie Xie trembled with rage and desperately wriggled, trying to burrow out of the dirt. But the more he struggled, the deeper he sank. After flailing around for ages, all he managed to do was spit the dirt out of his mouth:
"Ptooey, ptooey, ptooey—!"
Finally able to breathe again, Xie Xie gulped in air and glared at Gu Yue, shouting furiously, "You cheated! I'm not—"
Before he could finish, a faint yellow light appeared at Gu Yue's fingertips.
"I'm—there's no way I'm not convinced!"
"I'm thoroughly convinced. Completely, utterly convinced!" Xie Xie changed his tune as quickly as turning a page, giving Gu Yue a fawning look. "Lady Gu Yue, you're brilliant beyond compare, unmatched beneath the heavens! So, could you please get your humble servant out of the ground first?"
Gu Yue nodded with satisfaction. She waved her right hand and gave a soft snort. "Granted!"
Xie Xie immediately felt the dirt around him loosen. He scrambled and rolled his way out of the ground.
He brushed the dirt off his clothes. With his hair all frizzed up, he looked absolutely miserable.
Seeing that Gu Yue was completely off guard, Xie Xie rolled his eyes. A wicked grin spread across his face. He scooped up a handful of dirt and flung it straight at Gu Yue, landing a perfect hit on her head.
Before Gu Yue could retaliate, he turned and bolted. As he ran, he looked back to make faces at her, calling out with a smug grin:
"Nyah, nyah, nyah! Come hit me, then! Come hit me!"
Gu Yue: "..."
She silently wiped the dirt from her face. The veins on her forehead throbbed, flames blazed around her, and her high ponytail floated into the air.
"Very. Well." Gu Yue gritted her teeth.
She raised her hand and summoned the Wind and Fire elements. Several wind blades and fireballs shot straight after Xie Xie.
"Holy crap!"
Xie Xie glanced back and instantly sped up.
"You've got some nerve running away!"
"I don't have any nerve, so I'm running!"
Watching the two of them make a ruckus, Wu Zhangkong shook her head and quietly picked up the recommendation letter Gu Yue had dropped on the ground.
"Elemental Envoy?"
Wu Zhangkong gave the letter a cursory glance, then thoughtfully headed toward the Academic Affairs Office.
All the classes were in session at the moment, so the corridors in the teaching building were deserted.
Wu Zhangkong stopped outside the office, paused to think, then knocked on the door.
Knock, knock—
"Come in!" Long Hengxu's voice called out.
Wu Zhangkong pushed open the door and entered.
Long Hengxu was still fuming. He had already imagined countless ways to deal with Wu Zhangkong.
"That damn Wu Zhangkong, she's infuriating!"
"Arrogant, conceited, and utterly uncultured! That Xie Xie she teaches is exactly the same. Sooner or later, I'll make her bow her head and apologize to me!!"
As soon as he finished speaking, he saw Wu Zhangkong herself.
He froze for a moment, then said coldly, "Well, well, if it isn't Teacher Wu. What brings you to my humble office?"
Wu Zhangkong walked up to Long Hengxu's desk and bowed slightly.
"I'm sorry, Director Long. I came to apologize to you."
Long Hengxu: ...Had his wish actually come true?
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