A Startling Reputation and the Academy's Tremors

Silence.

A silence like death.

In the classroom of Yellow Class Nine, you could hear a pin drop.

All the students stared at the boy who calmly walked back to his seat with eyes that seemed to gaze upon a deity. Their breathing unconsciously lightened, as if afraid of disturbing the true dragon hiding among them.

"Innate Dao Body!"

Although most of them had never heard this term before, the miraculous scene just now was enough to overturn all their perceptions from the past decade!

To be able to draw upon Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy and make it dance without a Spiritual Root! What terrifying talent was this!

When they looked at their instructor, Fang Yuan, on the podium, whose face was ashen and body swaying precariously, their eyes were filled with disdain and pity.

To mistake a peerless Uncut Jade, rarely seen in ten thousand years, for a common stone on the roadside, and then to publicly humiliate it... This instructor Fang Yuan's career was probably over.

And Fang Yuan, at this moment, truly felt like his sky had fallen.

His legs felt weak, cold sweat soaked the back of his robe, his mind was blank, leaving only the four words "Innate Dao Body" echoing repeatedly like death knells.

He was finished.

He knew better than anyone what a student with an "Innate Dao Body" meant to Cloud Creek Academy. It meant the future prosperity of the academy, the birth of a new legend! It was a supreme treasure worthy of the Dean himself coming out of seclusion to teach!

And yet, on the very first day of school, he had offended this future legend to his death!

The thought of the thunderous rage that might descend from the academy's higher-ups upon learning of this made Fang Yuan feel dizzy, almost as if he were about to faint.

"Instructor, are we... are we still continuing the class?" a slightly bolder student asked cautiously.

Fang Yuan jolted as if waking from a dream.

He looked at the fearful, disdainful, and schadenfreude-filled eyes below, especially at Lin Xiao's profile, which remained so calm that not a ripple could be seen. He knew he no longer had the right to stand on this podium.

"Class... dismissed..."

He used all his strength to squeeze out these two words from between his teeth, then, like a stray dog, he fled the classroom in a daze.

He had to go and beg for forgiveness! Immediately! Right now! Otherwise, a punishment more terrifying than death would await him!

With Fang Yuan's humiliating departure, the oppressive atmosphere in the classroom was finally broken.

"Boom!"

The entire Yellow Class Nine instantly exploded!

"My heavens! Lin Xiao, you... you're actually the legendary Innate Dao Body!" "So amazing! That scene just now was more exciting than any storybook novel I've ever read!" "Classmate Lin Xiao, I was blind before and offended you. Please don't take it to heart!"

The classmates who had previously mocked or ignored Lin Xiao now swarmed around him, their faces filled with fawning and fanatical smiles, their attitudes having done a complete 180-degree turn.

"Make way! Make way!"

Shi Lei, with his sturdy chest, blocked everyone like an iron tower, his face filled with pride.

Su Yue also stood beside Lin Xiao, her beautiful eyes smiling. She knew Lin Xiao was no ordinary person, but she hadn't expected the "surprise" he would bring to the entire academy to be so shocking!

Lin Xiao ignored the surrounding flattery, calmly saying to Shi Lei and Su Yue, "Let's go, we should head back."

After speaking, he left the classroom with his companions through the path that automatically parted for them.

He left behind for Yellow Class Nine the beginning of a legend that would surely be passed down for a long time.

Just as Lin Xiao had predicted, his peaceful days were over.

What happened in the first class of Yellow Class Nine spread through the entire outer courtyard of Cloud Creek Academy like a Category 12 superstorm within half a day!

"Did you hear? Yellow Class Nine has produced a powerhouse! It's Lin Xiao, the one who broke the Gravity Tower record!" "More than a powerhouse! They say he's a 'once-in-ten-thousand' Innate Dao Body who can cultivate without needing a Spiritual Root!" "Really? That's too unbelievable!" "It's absolutely true! The whole class saw it! He just casually stood in a horse stance, and the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy within a hundred meters surged towards him like crazy. It was like an immortal descending!" "The most exciting part is that right before that, their instructor, Fang Yuan, pointed at Lin Xiao's nose and called him trash! Haha, that's a slap in the face for the ages!"

For a time, in teahouses, taverns, training grounds, mission halls... every corner of the outer courtyard was discussing the same person and the same event.

Lin Xiao's name completely overshadowed all the geniuses, including Xiao Lang, becoming the undisputed number one celebrity in the entire outer courtyard!

And the other protagonist of the incident, Instructor Fang Yuan, became the laughingstock of everyone's after-meal conversations.

It was said that after fleeing the classroom, he had scrambled all the way to the outer courtyard's Academic Affairs Hall, knelt outside the hall, and tearfully confessed his "crimes" to the academy's higher-ups, embellishing the events with a tearful account.

This news naturally reached certain ears.

Cultivation Tower, Fifth Floor, Heavenly Class Number One Cultivation Room.

"Bang!"

A valuable white jade teacup was fiercely smashed onto the ground, shattering into pieces.

Xiao Lang's face was so gloomy it looked like it could drip water. He stared intently at an Intelligence Jade Slip in his hand, veins bulging on the back of his hand, a bone-chilling killing intent emanating from him, causing the temperature in the cultivation room to drop several degrees instantly.

"Innate Dao Body... Spirit dance..."

He gritted out these words from between his teeth, his eyes filled with jealousy and malice that almost materialized.

He, Xiao Lang, the eldest son of Marquis Wuwei's Estate in the Royal City, was born with a top-grade Fire Spiritual Root and had been hailed as a peerless genius rarely seen in the Royal City for a hundred years since childhood! He had always thought of himself as the protagonist of this era, destined to look down upon all beings!

But now, a nobody from some remote village had repeatedly snatched away all the glory that should have belonged to him!

The Gravity Tower record was broken! The prestige of being the number one in the outer courtyard was stolen! And now, even his most proud talent had become a joke in the face of this so-called "Innate Dao Body"!

How could he stand it?!

"I don't believe it! There's no such damn Innate Dao Body in this world!" Xiao Lang's eyes flickered with madness. "He must be hiding some earth-shattering secret! Or he obtained some heaven-defying treasure!"

He suddenly stood up and shouted towards the door, "Guards!"

"Young Master!" Two black-clothed guards with steady auras appeared at the doorway like phantoms.

"Go investigate! No matter the cost, find out everything about that brat Lin Xiao! I want to know how many grains of rice he's eaten and how much water he's drunk since he was a child! I'll see what kind of monster he really is!"

"Yes!"

Meanwhile, in the private chamber exclusively for the Vice Principal of the Outer Court.

Chu Tianxing was playing chess against himself, holding a chess piece.

A grey-robed elder stood respectfully by his side, reporting the news he had just received.

"...That's how the incident unfolded. Fang Yuan is still kneeling outside the hall awaiting your judgment."

Chu Tianxing listened, but the chess piece in his hand remained unplayed for a long time. However, a brilliant light, unprecedented in its brilliance, erupted from his cloudy old eyes!

"Innate Dao Body... Spirit Resonance... Hehehehehe..."

He suddenly chuckled in a low voice, and his laughter grew louder and louder until he couldn't help but clap his hands in laughter, causing the chess pieces on the board to jump.

"Heaven bless my Cloud Creek! Heaven bless my Cloud Creek!"

He suddenly stood up and paced back and forth in the room, his face filled with unconcealed excitement and joy.

"How many years has it been... How many years has it been since Cloud Creek Academy has produced such an unparalleled Uncut Jade that could change the entire dynasty's landscape!"

"Principal!" The grey-robed elder was also excited. "Then, what should we do now..."

"Pass down my order!" Chu Tianxing decided instantly, a hint of unquestionable authority flashing in his eyes. "First, the fool named Fang Yuan will have his instructor status revoked immediately, he will be expelled from the academy, and never be hired again! Cloud Creek Academy does not need such a narrow-minded person who lacks judgment!"

"Second, immediately elevate Lin Xiao's student rank to the highest Heavenly Class! All his cultivation resources will be distributed according to the standards of a core disciple! No! Use the highest standards! Give him whatever he needs! Even if he wants the stars in the sky, we'll find a way to pluck them down for him!"

"Third..." Chu Tianxing paused, a kind smile appearing on his face. "Prepare the carriage. This old man will personally go and meet this... peerless genius of our academy!"

When Vice Principal Chu Tianxing's exclusive carriage, a luxurious beast-drawn carriage pulled by four magnificent "Cloud-Treading Beasts," majestically entered the dormitory area of the Yellow Class, the entire Outer Court was once again completely ignited!

Countless students surged from all directions, completely blocking the already narrow road. They all wanted to see for themselves what kind of legendary freshman had attracted the Vice Principal to visit in person!

And at this moment, inside Lin Xiao's dormitory, the center of the event.

Lin Xiao sat cross-legged, completely ignoring the clamor outside that could have overturned the roof.

He was reviewing.

Reviewing his actions in class today.

He knew his performance was a bit too high-profile. But it was also a necessary choice he had made after careful consideration.

He was well aware of the principle "The nail that sticks out gets hammered down." But he also understood that in this world where the strong reign supreme, continuous forbearance would only lead to escalating bullying.

He needed to display enough value to gain the academy's attention, obtain more resources, and protect himself and his companions!

And today was the first step in him revealing his "fangs."

"Knock, knock, knock."

A steady knock sounded.

"Lin Xiao, Vice... Vice Principal, he... he's here to see you personally!" Shi Lei's voice, trembling with excitement, came from outside the door.

Lin Xiao slowly opened his eyes, his gaze calm.

He stood up, tidied his robes, and opened the door.

Standing outside was an old man wearing a luxurious purple robe, his hair and beard white, but his spirit vigorous and his eyes deep as the sea.

It was the Vice Principal of the Outer Court, Chu Tianxing.

"You are Lin Xiao?"

Chu Tianxing looked at Lin Xiao, who stood before him with neither servility nor arrogance, his demeanor calm and composed, completely unlike a mere youth. A look of genuine admiration flashed in his cloudy old eyes.

"Student Lin Xiao greets the Vice Principal." Lin Xiao bowed slightly.

"No need for formalities, no need for formalities!" Chu Tianxing quickly stepped forward and kindly supported him, his face beaming with a smile like blooming chrysanthemums. "Good! What a fine young talent! This old man has heard about today's events. The academy failed to recognize your worth, allowing a gem like you to be hidden away in the Yellow Class. You have been wronged!"

He held Lin Xiao's hand, his attitude as kind as a kindly grandfather next door.

"This old man has come today, firstly, to apologize to you on behalf of the academy. Secondly, I want to personally deliver some good news." Chu Tianxing said with a smile, "From today onwards, you are a student of our Heavenly Class Number One! You will enjoy the top cultivation resources in the entire Outer Court and guidance from the best instructors! This old man guarantees that within three years, you will become a renowned prodigy throughout the Great Xia Dynasty!"

These words were sonorous and full of temptation.

Hearing this, the countless students gathered outside turned red-eyed, their breathing becoming rapid.

A meteoric rise!

This was simply a meteoric rise! Directly from the worst Yellow Class to the strongest Heavenly Class! This was a glory that countless people dreamed of but could never achieve even after a lifetime of struggle!

Everyone expected Lin Xiao to immediately fall to his knees in gratitude.

However, Lin Xiao's reaction once again surprised everyone.

He calmly withdrew his hand from Chu Tianxing's grasp and bowed deeply to Chu Tianxing once more.

"Thank you for your kindness, Vice Dean."

His voice was clear and firm.

"But this student... refuses."