After covering a third of the material, Feng Qi stopped explaining. Looking up, he saw every student staring at him with bright eyes, their faces full of anticipation.
"Keep going, Teacher! Don't stop! Continue! I'll feel awful if I don't hear the rest!"
"This is truly brilliant. Your understanding of body cultivation takes a completely different approach and has given me so many ideas. Once class is over, I'll go test them out. Teacher, please finish the lecture. I'm begging you."
"I'm impressed, truly impressed. The rising generation surpasses the old. Teacher, you truly deserve to be called a genius!"
Pah, weren't you looking down on me just now? Feng Qi grumbled inwardly.
Hearing the students call him Teacher, he assumed it was simply an honorific the students in the Cultivation Exchange Class used among themselves and paid it no mind.
Facing those pairs of eager eyes, he pondered briefly before continuing his explanation of the fundamental principles of the Fierce Tiger Fist.
Though he felt somewhat displeased with these arrogant upperclassmen from Star City Academy, Feng Qi did not hold a grudge.
This was the perfect opportunity to spread the Fierce Tiger Fist and let more people learn it, thereby accelerating the development of modern Cultivation Studies and influencing the future.
Outside the classroom, Lin Ran was listening with rapt attention.
When he suddenly noticed that the lecture inside had stopped, he immediately felt unbearably restless, as if a cat were scratching at his heart.
He found Feng Qi's ideas on body cultivation extremely novel, and many of his insights were things Lin Ran had never heard before. He could not help but admire him.
As he waited anxiously, the sound of the lecture resumed. Lin Ran simply sat down on the floor, pulled out a notebook, and began taking notes.
"Lao Liang, what is it?"
"Lin Ran has arrived at your place, right? You'd better take good care of him. He's not only my prized student, but also a researcher preselected by the Tiger Soul Research Institute. If he gets bullied over there, don't blame me for getting nasty."
"Don't worry, I've arranged everything. I'm hanging up now—I'm about to go listen to his lecture and see whether he's really as outstanding as you say."
After hanging up, Bai Fusheng rose to his feet and headed toward Teaching Building No. 2.
Lin Ran was not a student of Star City Academy, but an exchange student from Winter Academy. After arranging his dormitory upon his arrival, the first thing Bai Fusheng did was assign Lin Ran to give the senior students a lesson, tempering their arrogance and letting them know there was always someone better.
Smiling and nodding along the way as he greeted the students and teachers he encountered, Bai Fusheng arrived outside Combat Class One's classroom.
Just as he was about to push the door open, he caught sight of Lin Ran out of the corner of his eye. Lin Ran was sitting in a corner, scribbling away in his notebook and occasionally nodding.
Bai Fusheng:???
He walked over to Lin Ran. At that moment, Lin Ran was completely absorbed and had not noticed his arrival at all.
"Lin Ran, I told you to teach a class. What are you doing sitting here?"
"Shh, don't talk. I'm taking notes." Lin Ran did not even raise his head.
Bai Fusheng:...
Puzzled, Bai Fusheng turned toward the classroom. Through the window, he could see a young student lecturing at the podium.
This made Bai Fusheng frown.
This was Combat Class One's regular lesson, not a Cultivation Exchange Class for sharing cultivation insights. Who was bold enough to get onstage and speak so freely at a time like this?
Glancing at Lin Ran, who was still taking notes, Bai Fusheng grew even more confused. He could not understand what Lin Ran was recording.
"Taking form and intent as the core framework of cultivation, one must possess the unstoppable momentum of a fierce tiger in battle in order to..."
Upon hearing the lecture from inside, Bai Fusheng's expression gradually changed. He realized that the student giving the lecture was extraordinarily capable and had already formed his own set of ideas about body cultivation.
At that moment, the anger in Bai Fusheng's heart vanished completely. He joined Lin Ran in listening from outside.
Inside the classroom, Feng Qi had explained two-thirds of the core fundamentals and was feeling parched. He stopped speaking once again.
Seeing this, the students, who were listening with great enjoyment, immediately offered him bottled water and snacks, all saying that Teacher should rest for a while before continuing.
Feng Qi was speechless. He had only come to sit in on an exchange of cultivation insights—how had he ended up teaching a class?
But as the saying went, showing off halfway was like something being cut short halfway.
Besides, he had already explained two-thirds of the Fierce Tiger Fist's basic material. The students would soon finish copying it down, so he decided to finish the lecture.
While Feng Qi rested, Lin Ran outside the classroom looked up at Bai Fusheng resentfully.
"Old Bai, I'd already prepared my lesson and was ready to show off, but it turns out the clown was me. Did my teacher know you were doing this just to put me down?"
Bai Fusheng:...
Bai Fusheng did not know how to respond to that.
He truly had never intended to suppress Lin Ran. He had arranged for Lin Ran to teach the class in order to humble the students of Combat Class One and let them understand the gap between themselves and a real genius.
As for the student teaching inside the classroom, Bai Fusheng had never even heard of him, much less knew him.
Still, Bai Fusheng felt gratified at that moment. He had never expected Star City Academy to conceal such talent, an outstanding individual like this.
Seeing the resentment in Lin Ran's eyes, Bai Fusheng thought for a moment before speaking earnestly.
"Lin Ran, you must understand that there is always someone better. Although you performed exceptionally well at Winter Academy, Star City Academy is no less lacking in highly gifted students. See that? This is the strength of Star City Academy. I arranged this because I hope you can go further. Don't think being accepted early by the Tiger Soul Research Institute means you can become arrogant and complacent. You still have a long road ahead of you."
Looking at Bai Fusheng's gentle expression, Lin Ran nodded.
"Old Bai, I understand now. This lesson has been profoundly meaningful, and I've benefited greatly. Thank you for your guidance!" As he spoke, Lin Ran stood and bowed to Bai Fusheng.
Hearing this, Bai Fusheng secretly felt delighted.
He had long heard that Lin Ran of Winter Academy possessed extraordinary talent and had offered many valuable suggestions regarding the improvement and research of combat techniques, drawing the attention of the Tiger Soul Research Institute and earning an early acceptance.
Whenever he thought of how Star City Academy lacked anyone capable of matching Lin Ran, Bai Fusheng would sigh inwardly.
Yet he had never expected such an unexpected surprise today: he had discovered a pearl buried beneath dust.
"Old Bai, which class is that student from, and what is his name? I want to get to know him." Lin Ran asked expectantly.
Bai Fusheng:...
Faced with the question, Bai Fusheng was rendered speechless.
Because he did not know who the person inside the classroom was either. But he had already shown off this much—if he admitted he did not know now, he would never be able to save face.
So Bai Fusheng pretended to be calm.
"He is an outstanding student of Star City Academy. I'll introduce you two when there's time!"
"Old Bai, of course I know he's an outstanding student from your academy. I'm asking which class he's in and what his name is," Lin Ran pressed.
"Aren't you here to listen to the lecture? It's starting again!"
Fortunately, Feng Qi resumed his lecture, easing Bai Fusheng's awkwardness.
Seeing this, Lin Ran stopped asking and immediately sat down to continue taking notes.
Bai Fusheng also chose to stand nearby and listen, nodding approvingly from time to time.
After Feng Qi finished the lesson, thunderous applause erupted throughout the classroom.
Even after Feng Qi pushed open the door and left, the applause did not subside for a long while.
"Old Bai, he's here. Introduce us!" Seeing Feng Qi walking toward them, Lin Ran turned to Bai Fusheng.
"Fine, then I'll introduce you two!"
Though Bai Fusheng felt awkward inside, he still stepped forward. Just as he was about to speak, Feng Qi politely moved aside to let him pass, then walked right by him.
Bai Fusheng:...
Lin Ran:...
Watching Feng Qi walk farther and farther away, Lin Ran looked puzzled and could not help turning to Bai Fusheng.
"Old Bai, are you sure you know him? Or rather, does he know you?"
Bai Fusheng:...
Before you continue