Wu Changkong: "..."
Wu Changkong hadn't expected Tang Wulin to be the first to jump out. A trace of surprise flashed across his face, but he eventually nodded in agreement.
"Gu Yue, Xie Xie, you two go together too!"
To make everyone present more aware of their shortcomings, Wu Changkong decided to let Gu Yue and Xie Xie join in as well.
"Teacher Wu, then I won't hold back."
Hearing Wu Changkong tell him and Gu Yue to join, Xie Xie immediately started rubbing his hands together.
Although Gu Yue said nothing, her body instinctively took a step forward.
After the three were in position, Wu Changkong took out a very ordinary teaching whip, gave it a sharp flick, and said coldly, "Then let's begin!"
As soon as Wu Changkong finished speaking, Tang Wulin and the other two immediately took the initiative.
Even though their cooperation was already perfect, no matter how they attacked, Wu Changkong could handle it with ease.
And facing Wu Changkong's attacks, no matter how Tang Wulin and the other two resisted, they would be fiercely whipped.
"Ah~ Ah~ Ah!!!"
For a moment, all that could be heard were the screams of Tang Wulin and Xie Xie.
Among the three, only Gu Yue was better off.
Because she was a girl, Wu Changkong was always gentle with Gu Yue, stopping just short of hurting her.
He didn't treat Gu Yue the way he treated Tang Wulin and Xie Xie.
"Do you understand where your shortcomings are now?"
Looking at Tang Wulin and Xie Xie, who had been beaten into 'pig heads', and Gu Yue, whose face was pale and sweat was pouring down her forehead, Wu Changkong asked with a serious expression.
"Mm-hmm."
Tang Wulin and Xie Xie nodded repeatedly like chickens pecking at rice, afraid that a moment's delay would invite another ruthless whipping from Wu Changkong.
If he had known this would happen, Tang Wulin would never have been the first to step forward.
"You three, take a good rest first!"
After comforting Tang Wulin and the others, Wu Changkong turned his gaze to Su Mo, "You three, will you go together or...?"
Facing Wu Changkong's scrutinizing gaze, and recalling the miserable state of Tang Wulin and the others just now, Zhang Yangzi and Wang Jinxi were so scared that they retreated two steps.
But what they didn't know was that Wu Changkong was actually very measured in his actions.
Tang Wulin and the others only suffered some superficial injuries and looked like they were badly beaten, but in reality, it wouldn't affect the next day's teaching at all.
Glancing at Zhang Yangzi and the other, who were huddled together trembling in fear, Su Mo yawned and walked out from the shade with a lazy expression, "Su Mo, Spirit Grandmaster of twenty-ninth rank!"
"Twenty-ninth rank!!??"
After Su Mo announced his cultivation, the entire training ground instantly fell silent.
Even the usually optimistic Tang Wulin was so shocked that he didn't know what to say after hearing Su Mo announce his rank.
A nine-year-old at twenty-ninth rank, such a terrifying cultivation speed, even throughout the entire history of Spirit Masters, could be ranked.
Now they finally understood why Yu Zhen, as the dean, was so humble in front of Su Mo.
Such a genius would be revered no matter where he went.
"You are indeed a genius."
After a moment of silence, Wu Changkong did not hesitate to praise him.
But before Su Mo could react, Wu Changkong changed the subject, "However, on the path of a Spirit Master, the fastest to die are often the so-called geniuses, especially those who are conceited."
Facing Wu Changkong's warning, Su Mo was too lazy to argue, "Ah, yes, yes, yes! You're right."
Wu Changkong's face darkened at the words, "Very good, I hope you can maintain this attitude going forward."
"Hmm?"
Looking at Su Mo, who charged directly at him without even using his Spirit, Wu Changkong clearly hesitated for a moment but quickly reacted.
Wu Changkong had already made up his mind to use this opportunity to properly discipline Su Mo.
"Whoosh~"
The teaching whip in Wu Changkong's hand was like a sharp blade, cutting through the air with a piercing sound towards Su Mo.
Su Mo, as if he had anticipated it, dodged to the side and grasped the whip in his backhand.
Seeing this, Wu Changkong immediately injected spirit power into the whip, trying to shake Su Mo off.
But what Wu Changkong didn't expect was that Su Mo had the same idea.
Under the immense pressure generated by the collision of the two spirit powers, the fragile whip instantly exploded into countless fragments.
"Controlling Crane Catching Dragon."
The moment the whip exploded, the Mysterious Heaven Skill within Wu Changkong began to circulate. His right hand, as if possessing some magic, drew all the fragments in the air into his palm.
Looking at the technique Wu Changkong displayed, Tang Wulin and the others were already too stunned to speak, their eyes filled with envy.
Even the usually proud Gu Yue, after seeing Wu Changkong perform Controlling Crane Catching Dragon, a strange glint flashed in her beautiful eyes.
As the Silver Dragon King, Gu Yue knew better than anyone that Wu Changkong's move was achieved purely by his precise control over his own spirit power.
"Go!"
Wu Changkong suddenly pushed his right hand, and the fragments in his palm instantly transformed into countless sharp blades, shooting towards Su Mo.
Facing Wu Changkong's fierce and dense attack, Su Mo's mind raced, and he ultimately chose to use Eight Trigrams Empty Palm to neutralize this attack.
"Hmph!" Su Mo shouted, pushing his right palm forward sharply. An almost invisible air cannon instantly erupted from Su Mo's palm.
Su Mo's fierce palm wind grazed Wu Changkong's cheek, severing a few strands of his long hair.
"Is this spirit power externalization?"
Wu Changkong was startled. He hadn't expected Su Mo, at such a young age, to have such astonishing control over his own spirit power.
It should be known that on the Douluo Continent, the most common method of spirit power externalization was pressure.
But the release of pressure not only required spirit power externalization but also the coordination of mental force.
A technique like Su Mo's, which used pure spirit power externalization for attack, was something even ordinary Titled Douluo might not be able to master.
At this moment, Wu Changkong no longer had any of his previous disdain; it was replaced by a look of seriousness.
Wu Changkong was now extremely eager to know just how far Su Mo could go.
After making his decision, Wu Changkong no longer held back, and his entire aura instantly changed.
A cold, murderous aura emanated from Wu Changkong, and the surrounding air instantly dropped a few degrees.
Even the ground became covered with a thin layer of frost due to the influence of this aura.
Tang Wulin and the others, who were watching from the side, felt even breathing become difficult under the influence of Wu Changkong's aura.
"Is this the Tang Sect's Mysterious Heaven Skill?"
Looking at Wu Changkong, whose entire aura had become sharp and whose eyes emitted a faint purple light, Su Mo mused to himself.
Su Mo also wanted to know what profound mysteries the Mysterious Heaven Skill, passed down by Tang San, possessed that allowed it to stand firm on the Douluo Continent for twenty thousand years.
Wu Changkong, treading with mysterious steps, suddenly became illusory. Immediately, countless phantoms split off, surrounding Su Mo.
The move Wu Changkong displayed was precisely Ghost Shadow Perplexing Step, one of the unique skills inherited by the Tang Sect.
"How will Su Mo deal with this?"
Looking at Wu Changkong's sky-filling illusions, Tang Wulin and the others, who had just suffered from it, stared intently at Su Mo, wanting to know how Su Mo would counter Wu Changkong's move.
Gazing at Wu Changkong, who had him completely surrounded, Su Mo's eyes darted around rapidly, but he could only barely catch Wu Changkong's figure.
Of course, if Su Mo were to use Sharingan, he could not only easily see through Wu Changkong's Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track with the Sharingan's insight.
He could also, in turn, use the Sharingan's copying ability to copy Wu Changkong's Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track.
But since he had already decided not to use his Spirit, Su Mo would not break his promise over such a small matter.
Moreover, in Su Mo's opinion, the Tang Sect's Ghost Shadow Perplexing Step had a similar effect to Shisui's Phantom Instantaneous Movement Technique.
However, the phantoms of Shisui's Phantom Instantaneous Movement Technique would not dissipate when attacked and could even launch attacks together with the main body.
But to achieve such an effect just by relying on footwork, it was not without reason that the Ghost Shadow Perplexing Step became one of the Tang Sect's ultimate skills.
