The New Class One

"What?" Ye Yingluo's eyes widened at the sight. "Why did Wang Jinxi and Zhang Yangzi's Martial Soul Fusion Skill fall apart? What was that punch? A Self-Created Soul Skill?"

A string of questions filled her mind.

At that moment, Wu Zhangkong appeared on the arena in an instant and caught Tang Wulin just before he collapsed. A rare trace of concern showed in his eyes.

"Wulin!"

Gu Yue ran onto the arena as well, her face full of worry as she looked at Tang Wulin. "Teacher Wu, how is Wulin?"

Wu Zhangkong placed a hand on Tang Wulin's chest and said calmly, "Nothing serious. He's just exhausted too much Soul Power and vitality. A few days of rest will be enough."

By then, Ye Yingluo and Wei Xiaofeng had reached Wang Jinxi and Zhang Yangzi. They crouched down to examine their injuries.

"Multiple fractures all over their bodies, and their Soul Power is in disarray. There's even a slight crack in Wang Jinxi's Bone Dragon King Martial Soul."

Wei Xiaofeng gritted his teeth and got to his feet, then walked over to Wu Zhangkong. "Teacher Wu, you owe me an explanation. Your student went too far! Wang Jinxi's Martial Soul has even cracked!"

"You're such a hypocrite. When those two attacked Xie Xie, why didn't you tell them to stop?" Gu Yue snapped.

"You..." Wei Xiaofeng was left speechless.

Ye Yingluo stood up too and looked at Long Hengxu. "Director Long, Wang Jinxi and Zhang Yangzi are geniuses among the academy's first-year students, with a chance of becoming Titled Douluo one day. But Teacher Wu's student may have left them with lifelong injuries. How are we supposed to explain this to the dean without an answer? Director Long, don't you agree?"

Feeling the malice in Ye Yingluo's gaze, Long Hengxu sighed and said slowly to Wu Zhangkong, "Teacher Wu, Tang Wulin was indeed a little too harsh. Before the match, I said that the academy would never tolerate deliberately injuring an opponent."

"An explanation?"

Wu Zhangkong snorted. He picked Tang Wulin up with one arm, and a pale-blue, razor-sharp sword appeared in his other hand. Six Soul Rings appeared beneath his feet. His aura surged, and a terrifying chill swept across the arena.

"That's your explanation!"

With that, Wu Zhangkong carried Tang Wulin straight toward the infirmary, leaving Ye Yingluo frozen in place.

"This..." Long Hengxu was at a loss. Was he supposed to wrestle Tang Wulin away from Wu Zhangkong? Not a chance. Wu Zhangkong had ended up teaching a lower-year class precisely because he'd clashed with a senior-year teacher and torn one of the man's arms off.

"Teacher Ye, take your students for treatment first. I'll ask the dean how to handle this."

Ye Yingluo bit her lip and could only nod. Then she called over the medical staff to carry Wang Jinxi and Zhang Yangzi away.

Long Hengxu rubbed his temples. He rarely got headaches, but this Promotion Tournament had turned into a complete disaster. First, Xie Xie had been badly injured by Wang Jinxi and Zhang Yangzi; then Tang Wulin had badly injured them in turn. He hadn't managed to save anyone in either of the two major incidents, and as the referee, he was going to bear a large share of the blame!

"I hereby declare the first-year Class Promotion Tournament over. Class Five is now the new Class One. The other four classes will each drop one rank from their previous positions. As for the remaining matters, I'll consult the dean and let him decide what to do."

After announcing the results, Long Hengxu hurried away. He couldn't bear to stand there another moment.

The other students from Class Five burst into excited cheers.

"Woohoo!"

"Long live our class monitor!"

Meanwhile, the students from the former Class One all wore dark expressions. Some had even disappeared without a trace.

The academy infirmary.

Wu Zhangkong gently laid Tang Wulin on a bed, then sat down behind him and placed a hand lightly on his back. He began circulating his Soul Power, channeling it into Tang Wulin's body.

After a long while, Tang Wulin slowly opened his eyes.

"Where am I...?"

"Wulin, you're awake!" Gu Yue clasped his hand with delight.

"Teacher Wu! Gu Yue!"

Tang Wulin tried to climb out of bed, but a sharp ache shot through his body at once.

"Don't move! You've depleted too much Soul Power, mental strength, and vitality. Get some proper rest for the next two days," Wu Zhangkong said.

"Did we... win?" Tang Wulin asked uncertainly.

Gu Yue nodded firmly. "Yeah! We're the new Class One now!"

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

"How is Xie Xie?"

"Xie Xie isn't in any serious danger. He has Twin Martial Souls, so he'll recover soon," Wu Zhangkong replied.

"Tang Wulin, what was that final punch you used? A Self-Created Soul Skill?" Wu Zhangkong asked.

"What's a Self-Created Soul Skill?" Tang Wulin asked in confusion.

Wu Zhangkong's expression stiffened. "How could you use one without even knowing what a Self-Created Soul Skill is?"

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

Wu Zhangkong knew exactly who Tang Wulin meant by "that senior."

"That punch of yours was unusual. It kept its force contained, then unleashed eight waves of hidden power at the end. Combined with the immense Strength Boost from the Golden Dragon Claw on your right hand, that strike would be difficult for an ordinary Soul Elder to withstand. But it takes a lot out of you as well—not just Soul Power, but vitality too."

Teacher Wu really is amazing. He saw through Yao Lao's Eight-Level Collapse so quickly.

"Teacher Wu, you're right. I didn't want to use that move in the Promotion Tournament. It takes too much out of me, and I was even more afraid my opponent wouldn't be able to withstand it. We're classmates, after all. I always thought we should stop once we'd made our point, but it seems I was wrong. Wang Jinxi and the others actually struck Xie Xie with such force for the sake of some supposed Class One honor. They could have stopped, and Director Long could still have ruled Xie Xie out of the match, but they still went too far. Xie Xie's serious injuries did make me lose a little control, but ultimately, it was their coldness and arrogance that caused it."

Wu Zhangkong nodded slightly. "Wulin, you did nothing wrong, and you don't need to blame yourself. Wang Jinxi and the others weren't wrong either. Soul Masters should fight with everything they have to win. But the Federation protects everyone too well these days. Most Soul Masters are taught to be cautious. That kind of education does protect many people to a certain extent, but it also means Soul Masters can't bring out their true strength when facing an enemy."

Tang Wulin's expression shifted slightly. He hadn't expected Wu Zhangkong to hold such a view.

Wu Zhangkong looked deeply at Tang Wulin, then turned his gaze to Gu Yue. "My own teacher taught me this way of thinking."

"Your teacher, Teacher Wu?" Tang Wulin asked thoughtfully. "Where did you study before? Was it in East Sea too?"

Wu Zhangkong fell silent for a moment, as if recalling something. Then he shook his head. "Not East Sea. You'll find out someday."