Challenge Class One

Long Hengxu's words were somewhat abrupt, but Wu Zhangkong did not refute them this time.

Their earlier fights had been too easy, and they had barely expended any Soul Power.

He saw nothing wrong with entering the match in this slightly less-than-perfect condition.

What surprised Wu Zhangkong, however, was that Tang Wulin and Yun Xiao raised their hands almost simultaneously to request a rest.

Watching this, Wu Zhangkong was somewhat puzzled. Neither of them had used even a tenth of their Soul Power, yet they promptly sat down to recover.

Chen Ye smiled at the sight. Just then, the sound of high heels stepping across the grass rang out.

Ye Yingluo returned with her arms crossed. She first glanced at Wu Zhangkong, then turned her gaze toward the arena.

"Chen Ye, what's going on now? How far have they gotten?"

There was a hint of inquiry in Ye Yingluo's tone. Clearly, something had delayed her, and she had only just arrived.

Before Chen Ye could speak, Zhang Ziyang pursed his lips and said, "T-Teacher, we're next. They've already made it to our class."

Zhang Ziyang's voice trembled slightly, and Ye Yingluo froze when she heard that.

She looked toward the arena. Seeing all three of them recovering their Soul Power, her expression turned serious.

Yet when she looked back at Wu Zhangkong, she did not seem particularly surprised.

As expected of a genius from Shrek—he's strong and handsome.

It'd be great if this man could be my husband. I wonder if he has abs... If he does...

Listening to Ye Yingluo's thoughts, the corner of Chen Ye's mouth twitched slightly. He quickly turned his face away, refusing to look at this teacher.

It was no secret that this homeroom teacher liked Wu Zhangkong; everyone knew it.

However, Wu Zhangkong had never given her any face, coldly rejecting her time and again, which had made things terribly awkward between them.

Sure enough, when Wu Zhangkong merely glanced at her before completely ignoring her, Ye Yingluo lightly bit her lip, anger appearing on her face.

"Chen Ye, I'll leave this match to you. Defend Class One's honor. I refuse to believe those few can stir up anything."

Ye Yingluo's voice was tinged with anger, but Chen Ye merely gave a soft acknowledgment before rising from his recliner.

As he stood, the recliner abruptly vanished.

Zhang Ziyang and Wang Jinxi, standing nearby, paid no attention to this. Nervously, they followed Chen Ye as the three of them stepped onto the arena together.

As Chen Ye's group took the stage, Yun Xiao and Tang Wulin opened their eyes at the same time. Their gazes were filled with intense fighting spirit.

Having won three matches in a row, they carried an even more intimidating momentum.

Zhang Ziyang and Wang Jinxi exchanged a look, already prepared to unleash their ultimate moves if things went badly.

Chen Ye, however, remained calm. He stepped forward, and the Dark Phoenix Martial Soul appeared behind him, the phoenix letting out a clear, resounding cry.

Chen Ye extended a hand. A blackish-red gleam flickered in his eyes as an utterly terrifying power of corruption quietly gathered in his palm, then merged with sacred, radiant flames.

As a terrifying Flame Longsword, nearly solid in form, appeared in Chen Ye's hand, everyone's pupils contracted.

Even Wu Zhangkong, who had been standing there with his usual cold expression, showed a hint of surprise in his eyes.

From that Flame Longsword, he sensed two utterly different powers. One represented ultimate light and ultimate righteousness, while the other carried an abyss-like, terrifying evil.

Yet these two completely opposing powers had fused perfectly together without any conflict, even producing a terrifying aura like that of a god and demon.

At this sight, Wang Jinxi and Zhang Ziyang's eyes held not only shock and fear, but even more excitement.

They summoned their Martial Souls as well. With all three Martial Souls on display, the three evil-attributed Martial Souls made them look like three Evil Soul Masters.

Seeing this, Yun Xiao visibly fell silent, and the determination in his eyes was replaced by utter seriousness.

He raised an arm. Sacred flames ignited, condensing into a Flame Longblade.

Sensing the nearly explosive tension between both sides, Long Hengxu took a deep breath.

The moment he announced the start of the match, Xie Xie was the first to charge out.

Xie Xie broke away from the formation directly, but Yun Xiao and Tang Wulin did not hurriedly follow him.

Clearly, Yun Xiao and Xie Xie had their own plan—or rather, they had already discussed their tactics.

However, because Tang Wulin had not been present yesterday, this strategy did not include him.

Even so, the three of them still displayed a sense of coordination.

Facing the charging Xie Xie, who held a light dagger and a dark dagger, Chen Ye watched as the two Soul Rings on Xie Xie's body suddenly lit up.

A hint of surprise appeared in Chen Ye's eyes when he saw the two Soul Rings.

At this point in the original timeline, Xie Xie had not yet reached two rings. He had only broken through to the second ring in the final few days.

But whether Xie Xie had two rings or not had nothing to do with Chen Ye.

He took a step forward, and ink-like darkness abruptly descended around them.

As the Dark Phoenix cried out, the Darkness Domain erupted outward.

This was the third authority possessed by The Hanged Man Pathway: darkness.

Within the terrifying Darkness Domain, countless inverted black spikes, like tentacles, wrapped tightly around Xie Xie's body.

The attack came too suddenly and was too terrifying. Xie Xie did not react in time.

But he had long been on guard against Chen Ye, so the instant he drew close, he did not hesitate and directly unleashed his ultimate move.

"Second Soul Skill, Twin Dragon Storm!" Xie Xie shouted. Two different gleams flared from the daggers in his hands as he charged straight at Chen Ye.

Watching his Darkness Domain being frantically shredded, Chen Ye merely yawned.

He had held certain expectations for this match, since Yun Xiao possessed the genuine Authority of the Sun.

Of course, in order not to bully them too badly—and to conceal some of his strength—he had revealed only one-tenth of his true combat power.

Even so, due to the hidden fusion and enhancements granted by the three great authorities, his strength still far surpassed theirs.

At this moment, the Darkness Domain alone had already completely trapped Xie Xie's strongest move, Twin Dragon Storm.

Fortunately, they had anticipated this as well—or rather, they had carefully discussed how to deal with every kind of predicament.

The instant Xie Xie was restrained, Tang Wulin suddenly rushed out to intercept the charging Zhang Ziyang and Wang Jinxi.

On the other side, Yun Xiao gripped the Flame Longblade in both hands. In its reflection, a faint firelight flickered in his eyes.

Just before the darkness reached his feet and was about to engulf him, the radiance of the sun abruptly lit up behind him, its dazzling light flashing brilliantly.