First Use of Wind Empress Qimen

Dai Mubai's voice pulled Ning Rongrong's attention back. The middle-aged man dozing in the chair before them opened his eyes and swept a glance over the four of them.

He was not tall, but his shoulders were as broad as city walls, every muscle seemingly cast from steel.

Ning Rongrong's gaze lingered on him for a moment.

Strong.

Extremely strong.

"All four of you are above Rank 25. Not bad, not bad." Zhao Wuji rose from his chair and rolled his wrists, his bones cracking in rapid succession. "This is the final test. The four of you will join forces and withstand my attacks for the duration of one incense stick. As long as even one of you lasts until the end, you'll all pass."

Dai Mubai's expression changed slightly. "Teacher Zhao, isn't that a little inappropriate?"

"What's inappropriate about it? The dean isn't here, so I'm in charge." Zhao Wuji produced an incense stick, lit its tip with a rub of his fingers, and said, "You have one incense stick's time to discuss things. Mubai, tell them about my strength."

The incense stick was planted in the ground.

Dai Mubai pulled the four aside, his expression grave.

"Teacher Zhao's martial soul is the Mighty Vajra Bear. He is a Rank 76 Soul Sage. His entire body has no weak points, his defense is terrifying, and his attack power is equally extreme. At the academy, he is known as the Immovable Bright King."

"Rank 76?" Xiao Wu cried out.

Tang San's pupils shrank as well.

Ning Rongrong, however, did not react too strongly. She tilted her head slightly, quickly processing the information.

A Rank 76 Soul Sage. Two yellow, two purple, and three black soul rings. All three ten-thousand-year soul rings were geared toward attack and defense.

He was still far below her master Yang Xing, who was Rank 90, but to four Grand Soul Masters in their twenties, the gap remained as insurmountable as a chasm.

"You should introduce yourselves first. State your abilities and figure out how to coordinate," Dai Mubai urged.

Tang San spoke first. "Tang San, tool martial soul Blue Silver Grass, Rank 29 control-system battle soul master."

Xiao Wu followed immediately. "Xiao Wu, beast martial soul rabbit, Rank 29 assault-system battle soul master."

Zhu Zhuqing coldly uttered a few words. "Zhu Zhuqing, beast martial soul Netherworld Spirit Cat, Rank 27 agility-attack-system battle soul master."

Three pairs of eyes turned toward Ning Rongrong.

Ning Rongrong smiled faintly, her voice gentle.

"Ning Rongrong, tool martial soul Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, Rank 26 support-system tool soul master."

She paused.

The expected shock appeared in all four pairs of eyes. Tang San was the first to speak. "Your martial soul is the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda? Then you're from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?"

Ning Rongrong stuck out her tongue. "Stop staring. I'm no different from ordinary people. I snuck out from home."

Her tone shifted as she lowered her voice.

"My Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda's two soul rings can enhance everyone's strength and speed by around thirty percent. Maintaining it for one incense stick won't be a problem."

As she said this, her eyes curved into crescents, carrying a trace of mystery.

"Besides that, this young lady has one extra ability."

Three pairs of eyes fixed on her.

"It's not convenient to say exactly what it is for now." Ning Rongrong raised one finger and waved it before her lips. "But don't worry. Although I'm a support-system soul master, I have some means of protecting myself. At critical moments, I can also provide some control and offensive support."

Seeing the slightly hesitant expressions on their faces, she added another sentence.

"So you don't need to make a point of protecting me. Just fight without holding back."

Tang San looked at her for two seconds, then nodded. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had a profound foundation, so it was hardly strange for her to possess some secret sect method for preserving her life. They had only just met; there was no reason to pry.

"Alright." Tang San swiftly adjusted their plan. "Then we'll change our tactics. Ning Rongrong will be responsible for support and enhancements, while judging the timing herself to interfere and assist. Xiao Wu will be the main attacker, I'll handle control and restraint, and Zhu Zhuqing will harass from the flanks."

Everyone nodded.

On the other side of the field.

"Boss Dai, there are actually three girls among these new students, and they're all so pretty."

At some point, Oscar had sidled up beside Dai Mubai. His peach-blossom eyes were practically shining as his gaze swept back and forth over the three girls in the field.

"That Xiao Wu with the scorpion braid is cute and wild. She'll definitely look great when she fights."

His gaze shifted to Ning Rongrong.

"This short-haired Ning Rongrong is gentle, refined, and even the young lady of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Tsk, tsk, that temperament."

His gaze moved again.

"And that Zhu Zhuqing, she's ice-cold, but her figure is really—"

"Bang!"

A heavy blow landed on the back of Oscar's head.

"Argh!" Oscar clutched his head and squatted down, howling in pain.

Dai Mubai withdrew his fist, his evil eyes filled with warning. "Zhu Zhuqing is mine. Don't get any crooked ideas."

Oscar looked so aggrieved that tears nearly came to his eyes as he weakly protested, "How was I supposed to know, Boss Dai? You didn't tell me beforehand."

Rubbing the back of his head, he stood up. His peach-blossom eyes spun a few times, and he quickly figured things out from the positions on the field. The distance between Tang San and Xiao Wu was clearly closer than their distance from the others, and the looks they exchanged while talking were incredibly in sync.

Hmm, she's taken.

That only left Ning Rongrong.

Oscar puffed out his chest and vowed to Dai Mubai, "Boss Dai, I'm going to win over that Ning Rongrong from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. You already have Zhu Zhuqing, so you're not allowed to compete with me."

Dai Mubai gave him a sidelong glance. "Fine. Do what you want."

His evil eyes returned to the field. Zhao Wuji had already risen to his feet.

"Have you finished discussing?" Zhao Wuji's booming voice carried over.

The incense stick had already burned to its end.

"We're ready to begin," Tang San answered for the group.

Zhao Wuji lit another incense stick and planted it in the ground.

Ning Rongrong acted first.

"Seven Treasures Turn, Glazed Light Emerges."

Her body spun gracefully once, releasing seven-colored light from within. A seven-colored pagoda more than a foot tall appeared in her right palm, while two yellow soul rings rose from beneath her feet.

"Seven Treasures Have a Name, First: Strength."

Three streams of colored light shot forth, enveloping Tang San, Xiao Wu, and Zhu Zhuqing respectively.

"Seven Treasures Have a Name, Second: Speed."

Three more streams of colored light were released.

With both strength and speed enhanced by thirty percent, Tang San immediately felt soul power surge through his body as if boiling, while his body became noticeably lighter.

What a powerful support effect.

Zhao Wuji noticed Ning Rongrong at once as well.

"Well, well, someone from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect." He muttered under his breath, a smile appearing on his face.

Then he moved.

Not toward Tang San's group, but by half-crouching and smashing both fists into the ground at once.

An area attack.

His target was clear. He would first interrupt the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda's support.

"Not good!" Tang San shouted. Blue Silver Grass lashed out at high speed, wrapping around Xiao Wu's waist and pulling her into the air. Zhu Zhuqing shot out from the side, skimming over the shaking ground.

And Ning Rongrong.

Under everyone's watchful eyes, the ground beneath her feet suddenly shimmered with an extremely faint layer of light. The next instant, her body vanished into thin air.

It was not evasion.

She had disappeared.

With a soft whoosh, Ning Rongrong's figure appeared five meters away, landing steadily.

Zhao Wuji's seismic wave thundered through the spot where she had been standing, throwing up clouds of dust, while she remained completely unharmed.

Outside the field, Dai Mubai's eyes abruptly widened.

Oscar's gaping mouth formed a perfect O.