Special Training (Part 2)

Xie Xie felt an irresistible, overwhelming force recoil from the tip of his dagger. His web between thumb and forefinger throbbed with pain, and his twin blades nearly flew from his grasp.

A chill ran through him, yet his offensive momentum did not falter in the slightest.

His figure shifted abruptly, the Light Dragon Blade and Shadow Dragon Dagger switching seamlessly in his hands.

At times he attacked with the intensity of a gale, at others he drifted like a phantom, seeking a single flaw in that impenetrable defense.

Seeing this, a flicker of approval crossed Wu Zhangkong's eyes.

However, her stance remained as steady as a mountain, her wooden sword acting like an invisible barrier; no matter how Xie Xie's tactics shifted, they were blocked firmly before her.

"Xie Xie, watch out! I'm throwing the hammer!"

Whoosh!

A low, resonant sound of air being torn apart rang out as the Thousand-Refined Heavy Silver Hammer was hurled forward.

Yet, Xie Xie and Wu Zhangkong, locked in combat, did not even glance in that direction.

The Thousand-Refined Heavy Silver Hammer flew straight past them and landed on the ground with a loud clatter.

Tang Wulin looked awkward; he had missed.

Suddenly, a gust of wind swept in from Xie Xie's side, causing Wu Zhangkong's strike to hit empty air.

Xie Xie finally found a moment to look back and curse: "Can you not shout out your moves? It's one thing to be heard, but can't you aim—holy crap!"

Mid-sentence, Xie Xie suddenly ducked and covered his head.

A pitch-black, gleaming hammer streaked past the spot where his head had been.

Xie Xie bristled: "Stop sticking your butt out to throw the hammer! Are you saving your soul skills for the New Year? Where is your mother's Entanglement?!"

Wu Zhangkong felt a touch of helplessness.

Suddenly, she felt the ground beneath her soften, and she began to sink into the earth.

Gu Yue had struck again, sending several Ice Spike projectiles flying toward the ground beneath Wu Zhangkong's feet.

Wu Zhangkong smiled faintly, using her soul power to hover in mid-air while flicking her wrist. Her wooden sword tapped the Ice Spike projectiles lightly, shattering them with ease.

The century-old soul ring beneath Gu Yue's feet lit up again, and a barrage of fireballs shot toward Wu Zhangkong.

Xie Xie, having just finished berating Tang Wulin, suddenly felt himself being hoisted into the air, followed by Wu Zhangkong's voice from above.

"Xie Xie, help your teacher block this."

"...Eh?"

By the time he realized the situation, Gu Yue's fireballs were already hurtling toward his face.

"Wait! I refuse!!"

It was too late for Gu Yue to retract her fireballs; they exploded directly against Xie Xie, kicking up a cloud of dust.

After using him, Wu Zhangkong casually tossed Xie Xie toward Gu Yue.

As the dust barely began to settle, before Gu Yue could even see what was happening, a charred, afro-haired figure flew out of the debris and slammed into her.

"Xie, Xie Xie?!"

"Aaaaaah—"

With a thud, Xie Xie crashed squarely into Gu Yue, and the two tumbled into a heap.

"Cough, cough... Xie Xie, are you trying to kill me?"

Gu Yue shoved the Black Charcoal Head off her body. Her school uniform was covered in soot, and a vein throbbed on her temple.

"You have the nerve to blame me!"

Xie Xie climbed up, his hair a frizzy mess and his body still trailing wisps of smoke from the scorch marks: "I was used as a shield, and you still threw fireballs at my face!"

"You were the one who lunged at me!" Gu Yue gritted her teeth in fury.

"Can you two stop arguing already?!"

Watching Wu Zhangkong charge toward him with glowing red eyes and a wooden sword in hand, Tang Wulin was on the verge of tears.

The two finally looked toward Tang Wulin.

Seeing Wu Zhangkong heading straight for him, Gu Yue and Xie Xie exchanged a glance, and in that moment, they tacitly understood what the other was thinking.

A green light flashed over Xie Xie, and he vanished in a blur of movement.

Green light swirled around Gu Yue's left hand while flames surged in her right, and another barrage of fireballs followed Xie Xie's path.

However, Wu Zhangkong's attack was faster; her wooden sword had already pierced toward Tang Wulin's chest.

Tang Wulin did not hesitate for a second, entering an ethereal state as two gray lights ignited in his hands.

He held his right hammer against his chest to block the wooden sword, while his left hammer swung out, smashing toward Wu Zhangkong.

Clang!

The wooden sword struck the gray right hammer, producing a sound like clashing metal.

Tang Wulin felt a massive force transfer through the weapon, causing the Thousand-Refined Heavy Silver Hammer to slam into his own chest, knocking him backward.

It seemed as if he had sensed something, for his left hand suddenly loosened its grip mid-swing.

The Thousand-Refined Heavy Silver Hammer flew from his hand, hurtling straight toward Wu Zhangkong.

Wu Zhangkong flicked her wooden sword with casual ease, preparing to sweep it horizontally.

However, just as the wooden sword was about to strike the Thousand-Refined Heavy Silver Hammer, a strand of Blue Silver Grass suddenly snagged the hammer's handle, yanking it back with a violent jerk.

Wu Zhangkong was stunned for a moment, and suddenly, a blinding glare exploded before her eyes.

She closed her eyes, and the wooden sword in her hand swept toward the top of her head without a hint of panic.

The fireballs that had intended to ambush Wu Zhangkong from above shattered one after another due to this sweep.

Yet, the exploding fireballs did not fully dissipate; instead, amidst the bursting radiance, a golden dagger shot through the air like a meteor, aiming straight for Wu Zhangkong's face.

Xie Xie's figure suddenly appeared along the trajectory of the Light Dragon Blade.

He gripped the hilt with both hands, pouring his entire soul power into it without reservation, causing the Light Dragon Blade to erupt with a blinding golden glow.

The Light Dragon Blade resembled a miniature sun, carrying a shrill whistle that tore through the air as it slashed down toward the top of Wu Zhangkong's head once more with the force of a thunderbolt.

"Well done!"

A faint smile curled the corners of Wu Zhangkong's lips. Without dodging or evading, she met the golden blade with her wooden sword, striking the spine of the Light Dragon Blade with pinpoint precision.

"Clang—"

A deafening, crisp sound rang out, and the shockwaves of the metal-on-metal clash rippled across the Martial Arts Arena.

Xie Xie felt a massive force surge from the blade, causing his web between thumb and forefinger to ache intensely. He was sent flying backward like a kite with a broken string, tumbling several times in the air before barely managing to land.

No sooner had he steadied himself than he saw Wu Zhangkong's wooden sword strike out like a viper, aiming straight for his throat.

Xie Xie's pupils constricted. At the critical moment, the Shadow Dragon Dagger traced an afterimage before him, barely parrying the lethal blow.

"Not bad, you finally look like you're getting somewhere."

Wu Zhangkong's voice remained cold, yet it carried a trace of imperceptible satisfaction. "But it's still not enough."

However, Xie Xie wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth unhurriedly and laughed:

"Is that so?"

The familiar "whooshing" sound rang in her ears once more, and Tang Wulin's Thousand-Refined Heavy Silver Hammer suddenly appeared before her eyes.

Wu Zhangkong's gaze instantly sharpened, and her wooden sword swept out as before.

Yet this time, she had miscalculated.

As the hammer and sword collided, Wu Zhangkong felt a formidable force surge from the wooden sword, and she realized her weapon could no longer withstand the pressure.

Before she could inject any more soul power, two successive waves of force slammed into the wooden sword.

"Snap!"

The wooden sword shattered, and the Thousand-Refined Heavy Silver Hammer smashed toward her head with unstoppable momentum.

Wu Zhangkong's figure flickered, narrowly dodging the Thousand-Refined Heavy Silver Hammer.

At last, the trio of Xie Xie had executed a small coordinated attack; this first instance of teamwork had managed to catch Wu Zhangkong off guard.