A New Class

"What?" Ye Yingluo's eyes widened as she witnessed the scene. "Why did Wang Jinxi and Zhang Yangzi's Martial Soul Fusion Skill collapse? What was that punch? A Self-Created Soul Skill?"

A series of questions raced through her mind.

Just then, Wu Zhangkong appeared instantly on the arena stage, catching Tang Wulin as he began to collapse. A rare flicker of concern crossed his eyes.

"Wulin!"

Gu Yue also rushed onto the stage, her face filled with worry as she looked at Tang Wulin. "Teacher Wu, how is he?"

Wu Zhangkong placed his palm against Tang Wulin's chest and said slowly, "Nothing too serious. His Soul Power and blood essence were just depleted too heavily. He'll be fine after a few days of rest."

At this moment, Ye Yingluo and Wei Xiaofeng walked over to Wang Jinxi and Zhang Yangzi, leaning down to examine their injuries.

"Multiple comminuted fractures all over their bodies, chaotic Soul Power, and Wang Jinxi's Bone Dragon King Martial Soul even shows signs of cracking."

Wei Xiaofeng stood up, gritting his teeth, and walked over to Wu Zhangkong. "Teacher Wu, you must give me an explanation for this. Your student went too far! Wang Jinxi's Martial Soul has even started to crack."

"How can you be such a hypocrite? Why didn't I see you tell them to stop when they were attacking Xie Xie?" Gu Yue scolded.

"You..." Wei Xiaofeng was rendered speechless.

Ye Yingluo stood up as well, looking toward Director Long. "Director Long, Wang Jinxi and Zhang Yangzi are geniuses of the first year, geniuses who have the potential to reach the Title Douluo rank. Yet, Teacher Wu's student has left them with potential lifelong disabilities. If there isn't an explanation, how are we to answer to the Dean? Don't you agree, Director Long?"

Feeling Ye Yingluo's malicious gaze, Director Long sighed and said slowly to Wu Zhangkong, "Teacher Wu, you see, Tang Wulin's actions were indeed a bit too ruthless. I said before the match that the academy would never tolerate intentional harm toward an opponent."

"An explanation?"

Wu Zhangkong let out a cold snort. He picked up Tang Wulin with one arm, and a pale blue, biting-cold longsword appeared in his other hand. A total of six soul rings manifested beneath his feet, and his aura surged violently, releasing a terrifying chill.

"This is the explanation!"

Having dropped those words, Wu Zhangkong carried Tang Wulin and flew directly toward the infirmary, leaving a stunned Ye Yingluo standing in place.

"This..." Director Long was at a loss for what to do. Was he supposed to snatch someone from Wu Zhangkong's hands? Don't joke around. Everyone knew that the reason Wu Zhangkong came to teach the lower grades was precisely because he had clashed with a senior teacher and promptly dismantled the man's arm.

"Teacher Ye, you should take your students to get treated first. I will go ask the Dean how to handle this matter."

Ye Yingluo bit her lip and could only nod. She then called for medical staff to carry Wang Jinxi and Zhang Yangzi away.

Director Long clutched his head, feeling a rare headache. This Class Promotion Tournament had truly spiraled into a major disaster. First, Xie Xie was severely injured by Wang Jinxi and Zhang Yangzi, and then Tang Wulin severely injured them in return. He had failed to intervene and save either side during these two massive accidents; as the referee, he bore a significant portion of the responsibility.

"I announce that this year's Class Promotion Tournament is concluded. Class Five is now the new Class One, and the other four classes will shift down one rank according to their original order. As for other matters, I will await the Dean's decision after I report to him."

After announcing the results, Director Long slipped away immediately; he truly had no face left to stand there any longer.

Suddenly, the students of Class Five in the audience erupted into wild cheers.

"Woohoo!"

"Class monitor is mighty!"

Conversely, the students of the original Class One all wore dark expressions, and some had already disappeared entirely.

Academy Infirmary.

Wu Zhangkong gently placed Tang Wulin on a bed, then sat behind him. He placed his palm lightly against Tang Wulin's back and began to circulate his Soul Power into Tang Wulin's body.

A long while later.

Tang Wulin slowly opened his eyes.

"Where is this...?"

"Wulin, you're awake!" Gu Yue gripped Tang Wulin's hand with delight.

"Teacher Wu! Gu Yue!"

Tang Wulin tried to get off the bed, but a wave of intense soreness instantly surged through his body.

"Don't move! Your Soul Power, mental strength, and blood essence have been depleted too severely. You should rest well for these next two days," Wu Zhangkong said.

"Did we... win?" Tang Wulin asked, sounding a bit uncertain.

Gu Yue nodded vigorously. "Yes! We are the new Class One now!"

"That's great!" A smile appeared on Tang Wulin's slightly pale face.

"How is Xie Xie?"

"Xie Xie is fine. He has Twin Martial Souls; he will recover before long," Wu Zhangkong replied.

"Tang Wulin, I ask you, what was that final punch you used earlier? Was it a Self-Created Soul Skill?" Wu Zhangkong asked again.

"What is a Self-Created Soul Skill?" Tang Wulin asked, puzzled.

Wu Zhangkong's face stiffened. "You don't even know what a Self-Created Soul Skill is, yet you managed to execute one?"

Tang Wulin shook his head. "Teacher Wu, I'm not lying to you. I really don't know what a Self-Created Soul Skill is, but that punch was taught to me by that senior. It is called the Eight Extremities Collapse."

Wu Zhangkong naturally knew who the senior Tang Wulin was referring to.

"That punch of yours is very unique. The force is restrained, and then eight layers of hidden power erupt at the end. Combined with the immense Strength Boost from the Golden Dragon Claw on your right hand, I estimate that even an average Soul Elder would struggle to resist that strike. However, the cost of this move is also immense; it consumes not just your Soul Power, but your blood essence as well."

Teacher Wu is truly amazing to have seen through Yao Lao's Eight-Level Collapse so quickly, Tang Wulin thought to himself.

"Teacher Wu, you are right. Actually, I didn't want to use this move during the tournament. Not only is the cost to me huge, but I was also afraid the opponent wouldn't be able to withstand it. We are classmates, after all, and I have always believed in stopping at the appropriate point. But it seems I was wrong. Wang Jinxi and the others were willing to launch such a powerful strike against Xie Xie just for the sake of the so-called honor of Class One. They could have stopped, and Director Long could have ruled Xie Xie out, but they still delivered a heavy blow. Xie Xie's severe injury did cause me to lose my composure to some extent, but the root cause was their coldness and arrogance."

Wu Zhangkong nodded slightly and said, "Wulin, you did nothing wrong, and there is no need to blame yourself. In truth, Wang Jinxi and the others were not wrong either; a soul master should strive for victory with all their might when facing battle. However, the current Federation protects everyone too well, and the education most soul masters receive is rather conservative. While this education does protect many people to a certain extent, it also prevents soul masters from unleashing their true strength when facing enemies."

Tang Wulin's expression shifted slightly; he had not expected Wu Zhangkong's philosophy to be like this.

Wu Zhangkong took another deep look at Tang Wulin before turning his gaze toward Gu Yue. "This philosophy was actually taught to me by my own teacher."

"Teacher Wu's teacher?" Tang Wulin asked, lost in thought. "Teacher Wu, where did you go to school in the past? Was it also in the East Sea?"

Wu Zhangkong remained silent for a moment, as if recalling something, before shaking his head. "Not the East Sea. You will know in the future."