A gentle breeze stirred the willows, veiling them in mist.
A good day began in the morning, so Xian Wu got up early.
It wasn't because he couldn't wait to learn cultivation techniques. He had to go to the cafeteria and help serve breakfast.
"Xiao Wu, a few of these meat buns didn't turn out too well. Here, have them." An old man from Meal A pressed several buns into his hands.
The flattery was obvious, but Xian Wu didn't refuse.
Vice Dean Ye Sheng had nothing to do with him, but that didn't stop people from thinking they were connected.
Even if it came out that they weren't, it didn't matter. He might as well enjoy the perks of that supposed connection while he could.
It was still better than being an orphan with no father or mother, looked down on wherever he went.
To Xian Wu's surprise, a lot of familiar faces came to his station for breakfast that morning.
Lu Piao, Nie Li, Du Ze, Wei Nan, Zhang Ming, and Zhu Jun Xiang all showed up.
Lu Piao usually ate Meal A. He'd probably come to Xian Wu's station just for fun.
Though Nie Li was also the son of a noble family, he was different. He always ate Meal C.
Xian Wu didn't put on airs. He gave each of them two portions of leftovers.
The old men and women saw it, but tacitly said nothing.
A few students did protest Xian Wu's favoritism, but in the end, they were the ones who went without leftovers.
After that, no one dared complain.
Xian Wu had practically become the cafeteria's little emperor.
Xian Wu himself was nothing special. The people in the cafeteria were mainly showing respect to Vice Dean Ye Sheng.
After finishing his busy shift serving food, Xian Wu greeted the cafeteria manager and hurried off to the classroom.
He couldn't be late on the first day. That would leave a bad impression on his instructor and classmates.
Although... he'd already made a bad impression on his classmates during yesterday's entrance test.
The nickname "Pants-Stripping Fiend" was especially frightening to anyone who heard it.
The desks in the classroom were arranged in three rows: one large row in the middle and two smaller rows along the walls and windows.
Each desk had a student number, and the students could find their assigned seats.
It was worth noting that the children of nobles, powerful families, and Peak Families mostly sat near the front and center.
The commoners mostly sat at the back and along the sides, far from the lectern and blackboard. They could neither hear nor see clearly.
At least the aisles between the desks were spacious enough for three people to walk side by side.
Xian Wu was lucky enough to get a seat by the window in the very last row.
Nie Li and Lu Piao were also in the back row, but they sat in the middle, directly facing the blackboard and lectern. They wouldn't have to crane their necks to follow the lesson.
The two of them were across the aisle from Xian Wu.
Zhu Jun Xiang sat in front of Xian Wu. Zhang Ming's seat was opposite Xian Wu's, but against the wall.
Du Ze sat in front of Zhang Ming, opposite Zhu Jun Xiang.
Wei Nan was luckier, getting a seat in the middle, though it was in the last row, right beside Lu Piao.
Whether he'd get gay-baited was anyone's guess. Best of luck to him.
Xiao Ning'er sat right in the center of the front row, on the classroom's central axis.
Given her talent, she deserved that seat.
Xiao Ning'er wore her hair in a high, perky ponytail that bobbed up and down amusingly.
If he got the chance, Xian Wu would definitely give it a couple of strokes.
He wasn't thinking with his hormones. He just thought it would be fun. Don't get the wrong idea, don't get the wrong idea, don't get the wrong idea—it was important, so he said it three times.
Dong, dong, dong!
The melodious bell rang out across the City of Brilliance, and class began.
A male instructor strode into the classroom, his footsteps thudding.
Xian Wu knew him. He was the guy who'd led them yesterday and cleared Xian Wu's name.
After stepping up to the lectern, the instructor introduced himself. "Hello, students. Welcome to Sacred Orchid Academy, and welcome to the Beginner Martial Arts Class. My name is Tie Kuang, and I'm from the Iron Gate Family. I'll be in charge of your martial arts studies for the next two months."
"Two months from now, you'll take your final exams, where you'll demonstrate what you've learned in martial arts and as Spirit Masters."
"This is both good news and bad news."
"Those who reach Bronze One Star as either a martial artist or a Spirit Master will be promoted to the regular martial arts or Spirit Master class."
"Those who reach Bronze Three Stars or higher can even advance to the martial arts or Spirit Master elite class. I hope you make the most of this opportunity."
"In the regular and elite classes, you'll learn more profound knowledge and receive more specialized guidance..."
So this beginner martial arts class was basically kindergarten? Xian Wu raised an eyebrow.
No matter what, he had to advance to the regular martial arts class.
The final exams two months from now would be his chance to prove himself to Vice Dean Ye Sheng.
Instructor Tie Kuang continued, "But don't celebrate too soon. If you haven't reached Bronze One Star in two months and you're among the bottom three, I'm sorry to inform you three that you'll be expelled."
"Expelled?" Xian Wu shuddered at the word. With only one point of Soul Force, he had a real shot at being in the bottom three.
No, he had to raise both his Soul Force and strength in the next two months, even if he had to study day and night.
If he got expelled, he wouldn't be able to eat those delicious breakfasts anymore.
"Now let's briefly discuss martial artists." Instructor Tie Kuang reminded them, "Take out your Ram Horn Pens and get ready to take notes. A good memory is no substitute for a bad pen."
"What is a martial artist? A martial artist is someone who trains in martial techniques." Instructor Tie Kuang's voice was full and strong, every word ringing out like a copper pea striking the ground.
"What do you need to train in martial techniques?" As he spoke, Instructor Tie Kuang pounded his sturdy chest twice with his fist.
"You need a strong body and great strength!"
"A strong body can keep you from being killed instantly by vicious demon beasts, while great strength lets you break through their defenses with ease."
"Something worth noting: at the same level, human martial artists can't beat demon beasts in a bare-handed one-on-one fight."
"That's because demon beasts have not only incredibly powerful bodies but all kinds of strange abilities. Some can control ice and snow, some can control fire, some can sharpen their claws and fangs, and some can multiply their strength several times over for a short time."
"But human martial artists aren't helpless lambs waiting to be slaughtered. What makes humans human is that we use tools and our brains."
"Battle armor and Battle Weapons can greatly increase a human martial artist's combat power. Fighting above your level with powerful equipment is commonplace."
Nonsense. Xian Wu curled his lip. Give him one atomic bomb and he could level the entire Sacred Ancestor Mountain Range.
Give him ten million atomic bombs and he could scour the whole planet clean.
The only problem was figuring out how to make them with his limited knowledge of physics and chemistry.
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