The Golden Scale Finally Appears! Buddha Tang Can't Sit Still, Will Teach Personally?

Xie Xie dodged in a sorry state.

Although he wasn't injured, his expression was far from pleasant, for this signaled the end of yet another attempt.

In the center of the training ground, Tang Wulin, Xie Xie, and Gu Yue stood looking somewhat disheveled, their chests heaving as they focused their complex gazes on Yao Chuan opposite them.

Yao Chuan held that ordinary wooden spear in one hand, his aura so steady it was absurd, as if the intense three-way siege just now had been nothing more than a gentle breeze.

He hadn't even disrupted his breathing rhythm by much.

"Again!" Xie Xie growled, his eyes filled with unyielding stubbornness.

The light and shadow of the Light Dragon Dagger flickered once more; his figure moved like lightning as he attempted to cut in from the side.

Gu Yue's eyes were solemn, her fingers flying as ice cones and fireballs instantly wove into a covering net of firepower, attempting to seal off Yao Chuan's room for evasion.

Earth elements were quietly activated, causing the ground to ripple slightly to restrict Yao Chuan's footing.

Tang Wulin took a deep breath, his Blue Silver Grass acting like tough vines as they lunged to entwine Yao Chuan's legs, attempting to pin him in place.

This was the best coordination they could conceive.

However, facing this seemingly flawless siege, Yao Chuan simply moved.

His figure was like a blurred phantom, weaving eerily through the gaps between the ice cones and fireballs. The wooden spear tapped precisely onto the weak point of the Light Dragon Dagger; a surge of clever force traveled through, and Xie Xie felt his arm go numb, his entire body sent spinning away.

At the same time, Yao Chuan stomped his left foot lightly on the ground, and a shockwave instantly rippled outward, causing the Blue Silver Grass that had just wrapped around his ankles to snap inch by inch.

Gu Yue's elemental bombardment missed entirely.

Xie Xie stumbled a few steps before barely managing to steady himself, his face etched with disbelief.

"This... isn't this just too ridiculous?"

Wu Changkong's ice-blue eyes reflected everything on the field as he stood with his arms crossed, leaning against the edge of the arena.

He saw it clearly.

Yao Chuan's movements appeared simple, yet they had reached the realm of returning to the basics. Every block, every dodge, and every exertion of force was perfected to the peak, dismantling the trio's seemingly fierce offensive one by one.

His application of power, mastery of technique, and judgment of timing were all nearly perfect.

What was even more terrifying was that Wu Changkong keenly sensed that after every counterattack, there was a trace of "seamless integration" in Yao Chuan that was difficult to detect.

It was as if he were learning and digesting during the battle, with every strike becoming more precise and efficient than the last.

This terrifying growth speed was as if he had a non-stop evolutionary engine installed in his body!

"Where are his openings?" Gu Yue bit her lower lip, her brain racing, only to despairingly discover that the opponent was like an iron barrel without a single seam.

"It feels like he's giving us a lecture..." Tang Wulin panted heavily, his blood surging within him, a sense of frustration rising spontaneously.

The feeling of being suppressed—the damage wasn't high, but the insult was extreme!

Just then, an indescribable tremor erupted from deep within Tang Wulin's right arm!

A low dragon roar seemed to resound within his bloodline; beneath his skin, fine golden scale patterns emerged like a living thing, instantly covering his entire right arm.

A surge of violent power swelled, washing away his previous frustration and replacing it with an urge to tear everything apart!

"Roar!" Tang Wulin's eyes were stained with a faint gold, and a low growl that sounded inhuman escaped his throat.

He no longer used the Blue Silver Grass, instead pouring his entire strength, along with that sudden surge of violent power, into his right fist!

The wind of his punch tore through the air, vaguely condensing into a blurred yet majestic golden dragon head phantom, carrying an unstoppable momentum as it slammed toward Yao Chuan!

At this moment, even the air seemed to freeze.

Xie Xie and Gu Yue were stunned by this sudden display of might, their movements slowing by half a beat.

A sharp light erupted in Wu Changkong's eyes, his body subconsciously leaning forward slightly.

"This is...?!"

Facing this earth-shattering punch imbued with dragon might, Yao Chuan's eyes showed a subtle change for the first time.

It was no longer the calm, waveless look from before, but carried a hint of solemnity, and... a trace of hard-to-detect excitement?

"Now this is interesting," he whispered.

Without any wasted movement, an aura far deeper, more vast, and more majestic than Tang Wulin's fist shadow suddenly descended!

Deep black light condensed behind Yao Chuan, and a massive dragon-shaped phantom, seemingly composed of pure darkness, suddenly manifested.

Although it flashed and vanished, the terrifying pressure released in that instant was like the gaze of an abyss, making everyone present, including Wu Changkong, feel a tremor in the depths of their souls!

Black Dragon Martial Soul!

Yao Chuan did not retreat; he didn't even use that eerie "White Wall" soul skill.

He simply met the golden dragon head phantom, thrusting the tip of the wooden spear forward in a plain, unremarkable manner.

At the tip of the spear, a point of extremely restrained black light was condensed.

BOOM—!!!

It wasn't an earth-shattering explosion, but a dull thud so heavy it felt as if one's heart had stopped.

Golden and black energies violently collided and annihilated each other at the point where the spear tip met the fist!

The imagined explosion of power did not occur.

That punch, containing the limit of Tang Wulin's strength and even drawing upon the essence of the Golden Dragon, was like a clay ox entering the sea; all its violent force was firmly absorbed, devoured, and suppressed by that single point of deep, black radiance!

The golden dragon head phantom let out a cry of unwillingness before suddenly dissipating.

Tang Wulin felt a force of recoil so immense it could not be resisted, as if he had smashed his fist against an immovable divine mountain from the ages past!

The golden scale patterns on his right arm dimmed instantly, a sharp pain surged through him, and he was sent flying backward uncontrollably, as if struck head-on by a siege ram!

"Wulin!"

"Tang Wulin!"

Xie Xie and Gu Yue cried out in alarm, wanting to rescue him, but it was already too late.

Yao Chuan's movements did not pause for even a fraction of a second.

The wooden spear tapped lightly, like a viper flicking its tongue, striking the side of the Light Dragon Dagger that Xie Xie had used to block in his haste.

A strange, vibrating force surged through once more; the webbing between Xie Xie's thumb and forefinger split, the Light Dragon Dagger flew from his hand, and he followed in Tang Wulin's footsteps.

Gu Yue mobilized the wind elements in an attempt to dodge, only to find the surrounding air had become like frozen mire—the spatial slowing effect brought about by Yao Chuan's terrifying aura.

The tip of the wooden spear stopped silently, just an inch from her throat.

Cold, sharp.

The outcome was decided.

The battle was over.

The training ground fell into a deathly silence.

Only the heavy, ragged breathing of the three could be heard.

Tang Wulin clutched his aching right arm and struggled to stand, his face pale, his eyes filled with bewilderment and defeat.

Xie Xie shook his numb, painful wrist, looking at the Light Dragon Dagger on the ground with a complex expression.

Gu Yue felt the cold, sharp edge at her throat, her body stiffening; the last glimmer of hope in her eyes was extinguished.

The three of them had joined forces, playing all their trump cards, yet they had still been suppressed by the opponent with such effortless ease.

This gap was like a chasm!

Wu Changkong slowly lowered his arms and walked over step by step.

His gaze lingered on Yao Chuan for a long time; deep within those ice-blue eyes lay profound shock and a trace of imperceptible... wonder.

This youth displayed something beyond his expectations in every single battle.

Especially the pressure of the Black Dragon Martial Soul that had erupted and retracted in an instant just now; even he felt a sense of alarm.

Not to mention that visible, truly monstrous growth in combat ability.

This is more broken than a pay-to-win cheat...

He couldn't help but let this thought pop into his mind, before immediately suppressing it.

Even in Shrek Academy, where legends were common and monsters were as numerous as dogs, someone who could improve so rapidly during a fight was likely a rare phoenix feather or unicorn horn.

Yao Chuan's existence was, in itself, a subversion of common sense.

Yao Chuan flipped his wrist, retracting the wooden spear, and the terrifying pressure that had shrouded the entire field dissipated along with it.

His expression returned to calm, as if it hadn't been him who had suppressed the three just moments ago.

"I concede."

He uttered these two words faintly, then walked to the edge of the field, picked up his water bottle, and drank quietly, as if he had merely been warming up.

Wu Changkong walked up to the three battered youths.

Tang Wulin kept his head down, not daring to meet his teacher's eyes.

Xie Xie picked up his Light Dragon Dagger with a look of frustration.

Gu Yue stood where she was, biting her lip slightly, her eyes flickering as she pondered something.

An atmosphere of dejection permeated the air.

Wu Changkong's ice-blue gaze swept over the three, his cold tone carrying a rare hint of warmth:

"There is no need to be downcast."

His voice was not loud, yet it reached the ears of the three clearly.

"Do you think it is a shameful thing to have lasted this long against him?"

Tang Wulin, Xie Xie, and Gu Yue all subconsciously looked up at Wu Changkong.

Wu Changkong pointed at Yao Chuan, who was drinking water and watching as a spectator:

"His strength cannot be measured by conventional logic. The coordination between the three of you today is already a qualitative leap compared to your first time working together."

He paused, his gaze landing on Tang Wulin, his tone firm:

"Especially you, Tang Wulin. The power of that final punch was very interesting."

Tang Wulin froze, then recalled the anomaly in his right arm, a flash of awkwardness and confusion crossing his face.

Wu Changkong did not press the matter, turning instead to Gu Yue: "Gu Yue, your approach to elemental combination is correct, but the timing and transitions could be more refined."

Finally, he looked at Xie Xie: "Xie Xie, speed is your advantage, but you are too easily predicted, and your attacks lack variety."

He swept his gaze over the three of them and made his decision:

"Given your performance, you have exceeded my expectations."

"In three months' time, the three of you will represent Class Five in the Class Promotion Tournament!"

These words were like a stone cast into a calm pool, instantly stirring ripples in the hearts of the three.

"Ah?!"

"Really, Teacher Wu?"

"We... can compete?"

The eyes of the three lit up, the previous sense of frustration washed away by a surge of immense surprise.

Being able to represent their class in the Class Promotion Tournament was a recognition of their strength and a tremendous honor!

Wu Changkong nodded, looked at Tang Wulin once more, and added:

"Tang Wulin."

"Here!" Tang Wulin stood at attention immediately.

"Starting tomorrow, your physical training is suspended."

Tang Wulin was stunned: "Ah?"

Wu Changkong explained:

"Your physical fitness is already strong enough, arguably the strongest among the three of you. Continuing to spend a large amount of time on physical conditioning is inefficient."

"The focus from here on out will be entirely on your control of Blue Silver Grass! I want you to reach a point where you can command it like an extension of your own arm in the shortest time possible, making it a true weapon rather than just vines used for tangling feet or pulling hammers! Understood?"

Tang Wulin felt a surge of excitement; this was Teacher Wu's recognition of his potential!

He nodded vigorously, his voice ringing out clearly:

"Understood! Teacher Wu! I will definitely work hard!"

After announcing his decision, Wu Changkong looked at his three students, who were once again brimming with fighting spirit; even his perpetual "iceberg" face seemed to soften with the faintest hint of a curve.

He clapped his hands:

"Alright, training ends here for today."

"Pack up and head to the cafeteria. My treat—Grade A meals."

At the mention of the cafeteria, Tang Wulin's eyes lit up instantly, the exhaustion and frustration from the earlier battle seemingly swept away.

He could eat! And it was a Grade A meal!

Happiness had arrived too suddenly!

He blurted out, his voice filled with pure joy:

"Long live Teacher Wu!!!"

This heartfelt cheer, carrying the unique vitality of a youth, echoed throughout the training ground.

Xie Xie couldn't help but roll his eyes: "Glutton..."

Gu Yue's lips couldn't help but curl upward slightly.

Even Yao Chuan, who was quietly drinking water nearby, caught a glimpse of Tang Wulin's sudden revival—as if he had been restored to full health and mana—and the hand holding his water bottle paused imperceptibly.

This kid... his mood shifts are way too fast, aren't they?

Wu Changkong's mouth seemed to twitch, but he ultimately maintained his aloof image:

"Enough nonsense. Meet at the cafeteria in ten minutes."

After a satisfying Grade A meal, Tang Wulin rubbed his belly contentedly as he walked toward the dormitory. The warm sensation of fullness eased the soreness in his body, and his steps felt noticeably lighter.

While he was happy, a storm was brewing in the depths of his consciousness where the divine sense of Tang San resided. Buddha Tang's divine intent replayed the scene from the training ground where Yao Chuan had suppressed Tang Wulin, his brows knitting tighter and tighter—

"Strange... how could this child possess a dragon-type aura even more overbearing than that of the Golden Dragon King?"

"Wulin bears the power of the Golden Dragon King, yet he was suppressed to the point of being unable to move... This is illogical!"

Tang San's divine soul shimmered with cold light in the void, a wisp of restored divine power quietly circulating:

"It seems I must personally guide this foolish son of mine."

As time passed, his remaining divine power was barely enough to touch the boundaries of reality. Although he could not intervene directly, conveying a few thoughts to Tang Wulin would not be a problem...

Night deepened.

The intense battle of the day, the mutation of his right arm, the affirmation from Wu Changkong, and the deliciousness of the Grade A meal... various images intertwined in Tang Wulin's mind.

The exhaustion of his body surged like a tide, and he soon drifted into a deep sleep.

However, his consciousness had not completely faded into silence.

It felt as though he were passing through a dark, elongated tunnel, surrounded by viscous, icy darkness.

He did not know how much time had passed before a faint glimmer of light appeared ahead.

Tang Wulin's consciousness drew closer toward the light.

He "saw" a vast, indescribable space.

At the center of this space coiled a golden dragon of such immense size that it defied description!

Its eyes were closed, its body appearing as if forged from the purest divine light-gold, with every scale shimmering with a mysterious and majestic luster.

Merely by coiling there in silence, it exuded an ancient aura that made his very soul tremble.

Wrapped around the dragon's body were dense, dark-gold chains etched with complex, flickering runes, as if they were binding it firmly within the depths of endless time and space.

A throb and a call originating from the deepest reaches of his bloodline made Tang Wulin's consciousness feel an incomparable sense of intimacy, yet it was also tinged with an instinctive awe.

Is this... the source of the power in my arm? That dragon?

Just as he was stunned by the scene before him, a gentle, clear voice—yet one carrying an indescribable majesty—resounded directly within the depths of his consciousness, as if piercing through the eons of time and space:

"Child, you have finally come."