After everyone had introduced themselves, Wu Zhangkong led all the students from Class One to the Training Ground.
He had originally planned to start practical combat lessons tomorrow.
But these new students in Class One had only just arrived, and their pride was even greater than that of the students in the upper grades. They needed to be put firmly in their place.
Besides, Tang Wulin was a student he had personally chosen. If Tang Wulin was mocked, it was as good as slapping him in the face. That was unacceptable.
"All right. One-on-one matches. When I call your name, get into the ring."
Wu Zhangkong's voice was icy. "First match: Tang Wulin versus Zhou Feng."
Zhou Feng was a Soul Master whose Martial Soul was a Great Strength Ape. His Soul Power Level was fourteen, which was about average.
The Great Strength Ape was a Beast Martial Soul, though, and its strength was considerable. It could handle opponents one or two levels above its own.
"Haha, kid, just admit defeat. How can you fight me with a Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul?" Zhou Feng laughed as he released his Great Strength Ape Martial Soul and a Hundred-Year Soul Ring.
Everyone who made it into Class One had at least a Hundred-Year Soul Ring.
Tang Wulin didn't say a word. He simply took out his three-hundred-pound Thousand-Refined Deep Silver hammer.
"Oh? A Blue Silver Grass Soul Master using a hammer. That's interesting." Zhou Feng grinned.
"The match begins."
Wu Zhangkong's voice was cold.
"Great Strength Fist!"
Zhou Feng attacked without hesitation.
Tang Wulin remained silent and swung his hammer.
"Boom—"
"Ah—"
A scream rang out. Zhou Feng had completely underestimated the power of the Thousand-Refined Deep Silver hammer. It slammed into him, and he clutched his chest as he collapsed to the ground, unable to get up. His breastbone had probably cracked.
And that was with Tang Wulin holding back.
"Tang Wulin wins. Zhou Feng, you were far too careless. Your punishment is to run a thousand laps around the track."
Wu Zhangkong's tone was icy.
"Come on, Teacher, he ambushed me... No, wait, why a thousand laps? Who could finish that? My breastbone's broken..."
Zhou Feng wailed.
"Go recover. Once you're healed, start running. If you can't even beat a Blue Silver Grass Soul Master, you don't need to come to class again until you've finished."
Wu Zhangkong showed no mercy.
Zhou Feng was completely dumbfounded. He'd lost the match, suffered a serious injury, and on top of that, received the ultimate punishment.
This teacher was way too savage...
It wasn't just Zhou Feng. The others were all stunned, too.
"Next match: Xie Xie versus Yu Shuang."
"Next match..."
Wu Zhangkong called out the names one after another.
Since the rest periods were short, the early matches were mostly strong students against weak ones. Every fight ended in a quick knockout.
Tang Wulin also lived up to expectations, crushing everyone who had mocked him along the way.
"Teacher, I'd like to report Tang Wulin! There's something wrong with his hammer. How can he use such a powerful weapon?" One student had been beaten black and blue by Tang Wulin's hammer and finally couldn't help speaking up.
"The rules don't restrict weapons. You can even use a Mecha." Wu Zhangkong's tone remained indifferent.
"Teacher, can we really use Mechas?" Su Chen asked immediately.
Wu Zhangkong: ...
The corner of Wu Zhangkong's mouth twitched.
He knew Su Chen had a Yellow-Grade Mecha, built entirely from top-grade materials. Even he couldn't help feeling envious and jealous when he saw it...
"They can. You can't."
Wu Zhangkong glanced at Su Chen, giving him no chance to show off.
He hadn't expected Su Chen to be so shameless. He was already a Soul Elder, yet he still wanted to use a Mecha to bully his classmates. Even his character was worse than Wu Zhangkong's.
Su Chen: ...
Soon, an hour passed, and the matches ended.
With Su Chen sitting out, the top five had been decided.
They were Wang Jinxi, Zhang Yangzi, Wei Xiaofeng, Xie Xie, and Tang Wulin.
The rest of the class was completely stunned, and cries of anguish filled the air.
No one had expected Tang Wulin, with a Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul and a cultivation level of only eleven, to be so strong that he'd placed fifth.
According to Wu Zhangkong, everyone who placed below fifth would have their training doubled from then on. Who could endure that...
However, the rankings of Tang Wulin and the others were only Wu Zhangkong's verdict. They hadn't actually fought one another.
After all, Su Chen hadn't participated at any point.
"All right. For the final match, the five of you will fight Su Chen. If you can injure him, you win, and your training load for the first week will be cut in half."
Wu Zhangkong continued.
"Really?"
At his words, Wang Jinxi and the others all rubbed their hands together eagerly.
They were all One-Ring Soul Masters, but five against one, and all they had to do was injure Su Chen. With good teamwork, they still had a tiny chance.
"Come on. Honestly, I kind of hope I lose."
Su Chen smiled faintly and stepped into the ring first.
The next moment.
"Vrrm—"
Su Chen summoned his Soul Suppressing Pagoda and released his three Thousand-Year Soul Rings.
"What! Three Thousand-Year Soul Rings!"
"Monster!"
Everyone sucked in a sharp breath at the sight of Su Chen's three Thousand-Year Soul Rings.
One Thousand-Year Soul Ring was already outrageous. He had three.
However, no one paid any attention to Su Chen's Second Martial Soul.
Normally, a Twin Martial Soul user wouldn't equip their Second Martial Soul with a Soul Spirit until much later.
Since Su Chen had summoned his Soul Suppressing Pagoda, that meant his Second Martial Soul probably didn't have a Soul Spirit yet.
Of course, they also didn't know that the Soul Spirit of Su Chen's Soul Suppressing Pagoda was three thousand years old. Its age alone exceeded the combined ages of all five of their Soul Rings.
Only Wu Zhangkong's pupils contracted slightly when he saw Su Chen's three Thousand-Year Soul Rings.
On one hand, Su Chen's talent was simply monstrous. Three Thousand-Year Soul Rings meant his spiritual power had definitely reached the Spirit Connection Realm. Even at Shrek, that would put him on the level of the Shrek Seven Devils.
And although most people couldn't tell a Soul Ring's age, Wu Zhangkong could judge from its power that all three of Su Chen's Soul Rings were three thousand years old!
"This kid... He's got something special. If he joined Shrek, the Inner Court would be fighting over him..." Wu Zhangkong thought to himself.
Su Chen's talent was even more terrifying than his own. His future was limitless.
Being Su Chen's teacher was, in truth, an honor...
"Don't be afraid, everyone! Attack together!"
Xie Xie roared and charged first.
He hated nothing more than someone showing off in front of him!
"Light Dragon Dagger!"
Xie Xie moved at astonishing speed, closing in on Su Chen before darting behind him.
Su Chen couldn't be bothered to react.
"Hmph! You think you can look down on me? You're not even a defensive Soul Master!"
Xie Xie's eyes flashed as he drove the Light Dragon Dagger hard into Su Chen's shoulder from behind.
"Clang—"
A light sound rang out. The dagger only pierced Su Chen's clothes before stopping completely.
Xie Xie felt as if his dagger had struck a block of solid steel. It couldn't penetrate even a fraction farther.
"Damn it, why are you wearing armor!"
Xie Xie was instantly furious.
Su Chen wasn't a defensive-type Soul Master. How could his defense be so terrifying? He had to be wearing top-grade armor. How shameless!
"Next."
Su Chen casually slapped him, sending Xie Xie flying.
Of course, Su Chen held back. With his current strength, he could tear a Soul Emperor apart with ease. A sneak attack from him could easily blow a Soul Saint's head apart with one punch.
Without Battle Armor or some other defensive Soul Tool, Su Chen could slaughter anyone below the Soul Douluo level.
Su Chen had no interest in bullying someone like Xie Xie.
Besides, Xie Xie and Tang Wulin were both still weak at this point.
In the original story, the two of them, together with Gu Yue, had struggled to defeat a Two-Ring Soul Master named Light Dragon. They stood no chance against Su Chen...
"Blue Silver Bind!"
Just then, Tang Wulin also unleashed his Blue Silver Grass, instantly wrapping Su Chen up.
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