If Lucy didn't have some real skills, she wouldn't have become the homeroom teacher of Class One in the Heaven Rank Division.
Her second soul ring lit up behind her, releasing a familiar fluctuation of spatial elements. In an instant, her body appeared ten meters away, perfectly dodging Gu Yuena's thrust.
This was Lucy's second soul skill from her Magic Book Martial Soul—Blink.
As soon as Lucy landed, her third thousand-year soul ring lit up. The magic book in her hand erupted with searing energy.
Third Soul Skill—Scorching Ray!
A fiery beam shot out from the magic book, blasting toward Gu Yuena.
But Gu Yuena was the Silver Dragon King, the master of the seven great elements—how could she fear a fire-based attack?
Her first soul ring lit up, and Elemental Tide was released. Simultaneously, a Flame Shield appeared in front of her, not merely blocking the Scorching Ray but devouring it. The shield absorbed the beam's energy, converting it into Gu Yuena's own soul power.
Yet, just as Gu Yuena was absorbing the flames, Lucy's lips curled into a faint smile. Her fourth soul ring quietly lit up, and beneath Gu Yuena's feet, an icy force began to condense.
In the next moment, the ice surged upward from the ground, rushing toward Gu Yuena.
However, Gu Yuena possessed Spirit Douluo-level spiritual power—detecting Lucy's trick was effortless for her.
At the same time, a victorious smile appeared on Gu Yuena's face. She had already figured it out—Lucy's six soul skills were all related to elemental control.
But in terms of elemental control, Lucy was nowhere near her level!
Water elements surged under Gu Yuena's command, instantly melting the frost beneath her feet into water that seeped into the ground.
Spatial Lock!
Gu Yuena activated her control over space, forcefully locking the space around Lucy, effectively disabling her second soul skill.
At the same time, her body flickered with spatial energy and appeared right in front of Lucy. The Silver Dragon Spear manifested in her hands, its sharp gleam thrusting toward Lucy's throat. The tip stopped just 0.00001 centimeters before touching her skin.
"Miss Mei, you've lost." Gu Yuena smiled gracefully, releasing the spatial lock and withdrawing her Silver Dragon Spear.
Lucy simply nodded, showing no signs of dejection. Instead, she said, "Gu Yuena, your combat skills are already formidable, and your soul power is nearly unmatched among your peers. For your training, I have two suggestions.
"First, I recommend that you go to Spirit City's Great Spirit Arena every day to participate in spirit battles. Through continuous combat, you can hone your fighting ability. Moreover, I suggest you refrain from using elemental control—fight using only your spear, or limit yourself to a single element per battle. Only in this way can you truly refine your strength in all aspects.
"Second, I suggest you spend more than five hours a day training in the Dragon Valley Simulation Area. Your Martial Soul is the Seven-Colored Dragon, so the Dragon Valley is undoubtedly the most suitable place for you."
Gu Yuena nodded slightly and replied, "Thank you, teacher. I will."
Lucy then turned her gaze toward the others who had yet to fight—Xue Youyou and her team—as well as Feng Ming and Hua Buluo, who had provided little assistance earlier. She said, "I will now go help Gu Chen find Teacher Lin. Hua Buluo, you will join Xuan Mo's team, and Feng Ming, you will join Xue Youyou's team. The six of you will engage in a three-on-three sparring match."
The students nodded in agreement. Meanwhile, Gu Chen and the others found a bench outside the sparring field and sat down to watch.
After about ten minutes, Xue Youyou's team emerged victorious, relying on Feng Ming's support, Feng Xiaoyu's strikes on the backline, and Xue Youmian's powerful Ice Snow Sword offensive.
Shortly after, Lucy returned with Teacher Lin.
"This is your Academic Director, Teacher Lin. His Martial Soul is the Light Annihilation Sacred Sword, and he is a 73rd-rank, seven-ring Tool Soul Sage. Gu Chen, Teacher Lin will be your sparring partner for this session," Lucy announced.
The bald Teacher Lin smiled and nodded at Gu Chen. "We meet again, Gu Chen."
Gu Chen nodded back. "I'm ready. Let's begin."
"You young folks are always so eager," Teacher Lin chuckled before stepping into the sparring field. As soon as Gu Chen entered, he released his Martial Soul—the Golden Dragon King.
Golden scales perfectly covered Gu Chen's entire body, even his eyes shielded by a faint energy membrane.
This was his first time going up against a Soul Sage in single combat—he had to be cautious!
With a wave of his right hand, the Golden Dragon Spear appeared. Behind him, his third ten-thousand-year soul ring shone with an eerie black light, and golden dragon wings unfolded from his back.
Gu Chen soared into the air, gliding toward Teacher Lin with his spear in hand. As he thrust forward, his attack roared like thunder, the golden spear light extending several meters, radiating unparalleled sharpness.
Teacher Lin quickly swung his Light Annihilation Sacred Sword, his second soul ring lighting up as he unleashed a golden sword aura to counter the attack.
However, the sword aura shattered instantly, while the Golden Dragon Spear's tip collided with the blade of the Light Annihilation Sacred Sword. Soul power surged through the sword, only to be siphoned away by the spear.
"Soul power absorption? What the—?" Teacher Lin was visibly shocked.
But Gu Chen gave him no time to think. Still propelled by his Golden Dragon Flight, he closed in instantly. Behind him, a nine-thousand-year soul ring, black with streaks of red, lit up. Gu Chen extended his right hand, which had transformed into a Golden Dragon Claw.
Golden Dragon Claw!
Piercing, rending, shattering—three devastating properties concentrated into this one strike, empowered by the sheer might of a nine-thousand-year soul ring.
Even though Teacher Lin was a Soul Sage, his expression changed drastically in the face of this attack. He no longer cared about the Golden Dragon Spear draining his soul power—his fifth soul ring lit up at once.
A terrifying golden energy wave expanded outward from Teacher Lin, forcefully repelling the Golden Dragon Spear and slowing down Gu Chen's claw strike by a fraction of a second.
This was Teacher Lin's Fifth Soul Skill—Repulsion Halo!
Teacher Lin had not become the Academic Director solely by title—his combat ability was formidable. Almost simultaneously, his sixth soul ring lit up.
From the tip of his Light Annihilation Sacred Sword, pitch-black beams shot out toward Gu Chen.
This was the sword's Sixth Soul Skill—Annihilation Ray!
Due to the momentum of his Golden Dragon Flight, Gu Chen could not change direction in time. Left with no alternative, he crossed his arms to take the full force of the attack.
The Annihilation Ray was terrifyingly destructive—even Gu Chen's powerful Golden Dragon King Scales began to erode under its corrosion, exposing the muscles beneath.
However, the Golden Dragon King's defense was legendary. Gu Chen relied on his immense physical resilience to withstand the attack.
Although his skin was charred and corroded, revealing raw flesh, he remained standing.
"Your defense is astonishing," Teacher Lin estimated cautiously. "You're already at the level of a defensive-type Soul Emperor. Even my sixth soul skill couldn't inflict serious damage on you.
"That's enough testing. Lucy, take him to the training room to measure his maximum speed and strength."
(End of Chapter)