Second Round

Xu Mengqing remained calm and unruffled, showing no pride at having won the match. He stood quietly to one side, waiting for the next bout.

Xie Xie, who had only just recovered, clutched his still-aching shoulder as he watched Xu Mengqing's back. He couldn't help smacking his lips, then leaned close to Tang Wulin and muttered, "That guy's way too fierce, isn't he? Blue Silver Grass can actually be used like that? And he uses it even more sharply than my Light Dragon Dagger. If that had been me just now, I might not have been able to dodge his follow-up so easily!"

Tang Wulin nodded slightly, his gaze falling on Xu Mengqing. A hint of fighting spirit and admiration flashed through his eyes. "Meng Qing really is amazing at controlling his Martial Soul, and his actual combat experience is extensive too."

Yet a trace of disappointment flickered through his heart, along with an urgent longing for those three things.

There were twenty-one students in the class. Eight possessed support-type Tool Martial Souls and had virtually no combat ability, while their support abilities were also utterly useless.

Among the Battle Spirit Masters, three had trash Martial Souls nearly on the same level as Blue Silver Grass.

Of course, Xu Mengqing's Blue Silver Grass was an exception.

There had even been a match between two Tool Spirit Masters with no combat ability. It turned into the bizarre sight of one shoving the other while the other stepped on their foot.

Although Wu Zhangkong had long expected Class Five's overall caliber to be poor, he had never imagined it would be this bad.

If not for compulsory education, many of these students would have no reason to continue cultivating. Reaching Rank 20 would be nearly impossible for them.

From the current situation, the only students who stood out were Xie Xie, Xu Mengqing, and Tang Wulin.

Although Tang Wulin and Xu Mengqing both had Blue Silver Grass as their Martial Souls, Tang Wulin's Martial Soul was clearly far inferior in quality.

If Xu Mengqing had known that Wu Zhangkong was comparing their Martial Souls like this,

he would definitely have rolled his eyes at Wu Zhangkong.

He has an unawakened Blue Silver Emperor, while I'm probably an incompletely awakened Blue Silver King!

How can those even be compared?

Besides, Tang Wulin also has the Golden Dragon King. I only look stronger than him right now, that's all.

"Second round begins. You, you, the two of you fight." Wu Zhangkong's expression remained calm. The two he pointed at were Tang Wulin and a female student.

She was a petite, adorable-looking girl with short light-blue hair and large eyes. Tang Wulin vaguely remembered that her name was Li Chushui, and her Martial Soul seemed to be a cat.

"Begin!"

Li Chushui looked somewhat shy. She nodded at Tang Wulin before releasing her Martial Soul.

Part of her short light-blue hair turned white. Of her originally blue eyes, one turned green. A white Spirit Ring rose beneath her feet, while a tiny, adorable white cat appeared on her shoulder.

White fur grew over both her palms, and sharp claws sprang from her fingertips. She lowered her upper body slightly and pounced nimbly toward Tang Wulin.

Her movements were exceptionally light, and she was extremely fast. She had won her previous match by relying on her speed advantage. Like Xie Xie, she was an Agility Attack System Battle Soul Master.

After Wu Zhangkong's earlier criticism, Tang Wulin immediately released his Martial Soul this time. Strands of Blue Silver Grass surged from his palms, while the little Grass Snake Golden Light coiled around his wrist again.

After using it continuously these past few days, he had become much more familiar with the Entanglement Spirit Skill. Once the thin, vine-like Blue Silver Grass emerged, it did not meet his opponent head-on. Instead, it wove itself into an irregular net before him, blocking the space a short distance in front of him.

If Li Chushui continued charging forward, she would run straight into the net.

She seemed somewhat timid. Her forward momentum suddenly paused, and all four limbs landed on the ground without making the slightest sound. She leaped to the side, apparently intending to circle around and attack Tang Wulin from the flank.

Tang Wulin had suffered from letting Xie Xie get close before. He knew perfectly well that if an Agility Attack System Battle Soul Master like this got near him, his speed would make it impossible for him to defend against her attacks. Therefore, he hurriedly turned and controlled the Blue Silver Grass to maintain its previous formation, waiting for her to crash into the net.

Li Chushui constantly changed positions, trying to find an opening. Tang Wulin watched her intently, waiting without haste or impatience. He believed that since both of them had released their Martial Souls, she would expend more energy by constantly moving at high speed while he merely waited.

Since his control over Blue Silver Grass was still insufficient, responding to motion with stillness was the best choice.

As Li Chushui kept changing positions, Tang Wulin also continuously adjusted his Blue Silver Grass net, making it increasingly orderly and completely patching up any openings that might appear.

The strands of Blue Silver Grass gleamed with a crystalline luster. Tang Wulin inadvertently noticed faint golden lines appearing and disappearing at the roots of the Blue Silver Grass in his palms.

Naturally, Xu Mengqing noticed them as well.

Li Chushui was, after all, only nine years old, and her combat experience was not particularly rich. Just as Tang Wulin had predicted, constantly moving at high speed while searching for openings in her opponent's defenses rapidly drained her mere Rank 11 Soul Power.

I can't wait any longer. If this continues, I won't even be able to sustain my Spirit Skill for long.

Li Chushui gritted her teeth and suddenly accelerated, circling behind Tang Wulin. At the same time, she lunged forward, and the white Spirit Ring on her body lit up. Her claws slashed out, sending two white blades of light flying ahead, with her body following close behind them.

Tang Wulin was certainly not as fast as her, but all he needed to do was turn around, a much simpler movement than hers. The Blue Silver Grass rapidly drew together and condensed.

The two white blades of light struck the rapidly contracting Blue Silver Grass. The expected scene of it shattering did not occur. Instead, a faint glow flickered over the Blue Silver Grass, and the two light blades vanished. Then Li Chushui crashed into it.

Strands of blue vines wound around her, binding her petite body within them. Tang Wulin pulled back with his right hand, bringing the Entanglement-bound Li Chushui before him. He clenched his right fist but did not strike, stopping it in front of her.

Damn!

Xie Xie reflexively touched his own face. You bastard, you actually treat girls better than boys! Why did you never stop your punches when you were beating me up?

A faint glimmer flashed through Wu Zhangkong's eyes. Unusual Blue Silver Grass indeed! Tang Wulin was calm and composed. Although he still had some gap compared to Xu Mengqing, his control over Blue Silver Grass was truly quite good.

"Tang Wulin wins." Tang Wulin released the entangling Blue Silver Grass and helped Li Chushui steady herself. Her little face flushed slightly as she looked at Tang Wulin's large eyes so close to hers and said timidly, "Thank you."

"Next match."

"Tao Liufan, Han Lan!"

Tao Liufan was a short but sturdy-looking boy with messy brown hair. His Martial Soul was a Willow Tree.

Han Lan's Martial Soul was the Earth Element, an exceptionally excellent Martial Soul. Her Soul Power was Rank 13. Based on her abilities, she should never have been assigned to Class Five. Moreover, this girl smiled pleasantly at everyone, her face always peaceful and friendly.

Once the two stepped onto the field, Han Lan immediately released her Martial Soul upon hearing "Begin."

A white ring flashed beneath her feet, while a clump-like Spirit Soul resembling a lump of earth emerged from her shoulder. Without pausing, she raised both hands toward Tao Liufan.

At once, a circular earthen-yellow ring of light appeared beneath his feet. Mu Jin pillars shot up in an instant, forming a sturdy Mu Jin prison around him.

The tops of the Mu Jin pillars curved inward and closed together, creating a completely sealed confinement.

Just like that, Tao Liufan lost the match because he was unable to break out of the Mu Jin prison.