I Haven't Agreed to Be Your Teammate Yet!

"I haven't agreed to be your teammate yet!"

Cao Jinxuan made no effort to hide the challenge in his voice. The atmosphere in the room turned tense as drawn swords.

Ever since the homeroom teacher had chosen Lu Yi as deputy class monitor, most of what he'd done was maintain order in the class.

But students like Cao Jinxuan, who had reached the Second Ring or higher, naturally resented being ordered around by someone at a lower level.

Zhou Sichen grew anxious. "Didn't you already agree? Why—"

Before he could finish, Cao Jinxuan raised a hand to cut him off, then turned to face him.

"I agreed to be your teammate. Whether Lu Yi qualifies is something I'll decide after testing him!"

From the start, what Cao Jinxuan had valued was Zhou Sichen's Martial Soul and his Level 25 cultivation.

In Class Nine, Zhou Sichen had the highest cultivation after Class Monitor Ning Tian and Wu Feng.

But the class monitor's team seemed to exclude male students, so Cao Jinxuan figured that, with his Level 24 cultivation, Zhou Sichen would make the best teammate for him.

What he was after was a Core Disciple spot.

To him, the greatest value of that spot was that the Academy would spare no expense to find him a suitable Soul Ring.

His Martial Soul was the Time Fleeting Bell, an exceedingly rare Time-Type Martial Soul.

But its rarity brought more trouble than anything else. Soul Rings suited to him were too hard to find, and many people said that this would nail down the ceiling of his potential.

With a Core Disciple spot, there might be hope of finding a Soul Ring better suited to his Martial Soul.

So he could not allow a student below Level 20 to be his teammate.

If Zhou Sichen hadn't told him that Lu Yi had taken leave to go Soul Hunting and would return as a Soul Grandmaster, he would never have tentatively agreed to wait and judge Lu Yi after testing his abilities.

"I don't know how you managed to raise your Soul Power Level so much in such a short time."

Cao Jinxuan turned his gaze back to Lu Yi and smiled. "Whether you swallowed pills or were born with extraordinary talent, you've met my minimum requirement.

"You must have your Second Soul Ring by now. Sparring with you wouldn't be too much like bullying, then. Do you dare accept, Deputy Class Monitor Lu?"

For some reason—

Perhaps it was the confidence his increased strength had given him, coupled with the influence of his second Soul Ring's attribute. Or perhaps it was because the classmate challenging him this time was a boy.

When Wang Dong or Wu Feng had challenged him before, Lu Yi hadn't taken it much to heart.

But this time, he was genuinely angry.

"Then let's fight!"

Lu Yi's voice left no room for doubt. He met Cao Jinxuan's eyes, narrowed his own, and said with a smile that wasn't quite a smile, "Do we stop once we've made our point, or fight until one of us admits defeat?"

Cao Jinxuan had thrown the challenge right in his face. Of course Lu Yi would accept.

And this time, he had no intention of holding back. He wanted to hear Cao Jinxuan admit defeat with his own mouth.

The question nearly made Cao Jinxuan laugh.

He had planned to spare Lu Yi some embarrassment. If Lu Yi could last one minute under his control, he would accept him.

After all, his Martial Soul's strength lay in controlling a single target. By slowing the flow of time around his opponent, he could gain an overwhelming advantage.

There was almost no way to break through except to strike before he did. Otherwise, in a one-on-one fight, he could not lose.

But since Lu Yi had made that request, Cao Jinxuan changed his mind. He wouldn't hold back either.

"Since you brought it up, we'll fight until one of us admits defeat!"

"Just what I wanted!"

Lu Yi turned, opened the door, and walked out.

Cao Jinxuan followed close behind, and Zhou Sichen hurried after them.

Back at the open ground beside the lake, Lu Yi and Cao Jinxuan stood facing each other.

"Zhou, you be the referee!" Lu Yi said, his eyes fixed on Cao Jinxuan.

A mocking smile crossed Cao Jinxuan's face. "A referee is only useful when both sides are evenly matched. You'd better be ready to fetch a teacher from the Hospital Wing."

"It won't come to that, will it?"

Zhou Sichen was already regretting his choice of Cao Jinxuan as a teammate. He pouted and muttered, "Are you two really going to fight for real?"

Neither of the two in the field answered. Sparks were already flying where their gazes met.

As usual, Cao Jinxuan introduced himself first. "Level 24 control-type Battle Soul Master."

Two Yellow Soul Rings rose around him, and an exquisite clock half a meter tall appeared above his head.

Lu Yi wasted no time either. With a flick of his right hand, he brought out his Wand. "Level 21. Control type."

As his words fell, two Soul Rings—one yellow, one purple—rose around him. His aura outstripped Cao Jinxuan's by more than a little.

"Holy shit!"

At the sight of Lu Yi's Thousand-Year Soul Ring, Zhou Sichen finally burst out with a curse. "I was wondering why you kept pouring Aphrodisiac down your throat every day! So this was what it was for!"

Lu Yi's face instantly darkened.

The one time I try to look impressive. If you don't know what to say, don't say anything!

He shot Zhou Sichen a sidelong glance. Realizing he'd spoken out of turn, Zhou Sichen immediately shut up and prepared to serve as referee.

"Heh—"

Cao Jinxuan understood why Lu Yi was so confident. He had only just obtained his Second Soul Ring, yet he was talking big as though victory were already in his grasp.

So he absorbed a Thousand-Year Soul Ring!

And after hearing Zhou Sichen's remark, Cao Jinxuan looked down on him even more.

Sure enough, he relied on something external to raise his level. His Soul Power must be unstable! How could he compare to someone like me, who cultivated every step of the way?

None of them said another word. Zhou Sichen retreated to the edge of the field.

"Both sides, ready—"

Lu Yi tightened his grip on his Wand, while Cao Jinxuan readied himself to attack at any moment.

"Begin!"

Both of them moved almost at once.

"First Soul Skill, Time—"

Cao Jinxuan traced a shape in midair with both hands, but halfway through the incantation, his body stiffened. His mind turned to mush. Time—what was it again?

The bout of forgetfulness lasted only a little over a second. Then a fierce impact struck him and sent him flying backward. Pain hit him, and his mind cleared.

But by then, it was too late.

Lu Yi kept shouting something. Cao Jinxuan's airborne body seemed to catch in a tremendous pull. It was dragged back down and slammed hard into the ground.

Fortunately, the ground was soft grass. He left a crater but suffered little injury.

Before Cao Jinxuan could catch his breath, an even greater force pressed him into the earth. He was dragged along like a plow until he tumbled into the lake.

Even Zhou Sichen stood stunned. It was his first time seeing Lu Yi fight in earnest.

Lu Yi's Purple Soul Ring shone steadily. He looked like a conductor, directing Cao Jinxuan to strike the ground over and over with his body.

How was this sparring?

It was a complete steamrolling.

Cao Jinxuan's head surfaced now and then, only to be forced back under by an unseen force. The only sounds from the lake were his splashes and choking gulps.

"I admi—glug—"

"I—glug—lose."

"Glug—I give up."