Seeing that Nan Fusheng didn't try to argue back, Wu Zhangkong raised an eyebrow slightly.
Most boys at this age were competitive and prideful. A calm, measured temperament like Nan Fusheng's was rare. Still, Wu Zhangkong didn't dwell on it. He simply said coldly,
"Alright. Back to business."
Xie Xie perked up.
Finally, some rewards?
Wu Zhangkong began,
"At the beginning of every new school year, the academy hosts a major tournament. Both the Intermediate and Advanced Divisions participate. Our Intermediate Division has six grades in total, and all of them take part. The tournament is known as the Class Advancement Battle."
"Class Advancement Battle?" Tang Wulin looked puzzled.
Wu Zhangkong explained,
"It works like this: the lowest-ranked class challenges the one above it—Class Five challenges Class Four, and so on. If the lower-ranked class wins, the class titles are swapped. So if we beat Class Four, we become Year One Class Four, and they become Class Five."
"The lower-ranked class gets to choose the number of participants. If they keep winning, they can challenge higher grades, from Year One to Year Six. If they continue to win beyond their grade level, they earn additional rewards for each victory."
Xie Xie asked,
"So... our class is the first to challenge?"
Indeed, among the five classes in Year One, Class Five was dead last, making them the lowest-ranked across the entire Intermediate Division.
"That's correct." Wu Zhangkong nodded. "This is a battle for honor. And if you manage to win beyond your grade level, the rewards will be quite generous."
Xie Xie puffed out his chest proudly.
"No problem, Teacher Wu. Leave it to me. I'll solo my way up—maybe even challenge to the sixth grade!"
Wu Zhangkong scoffed.
"You just got beaten by Nan Fusheng and already forgot the pain? The minimum number of participants is two."
He narrowed his eyes.
"And don't get cocky just because you have twin martial souls. Do you know what kind of people make it into Class One? There's never a shortage of geniuses in this world. Many may fall, but that doesn't change the fact—you? Your talent only ranks average in the Intermediate Division."
Xie Xie was instantly silenced. There was no way to argue—after all, he did lose.
"And who said just because the minimum is two participants, we'll only have two?"
At this, a bad feeling crept up Xie Xie's spine. He turned to Tang Wulin in disbelief.
"Teacher… don't tell me... You mean him and me… together?"
Nan Fusheng could only think,
Since when did we become a duo? We're close now?
Wu Zhangkong leaned back in his chair and suddenly smiled in an uncharacteristically relaxed way.
"If you have a better option, you're welcome to suggest it."
"I…" Xie Xie wanted to say, "I don't want to team up with him."
But after thinking about it, he gave up. Nan Fusheng had beaten him twice. And after remembering the other Class Five students' pitiful performances during the class battle... he couldn't think of anyone better.
At the very least, this guy had beaten him and Tang Wulin, and there was that mysterious golden-scaled strength...
Wu Zhangkong concluded,
"The tournament will take place a month from now. Starting tomorrow, aside from regular classes, I'll personally train the three of you every evening. Your goal is simple—turn our class into Year One Class One."
Tang Wulin asked instinctively,
"And what if we fail?"
Wu Zhangkong chuckled.
His face was already striking, but when he smiled, it was almost too beautiful. Tang Wulin and Xie Xie were momentarily dazed—but then a chill rose from their tailbones, ice-cold and bone-deep.
Leaving Wu Zhangkong's office, Nan Fusheng's face was expressionless. Tang Wulin, on the other hand, wore a faint smile.
Even if it was just because the other classmates weren't strong enough, at least he was selected to represent the class.
This was a soul master's honor. Was he finally taking his first step into the world of soul masters?
Aside from his forging teacher, Mang Tian, even Wu Zhangkong had said he had potential.
"Hey!" Xie Xie called out coldly.
Tang Wulin turned to him.
"What? I'll fight you again soon. I won't eat your Class A meal for free."
Xie Xie paused.
Wasn't this guy obsessed with money? He's actually... giving it back?
"That's not what I meant," Xie Xie muttered. "I'm saying—don't hold me back in the tournament."
Tang Wulin sighed.
"Still sore?"
Nan Fusheng echoed with a dry sigh.
"Still sore?"
When Xie Xie had collapsed earlier from Nan Fusheng's soul skill, he had faceplanted hard into the ground.
Xie Xie's arrogance immediately froze, and his fists clenched.
Tang Wulin patted him on the shoulder.
"I've got something to do tonight. How about we fight tomorrow evening?"
Hearing that, Xie Xie turned his glare toward Nan Fusheng.
"I don't accept the result of our last match. Next time, don't use that soul skill. Fight me head-on."
Nan Fusheng grinned.
"Sure. I won't use it—if you don't use your soul power. You're an agility-type, and you want to go toe-to-toe with a control-type in a slugfest? Did you already forget what Wu Zhangkong just said?"
Xie Xie was left speechless. He had just been scolded about that exact thing…
Nan Fusheng ignored him and headed to the cafeteria. Tang Wulin walked toward the Advanced Division building.
After lunch, classes resumed.
Wu Zhangkong's meditation technique was far more advanced than anything they had learned at the Primary Academy—but the results were also impressive.
Rumor had it that this technique was a simplified version of a legendary method from Shrek Academy.
Under Wu Zhangkong's stern and oppressive gaze, everyone learned quickly. By the end of the afternoon, nearly the whole class had grasped the basic circulation method.
The next morning.
Nan Fusheng finished his cultivation and was leading Wang Ba and the others back toward the dormitory building when he noticed a group of upperclassmen surrounding someone up ahead.
Campus bullying?
Nan Fusheng wasn't interested in meddling—until he saw someone break through the crowd.
Tang Wulin.
He was trying to force his way out of the circle.
Just as he was about to escape, a tall figure silently appeared in front of him, and a sudden blast of bright light flared.
Even Nan Fusheng, watching from a distance, had to squint—and his skin stung slightly from the intensity.
As for Tang Wulin, who took the blast head-on, it felt like his entire body was on fire. His momentum broke instantly. He heard a cold snort, felt a sharp pain in his chest—then a kick sent him flying right back into the circle.
Seeing this, Nan Fusheng knew.
Time to step in.
Whether to build goodwill with Tang Wulin, or because they were classmates in Class Five, by reason or emotion, he had to act.
And besides…
If Wu Zhangkong found out he stood by and did nothing? He'd get reamed out. Probably added to that little black notebook of his, too.