With her control over seven elements, there were too many battle tactics that she could use. Besides, Tang Wulin felt like it would not have made that much of a difference even if he were to use his Bluesilver Golden Array on Gu Yue.
“Boom!”
Another elemental ball exploded, putting a grim expression on Yuanen Yehui’s face. Instead of using Devil Titan, she used Titan Strength along with her Diamond Titan to bear the brunt of the attack instead. It was a battle of endurance!
In reality, she knew that they had lost this competition. When Tang Wulin took the full force of the attack she made with the Lustergloom Saint Sword head-on, they had already lost.
However, Gu Yue’s outburst after that was the one that she did not expect but she would never give up just like that. She would continue the fight. If she could hold on until Gu Yue exhausted her soul power, she would be facing Tang Wulin in a one-against-one battle. She might still stand a chance against an injured Tang Wulin.
Since she had twin martial souls, her soul power should unsurprisingly be much more formidable compared to Gu Yue no matter how one looked at it. Her soul power rank should be above Gu Yue’s as well.
The moment one’s soul power breached through the barrier of rank-40, its increase would become noticeably lower. She had broken through rank-40 for almost a year now and was only at rank-43. Even then, she was still considered to be among those who were progressing quickly in their cultivation.
Gu Yue just had her breakthrough, so she should still be at rank-41. Her Elemental Staff was her fourth soul skill. That, along with the onslaught of powerful attacks were probably enough to cause Gu Yue to be expending more energy than Yuanen Yehui.
One, two… ten, twelve…
Yuanen Yehui was already pushed back toward the edge of the competition stage. However, Gu Yue’s elemental onslaught was still firing like drumfire and showed no signs of relenting.
‘How could her soul power be this formidable? This is impossible!’ Yuanen Yehui was bug-eyed.
Elder Cai was already on the stage with her eyes slightly squinted. She knew what was happening.
Gu Yue’s soul power should not have been as formidable as Yuanen Yehui’s, but her martial soul was allowed her to utilize Elemental Control. The difference between her and a regular soul master was her control over the elements, especially since the elements were unrelated to one’s soul power but were instead, controlled with spiritual power. Gu Yue’s cultivation base was a combination of spiritual and soul power. To top it off, her spiritual power was superior to Yuanen Yehui’s so after taking everything into consideration, it was clear why she was able to continue fighting with such strength.
“Boom!” Yuanen Yehui’s upper body leaned backward. This time, however, she did not retreat. She could not retreat even a single step. If she even took another step backward, she would fall off the stage.
“Hraghhh!” she let out a furious howl. Her fourth soul ring finally shone. She could not win by sheer perseverance so she could only gamble her win with an all-out final blow.
“Devil Titan!” Her body toughened as she threw a punch that shattered the elemental balls coming her way. She then continued firing her Air Cannons. At the very least, her increased power would afford her the opportunity to fend off Gu Yue’s elemental balls.
However, this was also the exact moment when she saw Tang Wulin, smiling all the way as he walked up to Gu Yue’s side.
“That’s enough,” Tang Wulin patted Gu Yue’s shoulder.
Gu Yue’s Elemental Staff dimmed and she glanced at him before she did the same to Yuanen Yehui. She said nothing but her attacks stopped.
Yuanen Yehui was slightly panting. Although her Devil Titan was powerful, it also required a lot of energy.
She glanced at Tang Wulin, turned around, and leaped off the competition stage. The outcome of the match was already decided. She could not possibly have a chance if she fought against two opponents. Tang Wulin had given her an opportunity to save face.
Cheers could be heard erupting from first grade class one’s corner in the spectators’ stand.
One could argue that their victory over second grade class one in last year’s match was influenced by luck. However, they had won today’s battle with their own abilities. Their class had two partnered battles and they won both matches.
The second match was especially so since it was a battle between class monitors that saw Yuanen Yehui losing.
“Are you alright?” Gu Yue asked Tang Wulin softly.
Tang Wulin nodded. “I’m alright. My blood essence was churning earlier but I’m alright now.” As he continued to absorb the Golden Dragon King’s essence, his self-healing ability and resistance saw some improvements. When he was hit by the Lustergloom Saint Sword earlier, he truly felt as if his insides were on fire. However, the blood essence within his body calmed down in no time and although he felt a little uncomfortable, he was alright.
“What was that flashing skill of yours?” Yue Zhengyu was not depressed even though he lost the competition. Instead, he was filled with curiosity. He went over to Tang Wulin and Gu Yue’s corner the moment they stepped down from the competition stage.
He tested the power of the Lustergloom Saint Sword with Yuanen Yehui earlier, and it was definitely out of the ordinary! Even a five-ringed Soul King could not take this attack of theirs head-on. However, Tang Wulin had took the brunt of the attack single-handedly. This was definitely the doing of his soul skill.
Tang Wulin gave him a faint smile. “You really want to know?”
Yue Zhengyu nodded forcefully.
Tang Wulin said, “I’ll tell you if you repeat a grade.”
Yue Zhengyu was stunned. “Repeat a grade?” He understood it in the next second. If he repeated the second grade, would he not turn into a first grade student?
“Hey! There’s no such as repeating in the academy alright? We’ll be expelled when we don’t pass the examination.”
Tang Wulin did not hear his grumbles. Along with Gu Yue, they were both were already drowned by the cheers from the first graders.
The final challenge list for the match between the first and second grade against third grade class one were out.
Three one-against-one matches — Yuanen Yehui, Wi Siduo, and Ye Xinglan.
Two-against-two — Tang Wulin and Gu Yue.
Seven-against-seven — team leader Tang Wulin, deputy team leader Yuanen Yehui, members Gu Yue, Xie Xie, Yue Zhengyu, Xu Xiaoyan, and Xu Lizhi.
The competition was slated for the following Friday.
Yuanen Yehui was still largely in shock. Losing to Tang Wulin was only secondary. After all, she had already prepared herself since she had once lost to him.
What shocked and puzzled her the most was Xie Xie’s power.
If one’s actual strength was judged, Duan Hunxiao and Ye Xingmo should not have suffered such an utter defeat. However, Xie Xie and Xu Xiaoyan were the ones taking the initiative during the competition. The emphasis was on Xie Xie. He has made too much progress, be it his speed or offense. The current him could no longer be compared to his former self. Even Yuanen Yehui who stood below the stage felt the powerful pressure from the searing heat released from his attacks.
‘He had turned so strong already! How did the first graders improve so fast?’
“Faith!” If Xie Xie knew about her question, he would have definitely replied her with this word.
It was exactly because of Yuanen Yehui that he had been so hardworking. There was only one reason why he worked this hard — he wanted to catch up to her with in terms of abilities. He wanted to be good enough for her.
“You’re really alright?” Gu Yue asked Tang Wulin once more when they reached the working students’ dormitory.
“I’m fine, really. I have coarse skin and thick flesh, didn’t you know? By the way, tomorrow’s a holiday, are you going to the Spirit Pagoda again?” Tang Wulin asked Gu Yue.
“Yeah, I don’t really have anything to do. So, I’m going to cultivate in the Spirit Pagoda.” Gu Yue nodded.
Tang Wulin smiled, “You had everyone fooled! I didn’t know that you were this powerful already. I’m lucky that I wasn’t your opponent. If you keep working this hard, the gap between us will only grow wider.”
Gu Yue could not help but smile. “What’re you worried about?”
Tang Wulin smiled. “I’m worried that if we were to become opponents one fateful day, you’d send all my teeth flying!”
Gu Yue was shocked, and her gaze dimmed in an instant. Although it only lasted for a short time, it did not escape Tang Wulin.
“What’s the matter?”
Gu Yue shook her head. “It’s nothing. What do you plan to do on your rest day?”
Tang Wulin replied. “I might be going to Heaven’s Dou City. I’ve amassed some of the rare alloys I forged and I plan to sell them all there. Also, I want to buy some rare alloys. I hope uncle master will teach me something about forging.
“I’ll go with you,” Gu Yue blurted.
“Huh? Sure!” Tang Wulin looked at her with shock. Since the start of the second term, they’ve yet to go out together since everybody was busy with their cultivation. Nobody seemed to have the spare time.
Gu Yue smiled at him before turning to walk toward her dormitory.