Heading to the Skysea Alliance Grand Competition

The faint light of dawn spilled over Eastsea Academy's grounds, and a slight chill hung in the air. Dressed in an azure robe, Wu Changkong stood before the four of them, straight as a pine and utterly expressionless. His usually frosty eyes were even more unruffled than usual, as though he were merely announcing the most ordinary of class schedules.

"Pack your things. We're going to Skysea City tomorrow." Wu Changkong's cool voice pierced the morning silence.

Xie Xie had been sneaking a yawn. Startled, he instinctively asked, "Pack our things? Go to Skysea City? Is it for the Skysea Alliance Grand Competition? Are we going to watch?" At the mention of Skysea City, curiosity and longing sparkled in his eyes. As far as he was concerned, with their current strength, simply witnessing such a grand competition would be an immense honor.

Wu Changkong slowly shook his head, his gaze sweeping over the four of them like a blade. His tone carried unquestionable authority. "Not to watch."

He paused, then delivered his next words one by one, like a boulder plunging into a tranquil lake. "I want you to compete. In short, whether you want to participate or not, you're participating."

"Compete?!"

Xie Xie's eyes instantly went round, and his jaw nearly dropped to the floor. He wondered whether he was still half asleep and had misheard his teacher. This was the Skysea Alliance Grand Competition, which brought together the finest young Soul Masters in the entire Skysea Alliance. They were little students five years younger than the other competitors. Wouldn't entering be like sending lambs into a tiger's jaws?

"Teacher, this... this isn't really appropriate, is it?" Wearing a miserable expression, Xie Xie tried to wriggle out of it with the obvious excuse that they weren't strong enough. "We're