Flexing Their Muscles

After returning to the classroom, Chen Yan sat in his seat, bored out of his mind. Propping up his head, he looked out the window. The trees in front of the Teaching Building were out of sight; all he could see was a small patch of woods in the distance.

Sunlight draped the woods in warm hues. Birds rose and fell from time to time, their various cries taking turns ringing out as though competing against one another.

Gu Yuena had tilted her head as well, but she was not looking at the view outside. She was looking at the person before her.

Wang Zihan had a goal too, but he was genuinely a little timid, unsure how to become friends with her.

The class bell rang, and a young Teacher entered the classroom right on time with steady strides.

His arrival immediately drew the attention of the entire class.

His face had sharply defined contours and striking features. A pair of bright, spirited eyes sat behind simple, stylish black-rimmed glasses, lending him a scholarly air.

His thick black hair was neatly combed. He gave off the distinct impression of an intellectual elite.

He set down the lesson plan tucked beneath his arm, picked up a piece of chalk, and vigorously wrote two barely legible characters on the blackboard. Since no one could make them out, they simply gave up trying.

"Hello, everyone. I'm your combat instructor. What's written on the blackboard is my name, Zhang Yu. I hope we can get along well over the next three years."

Warm applause broke out.

Teacher Zhang Yu smiled faintly and thanked the students for their applause. His gaze swept across the classroom as if memorizing every student's face. In the end, his eyes paused briefly on Chen Yan and Gu Yuena before moving on.

"I've heard that all the students in this class are the pride of heaven, but this is a combat class. Combat means combat—only after you fight will we know whether you truly are the pride of heaven."

"However, for this lesson, I'll first measure your on-paper data and see where you stand."

"Everyone, come with me."

The moment Teacher Zhang Yu finished speaking, the atmosphere in the classroom grew tense. Chen Yan and Gu Yuena exchanged a glance without prior agreement.

"Think we can keep it hidden?" Chen Yan raised a brow, sending the thought through mental waves.

Though he did not speak and merely communicated through his eyes, Gu Yuena somehow caught his mental wave.

She blinked playfully.

"No problem. Don't worry."

Chen Yan sighed in relief. What he feared most was failing to conceal it and being exposed.

That would definitely be troublesome.

Meanwhile, Wang Zihan nervously clenched his hands, secretly hoping he could give a perfect performance in this test.

The students filed out after Teacher Zhang Yu and entered a spacious, brightly lit laboratory. It seemed like a glimpse of future technology. Silver metal panels covered every inch of the walls, reflecting the cold gleam of the advanced equipment and instruments inside, making it feel as though they had stepped into a high-tech world of the future.

At the center of the laboratory stood rows of massive, sophisticated instruments. Soft light reflected off their surfaces, and they looked incredibly expensive.

"We'll begin with the spiritual power test. Chen Yan, you're first."

Chen Yan did not bother refusing and stepped forward directly.

The device was connected to Chen Yan's head. Lights on the machine began to flicker, and a gentle beam emerged from it, gradually enveloping his head. The entire laboratory instantly fell silent, every gaze focused on him. Teacher Zhang Yu stood nearby, watching the readings intently.

Chen Yan closed his eyes and took a deep breath, beginning to focus. A tranquil lake surfaced in his mind, with a few white clouds drifting above it as sunlight scattered across the water, making it shimmer. He tried to guide his spiritual power toward that lake, controlling it as he released it outward.

As his focus deepened, the lights on the instrument grew brighter, and the numbers on the screen rapidly jumped. Teacher Zhang Yu's eyes lit up at once, clearly satisfied with Chen Yan's performance.

A few minutes later, the test ended. The lights on the instrument gradually dimmed. Chen Yan opened his eyes and softly exhaled.

Several people nearby cried out in shock.

"473 points? How is that possible?!"

"I only scored a little over 190 last time. Even with improvement, I should only be at a little over 200. But he has 473? That's terrifying!"

Chen Yan looked at the astonishment below the platform and curved his lips into a faint smile.

It was time for them to experience the Chen-style shock that had been suppressed for twenty-nine years!

"473... He's almost entered the Spirit Sea Realm? At this rate, his fourth soul ring might even be able to take on a ten-thousand-year one."

"This talent is simply terrifying! No wonder the principal values him so highly."

Though inwardly stunned, Teacher Zhang Yu still had to maintain a calm, detached appearance. He was a Teacher, after all. Being shocked by a student in front of the class would be far too embarrassing.

With an unchanged expression, he said, "Next, Gu Yuena."

Upon hearing her name, Gu Yuena smiled slightly at Chen Yan, who had just stepped down, then lightly walked onto the testing platform.

She sat down gracefully and put on the testing helmet. Unlike Chen Yan, her testing process seemed even more effortless. Her eyes were calm as water, without the slightest hint of nervousness or unease.

As the test continued, the atmosphere in the laboratory grew tense once again. Wang Zihan watched anxiously, secretly hoping Gu Yuena would achieve an excellent result.

When the test ended, Gu Yuena's score was equally shocking. Her spiritual power score even surpassed Chen Yan's, reaching an unbelievable level.

"493. That's already the peak of the Spirit Connection Realm. She's even more terrifying than Chen Yan!" Teacher Zhang Yu was filled with astonishment, inwardly calling them monsters.

"Next, Wu Man!"

As the testing continued, the other students also displayed their strength one after another. Although none of them surpassed Chen Yan and Gu Yuena, they all performed quite well.

Most of them scored around 200, reaching the level of the mid Spirit Sea Realm.

Wang Zihan finally gathered his courage and walked onto the testing platform. His palms were slightly sweaty, and his heartbeat quickened. Yet once the test began, he found that he could focus with surprising ease, displaying strength beyond his own expectations.

But when he thought of the more than two-hundred-point gap between himself and Gu Yuena, his heart dimmed. How could the difference be so great?

"242 points. That's very good! If not for those two..."

Zhang Yu thought to himself as he stood nearby.

"Alright, this is already a very good result. As long as you work hard, you may still have a chance to enter the rankings."

Seeing Wang Zihan's disappointment, he offered some consolation.

"Okay, I understand, Teacher."

After all ten students had completed the test, Teacher Zhang Yu nodded in satisfaction.

"It seems the students in our class truly are all the pride of heaven when it comes to spiritual power."

"This means you possess a ticket to becoming powerhouses in the future. I am sincerely happy for all of you."

"However, while it is a crucial part, it is not the only part. Physical fitness is also extremely important. Next, we'll test your strength and reaction speed."

"Everyone, keep up."

Well... this book has reached a thousand bookmarks now. Although that is still not much, and it could be said that I have not seen a single cent from it. Some big shots in the group have also said that The Legend of the Dragon King category is very dead and not easy to make popular. My number of ongoing readers is not enough either. You could say it is dead beyond saving, and I could just drop it.

But I feel that this was the first web novel I ever read as a child, and also the only novel whose complete set I bought. Throughout middle school and high school, I imagined the scenes within it and imagined changing its plot.

I really love The Legend of the Dragon King. Thank you for making my childhood more than just tutoring classes and noise, for giving it a measure of peace as well.

So I will continue writing, and I also want to thank those who have continued following the story.

My deepest thanks.