"In this world, there are no trash Martial Souls, only trash people!"
Wu Zhangkong's voice was cold as ice, his gaze sweeping over the whispering students, every word stabbing home.
"Before you laugh at someone else for being trash, take a good look at what you're worth-if you were really so capable, would you have been assigned to Class Five?"
Yet just as his reprimand ended, his gaze suddenly landed on Lu Chen.
When Lu Chen had introduced his Martial Soul earlier, the faint fluctuations of its dual attributes had been far more overbearing than what showed on the surface. That was absolutely not the depth a newly enrolled student should possess.
His temperament is good, too. It looks like I'll definitely be taking him as my disciple.
A rare flicker of surprise crossed Wu Zhangkong's usually cold eyes, followed by satisfaction slowly spreading through them.
But this child is probably hiding quite a few things.
"Next. Continue the introductions." Wu Zhangkong withdrew his gaze, his tone returning to its usual chill, though the scrutiny deep in his eyes had not entirely faded.
"Xie Xie, Martial Soul: Light Dragon Dagger, Soul Power rank eighteen, agility-type battle Soul Master!"
As his clear voice rang out, the entire class instantly erupted.
When Lu Chen had introduced himself earlier, everyone had at most envied the strong foundation of his Martial Soul. Though his Soul Power was outstanding, the gap was still within an acceptable range.
But Xie Xie's Soul Power was a full six or seven ranks above everyone else's in class. This was nothing short of a dimensional-reduction strike!
Quite a few students sucked in sharp breaths, their gazes filled with shock as they looked at Xie Xie.
"Formal lessons begin tomorrow." Wu Zhangkong raised his hand and tapped the lectern. The sound was quiet, yet it instantly silenced the noisy classroom.
"My teaching methods are different from those of the other teachers at this academy. If you're afraid of hardship, exhaustion, or pain, apply to transfer schools or switch classes now. Don't start crying for your parents when the time comes. Those who stay had better be ready to lose a layer of skin. Class dismissed."
With that, he turned and headed for the door, though he was still pondering Lu Chen's Martial Soul.
Dual Ultimate Attributes were rare enough, to say nothing of the oppressive force hidden within that Soul Power, which even he found alarming. This was absolutely not a level that an ordinary Martial Soul Awakening could achieve.
Just as he reached the threshold, however, he suddenly stopped and said without looking back, "Lu Chen, come to my office."
It went without saying that this was definitely about his unusual Martial Soul.
Lu Chen quickly nodded in acknowledgment and hurried after him. Before long, the two arrived at Wu Zhangkong's office.
The place looked small and was probably for his use alone. Apart from a desk, a bookcase, and a chair, there was no room for anything else inside, not even a sofa for visitors.
Wu Zhangkong casually pulled over the chair and sat down, his gaze settling on Lu Chen with a measure of scrutiny.
This child isn't very old, but his Martial Soul probably holds more secrets than those of many veteran Soul Masters.
"Your Martial Soul is very unusual." There was no discernible emotion in Wu Zhangkong's tone as his fingers lightly tapped the desk. "My guess is that your Martial Soul hasn't fully awakened yet. Am I right?"
"Teacher, why would you think that?" Lu Chen put on just the right amount of confusion, as though he truly knew nothing.
"Because the presence of your Martial Soul is too powerful, and even your Soul Power carries an overbearing quality." Wu Zhangkong pointed toward him.
His fingertips paused before he added, "Moreover, I can sense that both the earth-attribute and fire-attribute Soul Power within you are pure to the extreme. That degree of purity shouldn't appear in a child who doesn't have innate full Soul Power."
As he spoke, he gestured for Lu Chen to find somewhere to sit, while inwardly reflecting, This child's Martial Soul is probably far more formidable than he himself realizes.
"But... didn't you just say those were characteristics of Ultimate Attributes?" Lu Chen scratched his head, feigning ignorance as he pressed the question.
"Ultimate Attributes do indeed have the characteristic of pure Soul Power, but Soul Masters with Ultimate Attributes only begin cultivating more slowly after rank thirty."
Wu Zhangkong's expression grew a little more serious. He leaned forward slightly, his gaze sharpening.
"But you're different. Your progress has been abnormally slow ever since you began cultivating. So, in all likelihood, your Martial Soul hasn't fully awakened yet. Its power is being suppressed, which is why it's holding back your cultivation."
As his words fell, he rose and retrieved a yellowed ancient book from the bookcase behind him, handing it to Lu Chen with a flicker of excitement in his eyes.
"Take a look at this. There is a historical precedent. Huo Yuhao's second Martial Soul remained unawakened because his body was too frail in his early years. During that period, his cultivation speed was also outrageously slow."
Hearing this, Lu Chen unconsciously picked at the hem of his clothes, unsure whether to laugh or cry.
The natives of the Douluo Continent don't know the inside story, but I've read the original!
It wasn't that Huo Yuhao's Martial Soul hadn't awakened. It was clearly the Ice Empress's sacrifice that allowed him to awaken his second Martial Soul, the Ice Jade Empress Scorpion!
"So... next, I need to find a way to fully awaken my Martial Soul?" Lu Chen suppressed his inward complaints and asked in complete earnest.
"That's right." Wu Zhangkong nodded, a measure of expectation in his eyes. His fingers tapped the desk again as he began making plans.
Perhaps I can find an opportunity to take this child to test his Martial Soul's true potential.
He might give me an enormous surprise in the future.
It's a shame I don't have the courage to return to Shrek Academy.
"By the way, have you chosen your second profession?" As though suddenly remembering something, Wu Zhangkong abruptly asked the question.
Lu Chen nodded and answered honestly, "Yes. Forging."
"Forging?" Wu Zhangkong's brows instantly knotted, his tone carrying clear disapproval. "That's hard, exhausting work. It's nothing but a waste of your cultivation time."
"But Teacher, I'm already a third-rank blacksmith." Lu Chen lowered his head, his fingertips lightly picking at his clothes, a hint of helplessness in his voice. "Besides... it's a skill I can use to put food on the table."
Wu Zhangkong's movements visibly paused at those words.
Without saying anything else, he turned and searched through a stack of documents on his desk, soon pulling out Lu Chen's enrollment file.
As his gaze swept over the family background section, Wu Zhangkong's eyes shifted slightly-Red Mountain Orphanage.
So that's how it is.
He understood at once. No wonder this child placed so much importance on forging.
Then, thinking it over, being able to reach the threshold of a third-rank blacksmith at such a young age meant his talent was hardly lacking.
"All right." Wu Zhangkong closed the file, his tone softening a little. "Since you've chosen this path, follow it steadily. Don't give up halfway."
"Yes! Thank you, Teacher!" Lu Chen immediately raised his head, his eyes brightening as he answered earnestly.