Chapter 11: Victory and Defeat

Zhou Sheng'an's first public lecture was scheduled for nine in the morning, held in the largest classroom of Blue Tyrant Academy. Additional seats had been arranged, and nearly all students were summoned.

Similar lectures had been conducted before, typically featuring high-level soul masters sharing their insights, with many students invited to observe.

However, never before had all students been gathered like this.

And the instructor was actually a young newcomer, not even much older than the students. Naturally, this sparked considerable dissent.

The entire classroom buzzed with chatter.

"Did you hear? The teacher for this public lecture is new, and he's only eighteen!"

"That young? What qualifies him to be our teacher? Does he have some kind of powerful background? That can't be it—our dean isn't someone who bows to connections!"

"I've seen that teacher. Forget everything else—his looks are absolutely otherworldly!"

"I saw him yesterday too. He's unbelievably handsome. And get this—yesterday, Tai Long confessed to our Goddess Jiang Zhu, but just as he did, Teacher Zhou happened to walk by. Jiang Zhu then said that her type is exactly like him. I think Tai Long even went to pick a fight with him..."

"..."

Seeing the noisy students, Director Yin Shu slammed the table and shouted, "Silence! All of you, quiet down! What kind of decorum is this?"

As soon as he spoke, the students dared not make a sound.

Liu Erlong sat front and center in the first row, arms crossed, watching the scene unfold with a slight smirk.

This lesson would determine whether Zhou Sheng'an had real ability or was just a fraud.

If his claims were merely fabrications, she wouldn't let him off easily for making a fool of her.

Soon, Zhou Sheng'an entered the classroom with a student.

Their appearance instantly drew everyone's attention.

Zhou Sheng'an stepped onto the podium, smiling faintly as he looked at the hundreds of students. "Students, my name is Zhou Sheng'an. From now on, I will be teaching you about soul power theory and customizing your cultivation paths."

"Today's my first lesson. I aim to reshape your understanding of soul power."

"Before that, I'll first demonstrate my teaching ability. Yesterday, Tai Long approached me, questioning why someone my age could be your instructor."

"Now, let's prove it with action. Zhu Wushi, you and Tai Long will have a sparring match right here. That should suffice."

Zhou Sheng'an spoke with a smile.

The classroom erupted into shocked murmurs.

Everyone was stunned as they looked between Zhou Sheng'an and Zhu Wushi below the podium.

Everyone knew that the strongest student in Blue Tyrant Academy was Tai Long, while Zhu Wushi was merely one of his lackeys.

And now Zhou Sheng'an wanted them to fight?

Did he actually believe his guidance could help a weaker soul master defeat a stronger one?

Liu Erlong's expression turned intrigued as she nodded slightly. "This guy has a great personality. A man should face doubts head-on and dispel them directly."

Yin Shu smiled wryly. "Dean, but Zhu Wushi is only a Grand Soul Master..."

"Doesn't matter. Just watch."

Liu Erlong shook her head.

At that moment, Tai Long stepped up to the space beneath the podium, squaring off against Zhu Wushi five meters away.

He scanned the crowd before focusing on Zhou Sheng'an.

"Teacher Zhou! Just for your courage alone, I respect you! But I won't go easy. Even without using my third soul skill, Zhu Wushi is still no match for me!"

Tai Long declared arrogantly, head held high.

"We'll see soon enough." Zhou Sheng'an smiled calmly.

Tai Long scoffed and immediately released his martial soul, the Titan Ape. With a tearing sound, his clothes ripped as his arm muscles expanded. His upper body grew even bulkier, and his arms nearly reached the ground.

"Roar!!"

Tai Long pounded his chest, producing deep, drum-like sounds before charging at Zhu Wushi.

Zhu Wushi remained unfazed, suddenly spitting out more than a dozen white spider silk clumps. Instead of launching them, he stuck them together in front of him, forming a shield!

Just as the shield took shape, Tai Long arrived.

His fighting style was straightforward—he simply punched.

Tai Long's fist sank into the soft spider silk shield, which absorbed the force efficiently. As he lunged forward, most of his body became trapped within the shield.

Zhu Wushi stepped back and abruptly spat out a web, which descended from above, enshrouding Tai Long.

Tai Long struggled, but the webbing grew denser and thicker.

"Zhu Wushi! You bastard—can't you fight properly... mmph!!!"

Just then, a silk ball covered his face.

Losing his balance, Tai Long fell over, wrapped up like a giant dumpling.

His arms and legs were tightly bound against his body, immobilized, while the silk covering his face blocked his mouth and nose, quickly sapping his strength.

Zhu Wushi, still spewing silk, looked pale.

"That's enough. You've won," Zhou Sheng'an said with a smile.

"I... cough, I won?"

Zhu Wushi rubbed his neck, staring at Zhou Sheng'an in disbelief.

"Yes, you won. Soul master battles aren't about fairness. If you eliminate your opponent, you are the victor—regardless of their higher soul power or superior soul ring configuration."

Zhou Sheng'an's smile remained.

"!!!"

Zhu Wushi trembled as he retracted his martial soul, then turned to stare at Tai Long, now entirely wrapped in spider silk.

"I won! I actually defeated Tai Long?!"

Zhu Wushi murmured.

The entire classroom echoed with gasps.

No one had expected this outcome. Tai Long had lost so easily!

He barely even had a chance to use his soul skills.

But from the looks of it, even if he had, it wouldn't have changed the result.

Unless he had avoided the spider silk shield from the start—but with Tai Long's reckless nature, he was bound to fall into such a trap.

At that moment, Yin Shu hurried to free Tai Long. As Tai Long struggled up, his face turned red with fury, and he immediately raised a fist to attack Zhu Wushi—only for Yin Shu to stop him.

"Enough! A loss is a loss. Can't you accept defeat?"

Yin Shu scolded coldly.

Tai Long hesitated before glaring at Zhu Wushi. "He fought dirty! That's not honorable!"

Yin Shu reprimanded, "Honor means nothing in a soul master's battle! Only the winner has the right to judge. Since you lost, sit down and listen properly. Stop embarrassing yourself!"

Tai Long took deep breaths, still glaring at Zhu Wushi.

Zhu Wushi shrugged. "Boss Tai Long, you can't blame me for this. Director Yin Shu is right—soul duels aren't about taking turns throwing punches, are they?"

"Shut up! It's not your place to lecture me!" Tai Long growled.

Then, suddenly, he charged at Zhou Sheng'an...