Class Dismissed

Only he himself and Hei Lin, deep within his soul, knew where that terrifying power that defied all reason came from—

It was the transformation brought about by his body passively absorbing and fusing with the Golden Dragon King's energy, day after day and night after night, under Hei Lin's nearly crazed, relentless pressure!

According to Teacher Mang Tian's original assessment, in terms of pure physical strength and defensive power alone, he had long been capable of facing most four-ring power-type Soul Ancestors head-on—and even suppressing them!

Coupled with the Golden Dragon King's absurd regenerative ability, Mang Tian had even declared that his chances of victory were extremely high!

At that moment, Zhou Changxi quickly ran over and helped Xie Xie, who had been sent flying by Bai Lin's punch, to his feet.

Xie Xie's face was pale, with even a trace of blood at the corner of his mouth. His arms were still trembling slightly, clearly having suffered considerable internal shock.

He looked at Zhou Changxi, who was being supported over and wore the same expression of defeat and pain. Their eyes met, and both saw the bitter sympathy of fellow sufferers—as well as an indescribable trace of awe—in the other's gaze.

Wu Changkong's cold gaze finally shifted away from Bai Lin and swept slowly over the other Class Five students around the field, who stood silent as cicadas in winter, their faces filled with shock, fear, and even confusion like tangible ice picks.

"The sparring is over."

His voice was not loud, yet it carried a crushing pressure that reached everyone's ears with perfect clarity.

He paused, his icy gaze seeming to brand the word "loser" onto every student's face.

"Except for Tang Wulin."

Wu Changkong's voice suddenly rose, carrying undisguised disappointment and cold mockery.

"Do you know what impression the rest of you gave me?"

His icy gaze swept over the students with their heads bowed, too afraid to meet his eyes, as he enunciated the judgment that was enough to pierce all their pride:

"Rotten wood cannot be carved!"

Those five words struck every student's heart like heavy hammers, making them lower their heads even further.

"You are all students of Class Five. Look at yourselves!"

Wu Changkong's voice was filled with contempt.

"Then look at Tang Wulin!"

Quite a few students in the crowd could not help grumbling inwardly:

How could we possibly compare?

Tang Wulin was already a freak at level twenty-three at nine years old before school even started!

This is completely unfair!

But Wu Changkong clearly did not care what they thought.

He pointed at Bai Lin. His voice remained cold, but now carried the cruelty of comparison.

"Perhaps some of you are still unconvinced?"

"You think he merely relied on having a strong body?"

"Look at him!"

"He won every battle, including the final, without even releasing his martial soul!"

"From beginning to end, the only thing he used was the most primitive power—the power of his own body!"

He paused again, his gaze sweeping over the entire field like blades.

"Perhaps some of you will still try to argue that physical strength is only useful in the early stages of a Soul Master's development."

"That once your soul power level rises and you possess more powerful soul skills, physical fitness will no longer matter?"

A cold curve appeared at the corner of Wu Changkong's mouth, bearing absolute denial.

"But I'm telling you—"

"You!"

"Have no right to even think about whether you have enough soul skills!"

The words exploded like thunder, making all the students suddenly raise their heads, their faces filled with shock and humiliation.

"Ask yourselves honestly."

Wu Changkong's voice was like a frigid wind, extinguishing the last trace of luck in the students' hearts.

"How many of you are confident that you can reach the level of possessing a second soul ring in the foreseeable future?"

"And how many of you dare to pound your chests and say that you will have enough powerful soul skills in the future?"

His questions left every student speechless.

Reality was cruel. With their talents and martial souls, many of them might never cross the threshold into becoming a two-ring Grand Soul Master in their entire lives.

"The times have changed."

Wu Changkong's voice took on a grave note.

"Soul power level has long ceased to be an absolute requirement for becoming a powerful mecha pilot!"

"Powerful energy-storage soul devices have made it possible for ordinary people to pilot mechas as well!"

His gaze suddenly sharpened like a blade, and his voice became resolute.

"But!"

"A strong physique will forever remain the unshakable, most fundamental foundation of a mecha pilot!"

"Without a sufficiently tough body capable of enduring immense loads."

His words were like cold iron laws, branded into everyone's hearts.

"You simply cannot withstand the terrifying impacts brought by high-speed maneuvers inside a mecha!"

"You cannot sustain long periods of high-intensity combat!"

"If you cannot even sit steady in the cockpit, what right do you have to talk about becoming strong?"

Wu Changkong's cold gaze finally swept over all the dejected students, who had been beaten down until they wished the ground would swallow them up, before he delivered his final, unquestionable decision:

"Therefore!"

"Given the reality that your martial souls are weak and your basic physical qualities are appallingly poor—"

"Starting tomorrow, our class will undergo at least one month of intensive physical training!"

"Every morning will be devoted entirely to physical training!"

"In the afternoon, you will study theoretical knowledge!"

He paused and looked at their faces, which had instantly turned pale. His voice held not a trace of warmth.

"Dismissed."

With those two cold words, Wu Changkong looked at no one else. He turned and strode away with his signature chill-laden gait, leaving the field without once looking back.

He left behind the Class Five freshmen scattered across the field like frost-bitten eggplants, filled with despair and fear for the future.

Bai Lin stood where he was, feeling the gazes of his classmates upon him—mixed with awe, envy, and a faint, inexplicable resentment—and sighed softly to himself.

Intensive physical training...

It seemed that starting tomorrow, peaceful campus life would enter another kind of "living hell."

Still, for a body tempered by the Golden Dragon King's power, this perhaps...

Could only count as a warm-up?

The afternoon theory class ended in a gloomy, slightly exhausted atmosphere.

When Wu Changkong announced that class was over, all the students felt as though they had been granted amnesty. Just as they were preparing to flee the frigid classroom, Wu Changkong's next words froze them in place.

"Tang Wulin. Xie Xie."

Wu Changkong's cold gaze landed precisely on the two of them.

"Come with me."

Bai Lin and Xie Xie exchanged a glance, and both saw confusion in the other's eyes.

Why had their iceberg of a homeroom teacher suddenly summoned them alone? What could it be about?

Was it because of their performance in today's practical combat class?

Or...

Neither dared to be careless. Suppressing their doubts, they silently rose to their feet and followed behind Wu Changkong's chill-radiating back amid their classmates' curious or sympathetic gazes.

No one spoke along the way. Only their footsteps echoed through the empty corridor.

The three arrived at Wu Changkong's office deep within the teaching building.

The office was furnished with extreme simplicity: a desk, several chairs, and a bookcase. It was clean and orderly, as cold as its owner.