Tests of Strength and Spiritual Power

Inside the training grounds, silver metal walls reflected a cold gleam. Wu Changkong stood with his five students before a sophisticated machine they had never seen before—the latest Spiritual Power tester specially made by the Spirit Pagoda. Its streamlined exterior shimmered with the deep blue glow of soul guidance lamps.

"Spiritual Power is a Soul Master's foundation," Wu Changkong said coldly. "The emergence of soul spirits changed how Soul Masters cultivate. The strength of your Spiritual Power directly determines how many soul spirits you can bear, and how powerful they can be. Today, we'll test Spiritual Power first."

He turned, his gaze settling on Wang Jinxi. "You. First."

Wang Jinxi looked a little pale. He knew Spiritual Power was his weakness, but he steeled himself, stepped forward, and sat in the testing chair.

The machine activated, and a gentle blue light swept over his head.

"Beep, beep, beep—"

The numbers on the screen flickered rapidly before finally settling.

103.

"Early Spirit Connection Realm." Wu Changkong recorded the result without expression. "Barely acceptable. Wang Jinxi, although your Spiritual Power meets the standard, you're only just above the passing line. If you want to fuse with more soul spirits in the future, this will be your Achilles' heel."

Wang Jinxi breathed a sigh of relief. He had only just passed, but at least he hadn't embarrassed himself. He stepped aside, the heavy stone weighing on his heart finally dropping away.

"Next, Zhang Yangzi."

Zhang Yangzi snorted and strode forward, planting himself heavily in the chair with an air of defiance. He refused to believe he would do worse than Wang Jinxi.

The machine activated again, and the numbers on the screen climbed much faster than before.

111.

"The peak of the early Spirit Connection Realm." Wu Changkong raised an eyebrow. "Slightly stronger than Wang Jinxi, but not by much. Zhang Yangzi, your martial soul may be formidable, but you've neglected your Spiritual Power cultivation."

Zhang Yangzi's expression stiffened. He had wanted to show off, yet his score was only eight points higher than Wang Jinxi's. He could hardly save face.

"Hmph. At least I'm better than certain people," he muttered, glancing at Tang Wulin.

"Next, Xie Xie."

Xie Xie shrugged and walked forward looking perfectly relaxed. As an Agility Attack System Soul Master, his perception and Spiritual Power were generally quite strong.

Blue light enveloped him, and the numbers on the screen shot upward like a rocket.

120!

"Middle Spirit Connection Realm!" A trace of approval flashed in Wu Changkong's eyes. "Xie Xie, your Spiritual Power is good. Combined with your speed, it will make your perception even stronger. Keep it up."

Xie Xie grinned smugly and lifted his chin at Zhang Yangzi. "See that? Now that's talent."

Zhang Yangzi's teeth itched with anger, but he couldn't argue.

"Next, Gu Yue."

Gu Yue looked indifferent, as though this weren't a Spiritual Power test but some utterly trivial matter. She approached the machine and sat down, her movements graceful and unhurried.

The blue light lit up again.

At first, the numbers on the screen moved very slowly, as though Gu Yue possessed almost no Spiritual Power. Wang Jinxi and Zhang Yangzi were just about to mock her when the numbers suddenly surged like mad!

200... 300... 500!

The moment the number settled at 501, the machine emitted a piercing buzz, and dazzling red light filled the entire screen!

"How... how is that possible?!" Xie Xie's eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets.

For once, a crack appeared in Wu Changkong's perpetually glacial expression, and his pupils contracted slightly.

"Early Spirit Sea Realm..." Wu Changkong's voice carried a trace of shock he could barely conceal. "Gu Yue, you're only nine?"

Gu Yue opened her eyes and glanced calmly at everyone. She said nothing, merely nodding lightly.

The Spirit Sea Realm! That was a level of Spiritual Power even many Titled Douluos struggled to reach! It meant she could already bear thousand-year soul spirits, or even stronger ones!

Wang Jinxi and Zhang Yangzi were completely dumbfounded, their mouths open wide enough to fit an egg. The Spiritual Power they had been so proud of was practically kindergarten-level compared with Gu Yue's.

"Next, Tang Wulin."

Wu Changkong drew a deep breath, forcibly suppressed his shock, and looked at the final student.

Tang Wulin stepped forward and rubbed his nose nervously. He was extraordinarily gifted at forging, but when it came to Spiritual Power... even he wasn't sure.

He sat in the machine, and blue light enveloped him.

At first, the screen showed no reaction whatsoever, as though Tang Wulin were a useless wretch without any Spiritual Power.

"Tch. Why pretend to be some big bad wolf? Turns out he's just an empty shell," Zhang Yangzi couldn't help muttering mockingly.

But the next second, something unexpected happened.

The machine let out a string of urgent beeps. Then the numbers on the screen began jumping wildly, too fast for the naked eye to follow!

1000... 2000... 5000!

Crack!

With a sharp snap, the tester's screen suddenly burst apart, releasing a plume of black smoke. The entire machine had shut down from the overload!

Dead silence.

Absolute dead silence.

Wang Jinxi, Zhang Yangzi, Xie Xie, and even Wu Changkong stared at Tang Wulin as though he were a monster.

"Did... did the machine break?" Xie Xie stammered.

Wu Changkong looked at the smoking machine, then at the innocent expression on Tang Wulin's face. The corner of his mouth twitched. Tang Wulin's three Hundred Thousand Year Soul Rings flashed through his mind, and everything immediately made sense.

If someone with three Hundred Thousand Year Soul Rings had weak Spiritual Power, that would have been the real joke.

"Although we don't have an exact reading, judging by the machine's limit..." Wu Changkong's voice sounded slightly dry. "At least over 6,000. The Spirit Abyss Realm... or even higher."

Wu Changkong looked at the seemingly ordinary little boy before him, genuine astonishment appearing in his eyes for the first time. How was this a student? He was clearly a living Soul Tool!

Tang Wulin scratched his head and said sheepishly, "Um... Teacher, do I... have to pay for the machine?"

Before the shock of the Spiritual Power test had faded, Wu Changkong had already brought the five students to the strength tester in a corner of the training grounds. It was a large, pitch-black Soul Tool designed specifically to test students' explosive physical strength.

"Spiritual Power determines your ceiling. Physical strength determines your floor," Wu Changkong said coldly. "In this world where the strong devour the weak, without sufficient strength, you don't even deserve to pick up a weapon."

He glanced at the display. "In the same order as before. Zhang Yangzi, begin."

Zhang Yangzi snorted. Although he had been thoroughly crushed in the Spiritual Power test, he still had great confidence in his physical strength. He approached the tester, drew a deep breath, and drove his left fist forward!

Bam!

A dull thud rang out. The numbers on the display flickered a few times before settling.

Left fist: 36 jin.

Zhang Yangzi's expression stiffened, and he withdrew his fist awkwardly. That strength might have been decent for an ordinary child, but at a Soul Master Academy, it was hardly something he could show off.

"Right fist," Wu Changkong said expressionlessly.

Zhang Yangzi gritted his teeth and mobilized all his soul power, smashing his right fist into the testing pad with a fierce rush of wind.

Right fist: 56 jin.

"Weak strength and poor soul power circulation," Wu Changkong criticized mercilessly. "Next, Gu Yue."

Gu Yue walked forward with an indifferent expression. Unlike Zhang Yangzi, she made no great show of gathering her power. She simply raised her left hand casually and threw a light punch.

Humm—

Before the wind from her fist arrived, the air gave a strange shudder.

Left fist: 360 jin!

Everyone sucked in a breath. That strength already rivaled some adult Soul Masters!

Immediately afterward, Gu Yue threw her right fist. Silver soul power flowed around it, carrying a sharpness that seemed capable of tearing through the air.

Right fist: 560 jin!

“Elemental Control practitioners are usually physically frail, yet your strength is surprisingly great.” A trace of surprise flashed in Wu Changkong's eyes. “It seems your martial soul is far from simple.”

Gu Yue withdrew her fist, still expressionless, as though she had merely done something utterly trivial.

"Next, Xie Xie."

Xie Xie loosened his wrists and chuckled. "Watch me!"

As an Agility Attack System Soul Master, he possessed tremendous explosive power. He stamped his left foot against the ground, moved like lightning, and slammed his left fist into the testing pad in an instant.

Left fist: 362 jin.

"Not bad." Wu Changkong nodded.

Xie Xie laughed loudly, his right fist following close behind and smashing down with a trailing afterimage.

Right fist: 561 jin.

"Decent explosive power, but your strength isn't concentrated enough," Wu Changkong commented. "Next, Wang Jinxi."

Wang Jinxi had long since run out of patience. As the owner of a strength-type martial soul, this sort of head-on test was what he excelled at most. He approached the tester and drew a deep breath. With Ancient Dragon King Martial Soul Possession, his muscles instantly swelled, and faint patterns of dragon scales appeared on his skin.

"Ha!"

With a low shout, he smashed his left fist into the testing pad with the force of ten thousand tons.

Boom!

The entire tester shook violently, and the numbers on the display jumped wildly.

Left fist: 400 jin!

"What incredible strength!" Xie Xie couldn't help exclaiming.

"I'm not done yet!" Wang Jinxi roared. His right fist, which had been gathering power for some time, smashed down like a battering ram with a savage momentum!

Boom!

The tester groaned under the crushing burden, and the numbers on the display soared again.

Right fist: 700 jin!

"As expected of a strength-type martial soul." A trace of approval flashed in Wu Changkong's eyes. "Wang Jinxi, your strength really is rare among children your age."

Wang Jinxi withdrew his fist and gave Tang Wulin a proud look, thinking, You're a Support System Soul Master. I don't know why your Spiritual Power is so strong, but strong Spiritual Power can't make up for physical strength. Let's see just how strong you are! Don't tell me you can't even manage half my score!

"Next, Tang Wulin."

Tang Wulin stepped forward and scratched his head awkwardly. He knew he was strong, but even he didn't know exactly how strong.

Wang Jinxi folded his arms and watched Tang Wulin with a mocking expression, waiting to see him make a fool of himself.

Tang Wulin drew a deep breath and slowly raised his left fist. He didn't dare use his full strength, merely throwing a tentative punch.

Bam!

A deafening crash rang out.

Even the floor of the entire training grounds seemed to shudder. The incredibly sturdy strength tester actually caved in beneath that single punch! The numbers on the display jumped wildly, instantly breaking past the upper limit of 9999 and turning into a jumble of garbled characters.

Left fist: 109000 jin!

The entire grounds fell deathly silent.

The smile on Wang Jinxi's face froze instantly, his mouth opening wide enough to fit an egg. A hundred thousand jin?! Was he even human? He was clearly a full-grown dragon!

"Right fist." Wu Changkong's voice trembled slightly.

Tang Wulin said sheepishly, "Um... Teacher, this machine seems to be broken..."

"Forget the machine. Hit it!" Wu Changkong barked.

Helpless, Tang Wulin could only raise his right fist. This time, he used just a tiny bit more strength and swung it forward.

Boom—!

This time, the tester exploded outright! Parts flew apart and sparks scattered everywhere. The enormous shock wave knocked Xie Xie and the others nearby straight to the ground.

When the dust and smoke cleared, everyone stared at the tester, now reduced to scrap metal, unable to speak for a long time.

Tang Wulin looked at his fist and said innocently, "Um... I'll probably have to pay a lot for this machine, won't I?"

Wu Changkong looked at the pile of scrap metal, then at Tang Wulin, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly. He finally understood why all three of Tang Wulin's soul rings were a hundred thousand years old. How was he a Support System Soul Master? He was clearly a super monster wearing the guise of one!