Freshman Class One (Seeking Investment! Seeking Monthly Ticket! Seeking Recommendation Ticket!)

The next morning.

The Opening Ceremony was held in Eastsea Academy's academy plaza. The Intermediate Department's eight hundred-plus cadets, along with nearly two hundred from the Senior Department, had all gathered in the plaza and formed square formations according to their grades.

Jing Shaoyu stood in the new students' formation, his gaze drifting unnaturally toward the teachers' ranks beside them. At a glance, he spotted that frost-cold man, Sky Ice Wu Zhangkong, a former disciple of Shrek Academy Inner Courtyard and the dream god of countless female teachers and cadets at Eastsea Academy. Not far from him, that pair of women should be the Class One homeroom teacher, Ye Yingluo, and the Class Three homeroom teacher, Ye Yingrong.

Ye Yingluo's gaze as she looked at Wu Zhangkong was very complicated, holding both infatuation and hatred. She could be considered an extremely confident woman.

"Students, hello, everyone. Today is our annual Opening Ceremony. Next, let us invite our Dean Yu to speak."

Eastsea Academy's dean, Yu Zhen, was an old man who looked to be in his sixties. He was of medium build and did not seem particularly eye-catching. His hair was graying, he wore glasses, and he had the air of a scholar.

"Students, hello. Every year at this time, I always feel somewhat emotional. That is because a group of students from the Intermediate Department and Senior Department will graduate and leave the academy, while at the same time, some students advance from the Intermediate Department into the Senior Department, and new students join us.

"In my eyes, the academy is like the Federation's blood-making organ, continuously supplying qualified talent to the Federation. In the future, I hope that you will also be able to..."

Dean Yu Zhen was very eloquent. He had no script, yet spoke with rich emotion and expression. He talked for a full quarter of an hour before gradually bringing his speech to a close.

After Yu Zhen finished speaking, it was time for the most important part of the Opening Ceremony: class assignments.

Long Hengxu, the Intermediate Department's teaching director, walked onto the Main Stand. His expression was solemn. He cleared his throat, then said, "Next, we will carry out the new students' class assignments. As everyone knows, here at Eastsea Academy, the smaller the class number, the more outstanding the cadets it represents. But that is not absolute. We hope that the lower-ranked classes will also work hard to catch up.

"This year, there are a total of one hundred and eight new students, divided into five classes. Next, when I call your name, step out and enter Class One. Jing Shaoyu, Xu Xiaoyan, Zhang Yangzi, Wang Jinxi, Wei Xiaofeng..."

There were only sixteen cadets in Class One. Jing Shaoyu sized up these new classmates, and the new classmates were also sizing him up. There was no helping it—he was too eye-catching. Add in Xu Xiaoyan, who had come over and tightly hugged his arm, and the two of them became especially conspicuous in the Class One group.

"Tang Wulin, Zhou Changxi, Xie Xie, Yun Xiao..." As Long Hengxu called out the last of the Class Five cadets, the class assignments came to an end. "Homeroom teachers of each class, take your cadets back to your classrooms and get familiar with them."

Expressionless, Ye Yingluo walked toward them, then said coldly, "Class One, follow me!"

In the Class One classroom, the sixteen cadets took their seats on their own. Ye Yingluo stood at the lectern and looked at the sixteen cadets seated below. A faint smile appeared on her frost-cold face.

"My name is Ye Yingluo. From now on, I will be your homeroom teacher," she said. "First of all, congratulations on becoming cadets of Class One. This means that when you entered the academy, you were already more outstanding than the others. And what you need to do is keep that excellence going all the way until you graduate in sixth grade! I hope you remember this: you are cadets of Class One. You are naturally more outstanding than the cadets of other classes!"

Listening to Ye Yingluo's words, the group of nine-year-old children all felt their blood boil. Of course, Jing Shaoyu naturally was not among them. He knew very clearly just how much of a joke this Class One would become after Zero Class appeared.

"Very good." Ye Yingluo looked with satisfaction at the cadets' spirited expressions and smiled. "Next, we will begin self-introductions. You need to state your name, martial soul, Soul Power, and future goal! Start from the first row on the left."

"My name is Zhang Yangzi. Twenty-first-rank Soul Power, martial soul Dark Illusion Demon Eagle, Agility-Attack Type Great Soul Master!" The boy in the first row on the left stood up. His tone was steady and carried a trace of confidence as he spoke. So he was also an old acquaintance.

Then the bony-looking youth sitting behind Zhang Yangzi should be Wang Jinxi.

After hearing Zhang Yangzi's self-introduction, Ye Yingluo revealed a satisfied look, then looked at Wang Jinxi.

"My name is Wang Jinxi. Twenty-first-rank Soul Power, martial soul Bone Dragon King, Assault Type Great Soul Master!" Sensing Ye Yingluo's gaze, Wang Jinxi immediately stood and said in a loud, clear voice.

With two Great Soul Master-level classmates appearing one after another, the atmosphere in the Class One classroom grew heated. Many cadets' gazes toward Zhang Yangzi and Wang Jinxi were filled with admiration and envy. Zhang Yangzi's expression did not change, while Wang Jinxi greatly enjoyed those looks.

"My name is Duan Xiaopeng. Seventeenth-rank Soul Power, martial soul Sea Dongqing. My goal is to become an Agility-Attack Type soul master."

"I'm Wei Dayong. Sixteenth-rank Soul Power, martial soul Giant Strength Walrus. I want to become an Assault Type soul master."

Right after them were Jing Shaoyu's two roommates. Their martial souls were of superior quality, and their talent was also above average. If they progressed step by step, becoming Soul Emperors or Soul Saints in the future would not be a problem.

"My name is Xu Xiaoyan. Twenty-second-rank Soul Power, martial soul Star Wheel Ice Staff, Control Type Great Soul Master." Xu Xiaoyan stood up, attracting the eyes of all the boys. She spoke somewhat shyly.

And when they learned that this seemingly petite and delicate girl was actually a twenty-second-rank Great Soul Master, quite a few boys revealed looks of frustration and withdrew their gazes one after another, too embarrassed to keep looking at her.

Then it was Jing Shaoyu's turn. He stood, instantly drawing the gaze of the entire class. Whether male or female, they all looked at him involuntarily. Even a trace of astonishment flashed through Ye Yingluo's eyes. There was no other reason—he was simply too handsome.

Ignoring those gazes, he smiled and said, "My name is Jing Shaoyu. Twenty-seventh-rank Soul Power, martial soul Origin Spirit, Healing Great Soul Master."

"Heavens!"

"How is that possible?"

The first reaction was the reaction of normal cadets. The second reaction was Wei Xiaofeng's reaction. He stared at Jing Shaoyu in disbelief, utterly unable to imagine that someone he had thought was just a pretty face was actually a Great Soul Master, and with Soul Power as high as twenty-seventh rank! This made Wei Xiaofeng feel extremely gloomy and deeply shaken.

In the front row, Zhang Yangzi and Wang Jinxi also stared at Jing Shaoyu in extreme astonishment. They were both Great Soul Masters themselves, so they naturally understood what it meant to reach the Great Soul Master level at nine years old. They had originally thought they were already talented enough, but had not expected there to always be someone better. Someone had actually reached twenty-seventh rank at the age of nine. This meant he only needed to rise another three ranks to become a Soul Elder. And three ranks of Soul Power, for a genius like this, would take at most only a year, right? In other words, a ten-year-old Soul Elder! The two exchanged a glance and both saw an unwilling-to-lose fighting spirit in each other's eyes. They would not admit defeat just like that!

"You are Jing Shaoyu? Good, very good. You may sit down first!" Ye Yingluo was endlessly pleasantly surprised and repeatedly praised him. Her pretty face was filled with an excited smile as she spoke.

"My name is Ling Dong. Fifteenth-rank Soul Power, martial soul Sky Demon Sable. My goal is to become an Assault Type soul master!"

"..."

Before long, all sixteen cadets had finished their introductions. The smile on Ye Yingluo's face was incomparably brilliant. Sixteen cadets, five Great Soul Masters, eleven soul masters, with the lowest Soul Power among them still at fifteenth rank, and one Great Soul Master whose Soul Power reached as high as twenty-seventh rank. She could say with complete confidence that this year's Class One was definitely the strongest Class One in history! "Very good." Ye Yingluo smiled and clapped her hands. "Since everyone has finished introducing themselves, we will stop here for today. When classes officially begin tomorrow, we will choose a class monitor. Any students who are interested can prepare well!"

As she spoke, Ye Yingluo's gaze swept over the few Great Soul Master cadets. Her intention could not have been more obvious.

After that, Ye Yingluo left the classroom directly. The other cadets also left in twos and threes. There was only one thing today, and that was class assignment. After the assignments, there was nothing else to do. Official classes would have to wait until tomorrow.

"Little Yu Brother, I have to go home for a bit. Are you coming back with me?" Xu Xiaoyan walked to Jing Shaoyu's side somewhat unhappily and said in a huff.

"I won't go." Hearing this, Jing Shaoyu first froze, then thought of Xu Xiaoyu downstairs outside the girls' dormitory building last night. He immediately felt somewhat guilty and gave an awkward laugh. "I'm planning to go to the Mecha Association."

"All right!" Hearing this, Xu Xiaoyan did not force him. She only complained somewhat angrily, "Honestly, Dad and Grandpa are such a nuisance. Because of them, I can't even go to the Mecha Association with Little Yu Brother!"

"Heh heh!" Listening to Xu Xiaoyan's complaints, Jing Shaoyu thought, If you say it like that, then I'll be even less afraid to go to your house in the future! New book seedling, urgently needs care! Seeking Investment, Seeking Monthly Ticket, Seeking Recommendation Ticket! Thank you, all big shots!