"Why don't most ordinary intermediate academies teach anything about mecha, while the entrance exams for Shrek Academy place such high demands on applicants' secondary professions?
"Could this be part of Shrek Academy's plan? Or is this why Eastsea Academy is so underwhelming?"
When Lan Kai heard from Zhang Yangzi, who had voiced his surprise and questioned Wu Zhangkong, that mecha-related subjects were only taught in the advanced division, he thought of Shrek Academy's entrance exams and seemed to understand why Eastsea Academy, despite being located in the major city of Eastsea City, home to one of the Eighteen Pillars of the Spirit Pagoda, was still only a middling academy on the continent.
And what Wu Zhangkong had taught that day was merely the most basic knowledge. Even so, everyone present except Lan Kai and Gu Yue had been deeply affected.
So Soul Masters could become even stronger.
After the brief theory lesson, Wu Zhangkong immediately had everyone move their desks and chairs to the corners of the classroom, clearing a large open space in the middle.
Then Wu Zhangkong began to sharply criticize their performance in the Class Promotion Tournament—or, more accurately, he tore into Tang Wulin and Gu Yue without holding back.
After all, if they reviewed that Class Promotion Tournament match, Xie Xie's only problem was that he hadn't been strong enough to lead Grade One Class Five to victory in a one-on-two fight—even against two opponents with a Martial Soul Fusion Skill.
As for Tang Wulin and Gu Yue's teamwork, Wu Zhangkong had only four words for it:
Painful to watch.
Even though Gu Yue, as the team's controller, had clearly favored Tang Wulin during the fight, the two of them together still hadn't beaten Lan Kai. Their teamwork had also been riddled with all sorts of problems.
As for Lan Kai...
"Lan Kai, I know you're very strong, but some of your habits in battle are completely unnecessary.
"For example, why did you take the fireball Gu Yue shot at you with your face?
"And why didn't you use any kind of breakfall when Tang Wulin charged into you?"
Wu Zhangkong also criticized some of Lan Kai's showboating without the slightest mercy. It made Lan Kai think of Aihara Ryu from Ultraman Mebius, watching Mebius use a building as a shield just to show off.
"Because it puts more pressure on Tang Wulin and Gu Yue, and shakes their confidence. That makes the rest of the fight go more smoothly for me."
"But if Gu Yue or Tang Wulin had actually hurt you, you would've suffered serious injuries you could have avoided. That can be fatal in a fight.
"No matter how much stronger you are than your opponent, you must never underestimate them or let your guard down.
"Still, there's one thing you deserve praise for: your combat skills are very solid.
"Your attacks had very few openings, and you were prepared for each of them.
"Today, I'm going to teach you all just how important solid combat skills are in actual battle."
After praising Lan Kai a few times, Wu Zhangkong officially began the day's lesson.
He had only a pointer, and his cultivation was suppressed to around two rings, yet he still made life miserable for every member of Class Zero except Lan Kai.
Gu Yue suffered the most. Wu Zhangkong seemed determined to show everyone in Class Zero what gender equality meant, and showed her no mercy at all. Every so often, she let out a pained cry, making Lan Kai frown.
"Something's not right. Gu Yue is the 'original body' of the Silver Dragon King. Even if physical strength isn't her forte, her hand-to-hand skills shouldn't be this awful, should they?
"Could she have split her talent for hand-to-hand combat along with her feelings, and given it all to Na'er?"
Watching Gu Yue stumble around like a Kamen Rider second hero who'd lost the protection of the rookie period, whipped into a spinning top by Wu Zhangkong, Lan Kai's expression shifted from a broad smile to that of "Subway, Old Man, Phone.jpg."
"Gu Yue, your Martial Soul is a rare Light-Dark Elemental Wielder, but you can't neglect the most basic combat skills. If someone gets close to you, then even if you can use spatial power, you'll be ten times more helpless than you are now."
After he finished whipping the Silver Dragon Kingpin into a spinning top, Wu Zhangkong offered a few brief comments. Then his gaze fell on Lan Kai, and he lowered the pointer.
"...Lan Kai, come with me to the academy's Sparring Arena."
"Teacher Wu, why doesn't Lan Kai have to—"
Tang Wulin pointed at Lan Kai indignantly. Why did Lan Kai get to avoid being whipped with Wu Zhangkong's pointer while they had to endure this torture?
"What, you want me to use my Martial Soul, stop suppressing my Soul Power, and train against you?"
Wu Zhangkong looked at Tang Wulin again, his expression unchanged.
"No, no, Teacher. I think today's lesson has already taught me enough..."
Tang Wulin quickly refused.
Even though the incident with the beef simmered in a sealed jar had never happened, the strength Wu Zhangkong had shown while training him in Grade One Class Five had already made a deep impression on Tang Wulin.
Even with his Soul Power suppressed and without using his Martial Soul, he could only be whipped around like a spinning top by Wu Zhangkong. If Wu Zhangkong brought out his Martial Soul, wouldn't things be even worse?
"...Teacher, can I transform?"
Lan Kai thought it over, then decided he'd better ask first.
"You mean that form you took during the Class Promotion Tournament? You can."
Wu Zhangkong nodded, then led the members of Class Zero to the Sparring Arena.
Since Wu Zhangkong had decided to stop suppressing his Soul Power, there was no point fighting in the classroom.
Besides, Wu Zhangkong had a vague feeling that Lan Kai's tactics were probably built around the body he had after transforming. Otherwise, he wouldn't have taken that fireball to the face.
For all he knew, in his transformed state, Lan Kai might even be able to block lightning with his chest muscles.
Before long, they reached the Sparring Arena behind the teaching building. It was enormous, a square with fifty-meter-long sides.
Wu Zhangkong and Lan Kai stepped onto the Sparring Arena and took their places on opposite sides.
"Lan Kai, your strength doesn't seem like something that can be measured by your Soul Rings. This time, show me your full power.
"I'll use my Martial Soul and wear Battle Armor, too. You can transform now."
As he spoke, a pale-blue longsword appeared in Wu Zhangkong's hand.
One ring of light after another emerged from the hilt. The Soul Rings were small, circling the blade. They were unmistakably Wu Zhangkong's: two yellow, two purple, and two black—the best Soul Ring configuration for a Soul Emperor from ten thousand years ago.
Then white points of light appeared all over his body. From each point, silver threads of light shot out, intertwining into splendid silver patterns. In an instant, the aura around Wu Zhangkong began to surge with terrifying speed.
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