Did He Come Here to Pick a Fight?

"Teacher Wu, do we need to gather any information beforehand?" Tang Wulin asked.

"Do we really need information for this?" Xie Xie draped an arm over Tang Wulin's shoulder. "We just steamroll everyone!"

Wu Zhangkong didn't contradict him, which counted as approval.

"The Class Promotion Tournament is about to begin. There'll be one match every day until all the matches are over. I'm setting you a goal: fight your way up to Grade Four." Wu Zhangkong's tone remained as flat as ever.

Normally, Grade Three was where students began to reach the two-ring level, while most students in Grade Four had two rings.

No wonder the academy said that First Grade Class One this year was its strongest class. Too bad they'd run into three dragons—and their bloodline ranks weren't low, either.

"I mean Grade Four Class One."

Wu Zhangkong added, "Beat Grade Four Class One, and you can have all the rewards. Otherwise, they'll all be confiscated and put toward the class fund."

Xie Xie planted his hands on his hips. "So what? The class fund still gets spent on us."

Wu Zhangkong glanced at Xie Xie, expressionless.

"Enough. Training starts now."

"Tang Wulin, you'll spar with Gu Yue. As for Xie Xie..."

She flicked her wrist, and the Heavenly Frost Sword slid from its sheath. Its icy chill struck straight at Xie Xie's crown. "You'll spar with me alone."

Gu Yue couldn't help covering her mouth as she giggled.

Xie Xie instinctively tried to hide behind Tang Wulin, but Tang Wulin had already moved to Gu Yue's side and was looking at him with sympathy.

"When has Teacher Wu ever changed her mind? Good luck, young man!"

As Wu Zhangkong advanced step by step, Xie Xie grew more and more terrified.

Nearly two months of solo training had almost given him PTSD! The worst part was, Wu Zhangkong never held back, and the Heavenly Frost Sword came with a freezing buff!!

"No, please, Teacher Wu! Yamete!"

"Argh! Whoa—ah!"

Another day of training began.

The Class Promotion Tournament was the Eastsea Academy's annual grand event.

It was the only tournament that every grade in the academy had to take part in.

A student's outstanding performance in the tournament would be recorded in their personal file, which could prove very important when applying to higher-level academies in the future.

And the rewards for the Class Promotion Tournament were quite substantial.

Classes that performed well would not only rise in the rankings; their homeroom teachers would also receive commendations.

Of course, hardly anyone paid attention to the matches on the first day.

The weakest classes were always the ones to issue challenges, and the stronger classes didn't think those matches were worth watching.

Today was the first day of the Class Promotion Tournament, and the day Class Five began its run.

At the center of the Intermediate Division's sports field stood a competition platform built from metal plates ten centimeters thick. Soul Tool Shield emitters had been installed around it.

To avoid interfering with the students' lessons, the matches were held after school.

When the bell rang, the students of Grade One Class Five lined up neatly and followed Wu Zhangkong toward the sports field.

Tang Wulin and Gu Yue followed half a step behind Wu Zhangkong, both perfectly well-behaved.

Only Xie Xie walked right at the front beside Wu Zhangkong, hands clasped behind his head, swaggering along.

The students of Grade One Class Four came over in twos and threes, looking as though they didn't care much about the match.

Kong Hanwen, the homeroom teacher of Grade One Class Four, tried to strike up a conversation with Wu Zhangkong.

Not only was he ignored, but every student in Grade One Class Five ignored him too.

Kong Hanwen was so furious he nearly twisted his nose out of shape. After making a sarcastic remark, he returned to his class.

At that moment, Director Long Hengxu stepped onto the competition platform.

"The Class Promotion Tournament begins today. Grade One Class Five will challenge Grade One Class Four."

Long Hengxu looked at Wu Zhangkong and asked, "Teacher Wu, have you decided how many students from your class will compete?"

Wu Zhangkong raised her chin slightly. "Three students."

Long Hengxu turned toward Class Four's homeroom teacher, Kong Hanwen. "Class Five is sending three. Teacher Kong, you have five minutes to choose your competitors."

"Jialong, Lin Zunyuan, Mosi, you three, get up there!" Kong Hanwen's words brimmed with anger and disdain. "Give Class Five a good thrashing!"

Wu Zhangkong merely waved a hand, and Xie Xie and the other two stepped onto the platform.

"Xie Xie, Gu Yue, Tang Wulin," Wu Zhangkong suddenly called.

The three turned around.

"Remember: if you lose, the intensity of your special training will increase tenfold."

As soon as Wu Zhangkong finished speaking, the air around the three of them abruptly turned heavy. A vast killing intent surged out of them.

Even Kong Hanwen shuddered at the strength of that killing intent.

Xie Xie and the other two slowly turned back toward their opponents. Their uniforms fluttered despite the still air, and red cross-shaped gleams shone in their eyes.

But Kong Hanwen quickly recovered and gritted his teeth. "Hmph! Today I'll teach you what manners are! These are just students we picked at random from our class!"

Wu Zhangkong couldn't be bothered to look at him again. She merely closed her eyes, a hint of mockery curling her lips.

"Get ready!"

The two sides stood fifty meters apart. Long Hengxu raised his right hand high.

"The first match of the new school year's Class Promotion Tournament: Grade One Class Four versus Grade One Class Five..."

"Begin!"

The moment Long Hengxu spoke, a golden flash streaked past. Jialong, who had just completed Martial Soul Possession, was immediately smacked away by a blade arc.

The turn of events was so sudden that nobody on the field had time to react.

Mosi saw Xie Xie suddenly appear right before him, eyes glowing red. His mouth fell open, a little white soul seeming to drift out, and his eyes rolled back as he fainted on the spot.

Xie Xie: "...?"

He quietly hid the Light Dragon Blade behind his back, pointed at Mosi, and shouted to Long Hengxu, "Director, he's pretending I hit him!"

Long Hengxu: "..."

Kong Hanwen: "..."

The spectators: "..."

On the field, all that remained of Class Four was Lin Zunyuan, weak and helpless.

Watching one companion get smacked into a hole and the other faint from fright, he clutched his staff tightly, looking like he was about to cry.

In the end, he squeezed his eyes shut, steeled himself, and swung his staff at Xie Xie.

But Xie Xie happened to be bending down to lift the unconscious Mosi off the ground.

Lin Zunyuan's staff struck nothing but air.

Worse, he tripped over Mosi's body and fell to the ground. The two of them ended up lying side by side in perfect formation.

Xie Xie turned around and saw the two men lying neatly in front of him.

Xie Xie: "..."

After a few seconds of silence, he turned to Long Hengxu and spread his hands. "Director, you can announce it now."

Only then did Long Hengxu snap out of his daze.

"T-the match is over. Class Five wins!" His voice still trembled slightly. "Now, Class Five and... Class Four will switch class names!"

Xie Xie curled his lip and returned to Tang Wulin and Gu Yue.

The three high-fived in celebration.

Long Hengxu was now covered in cold sweat, because the situation seemed to be taking a worrying turn.

He had to admit, Wu Zhangkong's teaching was far beyond anything he'd imagined.

At first, he'd placed the genius Xie Xie in Class Five for two reasons: to train him and strengthen Class Five, and to put pressure on the classes ahead of them. After all, pressure made people strive harder.

But now...

Wouldn't the classes ahead of them get crushed to death?!!