Reporting In, Picking a Fight

Following Liu Yuxin's instructions, Tang Wuyang and Tang Wulin boarded Eastsea Academy's bus.

The bus was very spacious, enough to hold fifty people. There were already quite a few people aboard, including children their age and adults. Clearly, these were parents accompanying their children to report to the academy.

A flicker of envy passed through Tang Wulin's eyes. Though it vanished in an instant, Tang Wuyang still noticed it and stepped forward to take his hand.

Feeling the warmth in his right palm, Tang Wulin turned and saw that Tang Wuyang's eyes also held a trace of unease, yet she was still trying to encourage him.

Yes, even if their minds were more mature than those of their peers, they were ultimately only two nine-year-old children! How could they not wish for their parents to face this unfamiliar city alongside them?

They found a row with both seats empty. At her brother's signal, Tang Wuyang took the window seat.

Looking at the unfamiliar scenery outside the window, Tang Wuyang let out a breath. For the next six years, she and her brother would be living here.

Knowing she was not alone, Tang Wulin's sense of helplessness immediately lessened. At least Wuyang was with him. He had not come alone to this unfamiliar city to study.

Both of them clearly remembered what their father, Tang Ziran, had solemnly told them before they left home.

"Linlin, Yangyang, remember this. In this world, the only people you can truly trust completely and rely on are yourselves."

"If you are separated one day, then when you meet again, you must not immediately trust each other. You can only believe after confirming that it really is the other person."

"No matter what setbacks you face in the future, or what bad things happen, you must ask yourselves whether it is because you are not strong enough."

Those words had been deeply shocking to two children of only nine. Once they left their father and mother, they could only rely on themselves.

Just as Tang Wuyang was about to fall asleep, the bus finally started moving. Tang Wuyang, who had been slightly groggy, immediately woke with a start. She glanced at Tang Wulin, who was staring blankly beside her, then looked out the window.

By now, the bus was full. Nearly everyone had been accompanied by their parents. Only they had no parents at their side.

The scenery outside the windows continually receded. Shops lined the streets, while countless vehicles passed back and forth. The city seemed filled with the scent of steel and an atmosphere of urgency.

Everyone on the streets looked busy, far busier than anyone in Aolai City.

Tall buildings slid past the windows. After more than twenty minutes on the road, the bus stopped beside a high wall.

"We've arrived at Eastsea Academy. Please get off."

A familiar voice came from the front. Only then did Tang Wuyang see that Senior Liu Yuxin was seated at the very front. She was now standing and greeting the students reporting in along with their parents.

Tang Wuyang hurriedly picked up her backpack and got off with Tang Wulin.

When the siblings reached the front, Liu Yuxin recognized the two juniors who had left such a deep impression on her at once. "Tang Wulin, Tang Wuyang, right? Follow me for now."

The high wall belonged to Eastsea Academy. Not far ahead stood a grand gate built from enormous stones.

Eastsea Academy was a large academy, qualified to provide both intermediate and advanced education.

Thus, it was divided into the Intermediate Department and the Advanced Department. Liu Yuxin was a student in the Advanced Department.

Do not think that intermediate and advanced differed by only one word. In reality, they were worlds apart.

Intermediate Academy was compulsory education and charged no tuition fees.

Eastsea Academy's Intermediate Department occupied two-thirds of the academy's total area, but the true essence of the academy was the Advanced Department, which occupied only one-third.

As long as one's Soul Power had advanced to the level of a Soul Master and one possessed a recommendation letter from a primary academy within Eastsea City or its surrounding affiliated towns, one could enter Intermediate Academy to receive Soul Master education.

Intermediate Academy lasted six years. Yet after graduating from sixth grade, very few students could truly test into an advanced Soul Master academy.

At Advanced Academy, education was no longer compulsory. To enroll, one had to pass a series of strict examinations before being admitted.

Only those who could enter an Advanced Academy could be considered true genius Soul Masters.

If primary academies taught the basic knowledge of Martial Souls and Soul Masters, then Intermediate Academy taught students how to fully apply that knowledge, thoroughly investigate their own Martial Souls, and determine their future direction.

Only upon reaching Advanced Academy did one truly begin advanced studies.

As soon as they entered the academy gates, they saw a broad road stretching sideways in both directions. Lush trees shaded its outer edges, making it appear vibrant and full of life.

Directly in front of the three of them, however, was a small path paved with blue stone slabs, giving it an ancient, rustic air.

Liu Yuxin smiled as she explained, "To ensure the students' safety, the academy does not permit vehicles to drive inside."

"Therefore, any vehicles entering the academy immediately split off to either side and enter the underground parking lot."

"The Advanced Department where I study is on the academy's west side. Everything else belongs to your Intermediate Department."

With this senior's explanation, the siblings quickly gained a preliminary understanding of the academy.

The main teaching building of Intermediate Academy stood on the academy's eastern side. It was a twelve-story building. The higher the grade, the higher the floor where its classrooms were located.

After enrolling, Tang Wuyang and Tang Wulin would become first-grade students and would only be assigned classrooms on the first or second floor.

"That over there is the Academic Affairs Office. Go report in."

"The Intermediate Department dormitories are behind the teaching building."

"If anything comes up in the future, you can come find me in the Advanced Department. I'm in Class One of First Grade in the Advanced Department."

"Thank you, Senior." The two thanked the kind senior in unison.

Watching the two little boys who had thanked her who knew how many times, Liu Yuxin gave a "puchi" laugh. "Don't be so reserved. Our academy has a great atmosphere. You need to cultivate diligently too."

"After enrollment, you'll first be assigned to classes, then you'll undergo the entrance assessment. There are benefits if you perform well."

Only after watching Liu Yuxin's figure disappear did the siblings enter the Academic Affairs Office together.

With the metal tags hanging from their chests and recommendation letters from Red Mountain Academy, both of them smoothly completed their enrollment procedures.

They each received two free sets of school uniforms and a dormitory key.

As for study materials, those would only be handed out once classes officially began.

Both of them were assigned to Grade One Class Five. From this moment on, they were new first-grade students in Eastsea Academy's Intermediate Department.

Carrying her luggage on her back, Tang Wuyang went around the teaching building with Tang Wulin and arrived at the dormitory building behind it.

The dormitory building was about as tall as the teaching building, also twelve stories high.

Perhaps because the two had been assigned to the same class and had reported in together, they were also assigned to the same dormitory, Room 205 on the second floor.

These days were the registration period, and the hallways were noisy and chaotic.

There were not only students here, but also their accompanying parents, making the entire corridor somewhat disorderly.

Tang Wuyang and Tang Wulin finally squeezed through the crowd and found their dormitory.

At that moment, the dormitory door was wide open, and someone was already inside.

There were two bunk beds in the dormitory, enough to accommodate four people.

Besides the beds, the room contained two rectangular tables, four chairs, two divided cabinets, and a ceiling lamp. That was everything in the dormitory.

When the two entered, someone was already occupying the lower bunk on the left.

As Tang Wuyang and Tang Wulin walked in, his gaze turned toward them.

The student on the lower left bunk was taller and larger than both Tang Wuyang and Tang Wulin, standing half a head above them. He was also sturdier, with short hair. Though not very old, he already carried a somewhat fierce air.

"Hello, I'm Tang Wulin. She's my younger sister, Tang Wuyang. We're new here."

As he spoke, Tang Wulin placed his luggage on the upper bunk on the right.

He did not ask whether Tang Wuyang wanted the upper or lower bunk. After all, before Na'er came to live with them, they had already slept in bunk beds.

"Hello."

After greeting him, Tang Wuyang placed the backpack on her back onto the lower bunk's bedboard.

The big student raised his eyelids and said, "I'm Zhou Changxi."

"You two newcomers, go clean the room first."

Tang Wuyang frowned slightly at those words, standing still without moving.

Tang Wulin was initially stunned, but he still obediently pulled his sister along and carried a washbasin out to fetch water.

The moment the two left, Zhou Changxi snorted. "Tch, cowards."

As Tang Wulin pulled her forward, Tang Wuyang said unhappily, "Brother! Why did you listen to him? That guy was obviously ordering us around."

Tang Wulin said gently, "We just met, after all! We'll be living together for six years. Better to avoid trouble whenever possible."

When the two fetched the water and returned to the dormitory, they saw Zhou Changxi holding Tang Wuyang's backpack. Her quilt, clothes, and daily necessities were scattered all over the floor. Even the two sets of uniforms she had just received had fallen to the ground.

Seeing them return, Zhou Changxi did not care in the slightest. Instead, he reached out to pull down Tang Wulin's bag from the upper bunk.

"What are you doing?" Tang Wuyang shook off Tang Wulin's hand and shouted angrily.

Zhou Changxi curled his lip. "Nothing. Just seeing what junk you two country bumpkins brought with you."

As he spoke, he opened Tang Wulin's backpack and dumped its contents onto the floor.

"Pick it up!" Tang Wuyang's voice turned cold.

Zhou Changxi raised his brows and widened his slightly protruding eyes, looking quite fierce. "Who are you talking to?"

As though he had not heard Tang Wuyang at all, Zhou Changxi sneered and stepped on Tang Wuyang's quilt. His right hand continued rummaging through Tang Wulin's backpack.

The spot beneath his foot happened to have a small purple flower.

Tang Wuyang's breathing grew heavy. "Na'er embroidered that for me."

The flower on the quilt had purple petals wrapped in silver along the edges.

It was not very perfect, but Na'er had left it behind.

Tang Wuyang still clearly remembered sitting beside Na'er and teasing the little flower. It was crooked and uneven, not as pretty as Na'er.

"You two softies, remember this. Here, I make the rules." Zhou Changxi pressed his thumb against his chest.

At that moment, Tang Wuyang's eyes had become completely bloodshot. Her hands clenched into fists, her bones cracking with sharp "pop, pop" sounds.

Even Tang Wulin, who normally had such a good temper, was filled with anger.

At the same time, a thin student suddenly appeared at the door to watch.

"Zhou Changxi, what are you doing? Why are you making so much noise?"

Zhou Changxi glanced at the skinny youth outside and said, "Yun Xiao, mind your own business."

Then he raised his chin high and looked at Tang Wuyang. "What, are you going to bite me?"

Tang Wuyang stomped fiercely and lunged at Zhou Changxi like a cannonball fired from its barrel.

Blinded by rage, she did not even think of releasing her Martial Soul and simply charged straight at him.

Her right fist swung out with force, setting off a string of Air Explosion Sounds as it reached Zhou Changxi almost instantly.

Zhou Changxi was not an idiot. Naturally, he could tell that Tang Wuyang was on the verge of exploding, so he had been prepared.

Seeing her fist strike toward him, he thrust out his right hand, intending to slap Tang Wuyang's fist aside.

Seeing this, Yun Xiao had wanted to step forward and get a clearer look at what was happening, but Tang Wulin directly bound him with a Blue Silver Grass Vine.

Tang Wulin did not know why Yun Xiao had come over, but he clearly knew Zhou Changxi. Naturally, Tang Wulin could not let Yun Xiao enter.

At that moment, he was watching Yun Xiao with a wary expression.

Though he had not revealed his Soul Ring or used a Soul Skill, the current toughness of his Blue Silver Grass was enough to bind Yun Xiao in place.

Yun Xiao had just wanted to explain something when he heard three sounds from inside the room.

"Smack!"

"Bang!"

"Crash!"

The first sound was Zhou Changxi's palm striking Tang Wuyang's fist.

His judgment had been accurate, and he had indeed hit it.

However, the palm that came into contact with Tang Wuyang's fist was like a mayfly trying to shake a tree. It did not alter the trajectory of her fist in the slightest.

The second sound came from Tang Wuyang's fist slamming into Zhou Changxi's chest.

With that low, muffled impact, Zhou Changxi's huge body was sent flying.

The final sound came as Zhou Changxi's airborne body smashed through the window. His entire body flew straight out of the second-floor dormitory window.

A scream immediately followed. "Aah!"

Yun Xiao, bound at the doorway, completely forgot about the vines around him. He could only stare blankly at Tang Wuyang, who radiated an aura like that of a tyrannosaur.

Naturally, he knew Zhou Changxi. They had happened to meet earlier while reporting in at the Academic Affairs Office, so they had come to the dormitory building together.

However, he and Zhou Changxi were not in the same dormitory. Yun Xiao's room was next door.

Having nothing to do in his room, he heard the commotion and came next door to see what the excitement was about.

Instead, he witnessed a scene that nearly made his jaw drop.

One had to know that Zhou Changxi's Martial Soul was the Great Strength God Ape. He was a Level 11 strength-type Battle Soul Master.

He had only been assigned to Class Five and this dormitory because his Soul Power was not particularly high.

Even so, among everyone his age Yun Xiao had ever seen, Zhou Changxi was the strongest and most powerful.

Yun Xiao could say with absolute certainty that Tang Wuyang's punch that sent Zhou Changxi flying had not contained any Soul Power. It had been nothing but a pure, ordinary punch.

Because his Martial Soul was the Great Strength God Ape, Zhou Changxi's bones differed from those of ordinary people and were far heavier.

Thus, although he was only nine years old, he even weighed more than an adult.

Yet someone with such a powerful body had been sent flying by one of Tang Wuyang's punches and crashed through the window.

What kind of strength was that?

Just then, someone walked in through the door.

Dressed in a black tracksuit, he expressionlessly walked around Tang Wulin, who stood at the doorway, as though he had not seen Yun Xiao bound beside him at all.

Upon entering the dormitory, the cold and arrogant youth saw the things scattered across the floor. His brows furrowed slightly. He kicked aside the daily necessities on the ground and coldly said to Tang Wuyang, who was blocking his path, "Move."

Tang Wuyang had already been blinded by rage. Her mind was filled with Na'er's smile. Zhou Changxi's foot stepping on the quilt felt, in her mind, like he had stepped on Na'er herself.

The cold and arrogant youth kicking away her belongings became the spark that lit the fuse.

"You're courting death!" Tang Wuyang roared as she lunged at him, throwing another punch.

The cold and arrogant youth did not even look at Tang Wuyang. He shifted his feet slightly and sidestepped, dodging her fist. At the same time, his elbow swept across her back, while his left foot extended beneath her.

Tang Wuyang was immediately sent flying under the combined force of her own momentum and the cold, arrogant youth's movements.

This time, however, she was not flying toward the window, but toward the dormitory door.

Tang Wulin raised his left hand and caught his sister as she flew backward.

He had just wanted to step forward to help when the Blue Silver Grass in his right hand began trembling slightly.

Yun Xiao, who had been bound, was slowly moving toward the dormitory.

Tang Wulin lashed out with another vine, binding Yun Xiao's legs as well.

What he did not know was that Yun Xiao had merely shuffled diagonally forward, afraid of getting caught up in the fight.

Yun Xiao swallowed. Back in primary academy, he had been known as the Master of Wisdom in his class, but today, he suddenly felt as though his brain was not enough.

What was going on here?