In the time that followed.
Every day's classes basically included running as physical training.
Among them, Tang Wulin and Xie Xie were given special attention to prepare for the Grade Promotion Tournament.
Of all the students, only Arthur didn't have to run. However, no student envied him.
Because while they were running, Arthur was battling Wu Zhangkong.
It was like this every day.
Unlike the first battle, the two did not use Soul Power. They merely countered each other's moves with wooden swords.
After a battle ended, during a break, Wu Zhangkong showed an emotion completely different from how he was in front of the students. He sighed with emotion, "Your swordplay is progressing very quickly. If you can comprehend Sword Intent next, your strength will improve by a large margin."
Arthur's combat talent was truly beyond his imagination; even though his Soul Power Rank was far lower than his, after every sparring session, he would also gain quite a bit.
In Wu Zhangkong's eyes, Arthur was not some student, but a fellow traveler on the same Dao, progressing alongside him.
"Sword Intent..."
It was a bit abstract for Arthur.
The time he had spent Cultivating was still too short. It had only been three years.
Forging, Cultivating, and battling.
Each one required a lot of time.
A Rank four Blacksmith, Soul Power that had just reached Rank 33 after a Breakthrough, and extremely powerful combat techniques.
To reach this point, Arthur had truly worked harder than an ox or a horse over these three years.
Just then, a girl walked slowly from the direction of the school gate toward the Intermediate Department's playground.
The girl looked to be about the same age as the students of class five, wearing a white top and white trousers.
She had delicate features, though she couldn't be called beautiful. Long black hair, black eyes. Her figure was quite well-proportioned, considered above average among her peers.
Wu Zhangkong's gaze only lingered on her for a moment before he ignored her, continuing to review the recent sparring session with Arthur.
The girl's eyes, however, looked over with bright Martial Souls.
She approached, and as she walked, there seemed to be a special rhythm in her steps, which highlighted a strange aura around her.
Wu Zhangkong still didn't care to pay attention, preferring to discuss more with Arthur.
"Teacher," the girl spoke up.
Out of necessity, Wu Zhangkong temporarily stopped the discussion and took a step forward.
"What is it?"
"I'm here to enroll, but they said the registration period has already passed." While seemingly asking Wu Zhangkong, the girl's gaze curiously drifted toward Arthur.
Arthur's heart tightened as he began brainstorming.
Is this Gu Yue?
At the same time, he quietly shifted his steps behind Wu Zhangkong.
"You're not a student of East Sea Academy?" Wu Zhangkong frowned.
"Not yet."
"Then come back next year. Who's to blame for missing the deadline yourself?" An unexpected answer; Wu Zhangkong's impatience made the girl pause, seemingly unsure how to continue.
"But I really hope to study here. Is it possible, Teacher? I can take an exam."
"Then I'll give you a chance," Wu Zhangkong said coldly. "What's your name?"
"Gu Yue."
Wu Zhangkong nodded and shouted, "Xie Xie!"
The girl was stunned. After thinking for a moment, should she reply with "You're welcome"?
She was just about to say it.
One of the students running on the playground took off the Iron Vest he was wearing, handed it to a classmate, then left the line and ran over.
"Huff, huff..." Xie Xie panted heavily, catching his breath. "Teacher, what is it?"
Looking at Xie Xie's exhausted appearance, Wu Zhangkong said, "Your physical stamina is too poor."
Xie Xie protested, "We agility-attack system Battle Spirit Masters only need explosive power and flexibility; we don't need too much stamina."
"Shallow." Wu Zhangkong didn't feel like saying more at this moment and pointed at Gu Yue. "Since you don't want to run, I'll give you a chance. Defeat her, and I'll excuse you from this lap."
"Ah?" Xie Xie was scared out of his wits. "I'm fighting Arthur?"
"Hmm? What Arthur?" Only then did Wu Zhangkong notice that Gu Yue had unknowingly crept up beside Arthur and was staring intently at him.
Arthur stood up straight and looked straight ahead.
"Not Arthur, it's that girl." Wu Zhangkong shook his head.
"Oh, that's good then." After sizing up the girl for a few moments, Xie Xie adjusted his Soul Power and said nonchalantly, "Now?"
"Rest for twenty minutes first, then start."
Xie Xie immediately sat cross-legged on the ground to meditate and rest. Constantly running laps was quite taxing for him.
"Teacher, can I fight him?" The girl suddenly pointed at Arthur.
Before Wu Zhangkong could answer, Arthur shook his head repeatedly. "I'm not free, Teacher. I haven't finished processing the sparring session from just now."
Wu Zhangkong's eyes showed surprise. What do you mean not finished processing? That's nonsense.
Do Arthur and Gu Yue know each other?
"No." Wu Zhangkong chose to go along with Arthur and rejected Gu Yue's proposal.
After being rejected, Gu Yue didn't bring it up again.
Just like that, twenty minutes passed.
Xie Xie regained his Martial Soul, sprang up, and stretched his muscles.
"Distance, thirty meters." Wu Zhangkong acted as the referee. "Start!"
The battle was triggered instantly. Xie Xie shot out, but his prideful explosive power and flexibility couldn't even touch the hem of Gu Yue's clothes.
Ice, fire, earth, and wind—all kinds of elements were used to their fullest by Gu Yue. The battle scene was simply one-sided, like an old man playing with a naughty child.
Gu Yue really was an old man.
And Xie Xie really was a naughty child.
Arthur thought silently.
Watching this battle, the appearance of two purple spirit rings from Gu Yue didn't surprise Wu Zhangkong.
However, her endless elemental powers made Wu Zhangkong very curious.
"What kind of Martial Soul is this? Why does it have so many attributes?" Having already mentally regarded Arthur as an equal powerhouse, Wu Zhangkong inadvertently asked aloud.
"It should be a Martial Soul that controls elemental power." Arthur spread his palm. Spheres of wind, water, and fire appeared in his palm, spinning continuously.
Looking at the elements Gu Yue used not far away, Arthur felt a bit strange inside.
"You..." Wu Zhangkong was surprised for a moment. It was the first time he had seen Arthur use this kind of power.
Why didn't you use it during the battle earlier?
After hesitating for a moment, Wu Zhangkong didn't ask. Since Arthur said he had used his full strength then, it must be that his elemental power wasn't very strong.
Not far away, Gu Yue, who was playing with Xie Xie, suddenly turned her head to look the moment Arthur revealed the three elements, freezing in place.
"Good chance!" Xie Xie's eyes lit up. He erupted with full force, his Light Dragon Dagger and Shadow Dragon Dagger crossing as he charged forward.
Silver light flashed from Gu Yue, and she suddenly shifted three meters sideways. She didn't want to play anymore; serious business was more important.
"As expected." Arthur was certain in his heart that Gu Yue had come specifically for him.
In the original work, Gu Yue came to East Sea Academy because of a bet with Na'er, and only later discovered the Golden Dragon King's power within Tang Wulin.
Coming to East Sea Academy now, surely it couldn't be another bet. The only thing Arthur had that could attract Gu Yue and Na'er was the power belonging to the Holy Spear.
Over these three years, Arthur had carefully studied the elemental control granted to him by the Holy Spear.
His control priority was very high. After many experiments with Agravaine, a Super Douluo, and Mu Chen, a Saint Craftsman, they reached a plausible conclusion.
Arthur's elemental control seemed to be an authority granted by this World, or rather, by nature itself.