Sword Domain, a technique similar to a domain skill.
With himself at the center, Arthur deployed a sword domain that generated countless blades of sword qi based on how much soul power he burned. They moved according to his will with devastating precision.
What he'd just used was a variation he'd been practicing.
He had preemptively slashed out sword qi as anchor points to unfold the domain, forming a killing formation that trapped Wu Changkong at its very center.
"This is..." At a glance, every inch of space around him was sealed by sword qi. Every direction bristled with lethal intent. Even with all Wu Changkong's experience, he found it astonishing.
Such a prodigy. He was increasingly eager to see what Arthur's third soul skill was.
With a hum, the sword formation activated.
"No way out..." Wu Changkong's eyes narrowed. The sword formation had already collapsed around him like a falling net.
Each blade of sword qi was perfectly positioned. Even with his strength, he couldn't find an escape route.
"In that case."
Wu Changkong waved his hand casually. His Skyfrost Sword trembled violently at the same moment, and blue-white frost mist suddenly exploded around his body, shrouding the area and obscuring his figure.
"Can't escape so you're hiding?" Arthur shook his head. "Unfortunately, I could hit you with my eyes closed."
This was what fighting with Instinct was like.
All the condensed, solid sword qi erupted at once. The sword qi below writhed like silver serpents, while the sword qi above fell like meteors, weaving into a dense net of light.
After all the sword qi attacks pierced into the frost mist, there was no further movement.
Exhaling a long breath, Arthur waited quietly for the result.
Gradually, the frost mist dispersed.
It revealed Wu Changkong's upright figure. At a glance, he was completely unharmed from head to toe.
Gazing at Arthur with appreciative eyes, Wu Changkong felt a pang of inadequacy. He had once been a genius at the pinnacle of his generation at Shrek, but looking back now, he seemed ordinary compared to Arthur.
Actually, all that sword qi had hit him just now. Even with his cultivation as a Spirit Emperor, he could not have blocked everything.
Although the sword qi would not have actually injured him, it would have looked bad.
So in that instant, Wu Changkong had summoned his battle armor, blocking all the sword qi before dismissing it again.
After all, the students were watching. He needed to maintain his image. Looking too roughed up would not do.
"How is that possible?"
Arthur's brow furrowed deeply. That move had consumed nearly all his soul power. How could it not even damage Wu Changkong's clothes? Nothing at all?
Countless thoughts flashed through his mind. Arthur hesitated. "Teacher, did you use battle armor?"
Wu Changkong: "Hmm?"
His mouth twitched. Even ice-cold Wu Changkong silently averted his gaze, not daring to meet Arthur's eyes.
"Ahem." Clearing his throat, Wu Changkong changed the subject. "What about your third soul skill?"
Recalling the Skyshatter Eagle in the sky back into his body, he had originally wanted to coordinate with his soul spirit, but plans could not keep up with changes.
"No need. I'm nearly at my limit." Arthur's third soul skill was called Collapse Liberation.
It enhanced the power of the holy sword's release.
This was just a sparring match with Wu Changkong. There was no need to liberate the holy sword.
Besides, his soul power had bottomed out.
"Sigh." Arthur sighed. He still had not used the Holy Lance's power yet. Not to mention liberating the Holy Lance, even the power of the three elements of wind, water, and fire granted by the Holy Lance had not made an appearance before his soul power ran out.
Having too many skills was also a kind of problem.
Even with his current rank thirty-two soul power, it was not enough to use all his skills once through in sequence.
Of course, part of that was because he had spent too much soul power on the Sword Domain. Otherwise, he could have barely managed a few more techniques.
"Teacher, may I ask how much of your strength you used?" Arthur asked curiously.
How much strength?
Wu Changkong pondered for a moment, calculated briefly, then answered honestly, "Thirty percent."
"Thirty percent?"
Arthur was extremely surprised, not that it was low, but that it was too high. After all, Wu Changkong had not used soul skills or battle armor in the fight just now.
Well, he might have used the battle armor briefly. That point was debatable.
To actually reach thirty percent?
Calculating silently in his mind, Arthur still had the Holy Lance's power unused, but he had essentially given it his all. After all, his soul power had genuinely been depleted completely.
"You're the most talented genius I've ever seen. Setting aside soul skills and battle armor, I already used my full strength."
"It's just that the gap in soul power rank isn't so easy to overcome."
Wu Changkong admitted frankly, without his usual cold words, "When I was a Spirit Elder, I wouldn't have lasted one exchange against you."
Looking at Arthur, Wu Changkong had been too absorbed in the battle earlier and only now realized with shock that the other party was only nine years old.
He was already beginning to anticipate what kind of heights Arthur would reach in the future.
"Everyone assemble!" His gaze swept over the students on the field who had long been stunned into silence. Wu Changkong resumed his icy presence.
The students converged like zombies. They had been shocked senseless by the earlier battle. Those with stronger mentalities were still managing, barely calming their emotions.
Some students with bigger egos had already had their confidence shattered, repeatedly glancing sideways at Arthur.
This is nine years old? The same age as me?
The most obvious was Xie Xie. His eyes were vacant, his spirit crushed. At this moment, he suddenly felt his previous arrogance was so laughable.
Tang Wulin was better off. He had already been somewhat humble, and now simply became even more in awe of Arthur. He secretly encouraged himself. In the future, he would also become such a powerful person.
Some students cheered and idolized Arthur, while others were demoralized from the blow.
Wu Changkong felt a slight headache. Normally, if students acted like this, he simply would not bother with them, but this situation was special. Arthur's performance had truly been too crushing.
Even he would have been overwhelmed at nine years old.
"Rotten wood cannot be carved!" Wu Changkong steeled himself and lectured. "Don't think about how others are doing."
"Does someone else's talent become a reason for you to give up on yourselves?"
"Your sparring matches just now were also absolutely terrible."
"You've disappointed me twice!" His voice was cold as ice.
"However!"
"Even if you're all scrap iron, I'll forge you into steel through a hundred refinements."
"Stop always comparing yourselves to others. What's most important is doing well yourselves first..."
Wu Changkong paused for an instant, then continued, "Through this sparring, the biggest flaw for many of you is inadequate physique."
"Foundation is paramount. Physical training begins tomorrow."
That was all he had to say. Wu Changkong's personality was like this. If students wanted to work hard afterward, he would teach them. If they did not want to, he could not be bothered to care.
"Xie Xie, Tang Wulin, stay behind. Everyone else dismissed."
His dark green eyes looked toward Arthur. Wu Changkong did not specifically ask Arthur to stay. He understood there was not much he could teach him. He had even learned a lot himself from the battle just now.
Besides, he remembered what Arthur said yesterday about his reason for coming to Class Five.
After the battle just now, Wu Changkong also understood. Arthur had simply come to spar with him.
Keeping only Tang Wulin and Xie Xie behind.
Next, Wu Changkong planned to work these two hard, preparing for the promotion tournament.
He had not considered having Arthur participate. This young upstart was already not on the same level as his peers.
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[Author's Note: Originally wanted to have the protagonist fire off a light cannon. But suddenly remembered Tang San's divine consciousness is in Tang Wulin's brain, so never mind. In a few chapters I'll have Gu Yue ban Tang San. Please keep reading, vote, and add to library~]