Is Co-Authoring Culture Inherently Crooked?

Afternoon.

Although noon had long since passed, the buzz surrounding what happened then had not faded with time.

Instead, it showed signs of growing ever more intense.

The news of fourth-year student Zeng Jingyu hitting a snag in the second year had spread like wildfire throughout the academy.

Other than the sixth-years who were about to graduate and could not care less, students from first through fifth year were all passionately discussing it.

They had seen plenty of upperclassmen bullying lowerclassmen.

But this was the first time they had seen upperclassmen run into a wall against lowerclassmen.

And somehow, news had spread from who knew where.

Xu Yuan was the genius with Innate Full Soul Power whom the vice principal had personally brought back from outside. That information had also spread throughout the academy.

In just one noon break.

Xu Yuan had suddenly become a prominent figure at Spirit Academy, the subject of countless discussions.

Of course.

Most people were merely watching the spectacle, though some had ulterior motives and wanted to fish in troubled waters.

Still, the fact that Xu Yuan had become famous at Spirit Academy was undeniable.

The afternoon class was practical combat.

Whether by coincidence or not, it was being held at the academy's Soul Fighting Arena.

After reaching the third year, academy teachers rarely spent much time teaching the students. Most of the time, they required them to study on their own. Thus, third-years and above generally had no regular classes.

By the time homeroom teacher Lor Diarra led the students of Class Six, Year Two there, the Soul Fighting Arena was already surrounded by people.

Some wanted to see what a genius with Innate Full Soul Power looked like, while others were simply there for the excitement.

Zeng Jingyu and his group of fourth-years were there as well.

However, with teachers present, they could not possibly duel now. They would have to wait until school ended that afternoon.

As a teacher, Lor Diarra naturally knew what had happened at the academy, but he had no intention of interfering.

Flowers raised in a greenhouse were not the kind of students he wanted.

Besides, they had not suffered any losses yet, had they?

Leading the thirty-odd students of Class Six to an empty Soul Fighting Platform in the arena, Lor Diarra turned to look at the surrounding upperclassmen.

"Give me a few two-ring Soul Grandmasters to act as sparring partners. Three Gold Soul Coins per person for the afternoon, and one additional Gold Soul Coin for every match you win!"

Xu Yuan had long yearned for Soul Fighting matches.

But upon hearing Lor Diarra's words nearby, his eyes blinked lightly.

"Isn't practical combat class supposed to be us classmates choosing each other to fight?"

"Of course not!"

Xu Hu, who had been so high-spirited just moments ago, wilted like an eggplant struck by frost.

"Our practical combat classes involve picking a few third-years to fight us. It can be one-on-one or many-on-one.

But we can't win. We simply can't win!"

If they had not been beaten so badly in every practical combat class, he would not have reacted so strongly when he heard that Zeng Jingyu wanted to send a Soul Grandmaster to fight him.

Private Soul Fighting was different from practical combat class. Broken arms and legs were commonplace.

Xu Yuan looked thoughtful.

"No way. Soul Grandmasters are only one rank above Soul Masters. If several people go at them together, it shouldn't be impossible to win, right?"

Watching several third-year students approach from afar while cracking their knuckles, Xu Hu shuddered all over.

"If they were Soul Grandmasters who had only recently obtained their second Spirit Ring, then we could naturally win. But these bastards are basically level twenty-eight or twenty-nine.

And you heard what the teacher said, right? One extra Gold Soul Coin for every win.

They won't even go easy on us. The moment they step up, they beat us half to death."

"..."

Before long, the several third-year students who had decided to participate arrived and stood on one side of the Soul Fighting Platform.

They faced the thirty-odd Class Six students across from them, the two groups clearly divided.

Lor Diarra stood in the center of the Soul Fighting Platform, his hands tucked into his sleeves, looking harmless and amiable.

Yet somehow, his face carried a sinister air.

"Everyone should already know the rules. No matter what methods you use, as long as you win, you pass. Everyone must take the field once.

Of course, your teacher isn't some villain either.

It's fine even if you lose. You just have to pay the sparring partners yourselves!"

Xu Yuan: "..."

Setting aside whether it was fair or not, if they lost, they had to pay the person who beat them up? What kind of bullshit rule was that?!

So it was not the students who had corrupted the culture—it had been crooked from the start, was that it?

Xu Yuan was so irritated that he laughed.

No wonder everyone in the class had instantly sunk into despair the moment they heard there was practical combat class at noon.

The students and teachers were supposed to be of one heart, yet the teacher was playing mind games with the students?

No, he had to do something!

Xu Yuan rubbed his chin and pondered for two seconds before raising his arm.

"Teacher, I have something to say."

Lor Diarra naturally knew about Xu Yuan. He was Spirit Hall's most gifted genius at present, and it was said that even His Holiness the Pope was paying close attention to him.

"What is it? Speak."

"This isn't fair!"

Xu Yuan voiced his objection directly. "Why do they get paid if they win, while we have to pay if we lose, and get nothing even if we win?"

Lor Diarra asked with a smile, "Then what do you want?"

That was exactly what Xu Yuan had been waiting for.

A clear, innocent look appeared on his face. "The earlier rules remain unchanged, but add one more. If we win, we should get paid too, and it has to be double what they receive!"

Lor Diarra thought about it and agreed immediately.

"Fine, I agree!"

Based on past experience, that added condition would basically never come into play, so he remained perfectly calm.

Getting paid for winning was one thing, but they still had to be capable of winning!

"Does anyone else have any questions?"

His gaze swept across the group. Seeing no one speak, Lor Diarra stepped aside. "If there are no issues, then let's begin."

As soon as his words fell, cheers and whistles erupted from all around.

They loved watching this sort of one-sided beating on ordinary days. It was far more interesting than evenly matched fights.

Especially since there was a genius with Innate Full Soul Power here today.

Seeing a genius more talented than themselves get beaten onstage like a dead dog was hard not to find exciting!

They might offend someone, but it was not as though they were the ones doing the beating.

On the platform.

A teenage two-ring Soul Grandmaster stepped forward first. His Martial Soul was a hammer, and his Spirit Rings were one white and one yellow.

The sparring partner had already taken the field, but Class Six remained completely still.

Although the teacher had promised that they could earn Gold Soul Coins if they won, no one's mood improved in the slightest.

That was only if they could win!

When no one from their side stepped up for so long, the upperclassmen watching nearby grew impatient and began shouting.

"Whether you stick your head out or pull it back, you're getting cut anyway. Hurry up already!"

"Come on, I've waited so long the flowers are practically withering!"

"Don't tell me you're scared? If you are, just say so. We're all classmates—we won't laugh at you."

Hearing this, Lor Diarra did not urge them on. He merely stood there with his arms folded, watching.

Seeing the situation.

Xu Yuan sighed softly and slowly walked to the center of the platform.

"I'll go first."