In the time that followed.
Daily classes basically included running drills as physical training.
Among them, Tang Wulin and Xie Xie received special attention in preparation for the class promotion tournament.
Arthur was the only student who didn't have to run. However, no students envied him.
Because while they ran, Arthur sparred with Wu Changkong.
Every single day was like this.
Unlike the first match, the two didn't use soul power. They simply crossed wooden swords with each other, move for move.
After one sparring session ended, during their rest, Wu Changkong displayed emotions completely different from what he showed before the students.
He remarked with feeling, "Your swordsmanship is improving very quickly. If you can comprehend sword intent next, your strength will advance by leaps and bounds."
Arthur's combat talent truly exceeded his imagination. Even though his soul power level was far lower, after each sparring match, he would gain considerable insights.
In Wu Changkong's eyes, Arthur wasn't some student, but a fellow cultivator progressing alongside him.
"Sword intent..."
It was somewhat abstract for Arthur.
His cultivation time was still too short—merely three years.
Forging, cultivation, combat.
Each required vast amounts of time.
A fourth-rank blacksmith, thirty-three levels of soul power just broken through, and extremely powerful combat techniques.
To accomplish all this, Arthur truly had worked harder than a beast of burden these past three years.
Just then, from the direction of the school gate leading to the intermediate division training grounds, a girl slowly approached.
The girl appeared about the same age as the Class Five students, wearing a white top and white pants.
Her features were delicate, though not exactly beautiful. Black hair, black eyes. Her figure was quite well-proportioned—above average among her peers.
Wu Changkong's gaze lingered on her for only an instant before he paid her no more attention, continuing to review the recent sparring session with Arthur.
However, the girl's eyes looked over intently.
She drew closer. As she walked, her steps seemed to carry a special rhythm, simultaneously projecting a strange aura around her.
Wu Changkong still couldn't be bothered, preferring to discuss more with Arthur.
"Teacher." The girl spoke up.
Unable to avoid it, Wu Changkong temporarily halted their discussion and stepped forward.
"What is it?"
"I'm here to attend school, but they said the registration period has already passed." Though seemingly asking Wu Changkong, the girl's gaze curiously observed Arthur.
Arthur's heart tightened, his mind racing.
This is Gu Yue?
At the same time, he quietly shifted his feet behind Wu Changkong.
"You're not a student of East Sea Academy?" Wu Changkong's brow furrowed.
"Not yet."
"Then come back next year. Who's to blame if you missed the deadline?" The unexpected response and Wu Changkong's impatience made the girl pause, seemingly uncertain how to continue.
"But I really hope to study here. Is it possible, teacher? I can take an exam."
"Then I'll give you one chance." Wu Changkong said coldly, "What's your name?"
"Gu Yue."
Wu Changkong nodded and called out, "Xie Xie!"
The girl froze, thinking for a moment—should she respond with "you're welcome"?
Just as she was about to speak—
Among the students running on the training grounds, one person removed the iron vest he wore and handed it to a nearby classmate, then broke from formation and ran over.
"Huff, huff..." Xie Xie gasped heavily, catching his breath. "Teacher, what is it?"
Seeing Xie Xie's exhausted appearance, Wu Changkong said, "Your stamina is too poor."
Xie Xie protested, "We agility-attack type Battle Spirit Masters only need explosive power and agility, we don't need strong stamina."
"Superficial." Wu Changkong was too lazy to elaborate at the moment. He pointed at Gu Yue. "Since you don't want to run, I'll give you a chance. Defeat her, and this round of laps is forgiven."
"Huh?" Xie Xie's soul nearly left his body. "Fight Arthur?"
"Hm? What Arthur?" Only then did Wu Changkong notice that Gu Yue had somehow moved beside Arthur and was staring intently at him.
Arthur straightened up, eyes forward.
"Not Arthur—that girl." Wu Changkong shook his head.
"Oh, that's good then." After sizing up the girl a few times, Xie Xie adjusted his soul power and said indifferently, "Now?"
"Rest for twenty minutes first, then begin."
Xie Xie immediately sat cross-legged on the ground to meditate and rest. The constant running had taken quite a toll on him.
"Teacher, can I fight him instead?" The girl suddenly pointed at Arthur.
Before Wu Changkong could answer, Arthur shook his head repeatedly. "I'm not available. Teacher, I haven't fully digested the insights from our earlier sparring."
Wu Changkong's eyes showed surprise. What hadn't been digested? What nonsense.
Did Arthur and Gu Yue know each other?
"No." Wu Changkong chose to accommodate Arthur and refused Gu Yue's proposal.
After being rejected, Gu Yue didn't bring it up again.
Just like that, twenty minutes passed.
Xie Xie recovered his energy, sprang up, and loosened his muscles.
"Thirty meters apart." Wu Changkong acted as referee. "Begin!"
The battle erupted instantly. Xie Xie shot forward explosively, but his proud explosive power and agility couldn't even touch the hem of Gu Yue's clothes.
Ice, fire, earth, wind—various elements were used by Gu Yue with perfect mastery. The battle was completely one-sided, like an old master toying with a child.
Gu Yue truly was an old master.
And Xie Xie truly was a child.
Arthur thought silently.
Observing this battle, even when Gu Yue raised two purple spirit rings, Wu Changkong wasn't surprised.
Rather, it was her endless stream of elemental powers that made Wu Changkong quite curious.
"What kind of martial soul is this? Why does it have so many attributes?" Having already regarded Arthur as an equal and powerful peer in his heart, Wu Changkong unconsciously voiced his question.
"It should be a martial soul that controls elemental power." Arthur opened his palm. In his palm appeared three elemental spheres—wind, water, and fire—continuously rotating.
Looking at the elements Gu Yue was using in the distance, Arthur felt somewhat strange inside.
"You—" Wu Changkong was surprised for a moment. This was the first time he'd seen Arthur use this kind of power.
Why hadn't he used it during their previous sparring?
After hesitating briefly, Wu Changkong didn't ask. Since Arthur had said he used his full strength then, his elemental power probably wasn't very strong.
In the distance, Gu Yue, who was toying with Xie Xie, suddenly whipped her head around the instant Arthur revealed the three elements, frozen in place.
"Good opportunity!" Xie Xie's eyes lit up. He burst forth with full power, Light Dragon Dagger and Shadow Dragon Dagger crossing as he charged forward.
A silver flash—Gu Yue suddenly shifted three meters sideways. She didn't want to play anymore. Business came first.
"As expected." Arthur confirmed in his heart—Gu Yue had come for him.
In the original story, Gu Yue came to East Sea Academy because of Na'er's bet, only discovering later that Tang Wulin possessed the Golden Dragon King's power.
Yet she still came to East Sea Academy now—surely there wasn't still a bet? The only thing about Arthur that could attract Gu Yue and Na'er was this power belonging to the Holy Lance.
Over these three years, Arthur had carefully studied the elemental control granted to him by the Holy Lance.
His control had very high priority. After numerous experiments with Su Wuyan and Mu Chen, they reached a vague conclusion.
Arthur's elemental control seemed to be authorization given by this world—or rather, by nature itself.