What seemed like a perfect strike to everyone else only made Wu Zhangkong shake his head slightly. He already knew that Xie Xie had lost.
Xie Xie, however, didn't think so. In his eyes, his Soul Power was far greater than Gu Yue's. Her constant dodging had already consumed a great deal of her Soul Power, and there was no way she could avoid this strike.
Yet just as Xie Xie was about to hit Gu Yue, a blinding light burst from behind her, making him squeeze his eyes shut.
A bad feeling struck Xie Xie. He swung the Light Dragon Dagger and Shadow Dragon Dagger forward, hoping to fend off Gu Yue's attack.
"Stop! Gu Yue, you win!" Wu Zhangkong's voice rang out in time.
It took several seconds before Xie Xie could barely open his eyes, but they still stung painfully.
"Teacher Wu, I haven't lost." Xie Xie thought he could have blocked Gu Yue's frontal attack during those few seconds.
"A loss is a loss. The moment the flash blinded you, Gu Yue was already behind you. If she'd wanted to, you'd be dead." Wu Zhangkong spoke gravely.
As if to prove Wu Zhangkong's point, silver light flashed around Gu Yue, and she appeared right beside him.
"That was... Teleport!" Xie Xie recognized Gu Yue's skill. Li Chushui had the same Soul Skill, though Gu Yue couldn't teleport as far.
"So, Teacher Wu, can I enroll now?" Gu Yue asked with a smile.
Wu Zhangkong nodded. "I always keep my promises. But I'd like to know what your Martial Soul is and how you can control so many elements."
"My Martial Soul really is called Elementalist. Of course, I came up with the name myself. It's never appeared in the Federation's records before; I'm the first. My ability is to control elements: fire, water, earth, wind, space, and light. I can control all six, but I can't add a Soul Ring to any of them. I can only control them, so my first Soul Skill merely strengthens my control over the elements," Gu Yue replied.
"There's actually a Martial Soul like that!" After hearing Gu Yue's answer, Wu Zhangkong understood at once.
Being unable to add a Soul Ring to any of her abilities sounded like a major limitation, but controlling six elements all by herself was already incredible. Any one of those elements would make a good Martial Soul on its own, and Gu Yue's Martial Soul had limitless potential.
"From now on, you're a student in Class Five. I'll handle things with the academy."
"Thank you, Teacher!" Gu Yue smiled, clearly happy.
"Now you can go run with the others. It's a basic part of my class," Wu Zhangkong said gravely.
"Okay!"
Gu Yue answered and headed toward the track.
Just then, Wu Zhangkong walked over and kicked Xie Xie in the rear. "What are you standing around for? You're going too!"
"Ah! Teacher Wu, can't I take a break? I used up too much Soul Power just now," Xie Xie said with a pained expression.
Wu Zhangkong snorted. "If you'd beaten her, I might have let you rest. But you lost completely. Stop wasting my time and get moving!"
Xie Xie let out a mournful cry and could only run toward the track.
When the others saw Wu Zhangkong coming over, they stopped watching the show and started running too.
"Why are you wearing an iron suit?" Gu Yue asked as she ran up beside Tang Wulin.
"Teacher Wu makes us wear them. Xie Xie's wearing one too!" Tang Wulin replied.
"Xie Xie?" Gu Yue raised her chin slightly as she thought it over. "You mean the loser I just beat?"
"Uh..." Tang Wulin could only nod awkwardly.
"Hey! Could you stop talking about me behind my back?" Xie Xie had put his iron suit back on and run over to Tang Wulin.
"Was I wrong? Aren't you the loser I beat?" Gu Yue stuck out her tongue.
"You..." Xie Xie tried to argue, but realized he had no grounds to do so. "Do you dare fight me again next time?"
"Bring it on!" Gu Yue agreed without hesitation.
"Good! That's the spirit! Tang Wulin, you be our referee!"
"This..." Tang Wulin felt a pang of misery. Why were they picking another fight?
"You three have plenty of energy, do you? Run faster!" Wu Zhangkong shouted at them from the edge of the track.
"Tang Wulin, Xie Xie, Gu Yue, come with me."
Just before class ended, Wu Zhangkong suddenly called the three of them over.
Though they didn't know why, the three quickly went to him.
"Starting today, Gu Yue, you'll take part in the Class Promotion Tournament too. After class, come find me for extra training, just like the other two," Wu Zhangkong told her.
"The Class Promotion Tournament? What's that?" Gu Yue had only arrived at East Sea Spirit Master Academy today and didn't know about it.
Wu Zhangkong quickly explained the tournament's rules and schedule to Gu Yue.
"I don't mind joining, but I'm worried someone might hold me back." As she spoke, Gu Yue deliberately glanced at Xie Xie.
"What's that supposed to mean? You think I'll hold you back?" Xie Xie pointed at Gu Yue, annoyed.
"Isn't that right?" Gu Yue said with a smile, turning to Teacher Wu. "I've already heard about it. Since the school year started, he's lost to Tang Wulin three times in a row, and today he lost to me too. So I think Tang Wulin and I are all you need for the Class Promotion Tournament. Someone can sit below and watch."
"Damn it, Teacher Wu, tell her she's wrong!"
Seeing that he couldn't win an argument with Gu Yue, Xie Xie could only appeal to Wu Zhangkong.
Wu Zhangkong looked at Xie Xie with his dark green eyes and sneered. "Gu Yue's right. Maybe I really should consider sending only the two of them."
"You're kidding, right?"
"Heh heh!" Gu Yue laughed smugly.
"Teacher Wu, you're not joking, are you?" Tang Wulin hadn't expected Wu Zhangkong to say that.
"Do you think I joke?" Wu Zhangkong said coldly.
Indeed, Wu Zhangkong wasn't the sort to joke. One meant one, and two meant two.
"But..." Wu Zhangkong suddenly changed tack. "If you can break through to level 20 before the Class Promotion Tournament, I'll let you participate."
Reaching level 20 was neither especially hard nor especially easy.
After all, Xie Xie was already at level 19, just one step away from level 20.
But breaking through a major level was still a big deal. Hard work was one part of it; luck played a part too.
Wu Zhangkong's real intention was to put some pressure on Xie Xie. After all, Xie Xie had Twin Martial Souls and Innate Full Soul Power. In Wu Zhangkong's eyes, not having reached level 20 at his age meant he was slacking off.
"Fine!" Xie Xie nodded firmly. "Once I break through to level 20, I'll carry you all to a killing spree in the Class Promotion Tournament!"
"Yeah, right!" Gu Yue scoffed disdainfully.
Before you continue