A Reassuring Smile

Blue-white light burst out through the gaps between the people surrounding it, as if something trapped in a crevice had finally found an exit.

"Not good!" Tang Wulin's Clear Sky Hammer struck Wu Changkong's body, but that body shattered like an ice sculpture at the slightest touch. The broken shards sprayed in every direction, turning into a cold white mist in the air. His hammer missed, and the momentum carried his center of gravity a step forward. His shoe scraped across the stone floor with a short, sharp sound.

"Watch out!" Gu Yue grabbed Xu Xiaoyan's wrist. Silver light flashed from her palm and enveloped both of them. The light swept across the battlefield, carrying them away from where they had stood. A merciless blade of frost cut through their former position, slicing into the ground and leaving behind a deep, narrow crack. Frost slowly spread outward from its edges.

When Xu Xiaoyan landed, her knees went weak, but Gu Yue's hand steadied her. She looked down at the crack in the ground, then up at the figure slowly moving through the air. Her voice trembled slightly. "No way... Teacher Wu, you're seriously doing this?"

Wu Changkong hovered in midair. The corners of his mouth lifted slightly. The curve was faint, but visible. He had heard Xu Xiaoyan's fear, and that was exactly the effect he wanted.

"Xie Xie!" Tang Wulin shouted. He stared at Wu Changkong's position as the blood-gold fangs on his hammer slowly receded inch by inch. He knew that no matter what, Xie Xie's speed could not match Wu Changkong's. He could not catch him by chasing head-on, so he thrust the hammer forward, aiming its landing point toward himself.

Xie Xie immediately understood. He pushed off from the hammer's surface with the tips of his