To celebrate the end of the year and the upcoming New Year, I'll be running a promo: 40% OFF WITH CODE 97167. If you've wanted to check out the advanced chapters and Patreon exclusive novel, now's your chance! Promo ends on January 1st 2026 11:59pm AEDT!
---------------------
"Your coordination is decent," Wu Zhangkong said, his icy gaze sweeping over the four students.
For a fleeting moment, a rare hint of approval flickered across his stern face.
But it vanished instantly—replaced by even deeper frost.
"But this is only the beginning."
Before the words fully left his lips, his figure blurred into a phantom—leaving only a fading afterimage in the air.
"Crap!"
Xie Xie's pupils shrank. He instinctively stepped back—but Wu Zhangkong was already upon him.
The Skyfrost Sword's glacial edge slashed toward his face!
CLANG!
A sharp metallic clash erupted through the arena.
Xie Xie crossed both arms—Light Dragon Dagger and Shadow Dragon Dagger barely intercepting the strike.
But the force behind the blade numbed his palms, sending him sliding backward several meters.
"Too slow," Wu Zhangkong said coldly.
His sword didn't retreat—instead, it pressed down, forcing Xie Xie to kneel.
"First Soul Skill—Light Dragon Blade!"
Xie Xie gritted his teeth. His yellow soul ring flared, and his dagger blazed with golden light.
A razor-sharp beam of light lashed out, aiming to repel Wu Zhangkong.
But Wu Zhangkong merely flicked his wrist—the Skyfrost Sword tapped the beam lightly.
CRACK!
The light shattered into golden sparks—dissolving instantly.
"Scattered power. Too many openings," Wu Zhangkong critiqued, then redirected his blade straight for Xie Xie's throat.
"Xie Xie!" Tang Wulin shouted.
Instantly, Blue Silver Grass erupted from the floor, snaking toward Wu Zhangkong's sword hand like a living serpent.
At the same moment—
Fang Yang's palms blazed with fire, Gu Yue's fingertips crystallized with ice—
a new wave of combined assault poised to strike!
A faint smirk touched Wu Zhangkong's lips.
"Now this is more like it."
Then—his movement suddenly halted.
"Hm?"
He looked down.
The solid floor had melted into thick, black mire—oozing like a living beast, coiling around his legs, rooting him in place.
"Gu Yue's earth element?" Surprise flickered in Wu Zhangkong's eyes.
His second soul ring flared brilliantly.
"Second Soul Skill: Frost Mist!"
In an instant—bone-chilling cold exploded outward from his body!
The air froze into glittering ice crystals.
The mud beneath his feet hardened with a sickening crunch.
Worse—the frost kept spreading, crawling across the floor in crackling white veins. The temperature plummeted.
"Get over here—now!" Xie Xie yelled, sprinting toward Fang Yang.
Tang Wulin wove his Blue Silver Grass into a protective net, but ice already glazed the vines.
Fang Yang's expression darkened—he remembered this move.
Last time, it had defeated him.
He took a deep breath—Heavenly Flame surged through his meridians,
and deep golden flames erupted from his pores, forming a ring of scorching fire around the four of them.
"Gu Yue!"
No words were needed. She already understood.
Her hands clasped—green soul power swirled within her, and a miniature tornado materialized—merging flawlessly with Fang Yang's flames.
"Wind-Fire Combo!"
A roaring firestorm tornado shot skyward!
Scorching heat clashed with freezing mist—hissing violently as they vaporized each other.
The arena filled with billowing white steam.
Fire and ice ripped through the air, canceling one another in a brilliant, chaotic dance.
When the mist cleared—
Wu Zhangkong still stood, sword in hand—but the glacial aura on his blade had visibly dimmed.
His eyes narrowed, flicking between Fang Yang and Gu Yue.
"Elemental fusion…" he murmured, genuine astonishment finally breaking through his icy composure.
He hadn't expected such seamless synergy—or the ability to fuse elements at all.
That firestorm hadn't just countered his Frost Mist—it had weakened his sword's chill.
In that split-second opening—
Tang Wulin struck!
"Blue Silver Bind!"
Vines erupted from the ground, coiling toward Wu Zhangkong like vipers.
It was Tang Wulin's only offensive move.
Without the Golden Dragon King's bloodline, he had no innate superhuman strength.
And though his Hao Tian Hammer martial soul required Level 10 with full innate soul power, Wu Zhangkong had advised against training it yet.
Worse—he'd learned no Tang Sect secret techniques.
Right now, Tang Wulin truly was just "roadkill"…
Wu Zhangkong said nothing.
The Skyfrost Sword flashed—and the Blue Silver Grass shattered into pieces.
Before Tang Wulin could react—a sword aura slashed toward his face.
He crossed his arms in desperation—but the impact sent him flying backward, crashing to the ground.
Cold seeped into his chest, making him shiver uncontrollably.
He simply couldn't harm Wu Zhangkong.
At the same moment—Xie Xie ghosted behind Wu Zhangkong.
"Got you!"
His Shadow Dragon Dagger stabbed toward the heart.
But before the blade touched fabric, an ice-blue sword beam swept sideways.
THUD!
Xie Xie flew through the air, rolling several times before stopping.
He groaned as he stood—his right arm now coated in thin ice.
"Your timing was good," Wu Zhangkong said, sheathing his sword. "But your killing intent was too obvious. You were detected before you moved."
He stood tall, calm as ever.
"Enough. Training ends here."
The Skyfrost Sword vanished. His posture remained relaxed—no trace of fatigue.
"Yes, Teacher Wu!" the four replied in unison—relief washing over them.
"Finally… this training from hell is over," Xie Xie thought weakly.
The session had been far harsher than expected.
After Tang Wulin and Xie Xie fell, Wu Zhangkong didn't ease up—
instead, he focused all pressure on Fang Yang and Gu Yue, unleashing a relentless storm of attacks that still haunted their nerves.
"Tomorrow—same time," Wu Zhangkong announced coldly—then turned to leave.
"Teacher Wu—wait!" Fang Yang stepped forward quickly.
Wu Zhangkong paused. "What is it?"
"I broke through to Level 30 several days ago, but I've been too busy with class to fuse my soul spirit. I'd like to take a day off to complete the fusion."
Gu Yue stepped up too. "Teacher Wu, I also request leave. After tonight's training, I feel my soul power is about to break through Level 30—I need to fuse a soul spirit as well."
Tang Wulin's eyes lit up. "Teacher Wu, the Blacksmith Association has an urgent task I haven't finished—I'd like a day off too."
"Wait—you're ALL taking leave?!" Xie Xie's jaw dropped.
Wu Zhangkong was silent for a moment, studying each of them.
"Fang Yang and Gu Yue—your reasons are valid. Approved."
"Tang Wulin—your request is acceptable… but your training load doubles upon return."
His tone turned glacial.
Finally, he fixed his gaze on Xie Xie, who was opening and closing his mouth like a fish.
"As for you—be at the training field tomorrow night, on time. Since the others are resting… I'll give you private tutoring."
Xie Xie's face fell like a deflated balloon. "Seriously, Teacher Wu…?"
"You have a problem with that?" Wu Zhangkong's icy stare cut through him.
"N-no! Not at all!" Xie Xie snapped to attention, heart pounding.
------------------------------------------------------
Double Chapters Chapters Ahead: patreon.com/EphemeralShadow
There's something for free patrons too! Free Patrons receive 1 chapter in advance :)