Battle of East Sea Park

"A thousand-year spirit ring!"

It took several seconds for Wu Zhangkong to recover from his shock. He pulled a sheet of paper from a stack of documents nearby; it was Tang Wulin's enrollment file.

"Tang Wulin, martial soul Blue Silver Grass, spirit power level eleven, first spirit ring a hundred-year spirit ring."

He stared at the words "hundred-year spirit ring" on the file, then glanced at the thousand-year spirit ring beneath Tang Wulin's feet before asking, "What is your spirit power level now?"

"Teacher Wu, my spirit power is currently level thirteen."

"Did you go to the Spirit Pagoda's Spirit Ascension Platform?"

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

"Then how did the age of your spirit ring increase?" Wu Zhangkong asked in a deep voice.

"Teacher Wu, I am truly not lying to you. I left the academy suddenly because I had a physical problem. Afterward, with the help of two seniors, I resolved the issue and repaired the damage to my body, and then it became like this. As for the process, I promised those two seniors I would not disclose it."

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

After a long while, Wu Zhangkong spoke slowly: "Tang Wulin, I believe your unauthorized departure from the academy this time was a last resort. The changes to your spirit ring and spirit power have convinced me, but I hope this situation does not happen a second time. If it does, get out and go back to where you came from!"

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

"Alright, go back! I will explain things to the academy. Remember to arrive on time for class tomorrow," Wu Zhangkong said, waving his hand at Tang Wulin.

"Yes!" Tang Wulin replied forcefully.

"Goodbye, Teacher Wu."

Tang Wulin walked back to his dormitory. His pace was much slower than usual because he no longer had to race against the Grim Reaper—at least not for the next few years. Perhaps he could finally live a stable and happy life for a while.

"Click!"

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

It's Xie Xie.

Xie Xie's expression was a bit angry, the reason being that Tang Wulin had stood him up.

"Where did you run off to for the past day and night? Didn't we agree to a duel?" Xie Xie's still-youthful face was almost pressed against Tang Wulin's chest, his eyes full of defiance.

Tang Wulin shifted his head slightly to the side and said apologetically, "I really had something very important to deal with yesterday. I am truly sorry, Xie Xie."

Tang Wulin's sudden apology caught Xie Xie off guard, and he released his grip on Tang Wulin's clothes.

"Cough, cough! Since that's the case, you can still fulfill your promise now. While the academy is still open for a few more hours, let's go outside and fight!"

Tang Wulin nodded and said with a smile, "No problem, we can fight wherever you like. Come to think of it, I really need to thank you. If you hadn't provided me with information about dragon-type spirit beast blood, I might not have made it back. I'll treat you to a meal after we finish!"

Xie Xie was slightly stunned. He hadn't expected his piece of information to be so helpful to Tang Wulin.

"Tch! I shouldn't have told you if I'd known. But as for treating me to a meal, wait until you beat me! After all, if you lose, I'll have to carry you back."

Tang Wulin smiled, not bothering to argue: "So, where shall we fight?"

"East Sea Park."

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

It was currently the afternoon, and the weather was quite hot, so there were already many citizens in East Sea Park seeking refuge from the heat.

Tang Wulin followed Xie Xie deep into the park to a secluded grove.

"This will do!"

Xie Xie stopped and turned around, saying, "Tang Wulin, I won't bully you. I'm an agility-type spirit master, so how about this: you draw a boundary, and I won't step outside of it while we fight."

Tang Wulin smiled and said, "It's fine, Xie Xie, just go all out."

"Tang Wulin, you're looking down on me! I'll make you realize the gap between us." Xie Xie stepped back about ten meters, his expression annoyed.

"Start!"

Xie Xie shouted and immediately released his martial soul. A golden dagger over a foot long appeared in his hand, and a yellow hundred-year spirit ring appeared beneath his feet.

With a light cry, Xie Xie lunged toward Tang Wulin in a crouched stance, his speed so fast that he almost left afterimages.

In truth, Tang Wulin felt that fighting in this location was actually an advantage for him.

Because his martial soul was Blue Silver Grass, and this park was covered in it, Tang Wulin held the upper hand here, whether in cultivation or combat.

Tang Wulin stood his ground and released his Blue Silver Grass unhurriedly.

A moment later, a purple spirit ring appeared beneath his feet.

"A thousand-year spirit ring?"

"How is that possible!" Seeing the thousand-year spirit ring rise beneath Tang Wulin's feet, Xie Xie stopped in his tracks. "How do you have a thousand-year spirit ring? I recall you only had a hundred-year one yesterday!"

Tang Wulin smiled: "Luck! Just luck! Are we still fighting?"

Xie Xie stomped his foot in anger. "Fight, why wouldn't I fight? So what if you have a thousand-year spirit ring? Your spirit power still isn't as high as mine."

Having said that, Xie Xie charged at Tang Wulin once again.

"Light Dragon Slash!"

This was Xie Xie's first spirit skill. Faced with Tang Wulin's sudden surge in strength, Xie Xie did not hesitate and used his spirit skill directly.

A golden blade of light slashed toward Tang Wulin at an incredible speed.

At this moment, Tang Wulin moved.

Tang Wulin was not an agility-type spirit master, but his strength had undergone a qualitative improvement after absorbing the first seal of the Golden Dragon King.

With greater strength came greater explosive power, and naturally, his speed could not be slow either.

Relying on his explosive power, Tang Wulin dodged to the side, and Xie Xie's spirit skill missed its mark.

At the same time, Tang Wulin was closing in on Xie Xie at a rapid pace. His advantage was strength, and strength could only be fully unleashed in close quarters.

Xie Xie was, of course, aware that Tang Wulin's strength was terrifying; his backside was still aching faintly from earlier!

But just as Xie Xie prepared to put some distance between himself and Tang Wulin, he suddenly felt an invisible pressure radiating from Tang Wulin. It felt as if prey were being watched by a predator—a pure disparity in their very levels.

It's this feeling again!

When Xie Xie had fought Tang Wulin in their dormitory, he had felt as though his martial soul was being suppressed by Tang Wulin, though it hadn't been very intense back then. Now, however, that feeling had suddenly been magnified.

This sense of oppression caused Xie Xie to lose focus for a split second, and it was precisely that second that allowed Tang Wulin to close the distance.

"Bang!"

Xie Xie only reacted at the very last moment before Tang Wulin's fist struck him, but it was too late to dodge. He could only raise his Light Dragon Dagger to block in front of him.

Yet Tang Wulin's strength was simply too great. Even with the Light Dragon Dagger as a shield, Xie Xie was still sent flying by the massive impact, not stopping until he slammed into a large tree.