Douluo: I Am the Lord of Mysteries

As Wu Zhangkong observed the students of Class Five running laps, his eyes paused briefly on a girl walking toward the track. She wasn't wearing the academy uniform, and it was already class time.

"Which class are you from?" Wu Zhangkong asked as he approached.

The girl, however, seemed distracted. Her gaze was fixed on Tang Wulin and Nan Fusheng, who were helping Xie Xie run laps while wearing heavy iron vests. She appeared quite interested in the sight.

"I'm here to enroll. But… they said the registration period is over," she said, lifting her head to look at Wu Zhangkong.

Wu Zhangkong frowned slightly.

"You're not a student at Eastsea Academy?"

"Not yet," the girl replied, "but I hope I can be. Is that possible, teacher?"

Had it been another teacher, they might have shooed her away immediately.

But Wu Zhangkong? He wasn't like other teachers.

"This is a Soul Master academy. If you want to study here, you'll need to prove yourself." His voice was cold.

"I'm fine with taking a test," the girl replied with a smile.

"What's your name?"

"Gu Yue."

Wu Zhangkong nodded slightly.

"Alright. I'll give you a chance."

He turned and called out to the track,

"Xie Xie, give your iron vest to Tang Wulin and come here."

Thanks to Tang Wulin and Nan Fusheng's help, Xie Xie had recovered a bit over the last two laps. He stopped running, took off the iron vest, and handed it to Tang Wulin.

"One more layer for you. Can you handle it?" he asked.

"Better than dragging you along," Tang Wulin answered casually as he put it on. Then he picked up the pace, with Nan Fusheng accelerating right beside him.

Xie Xie, panting, arrived in front of Wu Zhangkong.

"Teacher Wu."

Wu Zhangkong said plainly,

"Your stamina is too weak."

"We Agility-type Battle Soul Masters only need short bursts of speed and dexterity. We don't need that much endurance," Xie Xie defended.

Wu Zhangkong snorted.

"Naive."

Then he said,

"Fine. I'll give you a chance today. Defeat her, and you're off the hook for this morning's training."

Only now did Xie Xie notice the girl beside Wu Zhangkong. He sized her up, took a deep breath, and began restoring his soul power through meditation.

Wu Zhangkong said,

"Twenty minutes to rest. The duel begins afterward."

Xie Xie didn't waste time. He sat cross-legged on the grass and began meditating. The earlier run had drained both his stamina and soul power. For an agility-type, recovery was especially critical.

Meanwhile, Gu Yue didn't even look at him. Her curious eyes wandered around the field, as if everything here fascinated her.

Wu Zhangkong cast her a glance.

"Underestimating your opponent is the height of foolishness."

"I'm not underestimating him," she replied.

Though her words were neutral, her eyes clearly said: He's not even worth the effort.

Wu Zhangkong said nothing more and returned his attention to the rest of Class Five, still running laps.

In physical training like this, raw stamina was king.

Tang Wulin and Nan Fusheng were still leading. Their pace was steady, not fast, but they didn't slow down at all.

Even with two iron vests on, Tang Wulin's speed hadn't dropped.

And as for Nan Fusheng, even Wu Zhangkong was slightly surprised.

Is this kind of physique common among kids from Aolai City?

While running, Tang Wulin also cast a glance toward the center of the field.

He was curious—who was this mysterious girl?

Nan Fusheng noticed it too. And just as Tang Wulin looked at Gu Yue, she also seemed to glance his way.

Their eyes met.

In that brief instant, Gu Yue's gaze turned razor sharp, almost chilling—

But it disappeared a moment later, as if it had never happened.

Twenty minutes passed.

Xie Xie sprang to his feet, shook out his limbs, and looked much more energized.

"Thirty-meter distance. Prepare," Wu Zhangkong ordered.

All the Class Five students slowed their running, eyes drawn to the center of the field.

They were even curious. Among first-years, Xie Xie was second only to Tang Wulin in strength.

But against this strange girl, who would come out on top?

Tang Wulin and Nan Fusheng also paid close attention.

Nan Fusheng, however, already knew how it would end.

Sure enough, ice, fire, earth, wind—Gu Yue unleashed a barrage of elemental attacks.

Xie Xie couldn't even get close.

In the final moments, a blast of light element hit him square in the face.

Tears streamed down his cheeks.

Even as Wu Zhangkong announced his loss, he refused to accept it.

"You win," Wu Zhangkong said to Gu Yue.

"Teacher, I didn't lose!" Xie Xie protested.

"My final attack was dense enough that her barrage might not have broken through!"

Wu Zhangkong snorted.

"A loss is a loss. While you were wildly slashing your daggers, she was already behind you."

Gu Yue smiled gently.

Silver light flickered around her, and she shifted three meters sideways in an instant.

Xie Xie's jaw dropped.

What kind of ability is that?!

"Teacher, can I enroll now?" Gu Yue asked.

Wu Zhangkong nodded.

"I gave you my word. But you'll need to tell me your background—and what exactly your Martial Soul is."

Gu Yue pulled a letter from her sleeve.

"This is my recommendation from my elementary school.

As for my Martial Soul—it's called Elementalist."

"Elementalist?"

Even Wu Zhangkong, with his vast experience, had never heard of such a Martial Soul.

In her battle with Xie Xie, Gu Yue had shown incredible ability:

Ice, fire, earth, wind, light, and space—six elemental attributes.

Normally, even having one elemental attribute made a Martial Soul top-tier.

To wield six? Practically unheard of.

Seeing the surprise in Wu Zhangkong's eyes, Gu Yue didn't hide anything.

"I can control six elements.

But my soul rings can't attach to any specific element.

So, while I can manipulate them, I can't significantly enhance them.

My first soul skill is called Elemental Tide—

It increases my soul power duration and strengthens elemental control."

Hearing that, Wu Zhangkong understood.

Of course. There's no such thing as absolute perfection in this world.

Gu Yue's Martial Soul wasn't six souls—it was one, with six elemental aspects.

But that meant she couldn't specialize in any one element, nor could she attach soul rings to specific ones.

All her displayed powers were purely the result of masterful elemental control.

No wonder each attack wasn't individually strong.

It was her technique and clever use of combos that overwhelmed Xie Xie.

Even so, this was still a top-tier Martial Soul—no weaker than twin souls.

Just the way she used earth to form a swamp, then froze it with ice,

showed the early stages of elemental combo mastery.

If trained properly, she had the potential to become an incredibly powerful Soul Master.

"I understand," Wu Zhangkong said.

"From now on, you're a student of our class—Year One, Class Five."

"Thank you, teacher," Gu Yue replied with a bright, elegant smile.

But Wu Zhangkong's face immediately hardened.

"Then go join the others and run. This is required physical training.

Xie Xie, you too."

"Teacher, didn't you say I wouldn't have to run if I won?" Xie Xie protested.

"Did you win?"

"I…"

Xie Xie was speechless.

He felt miserable—he had gone all out this time.

Unlike Nan Fusheng's bizarre soul skill, Gu Yue's powers were open and direct,

Yet he'd still been soundly beaten.

Her Martial Soul was just too strange—possibly even weirder than his Twin Dragon Daggers.

Gu Yue didn't argue. She simply smiled and jogged over to the edge of the field, joining the other Class Five students in their run.

Xie Xie groaned miserably but followed as well.

Watching them, a rare smile flickered across Wu Zhangkong's cold face.

Then he turned and walked back toward the main teaching building.

"Why are you wearing those chains?"

Gu Yue asked lightly as she jogged up beside Tang Wulin.

"It's for building endurance," Tang Wulin replied.

"Teacher has higher expectations for me, I guess.

You were amazing, by the way."

Gu Yue smiled.

"Not really. My elements aren't individually strong.

It's all about control.

Any Martial Soul can surprise you—if you understand and master it."

Tang Wulin was struck by her words.

Control… huh?

"Easy for you to say!"

Xie Xie's disgruntled voice came from the other side.

"Whose Martial Soul can do all that multitasking like yours?"

"That just means you haven't fully understood your own Martial Soul yet," Gu Yue said calmly.

"How do you know I haven't?" Xie Xie snapped.

"You're a loser. What more proof do I need?" she said sweetly.

"I…"

Xie Xie was devastated.

Aren't I supposed to be a genius?

Why do I keep getting stomped in Class Five of all places—the worst class?!

From his first fight with Tang Wulin to losing again in a rematch…

Barely regaining confidence in the class tournament…

Then losing badly to Nan Fusheng…

And now this new girl had humiliated him with a bombardment of elements.

Just then, Gu Yue glanced back over her shoulder and smiled brightly at him.

"You seem to be thinking about something unpleasant."

"N-not at all. Let's just finish running," Xie Xie said quickly, shivering inwardly.

It was clear—he and Gu Yue were not going to get along.

And worst of all…

He couldn't beat her.