Battle Against Class One

Xie Xie kept staring at his phone, which hadn't connected, and scratched his head in frustration: "Lin Chen, the match is about to start, where on earth is Tang Wulin?"

Eastsea Academy had been on a week-long break due to a continuous typhoon, and since the day Tang Wulin said he was going to the Blacksmith's Association, no one had seen him.

Lin Chen tapped his fingers against his phone, then raised his eyes to look at his deskmate Gu Yuena, his tone calm: "Na'er, let's go to the Blacksmith's Association and see if Tang Wulin is there."

According to the original timeline, Tang Wulin should have been in the vicinity of the Blacksmith's Association.

Gu Yuena nodded and replied softly: "Alright, let's inform Teacher Wu first."

Xie Xie followed them as well.

The three of them did not delay and headed toward Wu Changkong's office.

Upon arriving at the office, Xie Xie hurried forward and breathlessly relayed the news of Tang Wulin's disappearance.

Wu Changkong frowned, a flicker of imperceptible worry crossing his usually indifferent eyes: "I will go. You all stay at the academy."

Xie Xie wanted to say something more, but Lin Chen gently tugged at his sleeve. Meeting Lin Chen's gaze, he understood what he meant.

Lin Chen spoke softly: "Teacher Wu, let us go with you. There is strength in numbers."

Wu Changkong looked at him, then swept his gaze over Lin Chen and Xie Xie for a few silent seconds before finally nodding: "Very well, let's go."

The streets were still a mess from the typhoon, the air carrying a damp chill. Trees planted along the road had been uprooted, and the four of them made their way to the Blacksmith's Association.

The association's doors were wide open, with only one staff member at the counter. After some questioning, the staff member said that Tang Wulin had visited a few days ago, but after leaving on the day the typhoon made landfall, he hadn't been seen since.

Wu Changkong's expression darkened. Xie Xie stood in place, scratching his hair in distress: "What do we do now? The match is about to start, if we can't find him..."

Wu Changkong looked up at the gloomy sky outside the window and said in a deep voice: "You all return to the academy first. I will search the surrounding area. You contact everyone you can; he wouldn't disappear for no reason. He must have encountered something."

The three turned and left the Blacksmith's Association, heading back toward the academy.

The afternoon classes of the next day passed quickly, and the final match of the Grade Advancement Tournament was held as scheduled. Perhaps because the students had been pent up for too long due to the week-long typhoon, the area was already crowded with students long before the match began, all eager to see the outcome of this final round.

After searching for a long time to no avail, Wu Changkong had no choice but to return to the academy.

The head teacher of Class One was named Ye Yingluo. She had once confessed her feelings to Wu Changkong only to be ruthlessly rejected, and now she was looking forward to Class One dragging the reputation of the class led by Wu Changkong through the mud.

Wu Changkong led Lin Chen, Gu Yuena, and Xie Xie to the competition area.

The original lineup was supposed to be Gu Yuena, Xie Xie, and Tang Wulin, but with Tang Wulin's whereabouts unknown, they had no choice but to have Lin Chen step in.

Ye Yingluo had intended to get in their faces and mock them, but she didn't expect Wu Changkong to ignore her completely, not even sparing her a glance.

Ignored by Wu Changkong, the smile on Ye Yingluo's face stiffened for a moment. She could only grit her teeth and turn to the students behind her: "Yangzi, teach them a harsh lesson."

"Yes, teacher." The youth she called Yangzi replied steadily, his eyes already burning with fighting spirit.

Dean Long Hengxu walked to the center of the competition stage, nodded to the head teachers on both sides, and then said in a deep voice: "Due to the typhoon, the match was postponed. Today is the fourth and final round of the Grade Advancement Tournament."

His gaze landed on Wu Changkong as he asked in a calm tone: "Teacher Wu, how many are you fielding?"

Wu Changkong spoke faintly, his voice clearly carrying across the arena: "Three. However, there has been a change in personnel."

As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Chen, Gu Yuena, and Xie Xie stepped forward.

Ye Yingluo was starting to break into a cold sweat; after all, she had watched the entire first round of the tournament where Lin Chen had taken out three students from Class Four with a single soul skill.

Feigning composure, she announced loudly: "Class One is fielding three: Zhang Yangzi, Wang Jinxi, and Wei Xiaofeng."

When the surrounding students caught sight of Lin Chen and those iconic glazed-colored eyes, a gasp erupted across the arena.

The scene from the first match, where he had used a single soul skill to instantly defeat three students from Class Four with his three-ring cultivation, still echoed in their minds.

"It's him! Why is he on the stage?"

"We haven't seen him compete since that first match."

"Huh? Where is that Blue Silver Grass soul master from their class?"

Discussions rose and fell. Ye Yingluo's face paled slightly, and she could only force herself to stand tall and act composed.

Lin Chen's gaze swept across the opposite side. When he saw Wei Xiaofeng standing between Zhang Yangzi and Wang Jinxi, he raised an eyebrow and a faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth: "Yo, we meet again."

Xie Xie watched as Wei Xiaofeng gave him an international gesture of friendship. Wei Xiaofeng wasn't annoyed; he simply curled his lips coldly and returned the gesture with a thumb pointed downward, full of mockery.

Seeing the gunpowder-like tension between the two sides before the fight had even begun, Dean Long Hengxu frowned and said in a deep voice: "Keep it to a contest of skill. Only victory or defeat matters; you are not allowed to intentionally harm your opponents."

As his words fell, he raised his hand high and brought it down sharply: "The match begins!"

Just as the match was about to break out, a hurried figure pushed through the crowd and arrived in front of Wu Changkong.

Tang Wulin still had beads of sweat on his forehead, his hair was a mess, and he looked to be in poor condition.

Wu Changkong did not scold him for his tardiness: "As long as you're back. We'll talk after the match; watch the fight for now."

The students on both sides activated their martial souls simultaneously, and the light of soul rings lit up the arena. Most eye-catching of all were the three purple soul rings around Lin Chen.

Lin Chen said in a low voice: "Follow the tactics we decided on earlier."

"Understood!" Xie Xie grinned, his two yellow soul rings flashing beneath his feet as his figure turned into a blur, charging toward the opposition first.

During the short break, Xie Xie's soul power had broken through under Wu Changkong's guidance, and he had obtained his second soul ring.

Zhang Yangzi let out a low roar: "Don't even think about getting past!" He turned to defend, but was blocked by a bolt of azure lightning. Lin Chen stood before him: "Your opponent is me."

Seeing this, Wang Jinxi immediately stepped forward.

Linchen smacked his lips. "Two against one?"

Two fireballs erupted from behind Linchen. Seeing this, Zhang Yangzi and Wang Jinxi hurriedly dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding the strike.

The battle quickly drew to a close.

Xie Xie's twin daggers constantly harassed Wei Xiaofeng, and Gu Yuena seized the opportunity to land a precise fireball strike.

Wei Xiaofeng's figure was sent flying directly off the competition stage, where Long Hengxu caught him steadily and announced the elimination of Han Xiaofeng from Class One.

The remaining Zhang Yangzi and Wang Jinxi exchanged a glance, and the spirit rings beneath their feet lit up simultaneously. Before they could complete their Martial Soul Fusion Skill, Linchen's first spirit ring suddenly flared. Cyan lightning condensed in his palm into a blinding bolt, which he ruthlessly blasted toward the pair.

Gu Yuena moved almost at the same time as him; a fireball carrying a scorching heatwave followed closely behind the cyan lightning, lunging straight at Zhang Yangzi and Wang Jinxi.

The two attacks, one after the other, slammed into them with the force of Thunderous Might. Zhang Yangzi and Wang Jinxi's fusion skill had only just begun to gather momentum when it was interrupted by the lightning and fireball.

A violent shockwave exploded instantly, and the two figures were sent flying like kites with broken strings, crashing heavily outside the arena.

"I announce that in the final match of the Grade One challenge, Class Five is the winner!" As Long Hengxu's voice fell, the remaining Class Five students watching the match erupted into earth-shaking cheers.

The medical staff had been standing by on the sidelines; before Long Hengxu even finished announcing the results, they had already carried the three students from Class One into the infirmary.

Ye Yingluo's face on the sidelines was livid, her fists clenched tightly. She had expected to use this match to slap Wu Changkong in the face, but she hadn't expected the monster Yun Linchen to take the stage.

Amidst the waves of cheering, Linchen turned his head to meet Gu Yuena's gaze, her cyan-glazed eyes reflecting his image.

"Nice work." Linchen raised his hand to give her a light high-five. The moment their palms touched, Gu Yuena's fingertips paused slightly.

Xie Xie, standing to the side, leaned in and patted Linchen on the shoulder, laughing heartlessly. "Not bad, that coordination was absolutely perfect."

Tang Wulin also walked over, looking at the three of them with an apologetic expression. "Sorry, I'm late."

"What are you talking about?" Xie Xie patted his back. "It's fine, as long as you're back."