First Lesson

After taking second place, Qian Yuling returned to her dormitory. Although she had won the runner-up position, she was not in a good mood. She was a genius with Innate Soul Power Superiority, and her Passive Soul Skill had raised her Summoned Beasts to level 26, already surpassing Mo Ying's Soul Power Level. As a Summon System Soul Master, her advantage was fighting many against few. Yet even so, she had still lost to Mo Ying, a boy she had not cared about when she first saw him.

As they left the arena, Dugu Yan kept comforting Qian Yuling. However, the older students had to return to their classrooms to write reflections, so Dugu Yan did not accompany Qian Yuling back to the dormitory.

Qian Yuling sat alone on her bed for an hour, calming herself down. She muttered to herself, "Am I like this after just one loss? How am I supposed to share Sister and Grandpa's burdens like this? This will be my last defeat. I won't lose again." Qian Yuling strengthened her resolve and continued cultivating.

Thanks to her second-place result, Qian Yuling entered Class One of New Students without any surprise.

As night fell, Dugu Yan hummed a little tune as she arrived at the dormitory door with dinner. She gathered her thoughts and decided to properly comfort Qian Yuling.

Dugu Yan pushed open the door and said, "Yu Ling, I'm back!"

Qian Yuling opened her eyes. "Yanyan? You're back?"

Dugu Yan waved the dinner she had brought back in front of Qian Yuling. "I knew you hadn't eaten dinner, so I brought this especially for you. Thank me."

Qian Yuling accepted the meal. "Thank you, Yanyan. How did you know I hadn't eaten dinner?" Then she quickly began eating.

Dugu Yan smiled. "You were only one step away from winning the championship. No matter who it was, they wouldn't be in a good mood. And when you're upset, you don't have much appetite. But judging by the way you're eating, you've recovered already, right?"

Qian Yuling nodded. "I won't lose again."

The next morning, Qian Yuling left early and arrived at Class One of New Students to wait for her homeroom teacher.

After a while, Ye Qiu entered and stood at the podium. "Good morning, students. I believe you all know me. First, I congratulate you for demonstrating your abilities in yesterday's placement examination and earning everyone's recognition. However, now that you have entered my Class One of New Students, only the survivors are king. As the saying goes, only by demonstrating your abilities and earning my approval can you remain and take part in the New Student Competition a year from now. Based on my past experience, there are currently twenty of you, and half of you will be eliminated within this month. Only those who remain will be qualified to participate in the New Student Competition. One last thing: anyone eliminated from my class will leave Heaven Dou Royal Academy. You still have the right to choose another class. Tell me loudly, are you going to another class, or are you staying?"

"Staying!"

Ye Qiu clapped his hands. "Very good. This is your choice. Then I hereby announce that our first lesson officially begins!"

The applause gradually died down. Ye Qiu said, "Yu Ling, Ning Keke, stand up."

Qian Yuling and the eight-year-old girl with the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda martial soul from the entrance examination stood up together, waiting for Ye Qiu's next words.

Ye Qiu suddenly shouted, "Everyone except those two, run twenty laps around the track. You are not allowed to use Soul Power. Go now. Don't make me repeat myself!"

"What?!" Some of the others immediately widened their eyes in fury. One person even stood up and said, "I refuse to accept this! Why?"

Mo Ying, however, said nothing and immediately went to run.

Ye Qiu said calmly, "Look at him. That is why he took first place in the new student placement examination. And you, the one who stood up—I appreciate your courage, so I'll answer you. Because I am the homeroom teacher. In this class, my words are absolute orders. Either obey or leave."

Upon hearing that, the others also ran out without another word.

At that moment, only Ye Qiu, Qian Yuling, and Ning Keke remained in the classroom.

Ye Qiu looked at the two girls and said, "You two are rather special in Class One of New Students. Neither of you fights through your own abilities. Yu Ling fights through her Summoned Beasts, while Ning Keke is a purely Support System Soul Master. Your physical fitness is extremely important, so the two of you are now tied together. Complete this task of twenty laps. If either of you fails, both of you will leave Class One of New Students. Go."

After hearing this, the two said nothing more and ran out directly.

Once they reached the track, they began running together. Ning Keke fully displayed the characteristics of a Support System Soul Master—her running speed lagged far behind everyone else's. Yu Ling maintained the same pace as Ning Keke, since she was tied to Ning Keke now. If Ning Keke failed to complete the task, Qian Yuling would also have to leave Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

After ten laps, Qian Yuling did not feel much. Perhaps it was because she had trained her physical fitness with Qian Renxue before she was six. However, Ning Keke beside her was about to collapse.

Qian Yuling looked at the girl two years older than herself and said, "If you can't keep going, I'll carry you."

Ning Keke said, "Thank you, but I think I can still hold on."

Qian Yuling said nothing more and continued running quietly.

The other students had already completed their task and collapsed onto the ground one after another. Only Mo Ying was still standing. As he watched Qian Yuling and Ning Keke continue running, a glimmer appeared in his eyes.

After fifteen laps, Ning Keke was nearly unable to continue. Qian Yuling asked again, "If you can't keep going, I'll carry you."

Ning Keke still answered, "I can keep running until the end."

Qian Yuling was somewhat surprised, but she did not say anything else. After taking a few more steps, Ning Keke suddenly said, "Yu Ling, I can't keep going. Sorry to trouble you."

Qian Yuling froze for a moment, then smiled faintly. "You could have said so earlier."

Ning Keke was too exhausted to say anything.

Qian Yuling stopped, carried Ning Keke onto her back, and continued running. There were only five laps left.

After five laps, Qian Yuling's face was slightly red, but she was not out of breath. She attributed it to her unusual physique and the fact that she had often trained with Qian Renxue in the past.

Ye Qiu looked at the twenty students in the class and said, "Very good. You have shown me your fighting spirit. Return to the classroom. Next, we will begin theoretical lessons."

After returning to the classroom, Class One of New Students began its dull theory lesson.

That night, Qian Yuling and Dugu Yan continued cultivating as usual. With Qian Yuling's arrival, Dugu Yan cultivated even more diligently.

The next day was the same as the day before. The students of Class One of New Students waited for their homeroom teacher.