A projection resembling a starry sky appeared before them in an instant. Rules scrolled across it, including a prohibition against using abilities at will on academy grounds.
After the rules had been scrolling for a short while, a list appeared before them in the form of a ranking board. It ranked the members of their special class.
But why was it presented as a ranking board? Li Chen was a little puzzled.
Su Zhe scratched his head. "Why is my name right at the bottom in fiftieth place, and Chen-ge's name is thirty-second, but Jianping's name is actually fifth? That makes no sense!"
The robot explained, "The special class is organized according to the ranking board. Your strength determines your position, and naturally, if your strength no longer matches your position, you will be removed and replaced by the next person stronger than you."
"That is the elimination rule unique to the special class."
Li Chen thought for a moment. "Does the special class receive any other benefits?"
Since it was called the special class, there had to be a reason, and the rankings had given Li Chen an idea.
The robot seemed to consult some information in an instant and said slowly, "According to Canglan Academy regulations, members of the special class receive 1,000 Study Points each month and a two percent discount at the Sequence Pavilion. Further rewards are granted as their ranking rises. (Anyone who spends even one day on the board is eligible.)"
"So I only have Study Points because I'm in the special class?" Su Zhe's head seemed to be in a mess as he listened.
Although the special class was indeed somewhat different from the other classes, the Study Points alone were enough to make countless students want to squeeze their way in and compete for a spot.
"Yes, Student Su Zhe. Your Study Points were distributed by the academy to the special class as a whole. For the first month, everyone receives a standard 1,000 Study Points," the robot replied.
Su Zhe looked at his fiftieth-place ranking at the bottom and fell into thought. Those 1,000 Study Points each month would determine how comfortably he lived the following month, but the ranking system had already given him a sense of crisis.
He hurriedly asked, "Then I'm at the bottom, so how can someone else push me out?"
Perhaps because he was worried about food, Su Baozi's mind was unusually nimble.
The robot replied, "The elimination system permits challenge matches. Students may challenge members of the special class, and the winner will automatically enter the rankings and join the special class."
Li Chen nodded slightly. Perhaps only a system like this truly did justice to the name of the special class. Since it was called special, this was how it ought to be.
Jianping didn't seem to care. He was stroking his case as though it were extremely precious, looking at it the way a man looked at his wife.
Su Baozi, on the other hand, seemed somewhat disheartened. He was currently at the bottom of the rankings, making him the first choice for students looking to issue a challenge.
It wasn't that he lacked faith in his own strength, but his ability did little damage. He could only keep eating to increase his strength and defense, but the process was very slow. After all, it was a growth-type sequence; he couldn't get fat in a single bite.
Li Chen naturally understood Su Baozi's situation. He also knew that, with his ability, holding on to that throne at the bottom would be rather difficult, so he comforted him. "Baozi, don't worry so much. Against the freshmen as they are now, I reckon you could knock them down with a bump of your belly. They're all freshmen, after all, and your ability still gives you a big advantage."
If Li Chen were to fight Su Baozi now, for example, he might need to use quite a few methods to defeat him. And Li Chen's ability was rather terrifying: he could control all known energy.
After hearing Li Chen's words, Su Zhe seemed to regain his confidence, a mischievous grin spreading across his face.
But Li Chen added another remark.
"Of course, unless you're unlucky enough to run into someone like Jianping. You might be on your way to the hospital before the fight even starts."
Su Zhe: "..."
In fact, when Li Chen used Jianping as an example, he had long since guessed that Jianping's identity was far from simple. Jianping clearly knew the mysterious old man they had met upon first entering the academy, and there was also the sword strike in the illusion. All of it had aroused Li Chen's suspicions.
How could it have been such a coincidence? There had been so many students in the same illusion, so why had Jianping run into Li Chen and Su Zhe?
But he didn't feel it was his place to ask. They would be classmates from now on anyway, so he might as well make less of an issue of it. He didn't like trouble either.
"Come on, Jianping. Let's go back to sleep." Li Chen patted Jianping on the shoulder as he continued stroking his wife and spoke slowly.
In the blink of an eye, it was the next day.
Their dormitory accommodations were actually quite good: one room, a living room and a bedroom, even a separate kitchen. This was the standard for students at Canglan Academy.
Li Chen woke up early. Looking at the sun, which had yet to rise, he checked the message on his student badge telling him to gather in classroom S-603 at 7:30, then glanced at the clock, which still read six, and sighed.
He had been like this ever since his awakening. His energy seemed endless, and he woke up promptly at six every day. Perhaps this was the trouble with rising early.
Su Baozi was probably still asleep in bed.
In another room, Jianping was already holding an iron sword, swinging it over and over to train his body.
Quite a few people were already seated in classroom S-603, both men and women. Many of them seemed to wear defiant expressions, while quite a few others were staring into space, seemingly lost in thought.
Li Chen and the others pushed open the door and walked in, but they didn't attract much attention. Most of the people in this class were among the strongest freshmen.
Naturally, they had their own pride, and they understood the rules of the special class. Although they were classmates, they were also competitors.
Li Chen and the others found seats at random and sat down to wait for the Sequence Master. Sequence Masters were different from teachers; what they taught was not the same and could even differ vastly.
"Chen-ge, why do I get the feeling this special class isn't all that special? Look how arrogant those people are. It's like they want everyone to remember them." Sitting beside Li Chen, Su Zhe pointed in one direction and spoke in a low voice.
Li Chen only glanced over before looking away. There were always a few troublemakers in every class; it was a principle that had held true since ancient times.
Suddenly, Jianping looked toward the door, his eyes seemingly filled with surprise. "It's him!"
Li Chen and Su Baozi also looked where he was looking and seemed shocked as well. They actually knew the Sequence Master who had arrived.
"Yu..."