"All right, the rest of you, go ahead."
Lu Li collected his thoughts and turned his gaze to the other students behind Tang Wulin and Xie Xie, speaking calmly.
"Hello, teacher. Hello, everyone. I'm Lao Bai. My Martial Soul is the Big Pig Trotter, and I'm a Level 15 Food System support Soul Master."
"I'm Feng Xiaotian. My Martial Soul is the Fire Wolf, and I'm a Level 17 Agility Attack System Battle Soul Master. My dream is to win the heart of a beautiful woman."
"Zuo Tailang. My Martial Soul is the Ace Iron Sword. I'm a Level 18 Power Attack System Battle Soul Master, and my dream is to find my other half."
"I'm Zhao Wuji. My Martial Soul is the Vajra Pig King. I'm a Level 18 Power Attack System Soul Master, and my dream is to become a man like Zhao Wuji, the teacher at Shrek Academy two thousand years ago..."
The students in the classroom stood up one after another.
They introduced their Martial Souls and Soul Power levels in turn. Not one of them was below Level 16, and most were between Levels 17 and 18.
One by one, they continued, until...
A green-haired boy stood up with a smile.
"Hello, everyone. I'm Wei Xiaofeng. My Martial Soul is the Green Shadow Snake, and I'm a Two-Ring Agility Attack System Soul Grandmaster at Level 21."
An irrepressible smile tugged at his lips. He was clearly confident in his own abilities, and his cultivation...
Was indeed higher than everyone who had gone before him.
"A Soul Grandmaster?"
A nine-year-old Soul Grandmaster!
His introduction left the other students stunned, and Tang Wulin was the most astonished of all.
Wei Xiaofeng was more than ten levels above him.
Eastsea Academy truly was full of talented people. Even a first-year class had such a powerful student.
Soon, two boys standing beside Wei Xiaofeng, one stout and one thin, spoke up in turn.
"I'm Zhang Yangzi. My Martial Soul is the Dark Phantom Eagle, and I'm a Two-Ring Control System Soul Grandmaster at Level 22."
"Wang Jinxi. My Martial Soul is the Bone Dragon King, and I'm a Two-Ring Power Attack System Soul Grandmaster at Level 22."
As their introductions ended, the class was thrown into an uproar. Soul Grandmasters—three of them!
In Eastsea Academy's intermediate division, even the strongest students in the upper grades were only Soul Elders. Yet three Soul Grandmasters had appeared in their first-year class!
At the very end, a girl sitting alone by the window in the back row said something that shocked everyone.
"My name is Gu Yue."
"My Martial Soul is the Elemental Master. I'm a Control System Soul Grandmaster at Level 28."
Her voice was soft, but not a single person missed her words. Nearly every gaze in the room turned toward her.
"Are we really the same age?"
The question rose in everyone's mind.
"Tw—"
"Twenty-eight?"
Tang Wulin's eyes widened.
Xie Xie was speechless. Was she even human?
He could understand Zhang Yangzi and the other two being a few levels stronger than him, even though they were all geniuses with Innate Full Soul Power. Maybe he simply hadn't trained as seriously...
But how could Gu Yue be so much stronger than him?
"Who does she belong to?"
"Her talent is even greater than ours."
Wei Xiaofeng, himself a Soul Grandmaster, couldn't help exclaiming in shock. She was seven levels above him...
Was this what a true top-tier genius looked like?
"I suppose there's always someone better, and there's always a higher mountain."
Zhang Yangzi and Wang Jinxi exchanged a glance, unable to hold back their remarks.
Even Wu Changkong, who had known of Gu Yue's existence, couldn't help frowning. A twenty-eight-year-old? No—a twenty-eight-level student at the age of nine.
That meant that even with Innate Full Soul Power, this genius had managed to increase her cultivation by eighteen levels in three years. She couldn't compare to a cultivation maniac like Lu Li, but...
She was undoubtedly one of the top geniuses of her generation.
"Brother Changkong, is this student on the roster?"
Lu Li stared in surprise at the development and turned to Wu Changkong beside him.
Gu Yue had come early?
"She enrolled after you went back that day. She didn't have a recommendation letter from a junior academy, so she applied on her own."
Wu Changkong looked at him and nodded calmly.
"I see."
Lu Li nodded, but his surprise didn't fade. According to the original story, Gu Yue should have appeared shortly before the Class Promotion Tournament and formed a team of two with Tang Wulin and Xie Xie.
Not only had she arrived early, but her Martial Soul talent was even greater than in the original story. Her initial Level 15 had been raised by an entire major realm.
Could it be because of the influence he'd had years ago?
As Lu Li watched her, Gu Yue was looking right back at him, a faint smile in her cool eyes.
It's been a long time, Big Brother Lu Li.
"..."
Before long, once everyone had finished introducing themselves, Wu Changkong swept his gaze across the class.
"For the next part of class, everyone will gather on the field. That's where we'll have our first practical lesson."
"A practical lesson?"
At that, everyone's eyes lit up. Zhang Yangzi and the others, who were Soul Grandmasters, were especially eager. They knew how strong Gu Yue was, and getting to fight her...
Might be an interesting experience.
"..."
On the field, Wu Changkong swept his gaze over the students before settling on Tang Wulin and Xie Xie.
"First match: Xie Xie versus Wei Xiaofeng."
"Hm?"
Hearing his name, Xie Xie immediately stepped out from the crowd. His expression was a little strange; clearly, he hadn't expected to be the first to fight.
Especially not against a Soul Grandmaster.
"Xie Xie. My Martial Soul is the Light Dragon Dagger, and I'm a Level 18 Soul Master."
He spoke first, looking at his opponent across from him.
"Wei Xiaofeng. My Martial Soul is the Green Shadow Snake, and I'm Level 21."
Wei Xiaofeng smiled back. Although he was somewhat arrogant, he wouldn't mock a classmate for having less potential than himself.
"Your Soul Power is lower than mine, so..."
"I'll only use my first Soul Skill."
Wei Xiaofeng spoke with a calm expression and a smile.
That extra Soul Ring was all the confidence he needed!
"Oh?"
Xie Xie gave a quiet scoff. His opponent had better be able to keep that promise. Otherwise...
"Light Dragon Dagger."
He was the first to summon his Martial Soul.
A dragon's roar rang out as a golden-glowing dagger appeared in his hand. A single yellow Soul Ring shone beneath his feet.
"First Soul Skill: Light Dragon Blade!"
The yellow Soul Ring beneath his feet lit up, and layers of light instantly enveloped the Light Dragon Dagger. His speed increased as well. He flashed forward, charging straight at his opponent.
"First Soul Skill: Green Shadow Strike!"
Wei Xiaofeng smiled and used his first Soul Skill as well. Green markings spread across his skin, and his speed increased in an instant.
His figure blurred, and six or seven identical images appeared behind him, making it impossible to tell which was real. His presence blended completely with the aura of his Martial Soul.
"Multiple afterimages?"
Xie Xie's heart lurched, but his hand didn't slow down in the slightest. The next moment, however, Wei Xiaofeng's figure suddenly appeared behind him, and a scaled claw seized him.
"The match is over."
"Brother, you still have a lot of training to do."
Wei Xiaofeng chuckled and spoke calmly.
The entire fight hadn't even lasted half a minute!
Xie Xie: "..."
"..."
Xie Xie: Sorry I didn't make Lord Wei Xiaofeng use his full strength!
Before you continue