Lesson

A new day began. Sunlight spilled across Eastsea Academy's broad training grounds, yet it could not dispel the chill hanging over the hearts of Class Five's students.

They stood in neat ranks behind Wu Changkong's back, which radiated an icy aura.

The oppressive atmosphere made it hard to breathe.

"Two to a row. Stand properly."

Wu Changkong's cold voice sounded like an unquestionable command.

The formation shifted somewhat chaotically.

Perhaps by coincidence, or perhaps drawn together by some invisible force, Bai Lin and Zhou Changxi ended up in the same row, with Xie Xie and Yun Xiao standing right beside them.

Zhou Changxi's body visibly stiffened. His gaze flickered, and he did not dare look directly at Bai Lin beside him.

Wu Changkong turned around. His cold eyes swept over the students, whom he considered "mediocre in talent." Without any unnecessary pleasantries, he directly announced the cruel content of their first lesson:

"Today's first lesson is to demonstrate your strength."

"You will engage in actual combat shortly. I will serve as the referee."

"Single-elimination."

His words were chillingly concise.

"Let me see your strength."

At that moment, a timid-looking female student raised her hand and said softly:

"Teacher Wu, I..."

"I'm a Tool Soul Master. Do I have to fight too?"

Her martial soul was clearly unsuited for direct hand-to-hand combat.

Wu Changkong's gaze stabbed toward her like an ice pick, his voice utterly devoid of warmth.

"On the battlefield, if you tell your enemy you're a Tool Soul Master, will he spare your life?"

The cold question instantly turned the girl's face pale. She was left speechless.

"First group, prepare."

Without the slightest hesitation, Wu Changkong casually swept his gaze over the crowd. His cold finger precisely pointed toward one corner of the formation.

"We'll start from your side."

The ones he had pointed to were Bai Lin and Zhou Changxi's row!

Zhou Changxi's face turned deathly pale in an instant, and cold sweat immediately broke out on his forehead.

The terrifying scene from the dormitory the night before last—when Hei Lin, as though possessed by a demon, had sent him flying with a single punch—flashed vividly before his eyes!

That unmatched strength, the bone-deep agony, and the freezing terror surged over him like a tide.

What was more, the Tang Wulin standing before him was a genuine two-ringed Great Soul Master!

He himself was merely a one-ringed Soul Master with a ten-year soul spirit and eleven levels of soul power.

What was the difference between facing him and courting death?

Overcome by fear, Zhou Changxi blurted out in a trembling voice:

"Teacher Wu!"

"Tang Wulin, he..."

"He has two rings!"

"How could I possibly beat him?"

He tried to fight for a sliver of survival, even if it meant being reprimanded.

However, Wu Changkong's expression did not waver in the slightest, as though he had merely heard a meaningless piece of nonsense.

His icy gaze fell upon Zhou Changxi as he repeated his earlier logic, only with even greater pressure behind it:

"What?"

"On the battlefield, will your enemy spare you just because you only have one ring?"

"..." Zhou Changxi opened his mouth, but he could not utter a single word in rebuttal.

Wu Changkong's words were like an icy hammer, smashing his final shred of hope to pieces.

He realized in despair that if he continued arguing, he would likely have to personally experience the "guidance" of this six-ringed Soul Emperor.

That would be a hundred times more terrifying than facing Tang Wulin!

Helpless beneath the fear and pressure, Zhou Changxi could only lower his head in resignation. Dragging his heavy steps, he walked with Bai Lin to the open space in the middle of the training ground, which the other students quickly vacated.

Guided by Wu Changkong's silent pressure, the other students swiftly spread out and formed a circle around the two of them.

Everyone's gaze was focused on the center of the field, filled with tension, curiosity, and a trace of sympathy for Zhou Changxi.

Wu Changkong stood outside the circle like an icy judge. He watched the two calmly, his eyes undisturbed, and softly uttered two words:

"Begin."

Then he added, as though setting the brutal tone for the battle:

"No rules."

"Defeat your opponent. Any means may be used."

The instant his words fell, Zhou Changxi erupted almost on reflex!

With a low roar, the Mighty Divine Ape martial soul instantly possessed him, and a white soul ring rose beneath his feet.

At the same time, the phantom of a rather weak-looking little brown monkey appeared on his shoulder—his sole ten-year soul spirit.

"First Soul Skill, Strength Enhancement!"

Zhou Changxi held nothing back, immediately unleashing his strongest enhancement soul skill.

He knew full well that any probing against Tang Wulin would be futile. Only by going all out could he possibly earn himself a chance to...

Retreat with a shred of dignity?

His eyes turned crimson, and his muscles swelled slightly under the effect of his soul skill. With the desperate momentum of someone burning his bridges, he charged at Bai Lin, who stood quietly just a few steps away, like a maddened bull!

He wanted to seize the initiative!

In contrast, Bai Lin remained exceptionally calm in the face of Zhou Changxi's aggressive charge.

He did not even release his signature Blue Silver Grass martial soul, nor did he light up a single soul ring.

He simply stood there, as though waiting for an insignificant opponent.

Only when Zhou Changxi's fist, carrying a fierce gust of wind, was about to strike him did Bai Lin finally move.

His movement was simplicity itself—

He merely took half a step forward, lowered his center of gravity slightly, and threw an utterly ordinary right punch like a cannonball!

There was no glow of soul power, no fluctuation from a martial soul—just the purest, most direct straight punch!

Boom!

A dull sound of flesh striking flesh rang out!

The fierce clash everyone expected never happened at all!

Before everyone's horrified eyes, Zhou Changxi, who had activated his soul skill and was charging with overwhelming momentum, looked as though he had been struck head-on by an invisible siege hammer!

His charging body abruptly halted. Then, with a scream, he flew backward even faster than he had rushed forward!

He traced a pathetic arc through the air before crashing heavily onto the grass several meters away with a thud. His body curled up as pained groans escaped him.

The entire field fell silent!

You could hear a pin drop!

Every cry of surprise was caught in everyone's throat.

The students stared wide-eyed at the center of the field in disbelief.

This...

Had it ended far too quickly?

Zhou Changxi might not have been strong, but he was still a genuine one-ringed, strength-type Soul Master, and he had even used an enhancement soul skill!

And Tang Wulin...

He had not even used his martial soul!

He had not used a soul ring!

Just one punch!

One completely ordinary punch!

The visual impact of that pure physical strength was even more shocking than learning yesterday that he had twenty-three levels of soul power!

Just what kind of terrifying power was hidden within that seemingly slender body?

Xie Xie's pupils contracted sharply, and cold sweat seeped into the palm of his clenched fist.

He had personally experienced Hei Lin's terror the night before last, but the shock brought by Bai Lin's punch of pure strength was no less overwhelming.

Yun Xiao covered his mouth, his eyes filled with reverence as he looked at Bai Lin.