Facing Class One

Xie Xie kept staring at the unanswered call and irritably scratched his head. "Lin Chen, the competition's about to start. Where's Tang Wulin?"

Eastsea Academy had given everyone a seven-day break because of the typhoon that had raged for a full week. Ever since Tang Wulin had said he was going to the Blacksmith's Association that day, no one had seen him again.

Lin Chen tapped his fingers against his phone, then looked up at his deskmate, Gu Yuena. In a calm voice, he said, "Na'er, let's go to the Blacksmith's Association and see if Tang Wulin's there."

In the original timeline, Tang Wulin should have been near the Blacksmith's Association.

Gu Yuena nodded and answered softly, "All right. Let's tell Teacher Wu first."

Xie Xie followed them as well.

The three of them didn't linger. They headed straight for Wu Changkong's office.

When they arrived, Xie Xie hurried forward and hastily explained that Tang Wulin had gone missing.

Wu Changkong furrowed his brow. A hint of concern flickered in his usually indifferent eyes. "I'll go. You stay at the academy."

Xie Xie was about to say something, but Lin Chen gently tugged at his sleeve. Meeting Lin Chen's eyes, he understood what Lin Chen meant.

Lin Chen spoke softly. "Teacher Wu, let's go together. There's strength in numbers."

Wu Changkong glanced at him, then looked over Lin Chen and Xie Xie. After a few seconds of silence, he finally nodded. "All right. Let's go."

The streets swept by the typhoon were still in disarray, and the air held a damp chill. The trees lining the roads had been uprooted. The four of them made their way to the Blacksmith's Association.

The association's doors stood open. Inside, there was only one employee at the counter. After they asked, the employee told them that Tang Wulin had come by a few days earlier, but had left on the day the typhoon made landfall. No one had seen him since.

Wu Changkong's expression darkened. Xie Xie stood there helplessly, scratching his head. "What do we do now? The competition's about to start. If we can't find him..."

Wu Changkong gazed through the window at the gloomy sky and said gravely, "You go back to the academy. I'll search the area. Contact everyone you can. He wouldn't disappear for no reason. Something must have happened."

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

Classes the following afternoon soon came to an end, and the final match of the promotion competition began as scheduled. Perhaps the weeklong typhoon had kept the students cooped up for too long. Even though there was still plenty of time before the competition started, the surrounding area was already packed with students, all eager to see how the final match would turn out.

After searching for a long time without success, Wu Changkong could only return to the academy.

The homeroom teacher of Class One was named Ye Yingluo. She had once confessed to Wu Changkong, only to be ruthlessly rejected. Now, she was still hoping that Class One would thoroughly humiliate the class he led.

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

The original lineup had been Gu Yuena, Xie Xie, and Tang Wulin, but with Tang Wulin's whereabouts unknown, Lin Chen had to take his place.

Ye Yingluo had wanted to get right up in their faces and mock them, but Wu Changkong didn't even spare her a glance.

Wu Changkong's dismissal made Ye Yingluo's smile stiffen for a moment. She could only grit her teeth and turn to the students behind her. "Yangzi, teach them a hard lesson."

"Yes, Teacher." The young man she had called Yangzi replied steadily, his eyes already brimming with fighting spirit.

The dean of studies, Long Hengxu, walked to the middle of the competition platform. First, he nodded to the homeroom teachers on both sides, then said solemnly, "Because of the typhoon, the competition was postponed. Today is the fourth match, and the final one in the promotion competition."

His gaze settled on Wu Changkong, and he asked calmly, "Teacher Wu, how many of you will be competing?"

Wu Changkong spoke coolly, his voice carrying clearly across the arena. "Three. The lineup has changed, though."

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

Ye Yingluo was already sweating bullets. After all, she had watched the first match of the promotion competition from beginning to end, when Lin Chen had taken out all three students from Class Four with a single Soul Skill.

Putting on a show of calm, she raised her voice. "Class One will send three students: Zhang Yangzi, Wang Jinxi, and Wei Xiaofeng."

The moment the students around them recognized Lin Chen and those distinctive, glassy eyes, a cry of surprise erupted across the arena.

The scene of him taking the field in the opening match and instantly defeating three students from Class Four with a single Soul Skill, despite being only a three-ring Soul Master, still lingered in their minds.

"It's him! Why's he competing?"

"He hasn't appeared in a match since that first one."

"Wait, where's that Blue Silver Grass Soul Master from their class?"

The chatter rose and fell around them. Ye Yingluo's face paled, but she could only force herself to stand straight.

Lin Chen's gaze swept over the opposing team. When he saw Wei Xiaofeng standing between Zhang Yangzi and Wang Jinxi, he raised his brows and smiled faintly. "Well, look who it is. We meet again."

Xie Xie looked at Wei Xiaofeng and gave him an internationally recognized friendly gesture. Wei Xiaofeng didn't get angry. He merely curled his lips coldly and answered with a mocking thumbs-down.

Seeing that the two sides were already bristling at each other before the fight had even begun, dean Long Hengxu frowned and said sternly, "Show restraint during the match. The goal is to decide the winner. Deliberately harming your opponent is forbidden."

As he finished speaking, he brought his raised hand sharply down. "Begin!"

Just as the match was about to erupt, a hurried figure pushed through the crowd and came to a stop in front of Wu Changkong.

Sweat still clung to Tang Wulin's forehead, his hair was a mess, and he looked pale and unwell.

Wu Changkong didn't scold Tang Wulin for being late. "You're back. That's what matters. We'll talk after the match. Watch for now."

Both teams activated their Martial Souls at the same time, Soul Ring lights shining across the arena. The most eye-catching sight was still the three purple Soul Rings around Lin Chen.

Lin Chen said gravely, "Stick to the tactics we planned."

"Got it!" Xie Xie grinned. The two yellow Soul Rings beneath his feet flashed, and he shot forward like a streak of light, charging at the other team first.

Zhang Yangzi gave a low growl. "You're not getting past me!" He turned to rush back, only to be stopped by a streak of azure lightning. Lin Chen blocked his way. "Your opponent is me."

Seeing this, Wang Jinxi immediately stepped forward.

Lin Chen clicked his tongue. "Two against one, huh?"

Two fireballs shot out from behind Lin Chen. Zhang Yangzi and Wang Jinxi hurriedly dodged to the side, narrowly escaping the attack.

The battle soon drew to a close.

Xie Xie's twin daggers kept Wei Xiaofeng off balance. Gu Yuena seized the opening and landed a fireball squarely on him.

Wei Xiaofeng was sent flying right off the competition platform. Long Hengxu caught him securely and announced that Han Xiaofeng of Class One was eliminated.

Zhang Yangzi and Wang Jinxi looked at each other. The Soul Rings beneath their feet lit up at the same time, and they began their Martial Soul Fusion Skill. Before they could finish—

The First Soul Ring at Lin Chen's feet suddenly lit up. Azure lightning gathered in his palm, forming a blinding bolt that he hurled fiercely at the pair.

Gu Yuena moved almost at the same time. A fireball trailed the azure lightning, carrying a blistering wave of heat straight toward Zhang Yangzi and Wang Jinxi.

The two attacks crashed toward them one after another with thunderous force. Zhang Yangzi and Wang Jinxi's Fusion Skill had only just begun to gather power; they hadn't even had time to complete it before the azure lightning and fireball struck.

The violent impact exploded in an instant. The two of them were blasted away like kites with their strings cut, landing hard beyond the edge of the platform.

"I declare Class Five the winner of the final first-year challenge match!" Long Hengxu's voice rang out. The remaining students from Class Five watching the match immediately erupted into a deafening cheer.

The medical staff had been waiting by the sidelines. Before Long Hengxu had even announced the result, they carried all three students from Class One to the infirmary.

Ye Yingluo's face was livid. She clenched her fists tightly. She had been looking forward to using this match to humiliate Wu Changkong, but she hadn't expected the one taking the field to be the monster Yun Linchen.

Amid the cheering, Lin Chen turned his head and met Gu Yuena's gaze. Her reflection shone in his blue, glassy eyes.

"Nicely done." Lin Chen raised a hand and gently high-fived her. The instant their palms touched, Gu Yuena's fingertips paused slightly.

Xie Xie came over beside them and clapped Lin Chen on the shoulder, grinning without a care in the world. "Not bad! That teamwork was incredible."

Tang Wulin walked over too. He looked at the three of them, apologetic. "I'm sorry I'm late."

"What are you saying?" Xie Xie patted him on the back. "You're back. That's what matters."