Legend of the Dragon King: I really didn't mean to provoke them!

"Teacher Wu," Tang Wulin said with great interest, "can we see the real battle armor?"

Wu Changkong glanced at him and said, "You have to complete the first phase of practical training before you can do that. You are not qualified yet."

"Also, your performance in the last match was extremely disappointing!"

Wu Changkong's eyes suddenly narrowed, a sharp glint flashing in them. "It's absolutely a mess!"

The five were clearly caught off guard by the sudden change of topic, and the next second, they were subjected to a barrage of insults from Wu Changkong.

The first one to be scolded was Xie Xie.

"Xie Xie! Did you think you were amazing after breaking through to the second ring?! You only know how to act alone, do you have any sense of teamwork?!"

Xie Xie shrank his neck.

Indeed, after breaking through to the second ring, he did become somewhat arrogant.

If he had been more cautious, even if his title had been sealed by the world's corrective forces, with Tang Wulin and Gu Yue by his side, he wouldn't have been seriously injured.

"Tang Wulin! And you too, did you become captain for nothing? Xie Xie acts recklessly, and you don't care!"

"Your own soul skills are also a complete mess. You've given up the advantages of your martial soul and instead just rely on brute force to fight your opponent head-on!"

"Where's your brain? Did the typhoon before the game blow it away??"

Tang Wulin broke out in a cold sweat on the back of his neck from the scolding, and immediately stood up and said, "Yes!"

"Gu Yue, you're too impulsive. You should consider the entire situation and control the pace of the game, instead of constantly overdrawing your soul power!"

"Zhang Yangzi is arrogant, talkative, and careless in his battles."

"Your strength was completely offline the whole time, and you even forced a martial soul fusion skill when your soul power was overdrawn, which harmed both yourself and others."

Gu Yue was somewhat embarrassed by the scolding, while Zhang Yangzi was so ashamed that he lowered his head.

“Only Wang Jinxi did relatively well.” Wu Changkong’s tone finally calmed down. “Although he was suppressed by his martial soul, he still performed his duties responsibly throughout the match.”

"Huh?" Wang Jinxi didn't expect to be praised.

Wu Changkong crossed his arms again. "Besides that, all five of you have one thing in common—"

"Practical experience and skills are still insufficient!"

"In terms of basic combat strength without using martial spirits, apart from Xie Xie who is barely qualified, the four of you are really terrible!"

Upon hearing this, Gu Yue frowned slightly and raised her hand.

"Teacher Wu, my ability is elemental control. As long as I improve my soul power and spirit, I can suppress my opponent and win the battle by controlling the elements."

"So, basic combat abilities aren't that important to me, are they..."

Wu Changkong did not answer Gu Yue's question directly, but instead picked up the pointer on the podium.

With a gentle wave of his pointer, Wu Changkong caused the tables and chairs beneath the five people to automatically move aside.

Immediately afterwards, the white pointer was pointed at Xie Xie.

"If that's what you think, then let's do a test, Xie Xie and Tang Wulin."

"Yes." Xie Xie raised his hand.

"Here," Tang Wulin replied.

"Without using your martial soul or soul skills, Xie Xie, suppress your soul power to the same level as Tang Wulin. The two of you will have a match."

Xie Xie scratched his cheek. "Teacher Wu, am I bullying someone?"

Wu Changkong glanced at him coldly, "If you say another word, you can practice with me."

"I will obey the teacher's decree!!"

Xie Xie immediately went to the center of the classroom, his eyes filled with determination as if he were about to join the Party.

Tang Wulin also stepped forward, clenching his fists, his eyes revealing a very serious expression.

"Begin," Wu Changkong commanded.

Tang Wulin took a step forward and threw a straight punch at Xie Xie's face. It was simple and direct, yet powerful and heavy.

Xie Xie easily dodged the punch by simply shifting his body slightly to the side. At the same time, he slid his foot, circled around to Tang Wulin's side, and delivered a precise elbow strike to the spot on Tang Wulin's shoulder where he was exerting force.

"Well!"

Tang Wulin felt a numbness in his arm, and his strength instantly dissipated by more than half.

He shook his arms and rushed forward again.

No matter how he punched or lunged, Xie Xie could always dodge half a step in advance and strike several of his joints with his backhand, leaving him with no way to use his strength.

After nearly half a minute of fighting, Tang Wulin was not only completely outmaneuvered, but he also failed to even touch Xie Xie's clothes.

"Alright." Wu Changkong raised his hand.

Xie Xie stopped immediately, and Tang Wulin then had a free hand to wipe the cold sweat from his forehead.

"Did you see it clearly?"

Her gaze swept over Gu Yue, Zhang Yangzi, and Wang Jinxi, her voice cold and clear:

"Even without a martial spirit, without a soul skill, or even with soul power sealed, one can still fight, win, and survive—that is the meaning of basic combat strength."

Chapter 49 Test

"Once your martial spirit is countered, your soul skills are interrupted, and your soul power is sealed, are you just going to stand there and let others slaughter you?"

The pointer, which danced in the sky, pointed directly at the ancient moon.

"You are a master of the elements. Once they get close, interfere with you, or your mental power is suppressed, no matter how strong the elements are, you won't be able to control them. At that point, what will you rely on?"

Gu Yue was slightly taken aback, her brows furrowed, but she was speechless for a moment.

"Zhang Yangzi, no matter how fast you are or how strong your shadow is, once your soul power is sealed, how many moves can your physical strength withstand?"

Zhang Yangzi's face turned pale, and he lowered his head.

“Wang Jinxi, your martial soul is the Bone Dragon King. Once it is suppressed and cannot be activated, will your defense still be there? Without basic combat power, you are just a piece of bone waiting to be shattered.”

Wang Jinxi's body trembled, and his eyes suddenly brightened.

Wu Changkong withdrew his pointer and turned his gaze back to the five people.

"Starting today, Class Zero will have extra training every day."

"Without using martial spirits or spirit skills, only train basic combat, reaction, dodging, force deflection, and vital point attacks."

"When you can defeat Xie Xie one-on-one without using your martial spirit or soul skills, you will be considered to have passed the first stage."

Xie Xie straightened his back instantly, looking smug.

Wu Changkong glanced at him indifferently: "You're the same. If you get defeated by anyone in basic combat, you'll have to train with me ten times more."

Xie Xie's smile froze instantly, and he almost burst into tears.

"No, Teacher Wu, da me da me!!"

In the following days, Class Zero underwent intensive training in basic skills.

Considering Xie Xie's physical condition, for the first ten days, Xie Xie and Tang Wulin took turns being beaten, and screams filled the entire classroom.

Zhang Yangzi was initially somewhat gloating, but after ten days when he and Wang Jinxi recovered from their injuries and joined the actual battle, he immediately understood why Tang Wulin and Xie Xie were screaming so miserably.

Wang Jinxi was slightly better off; the Bone Dragon King Martial Soul made his body much stronger than that of ordinary people.

But Zhang Yangzi is in a bad situation. He is a combination of agility and control, and his physical attributes are only slightly better than Gu Yue's.

Wu Changkong lashed out with his whip a few times; though it didn't hurt anyone, the pain was excruciating.

The only one who felt a little better was Gu Yue.

Because she was a girl, Wu Changkong would go a little easier on her.

Then, even more piercing screams began to erupt from Class Zero.

Of course, Wu Changkong is just one of the instructors; there are other professional teachers who teach them different kinds of knowledge.

The news of the establishment of Class Zero quickly spread throughout the entire academy, but because the teaching methods of Class Zero could not be disclosed, the academy returned to calm after a few days of curiosity.

"Today we will conduct a series of physical tests on you, and the combat training will be suspended for one class."

That day, Wu Changkong walked into the classroom early in the morning and brought good news to the five of them.

"Really?!" Xie Xie jumped up from his chair.

There was no way around it; the pain from the practical lessons was so intense it went deep into his bones. Wu Changkong always hit him hardest, leaving him covered in bruises every day after class.

However, Xie Xie was shameless and would go to Wu Changkong's dormitory every day after class to use the ointment.

Because Wu Changkong's liniment not only smelled pleasantly of mint and felt cool and refreshing after application, but it was also exceptionally effective at promoting blood circulation and removing bruises. Every time he applied it, he would be fully recovered the next day, without even a mark left.

Wu Changkong led the five people into a high-tech room, the entire interior of which was covered with a layer of silver metal panels.

Inside the room, rows of silver-white instruments glowed with a faint blue light.

Wu Changkong first led the five people to the very center of the room, where a cylindrical test chamber, three meters high, stood.

The cabin is made of a single piece of high-strength transparent crystal, with rings of alloy rings with a faint blue luster embedded around the edges. The fine patterns on the rings flow with a faint light like star trails.

Wu Changkong tapped a few times on a blue screen, and the glass hatch opened with a "click".

"First, we'll conduct a mental strength test."

"Xie Xie, you're first." As he spoke, Wu Changkong took out a blank form and a pen, ready to take notes.

Xie Xie stepped inside, and the glass door slowly closed.

Suddenly, Xie Xie felt a chill run through his body, and then a blue virtual screen popped up above his head, with Arabic numerals on the screen rising steadily.

Finally, the number slowly came to a stop at 121.

Zhang Yangzi and Wang Jinxi's eyes widened on the spot. Was this some kind of buddy who was throwing down a royal flush right off the bat?!

Even Tang Wulin and Gu Yue were slightly surprised, because Xie Xie's mental strength was indeed rising a bit too fast.

Only Xie Xie and Wu Changkong, who knew the truth, remained calm.

While quickly taking notes, Wu Changkong said, "Next, Wang Jinxi."

Wang Jinxi's mental strength was rather weak, only 18 points.

After recording the data, Wu Changkong raised an eyebrow and glanced at him, saying calmly, "Wang Jinxi, you must work hard to improve your spiritual power, otherwise you will not be able to fuse with more soul spirits in the future."

Wang Jinxi, who was usually taciturn, replied with a simple "Yes."

Next up is Zhang Yangzi.

Zhang Yangzi is alright, with 41 points in mental strength.

"Mental strength 41, not bad. Try to break through to the Spirit Origin Realm within a year." Wu Changkong said without looking up.

Zhang Yangzi nodded. "Understood."

Tang Wulin is the second to last.

Zhang Yangzi's gaze was fixed on Tang Wulin, because it was Tang Wulin who broke his own legs during the competition, so his desire to compare himself to Tang Wulin was the strongest.

Zhang Yangzi watched as Tang Wulin walked into the machine, and as the numbers on the screen began to jump, his heartbeat actually started to quicken along with the numbers.

Finally, the number on the screen stopped at 74.

Zhang Yangzi's expression was visibly unpleasant.

Xie Xie patted Zhang Yangzi on the shoulder, "Don't look so grumpy, it's not a big deal, just keep practicing."

Hearing Xie Xie say this, Zhang Yangzi's expression was still somewhat unpleasant, but he ultimately didn't say anything.

After spending nearly a month together, he found that Xie Xie was indeed a good person.

Even though he and Jin Xi had severely injured him, this man seemed completely unconcerned, waving his hand dismissively and saying in a casual tone:

"In a competition, unexpected situations are bound to happen."

"Besides, we're all classmates, there's no need to be so fussy."