Spiritual Power Test

As the wooden sword bore down on Tang Wulin, a surge of desperation overcame him. In a frantic attempt, he strained to command his bluesilver grass to seize control, but to his dismay, it proved futile.

Drawing inspiration from his recent skirmish with Xie Xie, Tang Wulin swiftly positioned his right-handed hammer in a desperate shield across his chest. Simultaneously, his left hand brandished the other hammer, poised for a counterattack.

In the throes of this life-or-death struggle, a subtle gray radiance streaked in, intercepting the wooden sword just moments before collision. Anping's mastery of the decomposition spell, acquired during his alchemical studies, manifested in this crucial moment, reducing the menacing weapon to ethereal particles suspended in the air.

Witnessing this remarkable intervention, Tang Wulin abandoned his defensive strategy, halting the hammer's descent. Wu Zhangkong, now disarmed, clenched his fist and retaliated with a force that sent Tang Wulin stumbling backward in astonishment.

The echoing clash resonated in the air as Wu Zhangkong, his wooden sword relinquished, confronted Tang Wulin with an unexpected twist in their perilous dance.

As the potent force emanated from Tang Wulin, Wu Zhangkong, astounded by the strength, urgently commanded, "Stop!"

With a sweeping gesture, he beckoned a few onlookers closer, fixing his gaze on Anping. "What was that last gray light? It pierced through my soul power and disintegrated the wooden sword. Quite an unusual effect."

Anping responded with composure, "I call it the decomposition technique. It can traverse soul power, though the specifics are elusive. The ultimate outcome, however, is unequivocal—decomposition. The wooden sword's simple structure facilitated analysis, and the technique employs varied elements, inducing repulsion that breaks matter down to its elemental foundations."

The revelation sent a collective shiver through those present, grappling with the notion of matter unraveling into its fundamental structures.

Deep in thought, Wu Zhangkong advised, "The decomposition technique lives up to its name, but I sense a profound danger in your ability. If not used judiciously, it could pose a threat."

Anping disagreed, shaking his head. "It's not perilous. The intricacies of the human body defy easy analysis, rendering targeting of living entities impractical. Employing decomposition on living things would subject me to countless deaths during the analytical process."

Wu Zhangkong then turned his discerning gaze to Tang Wulin. "There's something peculiar about your hammer."

Tang Wulin explained, "This is a heavy silver hammer, surpassing the weight of an ordinary forging hammer."

"How much does it weigh? Let me see," Xie Xie, intrigued by Wu Zhangkong's interest, reached for the hammer in Tang Wulin's grasp.

With a resounding thud, the hammer crashed to the ground, its formidable weight taking Xie Xie by surprise, forcing him down under the immense inertia.

Xie Xie exclaimed, "Hey, what's the deal? Why is it so heavy? I felt three distinct forces earlier. Are you controlling them, or is it an inherent property of the hammer?"

Tang Wulin hesitated momentarily before unraveling the mystery behind the peculiar appearance of his hammer.

Following the revelation, Wu Zhangkong subjected Tang Wulin to another strength assessment. "Alright, that's enough for today. You can rest now," he declared.

The dawn of the next day arrived swiftly.

After supper, Wu Zhangkong led the quartet to a technologically laden room, housing an array of instruments.

"Today, we delve into a spiritual power test. I won't belabor the importance of mental prowess; I trust you've discussed it during your time in junior academy," Wu Zhangkong declared, setting the stage for the upcoming examination.

"Xie Xie, step forward."

Seated at the mental strength testing apparatus, Xie Xie swiftly underwent the evaluation, emerging with a proud expression. "Twenty-nine, not bad. It's approaching the mid-level of the Spirit Origin Realm."

"Anping."

As the examination commenced, the monitor's pointer embarked on a meteoric ascent, surpassing one hundred in a blink and climbing relentlessly—two hundred, three hundred, four hundred...

Eventually, the pointer came to a halt at the five-hundred mark, leaving those present in awe. Wu Zhangkong, breaking the silence, uttered slowly, "Spiritual power at five hundred, the pinnacle of the Spirit Connection Realm, a mere step away from the spiritual sea realm. You possess the most formidable mental strength I've witnessed at your age."

"Is this for real? Could the instrument be malfunctioning? Spirit Connection Realm peak?" Xie Xie, contemplating his modest twenty-nine points, couldn't help but feel a tinge of despair.

"Tang Wulin."

"Forty-four points, a commendable mid-level Spirit Origin Realm."

"Gu Yuena."

"Four hundred and thirty-three, another astonishing result."

Xie Xie couldn't hold back a sigh. "You guys are like living legends. I'm surrounded by monsters." The ensuing combat training left both Xie Xie and Tang Wulin perplexed, grappling with the vast disparity despite being of the same age.

"Today's training concludes. Tang Wulin, Xie Xie, remember, falling behind now doesn't dictate your future progress. Adjust your mindset when you return."

Time elapsed swiftly, spanning over two months.

In the wake of this specialized training regimen, Xie Xie had ascended to a one level, a mere step away from the coveted second ring. The others, too, had elevated their soul power by a notch.

Anping ventured into the realm of utilizing soul power to substitute the magical communication element, yielding promising initial results. Though not as potent as magic power, it served as a viable countermeasure.

Accompanying Wu Zhangkong to his office, the quartet's coordination appeared satisfactory in his discerning eyes.

However, a source of concern lingered—Anping and Gu Yuena.

Gu Yuena had initially encountered challenges in cooperation, but through discussions and adjustments, she exhibited commendable improvement.

Anping, on the other hand, posed a different challenge. It wasn't a matter of cooperation; rather, he prioritized his safety to an extent that vexed Wu Zhangkong. In scenarios where a teammate's well-being conflicted with his own, Anping consistently opted for evasive maneuvers. Despite opportunities to aid his comrades, he refrained from putting himself in harm's way. This reluctance to self-sacrifice for the team troubled Wu Zhangkong, viewing Anping as a unique problem child.

At the conclusion of the training session, Wu Zhangkong held back Gu Yuena and Anping.

"Firstly, Gu Yuena, while your collaboration with Anping is commendable, remember to extend that cooperation to your other teammates. He isn't your sole partner," Wu Zhangkong advised.

"I'll make an effort," Gu Yuena affirmed, nodding to convey her understanding.

Wu Zhangkong shifted his focus to Anping. "Secondly, Anping, I'm curious why you chose to evade instead of attempting to control when Tang Wulin attacked me from behind. With your abilities, you could have redirected Tang Wulin's hammer toward me."

Anping responded matter-of-factly, "I calculated that I would sustain injuries in that scenario."

Wu Zhangkong's tone turned slightly chilly. "I've said it before—approach every battle as if it were a true battlefield. Opportunities are fleeting, especially in combat."

Anping contemplated for a moment before stating, "Teacher Wu, on a real battlefield, chances may be fleeting, but I only have one life."

"On the battlefield, no one wants to be your teammate."

Anping shook his head and explained, "Perhaps. That's why my aspiration has never been to become a warrior on the battlefield."

Wu Zhangkong pressed further, "What if your loved ones are in danger? Would you sacrifice them to save yourself?"

"That's not the case, but, Teacher Wu, I regret to inform you that I have no relatives," Anping replied calmly.

"You're simply afraid of death, clinging to life," Wu Zhangkong expressed frustration.

Anping pursed his lips, choosing silence. Was he afraid of death? Perhaps. Having experienced death once, Anping acknowledged his heightened fear. Among his repertoire of spells, he excelled most in the flash spell and magic barrier.