Several of them froze in bewilderment.
Shouldn't it be three people?
This Teacher Wu's striking appearance drew plenty of attention, and they had seen him spectating the Class Promotion Tournament. But among them, only Xie Xie, Huo Yuhao, and Gu Yuena hadn't lifted a finger on the tournament stage...
Wu Zhangkong looked toward Xu Xiaoyan. His stern, frosty aura made her bow her head in slight timidness as he asked, "Teacher Luo mentioned to me that your Martial Soul—the Star Wheel Ice Staff—can only unleash its full potential at night?"
Xu Xiaoyan's heart skipped a beat, but years of strict family discipline had lent her naturally timid personality a degree of resilience.
Taking a deep breath, she raised her head to meet Wu Zhangkong's gaze and said, "Yes! My Martial Soul truly can only draw out its full power at night!"
"Good," Wu Zhangkong said. "Then Tang Wulin, Wang Jinxi, Zhang Yangzi, Xu Xiaoyan, and Xie Xie—the five of you will fight a match against Huo Yuhao and Gu Yuena! Let me see the strength of the other four. Based on this battle, I will arrange your practical combat training!"
Xie Xie's expression froze.
What on earth was this aloof idol teacher talking about? Have us fight Huo Yuhao and Gu Yuena?
Thanks a whole lot!
It wasn't just Xie Xie; Wang Jinxi's and Zhang Yangzi's expressions also shifted uneasily.
Five against two.
On paper, the advantage seemed entirely on their side, yet none of them believed that for a second.
All they had to do was recall the scene of Huo Yuhao and Gu Yuena's battle that day to understand that those two stood at a height they couldn't hope to reach right now...
While the others remained silent, Xie Xie suddenly turned toward Huo Yuhao and said with solemn gravity, "Boss Huo!"
"Why the sudden 'Boss'?" Huo Yuhao started, looking back at him with an amused expression.
"Calling you Boss so you'll go easy on us!" Xie Xie flashed a flattering smile. "Take it easy on us later, will you?"
"I'll try?" Huo Yuhao chuckled. "And stop calling me Boss. It sounds weird."
"Hey, don't say you'll 'try'—give me a definite promise!"
Beside them, Tang Wulin glanced thoughtfully at Xie Xie.
Earlier when they went to the food street, Xie Xie had already spoken to him about Classmate Yuhao's strength. Seeing Xie Xie act this way now gave Tang Wulin an even clearer picture.
Through their time together, he had long figured out Xie Xie's personality—aloof on the surface, but a total goofball underneath.
Whenever he dropped all pretenses like this, it meant Xie Xie was truly falling apart. Classmates Huo Yuhao and Gu Yuena were likely far more formidable than he had imagined.
Xu Xiaoyan also sensed something amiss in the strange atmosphere. Her expression grew somber, and she wanted to consult the new friend she had made today, only to find that Gu Yuena had already walked over to Huo Yuhao's side and turned to look back at them.
That impassive expression didn't look remotely like someone planning to hold back.
Xu Xiaoyan: "..."
Friendship... shattered!
Seeing how the group interacted, Wu Zhangkong led them toward the training grounds in quiet contemplation.
Behind the forest adjoining the dormitories lay an expansive training field prepared specifically for them.
In the night sky, the stars and moon shone brilliantly.
Bathed in moonlight, the students crossed a shaded, leafy path and walked into the training grounds.
As they walked, Xie Xie's group of five began conversing.
That afternoon, the seven of them had briefly exchanged introductions, but they hadn't discussed the details of their Martial Soul abilities yet.
Xie Xie turned to Xu Xiaoyan. "You've been sticking close to Gu Yuena all day. How much do you know about her and Yuhao's strength?"
He figured that to avoid getting beaten black and blue in the future, he might as well just call Huo Yuhao 'Boss' from now on. Given the chasm in strength between them, it wasn't humiliating anyway.
Xu Xiaoyan shook her head. "Classmate Gu Yuena is a bit... introverted, so I didn't ask."
"Then listen up. She's a rank-twenty-eight Great Spirit Master with the Elementalist Martial Soul, capable of manipulating six elements. Boss Huo is a rank-thirty-four... no, probably a rank-thirty-five Soul Elder by now, with the Spirit Eyes Martial Soul, a spiritual attribute Body Martial Soul."
Xu Xiaoyan's eyes went wide. "..."
There were two absolute freaks here!
While the five were conferring over abilities and tactics, Huo Yuhao and Gu Yuena were casually chatting through Spiritual Sharing.
"The nocturnal property of the Star Wheel Ice Staff is similar to something you've seen before. What she exhibits is absolute control, so be careful."
"...I understand."
Hearing that, Gu Yuena recalled their spar that night, a slight blush rising to her cheeks as she nodded.
Upon reaching the training field, Luo Yanglu and Wu Zhangkong stood off to the side, while the remaining seven divided into two teams.
On one side, Xu Xiaoyan, acting as the primary control Soul Master, anchored the rear, with Xie Xie guarding close by and the other three positioned in front.
Huo Yuhao and Gu Yuena were just two people, with no formation to speak of.
Wu Zhangkong looked back and forth between the two sides, his eyes flickering.
When the initial arrangements for Class Zero were made, he had agreed, but strictly out of professional duty; it didn't mean he had high hopes for the class.
It was just that... things were somewhat different now.
He glanced in the direction of Huo Yuhao and Gu Yuena, drew a deep breath, and shouted, "Begin!"
Whether those two truly possessed the genius described in the dossiers was something he intended to see with his own eyes!
"Wulin, charge with me!" Wang Jinxi said to Tang Wulin beside him.
After today's match, he had fully acknowledged Tang Wulin's strength.
"Right!" Tang Wulin didn't hesitate, surging forward alongside Wang Jinxi. At the same time, both of their Martial Souls and Spirit Rings lit up in unison.
Hundred-year Spirit Rings manifested around their bodies.
"Classmate Xu Xiaoyan, we're counting on you. Be careful," Zhang Yangzi called back to Xu Xiaoyan. He too unleashed his Spirit Rings and rushed toward Huo Yuhao and Gu Yuena, a pair of wings shimmering with a faint black halo spreading wide behind his back.
They had enjoyed plenty of time on the way over to understand one another. Once he learned of Xu Xiaoyan's Martial Soul ability, he had conceded the control position to her.
Hopefully, it would prove effective.
Huo Yuhao glanced at Xie Xie, who was subtly guarding Xu Xiaoyan's flank, and saw through his intentions. A faint smile touched Huo Yuhao's lips.
"I'll leave that side to you."
"Mm," Gu Yuena nodded gently.
The moment the words left their mouths, both released their Spirit Rings and Martial Souls at once.
Yellow, yellow!
Purple, purple, purple!
As Huo Yuhao's three purple Spirit Rings came into view, the horrifying pressure radiating from one near-Soul Elder and one full-fledged Soul Elder made Xu Xiaoyan's face turn pale for an instant.
Even though Xie Xie had just warned her of their cultivation ranks, witnessing it firsthand still left her shaken with shock.
The rumors claiming Class 1 was a class of monsters... were actually true!
The expressions of the three charging toward Huo Yuhao turned grave as well, and Zhang Yangzi immediately unleashed a Soul Skill.
First Soul Skill, Dark Canopy!
The first Spirit Ring beneath Zhang Yangzi's feet shone brilliantly, and the wings on his back expanded instantly. Darkness radiated outward with him at its center, swiftly swallowing a ten-meter radius and engulfing his companions along with Huo Yuhao and Gu Yuena.
Yet in the very next instant, a dazzling radiance blazed from within the darkness, illuminating everyone's figures.
It was Gu Yuena wielding the light element!
The moment their silhouettes were exposed, a flash of light gleamed in Huo Yuhao's eyes. An invisible wave of spiritual fluctuation rippled outward, enveloping all seven individuals present and causing the surrounding air to warp for a fleeting moment.
"A domain?!"
Wu Zhangkong's pupils contracted sharply. He stared fixedly in Huo Yuhao's direction, his icy expression undergoing a visible change.
A nine-year-old, rank-thirty-five Soul Elder, a spiritual attribute Body Martial Soul, an innate Martial Soul domain... Never before had he seen so many extraordinary gifts combined in a single person!
Did Shrek Academy even have someone like this among their peers?
At the very least, he hadn't been able to achieve that!
Perhaps only that Pavilion Master of the Sea God Pavilion had possessed such achievements in his youth.
If only he could...
"Ahem!"
A soft cough cut through Wu Zhangkong's train of thought.
Chapter 64