Gu Yue's Arrival

A rare trace of complexity flashed through Wu Zhangkong's usually unruffled eyes, and the twitch at the corner of his mouth became noticeably more pronounced.

The trainees running laps were especially dumbfounded. Each of them panted heavily, their steps slowing by half a beat as they wondered how Wu Zhangkong would react.

Only Xiling dared to do something like this in front of Wu Zhangkong. If it were them, even a hundred times more courage would not be enough.

But in the next moment, Wu Zhangkong's actions left their jaws hanging open.

The reprimand they had imagined never came. He simply walked over and silently sat in the rocking chair Xiling had prepared for him.

The rocking chair swayed gently. Wu Zhangkong leaned back against it and sat quietly to one side, radiating an aura that kept others at a thousand miles' distance.

Wu Zhangkong and Xiling, who leisurely ate fruit with a smile on his face, formed an odd yet harmonious picture.

Was this really the Wu Zhangkong they knew? The sight filled them with envy. Was this the treatment only geniuses could enjoy?

Xiling completely ignored the envious gazes falling on him. Turning to Wu Zhangkong beside him, he smiled and picked up a piece of fruit, offering it to him.

"Teacher Wu, want to try some? This fruit tastes pretty good."

Wu Zhangkong lowered his eyes for a glance. Without refusing, he reached out and took it.

The next moment, his gaze turned toward the trainees still standing around blankly on the field. A sudden chill gathered around him as he said coldly,

"What are you standing around for? If you had Xiling's strength, you could come over too. If not, then hurry up and run!"

Just then, a girl slowly approached from the direction of the school gate.

She looked around nine years old. She was not particularly beautiful, merely delicate and pleasant-looking.

She had long black hair and black eyes. Her figure was above average for her age, yet she carried an extraordinary air.

Naturally, both Xiling and Wu Zhangkong noticed her. The latter rose to his feet, walked over, and asked, "Which class are you from?"

However, the girl's attention was drawn to something else. She looked straight past Wu Zhangkong, her gaze openly falling on Xiling behind him.

Their eyes met. Xiling's clear azure eyes held an emotion even she could not see through, making her feel as though every part of her had been seen through.

"I came to enroll, but they said the registration period has already ended." She hurriedly withdrew her gaze, raised her head, and looked at Wu Zhangkong.

"You're not a student of Eastsea Academy?" Wu Zhangkong frowned.

"Not yet, but I hope to study here. Is that possible, Teacher?"

"This is a Soul Master Academy. You cannot come just because you want to. Everything depends on ability." Wu Zhangkong's tone did not soften in the slightest.

"I can take the test." The girl smiled.

Wu Zhangkong studied her calmly, then asked in a deep voice, "What's your name?"

"My name is Gu Yue."

Wu Zhangkong nodded. "All right, I'll give you this opportunity. Do you see the person behind me?"

"Fight him. Use your full strength and prove that you have what it takes to stay."

"All right." Gu Yue agreed without hesitation.

"Then what about my opinion, Teacher Wu? I haven't agreed yet." Xiling's unhurried voice drifted over from behind him, carrying a hint of teasing.

Wu Zhangkong merely turned his head slightly, his ice-blue eyes sweeping over Xiling's teasing smile. "You may keep your objections, but you must fight her, unless you don't want your classes to be this leisurely from now on."

Xiling blinked. "Teacher Wu, you've really got me there."

Under the shade of the trees, he helplessly put away the rocking chair. Seriously, he had fought more battles these past two days than he had before combined.

"Thirty meters apart. Prepare." As Wu Zhangkong finished speaking, the two took their positions thirty meters apart.

Looking at Gu Yue before him, Xiling sighed inwardly and wiped the laziness from his face. Since they were going to fight, he had to show some proper attitude.

"Begin!" At Wu Zhangkong's command, a yellow soul ring bloomed beneath Gu Yue's feet, while Xiling across from her made no move at all.

Gu Yue's brows furrowed almost imperceptibly. Xiling's clear blue eyes seemed capable of seeing through every secret in her heart, making her inexplicably uncomfortable.

The next second, she raised her wrist slightly. A slender wind blade condensed from thin air, astonishingly fast as it shot straight toward Xiling.

She controlled its force perfectly, displaying her strength while still holding back. Clearly, she did not wish to hurt Xiling.

The Class Five trainees running laps unconsciously slowed down, watching the two fight in the center of the field.

This girl was fighting Brother Ling? Seriously? Wouldn't she get beaten to tears by Brother Ling in a moment? This was the thought they all shared.

Facing the attack, Xiling did not dodge. The void behind him suddenly warped, and a Subspace Spear emerged, floating in the air. Its shaft was long and diamond-shaped, its black and white halves sharply distinct, with a golden crystal embedded in its bulging center.

Simply floating there, it gave off an aura that made hearts tremble.

The bizarre spear that had appeared from nowhere made Wu Zhangkong's eyes narrow as he watched the battle. "Is this his martial soul? It doesn't seem like it."

It was no wonder Wu Zhangkong thought so. Since enrolling, Xiling had never displayed his martial soul. All Wu Zhangkong knew was its name and abilities.

Gu Yue's heart tightened as she looked at the strange spear floating behind Xiling.

Before she could react, the Subspace Spear trembled slightly and flew directly toward the wind blade. There was no explosion as she had imagined.

The instant the wind blade touched the spatial ripples surrounding the Subspace Spear, it was torn apart and dissipated, turning into specks of starlight that returned to heaven and earth.

Xiling raised a hand and gave it a light wave. The Subspace Spear circled around him once before floating back behind him. He remained standing where he was. "Don't hold back. Just go all out. Otherwise, you won't be able to pass the assessment."

At those words, Gu Yue's delicate brows immediately grew more solemn.

She could clearly sense the aura Xiling was giving off. It had somehow stirred the space element surging within her, even making it instinctively submit.

But how was that possible? She was the Silver Dragon King! What level of spatial attribute could make her feel suppressed?

The aura he unconsciously emitted was already like this. If he went all out, wouldn't she be unable to use the space element at all?

Gu Yue did not dare think further. Her intention to deliberately hold back vanished instantly.

"Since that's the case, then I'll go all out."

Gu Yue spoke softly. Her black eyes suddenly became profound, and the yellow hundred-year soul ring beneath her feet lit up as her first soul skill, Elemental Tide, activated.

Her first soul skill enhanced her control over elements and allowed her Soul Power to last longer.

Gu Yue loosely clenched her right hand. The air before her suddenly became scorching hot as fire elements grew active within it. At the same time, three whirlwinds rose from thin air, spiraling upward entwined with flames.

The instant the two forces met, they exploded violently, forming a flaming fire tornado that howled as it rushed toward Xiling.

Xiling's gaze sharpened slightly as ripples like water spread through the space before him.

When the fire tornado reached him, it was as if it had crashed into an invisible vortex. The flames were twisted and distorted by spatial force, while the roar of the wind gradually faded.

But at that moment, Gu Yue curled a finger, and several earthen walls suddenly rose from the ground, sealing off Xiling's retreat like a cage.

"Quick reaction." Xiling chuckled. His figure rapidly faded, and in the next instant, he appeared outside the earthen walls.

The moment he appeared, dozens of ice spikes shot at him from diagonally behind, fast as lightning.

The Subspace Spear swept sideways, shattering the ice spikes on impact. Yet before the broken shards could hit the ground, a sudden gust swept them into icy mist. Mixed with dust raised by earth elements, it instantly obscured Xiling's vision.