Tang Wulin's Infuriating Friendly Match

On an autumn afternoon, sunlight filtered through the leaves of towering plane trees, casting dappled shadows across the bluestone paving of Eastsea Academy's training grounds. The dry scent of grass and trees filled the air, and an occasional breeze swept up a few withered yellow leaves. Wu Changkong stood with his hands behind his back, dressed in a fitted dark blue training outfit. His long, ice-blue hair remained motionless in the wind, and a chill sharper than autumn frost radiated from him, leaving the thirty-odd new students of Class Five afraid even to breathe too loudly.

"Combat training." Wu Changkong's voice rang clear and cold, like shards of ice striking one another. He wasted no words. "One on one. Draw lots to decide your opponents. Stop short of serious injury, but—no holding back."

As soon as he finished speaking, a stir ran through the crowd. Xie Xie loosened his wrists, a playful smile curling his lips. His gaze swept over his slightly flustered classmates before settling on Tang Wulin beside him. Tang Wulin still wore his black hair neatly cropped, his eyes clear and calm. Sensing Xie Xie's gaze, he turned, and the two exchanged a smile. No words were needed; their understanding lay in that silence.

"First match, Tang Wulin against Zhao Song," Wu Changkong announced.

Zhao Song was a small, thin boy whose Martial Soul was a vine-type tool Martial Soul. His face had gone a little pale, and he was clearly nervous about facing Tang Wulin. Tang Wulin stepped forward and smiled gently. "Relax. Just treat it like an ordinary spar."

The moment the fight began, Zhao Song released his Martial Soul. Green vines shot up from the ground, attempting to coil around Tang Wulin's legs. But Tang Wulin's footwork was as nimble as the wind. He easily avoided every attack, then flashed forward, closing in on Zhao Song. Without using a single Soul Skill, relying solely on his physical ability and combat instincts, he slipped past Zhao Song's guard with a simple feint and lightly tapped his shoulder with one finger. Zhao Song felt an enormous force surge into him and staggered several steps backward, completely losing the ability to fight.

"Thanks for the match." Tang Wulin withdrew his hand, his tone calm. Whispers rose around him; his display of strength had clearly surprised the others.

"Next match, Xie Xie against Li Yan," Wu Changkong continued.

Li Yan was a strength-oriented Soul Master. After Martial Soul Possession, his muscles swelled, making him look imposing. With a roar, he charged at Xie Xie, swinging his fists and trying to overwhelm him with strength. But Xie Xie's speed was astonishing. A slight shift of his feet carried him behind Li Yan like a phantom. He did not even draw the dagger he carried, instead relying on speed and footwork to circle Li Yan, leaving trails of afterimages. Li Yan's attacks missed again and again. He panted for breath, unable to touch even the hem of Xie Xie's clothes.

"You're too slow." Xie Xie's voice sounded beside Li Yan's ear, edged with mockery. Then everyone saw a flash of golden light. "Light Dragon Shadow!" Xie Xie called in a low voice. His figure abruptly accelerated, appearing before Li Yan in an instant, and he lightly touched a finger to his forehead. Li Yan's vision blurred, and he had already lost.

Over the next few matches, Tang Wulin and Xie Xie were like two sharp swords, cutting through their opponents as easily as splitting bamboo. Whether they faced control-type, power attack system, or defense-type opponents, they displayed an overwhelming advantage. Tang Wulin relied on punches and kicks that looked ordinary yet carried the force of a thousand tons, along with tenacious close-quarters fighting as resilient as blue silver grass. Xie Xie relied on lightning-fast speed and precise judgment, always ending the fight before his opponent could react.

As time passed, the other students' battles ranged from fierce to uneventful, but everyone's eyes kept drifting toward those two. They seemed born to fight, constantly honing themselves through combat. Every strike grew more precise, every response more composed.

The sun sank westward, its golden afterglow spilling across the entire training ground and stretching their shadows long. When the last match not involving the two central figures ended, only Tang Wulin and Xie Xie remained on the field. The other students had already been eliminated. Some sat at the sidelines to rest, while others watched from a distance, their eyes filled with anticipation.

Looking at Tang Wulin across from him, Xie Xie's smile deepened, eagerness flashing in his eyes. "Wulin, looks like it came down to the two of us after all."

Tang Wulin looked back at him, his cropped black hair lending him an especially resolute air in the sunset. He clenched his fists, golden bloodline power faintly stirring within him. "Yeah. I've been wanting to spar with you for a while."

Wu Changkong watched the only two students left on the field, a barely perceptible flicker of approval crossing his ice-blue eyes. He knew these two boys would be Class Five's hope for the future. Clearing his throat, he let his voice echo across the open training ground. "Final match, Tang Wulin against Xie Xie. Begin."

The sunset's lingering glow dyed the training ground a magnificent gold and red, while the faint, fresh scent of grass and trees filled the air. Wu Changkong stood with his hands behind his back, his ice-blue eyes sweeping over the two remaining boys. His voice was cold but brooked no argument. "Final match. Begin."

Before his words had faded, Xie Xie shot forward like an arrow loosed from a bow. He knew all too well how difficult Tang Wulin was to deal with and would not give him any time to prepare. The Light Dragon Dagger in his right hand reflected a cold gleam in the sunset as it cut through the air with a sharp whistle, aimed straight at the pressure point atop Tang Wulin's shoulder.

"Wulin, take this!" Xie Xie called in a low voice. His speed instantly rose to its limit, and he became a streak of silver lightning.

Tang Wulin remained unhurried. With a slight shift of his feet, he easily avoided Xie Xie's attack. At the same time, three dark red Soul Rings slowly rose beneath him. Their color was so rich that they seemed ready to drip blood, and an ancient, oppressive aura instantly enveloped the entire training ground. They were three hundred-thousand-year Soul Rings!

That damned pressure again... Xie Xie cursed inwardly, but rather than slowing, he accelerated. He had to use his speed to break this deadlock.

Tang Wulin's first soul ring lit up, dark red light flickering.

Life Domain!

Countless strands of blue silver grass broke through the earth within a one-kilometer radius of Tang Wulin. They grew wildly, instantly turning the entire training ground into a sea of blue silver grass. Though not in an offensive form, they guarded Tang Wulin at their center like the most loyal sentries, while supplying him with an endless flow of soul power.

The blue silver grass briefly impeded Xie Xie's attack. It lasted only an instant, but that was enough for Tang Wulin to react. He pivoted, avoiding a vital point, and allowed Xie Xie's Light Dragon Dagger to graze his arm, leaving a shallow bloody cut.

"Are you crazy?!" Xie Xie exclaimed in shock. He had intended to stop short of injury, never expecting Tang Wulin to hurt himself like this in exchange for a chance to attack.

Yet in the very next second, Xie Xie learned the meaning of "infuriating."

Tang Wulin's second soul ring lit up.

Blue Silver Redemption!

Countless Blue Silver Grass Vines instantly wound around Tang Wulin's arm. The bloody cut healed before their eyes, leaving not even the faintest scar. Then a soft blue glow spread over Tang Wulin as his Blue Silver Light Soul Skill activated, granting immunity to every negative status. At the same time, Blue Silver Armor took effect, reducing his soul power consumption to a minimum for the next thirty seconds.

"Wulin, this is cheating!" Xie Xie shouted in exasperation. He knew this feeling far too well. Every time he sparred with Tang Wulin, he ended up half-dead with exhaustion and covered in injuries, while Tang Wulin acted as though nothing had happened. As long as blue silver grass was around, he was practically immortal!

Tang Wulin smiled, a hint of mischief flashing in his eyes. "The rules never said I couldn't heal myself."

He advanced straight toward Xie Xie, neither dodging nor retreating. Xie Xie's attacks rained down on him. Although they could injure Tang Wulin, Blue Silver Redemption took effect the moment a wound appeared, even forming blue silver armor along the way to strengthen his defenses.

"I refuse to believe I can't break through your defense!" Xie Xie gritted his teeth. Soul power surged wildly within him, and his speed increased once more.

Tang Wulin stopped holding back as well, and his third Soul Ring lit up.

Blue Silver Absorption!

Countless Blue Silver Grass Vines coiled around Xie Xie's ankles as though alive. Though they could not completely restrict his speed, they greedily absorbed his soul power like countless tiny hands. Meanwhile, that absorbed soul power transformed into life force and flowed through the blue silver grass network, instantly healing all the surrounding vegetation damaged by the fighting and restoring Tang Wulin to an even better state.

"You..." Xie Xie felt his strength draining rapidly, while Tang Wulin fought with ever-increasing vigor. The blue silver armor covering him shone with a dazzling glare in the sunset.

"It's over, Xie Xie," Tang Wulin said in a low voice. While Blue Silver Armor was still active, he abruptly accelerated, his soul power brimming, and drove a punch toward Xie Xie's chest.

Xie Xie tried to dodge, but Blue Silver Grass Vines caught his ankles, leaving him no choice but to watch Tang Wulin's fist come at him. He took the blow head-on and flew backward like a kite with its string severed, crashing heavily to the ground in a cloud of dust.

"Cough, cough..." Xie Xie struggled to stand, but his entire body ached, and his soul power was nearly exhausted. Looking at Tang Wulin standing in the sunset, he gave a helpless smile. "Wulin, you... you're still such a monster... Every time I fight you, I feel like a punching bag..."

Tang Wulin walked over and held out a hand, pulling Xie Xie to his feet with a smile. "You're strong too. If it weren't for your incredible speed, I'd have lost ages ago."

Xie Xie brushed the dust off himself. Although he had lost the match, there was not a trace of dejection in his eyes. Instead, they burned with fighting spirit. "Next time, I'll definitely beat you! I refuse to believe I still can't move fast enough!"

"Anytime," Tang Wulin replied with a smile.

Their shadows stretched long beneath the setting sun. Though the battle had ended, their deep friendship and determination to spur each other onward grew firmer in that moment. Around them, their classmates burst into enthusiastic applause for the spectacular fight.

Watching the two of them, Wu Changkong's lips lifted slightly in a rare smile. He knew these two boys would one day soar above the nine heavens and become truly formidable. Tang Wulin's unique combination of hundred-thousand-year Soul Skills, in particular, showed him limitless possibilities.