Battling Wu Zhangkong

"Huang Yu, let's go eat." Gu Yue's breathing was heavy as she asked me the question. She was drenched in sweat but so was I.

I had a grin on my face as I replied, "Sure."

We headed to the dining hall together. I didn't mind Gu Yue's company. She seemed like a nice person that I could be friends with.

The both of us sat down at a table. I started gorging down on the buns on my plate as I was quite hungry from the exercise. In contrast, Gu Yue ate slowly, with mannerisms befitting of a lady.

As I swallowed my 15th white bun, I asked Gu Yue, "Have you already received the keys to your dorm yet?"

"Teacher Wu handed it to me in the infirmary." she replied.

I nodded in understanding. Soon, the both of us were done with our meals.

Leaving the dining hall, the sky was dark as Gu Yue and I made our way to the designated venue.

Wu Zhangkong was wearing a black training suit and had a stern expression on his face. The venue was silent as we waited for Tang Wulin and Xie Xie to arrive.

Only when they appeared, did Wu Zhangkong speak up. "Come with me, the four of you."

We followed him to the back of the academy and into an indoor training ground. The training grounds were circular and there were Spirit Barriers in it.

I was surprised at this. Wu Zhangkong must have sold many favours to borrow a place like this.

"From today onwards, you will all have to train with me at night. This is in preparation for the Class Promotion tournament in three months."

As he went to this point, his gaze first rested on Tang Wulin, "Tang Wulin, your martial spirit is Bluesilver Grass. I wasn't going to pick you at first but my gut told me that you had potential. In this team, you're the weakest link. I hope you can live up to my expectations. If in three months you fail to reach my requirements, you won't be participating."

"Yes." There was a certain dullness in Tang Wulin's voice. I could tell that Wu Zhangkong's words had actually hurt him a lot.

"Teacher, what will we be doing during this special training session then? It can't just be more physical training right?" Xie Xie's voice rang out.

"Of course not. Your training today will include actual combat. We'll use that to arouse your own potential and also use it to give you combat experience." Wu Zhangkong seemed to look at me as he said that.

He gave pointers to the four of us before stating that we would get our spiritual power examined the next day.

"Now let's begin the special training." Wu Zhangkong said indifferently. Before any of us could give a reply, he continued, "Your opponent is me!"

Well I couldn't say I wasn't expecting this…

A light flashed in Wu Zhangkong's empty hands as a wooden sword appeared. "I'm not going to use my spirit power or any spirit skills, but even so, you three must give me your all. Begin!"

As he said this, he had already shot out forward with his wooden sword. He was targeting me right from the get-go.

I summoned my martial spirit in a flash, quickly engaging Wu Zhangkong. I was quickly left on the defensive as his skills were superior to mine.

I was saved from his tireless assault when a hammer wrapped with Bluesilver Grass was thrown at him. Wu Zhangkong took a step back in retreat before Xie Xie jumped into the fray to attack.

Wu Zhangkong quickly dispatched Xie Xie before dodging several blades of wind. I managed to catch my breath. When Wu Zhangkong charged at me again, I fared far better than previously thanks to the support of Gu Yue and Tang Wulin.

As I clashed with Wu Zhangkong, my blade proficiency slowly increased. Under the high pressure from the assault of Wu Zhangkong, I was slowly analyzing his sword skills and making it my own. My defensive position slowly began more and more offensive. Gaining more space to breath, I managed to mix in some kicks and elbows in my fighting style.

Wu Zhangkong's eyes widened in realisation as he dodged a slash from me. He seemed to understand what was going on. Taking advantage of his lapse in concentration, the ground softened under Wu Zhangkong's feet causing him to nearly slip.

Blades of Bluesilver Grass instantly wrapped around Wu Zhangkong, binding him. Gu Yue shot a massive fireball at him from behind while Tang Wulin charged at Wu Zhangkong with his hammers in hand on Wu Zhangkong's left.

Xie Xie had already recovered and fired a [Light Dragon Blade] from the right.

As for me, I threw my blade at his face before charging at him. We had him trapped now. This should be our win.

Just to put the nail in the coffin, I sprung as hard as I could going for a knee attack.

[Baekd-

I was suddenly hit by a wave of spirit power. I was sent flying several metres away, tumbling on the ground a few times before coming to a halt.

Wu Zhangkong, you cheater! You said you wouldn't use spirit power.

Looking at the others, they seemed to have suffered a similar fate. The only one unaffected was Gu Yue, but she wasn't close enough to be hit by the spirit power to begin with.

I finally turned to look at Wu Zhangkong, only to see something I never saw before. He was smiling! This was a complete break of character! The Icily Arrogant Prince Charming wasn't supposed to smile like this!

He seemed to notice my stare as his smile on his face instantly disappeared. His cold and arrogant demeanour quickly returned.

"I'll admit, this is my loss. You guys worked together far better than I expected. Though I don't want to say this, for your first time, it can be considered quite excellent." he praised

He turned to look at Xie Xie. "However, Xie Xie, although I said that Tang Wulin was the weakest link, you were the one who contributed the least. Despite having the highest Spirit Rank, you couldn't even last as long as Huang Yu did. I'll repeat to you what I said to Tang Wulin, if in three months you don't get your act together, you won't be competing."

Xie Xie clenched his fists tightly and looked down. He was probably getting angry about getting compared to me.

Wu Zhangkong turned his gaze to me. He opened his mouth for a few moments before closing them again. He sighed before concluding the training for the day.

We all returned to our dorms exhausted. I was amazed as since I had begun cultivating my body, I had never felt like this. On my bed, I sat down in a lotus position as I cultivated.

The next day, physical training classes were shortened to half a day since the other students couldn't handle the training. There was a return to the original schedule of having physical training in the morning, then theory and knowledge classes in the afternoon.

Tang Wulin, Xie Xie, Gu Yue and I had all gone through a spiritual power test. Xie Xie got 29, Tang Wulin got 49 and Gu Yue got an astounding 119.

As for me? My spiritual power level was at 400. I was very surprised. My past spiritual power level was only 15. It had increased drastically since then.

When my spiritual power level was revealed to the three of them, their eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets and they looked at me with their mouths open.

Wu Zhangkong seemed to keep a stoic face but he couldn't hide the twitching of the corner of his lips from my eyes.