Combat Class, A Gap in Understanding, Tang Wulin Gets Scolded

"Ah?!"

"Practical combat training? We have to fight too?!"

"Isn't it... isn't it just to watch Teacher Wu discipline—oh no, instruct—student Yao Chuan?"

"It's over, it's over... My martial soul is just a support-type Milk Bottle! How am I supposed to fight anyone?"

"Teacher Wu... I... I'm a support-type soul master... Does... does this mean I have to go up too?" A timid girl raised her hand shyly, her voice trembling with a hint of tears as she pleaded, "Close-quarters combat... I really can't do it..."

Wu Changkong's icy blue eyes swept over her in an instant.

Like two shards of ice.

They made the girl shiver uncontrollably.

The rest of her words were swallowed back down.

"Support-type?"

Wu Changkong's voice grew even colder.

It carried the iron-blooded scent of smoke from a battlefield.

"Once you are on the battlefield."

"Will the enemy... because you are a support-type..."

"Show you any mercy?"

"Will they... because you lack combat power..."

"Let you live to go back and buff your teammates?"

His questioning was like a heavy hammer.

It struck every student's heart.

"Naive!"

"Stupid!"

"Cast aside those childish thoughts of yours!"

"If you don't want to die on the battlefield..."

"Then show me the resolve to fight for your life!"

"Practical combat!"

"Starts now!"

A chilling murderous aura permeated the air.

All the students were silent as cicadas in winter; no one dared to make another sound.

Wu Changkong's gaze was like lightning as he directly called out the names.

"Tang Wulin! Zhou Changxi!"

"First group! Step forward!"

"Begin!"

Zhou Changxi, having been called, froze for a moment, then a flush of excitement mixed with malice immediately surged onto his face.

He rubbed his palms together, eager to try!

The frustration from being sent flying by a single punch from Tang Wulin in the dormitory yesterday hadn't dissipated yet.

Later, he had been terrified by that monster Yao Chuan, losing all his prestige.

He had been fretting over where to regain his standing!

Now, it was perfect—a fair and square arena!

One-on-one!

This was the perfect opportunity for him, Zhou Changxi, to wash away his shame.

And while he was at it, re-establish his authority in front of the students of Class Five!

He looked at Tang Wulin opposite him with a sinister grin.

His knuckles cracked as he clenched his fists.

"Heh heh, Tang Wulin!"

Zhou Changxi's voice was laced with provocation.

"Do you dare... to test your strength directly against yours truly?!"

"Forget about those flashy martial soul tricks! If you're a man, let's go head-to-head!"

He was afraid Tang Wulin would use that Blue Silver Grass to entangle him again.

So he started by goading him with words!

Tang Wulin looked at him, his eyes calm, and nodded.

"Good!"

Before the words had even faded!

Zhou Changxi was already howling as he charged forward!

His pair of fan-sized hands!

Carrying a whistling wind!

Snatched fiercely toward Tang Wulin's shoulders!

He intended to do just as he had yesterday.

To throw this guy down hard!

And wash away his previous humiliation!

Tang Wulin stood his ground.

Watching Zhou Changxi pounce toward him.

His gaze was focused.

Seeing those large hands about to grab his shoulders.

He neither dodged nor evaded!

He threw both fists out simultaneously!

Striking like lightning toward the inner wrists of Zhou Changxi's reaching hands!

His movements were crisp and clean!

Without a hint of flashiness!

"Bang—!"

A dull sound of flesh colliding rang out!

The savage grin on Zhou Changxi's face froze instantly!

A terrifying force, more than ten times stronger than he had imagined!

Like a rampaging rhinoceros!

Slammed violently into his wrists!

A sharp pain surged through him!

His arms went numb in an instant!

His tall body couldn't steady itself at all!

"Thud! Thud! Thud!"

He retreated three large steps!

Each step left a deep footprint in the sandy ground of the training field!

Only then did he barely manage to stabilize his stance!

His face was full of bewilderment; his arms trembled uncontrollably, and the webs of his hands were numb!

What was going on?

How could this guy's strength... be so monstrous?!

Before he could even recover from his daze.

Tang Wulin had already moved!

He stepped forward! His momentum was like a rainbow!

Another punch!

Straight and direct, without any frills, he drove it right toward Zhou Changxi's chest!

The wind of his fist whistled!

Zhou Changxi was both shocked and furious!

Pushed to this point, he no longer cared about comparing raw strength.

His face flushed red, and he let out an angry roar!

His soul power surged wildly throughout his body, once again stimulating his strength amplification, pouring every ounce of his power into his right fist!

Biting the bullet, he struck back to meet the blow!

"Bang—!"

Another dull thud!

This time!

The gap was even more apparent!

Zhou Changxi felt as if he had been hit head-on by a high-speed Soul Guidance Train!

"Argh!"

A miserable shriek!

His entire body was sent flying backward!

He traced a pathetic arc through the air!

Thud! He landed hard, right on his backside!

He slid a long way across the sandy ground before finally coming to a stop.

Dust billowed into the air! He was completely dazed!

He stared blankly at his own fists, then looked at Tang Wulin, who stood firmly in place, having only swayed slightly in his upper body.

A tangle of emotions washed over him.

His entire face twisted.

How could it be like this?

How could he be crushed so thoroughly?

Wu Changkong watched all of this with an expressionless face.

His gaze was icy.

There was no praise whatsoever.

Instead, he furrowed his brows slightly.

He raised a hand.

He pointed at Zhou Changxi, who was still sitting on the ground, questioning his own existence.

His voice sounded like a verdict.

"You, out!"

Then.

His cold blue eyes turned toward the victor in the arena, Tang Wulin.

His tone carried undisguised questioning.

"Why didn't you use your Martial Soul?"

Wu Changkong's voice was not loud.

Yet it reached everyone's ears clearly.

It carried a sense of scrutiny and disappointment.

Tang Wulin was stunned for a moment.

He hadn't quite reacted in time.

He scratched his head.

He pointed at Zhou Changxi, who was still slumped on the ground.

He answered honestly.

"Because..."

"He said he wanted to compete with me in strength."

His tone was matter-of-fact.

He felt he had kept his promise.

As soon as these words were out.

Xie Xie, standing to the side, couldn't help but cover his face.

He wore an expression that said, "I can't bear to watch."

Yao Chuan, observing from the podium, also had the corner of his mouth twitch imperceptibly.

A trace of helplessness flashed in his eyes.

This kid... is too honest!

Wu Changkong's brows furrowed even tighter.

For the first time, that iceberg face of his clearly displayed a trace of... an expression like he was looking at an idiot?

He looked at Tang Wulin coldly.

Each word fell like ice beads hitting the ground.

"He said he wanted to compete with you in strength... so you actually competed with him in strength?"

"If he told you to go eat shit right now... would you go do that immediately too?"

Wu Changkong's questioning was merciless.

"Get down!"

"Wait for the next round! Think it over carefully!"

"Advance!"

Tang Wulin was left dizzy by Wu Changkong's icy reprimand.

He felt quite aggrieved inside.

Didn't he win? Why was he being scolded?

He walked off the arena in a daze, like a little beast stunned by a lecture.

At this moment, Xie Xie sidled over with an "I knew it" expression. He patted Tang Wulin on the shoulder, his tone carrying the seasoned air of someone who had been there before.

"Hey, Wulin."

"Still haven't wrapped your head around it?"

Xie Xie chuckled.

"What Teacher Wu meant... was that he thinks you're too rigid! Too obsessed with playing by the rules!"

Tang Wulin turned to look at him, his eyes still filled with confusion.

Xie Xie shrugged, mimicking Wu Changkong's cold, detached tone.

"A fierce tiger hunting a rabbit... must still use its full strength!"

"Get it?"

He lowered his voice.

"Who cares what demands the opponent makes? Once you're on the field! Just get it done! Take them down in the most efficient, effective way possible! That is the true path!"

"Understand?"

Xie Xie raised an eyebrow.

He wore the expression of a brother teaching a life lesson.

After listening, Tang Wulin's eyes gradually brightened.

The previous sense of grievance vanished in an instant.

It was replaced by a sudden, enlightened realization.

He looked at Xie Xie, his eyes filled with genuine admiration.

"Xie Xie, you're something else! You know so much! You look about the same age as me... but you feel so much more mature!"

He sighed sincerely, never realizing there were so many nuances to fighting!

Hearing this, Xie Xie immediately grew smug. He chuckled and habitually tilted his chin up.

"That's right!"

"Don't forget... who I've been hanging out with all these years!"

His gaze drifted toward Yao Chuan, who stood calmly to the side as if detached from the world.

His tone carried undisguised worship and a hint of showing off.

"These principles... they were all taught to me by my boss... through his personal example, bit by bit!"

Xie Xie gestured with his chin toward Yao Chuan.

The implication was self-evident, and Tang Wulin's gaze immediately shifted to Yao Chuan as well.

Looking at the boy with black hair and black eyes, whose side profile appeared exceptionally calm and handsome under the sunlight.

His eyes were instantly filled with a complex light.

So... the gap really was that wide!

Not just in strength... but in this invisible, intangible level of awareness and perception!