"Yan Yang, this young fellow in your class is quite extraordinary, to be able to say such things," said Shuang Yue Lian, the homeroom teacher of Class 2 Grade 1, her gaze fixed on Wang Zhong on the stage with a look of wonder.
"Wang Zhong's temperament is indeed a bit arrogant, but his strength is also beyond doubt."
"In this match, Feng Yuan Sheng will lose miserably."
Ying Yan Yang's tone was calm, as if stating a preordained fact. As Wang Zhong's homeroom teacher, he was well aware of Wang Zhong's strength and rate of progress.
"Oh, Senior Ying is so confident in your student!" a low, hoarse male voice sounded.
The homeroom teacher of Class B, Zhao She; the homeroom teacher of Class C, Li Ge; and the homeroom teacher of Class E, Hong Wu Xiong, arrived together.
These individuals were, respectively, a Soul King of level fifty-two, a Soul Sect of level forty-three, and a Soul Sect of level forty-four.
"Wang Zhong's strength gives me the confidence," Ying Yan Yang replied plainly, glancing at the four. Although they were teachers at the same school, Soul Masters still valued strength above all else.
"Then we shall wait and see!" Zhao She said with a smile, seemingly having great confidence in Feng Yuan Sheng as well.
"A hundred-year soul ring, it seems your teacher thinks highly of you!" Wang Zhong approached Feng Yuan Sheng, marveling at the yellow soul ring beneath his feet.
"Stop putting on airs, isn't your first soul ring also a hundred years old!"
"Enough nonsense, reveal your martial soul," Feng Yuan Sheng shouted angrily.
"Heh heh, to beat you, I don't even need my martial soul or soul skills!"
Wang Zhong's dismissive words instantly infuriated Feng Yuan Sheng.
"What did you say!!!!!"
"Your Excellency, this young fellow is not only arrogant but also presumptuous, even to the point of being insanely self-important,"
From the highest vantage point, Chrysanthemum Douluo looked down at Wang Zhong on the stage and said softly to Bibi Dong.
"Then Elder Ju, do you think this young fellow can win?" Bibi Dong asked Chrysanthemum Douluo with a smile.
"This young fellow's talent is unparalleled, with few exceptions. This is a fact. But this is ultimately just talent, not strength."
"To defeat an opponent without using one's martial soul and soul skills, and at the same level, I believe this is impossible!"
"Furthermore, that young fellow named Feng Yuan Sheng clearly has a beast-type martial soul, like a tiger. Such martial souls greatly enhance a Soul Master's physical fitness, and his soul power has already reached around level eleven or twelve."
"With Wang Zhong limiting his own soul skills, and relying solely on his advantage of being around level four soul power, he will not be his opponent."
Ju Hua Guan stroked his chin, analyzing the situation in the arena with seriousness.
"Is that what you think."
"How about we make a bet!"
Upon hearing Bibi Dong's words, Chrysanthemum Douluo's face showed a hint of surprise. He bowed with a smile, saying, "Your Excellency's interest is my honor, Yue Guan."
"Old ghost, are you in?"
Ghostly Charm gently shook his head, indicating he would not participate.
Bibi Dong's gaze shifted to Wang Zhong, and she recalled the rough feeling of his small hand holding hers earlier, her exquisitely beautiful face filled with smiles.
It was a pair of hands calloused and rough, yet strong, the kind that should not belong to a six-year-old child. It was precisely this anomaly that had suddenly ignited her desire to probe Wang Zhong's strength.
It was a body tempered through countless trials, not only robust but also resilient. Within that seemingly slender frame lay a terrifying explosive power, comparable to that of a hundred-year soul beast.
This was the reason for her confidence.
"Wang Zhong, I will kill you!"
Feng Yuan Sheng, who had always been self-important and revered in Class B, could not tolerate such an insult from Wang Zhong.
"Martial Soul Assimilation!"
After a furious roar, Feng Yuan Sheng's martial soul appeared behind him, merging with his silhouette.
His fingers became increasingly thick, and sharp claws extended from his fingertips. His already imposing physique expanded further, his knotted muscles revealing astonishing strength.
He thrust out a claw, aiming directly for Wang Zhong's heart. His mind clouded by rage, Feng Yuan Sheng intended to end Wang Zhong's life on the spot.
"Zhong!"
Below the stage, Hu Lie Na's heart clenched.
Xie Yue and Yan also looked worried.
Facing such a fierce attack, Wang Zhong stood with his feet apart, fists hanging by his sides.
Soul power surged within his body, flowing through his meridians to every limb. His muscles tensed at this moment. He took a forceful step back with his right foot, his body like a longbow drawn to its limit.
Just as Feng Yuan Sheng's tiger claws were about to strike, Wang Zhong let out a low roar, and his right fist shot out like a cannonball, striking the opponent's palm with invincible might.
A soul power shockwave, like a hurricane, swept in all directions.
Upon contact, Feng Yuan Sheng let out a muffled groan. Under the impact of Wang Zhong's immense power, he was forced back repeatedly, and a trace of blood actually seeped from the corner of his mouth.
Watching Wang Zhong stand on the stage like an unmovable reef, and feeling the agonizing pain in his trembling, almost wailing arm.
Feng Yuan Sheng shook his head madly, unable to accept it.
"Impossible, impossible, this cannot be the result!"
"I am a beast-type martial soul master, my physical fitness increases at least fivefold with martial soul assimilation!"
"My father is a stonemason. I've worked with him since childhood to help with household expenses, chiseling, quarrying, transporting, and carrying stones. Such high-intensity work has made my body several times, even dozens of times, stronger than my peers."
"With both combined, how can he, a plant-type Soul Master, push me back this far with a single punch!"
"I don't believe it, I don't believe it, I don't believe it!!"
Feng Yuan Sheng roared to the heavens. He, who had always prided himself on his physical fitness far exceeding his peers, found it impossible to accept this reality.
The soul power within him surged like a dam breaking, rolling forward.
"Wang Zhong!"
Feng Yuan Sheng's aura grew increasingly powerful, and his martial soul roared along with his emotions. To Wang Zhong's surprise,
Feng Yuan Sheng actually dropped to all fours, like a real tiger, and charged at Wang Zhong with a roar, disregarding everything.
"Such speed!"
Wang Zhong only had time to exclaim in surprise before Feng Yuan Sheng was upon him, hands like tiger claws, pouncing down.
Instinctively, he raised his arms to block. Tremendous force transmitted from the opponent's tiger claws, Wang Zhong's face turned flushed, and the stage beneath his feet cracked under this force.
Cracks spread outwards from Wang Zhong's feet in all directions.
Feng Yuan Sheng's attack carried a power on an entirely different level from before.
However, the opponent's assault was not yet over. To Wang Zhong's astonishment, Feng Yuan Sheng's mouth suddenly opened wide, and a fiery red orb began to condense within it, generating a terrifying power.
"First Soul Skill, Blazing Flame Bullet!"
"It's all over. Although Senior Ying's student has astonishing talent, he is still too arrogant," Zhao She, the homeroom teacher of Class B, said by the side of the stage, confident of victory.
"Your Excellency, it appears I, Yue Guan, have won this match," Chrysanthemum Douluo said with equal confidence.
At this moment, Wang Zhong's body was pressed down by Feng Yuan Sheng's hands from above. He had to exert all his strength just to resist this force, leaving him no surplus energy to deal with such a close-range first soul skill.
Of course, Wang Zhong might have been able to turn the tables with his first soul skill, but doing so would have broken his earlier boast.
Chrysanthemum Douluo was still the winner.
Bibi Dong remained silent, her gaze on Wang Zhong becoming even brighter.
"Eight Gates Dun Jia, First Gate, Open!"
With a low cry, a scorching wave of soul power erupted from Wang Zhong's body. A terrifying power surged through his limbs as if awakening from slumber.
With this power, Wang Zhong gritted his teeth and forcefully pushed Feng Yuan Sheng's body away by a distance.
A flicker of panic flashed in his eyes. Feng Yuan Sheng had not expected Wang Zhong to still have the strength to resist under such circumstances. Disregarding that his first soul skill was not yet fully condensed, he spat out the Blazing Flame Bullet.
"Zhong! Dodge quickly, it's dangerous!"
Hu Lie Na cried out in alarm, her small face pale with fear. If Wang Zhong were to be hit by the first soul skill at such close range, he would be crippled or worse.
However, something completely unexpected happened.
Under everyone's horrified gaze, Wang Zhong actually reached out and grasped the fiery orb of immense power, shoving it into Feng Yuan Sheng's mouth just as it was about to explode!
The Blazing Flame Bullet detonated, tearing apart teeth and flesh alike. The intense pain caused Feng Yuan Sheng to instantly faint.
As Feng Yuan Sheng's body slowly softened and collapsed, all the teachers and students looked at Wang Zhong with shock and disbelief.
"Is this guy even human?"
"How can a person hold a soul skill with his bare hands, especially something with explosive power?"
"Look, his hands are completely unharmed, not even a scorch mark!"
"Hiss!"
"Is his body a weapon!!!"
Facing the gasps of the entire audience, Wang Zhong lightly clenched his fist. This was the Eight Extremities Style, a technique that made the body as hard and sharp as a weapon.
Alas, he had practiced it for too short a time to fully unleash its power. Otherwise, he could have simply severed Feng Yuan Sheng's arm with a hand chop!