Wu Changkong's Guidance, Buddha Tang's Displeasure: This Man Had Chosen the Road to His Own Death?

Wu Changkong had lost.

Class Five fell utterly silent, as if even their breathing had frozen.

Everyone's eyes were wide, their mouths open enough to fit an egg.

That brief but thrilling showdown had completely overturned their understanding of the world.

Teacher Wu, the powerful Six-Ring Soul Emperor who was like an iceberg, had actually been forced to remove his restrictions by a new student—even while holding back his Soul Power!

Xie Xie was the first to snap out of it. The awkwardness on his face at being caught bragging instantly turned into the pride of "my big brother is awesome, so I'm awesome too."

He frantically winked at Yao Chuan, silently shouting, Big brother, you're amazing! That was so cool!

Tang Wulin's heart was pounding, too. He gazed at Yao Chuan with fervent admiration.

Wu Changkong stood where he was, and at last, a crack appeared in his perpetually icy expression.

He looked down at his hand, then back at Yao Chuan, who faced him with an even breath, as if he'd merely stretched his muscles. His gaze was complicated.

Wu Changkong's low voice broke the brief silence.

"I have nothing left to teach you about Soul Skills."

His words were like a stone tossed into a still lake, instantly setting off an uproar in the dead-silent Class Five.

Nothing left to teach him? Even Teacher Wu admitted he couldn't teach Yao Chuan? What kind of monster was he?

But Wu Changkong changed tack, his icy gaze locking onto Yao Chuan as if it had become tangible.

"However," he said, not loudly, yet clearly enough for everyone to hear, with an undeniable weight to his words, "your use of power is as clumsy as an ancient beast trying to embroider with its claws! The transitions between every tiny movement in battle, the precise control of your Soul Power's release, and your split-second judgment of the battlefield's ever-changing situation—all riddled with flaws!"

Yao Chuan's expression, which had been somewhat relaxed and carried a hint of "just as I expected," faltered.

Wu Changkong didn't pause. Like the most precise Soul Guidance instrument analyzing battle footage, he spoke at an unhurried pace, each word striking like a nail as he pinpointed the weak points in Yao Chuan's combat style:

"To counter my Frost Mark with your first move, you chose the most direct approach: a head-on clash of Soul Power. Efficiency? Zero! You wasted at least a fifth of your Soul Power on meaningless spatial turbulence.

"The optimal solution would've been to turn aside and deflect the attack's trajectory, then use the momentum of my own Soul Skill to drain its energy. You'd only need to expend a third of the Soul Power you used now to achieve the same result, while immediately setting yourself up to counterattack."

"When you activated your Second Soul Ring, you tried to disperse my Frost Mist with sheer pressure. The idea was sound, but the execution was foolish!

"Your aura burst across far too wide an area, covering at least fifteen meters of useless space. Meanwhile, the true target—the heart of the Frost Mist, its source—wasn't subjected to enough force, delaying its dispersal by 0.8 seconds.

"In those 0.8 seconds, an assassin-type Soul Master of your rank could've put at least three holes in your back! The right approach is to precisely control your domain, focus on a single point, and disperse it in one burst!"

"As for that final collision..." Wu Changkong's gaze was sharp as a sword. "You summoned your Second Martial Soul, the Blood Spear, and used your Second Soul Skill to meet my Heavenly Frost Slash head-on. It looked domineering, but it was the worst possible choice! You poured all your strength into opposing the shock wave, wasting as much as forty percent of your energy in the process!

"And when you landed, your left foot instinctively shifted back half a step to steady your center of gravity. That proves beyond doubt that you haven't mastered the control of your strength—you still can't release and withdraw it as you please!

"In a perfect state, after meeting the attack head-on, both feet should be rooted to the earth, utterly motionless, with your remaining strength poised and ready to unleash a thunderous pursuit at any moment!"

All the ease vanished from Yao Chuan's face.

At first, he'd thought Wu Changkong was simply trying to save face, and that the so-called "flaws" he'd pointed out were mere trifles.

But as Wu Changkong dissected each of his moves, frame by frame, analyzing every shift of Soul Power and every action in battle down to the millisecond and the precise point where his Soul Power had strayed, Yao Chuan gradually grew serious.

This wasn't nitpicking. It was a true master examining what Yao Chuan had thought was a perfect answer under a microscope, then pointing out every tiny blemish and correction with crystal clarity!

The sense of superiority Yao Chuan had felt after winning, and the contempt with which he'd assessed Wu Changkong's strength, vanished without a trace.

He put away every trace of carelessness, his expression turning solemn.

He silently took out a memory-metal board and a Soul Guidance recording stylus, then began swiftly noting down every word and key point Wu Changkong mentioned.

This icy teacher really knew his stuff!

Yao Chuan had won through the overwhelming quality of his Martial Soul and the age of his Soul Rings. But when it came to experience and skill in the art of battle itself, Teacher Wu was indeed qualified to teach him!

Seeing Yao Chuan humbly listen and diligently take notes, the faintest hint of satisfaction passed through the depths of Wu Changkong's eyes. He was a teachable student.

The other students in Class Five, however, now looked like eggplants beaten by frost. They'd wilted completely.

The crushing blow to their confidence sat on them like a heavy shackle.

First, Teacher Wu had been defeated by a new student. Then that new student had been thoroughly chewed out by Teacher Wu, yet still listened with humility...

It felt like a flock of weaklings watching experts fight, only to discover they weren't even weaklings—they were just dust in the background!

This was way too demoralizing!

The whole class was practically vibrating with shock. Their confidence had collapsed!

Wu Changkong's cold gaze swept over the dejected students, his brows drawn tight. An invisible pressure instantly filled the training ground.

"Look at yourselves!" His voice suddenly rose, carrying a bone-piercing chill. "You have no pride! The moment you see someone a little stronger than you, you act as if the sky has fallen! The path of a Soul Master is a struggle for that sliver of life, a fight to seize that fleeting chance! If you can't even summon the will to fight, what's the point of cultivating?"

"You think you have Trash Martial Souls? That your talents are mediocre?" His gaze was sharp as a blade, as if it could pierce every student's soul. "Tang Wulin! Step forward!"

Tang Wulin froze, then instinctively straightened up. "Here!"

Wu Changkong pointed at him. "What is his Martial Soul?"

"It's... Blue Silver Grass..." a student muttered.

"Exactly! Blue Silver Grass, the Trash Martial Soul recognized by the entire continent!" Wu Changkong's voice rang like ice striking ice. "And yet he nearly fought his way through the class trials with that Trash Martial Soul, and ultimately made it to the finals! What did he rely on? A body tougher than an ordinary person's, and a fighting spirit that didn't waver in the face of danger! Your Martial Souls might be a little stronger than his, but are your bones tougher? Is your will stronger?"

"Your physique is the foundation of a Soul Master! It's also the cornerstone of becoming a powerful mecha pilot in the future!" Wu Changkong's words fell like nails driven into wood. "Ordinary people can become mecha pilots with the help of Soul Tools. But without a strong body, you won't even withstand the impacts inside a cockpit. How can you fight? How can you grow stronger?"

His gaze swept over them all once more, his authority beyond question. "Starting tomorrow, all of you will undergo extreme physical training in the morning! Theory classes in the afternoon! In a month, I want to see you transformed! Now, everyone except Tang Wulin and Xie Xie is dismissed!"

As if reprieved, yet also as if their strength had been drained away, the students of Class Five left the training ground one after another, heads bowed and steps unsteady. The vast training ground was left with only Wu Changkong, Yao Chuan, Tang Wulin, and Xie Xie.

Wu Changkong turned to Yao Chuan. "You may go, too."

Yao Chuan nodded, put away his note board, and turned to leave without the slightest hesitation.

Watching Yao Chuan's retreating figure, Tang Wulin was filled with confusion.

Brother Chuan was so strong. Why hadn't Teacher Wu chosen him for the Class Promotion Tournament?

Just then, Yao Chuan, already at the entrance, seemed to hear his thoughts. He paused without looking back and said:

"An exam like the Class Promotion Tournament is child's play. It can't stir my fighting spirit."

"Whether it's Class Five or Class One, they're all the same to me. My only reason for choosing Class Five was to receive Teacher Wu's personal guidance."

With that, he didn't linger. His figure disappeared through the doorway.

So that was it!

Tang Wulin suddenly understood! Brother Chuan's goal had been clear and lofty from the start!

The Class Promotion Tournament wasn't even worth mentioning to him!

He hadn't come to prove anything. He'd come purely in pursuit of guidance that would make him stronger! Such vision and such breadth of mind...

Tang Wulin took a deep breath and clenched his fists.

Brother Chuan's goal was the stars and the sea, while his most important task for now was to win the Class Promotion Tournament!

The fire of confidence in his heart burned even brighter because of Yao Chuan's strength and composure! With a companion like Brother Chuan blazing the trail ahead, he had to work even harder to catch up!

Xie Xie stood to one side, muttering with a curled lip, "Tch, what a show-off..."

But there wasn't any real resentment in his eyes. He was just complaining out of habit.

After all, when his big brother showed off, it was only natural.

Wu Changkong took in every change in Tang Wulin's expression and gave an almost imperceptible nod. This kid really did have a steady temperament.

"Tang Wulin, Xie Xie." Wu Changkong's voice drew their attention back.

"Here!" they answered in unison.

"According to the rules, at least two people have to compete in the Intermediate Division's Class Promotion Tournament. A month from now, you two will represent Class Five." Wu Changkong made the announcement succinctly.

"Huh? Just the two of us?" Xie Xie blurted out. "Teacher Wu, Yao Chuan—"

Why waste such a strong fighter? Sure, big brother had said he wasn't interested, but couldn't Teacher force him to join?

Wu Changkong shot him a cold glance. "Do you have a problem with that? Yao Chuan's position is already clear. Do you think you have a greater right than he does to decide whether he stays?"

Xie Xie shrank his neck and hurriedly shook his head. "Uh... no, no..." As if! Who would dare question big brother's decision? He just thought it was a shame. If big brother competed, he'd crush everyone!

"Your talents, even across the entire Intermediate Division of Eastsea Academy, are barely average." Wu Changkong poured cold water on them without mercy. "The goal is simple: a month from now, I want you to defeat Grade One Class One!"

"Hiss—" Tang Wulin and Xie Xie both sucked in a sharp breath. Class One! The class known as "the strongest batch of new students in history"! The pressure was immense!

"If you can't win..." Wu Changkong's voice was like a demon's whisper, the corner of his mouth curling into a terrifying smile, "the consequences will be serious. Starting tonight, you'll train extra every night."

"Yes, Teacher Wu!" The two of them stood ramrod straight and shouted, their scalps tingling. Serious consequences? Extra training? Just thinking about Teacher Wu's icy face and the methods he might use made Xie Xie feel a dull ache in his backside.

After leaving the office under Wu Changkong's oppressive aura, Tang Wulin felt the heavy stone pressing on his heart ease a little as the bright Soul Guidance Lamp light in the corridor fell over him. He couldn't help grinning; no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't hold it back.

Being chosen as a representative for the Class Promotion Tournament meant a great deal to him! It meant that on the path of a Soul Master, he was finally no longer the "Blue Silver Grass Soul Master with a Trash Martial Soul" everyone mocked. At last, he'd taken his first step toward recognition! His dream of becoming a truly powerful Soul Master no longer seemed like an unattainable fantasy!

"Heh heh..." He couldn't help laughing aloud.

Beside him, Xie Xie was rubbing the shoulder Wu Changkong's belt had struck earlier. He wasn't badly hurt, but it had really stung! Seeing Tang Wulin so happy immediately annoyed him.

"Hey! What are you laughing at?" Xie Xie glared at him crossly. "Don't get excited too soon! Teacher Wu said our talents are only average! If we lose to those monsters in Class One, you'll be crying your eyes out! Don't you dare drag me down!"

Tang Wulin's smile vanished. He looked at Xie Xie with his clear brown eyes, his expression unusually serious, even a little innocent.

He blinked and asked slowly:

"Xie Xie, does your face... still hurt?"

Boom!

Xie Xie's face instantly flushed bright red—redder than a boiled shrimp!

Why bring that up of all things?!

It turned out they'd secretly fought the night before.

And the result... had clearly been Xie Xie's defeat.

"Tang Wulin! You're asking for it!" Xie Xie flew into a rage from embarrassment. The phantom of the Light Dragon Dagger appeared in his palm, its image bristling as he charged forward to save face. "If you've got the guts, fight me again! I'll beat you into a pig's head!"

Looking at the bristling Xie Xie, Tang Wulin couldn't help letting the corners of his mouth curl up again, though his feet quietly moved back to a safer distance.

Mm, being able to compete in the Class Promotion Tournament was great.

Meanwhile, deep in Tang Wulin's sea of consciousness,

within that chaotic, golden spiritual space, a faint wisp of divine consciousness radiated supreme majesty as it flickered like a candle in the wind, absorbing the scattered spiritual power.

This was the mark God Emperor Tang—Tang San—had hidden in the deepest part of his son's consciousness.

As Tang Wulin's spiritual power naturally grew, and the battles he experienced stirred him, this dormant mark, silent for so long, was slowly recovering a trace of vitality.

Just now, when Yao Chuan had unleashed his strength and defeated Wu Changkong, then calmly spoken of seeking stronger guidance, God Emperor Tang's divine consciousness had rippled strangely, as if a stone had been tossed into it.

"Such a vast, pure aura of the dragon... domineering, ancient, even carrying the flavor of its origin... This is no ordinary dragon-type Martial Soul..."

The remnants of God Emperor Tang's consciousness were filled with suspicion and uncertainty.

In his perception, the aura radiating from Yao Chuan stood out like a lighthouse in the night. It was an extremely pure, highly concentrated essence of the dragon, so exceptional in quality that even he felt a touch of alarm.

This feeling... even reminded him of the one who should have appeared according to his plan—the Silver Dragon King!

"No... This isn't how the script is supposed to go!"

God Emperor Tang's thoughts churned, full of confusion and wariness. "According to the God Realm Committee's projections and my arrangements, the Silver Dragon King's incarnation should be female, born through the Seed of Nature, and eventually become bound to my son, Wulin... How did she turn into a boy? And why has he appeared near Aolai City ahead of schedule?"

If the Silver Dragon King had taken the form of a man... then the grand scheme he'd painstakingly laid out over ten thousand years—going so far as to separate his own son from the Divine Realm and send him to Douluo Continent to endure the suffering of the Golden Dragon King's seal—wouldn't it all be for nothing?

Had the Divine Realm's projections been wrong? Or had some unknown variable... forcibly intervened in the River of Fate?

Thinking of the enormous price he'd paid, and of the suffering his son might face in the future, God Emperor Tang's divine consciousness shuddered violently.

"This person... bears such a pure aura of the dragon's origin. Whether he is an altered incarnation of the Silver Dragon King or some other unknown remnant of the Dragon God... his very existence has already touched a taboo of the Divine Realm and disrupted the path to godhood I laid out for Wulin!"

A murderous intent quietly stirred in his heart, clear as day:

"This is... the road to his own death!"