Three Minutes

After leaving the Star Dou Forest, Zi Ji did not fly Xia Yi directly to Eastsea City. Instead, she took a small Soul Guidance car out of her Storage Soul Tool and drove Xia Yi there.

"If we flew at high altitude, you might not be able to handle it. Flying low would make us easy for human radar to detect, which would be troublesome," Zi Ji explained.

Along the way, Xia Yi looked at the towering buildings lining both sides of the road and could not help sighing. No wonder humans had been able to enclose the entire Star Dou Forest. Human development had truly left the Star Dou Forest far behind.

Zi Ji drove not only quickly, but steadily as well. Even so, traveling from outside the Star Dou Forest to Eastsea City took a full day and night.

"Why did we come all this way?" Xia Yi asked in confusion. Not long after they left the Star Dou Forest, Zi Ji had pointed at a massive city and told him that it was Shrek City.

Although Shrek Academy was an advanced Soul Master Academy and did not accept Soul Masters Xia Yi's age, Shrek City had quite a few lower-level Soul Master Academies, and their standards were much higher than Eastsea Academy's.

Xia Yi could not understand why they had passed up the closer and better option for somewhere farther away.

"This was Lord's decision," Zi Ji said in a deep voice.

"You never ask why?" Xia Yi asked curiously.

"Lord has her own reasons for everything she does. Besides, Lord is in a weakened state after taking human form. At a time like this, what we should do is protect her position, not question her," Zi Ji said solemnly.

"You really are loyal," Xia Yi said, curling his lip. Then he looked at the steering wheel in Zi Ji's hands and asked, "Can I try?"

"If you want to learn, I can teach you later. But we need to find an open area first." Zi Ji shot Xia Yi a huge eye roll. She did not want him wrecking her beloved car.

"Just let me try. I've watched you the whole way, and I remember every movement you made." Xia Yi looked at Zi Ji with a pitiful expression.

"Drop that disgusting look." Zi Ji instantly broke out in goosebumps. Unable to outstubborn Xia Yi, she could only say helplessly, "I'll pull over first. But let's be clear—you can't drive too fast."

Zi Ji had originally intended to let Xia Yi try and then give up on his own. But she was soon dumbfounded. After only a brief attempt, Xia Yi quickly mastered the technique and drove them straight onto the highway.

Even I needed three days to learn back then. Zi Ji was shocked beyond belief. Di Tian had taught her hand in hand for three days before she learned how to drive a Soul Guidance car.

Yet Xia Yi had merely watched along the way and learned it without being taught at all.

Xia Yi was extremely enthusiastic about new things. Even after arriving in Eastsea City, he still drove Zi Ji in circles around the ring highway.

Lap after lap, the helpless Zi Ji could only serve as labor, continuously supplying Soul Power to the Soul Guidance car.

With a Beast beside him, he would not have to worry about running out of energy even if he drove for five days and nights.

It was not until Zi Ji received a Soul Guidance Communicator call from Gu Yue that Xia Yi finally drove the Soul Guidance car to Eastsea Academy.

Following the navigation system, Xia Yi soon drove the car to the entrance of Eastsea Academy.

Gu Yue was already waiting at the entrance. After going to the Spirit Pagoda, she had flown here in the Mecha of an important figure from the Spirit Pagoda. She was far faster than Zi Ji's Soul Guidance car.

Had she not wasted some time inside the Spirit Pagoda, Xia Yi would not have had the chance to drive Zi Ji around in circles.

When Gu Yue saw that Xia Yi was driving, her delicate brows furrowed once more. She could not help looking up at Zi Ji. How had she let Xia Yi drive?

Zi Ji spread her hands with a helpless expression. Once they entered the city and there were more people around, she had planned to switch places with Xia Yi, but he simply refused.

Though she was astonished by Xia Yi's learning ability, Gu Yue did not show it. "Forget it. Come with me. I'll take you to see Teacher Wu. I heard that besides you, Zero Class has another transfer student this time. Maybe you can join Zero Class together."

Eastsea Academy was not large, but Zero Class occupied an entire teaching area. They had not only an independent training ground, but also separate dormitories. They even had privileges in the cafeteria; the academy assigned them dedicated chefs to ensure they received balanced nutrition with every meal.

When Xia Yi and Gu Yue arrived, the others in Zero Class were already there. Seeing Xia Yi and Gu Yue walking side by side, a hostile gaze immediately fell upon Xia Yi.

Following that gaze, Xia Yi looked up and saw a pair of beautiful large eyes and a handsome face.

"So this is the Tang Wulin you mentioned. He looks decent enough, but he's still a little inferior to me," Xia Yi said narcissistically. As he spoke, he flamboyantly flicked the long hair draped over his shoulders.

Of course, he had every right to say that. It was said that foxes would always be breathtakingly beautiful when taking human form, and he was no exception.

Unlike ordinary foxes, whose appeal lay purely in their appearance, Xia Yi also possessed a solid, weighty aura that drew even more attention from those around him.

"Stop talking nonsense." Gu Yue shot Xia Yi an annoyed glare before turning to Wu Zhangkong. "Teacher, this is Xia Yi, the one I told you about."

"I know. Introduce yourselves." Wu Zhangkong glanced at Xia Yi and Xu Xiaoyan beside him, his face cold as frost from beginning to end.

In truth, he had already sensed Xia Yi's cultivation. Asking Xia Yi to introduce himself was merely so he could reject him more convincingly.

Xu Xiaoyan spoke first. Facing Wu Zhangkong, she seemed somewhat shy. "Hello, everyone. My name is Xu Xiaoyan. I'm ten years old. My Martial Soul is the Star Wheel Ice Staff, and I have seventeen levels of Soul Power."

Wu Zhangkong nodded and said coldly, "For the next month, you must prove your strength and prove that you are suited to be part of Zero Class. Your future will be decided after one month."

"Yes!" Xu Xiaoyan agreed obediently.

"Your turn." Wu Zhangkong turned to Xia Yi.

Imitating Xu Xiaoyan, Xia Yi said, "My name is Xia Yi. I'm ten years old. My Martial Soul is a fox, and I have ten levels of Soul Power."

"You can leave." Wu Zhangkong spoke indifferently, decisively, without a single unnecessary word.

What a joke. Did a tenth-level Soul Master think he could join Zero Class? Was he dreaming?

Even Xu Xiaoyan had only been reluctantly accepted after Eastsea Academy's dean and director of studies repeatedly pleaded with him. Xia Yi was even worse than Xu Xiaoyan.

If Xia Yi entered Zero Class, Zero Class's reputation would be ruined.

"You should go back first. Tomorrow, I'll take you to try another class." Gu Yue took a deep breath. She was not overly disappointed, because she had already known this would be the result.

She did not plead with Wu Zhangkong either. She understood him; pleading would have been useless.

Besides, given her status, she would not lower herself to beg anyone.

Xia Yi did not leave. Instead, he looked at Wu Zhangkong and asked calmly, "Why does she get an opportunity when she is also a transfer student, but I do not?"

As he spoke, Xia Yi pointed at Xu Xiaoyan.

Wu Zhangkong ignored Xia Yi and looked at Tang Wulin instead. "Tang Wulin, step forward."

"Yes!" Tang Wulin took a step forward.

Only then did Wu Zhangkong look at Xia Yi. "This is Tang Wulin. He has the lowest Soul Power in Zero Class, even lower than Xu Xiaoyan's, though naturally higher than yours. If you can last three minutes against him, I'll agree to let you join Zero Class."

"Three minutes? No problem. I hope you keep your word." Xia Yi nodded.

"I always keep my word." Wu Zhangkong's tone remained cold. Then he turned back to Tang Wulin. "You have three minutes to defeat him. If you fail, all your training for this semester will be doubled. Any problem?"

"No problem." Tang Wulin immediately agreed. He had never lost a fight against a Soul Master of the same level, much less against Xia Yi, whose cultivation was lower than his.

Moreover, Xia Yi's Martial Soul was nothing special.

"Are you ready?" Only after receiving Tang Wulin's answer did Wu Zhangkong look at the two of them and ask.

"Ready." Xia Yi and Tang Wulin nodded at the same time.

However, just as Wu Zhangkong was about to call the start, Gu Yue suddenly stepped forward, quickly jogged to Tang Wulin's side, and whispered, "Be careful. His strength is no less than yours."

"Got it." A flash of surprise passed through Tang Wulin's eyes. Someone could actually match him in strength—this was something he had never considered before.

Although he found it hard to believe, he knew Gu Yue would not lie to him, so he nodded firmly.

Seeing Gu Yue's actions, Xia Yi was utterly speechless. Although Gu Yue's voice had been very low and outsiders could not hear her, he could roughly guess what she had said to Tang Wulin.

He had originally planned to use his advantage in strength to catch Tang Wulin off guard. Now, that plan had completely fallen through.

"I have a question. Are there any restrictions?" Xia Yi turned helplessly toward Wu Zhangkong. If he could not make use of his advantage in strength, he would have to think of another way.

"No restrictions. Just don't kill him." Wu Zhangkong replied coldly, though his gaze remained fixed on Tang Wulin. Clearly, the warning was meant for him.

"Understood!" A sharp glint flashed through Tang Wulin's eyes. He was already quite scheming, so how could he fail to understand Wu Zhangkong's meaning?

He had disliked Xia Yi from the start. How could he let such a good opportunity pass?

No wonder Wu Zhangkong had given him three minutes.

"Begin!" Wu Zhangkong gave Xia Yi no further chance to speak and decisively called the start.