The air in the classroom seemed to freeze for a moment.
Everyone's gaze focused on the figure slowly walking up to the lectern.
His black-and-gold robes accentuated his tall, slender frame, and his devilishly handsome face wore a hint of languor. Most striking were his golden eyes. As they swept across the room, they gave everyone the uncanny feeling that he could see right through them.
After a brief silence, an even louder commotion erupted.
"Wow! Who is that? He's so handsome!"
"Is he another transfer student? With Huo Yuhao, that makes two today, right?"
"He's absolutely gorgeous! His whole vibe is incredible. He's even more charming than Senior Xiao Hongchen!"
The girls' side of the room instantly burst into excitement. Their eyes shone as they eagerly whispered among themselves, and some had already started asking around for Gu Yuejin's contact information.
The boys, meanwhile, seemed a little sour.
"Tch, what good does being handsome do? This is the Soul Master Academy. What matters here is brains and skill."
"Exactly. He looks like a pretty boy who only knows how to show off."
"Probably some rich young master shoved in here by his family to gild his résumé. I've seen plenty of guys like him—pretty on the outside, useless inside."
As he listened to the students' noisy chatter, the homeroom teacher, who had been standing respectfully to one side, broke out in a cold sweat.
You little troublemakers!
This was a formidable figure whom even the Hall Master treated as an honored guest. Were they tired of living?
"Ahem! Quiet down!"
The homeroom teacher rapped sharply on the blackboard. Soul Power carried his voice throughout the room, finally drowning out the commotion.
He cleared his throat and introduced the newcomer with a serious expression:
"Listen up, all of you! This isn't a transfer student."
"This is Teacher Gu Yuejin, the Academy's specially appointed Martial Soul Department Director and the instructor in charge of your Combat Class from now on!"
"Let's give him a round of applause!"
The announcement set the whole room abuzz.
"What? A teacher?!"
"And the Department Director?! Are you kidding? He doesn't look much older than us!"
"A director this young? Even if he'd started training in the womb, that wouldn't be possible!"
Doubtful voices rose one after another.
After all, in the Sun Moon Empire, Department Directors were usually respected, white-bearded old scholars, or Rank 9 Soul Masters who had made a name for themselves long ago.
What right did this young upstart have?
Of course, there were clever students in the crowd as well.
They saw the homeroom teacher's almost servile deference and recalled the recent changes among the Academy's upper ranks. Gradually, their expressions turned grave.
The Academy had broken with tradition and even established a new department specifically for this young man. He was certainly no ordinary person.
Gu Yuejin wasn't offended by the doubts and chatter from the students below.
In fact, he listened with amusement for a while.
"Hello, everyone. It seems you're all very interested in me."
Gu Yuejin braced both hands on the lectern and leaned forward slightly, smiling as he spoke:
"I know I'm handsome, but you don't have to be so surprised. You'll have plenty of chances to see me from now on."
"As for how I became Department Director..."
He paused, his eyes teasing.
"Maybe it's what they call... charisma."
His unserious words left the students exchanging glances.
Was this teacher... not very respectable?
"All right, Teacher Wang, I'll take it from here. You can go."
Gu Yuejin turned to the homeroom teacher and waved him off like he was shooing away a fly.
"Yes, yes. Director Gu Yue, I'll leave you to it. Just call me if you need anything."
The homeroom teacher looked as if a great burden had been lifted. He knew the truth: this was a monster who could beat even a Titled Douluo into submission. He didn't dare stay another moment and hurried out.
After the homeroom teacher left, Gu Yuejin's smile remained bright.
"Since this is our first class, there's no point wasting time in the classroom."
"Theory is incredibly boring. I believe that practice is the best way to learn."
"Everyone, head to the First Soul Fighting Arena at once."
"Who's the class monitor?"
Gu Yuejin's gaze swept over the room.
"I am."
Xiao Hongchen stood up, his silver hair especially eye-catching in the crowd.
He still had some doubts about Gu Yuejin's Soul Power level of seventy-seven. After all, hearsay wasn't proof.
But as a proud member of the Hongchen Family, his good upbringing taught him to respect his teachers.
Besides, his grandfather had repeatedly warned him not to anger this man under any circumstances.
"Good. Then please help keep order and lead everyone there, Xiao Hongchen."
"Yes, Teacher Gu Yue."
Xiao Hongchen nodded, then turned to his classmates, his usual proud, cool demeanor back in place.
"Everyone, stand up! Line up and head to the Soul Fighting Arena. Keep quiet!"
Under Xiao Hongchen's authority, most of the students rose obediently and began lining up to leave, though some still grumbled to themselves.
Huo Yuhao and Meng Hongchen were among the first to respond, falling in at the back of the line.
However...
Not everyone was willing to cooperate.
In a corner of the classroom, several people remained firmly seated, without moving an inch.
They were clearly a small clique, about four or five of them, sitting together with mocking smiles. Xiao Hongchen's words had gone in one ear and out the other.
The one seated in the middle was a young man dressed in ornate purple robes.
He looked about fifteen or sixteen and was fairly handsome, but his eyes and brows were marked by undisguised arrogance and hostility.
At that moment, he had his legs crossed and was playing with a fine Soul Guide Core in his hand. He hadn't even glanced at Gu Yuejin on the lectern.
"Heh, interesting."
Gu Yuejin narrowed his eyes. He saw through the young man at a glance.
Purple robes weren't explicitly forbidden to commoners in the Sun Moon Empire, but the distinctive cut and pattern marked these as exclusive to the Imperial Clan.
This brat was most likely a relative of Xu Tianran, that cripple.
Xu Hu.
A member of a collateral branch of the current Imperial Clan, Xu Tianran's cousin. He usually relied on the Crown Prince's influence to throw his weight around at the Academy and was a notorious troublemaker.
The sudden establishment of the Martial Soul Department had already stirred up discontent among many Soul Engineer students.
Xu Hu clearly wanted to use this opportunity to put the new "pretty-boy" teacher in his place—and show off in front of his classmates while he was at it.
The atmosphere in the classroom turned tense at once.
The students who had been heading for the door stopped and looked on, eager for a show.
On one side was the mysterious new Department Director.
On the other was the Imperial Clan's own, the Academy bully Xu Hu.
The first class hadn't even started, and things were already this heated?
Xiao Hongchen frowned and was about to reprimand them.
But Gu Yuejin raised a hand to stop him, then strolled over to the group.
"Are your legs not working, or something?"
Gu Yuejin looked down at Xu Hu, his smile all teeth and no warmth. His voice was gentle enough to send a chill down one's spine.
"Or..."
"Would you like your teacher to personally escort you there?"
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