"Third group, begin." Xia Yu spoke without emotion.
Wang Qiao and Zhang Yiqing stepped out from the crowd and stood facing each other. As soon as Xia Yu gave the command, their battle began.
Time ticked on. Some fights ended quickly, while others dragged out in tense stalemates. In the blink of an eye, the hour-long class was nearing its end.
"Group twenty-five, get ready," Xia Yu said, his tone as calm as ever.
"It's my turn!" Tang Ya jolted slightly, then spoke with excitement.
"Good luck, Xiao Ya!" Jiang Nannan cheered for her.
"Don't worry, I'm the Tang Sect's sect master after all!" Tang Ya replied confidently and strode to the center of the field without even looking back.
Her opponent was a small-framed boy who looked weak and scrawny.
"Tang Ya, nineteenth-rank control-type Soul Master."
"Yang Linmu, eighteenth-rank Soul Master."
After exchanging names, the fight was about to begin.
Tang Ya's martial soul was undoubtedly Blue Silver Grass. A simple, blue vine appeared in her hand, prompting some murmurs of discussion among the surrounding students.
Yang Linmu's martial soul was a beast-type — the Windrunner Mouse. It was a speed-type martial soul, with membrane-like wings between his ribs and armpits that allowed for short glides.
Tang Ya took the initiative. Her first soul ring lit up, and the Blue Silver Grass in her hand grew wildly, lunging toward Yang Linmu.
Blue Silver Grass first soul skill — Entangle!
Yang Linmu didn't just sit and wait. His own first soul ring activated, and his speed suddenly surged. He dodged the incoming vine and rushed toward Tang Ya.
Tang Ya moved neither quickly nor slowly, but her footwork was bizarre. Her pace actually matched Yang Linmu's speed!
"Is that the Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track Steps of the Tang Sect?" Zhu Ziyang's expression remained neutral, but a flash of surprise crossed his eyes.
Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track Steps — one of the Tang Sect's seven great secret techniques. It was mentioned frequently in Tang Sect records, though no actual cultivation method had been recorded. Not even Zhu Ziyang's Dimensional Library contained it. Clearly, it was an orally passed-down secret skill.
All seven of the Tang Sect's great techniques were preserved through oral tradition. That made Zhu Ziyang deeply curious about them. After all, they were said to be soul skills created by the legendary Sea God, Tang San.
Even though Zhu Ziyang disdained Tang San's character, it didn't stop him from admiring his achievements.
Because he understood well just how difficult it was to create a soul skill from scratch.
The Tang Sect's Seven Great Techniques: Mysterious Heaven Skill, Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track Steps, Controlling Crane Catching Dragon, Mysterious Jade Hand, Purple Demon Eyes, Hidden Weapons Hundred Separation, and Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer Technique — according to Tang Sect records, all were said to be Tang San's creations.
Zhu Ziyang had doubts. The Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer Technique, for example, was clearly the Haotian Clan's secret technique — when did it become Tang San's creation?
But few people knew this, and fewer cared. The so-called seven great techniques of the Tang Sect were now just relics of a declining sect. Once glorious, they were now little more than faded memories.
Back on the battlefield—
Yang Linmu was stunned that he couldn't catch up to Tang Ya. That moment of hesitation was all she needed. She turned sharply, closed the distance, and once again unleashed her Blue Silver Grass. The vines surged out and tightly bound Yang Linmu, leaving him immobilized.
"Group twenty-five, Tang Ya wins!" Xia Yu announced.
"Heehee, thanks for letting me win!" Tang Ya said cheerfully, retrieving her Blue Silver Grass from around Yang Linmu.
"N-no need!" Yang Linmu's face was red with embarrassment as he returned to the crowd. Perhaps he felt humiliated losing to a girl.
"That's all for today's class. The remaining twenty-four groups will continue next class. Dismissed." Xia Yu said crisply, then turned and left without another word.
Those who had finished their matches left with light hearts, while the rest were still uneasy.
"Nannan, Zhu Ziyang, let's go too!" Tang Ya beamed with joy, hopping over to Jiang Nannan and clinging to her arm.
"Aren't we waiting for Yu Beibei?" Zhu Ziyang asked while storing the notebook with the students' match results into his soul tool ring.
"No need. I told Beibei already. We agreed to meet at the cafeteria." Tang Ya replied proudly.
"In that case, let's go." said Zhu Ziyang.
The three of them left the teaching building and headed to the cafeteria.
Not long after they got their meals, Yu Beibei arrived.
"Beibei, over here!" Tang Ya shouted the moment she saw him at the door, drawing the attention of everyone in the cafeteria.
"You're fast!" Yu Beibei walked over, surprised.
"Heehee, we finished class early." Tang Ya handed him his lunch tray, her face brimming with excitement. "Guess what? We had practical combat today, and I won easily!"
"Of course, of course! Xiao Ya is the best!" Yu Beibei said with a smile as he affectionately patted Tang Ya's head.
"Naturally!" Tang Ya boasted without an ounce of humility. Then, putting on a mysterious expression, she leaned closer to whisper, "Oh right, Beibei, do you know?"
"Know what?" Yu Beibei looked puzzled.
"About that Soul Elder freshman in our year!" Tang Ya said.
"Oh, that? I know." Yu Beibei chuckled. "Not only do I know, I even know he's in your Class Four, right?"
"Mhm!" Tang Ya wasn't discouraged—because that wasn't the real surprise. She continued, "But do you know who it is? Hehehe!"
"Who?" Yu Beibei was intrigued, staring at her, waiting for the answer.
"Heehee! Not telling you!" Tang Ya stuck out her tongue and made a silly face.
"You dare tease me?!" Yu Beibei feigned anger and began rubbing her head in retaliation.
"Ah! Stop touching my hair!" Tang Ya shrieked as she tried to dodge, her face full of laughter.
Though she said 'don't,' her delighted expression made it clear she was enjoying his head-pats.
After a moment, Tang Ya suddenly remembered they were in the middle of dinner—with Zhu Ziyang and Jiang Nannan. Wasn't it kind of inappropriate to flaunt affection like that in front of them? She sheepishly pushed Yu Beibei's hand away and turned to look at the other two—only to find they weren't paying her the slightest attention.
In fact, they were feeding each other.
Tang Ya instantly felt stuffed with dog food.
"Emmm..." She reached out and took Yu Beibei's hand again. "Beibei, let's continue."
The two pairs of young teens finished their meal surrounded by people who, honestly, had already lost their appetite.
After a bit of playful teasing, Yu Beibei finally couldn't hold back. "Xiao Ya, are you going to tell me or not? Which Soul Elder freshman is it in your class?"
"No need for me to say—he's right here," Tang Ya answered, pointing toward Zhu Ziyang.
Yu Beibei was stunned. He turned to Zhu Ziyang with a look of disbelief. "Ziyang, you've really been hiding your strength!"
"Hehe, not really." Zhu Ziyang smiled lightly.
Yu Beibei was quite shaken. He'd thought reaching the twenty-fifth rank at eleven was already impressive. But he hadn't expected to encounter such a powerful peer right after entering Shrek Academy.
Eleven years old and already a Soul Elder? That level of talent surpassed everyone he had ever known.
'Looks like I'll need to work even harder!' Yu Beibei silently vowed to himself.
After dinner, the sky was still bright. Tang Ya suggested a walk around Sea God Lake, and everyone agreed.
(End of Chapter)
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