Refusal

He had woken up that morning and nearly been late.

He had almost missed the first match, too. Wu Zhangkong had to drag him out of the classroom.

At that moment, however, Tang Wulin's expression could only be described as strange.

He hadn't awakened some special bloodline like Old Tang had said he would.

Nor had he awakened the power of some terrifying creature. Instead, he had awakened a very strange Martial Soul.

How should he put it? He recognized it, but wasn't entirely sure.

If he remembered correctly, this Martial Soul was the legendary Clear Sky Hammer.

It was a hereditary Martial Soul, famous even among top-tier Martial Souls.

And especially when paired with Blue Silver Grass, it was exactly the same combination of Martial Souls possessed by that legendary ancestor from twenty thousand years ago.

Tang Wulin was delighted, but also felt that something was strange.

Because that morning, he hadn't felt that power at all.

Worse still, Old Tang, whom he had once been able to call upon, had disappeared completely.

It was as if the other man had never existed in his memories. No matter how Tang Wulin called out to him, there was no response.

Tang Wulin was genuinely baffled.

But before he could think about it any further, Xie Xie's voice came from beside him.

"Come on, Wulin. Let's go eat."

"By the way, where's Li Ang? I didn't see him with Class One's team."

"Huh?"

At Xie Xie's words, Tang Wulin looked even more bewildered.

He opened his mouth, then hesitantly replied, "I think Brother Li Ang took leave to go home. He told me I didn't need to run errands and bring him food for the next few days."

"Oh, I see. Never mind, then. Let's go eat."

"Since we finished our matches so quickly today, I heard they've arranged another one for this afternoon!"

"We've already taken down Class Four. I don't think Class Three will be much harder."

As Xie Xie spoke, he smiled, a rare hint of pride on his face.

The strength of a two-ring Soul Master already made for a formidable fighter. Even he hadn't expected to break through to the second ring so quickly.

Especially since he'd fought Tang Wulin before the start of the school year.

He had originally been qualified for Class Two or Class Three, but ended up being sent straight to Class Five.

Thinking of how he had fought his way back from Class Five, and how that also meant slapping Long Hengxu in the face, Xie Xie was especially excited.

But after listening to Xie Xie, Tang Wulin only paused before nodding.

The two of them were going to get something to eat.

Li Ang knew nothing about what was happening at Eastsea Academy—or rather, even if he had known, he wouldn't have cared.

After a morning of hunting, he had lunch outside.

The food there was served buffet-style.

The reason he'd told Ming Yue to add dishes was that the cafeteria didn't always make some of the things he liked.

The cafeteria's menu was fairly random. Even Shen Ming usually ate there, since the food really was good.

Still, Li Ang's status meant that he could ask for whatever he wanted. It was no big deal.

For example, he liked meat, so he would ask the cafeteria to make more of the kinds he enjoyed, such as deep-sea fish.

No one here would think he was picky. After all, he was the Young Pagoda Master, and no one had the standing to correct him for being particular about his food.

After lunch, Li Ang continued working through the afternoon.

At dusk, Li Ang came out of the Spirit Ascension Platform. As he prepared to return to his room to continue his research and rest, Ming Yue approached him.

"Young Pagoda Master, your teacher, Ye Yingluo, called this afternoon, but she couldn't get through."

"She asked me to pass the message along to you. She hopes you can return tomorrow."

"Class Five has now defeated Classes Four and Three, and tomorrow they'll challenge Classes Two and One."

"According to Teacher Ye Yingluo's prediction, Class Two may not be able to stop them. They may have to fight Class One."

Ming Yue's voice was gentle, and she enunciated each word clearly.

Hearing her, Li Ang paused. There was no great surprise in his eyes.

But the four-day tournament had been compressed into a single day, and that left him rather baffled.

He had expected that he might have to compete, but originally it would have been four days later, when he could enter with a thousand-year Soul Ring.

This time, however, Little Butterfly's Soul Ring had only reached six hundred years.

Even if it improved overnight, it could reach at most seven hundred years.

It might need the whole morning tomorrow to just barely reach a thousand years.

Li Ang's brows drew tightly together.

He actually wanted to refuse.

But among Class One's top fighters, the only one besides him was Na'er.

And Na'er probably wouldn't compete.

After all, Gu Yue had come to observe Tang Wulin, so Na'er probably wouldn't take the field.

In this situation, if he didn't compete, then just like in the original timeline, Wei Xiaofeng, Zhang Yangzi, and Wang Jinxi would be defeated with ease.

But what did that have to do with him, Li Ang?

He looked calmly at Ming Yue. "Please tell Teacher Ye that I have things to take care of, and probably won't be able to return for the next few days. Ask her to arrange for someone else to compete. I don't have time."

After speaking, Li Ang turned and left.

Whether Class Five became Class One, or their own Class One became Class Two, Li Ang truly didn't care.

After all, once the tournament was over, they would be brought together and form Grade One Zero Class.

Li Ang wasn't particularly interested in Grade One Zero Class, either. Its greatest benefit, the Spirit Ascension Platform, was already available to him every day.

So he had no interest in that.

Watching Li Ang return to the Spirit Ascension Platform, Ming Yue hesitated.

She had thought Li Ang would hurry back to compete in the Class Promotion Tournament. After all, it was an honor for the whole class.

But seeing his utterly indifferent expression, Ming Yue fell silent for a moment, then turned and went back to make the call.

In the blink of an eye, three days passed.

The result was just as expected.

With Gu Yue, Xie Xie, and Tang Wulin's strength, defeating Wei Xiaofeng, Zhang Yangzi, and Wang Jinxi wasn't difficult.

After Grade One Class One lost and became Grade One Class Two, Class Zero was officially established.

Naturally, Li Ang was on Class Zero's roster, but he didn't return.

Only after he had raised Little Butterfly's cultivation to a thousand years did he take a car back to Eastsea Academy.

In the office, Long Hengxu looked at Li Ang, his brows furrowing slightly.

"Li Ang, are you sure you don't want to join Grade One Zero Class?"

"The benefits offered by Grade One Zero Class are beyond your imagination. They would also help you improve tremendously."

"Although you're from the Spirit Pagoda, the resources Class Zero offers could still help you a great deal."

Long Hengxu looked at Li Ang and spoke earnestly.

He sincerely wanted the boy to stay in Grade One Zero Class.

But Li Ang calmly shook his head.

For Long Hengxu, each visit to the Spirit Pagoda's Spirit Ascension Platform cost five hundred thousand Alliance coins.

It was an astronomical sum, an opportunity that ordinary people could scarcely hope to obtain.

But Li Ang could practically spend every day there.

It held absolutely no appeal for him.