Starting School

She complained for a few moments, then perked right back up and took Wang Zhi by the hand.

"Come on, come on. To thank you for helping your senior out so much, I'll walk you to the Academy Gate."

She led Wang Zhi toward the Academy Gate.

All the way there, Zhou Tian'er chattered nonstop.

"By the way, where do you live?"

"You're so young, and you came to enroll all by yourself. Where are your parents?"

"My family doesn't live here," Wang Zhi explained. "I came to Hailu City to study when I was six, and I've lived on my own ever since."

"Six?" Zhou Tian'er's eyes widened. "You've been living alone since you were six?"

"Mm."

"Then where are your parents?"

"My dad works in Shrek City, and my mom stays home with my little brother. I can manage on my own here."

Zhou Tian'er fell silent.

She looked at the boy beside her, who was three years younger than she was, and her expression gradually grew complicated.

He had come alone to an unfamiliar city at six, taking care of himself and living on his own...

This...

How awful!

An image suddenly appeared in her mind.

Little Wang Zhi, all alone in an empty house. No one to cook for him, no one to do his laundry, no one to talk to. Every day after school, he came home to nothing but cold, bare walls...

As she imagined it, Zhou Tian'er's eyes began to turn red.

She abruptly stopped, turned around, and gripped Wang Zhi by the shoulders, looking at him with utter seriousness.

"Xiao Zhi, from today on..."

"You're my little brother!"

Wang Zhi: "...Huh?"

He stared blankly at the senior who had suddenly become so emotional.

"I said I'm taking you as my little brother!"

Zhou Tian'er repeated herself solemnly.

"From now on, your big sister Tian'er will look out for you!"

"If anyone picks on you, just tell them my name!"

"If you don't have anyone to eat with, come find me!"

"If you're bored on the weekends, come find me, too!"

"Anyway..."

"Whatever trouble you run into, you can come to me!"

As she spoke, she patted Wang Zhi on the head, her face full of affection.

"You poor thing. Now that you've got me, you won't have to be alone anymore."

Wang Zhi looked at her overflowing maternal instincts and didn't know how to respond.

He'd only gone home to pick something up. How had he somehow ended up with a big sister?

Still...

Looking into Zhou Tian'er's sincere Emerald Green Eyes, he felt a little warmth in his heart.

Her lively concern wasn't unpleasant at all.

"Thanks, Tian'er Jie," he said softly.

The moment Zhou Tian'er heard him call her "Tian'er Jie," her eyes lit up and her face broke into a radiant smile.

"Good! So good!"

"Come on, I'll go with you to get your things!"

She took Wang Zhi by the hand and skipped toward the Academy Entrance.

Behind them, sunlight fell on the two of them, stretching their shadows long across the ground.

After Wang Zhi brought all his things back to the academy and parted ways with Zhou Tian'er at the Academy Entrance, he returned to Room 101 alone.

The moment he opened the door, he heard voices inside.

Three more people had moved into the dorm.

On the bed nearest the door sat a sturdy boy with thick eyebrows and big eyes. His skin was somewhat dark, and he was sitting cross-legged as he sorted through his things.

When he saw Wang Zhi come in, he grinned, showing a row of white teeth.

"Hey, how's it going?"

"I'm Shi Lei. My Martial Soul is a Rock Puppet, and I'm a Level 12 Soul Master!"

He certainly was friendly.

Wang Zhi nodded.

"Wang Zhi. My Martial Soul is a mask, and I'm a Level 11 Soul Master."

On the other bed by the window, a quiet-looking boy wearing glasses looked up and pushed them back into place. His voice was gentle.

"My name is Su Mubai. My Martial Soul is a book, and I'm a Level 13 Soul Master."

"Pleased to meet you."

The owner of the last bed was a rather handsome boy, dressed in fine clothes. He was leaning against the headboard, flipping through a small booklet.

Hearing Wang Zhi introduce himself, he glanced up and gave a slight nod.

"Shangguan Qing. My Martial Soul is a Silver Silk Soft Sword, and I'm a Level 15 Soul Master."

His tone was cool, with an air of natural reserve. He clearly came from a well-to-do family.

Wang Zhi exchanged a few brief greetings with them, then returned to his bed and sat down.

The four boys were about the same age, each with a different Martial Soul. From now on, they would be living together in the same dorm.

After a brief introduction, the dorm gradually fell quiet.

Wang Zhi took off his shoes, sat cross-legged on his bed, closed his eyes, and began to meditate.

The next day.

Sunlight streamed through the window into the dorm. A new day had begun.

The new student opening ceremony was held that morning.

All the first-year students gathered in the academy's grand auditorium, packed together in a sea of people.

Onstage, Zhang Zhenpeng, the Dean of Sea and Land Academy, delivered a rousing speech. He welcomed the new students and encouraged them to study hard and bring honor to the academy in the future.

The final item on the program was the announcement of class assignments.

Holding the roster, Zhang Zhenpeng read out each student's name and class one by one.

Wang Zhi was assigned to First Year Class Two.

After the ceremony, classes officially began.

The morning lessons covered basic theory, explaining how Soul Power worked and what to keep in mind while cultivating.

Wang Zhi listened attentively, even though he had read plenty about this knowledge in novels in his Previous Life.

But only after truly becoming part of this world did he realize how great the gap between theory and practice could be.

The lessons went smoothly.

He ate a simple lunch in the cafeteria, and there were no classes in the afternoon.

Since it was the first day of school, the academy had set aside the afternoon for new students to explore the grounds and get settled in their dorms.

Wang Zhi planned to return to his dorm and meditate.

He wasn't especially talented, so he could only make up for it with hard work.

That had always been his mindset.

Since his Martial Soul wasn't particularly outstanding, he would make up for it with effort.

Whenever he had free time, he would cultivate. Even a small increase in Soul Power was worthwhile.

He hadn't gone far from the classroom building when a clear voice called out from behind him.

"Xiao Zhi!"

Wang Zhi turned toward the voice.

It was Zhou Tian'er.

She had changed into a different outfit today. Her light green dress made her look even more fresh and lively.

Her green hair shimmered in the sunlight, and she ran toward him with a radiant smile.

When she reached him, she was breathing a little hard, her cheeks tinged with pink.

"Good thing I caught you. I was afraid you'd already gone back to your dorm."

She patted her chest.

Wang Zhi smiled.

"Tian'er Jie, what's up?"

"Xiao Zhi, you're done with class, right?" Zhou Tian'er blinked and fired off three questions in quick succession. "Are you busy this afternoon? Want to go to the Auction House with me?"

Wang Zhi froze.

When he came to, he answered each question in turn.

"I'm done with class, and I'm free this afternoon."

"Tian'er Jie, why are you suddenly going to the Auction House?"

Zhou Tian'er explained.

"In previous years, the Auction House was held around the end of the term. This one was added at the last minute."

"I heard there's something good up for sale, so I came to ask what you think."

As she spoke, her eyes were full of anticipation.