Unlike Freshman Class One, whose terrifying first lesson of the semester had already gotten more than ten students expelled, Class Nine had it much easier.
Everyone only had to take part in one live combat exercise. The rest of the time was spent watching from the stands. As for the Support System and Food System Soul Masters, who lacked combat ability, they were paired with Strong Attack System Soul Masters for two-on-two battles.
By noon, about half the students had completed their combat exercises. When lunch break arrived, Mu Jin dismissed the class and told everyone that the afternoon schedule would be the same as the morning's: more combat practice.
That saved Mo Yuan a lot of effort. Once he quickly defeated his opponent, he could return to the stands and cultivate.
The blazing sun rose in the east and set in the west. Its lingering rays dyed half the sky a fiery red. The Soul Guide Lamps flicked on, their soft light illuminating the ancient academy that had stood for ten thousand years.
"All right, everyone, that's the end of today's combat practice. You can leave the Battle Soul Arena and head to the cafeteria for dinner."
The final pair of students finished their match just as the dismissal bell rang from the distant classroom building. Mu Jin clapped her hands and dismissed the class.
"Finally, class is over! I've been sitting all day. My back's about to snap." Bai Yi pushed himself up from his seat and stretched deeply.
"Exactly. After two matches, all we did was sit in our chairs and cultivate. It was so boring."
Wu Feng wholeheartedly agreed. After spending the day with Bai Yi, her deskmate, the two had grown a little more familiar. Then Wu Feng looked behind her at Ning Tian, who was speaking quietly with Mo Yuan.
Wu Feng immediately squeezed between them, separating Ning Tian from Mo Yuan, and affectionately linked arms with Ning Tian.
"Ning Tian, let's go to the cafeteria together."
"No. Wu Feng, come with me to Shrek City first."
Ning Tian figured that since Mo Yuan had finally asked them for help, it would be best to get it done as soon as possible. That attitude would also show him how much the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan—and she herself—valued him.
"Huh? Go to Shrek City?" Wu Feng stared at her blankly, then seemed to realize something. A blissful, excited smile spread across her face.
Could Ning Tian have changed her mind? Was she going to Shrek City with her for a date?
Mo Yuan, who had witnessed Wu Feng's baffling change of expression, couldn't help feeling confused.
Did the wind just blow her screws loose?
Ning Tian had grown up with Wu Feng, so she naturally guessed why Wu Feng's expression had changed. She felt a little exasperated and turned to wave at Mo Yuan.
"Mo Yuan, Wu Feng and I will head off first. Bye."
"Bye."
After watching Ning Tian and Wu Feng leave along the road toward Shrek City, Mo Yuan was about to go to the cafeteria with Bai Yi.
But just as he turned to call Bai Yi, Bai Yi let out a startled cry. At the same time, Mo Yuan felt someone tug at his sleeve.
"Ahem! Mo Yuan, turn around and look! There's a beauty! And she's from the Inner Court!"
The Inner Court?
A beauty?
Mo Yuan was taken aback. Either one of those things on its own would have been normal in the Outer Court, but together, they seemed out of place.
What was an Inner Court beauty doing in the Outer Court?
Curious, Mo Yuan turned to follow Bai Yi's gaze. A figure was slowly approaching them from nearby.
She wore the red uniform that marked her as an Inner Court student. Her features were delicate and exquisitely beautiful, and her figure was gracefully curvaceous. The last fiery rays of the setting sun and the gentle glow of the Soul Guide Lamps shone from behind her.
Together, they formed a breathtaking scene, like a perfect painting from a dream.
"Holy crap... This is the first time I've seen a girl this beautiful. Mo Yuan, I'm suddenly feeling something strange. Do you think this is the first flutter of my heart?"
Mo Yuan glanced at Bai Yi, who was practically drooling, and couldn't help laughing. "If you don't wipe up that drool, it won't matter even if it's your first kick in the womb."
Joking aside, from the perspective of any normal man, Mo Yuan had to admit that the Inner Court senior walking toward them was stunning.
He couldn't help trying to figure out who she was.
There were only a handful of women with prominent roles in the Inner Court sections of the Original Work: Zhang Lexuan, Han Ruoruo, Ma Xiaotao, Wu Ming, and Ling Luochеn.
He knew Ma Xiaotao. Zhang Lexuan probably wouldn't show up here, and Wu Ming didn't have the right kind of presence...
Just as Mo Yuan was wondering who the woman might be, Bai Yi suddenly let out another startled cry.
"Mo Yuan, look! She's coming right over here! Think she might be here to see me?"
Mo Yuan looked up. The Inner Court senior was already only three meters away. Unless there was a fourth person hiding nearby, she had to be here for either him or Bai Yi.
But given Bai Yi's lovestruck reaction, Mo Yuan guessed she was probably here for him.
"Hello. You're Mo Yuan, right? I'm Han Ruoruo. Junior Sister Xiaotao had something come up and couldn't make it, so she asked me to return your uniform."
Han Ruoruo's eyes sparkled as she looked at Mo Yuan's flawless features. Her long lashes fluttered slightly, and her eyes held a warm, curious smile as she reached out to him.
Just as I thought...
Mo Yuan reached out and shook Han Ruoruo's hand. Their hands touched briefly, then parted.
"Hello, Senior Han."
Seeing this, Bai Yi's spirits visibly sank. The light had gone out of his eyes.
Mo Yuan could faintly hear him muttering under his breath.
I'm such an idiot... Seriously, I'm a complete moron... Mo Yuan's right here beside me. How could she possibly be here to see me...
"Is he your friend? He seems a little out of sorts..."
"It's nothing. Guys are like this after a breakup. He'll be fine in a bit."
Mo Yuan gave Bai Yi's shoulder a sympathetic pat. Neither in his previous life nor in this one had he ever experienced a breakup, since he'd never been in love. After all, being too handsome really did make people too intimidated to approach...
But he could imagine what it was like.
"Here's your uniform, Junior. Junior Sister Xiaotao personally washed and carefully folded it."
Han Ruoruo took the neatly folded white uniform from her Soul Tool and handed it to Mo Yuan. Curiosity filled her eyes. She looked as if she wanted to get to the bottom of his relationship with Ma Xiaotao.
Mo Yuan didn't show the slightest reaction. He simply put the uniform away.
He didn't have much to say about Ma Xiaotao. If he hadn't wanted to hide his evil Black King's Blood Martial Soul and cultivate an image of himself as a kind, gentle person, he would have simply walked away when Ma Xiaotao fell into the water yesterday. None of what followed would have happened.
"Are you heading to the cafeteria for dinner, Junior?"
"Yes. I was just about to go with Bai Yi..."
"No, Mo Yuan, you go with Senior Han. I want to be alone for a while." Bai Yi patted Mo Yuan on the shoulder. He'd thought it through. A heaven's favorite like Han Ruoruo was far beyond his reach.
Her coming to see Mo Yuan had been unexpected, but it made perfect sense. There was no reason for him to be disappointed.
"Uh... Why'd you leave all of a sudden?" Mo Yuan watched Bai Yi walk off alone into the distance and couldn't help feeling that his lonely silhouette looked rather desolate.
"Alone for a while? Who's Alone?" Han Ruoruo asked curiously.
Mo Yuan's expression froze.
Who's Alone?
Senior, you've got a sense of humor...
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