Class Promotion Tournament, Kong Hanwen Feels Like He Can Do It Again

Frustration! Unprecedented frustration!

As the dignified God King Tang, an invincible force across the God Realm who had swindled—ah, no, guided—countless living beings, when had he ever suffered such a silent loss?

"Yao Chuan! It's this Yao Chuan again!" God King Tang's divine sense was practically boiling. "There is definitely something wrong with this brat! That strange leakage of the Golden Dragon King's essence... it must be his doing!"

He was ten thousand percent certain of his judgment.

Yet, at this moment, Tang Wulin's level of trust in Yao Chuan was clearly far higher than his trust in this "old grandfather of unknown origin."

"Forget it, forget it..." God King Tang forcibly suppressed his surging divine sense, comforting himself. "If one cannot endure small things, one will spoil great plans. A trust level of negative one hundred is still a trust level; it's better than being blocked outright. I must plan for the long term and proceed slowly..."

He decided to strategically go silent for now, observe, and then decide.

In the real world, Tang Wulin had no time to care about the glass heart of a certain God King in his consciousness space shattering into QR codes.

He opened his eyes abruptly, a brilliant golden light flashing across his pupils before vanishing, while his bones emitted a soft yet powerful crackling sound.

A sense of unprecedented power, like surging lava, roared through his limbs and bones!

His Blue Silver Grass martial soul was released almost by instinct.

One could see that the edges of the originally emerald-green leaves were now plated with a layer of flowing, metallic-lustered gold, and the roots were entwined with a tangible, pale golden halo, exuding an aura of toughness and sharpness.

"It worked! The first seal, it really has been broken!" Tang Wulin's heart pounded with excitement, nearly leaping out of his throat.

Feeling the explosive power within his body, he just wanted to roar at the sky.

Who could he share this ecstasy with?

His parents weren't around, and that guy Xie Xie was always so boisterous...

A name instantly occupied his entire mind.

"Brother Yao Chuan!" Tang Wulin leaped up like a cannonball leaving the chamber, whooshing out of the dormitory door, his target set firmly on Yao Chuan's room!

At this moment, he only wanted to be the first to tell this great news to the person who had extended a helping hand when he was at his most desperate!

"Bang!"

Yao Chuan's door was pushed open by Tang Wulin with enough force to be considered breaking and entering.

"Brother Yao Chuan! It's done! I succeeded!" Tang Wulin's voice trembled with excitement, his face filled with irrepressible joy and gratitude.

Yao Chuan was leaning lazily against the window, toying with a piece of rare metal that shimmered with a faint, eerie light.

Seeing Tang Wulin rush in, along with the golden soul power fluctuations—not yet fully calmed and carrying a faint dragon's might—on his body, a flash of realization crossed Yao Chuan's eyes, followed by a heartfelt smile.

It was done!

His perception was correct; the vast, sealed power of the Golden Dragon King within Tang Wulin had indeed become more "active" due to the loosening of the first shackle.

What did this mean?

It meant that his "wool-shearing grand plan" could finally enter version 2.0, allowing him to harvest even richer "wool"!

Yao Chuan stood up, his smile sincere and warm, and gave Tang Wulin's shoulder a firm pat:

"Good lad! Well done! I knew you could do it! How does it feel?"

"Strong! Unprecedentedly strong!"

Tang Wulin clenched his fists tightly, the air seemingly being squeezed until it popped, emitting a faint sonic boom. "My martial soul has evolved too! Brother Yao Chuan, really... thank you so much! If you hadn't helped me buy those spiritual items, I..."

Thinking of that terrifying price, Tang Wulin still felt a lingering fear, his voice choking up slightly.

Yao Chuan waved his hand, acting with great magnanimity: "Hey, why are you being so formal? We're brothers, aren't we? You just focus on getting stronger, and leave the rest to your big brother! Don't worry about the money; you can pay it back slowly later."

His inner abacus was clicking away:

What was this bit of early investment? Compared to the top-tier Golden Dragon King essence energy he was about to harvest continuously, it was just a drop in the bucket!

Moreover, by continuously establishing his persona as a "reliable big brother" and driving a wedge between Tang Wulin and his father's divine sense, this investment was a guaranteed win!

"You have only broken the first seal for now," Yao Chuan looked at Tang Wulin with burning eyes. "The power hidden within your body has only just begun to be released."

"Continue to work hard to absorb and digest it; your progress will only become greater and greater!"

"The Class Promotion Tournament is the best whetstone!"

Mentioning the Class Promotion Tournament, a raging fire of battle instantly ignited in Tang Wulin's eyes: "Don't worry, Brother Yao Chuan! This time, I will definitely show our momentum! I'll let them see that Class Five is not to be trifled with!"

With the seal broken and his power surging, he was just worrying about not finding a suitable punching bag... oh no, a suitable opponent to test his results!

Time passed in the blink of an eye, and two days arrived.

Eastsea Academy, Class Promotion Tournament arena.

The atmosphere was heated, and the noise was deafening.

Students from every class of the first year, and even many upperclassmen looking for excitement, packed the spectator stands.

Today was the first battle of Class Five's journey in the Class Promotion Tournament, facing off against Class Four.

Wu Changkong stood at the very front of the Class Five team, his white robes spotless, his posture as straight as a pine, standing as steady as a mountain.

His impossibly handsome, icy face remained at its eternal sub-zero temperature, radiating a coldness that kept strangers at a distance.

Behind him, Tang Wulin, Gu Yue, and Xie Xie held their heads high, full of spirit.

Tang Wulin felt the power surging within his body, his confidence soaring.

Xie Xie, meanwhile, looked nimble and restless, ready to slip away and stir up trouble at any moment.

Gu Yue's expression remained cold, yet deep within her beautiful eyes hid a trace of barely perceptible, forcibly suppressed resentment.

As for Yao Chuan, he stood with his arms crossed, leaning lazily against a pillar slightly behind the group, looking bored and wishing only for this to end quickly so he could go back and catch up on sleep.

Wu Changkong's icy gaze swept over the four people behind him. Without wasting words, he announced, "First match, against Class Four. Starters: Tang Wulin, Gu Yue, Xie Xie."

His voice was not loud, yet it clearly pierced through the noisy background of the arena, reaching everyone's ears.

"Huh?" Xie Xie was the first to cry out, instinctively looking toward Yao Chuan. "Teacher Wu, what about Yao Chuan..."

Tang Wulin was also anxious and quickly spoke up, "Teacher, Big Brother Yao Chuan is so strong, is he not playing?"

Although Gu Yue didn't speak, her gaze also snapped toward Wu Changkong, carrying a silent inquiry.

Wu Changkong didn't even lift an eyelid, his tone flat and devoid of ripples: "Yao Chuan, substitute."

"Substitute?!" Even Tang Wulin and Xie Xie exclaimed in unison.

Gu Yue also furrowed her delicate brows.

The three of them had spent quite a lot of effort to make Wu Changkong reluctantly agree to give Yao Chuan a "tournament spot."

And yet, he was just a substitute?

Wu Changkong finally glanced at them coldly, his eyes like ice picks.

"With his strength, going up there is just bullying the weak; it has no training value. It would be a waste of a spot."

Concise and to the point, every word like a blade.

The subtext was clear: the opponents were too weak, and Yao Chuan going up would be pure bullying, offering no benefit to him and no excitement for the match.

Making him a substitute was already the greatest concession he could make for the sake of the three of them.

Leaning against the pillar, Yao Chuan heard this and, far from being unhappy, acted as if he had heard good news, immediately raising his hands in agreement:

"Teacher Wu is wise! I completely agree! Being a substitute is great—slacking off, getting paid, perfect!"

He had no desire to go up and beat up children; he'd rather spend that time researching how to "fleece" Tang Wulin more stably and efficiently.

Besides, being a leisurely substitute while observing everyone's reactions—wasn't that delightful?

However, he immediately cast a "kindly" smile toward Tang Wulin and the others, adding slowly:

"But, you three had better step up.

Remember, don't you dare give me a chance to step onto the field..."

He deliberately drew out his tone, his eyes filled with a "you know what I mean" threat.

Tang Wulin and Xie Xie shivered, as if they had instantly returned to the abyss of fear dominated by Yao Chuan's devilish special training.

That hellish forging, that mental pressure squeezed down to the millimeter, that training intensity that made them want to die on the spot countless times...

Xie Xie's face went pale, and he waved his hands frantically:

"Don't worry, Big Brother Yao Chuan! Absolutely! Absolutely no need for you to step in! The three of us are enough! You rest easy! Yes, rest easy!"

Tang Wulin also nodded his head like a chick pecking at rice:

"Yes, yes! Big Brother Yao Chuan, just watch our performance from the sidelines! We guarantee a clean and decisive victory!"

Both of them were screaming internally: Are you kidding? Let this devil play? The "super-sized hell package" waiting for them after the match would be unbearable! Just thinking about it made their legs go weak!

Watching the two boys act so spinelessly, Gu Yue let out a soft huff. She didn't speak, but her haughty little gaze clearly read: Two cowards!

However, not letting Yao Chuan play?

It suited her just fine.

She glanced at the girls in the Class Four spectator area who were gazing longingly at Yao Chuan, holding homemade signs, and a cold arc curled at the corner of her lips.

The movements of Class Five were naturally taken in by the Class Four homeroom teacher, Kong Hanwen.

Kong Hanwen was a slightly chubby middle-aged man wearing gold-rimmed glasses. At this moment, he was craning his neck, nervously observing the most dazzling figure in the Class Five formation—Yao Chuan.

The story of Yao Chuan beating up Zhou Changxi during the entrance exam and shocking the entire audience had already spread throughout the first grade.

Level 31 Soul Elder!

Legendary Soul Spirit!

Twin Martial Souls!

Every title was enough to make Kong Hanwen and his students tremble with fear.

He had already mentally prepared himself to be swept by Yao Chuan alone, and was currently pondering how to lose with a bit of dignity.

Just then, a Class Four student responsible for scouting information came running back, panting, his face filled with unbelievable ecstasy:

"Teacher Kong! I found out! It's confirmed! That Yao Chuan... he, he's a substitute! Teacher Wu arranged for him to be a substitute! The starters are those two one-ringers and that Elementalist!"

"What?! A substitute?!"

Kong Hanwen thought his ears were failing him and grabbed the student's arm. "Are you sure? Yao Chuan? A substitute? Not a starter?"

"It's absolutely true, Teacher Kong! I heard Teacher Wu announce it with my own ears! Besides, they're still arguing about it over in Class Five, and Yao Chuan even admitted it himself! He's a substitute!" The student's face was flushed with excitement.

"Hahaha! Heaven is helping me! Truly, heaven is helping me!"

Kong Hanwen abruptly let go of the student's arm, jumping on the spot in his excitement, his gold-rimmed glasses nearly flying off his face.

The gloom and tension on his face vanished in an instant, replaced by wild ecstasy and the swelling sensation that "the advantage is mine."

He adjusted his glasses, trying hard to suppress the smile tugging at the corners of his mouth, but he couldn't hold it back; his entire face blossomed like a chrysanthemum in full bloom.

"Wu Changkong, oh Wu Changkong! So you have your days too! Let's see you act all high and mighty now! Let's see you keep looking down your nose at everyone! Did you finally overplay your hand?"

"Without that monster Yao Chuan holding the fort, what do you have? Tang Wulin and his trash Blue Silver Grass, Xie Xie that tail-ender, and some wild girl named Gu Yue from who knows where? What are you going to use to fight the elites of Class Four that I've painstakingly cultivated? Arrogance! This is the price of arrogance! You deserve it!"

He suddenly felt like he was back on top, his back straightening as he cast a look toward Wu Changkong and the Class Five area, filled with nothing but contempt and provocation.

He even straightened his collar and cleared his throat, preparing to deliver a grand, high-minded speech once victory was secured.

How could Kong Hanwen's supposedly well-hidden facial expressions and his sudden, overflowing sense of superiority possibly escape the perception of someone at the level of Wu Changkong or Yao Chuan?

Wu Changkong merely glanced at him coldly, his eyes filled with icy indifference, as if he were watching a monkey jumping up and down.

Immediately, Teacher Wu withdrew his gaze, as if looking for even a second longer would dirty his eyes.

Yao Chuan, on the other hand, nearly failed to keep a straight face and burst out laughing.

He forced himself to hold it in, covering his mouth with his hand as his shoulders shook suspiciously, his stomach aching from suppressing his laughter.

Pfft... this Teacher Kong... I'm afraid he's suffering from a serious case of brain damage, isn't he?

Yao Chuan ranted internally, He's getting this high just from a substitute spot? If he didn't go write novels with this kind of imagination, it would be a total waste of talent.

He shook his head, lighting a candle for Teacher Kong's intelligence.

However, Kong Hanwen's "villainous" face and undisguised contempt were like red-hot steel needles, stabbing fiercely into the hearts of the three starting members of Class Five!

Tang Wulin had just broken a seal, his body surging with power, and he was craving a hearty victory to put it to the test.

Kong Hanwen's gaze, which swept over him as if he were trash, instantly ignited the fury in his heart.

He clenched his fists, his knuckles popping with a sharp crack, faint golden light flickering in his eyes.

Looking down on me? Thinking I'm a dead weight? Fine! Very well! Soon, I'll let you see the true power of my 'trash' Blue Silver Grass!

He gritted his teeth, whispering to himself as a fierce aura faintly leaked from his body.

Using Class Four to test out my newly acquired Golden Dragon King power... that seems like a pretty good choice, doesn't it? Tang Wulin's gaze turned dangerous.

Xie Xie was so angry he was hopping mad, pointing toward Kong Hanwen and launching into a tirade:

"Damn it! What kind of look is that fat pig giving us? Smiling like a weasel that just stole a chicken! Does he really think we're soft targets just because Big Brother Yao Chuan isn't playing? I'm going to beat his little treasures so hard their own mothers won't recognize them today!"

The phantom of the Light Dragon Dagger flashed in his hand, its cold light biting.

As for Gu Yue... her resentment had already broken through the heavens, turning into black mist that was almost tangible!

The reason was simple: the Class Four spectator area, especially the section for the girls, was currently the scene of a massive "fan collapse" after the failure of their idol worship (Yao Chuan)!

"Ah??? Male god Yao Chuan isn't playing? Just a substitute?"

"No way!!! I spent two hours putting on makeup just to watch the male god slaughter the competition!"

"How could Teacher Wu do this! Why not let Yao Chuan play? Protest! I strongly protest!"

"Exactly! What's the point of watching a match without Yao Chuan? I want a refund!"

"Look, look, Junior Yao Chuan is standing right there, so lazy and charming, even as a substitute he has such style... Ah! Did he just look over here? He must be looking at me! I'm dying, I'm dying..."

"Hey, hey, wake up, sister, he was clearly looking at my side, okay?"