The legend of the dragon king - Season 1 - Episode 54

5 years ago

The legend of the dragon king - Season 1 - Episode 54

(Treating Him Like Metal)
After seeing that one strike from Wu Zhangkong, the students dared not break the silence out of fear. Their lineup was even more orderly now. In front of this teacher of theirs, they all felt as if they were under great pressure.

Tang Wulin blinked a few times. Just a moment ago he had been seriously watching the match. When Wu Zhangkong’s sword t----t forth, Xie Xie had begun to dodge, yet his futile attempts only resembled a prey caught in a spider’s web to Tang Wulin. No matter how much Xie Xie struggled, it would’ve been impossible to escape from this large web.

It was done with such a simple sword, but had neither the aid of a martial soul or a soul skill. Yet, Wu Zhangkong easily suppressed Xie Xie. What kind of cultivation was needed for this!?

‘Teacher truly is too formidable!’ Tang Wulin began to revere the so-titled Icily Arrogant Prince Charming in his heart. Even as he revered Wu Zhangkong on the inside, he also stealthily returned the soul camera to his Heavy Silver Rings. Senior Sister Liu Yuxin had requested a favor from him. Even though it was his first time doing such a thing, he was still prepared.

Xie Xie wiped away his sweat as he stood there with a pensive look. He was pondering over the oppression he’d just faced from Wu Zhangkong moments ago.

Wu Zhangkong hadn’t attacked blindly with his sword. In front of this kind of pressure, Xie Xie had felt as if he were trapped. He felt that he was about even with Tang Wulin, but when he was in front of Wu Zhangkong’s sword, he felt as if any decision he made would only result in his death. There was no chance of escape at all. In this kind of situation, even if he had wanted to rush out, how was he supposed to do so?

“One minute has passed. Get ready.”

Xie Xie raised his head and rested his gaze upon Tang Wulin who had his hammers in hand. In return, Tang Wulin stared at him as well.

Looking back, this was their third battle.

Xie Xie had lost in the previous two battles, and now held a slight fear towards Tang Wulin. He still clearly remembered that golden light. This time, however, he would be on guard against it.

“Begin!”
Wu Zhangkong announced the start of the match, thus raising the curtains for the final showdown within class five.

Xie Xie released his martial soul and his Light Dragon Dagger twinkled in his hand. However, he didn’t impatiently rush towards Tang Wulin and, instead, began circling around him.

Tang Wulin had also released his Bluesilver Grass the moment the match begun and had weaved Bluesilver Grass in a manner similar to the style of his first match against Li Chushui. The blades of grass weaved into a large net, just waiting for someone to walk into its trap.

Xie Xie’s heart stirred. ‘ Wasn’t Wu Zhangkong’s sword pressure simply a formless net? Was Teacher giving me guidance on how to break through Tang Wulin’s net? But Teacher, you don’t know how tough this guy’s Bluesilver Grass is. It’s basically impossible to break through!’

The very first time they had fought, Xie Xie had underestimated the resilience of Tang Wulin’s Bluesilver Grass! This mistake had allowed Tang Wulin to send him flying.

‘This guy isn’t even using his fists anymore, but hammers! If he smashed my face with those…’

When Xie Xie saw the two shiny black hammers in Tang Wulin’s hands, he immediately got a bad feeling.

Tang Wulin was neither in a hurry, nor impatient to start. He just calmly waited for Xie Xie to attack while constantly moving the net in his direction. In reality, Tang Wulin knew in his heart that Xie Xie and Li Chushui were as different as black and white. With Xie Xie’s soul power level, the one whose stamina would be depleted first would likely be Tang Wulin.

Even faced with such circumstances, Tang Wulin wasn’t anxious at all. He just waited for Xie Xie to attack so that his golden scales could appear again.

Xie Xie continued circling around Tang Wulin thrice before pouncing forward like lightning. Tang Wulin’s Bluesilver Grass spread out in a flash, sealing off Xie Xie’s attack route.
He waved his Light Dragon Dagger, its tip striking towards Tang Wulin.

Pu! The blade tip descended on the Bluesilver Grass, and, in flash, a ring of light dissipated, causing the Bluesilver Grass to undulate with blue ripples. Although the interwoven Bluesilver Grass had easily dispelled the attack, Tang Wulin’s soul power had also dropped a bit.

Wu Zhangkong’s eyebrows raised in surprise.
Xie Xie’s attack was meant to let their teacher see that Tang Wulin’s Bluesilver Grass wasn’t ordinary at all.

After committing to an attack with no results, Xie Xie rapidly retreated, once again distancing himself from Tang Wulin.

Tang Wulin didn’t control his Bluesilver Grass to chase after Xie Xie since his movements were simply too fast. Moreover, Xie Xie’s dodging ability was astonishing. If Tang Wulin showed an opening, Xie Xie would be in front of him in a flash.

Xie Xie was extraordinarily patient this time as he continuously circled Tang Wulin, searching for an opening. With soul power at rank 18, he had more than enough time. Occasionally, he would attack Tang Wulin, but immediately drawback afterwards.

Xie Xie gradually began to reveal a smile. This was because he’d realized that Tang Wulin’s soul power was only at rank 11.

Although his Bluesilver Grass was marvelous, the gap between their soul power was simply tremendous. As long as Xie Xie exhausted Tang Wulin’s soul power, it would be his win. What else could possibly stop him?

The match between the two was taking longer than all of the previous matches. However, Wu Zhangkong wasn’t anxious at all. His arms were folded in front of him as he silently watched the match go on.

Tang Wulin’s soul power was finally approaching the point of exhaustion, which left him with no choice but to withdraw his Bluesilver Grass.

During the split second he’d begun withdrawing his Bluesilver Grass, Xie Xie’s body flickered. Immediately, he appeared at Tang Wulin’s side with his Light Dragon Dagger in hand.

In the face of Xie Xie’s speed, it was practically impossible for Tang Wulin to dodge.
However…

Ding! A brittle note echoed out and sparks flew everywhere. Tang Wulin and Xie Xie’s weapons were interlocked in a showdown. Xie Xie’s Light Dragon Dagger had missed Tang Wulin’s body.

Tang Wulin’s eyes narrowed. It was as if he had entered some sort of special state. The Thousand Refined Tungsten Hammer in his right hand was held behind him, obstructing Xie Xie’s attack.

In disbelief, Xie Xie spun to the other side, slashing out once again.

Dang! The same thing happened as before. Tang Wulin’s other hammer accurately blocked Xie Xie’s second attack.

‘How could this be? How could he be so quick?’ Xie Xie’s eyes were full of disbelief. ‘ Could it be..? This guy was disguising himself as a pig to eat a tiger? I’ve actually lost to him twice when he was acting as a pig?’

Yes! How fast!

While he faced off against Xie Xie, Tang Wulin was continuously thinking of ways he could could counter Xie Xie’s speed. His opponent was an Agility System Battle Soul Master while he could be considered both a Control System Battle Soul Master and a Power System Battle Soul Master; he would lose out to his opponents speed either way.

If this continued on, he would definitely lose. He also couldn’t rely on his golden scales to appear miraculously.

While he had been pondering over this dilemma, he finally had a brilliant idea.

His body’s speed couldn’t possibly compare with his opponent. However, there was still one area that he was exceptionally fast in. That was… forging!

In the three years he had spent forging, he had grown so familiar with hammers that they were like an extension of his body. Especially when his strength exploded out; that familiar s£nsat!on was even more intense.

If he used the heavy Thousand Refined Heavy Silver Hammers, he wouldn’t be able to dominate with speed. However, with his lighter Thousand Refined Tungsten Hammers, he would be able to make these hammers fly. It would be like the test he took at the Blacksmith’s Association. He would dazzle Xie Xie with his ability of wielding his tungsten hammers.

He would treat Xie Xie like a lump of metal!

———————————-

(Shouldn’t There Be Rewards?)
That was right, this was precisely what Tang Wuling did. In Tang Wulin’s mind, Xie Xie was no longer a person, but a piece of metal that he was currently forging. His mind gradually entered the forging phase where one emptied out their thoughts and cleared their mind. Xie Xie’s previously dizzying actions seemingly slowed down and became clearer.

It was in this situation that the pair of Thousand Refined Tungsten Hammers were waved around, hammering twice each time to shield off Xie Xie’s attacks.

Though Xie Xie hadn’t started his third move, he felt a gush of vile wind blowing in his direction. Tang Wulin struck his hammer towards Xie Xie. From the ear-splitting sound it produced upon moving through the air, one could easily judge the heaviness of a single strike.

Xie Xie hastily dodged. However, Tang Wulin unfolded his hammers and started hammering down, his strikes, worthy of being called a ferocious thunderstorm, were aimed towards Xie Xie. The hammers produced a ‘ wu-wu’ sound as they struck down, causing dust to rise from the ground. The repeated strikes left Xie Xie cowering in retreat.

Xie Xie didn’t dare use his Light Dragon Dagger against Tang Wulin’s attacks. He was an Agility System Battle Soul Master. He knew that even though his opponent was just using pure power, he wasn’t confident he could muster the strength to match it. If one compared both their strengths, the difference was simply too great.

With a flash of his body, Xie Xie quickly retreated and distanced himself from Tang Wulin. Tang Wulin didn’t give chase; he knew that his speed was of no match to Xie Xie’s. Involuntarily, he halted his hammering, but his gaze remained glued to Xie Xie and his every action.

‘This b-----d!’ Xie Xie cursed in his heart. His gaze sharpened.

Xie Xie’s expression turned solemn as he caught his breath. The Light Dragon Dagger in his right hand waved slightly. At the same time, he raised his left hand. His entire person suddenly became more vigorous and powerful.

He pressed lightly against the ground with the tips of his toes and pushed out, shooting into the air. As he shot up into the air quickly, faint afterimages of himself trailed behind him. He unleashed a speed that had increased by at least 30% more than before.

Pelted by the wind Xie Xie produced, Tang Wulin raised both his hammers.

With his body in the air, Xie Xie gave Tang Wulin’s Thousand Refined Tungsten Hammers a light tap using the Light Dragon Dagger in his right hand. As he turned, Xie Xie’s energy was recharged. Simply by borrowing some from Tang Wulin in that little move, he was able to direct his left hand towards Tang Wulin.

Pu!
Tang Wulin’s back was marred with yet another scar.

The stabbing pain brought Tang Wulin back to his senses and he staggered a little, feeling the burning pain in his back. Despite that burning pain, a wave of heat flowed into his body from his spine.
Tang Wulin’s shock was eradicated by his joy.

‘Are the golden scales appearing? So it was true that the golden scales will only appear under the circumstances of being attacked?’
However, when he tried stabilising himself again, the sudden heat wave he felt a moment ago disappeared. It didn’t rise through his body like it did during his previous experience, when it transformed into a huge volume of strength, along with the appearance of golden scales.

“Stop!” Wu Zhangkong suddenly appeared between the both of them and halted the match.

“Xie Xie wins!”

Xie Xie sighed in relief, a strand of glee appearing in his eyes. He finally won! He had finally won for the first time and tears were flowing down his cheeks. But Xie Xie was curious as to why Tang Wulin’s golden scales didn’t appear. Could it be that he was still concealing them from others? Or that he was speaking the truth and didn’t know how to control those golden scales?

Wu Zhangkong spoke to Xie Xie, “You will be in charge of getting Tang Wulin a new uniform set.”

“Eh…”

‘Didn’t I win the match? Shouldn’t I be rewarded?’

Xie Xie felt his surroundings darken with despair.

‘How is this Tang Wulin guy always finding ways to cost me money!?’
‘How!’

Wu Zhangkong turned and faced the class. He spoke coolly, “The competition has ended and all of you have witnessed it. What are your feelings?”

“Rotten wood cannot be carved!” This Icily Arrogant Prince Charming answered his own question.
“It is no wonder why all of you have been sorted into class five, you are all a bunch of trash. However, even if you are all merely scrap iron, I will take pride in tempering all of you. As all of you would’ve seen from the previous match. What is Tang Wulin’s martial soul? It is the widely-recognised trash martial soul, Bluesilver Grass. However, Tang Wulin has successfully made it all the way to the finals, and even almost won the final match.”

“I was the winner, right?” Xie Xie grieved silently, why did it sound as if he lost the match?

Wu Zhangkong ignored him and continued. “He relied not only on his martial soul, but his body strength as well. Some say that physical power is useful in your current stage, but would be useless when everyone has upgraded their ranks and accumulated many soul skills.

“However, let me mention this; you are in no position to even think about accumulating many soul skills. You should first ask yourself, how many of you are able to reach the stage where you are able to possess a second soul skill? How many more can possess a greater number of soul skills? As you are in charge of your body, would you not think that having a strong physique is useful?

“Soul power is no longer the only criteria used to assess an individual’s potential in becoming a Mecha Master. Possessing a powerful enough energy storage soul tool would allow ordinary people to become aMecha Master as well. However, a strong physique is the foundation of all Mecha Masters. Without a good body, you will not be able to withstand the strong impacts that exist within a mecha, nevermind the high intensity combat. Therefore, those with a weak martial soul should start your physical fitness training with me tomorrow. Physical training in the morning, then theory and knowledge class in the afternoon.

“This morning’s class will end here. With regards to the competition earlier this morning, I want all of you to think about it. I will be teaching meditation for this afternoon’s theory and knowledge class. Class dismissed!”

This speech was one of the longest speeches the Icily Arrogant Prince Charming had given during his capacity as their teacher, yet it didn’t feel like a lecture. Rather, it was a mere statement of facts. Regardless of whether he was calling them trash or announcing the initiation of special training, his tone remained confident.

“Xie Xie, Tang Wulin, follow me.” Shortly after he finished that last sentence, Wu Zhangkong headed for the Academic Building.

‘Is he giving me a reward?’ A flash of jubilance appeared in Xie Xie’s eyes. Prior to his arrival to the school, he had heard of rewards being given out after matches within school grounds. These rewards weren’t too bad. He was, after all, the champion of class five. What would the reward be for a teacher as powerful as Wu Zhangkong? He started to imagine it.

Wu Zhangkong brought both students into his office. This office of his was pathetic in size, a mere ten square meters. The room was bare except for a desk, a cupboard, and a chair.

“The trash I referred to in my speech included both of you as well!” The Icily Arrogant Prince Charming’s first sentence killed all the good feeling within Xie Xie’s heart.

‘Shouldn’t there be rewards? If not, just a little encouragement?’

Wu Zhangkong looked towards Tang Wulin, “Your performance in the matches was fine. However, you didn’t give your all in the matches. That must be a variant Bluesilver Grass. Its tenacity looked extraordinary, but your soul power seemed weak and couldn’t last for a long period of time. In this situation, you won’t stand a chance if your opponent’s soul power is higher than yours. What’s with your hammers?”

Tang Wulin spoke with reluctance, “I’ve learnt forging before.”