An Incense Stick Burns Out, and Teacher Zhao Loses by Half a Step

When Zhao Wuji said he was getting serious, he meant it.

After his third Spirit Ring lit up, the ground beneath the training field seemed to sink.

The Blue Silver Grass had barely sprouted beneath Tang San's feet when the pressure bent it flat. Xiao Wu stumbled and nearly lost her footing. Zhu Zhuqing was the fastest, but her light-footed style left her half a beat slower too.

Ning Rongrong stood at the rear, her face pale.

For the first time, she realized that standing behind everyone else did not mean she was safe.

When a Soul Sage's power bore down, it made no exceptions for support Soul Masters.

Yuan Yu gripped his blade in one hand. The Rock Pattern sank from the blade into the ground beneath his feet.

Dark-gold lines spread across the surface, anchoring the ground beneath them.

Zhao Wuji's eyes lit up.

"Good!"

He raised a hand and brought his palm down.

This strike was no longer aimed at Yuan Yu alone.

The force swept across half the training field, engulfing Tang San, Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, and Ning Rongrong.

Yuan Yu saw it coming and grimaced.

"Teacher Zhao, this is what you call getting a little serious?"

Zhao Wuji roared with laughter.

"You haven't seen anything yet!"

Yuan Yu stopped joking.

The Water Pattern lit up.

He flicked his Sun Wheel Blade upward, sending a water-blue arc curling into the oncoming force.

"Water Breathing, Fourth Form."

"Striking Tide!"

Several streams of water struck the force of the palm. Rather than meeting it head-on, they stripped away its power layer by layer.

Tang San seized the opening, sending Blue Silver Grass around Zhao Wuji's wrist from the side.

Xiao Wu sprang up, using the Blue Silver Grass to launch herself straight toward Zhao Wuji's shoulder.

Zhu Zhuqing closed in from the other side, her claws flashing toward his ribs.

Zhao Wuji kept laughing.

"Good teamwork!"

His first Spirit Ring lit up.

Immovable King Body!

Xiao Wu's Waist Bow struck, but Zhao Wuji's shoulder merely rocked. Golden light blocked Zhu Zhuqing's attack too, sparks spraying from her claws.

Xiao Wu's expression changed.

"He's way too tough!"

Zhao Wuji reached out to grab her.

Lightning flashed beneath Yuan Yu's feet.

He appeared beside Xiao Wu and knocked Zhao Wuji's palm half an inch off course with his scabbard.

Xiao Wu used the opening to flip away.

Zhao Wuji looked at Yuan Yu.

"You're quick to save people, kid."

"What choice do I have?"

Yuan Yu shook out his numbed wrist.

"If a teacher smacks my teammate into the ground on her first day, it won't sound good when word gets out."

Oscar shuddered at the edge of the field.

"He really says whatever he wants."

Dai Mubai watched the fight and said quietly, "Teacher Zhao hasn't used his Fifth Soul Skill yet."

The moment he finished speaking, Zhao Wuji's fifth Spirit Ring lit up.

Dai Mubai's eyelid twitched.

"I should've kept my mouth shut."

The pressure shifted again.

Instead of covering the whole field, it closed in around the group.

Tang San's Blue Silver Grass creaked under the strain. Zhu Zhuqing faltered, her knee nearly touching the ground. Xiao Wu gritted her teeth and held on, sweat already beading on her forehead.

Ning Rongrong held the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda in both hands, her voice more urgent than before.

"Seven Treasure Mantra, Second: Speed!"

Light fell over them.

But the gap in Soul Power remained. Her support could help them hold on a little longer; it could not let them ignore a Soul Sage.

Yuan Yu drew a breath.

All Five God-given Spirit Rings lit up at once.

The Rock Pattern steadied the ground.

The Water Pattern dispersed the force.

The Wind Pattern opened a path.

The Thunder Pattern boosted his speed.

The Flame Pattern stayed hidden behind his blade's edge, held back for now.

Zhao Wuji grew even more excited.

"Come on!"

Yuan Yu stepped forward.

"Tang San, beneath my feet."

Tang San reacted at once.

Blue Silver Grass sprouted beneath Yuan Yu. Instead of binding their opponent, it thrust him forward.

Using that force, Yuan Yu skimmed low across the ground.

"Wind Breathing, First Form."

"Dust Whirlwind: Cutting Slash!"

A blue-gold wind blade swept around Zhao Wuji's feet. It did not strike him, but cut into the spot where he was about to step.

Zhao Wuji went to move, and his foot found empty space.

He did not fall.

He merely lost a fraction of his balance.

That fraction was enough.

Zhu Zhuqing darted out of the shadows, her claws sweeping toward the side of Zhao Wuji's knee. Xiao Wu caught the Blue Silver Grass and swung herself in, following up with another Waist Bow.

Zhao Wuji raised his arm to block.

At that moment, Yuan Yu turned his blade.

A red-gold line of fire shot up from the ground and burst in front of Zhao Wuji.

"Flame Breathing, Second Form."

"Blazing Heaven Ascension!"

Flames surged upward.

Zhao Wuji had to raise an arm against them.

Tang San's gaze sharpened.

He flicked out several glints of cold steel.

They were not aimed at vital points.

They targeted the muscles in Zhao Wuji's arm and shoulder as he exerted force.

Zhao Wuji's pupils contracted.

He had not expected Tang San to have a move like that.

Several sharp impacts rang out.

Immovable King Body deflected the Hidden Weapons, but Zhao Wuji's movements still slowed by half a beat.

Yuan Yu was already in front of him.

He did not cut with the Sun Wheel Blade.

The back of the blade touched Zhao Wuji's chest.

Barely a tap.

Too light to feel like an attack.

But everyone at the edge of the field saw it.

Zhao Wuji paused for an instant.

The incense had only a sliver left to burn.

In the next heartbeat, Zhao Wuji grinned and swept his hand toward Yuan Yu's shoulder.

Lightning flashed beneath Yuan Yu's feet. He vanished and reappeared in front of Tang San and the others.

The last ash fell from the incense.

Flender stood at the edge of the field, though no one had noticed when he arrived. He adjusted his glasses.

"That's enough."

Zhao Wuji looked at the burned-out incense, then glanced down at his chest.

A faint mark from the back of the blade crossed his clothes.

He was not angry.

Instead, he laughed with delight.

"Not bad, kid."

"I lost by half a step."

Yuan Yu sheathed his blade.

"You're being generous, Teacher Zhao. It took all five of us to last that long."

Xiao Wu rubbed her shoulder.

"No need to be generous. We really did almost get flattened."

Ning Rongrong took a deep breath and lowered the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda. Her fingers were still trembling.

She had stood at the rear the entire time.

But she knew better than anyone that if Yuan Yu had not held the front line, she might not have had the chance to use her support twice.

Tang San looked at Yuan Yu.

"Thanks for earlier."

Yuan Yu smiled.

"We're classmates. Your Hidden Weapons are impressive too. Just give me a warning next time—I'm afraid I'll step on one."

Tang San froze, then smiled.

"All right."

Zhao Wuji rubbed his shoulder and turned to Flender.

"Are we taking all of them?"

Flender looked over the group.

"We are."

Then he looked at Yuan Yu.

"Especially him."

Yuan Yu immediately grew wary.

"Dean, I've already paid my tuition."

Flender's face darkened.

"I meant we should train you."

"Oh."

Yuan Yu relaxed.

"Good. I thought you were going to charge me more."

Oscar nearly burst out laughing nearby.

Zhao Wuji laughed too.

But halfway through, he suddenly coughed.

Tang San's Hidden Weapons had not pierced his defenses, but the impacts had jolted him inside.

Tang San noticed and immediately stepped forward.

"Teacher Zhao, there was no poison on those Hidden Weapons."

Zhao Wuji waved him off.

"I know. If there had been, I'd already have beaten you up."

Yuan Yu glanced at Tang San, then at Zhao Wuji.

He did not ask.

Everyone had their own secrets.

Tang San had his Hidden Weapons.

He had his Sun Wheel Blade.

The more questions they asked, the less interesting it became.

After the test, the new students were officially part of Shrek Academy.

Dai Mubai led them to their rooms.

Xiao Wu complained the whole way that Zhao Wuji had hit too hard. Ning Rongrong was much quieter. Zhu Zhuqing still said little, though she glanced at Yuan Yu a couple more times.

Tang San walked at the back.

He looked over his shoulder at the training ground.

Zhao Wuji was still there, rolling his shoulders.

Tang San felt a little guilty.

Yuan Yu suddenly stopped.

"Don't worry."

Tang San looked at him.

"What?"

"Teacher Zhao has thick skin."

Yuan Yu said with a straight face, "If he were really hurt, he'd have gone down right then."

Tang San couldn't help laughing.

Night fell quickly.

Shrek Academy grew quiet.

On the roof, Azure Luan Douluo gazed toward the training ground, his eyes shifting slightly.

Ling Yuan stood beside him.

"That child Tang San's hidden weapons aren't something an ordinary blacksmith could have taught him to make."

Azure Luan said calmly, "Someone else is here."

Ling Yuan looked up.

In the distant woods, a tall, dark figure slowly emerged.

He made no attempt to conceal the aura of the Clear Sky Hammer in his hand.