Astral Douluo

"Introduce yourself," Wu Zhangkong said.

Facing Wu Zhangkong with her usual bashfulness, Xu Xiaoyan stood and said, "Hello, everyone. I'm Xu Xiaoyan. I'm 10 years old and my martial soul is the Starwheel Ice Staff. My soul power is at rank 17."

Wu Zhangkong nodded as he announced, "Over the next month, you need to prove your strength and adaptability with class zero. In the end, I will decide whether or not you will stay."

"Yes," Xu Xiaoyan cutely answered.

"You've had a month to rest, so I need to test your bodies again as well as run another combat test. You have half an hour to meditate and prepare," Wu Zhangkong said as he turned to the other five.

He turned back to Xu Xiaoyan and continued, "Same for you." l

'What the hell! Are you sure you guys are human!? One of them is so fast that he crossed 50 meters in 2 seconds! TWO SECONDS! One of them literally broke the machine when he punched! The only girl there also had crazy strength! Her strength was equal to the guy who broke the machine! All their spirit power was also at the 300's! THREE-HUNDRED'S! And there are two who didn't even do anything yet!' Xu Xiaoyan thought to herself, shivering from fright, 'Ugh, why!? Why am I even in this class! I don't want to compare! I'm so fragile in everything compared to them!'

Xu Xiaoyan raised her hand and said, "Teacher Wu, I'd like to test my spiritual power again at night."

"Hm?" Wu Zhangkong replied as he turned to look at her, "Does the night affect your spiritual power?"

"Mn," Xu Xiaoyan said, nodding.

This had been her greatest secret, but her competitive nature dragged it out of her.

"Alright," Wu Zhangkong replied monotonously, "Zi Hui! You're next!"

The next one up was the purple-haired kid. 'Ugh, what's his deal. It's like he's ignoring everyone!' Xu Xiaoyan thought. Seeing him do his exams, nothing about him stood out noticeably. In fact, he was even a bit below average. That is, until the spirit power exam.

"I-i-impossible! How can someone our age have 700 spirit power!" Xu Xiaoyan blurted out, shocked at the sight. Zi Hui had just taken the spirit power test and the results said that he had a spirit power level of 700!

Seeing her shock, Zi Hui just snorted and replied, "This? Impossible? Hahahahaha! Kid, you don't know the true meaning of impossible yet!"

Xu Xiaoyan tilted her head to the side in response, not knowing exactly what he meant by that. 'Hmm, let's see, oh! Xie Xie was the least impressive out of everyone I've seen…other than me. Tang Wulin was the same, then Gu Yue, then Zi Hui…Hold on! There's still one person here!' she thought as an epiphany struck her.

Looking to the side, she saw the most mysterious out of the five walk up to Wu Zhangkong. He had an eyepatch on his left eye and beautifully wavy blue hair. After discussing a bit with the teacher, Tang Xingxi started the tests. First up, the speed test.

On the track, Tang Xingxi stood as still as a log. He stood up straight. He looked slightly androgynous[1], and if he dressed differently, he might have really looked like a girl. Seemingly in a relaxing posture, Tang Xingxi had his hands in his pockets, a bored look on his face.

{3! 2! 1! Go!} a robotic voice said.

Immediately after the voice was heard, time seemed to stop. A blur flashed where Tang Xingxi was, leaving nothing in its wake. Right on the other side, at the finish line, Tan Xingxi suddenly reappeared, like a ghost. A few seconds later, as if time suddenly started moving again, a loud, BOOM! reverberated throughout the room. Even the measuring equipment swayed as the air blew most things unattached to the walls, all around the room while the cause of this phenomena, Tang Xingxi, slowly strolled away from his spot as if nothing had happened.

As if answering everyone's questions, the machine finally responded, after what seemed like a few seconds of deliberation.

{50 Meter Dash: 0.0001 Seconds}

Xu Xiaoyan's jaw dropped to the floor (literally) while everyone else shook their heads saying, "I knew it. He can never be normal."

Hearing the absurd comments, Xu Xiaoyan looked to the teacher looking for any trace of surprise, but just found him casually writing his notes. Looking back to Tang Xingxi, Xu Xiaoyan saw him slowly approaching the punching machine, before being halted by the teacher who gave him two packets of some sort.

'Alright, he wants me to take the test again and do it with full power? He even gave me a meat and blood pack! Alright, I'll take it again, but don't blame me if the new kid dies of shock,' Tang Xingxi thought as he slowly walked to the starting line, 'Where does he even get those though? Ah well, at least I et to take off this eyepatch. Holding the illusion skill forever just won't cut it.'

Arriving at the starting line, Tang Xingxi took off his eyepatch. Everyone except Gu Yue and Wu Zhangkong knew what was underneath, so they all turned their heads. Even Zi Hui who seemed to not care about anything seemed interested in this development.

Underneath the eyepatch, was a perfectly intact left eye. However, the eye itself was marvellous. A universe seemed to be stored inside the eye, and 5 galaxies inside of it seemed to stick out. One of them was a l.u.s.trous green. If one looked inside it for too long, they would be in a trance, captivated by its beauty. It was in the center of all the galaxies. The second was a golden galaxy with an odd, seven-coloured sheen. There were also two red galaxies. However, the first of the two, was completely blood-red, while the other, seemed to have black cracks inside of it. The most interesting, however, were the white and black galaxies.

The white galaxy was beautiful, but 3 things stood out within it. There was a grey moon within the galaxies and two constellations. The first one depicted a lion. Ferocious and tyrannical, thunder flashed around it. The second was a hammer. Overbearing and regal, it danced with thunder while testing the willpower of anyone who saw it.

The second was black. How could one see the colour black in a galaxy? Well, it was more of a fog, rather than a galaxy. and held several odd glow within it. There were many colours emanating from within it, but of which, three seemed to be dominant. Those colours were luminous green like the pupil, deadly green like poison, and red like blood.

Putting the patch in his pocket, Tang Xingxi put on his earphones and turned on his soul pod. Cracking his head, Tang Xingxi closed his eyes. After a few seconds, Tang Xingxi opened them once more, causing Xu Xiaoyan to think, 'Not human, definitely not human.'

Tang Xingxi's right eye was black. Completely black. If it weren't for the red cracks which formed his pupil and extended outwards into the side of his face, one couldn't even call it an eye.

Tang Xingxi's hands grew scales and turned into silver and golden claws. His hair lengthened past his back and adopted a black colour. Crystalline armaments formed on Tang Xingxi's arms, legs, back, and c.h.e.s.t.

Slightly bending his back, Tang Xingxi opened his mouth and revealed sharp, bloodthirsty fangs. His nails grew until they became miniature killing weapons. Twelve blood-red tails exited his back and a crazed expression entered his face. His figure changed and became even more androgynous than before.

Opening the packets, Tang Xingxi ravenously consumed its contents. The blood pack was first. Drinking it, a trickle of red dripped from his lip. Throwing away the packet, Xu Xiaoyan started walking to it to check it's contents, before seeing it being taken away by Wu Zhangkong.

Opening the other packet, everyone except Zi Hui, Gu Yue, and Wu Zhangkong held their noses as the pungent stench of death filled the room. Ravenously finishing the packet, Tang Xingxi threw it in Wu Zhangkong's general direction, who caught it effortlessly.

"Start!" Wu Zhangkong said, looking at the A.I.

{Alright. 3! 2! 1! Go!}

During this time, the crystalline armaments on Tang Xingxi's body all converged and condensed on his feet. Getting into a running stance, Tang Xingxi positioned his kagune in front of him, as if to launch him forward.

When the word, "Go!" was uttered, Tang Xingxi rushed forwards. There wasn't even a blur. He just disappeared and reappeared.

Again, time seemed to stop. Xu Xiaoyan tilted her head towards Tang Xingxi who just reappeared. Turning around, he met her gaze with a hint of shock.

Xu Xiaoyan opened her mouth to speak but was interrupted by the blast of wind that should have come earlier. Within the cover of the blast thought, Tang XIngxi was smiling, 'So, there's more to my next harem member than I thought…'

The blast of wind being stronger and lasting longer, Tang Xingxi opened his left claw, and the air started to converge within it and condensed into what looked like a disaster waiting to happen.

As Tang Xingxi dispersed the disaster in his claw, the A.I. finally spoke.

{50 Meter Dash: 0.00000000000000000001 Seconds}

This time, everyone including Wu Zhangkong, dropped their jaws to the ground.

"T-t-that's not possible right?" Xie Xie said, sweat dripping behind his back. Everyone looked at him as if saying, "Thank you for saying what we thought."

Gu Yue, the monster who loses only to Zi Hui in spirit power, commented, "Damn, my boyfriend's gotten stronger huh?"

'Boyfriend? Already?' Xu Xiaoyan thought, sending a questioning gaze at the two.

Arriving at the punching machine, Wu Zhangkong brought out two punching machines, both of which looked absurdly stronger than the last ones that the rest of the class used.

Not even needing an explanation, Tang Xingxi got into a stance. After a few seconds, suddenly, the two machines just got obliterated, flying towards a target on the wall. Turning around, Tang Xingxi walked towards the spirit power testing machine as the A. I. spoke.

{Left Hand: 9999 kg}

{Right Hand: 9999 kg}

Before anyone could even react, the spirit power testing machine announced Tang Xingxi's results.

{Spirit Power: 2000}

Everyone's jaws dropped to the floor once again except for Wu Zhangkong and Xu Xiaoyan. The former had already released all expectations and was writing the results while the latter looked as if her soul had exited her body.

If Tang Xingxi saw her, he would probably laugh at the comedic look on her face (i.pinimg.com/474x/7d/ff/36/7dff36bc4b20c868deed23c93818f0cd--anime-music-uta-no-prince-sama.jpg just…not collapsed). Moving towards the group, Tang Xingxi removed his earphones, undid his transformation, put his eyepatch back on and stood beside Gu Yue whilst interlacing hands. (A/N - So l.e.w.d!)

In Xu Xiaoyan's mind, she was asking herself questions, 'Why am I even here? Why am I even trying?'

"The combat test will begin in a moment. You'll battle like this; Tang Wulin with Xu Xiaoyan, Xie Xie, Gu Yue and Zi Hui against Tang Xingxi." Wu Zhangkong instructed.

Everyone nodded. Remembering the many trainings where the group fought against Tang Xingxi alone, all of them shivered.

Taking their places naturally, Tang Wulin took the vanguard with a position allowing for defence and offence. Xie Xie moved to the right flank in a running position, ready to move at any moment. Zi Hui took the left flank and stood about 2 meters away from Tang Wulin. Gu Yue positioned herself at the back, and Xu Xiaoyan went beside her.

Tang Xingxi, on the other hand, stood 50 meters away from them and closed his eye lazily.

Gu Yue asked, "Do you have the same aptitude as your brother?"

Xu Xiaoyan nodded and replied, "I'm a long-ranged elemental attacker like him. My first soul skill is the same as my brother, Ice Wheel, although my control is a bit better than his. Actually, I'm a lot more powerful at night."

Gu Yue replied. "It's a pity that it's still daytime. Well, whatever. Try to stay behind me; I'll protect you. Let's do our best together," while thinking, 'Oh no, I saw the smile Tang Xingxi gave her. I better test if she's worthy enough to be with us.'

"Mn," Xu Xiaoyan replied whilst repeatedly nodding.

"Let's start then. Do your best." Wu Zhangkong said from a distance, the last sentence targeting the group of five.

"Then Xingxi, I won't be polite. Wahaha!" Xie Xie said, laughing strangely. A moment later, he sped towards Tang Xingxi like the wind. Moving as fast as sound, yet not making even the slightest noise, it was obvious that he had spent his one month vacation improving, not playing around as he had said.

Gu Yue raised her hand and shot condensed multiple lotuses with all seven elements; Ice, Fire, Earth, Wind, Light, Darkness and space at Tang Xingxi while enveloping Xie Xie in the wind and light elements.

A Golden l.u.s.tre spread from Tang Xingxi's right arm, as it transformed into a golden claw with odd tribal markings. Activating his spirit, a single purple soul ring rose from his feet. Beserkedly looking at his brother, Tang Xingxi charged at a speed only less than Xie Xie's and still, he kept up because he seemingly teleported short distances forwards.

Zi Hui activated his spirit and created many barriers. With three layers of barriers each with different properties on them to prevent different types of attacks, they all covered his teammates like a spherical shield. His indifferent and aloof look wore off as a battle-hungry smile appeared on his face. Creating many other barriers and making them as sharp as possible, Zi Hui got ready to shoot them.

As Tang Xingxi and Xie Xie arrived in front of Tang Xingxi, Zi Hui and Gu Yue shot out their respective projectiles.

As the attacks were about to land, Tang Xingxi spoke, "Useless."

Opening his eye, Tang Xingxi grabbed the fist of his brother with his right hand and Xie Xie's forearm with his left. Disarming Xie Xie, Tang Xingxi grabbed both of them like sticks and twirled them upwards as if they were two swords (youtube.com/watch?v=KXOS8rjZqFA - watch first 5-6 seconds), then threw them back at Gu Yue and Zi Hui.

Shocked by the sequence of events, Xu Xiaoyan concentrated even more. Somehow, time seemed to have slowed down, Tang Xingxi lifted his leg and stepped backwards. It should have been instantaneous, but it was slow. Immensely so. Activating her spirit ring, Xu Xiaoyan froze the ground underneath Tang Xingxi's feet.

His foot landing backwards for a running stance, Tang Xingxi instead found slippery footing. Forced into a left-split, Tang Xingxi was shocked for a second. But, a second was all everyone else needed.

Zi Hui created a barrier right above Tang Xingxi's legs preventing him from moving them and also created blades to shoo at Tang Xingxi from every angle. Gu Yue created a giant lotus above Tang Xingxi's head after combining the rest of her lotuses and proceeded to drop it on his head. Tang Wulin and Xie Xie quickly recovered from the earlier incident and also went in for the kill.

Seeing this, Tang Xingxi smiled and shouted, "Lostvayne!"

As he said this, black smoke covered Tang Xingxi's body. Blue and green sparks flew around him before gathering towards his hand. Forming a curved shortsword, a sinister, yet calming aura emanated from it. With a golden pommel and hilt, green embroidery covered the pommel leaving diamonds of gold. The blade's blunt side was green, and the sharp side was green. Holes ran through the middle of the blade, strangely stabilizing, instead of weakening it. A symbol of a dragon eating its tail lay on the side of the hilt.

Opening his mouth once more the speak, Tang Xingxi said, "Recollection!"

The word echoing throughout the room, the sword seemingly resonated with the word. A dark, purple and vile aura leapt out from the blade and purple markings ran up from Tang Xingxi's hand, to his face.

As Tang Xingxi swung the sword around his entire body, he finally shouted, "Full Counter!"

The attacks of everyone flying in reverse, they all flew backwards. All of them, out of bounds. The only one left standing was Xu Xiaoyan who was screaming furiously in her mind, 'Wha-wha-what! I'm going to have to fight that monster alone!'

Seeing Tang Xingxi slowly approaching, Xu Xiaoyan concentrated even more. Seeing him take a large step forwards, Xu Xiaoyan froze the ground once more, only to see something amazing.

Tang Xingxi put his right foot forward as if to step, then he jumped straight at Xu Xiaoyan with his left foot. Twisting his body, he used his right foot as a pivot and landing point to allow him to simultaneously flip upwards.

Deactivating his spirit and activating his other, Tang Xingxi summoned an orb of light. Not even using it, or showing his spirit rings, Tang Xingxi shaped the orb into an odd weapon.

Like the one he used to reflect everyone else's attacks, it had an embroidered handle with diamonds exposing the metal part of the blade. Its hilt looked like a cross-wheel and the blade was curved.

Still spinning and upside down in the air, Tang Xingxi muttered just loud enough for everyone to hear, yet not loud enough to be called a shout, "Tentai no Kokyū: Go no Kata: Kūkan Yugami!" (Celestial Breathing: 5th Form: Spatial Distortion).

Suddenly, as Tang Xingxi swung his sword a whirlwind occurred where Tang Xingxi was, yet it somehow didn't create any wind. When it dispersed, Tang Xingxi wasn't there. He disappeared. Xu Xiaoyan nervously looked side to side, unable to locate him.

Suddenly, a cold feeling appeared on her neck before two words were uttered behind her, "Game Over."

Clap! Clap! Clap!

Everyone who partook in the fight and even Long Hengxu who was spectating applauded the display.

Releasing Xu Xiaoyan from his grasp, Tang Xingxi dispelled all his powers.

His back facing her, Tang Xingxi asked, "You need to prove yourself to everyone so you can stay in this class right?"

Snapped out of her trance, Xu Xiaoyan replied, "Umm, yes!"

Turning around and looking at her with a meaningful gaze, Tang Xingxi said, "Well, you have my approval already."

"H-huh?" Xu Xiaoyan responded, still unsure about what she heard.

"Welcome to Class Zero, better known as, The Class of Monsters!" Tang Xingxi said, extending his hand while Gu Yue silently shot a jealous gaze at Xu Xiaoyan.

"T-t-thanks!" Xu Xiaoyan said, taking his hand.

Another round of applause rang throughout the room. This time, Wu Zhangkong joined in.

As Wu Zhangkong dismissed the class and everyone exited the room, Gu Yue ran to Tang Xingxi's side, seemingly to confront him about something serious.

Xu Xiaoyan on the other hand, stood at the door reflecting. 'That time slowing down. It wasn't an illusion. If I can master that,' Xu Xiaoyan thought, clenching her fist, 'I could be really powerful!'

As she walked out of the room, a thought popped in her head, 'Why did that energy Tang Xingxi released in the end make me so cautious?'

[Long Hengxu POV]

Opening the door, I went into my room. Seating myself on my chair, I leaned backwards in an attempt to relieve myself of the stress I got.

I first observed the combat training for pure interest. However, I was absolutely flabbergasted! Tang Xingxi had a thousand-year soul ring as his first! THOUSAND-YEAR! That means that all of his following soul rings will be at minimum, thousand-year-old ones! He's definitely in! And with that claw, he's definitely strong enough to be in Class Zero!

But everyone else? Damn! All of them are monsters! Xie Xie moves so fast, my eyes can't keep up! Gu Yue is so beloved by the elements, if she said her elemental control was second-best, no one would say they're first. Zi Hui's defence, even though easily defeated by Tang Xingxi, was so strong that even a soul king would have trouble breaking it with its many variations! Tang Wulin is well…just destruction. Nothing more needs to be said. Xu Xiaoyan managed to do attacks which surprise even Tang Xingxi! And that's a feat in itself!

"Speaking of Tang Xingxi," Long Hengxu thought as a headache came over him, "He's just a f.u.c.k.i.n.g monster. Oh well, time to work on the paperwork for more food!"

"Ugh, this is going to be a huge drain on our finances!" (LH)

[POV End]

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[1] Androgynus - A person with both feminine and masculine looks.