Early the next morning.
The opening ceremony for the new students was followed immediately by class assignments.
Director of Studies Long Hengxu called out names one by one, beginning the assignments.
"Tang Wulin, Class One, first year."
"Xie Xie, Class One, first year."
"..."
Below the stage, Tang Wulin and Xie Xie were both dumbfounded. Their roommates, Yun Xiao and Zhou Changxi, were just as stunned.
"Tang Wulin, Xie Xie, didn't the director say yesterday that we'd all been sent to the worst class, Class Five? What's going on?" Yun Xiao looked at the two of them, his face full of indignation.
Was there no fairness at all?
He'd just watched from the sidelines, and he'd gone straight to Class Five.
Tang Wulin and Xie Xie had fought, and they'd also been told they were going to Class Five. So how had they ended up assigned to Class One this morning?
Who would believe there hadn't been some shady deal?
"I... I don't know either..." Tang Wulin was completely baffled. He really had no idea what was going on.
But Class Five and Class One made no difference to him. They were both part of Eastsea Academy, after all.
He firmly believed that as long as he worked hard and studied diligently, he would reap the rewards.
"Strange. Nobody told me in advance either. But Class One is the best class, and that guy's definitely there too. I'm screwed..."
Xie Xie cursed his bad luck under his breath.
He was confident in his talent. No matter which class he ended up in, he could rank near the top. If he'd been placed in Class Five, he'd definitely have been class monitor, and he could've lorded it over everyone.
But being assigned to Class One meant he'd have to live in someone else's shadow for years. It was an absolute nightmare...
"Xie Xie, why do you look so miserable?"
Tang Wulin looked at Xie Xie and asked curiously.
Though they'd fought the day before, they'd gotten to know each other through the fight. On top of that, Xie Xie had paid his fine and treated him to a meal, so Tang Wulin had a pretty good impression of him.
"There's a monster in Class One. You'll find out soon enough," Xie Xie said helplessly.
"What are you talking about?"
Tang Wulin scratched his head, feeling completely bewildered.
There was a monster in Class One. What did that have to do with him?
Soon, the class assignments were finished, and everyone found their classroom.
Just as expected, Su Chen was in Class One, sitting in the front row.
Three or four students were clearly part of his circle. They all knew Su Chen and tried to ingratiate themselves with him, but he merely nodded in acknowledgement.
The other twenty or so students looked on in confusion.
Su Chen kept a low profile and was only well known within his circle. Students from less prominent families, or those like Tang Wulin, who came from nowhere, naturally had no idea who he was.
Xie Xie and Tang Wulin walked over and found seats.
A moment later.
The classroom door opened, and a young man walked in.
He was exceptionally tall and straight-backed, well over 1.9 meters tall. His broad shoulders and narrow waist stood out beneath his white shirt, and his long legs looked especially lean in his well-tailored white trousers.
Beneath his high-bridged nose, his thin lips were sharply defined, completing a face with stern, angular features.
His dark green eyes were deep as a cold pool, and his long ice-blue hair fell loose down his back, making him seem even more aloof.
His face showed no expression. His gaze swept across the classroom, carrying an air of indifference and coldness.
"He's so handsome..." Many of the girls were instantly drawn to his uniquely icy aura and stared at him, entranced.
The young man looked at them and said expressionlessly, "My name is Wu Zhangkong. Starting today, I'll be your teacher for the next six years."
"Now, introduce yourselves. Name, Martial Soul, Soul Power Level, and your goal for the future. Su Chen, you go first."
Wu Zhangkong looked straight at Su Chen and called on him.
"Oh."
Su Chen nodded, then walked to the podium and faced everyone. "My name is Su Chen. I have Twin Martial Souls: the Soul Suppressing Pagoda and Void Chrono Dragon. I'm a Level 37 Soul Elder."
"As for my goal..."
Su Chen shrugged. "Same as most of you: to become the strongest Soul Master."
As soon as he finished speaking, the room fell completely silent.
Everyone's mouths hung open. They were clearly so shocked they could barely process it.
They were all around the same age, and most of them were only at Levels 12 or 13. Su Chen was more than twenty levels above them, two major realms ahead.
How could someone this monstrous exist in the world?
"A... a Soul Elder? That can't be real..."
"That's ridiculous. Is he even human?"
"Damn, what a monster!"
Some were envious, others jealous. Everyone reacted differently.
"Heh, a bunch of country bumpkins. How could you ordinary people possibly fathom Young Master Su's talent?"
Several of Su Chen's admirers sneered at the others.
They came from major East Sea families and naturally knew Su Chen well. They'd practically made a legend of him in their minds. No matter how amazing his talent was, they wouldn't be surprised, and they'd never compare themselves to him and let their confidence shatter.
"Th-thirty-seven? How does he even cultivate? Is this what a genius from a big city looks like...?"
Tang Wulin was completely dumbfounded.
This was a Soul Elder! Plenty of teachers at Red Mountain Academy couldn't reach that level.
But at that moment, Tang Wulin was simply shocked. He didn't feel any particular pressure.
After all, Su Chen was far stronger than he was. He only had to avoid comparing himself to him.
"Not bad. Next."
Wu Zhangkong gave a slight nod.
Then he looked at the aloof boy sitting behind Su Chen. "Next."
The boy sitting behind Su Chen had parted his hair down the middle and had thin lips. He'd originally been wearing a proud expression, but after Su Chen's introduction, he was completely stunned.
The arrogance vanished from his face, replaced by deep confusion.
"Next."
Seeing the boy staring blankly, Wu Zhangkong frowned and called to him again.
"Oh, right..."
The boy snapped out of it and hurried to the podium. "My name is Wei Xiaofeng. My Martial Soul is the Green Shadow Snake, and my Soul Power Level is 19. My goal is..."
With Su Chen setting the bar, Wei Xiaofeng's cultivation level, though high, didn't cause much of a stir.
"My name is Wang Jinxi. My Martial Soul is the Bone Dragon King, and my Soul Power Level is 19..."
"My name is Zhang Yangzi. My Martial Soul is the Dark Phantom Eagle, and my Soul Power Level is 19..."
"My name is Xie Xie. My Martial Soul is the Light Dragon Dagger, and my Soul Power Level is 18..."
Xie Xie spoke, feeling frustrated.
If he'd been in Class Five, he could've shown off.
Here in Class One, he seemed downright average.
"My name is Tang Wulin. My Martial Soul is Blue Silver Grass, and my Soul Power Level is 11..."
As Tang Wulin introduced himself, a wave of discussion swept through the previously quiet class.
"What? Blue Silver Grass, and only Level 11? How did he get into Class One?"
"Was there a mistake with the class assignments?"
The students began talking among themselves. Class One was the best class, with an average Soul Power Level above 14, and none of the students had weak Martial Souls.
Tang Wulin's Soul Power Level was low enough, but his Martial Soul was the most useless of all, Blue Silver Grass. Normally, he should've been in the worst class, Class Five. How had he ended up in Class One?
The most talented genius was in Class One.
And so was the weakest Blue Silver Grass.
This was going to be interesting.
"Quiet. There are no useless Martial Souls, only useless Soul Masters. I'll be giving you a practical assessment later. Any student who ranks below Tang Wulin will have their daily training doubled."
Wu Zhangkong spoke coldly, and a terrifying aura burst out. The classroom fell silent at once.
But no one took his words seriously.
Even the Tool Soul Masters didn't think they'd lose to a Blue Silver Grass Soul Master.
"Heh, these guys are in for a rough time," Xie Xie said, taking pleasure in their misfortune.
He'd witnessed Tang Wulin's terrifying strength. In a one-on-one fight, Tang Wulin was at least among the top five in the class.
All the students ranked below Tang Wulin would have to double their training from then on. They were in for a hard time.
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