Opening Ceremony

Xie Xie hurriedly put away the Primary Spirit Ascension Platform entry card and draped an arm over Cheng Duoyi's shoulder. "Come on, listen to yourself. You already consider us friends, so how could we not consider you one? Look at how weak and frail you are. Don't worry—if anyone bullies you from now on, tell me. I'll deal with him!"

Seeing Xie Xie's move, Yun Xiao's heart leapt into his throat. He couldn't bear to watch, so he shut his eyes.

"Huh? Cheng-ge didn't hit Xie Xie?"

"And Cheng-ge needs you to look after him?"

"Maybe you found out how strong Cheng-ge really is and got scared to tears!"

Cheng Duoyi smiled. "All right. If I need anything, I'll tell you. Just don't let me down when the time comes."

"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!" Xie Xie said. "Just tell me, and I guarantee I'll have time whenever you need me."

For some reason, the instant Xie Xie hugged Cheng Duoyi, the blood in his veins didn't merely boil—it went into a frenzy. The Soul Power in his body also began circulating rapidly. Just that embrace made him cultivate more than twice as fast as he did when he trained seriously!

If he cultivated while hugging him, wouldn't he be three or four times faster?

The thought startled Xie Xie himself.

Wait, why would I think about cultivating while hugging a boy?

Even if he's given me so much, I still shouldn't be thinking that!

I like girls!

Xie Xie hurriedly let go of Cheng Duoyi, but instead he felt strangely bereft, and the feeling made him deeply uncomfortable.

Yun Xiao didn't know what Xie Xie was thinking. He was busy reflecting to himself.

People really shouldn't show off too much.

Zhou Changxi was the perfect example.

If he were still here, he would probably have gotten a free Primary Spirit Ascension Platform entry card, too.

Yun Xiao looked at Cheng Duoyi. "Cheng-ge, you're the dorm leader of Dormitory 205 from now on. Just tell me whenever you need anything. I guarantee I'll get it done."

Xie Xie nodded repeatedly. "Right, right. You're the dorm leader from now on."

Cheng Duoyi nodded. "All right."

"It's getting late. Let's hurry up and go to sleep."

"Sleep, sleep."

"We'll do as Cheng-ge says."

The three of them went to bed.

Cheng Duoyi fell asleep with ease.

Xie Xie, however, couldn't sleep. He stared at Cheng Duoyi, wondering what he was thinking.

Yun Xiao was determined to seize this chance and cling to Cheng Duoyi's coattails.

Early the next morning.

Eastsea Academy's opening ceremony was held in grand style on the academy's main plaza.

The plaza was filled not only with first-year students, but also upperclassmen from the second through sixth grades.

The dean stood on the dais and delivered an impassioned speech.

First, he welcomed the new students to Eastsea Academy.

Then he introduced the academy's history and achievements.

After that, his expression turned solemn as he said, "Yesterday, a very unfortunate incident occurred at our academy. A first-year student was expelled for violating Eastsea Academy's rules. I hope you'll all remember this: the academy is a place for you to study, not a place for you to bully other students."

His words sparked a discussion among the crowd.

Evidently, many had already heard about what had happened the day before.

But they didn't know the details. All they knew was that a huge hole had appeared in one of the rooms on the second floor of the boys' dormitory building, and an Eight-Ring Soul Douluo was suspected of being responsible.

"Quiet!"

The dean still commanded authority. Sure enough, the crowd fell silent after he spoke.

"Personal character..."

Worried that someone might provoke Cheng Duoyi, the dean spoke at length about the importance of character, telling them to keep themselves in check. Finally, he encouraged everyone to train hard and become outstanding Soul Masters in the future.

After the dean's speech came the class assignment ceremony.

Long Hengxu held the class lists and began reading them aloud.

As each name was called, the first-year students went to line up with their assigned classes.

At last, Long Hengxu cleared his throat. "Grade 1 Class 5: Cheng Duoyi, Tang Wuling, Xie Xie, Yun Xiao..."

When Long Hengxu learned that Tang Wuling was level eighteen and her Martial Soul was Blue Silver Grass, he had originally planned to assign her to Class 1. But after considering Cheng Duoyi and Leng Xue'er's circumstances, he ultimately assigned her to Class 5.

Besides, Class 5 had Wu Changkong. He believed Wu Changkong and Leng Xue'er could teach the students well, and that was what he looked forward to most.

Wu Changkong and Leng Xue'er walked to the front of Class 5's line.

Wu Changkong still looked as cold as ever, without the slightest expression. Leng Xue'er, on the other hand, gazed warmly at Cheng Duoyi and Tang Wuling.

"Follow me."

After Long Hengxu finished speaking, Wu Changkong said coolly, then turned and headed toward the classroom building. His icy manner didn't make many people dislike him. On the contrary, they thought he had style and liked him all the more.

Leng Xue'er gave Cheng Duoyi a slight nod.

Cheng Duoyi nodded back, took Tang Wuling's hand, and followed the two of them.

"Brother Yi'er, how come you were assigned to Class 5, too?" Tang Wuling looked at Cheng Duoyi in confusion. "Didn't the dean just say Class 5 was the worst class? With your strength, you shouldn't have been assigned to Class 5!"

Cheng Duoyi lowered his voice. "What about you?"

"I'm different. My Martial Soul is Blue Silver Grass..." Tang Wuling was clearly still bothered by having Blue Silver Grass as her Martial Soul.

"My Martial Soul is a dragon, and I'm in the same class as you, aren't I?" Cheng Duoyi smiled. "Your Martial Soul doesn't define everything. With me here, I'm sure you'll reach level twenty soon. Once you're strong, you'll have to protect me, okay?"

At the mention of protecting him, Tang Wuling quickly nodded. "I will! I'll definitely protect you. I won't abandon you!"

As soon as they finished speaking, Xie Xie and Yun Xiao came up beside Cheng Duoyi on his other side. Xie Xie's eyes darted between the two of them. "Something's off. You two are acting strange."

Tang Wuling's face flushed faintly, but inwardly she was delighted. Hehe, looks like I'll get to enjoy Brother Yi'er's affection all to myself from now on.

Cheng Duoyi smiled. "This is Tang Wuling. She's my sworn younger sister."

"Oh~ Your younger sister, huh? That's great," Xie Xie drawled, deliberately teasing him.

"Hello, I'm Yun Xiao, Cheng-ge's follower." Yun Xiao knew his place and didn't say anything reckless.

His family didn't have as much influence as Xie Xie's, and his Martial Soul wasn't especially powerful, either. He always thought things through before acting.

Cheng Duoyi paid no mind to Xie Xie's teasing.

"Let's get going. We can talk about anything else after class."

Cheng Duoyi's words carried weight.

"All right," Xie Xie said. "Since yesterday, you've been my Cheng-ge. I'll listen to you."

Yun Xiao nodded. "I'll listen to Cheng-ge, too."

Tang Wuling held Cheng Duoyi's hand. She wasn't at all surprised that he'd so easily gained two followers.

She knew what Cheng Duoyi was like.

If you treated him well, he would repay you many times over.

Brother Yi'er, I'll protect your sincerity. I won't let anyone else hurt you! Tang Wuling silently swore again.

This wasn't the first time she'd made such a vow. Not long after meeting Cheng Duoyi, she had already sworn that she wouldn't let him get hurt and that she would keep up with him. That was why she had decided to learn blacksmithing.