The next day, classes began.
Wu Changkong wore black-gray-white checkered pants today, though his shirt remained the usual white. The simple outfit accentuated his tall, slender figure.
"Classes officially begin today. I'll be responsible for most of your curriculum." He was cold as always.
"Everyone, stand up."
All the students quickly rose to their feet.
"Follow me." Wu Changkong turned and led the way, hands in his pockets as he left.
The students swarmed after him. Though they were not in any formation and looked rather chaotic, under his frigid aura no one dared make a sound; everyone remained perfectly quiet.
They all arrived at the training grounds.
His dark green eyes swept over the disorganized students. Wu Changkong said in a low voice, "Form pairs. Everyone line up properly."
Under the oppressive atmosphere, the students quickly paired up and formed lines.
"My classes focus primarily on actual combat. Today's first lesson is to demonstrate your capabilities."
"We'll begin sparring shortly. I'll serve as referee. As I call names, you'll fight in pairs, single elimination."
The students erupted in commotion. Mutual combat for the first lesson? How direct!
"Arthur." His gaze swept over the most conspicuous figure in the crowd, the little yellow-haired boy. Wu Changkong pondered for a moment.
"You come out first. You don't need to participate in their matches. After everyone finishes, you'll fight me."
Thirty-two levels of soul power was far too high. Among these students who were mostly at level eleven or twelve, he would be like a wolf among sheep. There would be no way to properly demonstrate his abilities.
The surrounding students repeatedly turned to look at Arthur, breathing sighs of relief. They did not want to fight such a prodigy either; it would be nothing but asking for punishment.
Arthur silently stepped out from the crowd and stood to the side. He had been thinking the same thing anyway. Even if Wu Changkong had not said anything, he would have volunteered.
Just then, a girl timidly raised her hand and asked, "Teacher, I'm a support-type Spirit Master. Do I have to fight too?"
Arthur watched cheerfully, amused. Someone was about to get scolded.
"Why wouldn't you? On the battlefield, will telling your enemy you're a support-type Spirit Master stop them from killing you?"
Sure enough, Wu Changkong's icy voice carried reproach. "Quite the opposite. I can tell you with absolute certainty: on the battlefield, support-type Spirit Masters are killed first."
"You cannot depend entirely on your teammates to protect you."
"Your life must remain in your own hands."
This was indeed the truth. Support-type Spirit Masters seemed not to need combat, but in actual battle, the enemy's first target was always to eliminate support.
Unless your martial soul was food-type, allowing you to stay in the rear cooking.
Seeing the girl lower her hand and bow her head, Wu Changkong casually pointed at Tang Wulin and Zhou Zhangxi, who happened to be standing together.
"We'll start with you two."
They exchanged glances. Zhou Zhangxi was quite excited; he had been brooding over how Tang Wulin knocked him flying with one punch before, convinced he had simply been careless.
He was a Vigorous Ape. How could he lose in strength to Bluesilver Grass? Good. Now he could openly strike back.
Especially since Tang Wulin had been acting strange lately, constantly sneaking glances at him in a way that made him uncomfortable.
"Come on, let's compare strength. I definitely won't lose to you this time!"
This reminded Wu Changkong of something. He said flatly to all the students, "There are no rules in combat. You may use any means to defeat your opponent."
Then he looked at Tang Wulin and Zhou Zhangxi.
"Begin!"
A white spirit ring rose beneath his feet. Zhou Zhangxi roared, his entire body instantly swelling and enlarging. Massive muscles strained against his uniform.
A small brown monkey jumped onto his shoulder, evidently his spirit soul.
"First soul skill: Strength Amplification!"
Zhou Zhangxi stomped forward with intimidating momentum, reaching his hands toward Tang Wulin's shoulders.
He really was just comparing strength.
Tang Wulin, being an honest person, did not use his Bluesilver Grass and met him with both fists.
Bang!
Zhou Zhangxi was forced backward. Tang Wulin's assault did not let up; he closed in and threw another punch.
Zhou Zhangxi, unable to regain his footing, gritted his teeth and forced out a punch. But it was useless. He was ultimately knocked to the ground.
"Stop!" Wu Changkong barked coldly, pointing at Zhou Zhangxi. "You're eliminated."
Then he looked at Tang Wulin.
"Why didn't you use your martial soul?"
"He said he wanted to compare strength with me." Tang Wulin scratched his head.
Wu Changkong's brow furrowed as he uttered that classic phrase. "If he told you to eat shit, would you eat it?"
"Even a lion uses its full strength against a rabbit. You must take every battle seriously. Victory is your only goal. You cannot give your opponent any opportunity."
"You've advanced. Wait for the next round."
"If he told you to eat shit, would you eat it?"
That phrase truly was an indispensable part of every student's experience being criticized by a teacher.
"Next match!"
The subsequent matches were all like children playing house, completely without method.
Especially one match between two support-type Spirit Masters. That spectacle made Wu Changkong frown continuously.
He had expected Class Five to be poor, but not this poor. With this level of skill, how would they fight in the upcoming class promotion tournament?
Did they really expect him to train these people to beat Class One?
That was too difficult. He had been bluffing.
His initial speech was just meant to give the students confidence. Faith was the most important thing.
Currently, the only ones who caught his eye were Tang Wulin and Xie Xie.
And Arthur, whose depth remained unknown for now. Though with thirty-two levels of soul power, however weak he might be, there was a limit to how weak.
Once all the students finished their matches,
Wu Changkong's dark green eyes turned toward Arthur.
"It's our turn now. Come."
"I'm very much looking forward to this."
Arthur's eyes lit up. He exhaled a long breath, loosening up his limbs as he walked toward Wu Changkong.
"I'll suppress my soul power to match yours at thirty-two levels. Use your full strength and let's see how many moves you can withstand."
Wu Changkong pulled out his belt, channeling soul power into it to use as a sword.
"Teacher, you're underestimating me a bit."
Walking to a spot not far in front of Wu Changkong, Arthur stopped. The soul power circulation within his body accelerated, ready to explode at any moment.
Suppressing to equal soul power, he wants to defeat me with technique alone?
Arthur's eyes narrowed slightly as his gaze fell on the belt in Wu Changkong's hand, kept rigid and straight through soul power.
Competing purely in combat technique, even Su Wuyan would not dare look down on him like this; that old geezer often cheated secretly.
Wu Changkong even less so.
In this regard, Arthur could say without the slightest courtesy:
"Bring on Yun Ming!"
Of course, if Yun Ming actually showed up, Arthur would be unhappy again.
Terrifying momentum scattered outward. Three purple spirit rings rose.
Before the other students could cry out in shock,
A prolonged, piercing cry echoed across the entire training grounds. A spirit beast with an eagle-like body, majestic and imposing, flew out from behind Arthur.
Its overwhelming presence cast a shadow over all the students' hearts. Where had they ever seen such a fierce beast?
"thousand-year spirit soul: Skyshatter Eagle!"
Under its massive wingspan, every beat of the Skyshatter Eagle's wings was accompanied by violent air-splitting shrieks.
Its sharp pupils contracted vertically, locked tightly on Wu Changkong's entire body.
Arthur casually gripped the air, summoning the Excalibur.
The blade flashed once in his hand before vanishing, hidden from view, transformed into an invisible sword.
"Bounded Field of the Wind King!"