All the students of Class Four followed Teacher Xia Yu to the open training ground in front of the teaching building.
It was a rectangular field, about 100 meters long and 50 meters wide. The ground was paved with dense bedrock capable of withstanding Soul Emperor–level impacts—flat, sturdy, and ideal for battle training.
The students formed a large circle, designating the combat zone.
Xia Yu stood at the front and announced,
"First group—step forward!"
"Go, Nannan! You got this!" Tang Ya cheered loudly for Jiang Nannan.
Jiang Nannan nodded in response and glanced at Zhu Ziyang. When she saw him give her a thumbs-up gesture, her confidence soared as she stepped into the ring.
This scene didn't go unnoticed by some girls who had feelings for Zhu Ziyang. Li Yue was clearly one of them. She scowled at Jiang Nannan with thinly veiled displeasure and marched forward—determined to teach her a lesson.
"State your names and levels," Xia Yu, now serving as referee, instructed.
"Jiang Nannan, level 25 agility-type Soul Grandmaster."
"Li Yue, level 24 control-type Soul Grandmaster."
Both girls responded at once. Jiang Nannan's soul power level startled the onlookers. But when they recalled her closeness with Zhu Ziyang, they understood.
"Level 25? Aside from the class president, is anyone stronger than her?"
"No idea."
"No wonder she's so close with the class president."
"Tch, they've been childhood friends. Of course they're close."
The class buzzed with whispered commentary.
"Begin!" Xia Yu announced.
Jiang Nannan and Li Yue released their martial souls simultaneously.
A pair of pale moon-white rabbit ears appeared on Jiang Nannan's head, along with a faint white crescent mark on her forehead. Her figure became leaner and taller, especially her long legs. Behind her shimmered two yellow soul rings.
Li Yue's martial soul was a dark-colored rope, with iron rings at both ends. It twisted and slithered in her hands like a snake, incredibly agile. Two yellow soul rings glowed behind her as well.
"Hmm… Inkcloud Rope. That's a decent control-type martial soul," Zhu Ziyang murmured. But his expression remained calm.
"Nannan has this."
"You seem awfully relaxed. Aren't you worried about Nannan?" Tang Ya suddenly appeared at his side.
"I have full confidence in her strength," Zhu Ziyang replied with a smile.
In the ring, both girls activated their soul skills simultaneously.
Jiang Nannan's body shimmered with ethereal light before turning semi-transparent—First Soul Skill: Moonshadow Form. Her speed doubled instantly.
Meanwhile, Li Yue's rope rapidly extended from one meter to ten, whipping forward like a venomous serpent, aiming to ensnare Jiang Nannan.
Li Yue's control was masterful—the rope twisted unpredictably through the air. But Jiang Nannan didn't stand still. She launched forward like a cheetah, her enhanced speed making her a blur.
But Li Yue anticipated this. Her rope suddenly doubled back and blocked Jiang Nannan's path. Caught off guard, Jiang Nannan collided with it and was entangled.
Li Yue grinned with satisfaction… until her smile froze.
Jiang Nannan's body twisted like a snake—fluid and agile—and she slipped right out of the bindings!
In the blink of an eye, she closed the distance and was upon Li Yue.
Li Yue panicked and tried to activate her second soul skill, but before the ring could fully light up, Jiang Nannan had already seized her by the waist.
"The match is over," Zhu Ziyang said softly.
"What?" Tang Ya blinked in confusion.
Jiang Nannan leapt upward, lifting Li Yue with her. Her second soul ring glowed brightly as she executed a devastating aerial maneuver. She spun 360 degrees in the air and slammed Li Yue violently into the ground.
To the crowd, it looked like a moonlit arc crashing down.
"Teacher! Help!" Zhu Ziyang turned and shouted.
But Xia Yu was already in motion—he shot forward like a phantom. The moment Li Yue was about to crash, he appeared and caught her midair.
"First match—Jiang Nannan wins," Xia Yu declared as he gently placed Li Yue on the ground.
Everyone stared in shock as Jiang Nannan landed gracefully. Her soul rings and martial soul disappeared, and she returned to her gentle, demure appearance, flashing a sweet smile at Zhu Ziyang. He gave her a thumbs-up in return.
"She… she's terrifying…" Tang Ya murmured, swallowing nervously.
"She looks so delicate, but that soul skill was brutal. If Teacher Xia hadn't caught Li Yue in time, she might've ended up with broken bones. Even now, she looks like she's about to throw up…"
Indeed, Li Yue lay on the side of the arena, clutching her stomach and retching. Many classmates silently prayed they wouldn't be paired against Jiang Nannan anytime soon.
She was simply too dangerous.
Zhu Ziyang chuckled softly but didn't speak.
Jiang Nannan's second soul skill was called Skyfall Slam. When activated, it instantly doubled her strength. Her hands became infused with binding moonlight energy, allowing her to seize her opponent, launch them into the air, and hurl them to the ground with immense force.
This soul skill came from a 900-year-old Flying Moon Kite soul ring. Inspired by the creature's hunting technique, the move synergized perfectly with Jiang Nannan's rabbit martial soul.
Though it couldn't compare to the legendary "Eight-Stage Drop," it elevated Jiang Nannan's combat power by a full tier. Unless her opponent was a power-type soul master or an enormous soul beast, getting close meant trouble.
The final impact of Skyfall Slam exerted five times Jiang Nannan's own strength.
"Second group—get ready," Xia Yu called, unfazed. Though impressed by Jiang Nannan's power, his priority was keeping the matches moving.
The second pair entered the ring, introduced themselves, and began.
"Lin Ziwei, level 24 power-type Soul Grandmaster!"
"Luo Tianyou, level 24 power-type Soul Grandmaster!"
These two, along with Li Yue, were the only three level-24 Grandmasters in the class. Lin Ziwei's martial soul was the Tiger Soul Saber, a massive archaic-style blade. Luo Tianyou's was the Rock Armor Bear, a beast soul combining immense strength and defense.
Their match was a clash of titans.
The Tiger Soul Saber was heavy, razor-sharp, and capable of breaking through armor. The Rock Armor Bear, on the other hand, boasted thick skin and monstrous power.
Steel met brute force in a head-on brawl.
Their blades and claws clashed with explosive impact. Their strength was nearly equal, resulting in a relentless, intense showdown.
Both activated soul skills in succession, and the fight pushed into overtime.
In the end, Lin Ziwei's greater agility and enhanced weapon edge allowed him to narrowly win. His second soul skill significantly boosted both his strength and the sharpness of his blade, enabling him to pierce the bear's defense and clinch victory.
Zhu Ziyang had watched closely and taken note.