Wu Changkong had to admit it.
At that moment, he was genuinely wavering. What Cheng Duoyi had said seemed more reasonable.
What am I thinking? He's just a student. What does he know? My teaching methods are based on the philosophy of the greatest academy in the world, Shrek Academy. How could they be wrong?
There's nothing wrong with Shrek Academy's teaching philosophy!
Wu Changkong's wavering resolve firmed up again.
But Cheng Duoyi had noticed the shift in Wu Changkong's expression.
Wu Changkong shook his head. "You don't understand."
Cheng Duoyi felt helpless. So it has to come to this? I'd wanted to live quietly for three years... Looks like I'm going to be busy now.
Cheng Duoyi looked at Wu Changkong, his expression calm. "Teacher Wu, I challenge you!"
"You're challenging me?"
Wu Changkong looked as if he'd just heard the biggest joke in the world.
Gu Yue grabbed Cheng Duoyi's hand and shook her head at him.
At the same time, Gu Yue looked toward Tang Wuling, signaling for her to talk Cheng Duoyi out of it.
Xie Xie and Yun Xiao stared at Cheng Duoyi in alarm. "Brother Cheng..."
Before either of them could finish, Cheng Duoyi turned around, and they fell silent.
For some reason, Xie Xie found the aura Cheng Duoyi exuded terrifying. It felt as though Cheng Duoyi could erase him at any moment. Even the mere thought of it left Xie Xie too afraid to resist.
Yun Xiao didn't feel as much pressure as Xie Xie, but he was still frightened. More than anything, though, he was excited.
I don't know how strong Brother Cheng is, but if he's challenging Teacher Wu, he must be confident!
Wu Changkong realized Cheng Duoyi was serious. He glanced at Leng Xue'er, then turned back to Cheng Duoyi. "Didn't Leng Xue'er tell you about my abilities?"
Cheng Duoyi shook his head. "No matter how strong you are, I won't lose."
Wu Changkong had never met anyone so audacious. As something occurred to him, he sneered. "Are you thinking that since you can't convince me with words, you'll use force? Fine. I'll give you a chance. I don't want to take advantage of you and give anyone reason to say I'm bullying someone younger. I'll only use my First Soul Skill. If you can beat me, I'll admit your philosophy is right. I'll even apologize to Gu Yue and Tang Wuling and admit that what I said earlier was wrong. I should've praised them as the best. Will that do?"
Cheng Duoyi shook his head.
Wu Changkong frowned. "What else do you want? My patience is limited!"
Cheng Duoyi said, "I'm worried you'll regret it. I can let you use your first three Soul Skills."
"Regret it? Don't tell me you think you can beat me when I'm only using one Soul Skill. You're far too naive! I'll show you just how laughable your confidence is!" Wu Changkong said with certainty.
With that, Wu Changkong headed for the training field.
Cheng Duoyi followed. Gu Yue and Tang Wuling went with them, while Xie Xie and Yun Xiao whispered to each other, "Brother Cheng is so cool."
Leng Xue'er didn't try to stop Cheng Duoyi. She went along with them as well.
When they reached the training field, no one else was around.
A wooden sword appeared in Wu Changkong's hand. He looked at Cheng Duoyi, brimming with confidence and determined to teach this ignorant brat a lesson.
"Show me your Martial Soul and Spirit Rings. Don't say I didn't give you a chance. I'll let you make three moves."
Cheng Duoyi smiled. "All right."
For some reason, seeing that smile gave Wu Changkong a sudden, bad feeling.
A gigantic blood-red Spirit Ring slowly rose from beneath Cheng Duoyi's feet. Its dense, crimson light left everyone present stunned!
Yun Xiao knew Cheng Duoyi was strong.
But he hadn't expected Cheng Duoyi's first Spirit Ring to be a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring!
Xie Xie was rooted to the spot, completely dumbfounded!
Gu Yue's eyes widened. She hadn't expected Cheng Duoyi's Spirit Ring to be so powerful, either!
Tang Wuling had seen Cheng Duoyi's Spirit Ring and Soul Spirit before. They were the root of her inferiority complex, and even now, seeing his Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring made her feel insecure deep down.
At that moment, Old Tang was stunned inside Tang Wuling. "How is this possible? How could a Soul Master's first Spirit Ring be a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring? Could it be the effect of a Soul Skill?"
Old Tang wasn't the only one thinking that. Across from Cheng Duoyi, Wu Changkong thought the same thing. "Is this... the effect of a Soul Skill?"
But in an instant, Wu Changkong dismissed the idea. "No! That aura can't be the effect of a Soul Skill. A Soul Skill couldn't possibly simulate the aura of a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring!"
"How could your spiritual power withstand a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Spirit?"
Cheng Duoyi replied calmly, "Why couldn't it?"
"The minimum spiritual-power requirement for a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Spirit is the Spirit Abyss Realm. You're only nine years old. How could you possibly have reached it? If you have, your spiritual power is sure to reach the Spirit Domain Realm in the future. It might even reach the God Origin Realm!" Wu Changkong lowered his wooden sword and stared blankly at Cheng Duoyi.
At that moment, his entire worldview was turned upside down.
Something that should have been impossible had happened.
Did that mean his philosophy really was wrong?
Was Cheng Duoyi right?
Was he wrong?
Was Shrek Academy wrong, too?
"Why couldn't I reach it?" Cheng Duoyi said calmly. "Teacher Wu, this world is vast. What we know now isn't all there is to it. I'm not going to change anyone's mind, and I'm not questioning your philosophy. I'm only saying that a philosophy shouldn't stay the same forever. It should suit the circumstances."
"So, Teacher Wu, please."
Cheng Duoyi's aura surged sharply.
For an instant, Wu Changkong had the illusion that the figure before him wasn't a Soul Master at all, but a Ferocious Beast!
A bitter smile appeared at the corner of Wu Changkong's mouth. "There's no point in fighting..."
He'd wanted to teach Cheng Duoyi a lesson, but was there any point now?
Others might not know how much a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Spirit could enhance someone, but as a student of Shrek Academy, how could he not?
And Cheng Duoyi had reached the Spirit Abyss Realm!
Wu Changkong hadn't even reached it himself!
Cheng Duoyi frowned slightly at that.
Wu Changkong continued, "What you said might be right, but my views won't change."
Cheng Duoyi hadn't expected Wu Changkong to be so stubborn.
"However, I'll try to adapt to the circumstances."
Wu Changkong glanced at Leng Xue'er.
"The Spirit Pagoda has another pillar to anchor the sea of the future!"
"I hope you won't do anything that brings calamity upon the world!"
Leng Xue'er replied coldly, "That's not something you need to worry about."
Wu Changkong didn't answer. He looked at Cheng Duoyi. "You'll be fully in charge of the Class Promotion Tournament in three months. Can you handle it?"
Cheng Duoyi withdrew his Spirit Ring. He looked harmless, even a little weak. "No problem, Teacher Wu."
Wu Changkong studied Cheng Duoyi with a complicated expression, recalling his words and actions. His reasoning had been clear, and he had the makings of a leader.
His actions also made him well suited to lead the team.
That was why Wu Changkong had put Cheng Duoyi in charge.
Besides, he wanted to see how far Cheng Duoyi could go without his advice.
Wu Changkong couldn't help but marvel.
That was a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring!
It had to come from a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Spirit!
And his next three Spirit Rings would surely be Hundred Thousand Year Soul Rings, too!
As for his fifth Spirit Ring onward, how could they possibly be any weaker?
Wu Changkong couldn't help imagining Cheng Duoyi standing on the stage of the Continental Advanced Soul Master Tournament in the future, displaying several Hundred Thousand Year Soul Rings. Just imagining it was thrilling!
By the time everyone left the training room, it was lunchtime.
Wu Changkong had gone off somewhere, and Leng Xue'er hadn't gone with Cheng Duoyi.
The five of them headed for the cafeteria.
Xie Xie couldn't help asking again, "Brother Cheng, is your first Spirit Ring really a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring?"
He was incredibly excited.
It was a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring!
In an era when even Hundred-Year Soul Rings were scarce, a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Spirit was beyond anything he'd ever dared imagine!
Cheng Duoyi smiled. "You felt its aura yourself. How could it be fake?"
Xie Xie still couldn't believe it. "It just doesn't seem real. It's like a dream."
"By the way." Xie Xie asked cautiously, "Brother Cheng, what's your Soul Spirit?"
Gu Yue couldn't help saying, "Why do you keep asking? You never let it go."
"My Brother Cheng hasn't said anything yet. What are you talking for?" Xie Xie rolled his eyes, completely unbothered. "Right, Brother Cheng?"
Yun Xiao saw Xie Xie and covered his face, thinking, Why did Brother Cheng reveal his Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring? Because Teacher Wu belittled Gu Yue and Tang Wuling. And you're really running through a blazing fire, asking for death!
Yun Xiao couldn't understand it.
Xie Xie came from a good family, too. How could he have so little sense?
"Hey, hey, Yun Xiao, why are you pulling me? Brother Cheng hasn't answered yet."
"I'm saving you."
In the end, Yun Xiao decided to pull him away.
After all, they were going to be teammates.
"Saving me? Who's trying to kill me? Who'd dare kill me? With Brother Cheng here, who could kill me?" Xie Xie boasted as Yun Xiao dragged him away.
Gu Yue really couldn't stand Xie Xie. She looked at Cheng Duoyi. "Xiao Yi, are you really planning to take someone like him on as your underling? I think there's something wrong with his head. What if he's unreliable and gets you into trouble later?"
Tang Wuling nodded solemnly. "I agree with Sister Yue'er. Xie Xie seems like there's something wrong with his head."
Cheng Duoyi looked a little awkward. "Maybe it's just his personality. Xie Xie is a good person, and I think he'll make a good teammate in the future."
"Fine. Teacher Wu's already left you in charge of the next Class Promotion Tournament. You're the captain, so you can decide." Gu Yue said.
Then Gu Yue looked at Cheng Duoyi.
Cheng Duoyi said, "If there's something you want to ask, just ask. It's not like I won't tell you."
"Your... your first Soul Spirit was a what?" Gu Yue asked.
"Tyrant Dragon," Cheng Duoyi said.
"Tyrant Dragon?"
Cheng Duoyi nodded. "Mm."
Gu Yue understood. She murmured softly, "A Tyrant Dragon isn't bad, either. It can protect you..."
"Big Brother Yi'er, Sister Yue'er, I'm hungry. Let's hurry up and go eat," Tang Wuling couldn't help saying.
Cheng Duoyi and Gu Yue exchanged a look. "All right, let's go!"
Soon, the five of them reached the cafeteria.
Tang Wuling's appetite once again astonished everyone. It also made her even more famous; hardly any student in the Intermediate Division didn't know her name.
After lunch, Tang Wuling said she was going to the restroom, but actually called her teacher, Mang Tian, to ask whether she could take the Level Three Blacksmith examination.
After all, he was her teacher. Since Tang Wuling planned to reveal that she was a Level Three Blacksmith, she couldn't do it without telling Mang Tian.
Mang Tian had told Tang Wuling that she would have to wait until she reached level twenty before taking the Level Three Blacksmith examination.
Now, Mang Tian was surprised that Tang Wuling wanted to take the exam and asked her why.
Tang Wuling explained that she needed Federation Coins to improve her strength. After a moment of silence, Mang Tian agreed. Tang Wuling thanked him, and they talked for a little longer.
Then Tang Wuling hurried back. Looking at Cheng Duoyi, she asked expectantly, "Big Brother Yi'er, can you come with me to the Blacksmith Association?"
"Of course," Cheng Duoyi said with a smile. "I'm free anyway, so I'll go with you."
"Great!" Tang Wuling jumped up happily.
"I'm coming too!" Gu Yue said at once.
"Me too!" Xie Xie and Yun Xiao chimed in.
Tang Wuling's invitation had made them curious about what the Blacksmith Association was like.
"All right, let's go together," Cheng Duoyi said with a smile.
And so, the five of them left Eastsea Academy together and headed toward the Blacksmith Association in Eastsea City.
On the way, everyone learned Tang Wuling's blacksmithing rank.
"Tang Wuling, you're a Level Three Blacksmith? You're going to collect your Level Two Blacksmith badge and take the Level Three Blacksmith examination?" Xie Xie couldn't help asking. "A Level Three Blacksmith is a master smith. My dad told me they can forge Thousand-Refined Metal, and that stuff is so rare it has no fixed price!"
He knew Tang Wuling could forge.
But he hadn't expected her to be a Level Two Blacksmith already, preparing to take the Level Three examination!
Tang Wuling was full of confidence when it came to forging.
"Of course." Tang Wuling glanced at Gu Yue, looking proud.
Gu Yue watched Tang Wuling's smug expression and pursed her lips, feeling a little unconvinced.
What was so special about being a Level Three Blacksmith?
It was nothing impressive.
But she had to admit that when it came to forging, she really couldn't compare to Tang Wuling.
Seeing Gu Yue's unconvinced expression, Tang Wuling secretly laughed to herself.
She'd finally found something she was better at than Gu Yue!
"You're amazing," Yun Xiao said, his face full of envy. "Tang Wuling, you're only nine and already a Level Three Blacksmith. You'll definitely reach Level Five or Six someday. If you make it to Level Seven, you'll be one of the most influential people on the entire Douluo Continent."
But after saying that, Yun Xiao felt dejected.
Cheng Duoyi could read everyone's emotions at a glance. In a gentle tone, he said, "Everyone has their own strengths. Since we've come together, as long as you don't want to leave me, I'll lead you to see the view from the summit of this world."
"That's right." Xie Xie was carefree and brimming with confidence. "With Brother Cheng leading us, there's no doubt we can take on four opponents at once in the Class Promotion Tournament. Even the upper-year students won't be a match for us."
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