The strong rise, the mediocre fall

Hu Fangyuan found a clean step to sit on, took a book from his storage pouch, and lowered his head to read with relish. The book was made of a special material, as thin as a cicada's wing, and its cover bore the title "The True Man's Biography."

Gu Yue had been standing nearby watching the sunset, but when she caught Hu Fangyuan reading again out of the corner of her eye, curiosity stirred within her. She walked over, leaned closer, and glanced down at it. "What are you reading?"

Her curiosity was hardly surprising. Whenever he had time, Hu Fangyuan would always produce a book from somewhere and leaf through it. He read during class, after class, and even managed to pull it out for a couple of pages between bites at meals. It was as though he would never finish it.

Hu Fangyuan did not mind Gu Yue peeking at all. Instead, he openly shifted the book toward her and said, "A fable with fantastical elements, about how people in ancient times ventured through the world. Want to read it?"

Gu Yue skimmed it briefly. The pages were filled with archaic writing about things like Pangu refining Gu and the rise of humanity. None of it interested her, so she simply shook her head. "You read it."

With that, she stepped aside, folded her arms, and gazed at the sunset on the horizon, her thoughts unknown.

Hu Fangyuan nodded and ignored the activity around him, immersing himself once more in the stories of "The True Man's Biography." Every story in the book contained profound truths about a Gu Master's cultivation, and each reading brought new insights.

Just as he was absorbed in his reading, a shadow fell over him.

Hu Fangyuan looked up to find that Wu Changkong had appeared before him at some point. The sunset behind him outlined his tall, straight figure.

"Finished reading? If you have, come with me." Wu Changkong's voice was as level as ever.

Hu Fangyuan closed the book, stood, and brushed the dust from his trousers. Tang Wulin and Xie Xie spotted Wu Changkong from over there as well and hurried over.

The four followed Wu Changkong deeper into the academy.

Wu Changkong led them to an indoor training ground at the rear of the academy, which he had secured when he went to see Long Hengxu earlier that day.

After he expressed his willingness to support Long Hengxu's work and refrain from causing trouble for the dean of students, Long Hengxu had given him the green light all the way.

The training ground was circular, its interior protected by a Soul Tool Shield. It was a place for students with higher cultivation to train their Martial Souls. After all, once Soul Power reached a certain level, a place like the sports field was far too easily damaged.

Wu Changkong brought the four to a halt in the center of the grounds.

"Starting today, you will train under me every evening, working toward the Class Promotion Tournament in three months."

At this, his gaze first settled on Tang Wulin. "Tang Wulin, your Martial Soul is Blue Silver Grass. You were originally selected for the Class Promotion Tournament because I truly had no other choice. Now Gu Yue is here, and you have seen her talent and strength. I will not go back on my word, but I hope your efforts will show me that you truly deserve to represent Class Five. If you fail to meet my requirements three months from now, I will send only three people."

"Yes." Despite Xie Xie's warning, Tang Wulin still felt a little dispirited. Talent was, in the end, his greatest weakness.

"Teacher Wu. I won't take his place in the tournament." Just then, Gu Yue suddenly spoke.

"Hmm?" Wu Changkong looked at her.

Gu Yue said evenly, "I joined the class late. I don't want my arrival to affect anyone else. So please take back your decision. I won't compete."

Wu Changkong paused. Ever since becoming a Soul Master, he had always been a favored son of heaven, even after circumstances had forced him to come to Eastsea City and join Eastsea Academy. It was not that no one had ever threatened him, but those people had all met miserable ends.

Yet when the young girl before him said those words, he found there was nothing he could do to her.

He already valued Xie Xie's Twin Martial Souls highly, but compared with Gu Yue's Elementalist, even Xie Xie fell a tier short.

At that thought, Wu Changkong turned to Hu Fangyuan, seemingly wanting to know what he thought.

Seeing everyone's eyes turn toward him, Hu Fangyuan grinned and said without hesitation, "I agree with Teacher Wu."

There was nothing more to it. He was not close to Tang Wulin, and he was currently receiving Wu Changkong's financial support. Take someone's money, resolve their troubles. Unless his own interests became involved again, Hu Fangyuan did not care about questions of declaring his stance.

As Hu Fangyuan's words fell, the training ground instantly grew quieter. The evening breeze blew through the vents, stirring a faint layer of dust from the floor, yet it could not disperse the somewhat strained atmosphere among the four.

Xie Xie's face immediately darkened, his brows drawing tightly together as he stepped forward to speak. He and Tang Wulin had gotten to know each other through a fight, and though they usually bickered and traded barbs, he had long since considered him a friend.

To him, Hu Fangyuan's words plainly assumed that Tang Wulin was currently too weak and unqualified to compete. They grated on his ears, and he wanted to stand up for Tang Wulin right then and there.

Tang Wulin reacted quickly, reaching out to catch Xie Xie's arm and gently shaking his head. His own heart felt a little heavy, and his nose stung faintly, but he knew Hu Fangyuan was telling the truth.

Talent was there for all to see. There was no faking it.

If he was weak, he ought to admit it. There was nothing to argue about.

But Xie Xie did not see it that way. He shook off Tang Wulin's hand and stiffened his neck, ready to argue with Hu Fangyuan.

Before he could speak, however, Hu Fangyuan's gaze settled on him first. His eyes were as calm as a deep pool, yet carried an indescribable pressure.

"The strong rise, the mediocre fall. What, do you think that principle is wrong?"

Hu Fangyuan's tone was level, as though he were stating the most ordinary fact in the world. He was not targeting anyone or deliberately belittling anyone. He had merely voiced the most basic rule of the Soul Master world.

The weak were prey to the strong, and strength reigned supreme. The Class Promotion Tournament concerned their class's honor, and even more importantly, the share of resources each person could receive. Of course the strongest should compete.

Were they supposed to spare someone's feelings by sending a weaker person to make up the numbers, only to suffer a crushing defeat and leave everyone without resources?

He was not that noble, nor did he have the leisure for it.

The question left Xie Xie choking on his words. He opened his mouth but could not say anything for a long while. He wanted to say it was wrong, yet could find no reason to refute it.

That was simply how the Soul Master world worked. Without enough strength, nothing one said mattered. He could only turn red with frustration and glare fiercely at Hu Fangyuan, his cheeks puffed out like an angry frog.

Just as the atmosphere grew increasingly strained and they were on the verge of confronting one another, Wu Changkong spoke. His voice was not loud, but it carried unquestionable authority, instantly suppressing the undercurrents in the training ground.

"Enough. I didn't bring you here tonight to debate."

His gaze swept over the four, sharp as a blade. "The Class Promotion Tournament is your own affair. Whether you can secure a ranking and how many resources you receive are all your own business. Those willing to work hard can stay. Those unwilling can leave right now. No one is forcing you."

One statement silenced them all.

None of them wanted to leave. An opportunity to receive Wu Changkong's personal instruction was something they could not find even if they searched with a lantern.

Tang Wulin quickly stepped forward and gave Gu Yue an earnest smile, hastily smoothing things over. "Thank you, Gu Yue, but Teacher Wu and Fangyuan are right. This concerns our class's honor, so naturally it's better for the strongest to compete. But don't worry, I'll work hard too. It's not as though only three people are allowed to participate. If I can become strong enough within three months, I think Teacher will let me compete too."

The boy spoke earnestly, his eyes filled with a stubborn refusal to lose, without a trace of self-pity. He knew his talent fell short of others', but he would never admit defeat.

At worst, if others trained for two hours, he would train for four. If others endured one measure of hardship, he would endure two. He would catch up eventually.

Gu Yue glanced at him, her black eyes revealing little emotion, and merely nodded lightly without another word. She was not someone who meddled to begin with; she had only spoken because she felt there was no need to take someone else's place. Since Tang Wulin himself had said as much, she could not be bothered to interfere further.

Xie Xie gave a cold snort and pulled Tang Wulin aside, standing several paces away from Hu Fangyuan. He turned his head away, making it plain that he wanted nothing to do with Hu Fangyuan. Clearly, the little group Wu Changkong had intended to form had fractured from the very beginning.