The Battle at East Sea Park

"Thousand-Year Soul Ring!"

It took several seconds for Wu Zhangkong to recover from his shock. He pulled a sheet of paper from a pile of documents beside him. It was Tang Wulin's enrollment file.

"Tang Wulin, Martial Soul: Blue Silver Grass, Soul Power: Level 11, First Soul Ring: Century Soul Ring."

He stared at the words "Century Soul Ring" on the file, then glanced at the Thousand-Year Soul Ring beneath Tang Wulin's feet and asked, "What level is your Soul Power now?"

"Teacher Wu, my Soul Power is Level 13 now."

"Did you go to the Spirit Ascension Platform at the Spirit Pagoda?"

Tang Wulin shook his head. He had no idea what the Spirit Ascension Platform was.

"Then how did your Soul Ring's age increase?" Wu Zhangkong asked in a grave voice.

"Teacher Wu, I really didn't lie to you. I left the academy suddenly because something went wrong with my body. Then, with the help of two seniors, the problem was resolved and my injuries were healed. After that, this happened. As for the details, I promised those two seniors I wouldn't reveal them."

Wu Zhangkong fell silent, seemingly weighing the truth of Tang Wulin's words—or perhaps considering whether to expel him.

After a long while,

Wu Zhangkong finally spoke slowly. "Tang Wulin, I believe you had no choice but to leave the academy without permission this time. The changes to your Soul Ring and Soul Power have convinced me. But I hope this won't happen a second time. If it does, then get out and go back to wherever you came from!"

"Thank you, Teacher Wu!" Tang Wulin bowed deeply to Wu Zhangkong.

"All right, go back. I'll explain things to the academy. Remember to come to class on time tomorrow." Wu Zhangkong waved him away.

"Yes, sir!" Tang Wulin answered firmly.

"Goodbye, Teacher Wu."

As Tang Wulin walked back to the dormitory, his steps were much slower than usual. He no longer had to race against the Grim Reaper—not for the next few years, at least. Perhaps he really could enjoy a peaceful, happy life for a while.

"Click!"

The dormitory seemed empty, but just as Tang Wulin stepped inside, a nimble figure suddenly pinned him against the wall.

"It was Xie Xie."

Xie Xie looked a little angry. The reason, of course, was that Tang Wulin had stood him up.

"Where did you disappear to for a whole day and night? Weren't we supposed to duel?" Xie Xie's still-boyish face was almost pressed against Tang Wulin's chest, his eyes filled with defiance.

Tang Wulin shifted his head slightly to the side and said, a little sheepishly, "I really had something important to do yesterday. I'm truly sorry, Xie Xie."

Tang Wulin's sudden apology left Xie Xie at a loss. He let go of Tang Wulin's clothes.

"Ahem! Since that's the case, you can still keep your promise now. The academy won't close for a few more hours. Let's go out and fight!"

Tang Wulin nodded and said with a smile, "No problem. We can fight wherever you want. Actually, I owe you a big thank-you. If you hadn't told me about the Dragon-type Soul Beast blood, I might not have made it back. I'll treat you to a meal after we're done!"

Xie Xie froze for a moment. He hadn't realized that his bit of information had helped Tang Wulin so much.

"Tch! If I'd known, I wouldn't have told you. But we'll talk about that meal after you beat me. If you lose, I'll have to carry you back, after all."

Tang Wulin smiled and didn't argue with him. "So where should we fight?"

"East Sea Park."

East Sea Park was a public park in Eastsea City, open to everyone for free.

It was mid-afternoon, and the weather was quite hot. Quite a few locals had already come to East Sea Park to escape the heat and enjoy themselves.

Tang Wulin followed Xie Xie to a small grove deep in the park where no one else was around.

"This spot will do!"

Xie Xie stopped and turned around. "Tang Wulin, I won't take advantage of you. I'm an agility-attack Soul Master, so draw a boundary for yourself. I won't leave it during the fight."

Tang Wulin smiled. "It's fine, Xie Xie. Just fight however you like."

"Tang Wulin, are you looking down on me? I'll show you just how big the gap between us is." Xie Xie backed away about ten meters, looking a little annoyed.

"Begin!"

Xie Xie shouted and released his Martial Soul. A golden dagger about a foot long appeared in his hand, and a yellow Century Soul Ring rose beneath his feet.

With a low cry, Xie Xie launched himself at Tang Wulin, body hunched forward, moving so fast he seemed to leave afterimages behind.

To be honest, Tang Wulin felt that fighting in a place like this actually gave him an advantage.

His Martial Soul was Blue Silver Grass, and Blue Silver Grass grew all over the park. In a place like this, Tang Wulin had the upper hand whether he was training or fighting.

Tang Wulin stood where he was and calmly released his Blue Silver Grass.

Then a purple Soul Ring appeared beneath his feet.

"Thousand-Year Soul Ring?"

"How is that possible!" Xie Xie stopped dead when he saw the Thousand-Year Soul Ring rise beneath Tang Wulin's feet. "How do you have a Thousand-Year Soul Ring? I remember you still had a Century Soul Ring yesterday!"

Tang Wulin smiled. "Beginner's luck! Beginner's luck! Still want to fight?"

Xie Xie stomped his foot in frustration. "Of course I do! So what if you have a Thousand-Year Soul Ring? Your Soul Power's still lower than mine."

With that, Xie Xie charged at Tang Wulin again.

"Light Dragon Slash!"

This was Xie Xie's first Soul Skill. Faced with Tang Wulin's sudden surge in strength, Xie Xie didn't hesitate to use it.

A golden blade of light shot toward Tang Wulin at tremendous speed.

At that moment, Tang Wulin moved.

Tang Wulin wasn't an agility-attack Soul Master, but after absorbing the first layer of the Golden Dragon King's seal, his strength had undergone a qualitative leap.

Greater strength meant greater explosive power, and with that, his speed naturally couldn't be slow.

Relying on his explosive power, Tang Wulin darted to the side, and Xie Xie's Soul Skill missed.

At the same time, Tang Wulin closed in on Xie Xie at great speed. His advantage was strength, and he could only bring all of it to bear at close range.

Xie Xie knew perfectly well how terrifying Tang Wulin's strength was. His butt was still aching from it!

But just as Xie Xie was about to create some distance between them, he suddenly felt an invisible pressure emanating from Tang Wulin. It was like prey being watched by a hunter—a sheer difference in their level.

"That feeling again!"

When Xie Xie had fought Tang Wulin in the dormitory before, he'd felt that his Martial Soul was somehow suppressed by Tang Wulin. It hadn't been very strong then, but now the feeling had suddenly intensified.

The pressure left Xie Xie stunned for a second. And in that second, Tang Wulin closed the distance.

"Thud!"

Only at the very last instant, as Tang Wulin's fist struck, did Xie Xie react. But it was too late to dodge, so he could only raise his Light Dragon Dagger to shield himself.

Tang Wulin's strength was simply too great. Even with the Light Dragon Dagger in the way, Xie Xie was sent flying by the tremendous impact. He didn't stop until he crashed into a large tree.