Xie Xie opened his mouth, but not a single word came out.
Xie Xie really is too weak, Qing Linyun judged inwardly.
The Light Dragon Dagger and Shadow Dragon Dagger are decent enough Twin Martial Souls in most people's hands. Too bad he ran into Gu Yue. Those two Martial Souls are too useless. They only become worth looking at when they evolve into the Space-Time Dragon later on.
Wu Changkong glanced at Xie Xie, his eyes betraying his frustration that iron refused to become steel. The boy had decent talent, but he was far too impetuous.
A level-19 Agility Attack System Battle Spirit Master with Twin Martial Souls, yet Gu Yue had beaten him down from start to finish. He hadn't even been able to get close.
It looked like he needed extra training. Once he was worked so hard he couldn't even stand, he'd settle down.
The students around them broke into discussion:
"I told you Gu Yue would win!"
"Xie Xie had it rough. He got beaten until his head was covered in bumps."
"Can't be helped. Gu Yue's Martial Soul is too unfair. She's got a ton of ranged skills, and nobody can even get close enough to fight her up close."
"I still think Gu Yue's amazing. Look, she didn't move from her spot the whole time, while Xie Xie practically ran his legs off."
"If Xie Xie could get his Twin Martial Souls to work together, he wouldn't have had it so bad."
"How about we bet on something? I'm betting on Gu Yue to finish the fight in three moves."
"Three moves? You're underestimating Xie Xie. He can at least last five."
"What about Tang Wulin? Is Tang Wulin going to fight Gu Yue?"
"Isn't Tang Wulin only level thirteen? Wouldn't he just be serving himself up on a platter?"
Tang Wulin stood in the crowd, watching Gu Yue on the field, unable to say quite what he felt.
They were all the same age, yet Gu Yue's control over the elements and Xie Xie's Twin Martial Souls each shone more brilliantly than the last.
And him? Blue Silver Grass, level thirteen, one ring, a white Soul Ring.
He clenched his fists instinctively, then loosened them.
I'm envious, he said to himself. If only I had a Martial Soul that strong too.
But what good does envy do?
He spoke to himself again in his heart.
They're talented, and I'm not. All I can do is train harder than everyone else, endure more, and make something of my Blue Silver Grass.
"Tang Wulin." Wu Changkong's gaze fell on him. "You're up next."
Tang Wulin took a deep breath and walked onto the field.
Xie Xie limped after him and patted him on the shoulder, his face mournful. "Brother, it's all up to you! Give that girl Gu Yue a good beating and get revenge for me!"
Tang Wulin was at a loss for words.
He wondered silently whether he would be the one beating Gu Yue, or Gu Yue would be the one beating him. He would probably have his answer soon enough.
"Begin," Wu Changkong said.
Tang Wulin released his Martial Soul. Blue Silver Grass, a somewhat wilted blade of grass, appeared in his palm, and a white Soul Ring circled beneath his feet.
He controlled the Blue Silver Grass, sending it spreading toward Gu Yue. With Blue Silver Entanglement, it wrapped around her ankle.
Before he had time to celebrate, he saw Gu Yue frown.
Her gaze was as cold as an ice cellar in the depths of winter, as though it could pierce straight through Tang Wulin.
No matter how Gu Yue looked at Tang Wulin, she couldn't stand the sight of him. The Golden Dragon King Bloodline in him made her uncomfortable all over.
"So annoying."
Gu Yue casually raised a hand, and six elements surged at once. Fire, ice, wind, earth, light, and darkness-the power of the six elements gathered at her fingertips, forming a torrent that blasted toward Tang Wulin.
Tang Wulin's pupils contracted.
He couldn't block it, and before he even had time to dodge, the light was already in front of him.
"Enough."
An ice-blue figure appeared in front of him. Wu Changkong raised one hand, and a curtain of ice rose before Tang Wulin, blocking the six-element torrent completely.
When the wind and waves subsided, silence fell over the training ground.
Tang Wulin stood rooted to the spot, his back drenched in cold sweat.
He looked at the ice curtain still slowly melting before him, then at Gu Yue on the field. For a long time, he couldn't recover his senses.
This was the gap between them.
He had thought his Blue Silver Grass could bind her, but with a casual wave of her hand, she had left him unable even to fight back.
He hadn't even reacted. If Teacher Wu hadn't stepped in, he might already be lying on the ground.
I'm still too weak. Tang Wulin clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms. Too weak.
Never before had he yearned for power as he did now.
Wu Changkong lowered his hand, making his own assessment in silence. He could see the foundation Tang Wulin possessed: the Golden Dragon King Bloodline and decent talent, but his current strength truly wasn't enough yet.
At level thirteen, with one ring and Blue Silver Grass, he couldn't even withstand one move from an opponent like Gu Yue.
But the boy had a steady temperament.
After being beaten like that, his eyes hadn't even reddened. Instead, he had clenched his fists, as though he had come to understand something.
Besides, the boy wasn't entirely without room to be molded. That strange dragon bloodline of his could probably be explored further.
"Gu Yue wins," Wu Changkong announced. "Today's winner is Gu Yue."
Gu Yue raised her chin smugly and glanced toward the edge of the field. Her look clearly said, See that? I won again.
Qing Linyun nodded calmly as usual. His nod made Gu Yue's teeth itch, but there wasn't much she could do about him.
Qing Linyun stood at the edge of the field, watching everything and making his own calculations.
Tang Wulin really was still too weak. Level thirteen, one ring, Blue Silver Grass-he couldn't even withstand a single attack from Gu Yue.
But he also knew that Tang Wulin's strength had never been particularly impressive in the early stages. Building up the Golden Dragon King Bloodline was a matter for later.
Those eighteen seals grew stronger the further they went. Breaking them was the only way to gain greater power, and on average, he would gain one Golden Soul Ring for every two seals broken.
The current Tang Wulin still had a long way to go.
But Qing Linyun wasn't in the least bit anxious.
Little Wulin, Little Wulin, don't lose heart. In a couple of days, your big daddy will bring you a cheat. Though this cheat might be a little hard to bear.
No rush, he thought. Good wine takes time to brew.
Wu Changkong's gaze swept from Gu Yue to Xie Xie, then settled on Tang Wulin.
After this match, he had a clear idea of all three of their shortcomings.
Gu Yue was strong, but too proud; Xie Xie was impetuous and his foundation was unsteady; Tang Wulin had a solid foundation, but his strength wasn't enough yet.
"That's all for today's training," Wu Changkong said. "Xie Xie, Gu Yue, Tang Wulin, the three of you will have extra training tonight."
"Huh?" Xie Xie's face fell. "More training?"
"At your current level, you can't even beat one of Gu Yue's fingers. Without extra training, are you waiting to make a fool of yourself at the Class Promotion Tournament?"
Wu Changkong said calmly, "Gu Yue, come tonight. I'll explain the advanced paths for controlling the elements. Tang Wulin, you come too. It's time to train your Blue Silver Grass a different way."
Tang Wulin froze for a moment, then quickly nodded. "Yes, Teacher Wu!"
Having finished giving his instructions, Wu Changkong turned his gaze to Qing Linyun, who was watching with great interest from the edge of the field.
"You, come tonight too."
Qing Linyun said, "Me?"
"Yes, you." Wu Changkong looked at him. "You're idle anyway. Come help out."
Qing Linyun opened his mouth.
He had wanted to ask why an assistant teacher like him should get involved, but he swallowed the words on the tip of his tongue.
Once Wu Changkong had made up his mind, not even eight oxen could pull him back.
Besides, he hadn't come to watch this training session for nothing.
He now had a clear idea of the three youngsters' foundations. If they were training again tonight, he could just watch another session. He had nothing else to do anyway, and the Battle Armor was still a long way off.
Ye Lingling and the others were still working on the designs.
All right, then.
At the side, Gu Yue watched Qing Linyun suffer another setback and couldn't help snickering. She even tossed her head smugly in his direction.
Qing Linyun didn't take issue with Gu Yue. He merely spread his hands helplessly, signaling that he conceded this round, which made a certain silver dragon fish even happier.