Soul Tool Department

Class A had only twenty students, while each of the classes ranked below had a hundred. That alone showed how brutal the rankings were. Now there was an elimination system as well, and all twenty students present sucked in a cold breath.

"Teacher, what standards will be used to determine the rankings?"

A freshman stood up and asked in a deep voice. He was also from Class A, and his temperament was naturally entirely different from that of ordinary students.

"Exams, tests, classroom performance, field inspections, and Soul Battle points will all be included in the scoring."

Gu Tian Yuan said with a smile that did not reach his eyes, "I'll be your only Homeroom Teacher this year. There won't be any teaching assistants, so don't try any tricks with me."

"Furthermore, talented students from Class B will also have a chance to enter Class A. But when that happens, someone corresponding will need to go to Class B. Do you have that awareness?"

His voice sent a shiver through every Class A freshman.

"However, the ten who remain will have the opportunity to represent our Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy in the Youth Soul Master Competition. For students, that is the greatest honor."

Gu Tian Yuan was having great fun using the carrot-and-stick approach.

"From this day onward, you are no longer classmates, but competitors. And none of the classes over the next few months will involve team battles. They will all be one-on-one assessments."

"Of course, the assessments for the Control System and Support System will be calculated separately."

He clapped his hands and looked at the still-bewildered students, revealing a devilish smile.

"Then, let's begin class."

After the first lesson ended, every student in Class A lay slumped over their desks in silence. Gu Tian Yuan's words had impacted them far too greatly.

They were the twenty most talented students of this cohort in the academy, and their personalities were naturally different from those of ordinary people.

While the other classes were still complaining and crying, the students of Class A quietly reviewed their class notes. Not a single person spoke.

From now on, they were all competitors. Was there any need to talk?

After class, Xue Xiao Ran put his notes into his storage ring and chased after Gu Tian Yuan as he left the classroom.

"..."

Meng Hong Chen reached out, wanting to speak to him, but Xiao Hong Chen grabbed her hand.

"You heard it too. We'll be competitors from now on. At least for this year, don't strike up conversations with others."

A faint pride rested between Xiao Hong Chen's brows. He had ample confidence that he would become one of the ten, perhaps even lead the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy team as its captain in the Youth Soul Master Competition a few years from now.

"But..." Meng Hong Chen's delicate brows furrowed slightly. After all, they were classmates.

"Enough. Read." Xiao Hong Chen cut her off. "The teacher won't go easy on us just because we're relatives of the dean."

"Okay."

Meng Hong Chen pouted aggrievedly and turned her gaze back to her book.

The students beside them watched the pair with a hint of vigilance. These two might be the strongest among all of them.

Xue Xiao Ran paid no mind to the classroom's hidden rivalries and continued after Gu Tian Yuan.

"Teacher Gu."

He called out and bowed in greeting.

"You are... Ah, you're Xue Xiao Ran, right? What do you need from me?"

Gu Tian Yuan narrowed his eyes, and it was impossible to tell what he was thinking.

"I would like to learn knowledge related to Soul Tools. Are there any similar courses?"

Xue Xiao Ran asked calmly.

Gu Tian Yuan narrowed his eyes. The words Dean Jing had conveyed through that elderly teacher surfaced in his mind, and he had already made his decision.

"The Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy is most famous for its Soul Tools. As long as you're able to attend the courses, I, as your Homeroom Teacher, will of course fully support you. Soul Engineers are also talents our nation needs."

Gu Tian Yuan smiled and patted Xue Xiao Ran's shoulder. "But Xue Xiao Ran, are you sure you can take two completely different courses at the same time? Let me make this clear first: even if you score highly in your Soul Tool courses, if your Soul Master course grades fail to meet the standard, I'll still kick you out of Class A."

He lowered his voice. "Have you decided?"

"Of course I have. Rest assured, Teacher Gu, my grades won't drag down the average." Xue Xiao Ran smiled faintly and bowed.

"Good. I'll take you to meet a teacher."

Gu Tian Yuan chuckled and, eyes narrowed, led Xue Xiao Ran in the exact opposite direction.

Looking at this teacher, whose thoughts he could not read at all, Xue Xiao Ran's lips curved slightly. He knew that Cang Xue must have revealed some information about his whereabouts to the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy.

Otherwise, Teacher Gu would not have been so accommodating.

The two arrived before a door. Gu Tian Yuan pressed a card in his hand against it, and the door silently slid open, revealing an immaculate scene within.

"Welcome to the most important place in the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy: the Soul Tool Research Division. Of course, it has its own name—Mingdetang." Gu Tian Yuan spread his arms as he introduced it to Xue Xiao Ran.

Xue Xiao Ran looked at the men and women in white research uniforms passing back and forth and noticed that most of them were students, all quite young.

"This is the outer section. The people working, attending classes, and studying here are all students. Further inside are the teachers' laboratories."

Seeing Xue Xiao Ran's astonished expression, Gu Tian Yuan could not help smiling smugly. When had the Carefree Sword Sect ever possessed such a magnificent sight?

Before long, a bespectacled young man walked over. Upon seeing Gu Tian Yuan, he nodded. "Teacher Gu, what brings you to Mingdetang today?"

"Teacher Xuan, a student from our Class A is very interested in Soul Tools and wants to try taking courses in the Soul Tool Department. Could you provide him with an auditing seat?"

The newcomer wore a white research uniform, but several strands of gold thread were embroidered around his collar, clearly marking a difference in status.

Judging by how Gu Tian Yuan addressed him, the newcomer was evidently also a teacher.

"Class A?" Teacher Xuan adjusted his glasses. Aside from Xiao Hong Chen, there is another Class A student interested in the Soul Tool Department?

"Then come with me. I'm about to begin class." The young man pushed up his glasses and spoke to the silent Xue Xiao Ran.

"Thank you, Teacher Gu."

Xue Xiao Ran cupped his fists toward the smiling, narrowed-eyed Gu Tian Yuan, then followed behind Teacher Xuan, walking step by step deeper into Mingdetang.

An amused smile crossed Gu Tian Yuan's lips before he turned and left.

"Xue Xiao Ran, let me see why Dean Jing values you so highly..."

"My name is Xuan Ziwen. You can call me Teacher Xuan from now on."

The young man smiled. Looking at Xue Xiao Ran's calm Jade Eyes, he suddenly said, "You have a pair of excellent eyes. In my opinion, you should learn Soul Tools somewhat faster than others."

"The most important thing for a Soul Engineer is the eyes." Xuan Ziwen led Xue Xiao Ran through the spacious corridor, which also counted as giving him his first lesson.

"The eyes can observe many things. During the process of crafting a Soul Tool, the hands are second in importance. The eyes are first. Of course, even more important than that is a steady state of mind."

"Whether you succeed or fail at crafting a Soul Tool, you must keep your heart calm. Otherwise, the Soul Tools that person creates will be crude and shoddy, and they will not even deserve to be called a Soul Engineer."

"Let's go. Today will count as your first auditing lesson. After class, I'll ask you a few questions to see how well you absorbed it. If you pass, you can continue studying here."

Xuan Ziwen spoke to Xue Xiao Ran as he arrived at the entrance to a classroom.

Xue Xiao Ran nodded. At least in his view, Xuan Ziwen was far safer than Gu Tian Yuan. When Xuan Ziwen spoke of Soul Tools, his tone was excited and reverent, as if he would even devote his entire life to the Soul Tool Department.

Gu Tian Yuan, on the other hand, revealed nothing through his expression, and no one knew what he was thinking. A person like that was the most dangerous.

Thinking this, Xue Xiao Ran realized that he probably seemed rather dangerous to others as well.