Three-Stage Slash

"Stop hitting me, stop hitting me! I surrender!"

When the students around them heard Wang Gang's tearful voice, they somehow felt like laughing. This was probably the first time Wang Gang had suffered such a beating, wasn't it?

Bang! "There shouldn't be anyone else coming to challenge me now, right?"

After throwing another punch, Yang Dong tilted his head and glanced around as he asked.

"No one will. If anyone wants to challenge you, they'll have to beat me first."

"You mean that?"

"I mean it!"

After receiving the answer, Yang Dong stood up in satisfaction. He turned to the surrounding crowd and said, "You heard him. If any of you still want to challenge me, beat him first before coming to find me."

After leaving those words behind, Yang Dong returned to his private dormitory. The people outside looked at one another before eventually dispersing as well.

Even Wang Gang was no match for him, so they stood even less of a chance.

"Interesting."

After tossing out those words without changing his expression, the principal, Wei Cheng, turned and left.

Inside Yang Dong's dormitory, his consciousness once again entered the Bronze Gate, where he stood before the Crystal Ball.

"Claim reward!"

"Requirements not met. Unable to claim reward!"

The answer surprised Yang Dong. Many people had said that Wang Gang was Nuoding Academy's most talented student. Now that he had defeated Wang Gang, didn't that make him Nuoding Academy's greatest genius? How was he not the top dog?

Could there be some hidden talent within Nuoding Academy?

Yang Dong withdrew from his consciousness. So it had all been for nothing.

"Requirements not met?"

Yang Dong recalled the message from the Crystal Ball. What requirement was lacking?

"Cultivation level?!"

Yang Dong's heart jolted. All at once, he felt that he had touched upon the truth.

"Wang Gang's Soul Power is at level fourteen, while I just advanced by one level and reached level twelve. But compared to Wang Gang, I'm still two levels behind."

"No wonder it gave me a year. If all I had to do was defeat Wang Gang, I would've completed it just now. In other words, I have to catch up to Wang Gang's Soul Power within a year before I can be considered Nuoding Academy's top dog?"

Having found the root of the problem, Yang Dong no longer thought about anything else.

Cultivate.

The important thing was to catch up in Soul Power levels as quickly as possible!

Inside the private room of Nuoding Academy's principal, Wei Cheng.

At this moment, Wei Cheng had long lost the calm composure he had displayed outside. He was continuously recounting everything that had happened that evening to a shadowy figure.

"So Yang Dong's soul skill may resemble a Domain Skill, but in reality, it can only be considered a large-scale support ability."

After listening for quite some time, the figure seated in the chair spoke in summary.

"Yes, sir. That is exactly the case!"

Wei Cheng wore a fawning smile, his fat face filled with humility.

"Good. You've worked hard. Your brother's position will be moved up a little. As for what happened today..."

Before the figure could finish, Wei Cheng took over, saying, "Nothing happened today. I was merely resting here alone."

"Very good!"

The figure paused, then nodded in satisfaction. After opening the door, he vanished alone into the night.

Only after the figure had gone far away did Wei Cheng wipe away the faint cold sweat on his forehead. He had a guess about the other party's background, but he did not dare ask. The more one knew, the faster one might die.

The night passed quickly, and a new day arrived.

For many freshmen who had just entered Nuoding Academy, today was a special day. They would officially begin cultivating Soul Power. If they were lucky, they might become one-ring Soul Masters before the age of twelve and graduate successfully.

There were quite a few students with the aptitude to become Soul Masters this year—twenty-seven in total, a record high. In the end, the twenty-seven students were divided into two classes, and Yang Dong was assigned to Class One.

Life at the academy was fulfilling and enjoyable. Every day, Yang Dong attended classes, cultivated, practiced swordsmanship, and trained his body.

"What's the point of this? Wouldn't it be better to spend that time cultivating?"

At first, some people thought Yang Dong was merely showing off. But as time passed, quite a few people gradually took the initiative to join Yang Dong's training group. The most surprising additions were Wang Gang and Su Zhi.

Of course, their participation did not affect Yang Dong's rhythm. He still followed the same routine as before, arranging every moment of his day from morning to night.

Time flowed by amid those fulfilling days, and in the blink of an eye, a year had passed.

Compared to when he was six, the seven-year-old Yang Dong had grown considerably taller. Calluses had formed on both his palms, and his entire temperament had changed. He no longer carried the same trace of childishness as before.

Yang Dong, martial soul Ghost Hand, level sixteen Support Type Soul Master.

That was the result of Yang Dong's year of effort. By now, his Soul Power level had caught up to Wang Gang's. There truly was a despairing gap between ordinary people and geniuses.

Talent determined a person's upper limit. It was not something effort alone could make up for.

"Claim reward!"

Within his subconscious, Yang Dong appeared once more inside the Bronze Gate. With both hands resting on the Crystal Ball, he spoke.

"Requirements met. Reward issued."

White points of light emerged from the Crystal Ball and swiftly entered Yang Dong's body. A warm current surged through him as his Soul Power rose from level sixteen to level seventeen.

"Sword Skill Panel temporarily activated. Sword skill reward: Three-Stage Slash."

The Sword Skill Panel had been temporarily activated?

Yang Dong returned from his subconscious. With a thought, Ghost Hand appeared.

At the same time, four panels appeared before Yang Dong's eyes.

Two of the panels remained gray and dim. No new points of light flickered on the Ghost God Panel either. Only a faint white glow appeared on the Sword Skill Panel.

With his previous experience, Yang Dong touched the Sword Skill Panel with Ghost Hand. In an instant, the faint white glow was absorbed by Ghost Hand.

"Three-Stage Slash: While sliding forward, unleash three consecutive slashes at enemies ahead. Skilled users may freely alter their direction. Once the sword skill is mastered, five slashes may be unleashed."

Powerful!

Yang Dong immediately used Three-Stage Slash according to the memories in his mind.

He discovered that the skill also provided a slight acceleration effect during activation. Although the boost was only around ten percent, it was still a decent enhancement.

Obtaining Three-Stage Slash greatly compensated for Yang Dong's lack of offensive methods. It could also be used as a movement skill, making it far better than simply running like before.

However, if Yang Dong wanted to use Three-Stage Slash proficiently, he would still need a great deal of practice.