Your Opponent is Me
"Good. I believe in you." Wu Zhangkong's voice held a rare thread of something akin to approval. "To possess the Blue Silver Grass martial soul and still earn a place in an intermediate academy speaks to your character and perseverance. Remember, willpower can be a martial soul in itself."
He then turned his attention to Xie Xie, who was shifting his weight nervously from foot to foot. "Teacher Wu," Xie Xie ventured, a hesitant smile on his face, "what exactly will this special training involve? It's not... more physical conditioning, is it?"
"Of course not." Wu Zhangkong's reply was like a drop of ice water. "My methodology emphasizes balance and comprehensiveness. Your evening sessions will focus on one thing, and one thing only: live combat."
He paused, letting the words sink into the silent, charged air of the training arena. "In my professional opinion, the most efficient crucible for a Soul Master's growth is real battle. It hones instinct, exposes weakness, and forges true skill. Potential is not unlocked in comfort; it is forced open under pressure. The most profound breakthroughs often occur at the very brink of one's limits."
"The brink?" Xie Xie repeated, a slight tremor in his voice. "You mean... life-and-death situations?"
"Precisely. The mindset of mortal peril, without the permanent consequence." Wu Zhangkong's gaze was unflinching. "Do not worry. You will not die here. You may, however, acquire a new understanding of pain. Now, enough discussion. I will first address your individual developmental priorities, then we begin."
His eyes, sharp as honed glaives, settled on Yao Xuan first. "Yao Xuan. Your soul power density, the potency of your soul skills, your physical strength and stamina—all are anomalous for your age and level. I do not offer praise lightly, but I must acknowledge your foundation is perhaps the most formidable I have encountered in a peer."
Yao Xuan met his gaze steadily, offering a slight nod of acknowledgment.
"Do not let it breed arrogance," Wu Zhangkong continued, his tone cutting. "I have also observed your deficiency. Your control over your martial soul and soul skills is technically proficient, even excellent for your level, but it lacks the seamless, instinctual fusion of a true combat veteran. There is a discernible gap between your power and your mastery of it. We will bridge that gap."
"Thank you for the guidance, Teacher Wu. I will apply myself diligently." Yao Xuan's reply was sincere. Wu Zhangkong's assessment was piercingly accurate. While his 'Extraordinary Comprehension' and diligent study had granted him superb technical control, it was indeed largely self-taught, born of theory and solo practice rather than tempered in the unpredictable forge of real conflict. Guidance from a Shrek Academy graduate, even a Soul Emperor, was an invaluable resource he intended to fully exploit.
Wu Zhangkong's gaze then shifted to Gu Yue. "Gu Yue. Your elemental control is exquisite. The precision, the economy of motion, the simultaneous governance of multiple forces—it is artistry. For your cultivation level, it is, frankly, peerless."
Gu Yue inclined her head slightly, her expression giving nothing away, though a flicker of assessment crossed her amethyst eyes. 'This human's perception is keen.'
"However," he continued, "the limitation you described—the inability to intrinsically strengthen any single element—is a significant tactical constraint. My suggestion is to explore not just control, but synthesis. If you can learn to fuse elements, to create compound effects where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts, you will transcend your martial soul's apparent limitation. That path could lead you to the apex."
A faint spark of genuine interest lit within Gu Yue's eyes. The concept was not new to her, but hearing it proposed by a human Soul Emperor was unexpected. "I understand. Thank you, teacher."
"Xie Xie." Wu Zhangkong's tone became flatter. "You have speed. You lack endurance. A warrior who cannot sustain their prowess is a spring without water—useless after the first push. You must train your body to endure. More critically, you must learn to manage your energy in combat, to make every movement count."
He took a step closer, his voice dropping slightly. "Furthermore, if I am not mistaken—and I am not—you possess a twin martial soul."
Xie Xie's eyes widened in genuine shock. "Teacher Wu! You... you could tell?"
"A mere Soul Emperor I may be, but I am a graduate of Shrek Academy. The subtle resonance of a concealed martial soul is not invisible to me." A trace of justifiable pride colored his icy demeanor. "For you, my advice is twofold: First, cultivate your spiritual power relentlessly. It is the key to wielding twin souls without fracturing your mind. Second, keep your second martial soul hidden. It is not a tool for display; it is a dagger in the dark, a single, decisive surprise to end a battle when an opponent believes they have you measured."
Xie Xie swallowed, his usual bravado replaced by rapt attention. "Yes, Teacher Wu! I will focus on those areas!"
"Finally, Tang Wulin." Wu Zhangkong's gaze softened by a degree so minute it was almost imperceptible. "Your combat instincts are sharp, and your physical resilience is notable. Your Blue Silver Grass has mutated, granting it toughness beyond its kind. Your path lies in control. Master your martial soul's binding and entangling properties. Learn to dictate the battlefield's rhythm, to hinder and frustrate your opponent. Become the cage before the sword is drawn."
Tang Wulin's face, which had been set in a mask of determined acceptance, now flushed with hope and gratitude. He bowed deeply, his voice thick with emotion. "Thank you, Teacher Wu! I won't let you down!"
"Your commitment will be proven by your actions, not your words. Now," Wu Zhangkong declared, turning on his heel and striding toward the very center of the luminous arena floor. "The special training begins."
A cold sense of foreboding settled over Xie Xie. "Teacher Wu... wait. Don't tell me our opponent is... you?"
A ghost of what might have been a smile touched Wu Zhangkong's lips. "Perceptive. Yes. Your opponent is me. All four of you, together. You will attack with everything you have. I will restrict myself to the soul power level of a twenty-first rank Great Soul Master... and I will not use any soul skills. Now."
He did not shout. He simply stood, and the atmosphere changed. A pale blue aura, cold and sharp, emanated from his body, not as a blast but as a field that lowered the temperature around him. In his right hand, the Heavenly Frost Sword materialized from a swirl of freezing mist, its blade gleaming with a hungry, crystalline light.
"Begin."
The word was a catalyst. In one fluid motion, too fast for the eye to cleanly follow, Wu Zhangkong's form blurred. He didn't charge at the obvious threat, Yao Xuan, or the mysterious new variable, Gu Yue. He closed the distance to Xie Xie with terrifying efficiency, the Heavenly Frost Sword lancing out in a silent, straight thrust. There was no wind-up, no dramatic flourish—only the lethal, focused intent of a needle of ice aimed to disrupt and disable the fastest member first. The air in the sword's path crystallized into a fleeting trail of frost.
The battle was joined.