Special Attention

"Understood," the three answered in unison.

Wu Zhangkong nodded faintly. "Very well. Tomorrow, I'll take you to have your spiritual power tested. For now, special training begins immediately."

The moment Xie Xie heard that it was practical combat rather than physical conditioning, he instantly perked up, his face full of eagerness. "Teacher Wu, who's fighting whom first?"

"There is no order. The three of you will attack together, and your opponent will be Xiling. I'll observe from the side."

As soon as Wu Zhangkong finished speaking, Gu Yue, Xie Xie, and Tang Wulin's expressions all stiffened.

Xie Xie in particular widened his eyes and looked incredulously at Xiling, who stood nearby with an amused smile. Even his voice trembled.

"Teacher Wu, you're not joking, are you? The three of us together? And our opponent is Brother Xiling?"

Wu Zhangkong's gaze was icy, his tone calm yet unquestionable. "I never joke."

Those simple words completely shattered Xie Xie's last shred of hope. The eagerness on his face instantly collapsed, and he looked at Xiling with a mournful expression, his eyes filled with the desire to survive.

Clearly, having witnessed Xiling's strength before, none of them had any desire to fight him. Wouldn't going up against him just be asking for a beating?

Seeing the three of them looking reluctant, Xiling added, "Don't worry. I won't use soul skills or weapons. I'll only use my physical strength to attack. Just give it your all."

Wu Zhangkong had no objection to that. His purpose was to use actual combat and immense pressure to draw out their potential. As long as Xiling put enough pressure on them, that was enough.

With Xiling's assurance and Wu Zhangkong's arrangements, the pressure on the three of them eased considerably.

Xie Xie rubbed his hands together and chuckled. "Brother Xiling, you said it yourself. No soul skills and no weapons. You'd better keep your word."

Xiling raised a brow. Seeing Xie Xie's expression that practically said I've got this again, he smiled faintly. "Don't worry. I always keep my word."

Having received a definite answer, the three of them immediately gained confidence, completely shaking off their earlier apprehension.

"Since you're all ready, begin now," Wu Zhangkong's voice rang out across the training ground.

Almost at the same instant, one white and two yellow soul rings rose beneath their feet.

Tang Wulin made the first move. The white soul ring beneath his feet lit up. "First soul skill, Entanglement."

Dense Blue Silver Grass burst from the ground, winding toward Xiling's legs and arms, seeking to restrain his movements at once.

At the same time, his right hand clenched, and the Thousand-Forged Tungsten Steel Hammer appeared in his grip, ready for close-range assault.

Xie Xie followed immediately after him. His first soul skill, the Light Dragon Blade, condensed in an instant, and a sharp blade of light slashed toward Xiling's side.

Gu Yue stood at the rear, simultaneously mobilizing wind, fire, and earth elements. Wind blades carrying fireballs swept toward Xiling from all directions.

From time to time, she also used the earth element to raise piles of stone and block Xiling's retreat, restraining him from afar while coordinating with the other two's attacks.

Battlefield control, close combat, and long-range restraint—their assault looked imposing, and their coordination seemed seamless. Yet in reality, each of them fought on their own. Not only did they fail to form a combined force, they even interfered with one another, leaving flaws everywhere.

Xiling shook his head gently, his tone carrying a hint of helplessness. "You know exactly what I'm capable of, yet you're still attacking me this way."

Before his words had even faded, his feet gave an almost imperceptible tremor, and his figure vanished from the spot. Every strand of Blue Silver Grass, every light blade, and every elemental attack missed.

Before the three could react, Xiling had already appeared beside Xie Xie.

Xie Xie's expression changed drastically. He hurriedly turned and swung the Light Dragon Dagger in retaliation, but Xiling casually raised a hand and delivered a whip-like kick.

With a bang, Xie Xie was sent flying. He rolled twice across the ground, baring his teeth in pain as his entire body went numb and sore.

Before he could struggle to his feet, Xiling flashed away again. After that, no matter how Xie Xie moved or dodged, Xiling always appeared out of nowhere in front of him, behind him, or at his side.

Every time he closed in, it was a perfectly timed palm strike, whip kick, or light kick.

Each blow hurt without causing injury. After several exchanges, Xie Xie was repeatedly sent flying and knocked down, his speed advantage completely gone.

In only a short while, Xie Xie had been tossed around until he was panting heavily, his whole body aching as he lay sprawled on the ground.

Then Xiling's figure flashed again. Tang Wulin had just charged in with the Thousand-Forged Tungsten Steel Hammer raised when, before the hammer could fall, Xiling had already teleported behind him and flicked a finger.

"Ow!"

Tang Wulin cried out in pain. The Thousand-Forged Tungsten Steel Hammer flew from his hand, and a deft force sent him stumbling to the ground, his arm numb and powerless.

Gu Yue's heart tightened, and she hastily mobilized her elements for full defense. But Xiling had already vanished from his original position, appearing before her the next moment.

He merely raised a hand and gave her a gentle push. Soft yet irresistible force descended upon her, and Gu Yue staggered back several steps before falling onto the ground on her backside, her body weak all over.

The entire fight lasted less than a minute, fifty-seven seconds of which had been spent giving Xie Xie special attention.

Xie Xie lay facedown on the ground, on the verge of tears. His eyes were full of deep resentment as he looked at Xiling, and he shouted hoarsely toward Wu Zhangkong, "Teacher, I want to report this! This is targeting—blatant targeting!"

Tang Wulin had just pushed himself into a sitting position when he could not help letting out a snort of laughter. He quickly covered his mouth, but the amusement in his eyes could not be concealed.

Gu Yue slowly rose while supporting herself against the ground. Her gaze toward Xiling was somewhat complicated. This guy really did not know how to go easy on a girl.

"You can't just say things like that. I followed our agreement the entire time. I didn't use soul skills or weapons. I fought you using only my body, so how is that targeting?"

Xiling stood where he was, patting off dust that did not exist from his hands. He looked innocently at Xie Xie, the smile on his lips unchanged.

"And you still say that?" Xie Xie was so angry that he nearly jumped up, but the soreness throughout his body made him grimace as soon as he moved. He could only slump where he was and continue protesting.

"You spent the whole fight beating only me! Teacher Wu, look at him! Brother Xiling is obviously playing favorites and picking on me on purpose!"

Wu Zhangkong stood to one side, watching coldly from beginning to end. His cool gaze swept over the bedraggled trio. His brows furrowed slightly, but his expression remained unchanged. His voice was still calm and flat as he directly dismissed Xie Xie's complaint. "You lack skill. There is nothing to say."

Those simple words instantly deflated Xie Xie. He shut his mouth with a wronged expression, not daring to complain any further. He could only glare fiercely at Xiling, filled with unwillingness.

Wu Zhangkong slowly walked to the center of the field. His gaze passed over the three of them in turn as he began his critique, every word striking directly at the heart of the matter.

"Tang Wulin, your Blue Silver Grass has mutated. That is a good thing, but you have no idea how to coordinate it with your hammer."

"Gu Yue, your elemental control is proficient, but you have no coordination with your teammates. You only focus on attacking from afar by yourself, and your offensive and defensive rhythm is completely disconnected."

"Xie Xie, you have the speed of an agility attack-type soul master, but no combat strategy at all. You charge in recklessly, exposing flaws everywhere. Being targeted in actual combat is perfectly normal."

"The three of you have strengths that complement one another, yet you somehow fought like a scattered rabble. In this state, forget the promotion match—you cannot even handle basic team combat."

After hearing that, all three lowered their heads.

Xiling also put away the teasing expression on his face. He stood silently to one side without interrupting.

"From now on, you will repeatedly fight Xiling and refine your coordination. Special training will not end until you can seamlessly combine offense and defense and work together with perfect understanding."

At those words, Xie Xie's face immediately fell, looking utterly lifeless. Still, he did not dare voice even the slightest objection.

"Get up. Start again," Wu Zhangkong ordered coldly.