Leaving Gracefully (A 4,600-Character Chapter, Thanks for Supporting a New Author)

Seeing that Yu Tianshuang, standing opposite him, felt not even a trace of pressure from his Soul Saint-level Soul Power, Zhao Wuji gave an almost imperceptible nod.

He does have the capital and confidence to be arrogant.

"Kid, come at me. You're not planning to stand there until this stick of incense burns out, are you?"

Faced with Zhao Wuji's provocation, Yu Tianshuang smiled faintly. Soul Power surged around him, and ice swords radiating a bone-piercing chill began to take shape behind him.

"Second Soul Skill, Frost Sword Tooth Rain."

Yu Tianshuang swept one hand down, and the ice swords formed behind him tore through the air as they blasted toward Zhao Wuji.

"So fast! Those ice swords reached Teacher Zhao almost in the blink of an eye. A Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Skill certainly lives up to its name."

Tang San exclaimed after observing them with his Purple Demon Eye, his eyes glowing violet.

Hearing the ice swords cut through the air and feeling the temperature plummet before him, Zhao Wuji crossed his arms in front of his body.

The instant Zhao Wuji assumed his defensive stance, the howling ice swords struck the Soul Power barrier in front of him one after another.

With a succession of clinks as the ice swords struck the Soul Power barrier, Zhao Wuji was forced back step by step. A layer of ice-blue frost gradually spread across the yellow barrier in front of him, starting at the points of impact.

The power and penetrating force of just one of these ice swords far surpasses a level-forty Soul Ancestor's Soul Skill, let alone dozens of ice swords with the same power. A second-ring Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Skill truly lives up to its name. But the hard part to deal with isn't the ice swords' physical attack; it's the ice that's almost freezing the Soul Power barrier of a Soul Saint like me.

As icy mist spread across the arena with Zhao Wuji at its center, everyone nearby could distinctly feel the temperature dropping.

What a terrifying ice attribute. Even without breaking through Teacher Zhao's Soul Power barrier, its added freezing attribute has already begun to lower the temperature around it. Is this a top-tier Beast Martial Soul? If it were my Blue Silver Grass, could it do the same?

Feeling the strength of Yu Tianshuang's Martial Soul, Tang San fell into self-doubt.

No. Teacher said there are no trash Martial Souls, only trash Soul Masters. My Blue Silver Grass isn't a Trash Martial Soul...

But isn't Teacher's Martial Soul also...

Stop, I can't think like that.

Coming back to his senses, Tang San looked into the arena and saw that it was still shrouded in icy mist. Through his Purple Demon Eye, however, he saw Yu Tianshuang holding a sword formed of ice and sending wave after wave of ice-blue sword Qi slashing toward Zhao Wuji in the mist, every one of them hitting its mark.

"Ice Heaven Frost Sword, Icy Heaven Spirit Concentration Triple Slash: Greedy Wolf, Army Breaker, Giant Gate."

After consecutively slashing out three waves of sword Qi that looked identical but differed in subtle ways, Yu Tianshuang caught his breath, then raised the ice sword in his hand over his head.

Zhao Wuji had just endured the bombardment of Frost Sword Tooth Rain and had no time to catch his breath before Yu Tianshuang's three waves of sword Qi came one after another.

The first to arrive was the sword Qi imbued with Greedy Wolf Sword Intent. Incomparably swift, it took the lead and struck Zhao Wuji, only to be blocked by his barrier and shatter.

The second was the sword Qi imbued with Army Breaker. The most powerful of the three, it slashed into Zhao Wuji's Soul Power barrier with unstoppable momentum. Under Zhao Wuji's astonished gaze, several fine cracks appeared in the barrier before him, and he was knocked back several steps.

The last to come flying in was the sword Qi imbued with Giant Gate Sword Intent. Giant Gate Sword Intent was the weightiest and most solid. Though it was not as powerful as Army Breaker or as fast as Greedy Wolf, Giant Gate Sword Intent was the most solid and weighty. After striking Zhao Wuji, it did not immediately shatter, instead pushing Zhao Wu back some distance before breaking apart.

This Little Monster's attacks really do come one after another, without giving anyone the slightest chance to breathe. Luckily, my Soul Power Level is much higher than his. Otherwise, even a normal Soul Ancestor would be defeated by that combination of his.

Zhao Wuji had just relaxed and was about to look toward Yu Tianshuang when he felt another surge of Soul Power in front of him.

Boom, boom, boom. The Ice Flower Cluster from the second stage of the three waves of Ice Heaven Concentrated Spirit sword Qi slammed into Zhao Wuji before he could defend himself and pushed him back three meters. Frost then spread over him, freezing him into an ice sculpture.

"Ah..."

Zhao Wuji was frozen for only an instant before he used his Soul Power to shatter the ice sculpture. He then looked at Yu Tianshuang in annoyance.

I really capsized through carelessness this time, actually falling into this kid's hands. That sword Qi is so wondrous-it even has a second stage of attack. No Soul Ring appeared, so an attack this exquisite is actually this Little Monster's Self-Created Soul Skill. It's truly stunning.

Aside from Tang San, none of the others could clearly see what was happening in the ice-filled mist, but they all looked startled when they felt the tremendous Soul Power fluctuation coming from Zhao Wuji.

What happened in there? Teacher Zhao was actually forced to release such a huge surge of Soul Power. Is this kid really that powerful?

Dai Mubai watched Yu Tianshuang's graceful figure in the arena with a jealous expression.

A Self-Created Soul Skill. In this world, aside from the Tang Sect's unique skills I brought with me, this is the first time I've seen someone use a Self-Created Soul Skill. There truly are people beyond people; I mustn't look down on others too much.

Tang San pondered silently, his Purple Demon Eye wide open.

"Kid, you've already passed by pushing me this far. But I still have to teach you a lesson, so you know the price of angering a Soul Saint. Don't worry, I'll go a little easy on you. You'll only have to lie in bed for three days."

As he spoke, Soul Power surged around him, and the Great Strength Vajra Bear Martial Soul appeared behind him with a roar.

Yu Tianshuang, holding a sword formed from Soul Power high above his head, opened his tightly shut eyes and said slowly, his face cold, "No, you won't have the chance."

"Huh? Kid, you really are arrogant enough. I, Old Zhao, like that about you, but..."

With that, he charged at Yu Tianshuang. But the instant Zhao Wuji began to move, a flash of ice blue passed through Yu Tianshuang's open eyes. He then swung down the raised sword and drove it into the ground at his feet.

"Ice Heaven Frost Sword, Ice Lotus Frost Slash, Instant Detonation."

As Yu Tianshuang's words fell, blossoming ice-blue lotuses began appearing in the arena, all aimed at Zhao Wuji.

The ice-blue lotuses, dazzling and bewitching as they radiated a bone-piercing chill, exploded as soon as they appeared, freezing all the air and ground around them.

Zhao Wuji raised a Soul Power barrier to defend against the first lotus's explosion, but the explosions of the dozens that followed instantly swallowed him up.

The icy mist that had just dispersed began to spread across the arena again. The onlookers could only hear the ice lotuses exploding one after another within the mist. A bone-piercing chill spread outward, making them unconsciously move farther away.

Only Tang San, who had activated his Purple Demon Eye, looked toward Zhao Wuji in astonishment.

The power of those ice lotuses is actually so terrifying. The first one alone froze Teacher Zhao. Though Teacher Zhao shattered the ice in an instant, the dozens of lotuses that followed froze him again. As the lotuses exploded one by one, the ice encasing him grew more and more solid. Teacher Zhao actually can't break free.

Yu Tianshuang glanced at the stick of incense in the ground, which had already frozen, and shook his head helplessly. He dispersed the sword in his hand and put away his Martial Soul.

When the icy mist in the arena dispersed, everyone looked toward Zhao Wuji and saw that he had become an ice sculpture. Visible cracks began to appear in it, and Zhao Wuji sent out a surge of Soul Power, shattering the ice.

"Huff, huff." As soon as Zhao Wuji broke free of the ice sculpture, he began gulping down air.

Then, panting, he looked at Yu Tianshuang, who had already put away his Martial Soul.

As water dripped from his body, Zhao Wuji looked at the stick of incense, now frozen and extinguished, and said slowly, "Kid, it's not over yet. The incense hasn't burned out."

With that, he charged at Yu Tianshuang. The others were a little angry at Zhao Wuji's thick skin when they heard him. Even Dai Mubai could hardly bear to see him acting so shamelessly and began to stammer, "Th-this, this..."

"Why is this Immovable Wisdom King so shameless? Third Brother, if that incense hadn't frozen, it would have burned out ages ago. This Zhao Wuji calls himself the Immovable Wisdom King? I'd say he's the Shameless Wisdom King."

Hands on her hips, Xiao Wu voiced the thoughts of the others indignantly.

"This... Teacher Zhao really is..."

Hearing their words, Zhao Wuji's old face reddened.

"Gravity Enhancement."

Seeing that he still could not land a blow on Yu Tianshuang even though he had put away his Martial Soul, he hastily disregarded the rules and used a Soul Skill, thinking to teach the Little Monster a quick lesson and regain the face he had lost.

"Heavens, it was bad enough that he had the nerve to say the incense hadn't burned out, but he even used a Soul Skill. He really did it."

Ning Rongrong held a hand to her forehead and spoke with a helpless expression.

But then she summoned her Martial Soul and boosted Yu Tianshuang. "Seven Treasures Have Names, first: speed."

Feeling the speed boost from Ning Rongrong's Martial Soul, Yu Tianshuang took the opportunity to open some distance and summon his own Martial Soul.

Although the gravity had noticeably slowed Yu Tianshuang's movements, Ning Rongrong's boost still kept Zhao Wuji from touching him.

Feeling the mocking gazes of the others, Zhao Wuji could no longer save face. He hurriedly clasped his hands together where he stood and aimed them at Yu Tianshuang.

"Fifth Soul Skill, Gravity Squeeze."

Feeling something like Senior Bing'er's Ice Seal, Yu Tianshuang realized he was in trouble.

This is bad. It's a Soul Skill lock-on.

"Kid, be good and let me hit you once, then rest for a few days."

As Zhao Wuji's words fell, his attack followed.

"Hmph." The corner of Yu Tianshuang's mouth twitched slightly as he looked calmly at Zhao Wuji.

"First Soul Skill, Prismatic Barrier Ice Array."

As the purple Soul Ring floating around him lit up, five walls of ice appeared one after another in front of Yu Tianshuang.

Boom! Amid five tremendous crashes, the ice walls shielding Yu Tianshuang were shattered in an instant.

"Little Monster, a very clever decision. You can't dodge a Soul Skill lock-on, but you can break it by letting it hit. Still, how could a Soul Skill released with your level-twenty-nine Soul Skill possibly block my Fifth Soul Skill, even if it is a Thousand-Year Soul Skill?"

Seeing his attack break through Yu Tianshuang's defenses in an instant, Zhao Wuji seemed to have regained some face and spoke mockingly.

"How can he even have the nerve to be pleased with himself? I'm stunned."

The others all wore dark expressions at his words, and Ning Rongrong in particular voiced her complaint outright.

I was careless. I didn't expect this Zhao Wuji to actually use his Fifth Soul Skill at full strength. He really is something.

Seeing the Prismatic Barrier Ice Array breached in an instant and having no other choice, Yu Tianshuang crossed his arms around himself and raised a Soul Power barrier.

"Pfft." Struck by the attack, Yu Tianshuang spat out a mouthful of blood in midair.

Seeing this, Ning Rongrong cried out, "Big Brother Tianshuang!!"

Whoosh. A dark figure flashed past. Zhu Zhuqing darted forward, caught Yu Tianshuang in midair, and held him in her arms.

Apart from Dai Mubai, the others hurried over and looked at Yu Tianshuang anxiously.

"I'm fine." Yu Tianshuang struggled to get up, but with another "pfft," he spat out a mouthful of blood that splashed directly onto Zhu Zhuqing's black-and-purple top and trousers.

"Boo-hoo, Big Brother Tianshuang... This Zhao Wuji, when I get back, I'll have Grandpa Gu and Grandpa Jian beat him to death to avenge you."

"No need. I'll take revenge for this myself."

"Xiao Wu, go find that sausage seller. His sausages can heal injuries."

Tang San spoke to Xiao Wu, whose face was tense with worry.

"Hey, hey, Little Monster, I know how to control my strength. At most, you'll just be laid up for a few days. You Little Monsters don't need to be so worried, and with Oscar's..."

Before Zhao Wuji could finish, the gazes of Zhu Zhuqing and the others made him uncomfortable all over. Knowing that he was indeed in the wrong, he hurriedly rubbed his head and said, "Well, Little Monster, you passed. I acknowledge your qualification as an auditing student. As for the rest of you, if you last against Dai Mubai for the time it takes a stick of incense to burn, you'll pass."

With that, he hurriedly fled in a cloud of dust, escaping their gazes before he died of embarrassment.

Just after Zhao Wuji left, the Begonia Heart pendant hanging on Yu Tianshuang's chest began to float up, then cast waves of emerald-green light over him.

After a few breaths, the pendant's light faded, and it fell back onto Yu Tianshuang's chest.

With his head resting on Zhu Zhuqing's soft, springy thighs, Yu Tianshuang opened his eyes. After checking his body, he sat up and said, "Xiao Wu, there's no need to go. My injuries are fine now."

He then declined Zhu Zhuqing's offer of support, stood up, and patted the dust from his clothes.

The healing power of Nine Heart Begonia is truly terrifying. It healed me in a few breaths when I was at least seriously injured. But I can feel that the life force within it has also diminished a little. It seems I can't rely on this thing too much; I can only treat it as my final trump card.

"Wow, what happened? You were just throwing up blood like a blood doll, and you dyed Zhu Zhuqing's clothes red. How come you're all better as soon as I turn around?"

Xiao Wu, who had not seen the Begonia Heart heal Yu Tianshuang, asked curiously.

"Xiao Wu, don't pry into other people's secrets."

Seeing that the Begonia Heart was extraordinary, Tang San hurriedly interrupted Xiao Wu.

"It's fine, it's nothing. It's just an item an elder gave me, a consumable that can't be used many times."

Yu Tianshuang waved a hand and continued, "Rongrong, let's go. Leaving everything else about this academy aside, even its teacher is like this. Even if you could grow stronger here, I can't leave you here. After all, whether a person is strong isn't measured by the level of their strength. Character is always the most important thing. Without a heart to match a strong person, how can someone be called strong?"

With that, he took Ning Rongrong by the hand and headed for the entrance.

"Yu, Yu Tianshuang, um... I'll go with you too. I, I still owe you a debt of gratitude and money I haven't paid back. If I don't repay you, I, I won't be at peace."

Hearing Zhu Zhuqing's words behind him, Yu Tianshuang turned around and looked at her. Her head was lowered, her pretty face slightly red, and she was rubbing the hem of her clothes.

"All right, then let's go together."

"Tang San, Xiao Wu, what about you two?"

"Of course we're going together! I can't stand that Zhao Wuji. Not only does he bully the weak, he's so thick-skinned too. I don't want to stay at an academy like this. Third Brother, let's leave with Big Brother Tianshuang."

With that, she tugged on Tang San's arm and shook it.

"This... Xiao Wu, Teacher told me to come to Shrek Academy. We can't judge the whole by one part. I still have to stay."

Tang San hesitated for a moment, then spoke to Xiao Wu beside him.

"I think Grandmaster is just harming you. I always thought Grandmaster was amazing, but if you think carefully about those words he treats as a maxim, don't you think Big Brother Tianshuang is right? I think he's just a trash Soul Master. His whole life..."

"Xiao Wu, don't speak recklessly."

Before Xiao Wu could finish, Tang San interrupted her. He then cupped his hands toward Yu Tianshuang and the two girls and said, "Thank you for the kind offer, but we've decided to stay here."

Looking at Tang San, who had cupped his hands in refusal, and Xiao Wu, who was pouting, Yu Tianshuang smiled. "All right, I won't insist. But if you change your minds later, you can find me at Skywater Academy in Heaven Dou Imperial City."

He waved goodbye to the two of them, then led Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong gracefully away from Shrek Academy in the fading light of dusk.

Xiao Wu could not help looking back at their departing figures. She happened to see Yu Tianshuang's shadow stretching long in the light of the setting sun, and stared absentmindedly for a moment.