This World Has Always Been This Way...

The light was blinding, and shockwaves churned through the air.

When the light faded and everyone saw the scene in the arena, they all sucked in a sharp breath.

Zhong Shenxiu had retreated three steps. The Sky Light Dragon Spear in his hand had already dissipated, and a shallow wound on his dragon claw was slowly healing.

Tang Wulin, meanwhile, had been blasted more than ten meters away and thrown to the ground. Both his arms were a bloody mess, and he was clearly badly injured.

Yet he quickly climbed back to his feet, his gaze still resolute.

Gu Yue stood behind him, her face somewhat pale. Clearly, the Elemental Blessing just now had cost her quite a bit.

"Continue."

Zhong Shenxiu spoke only two words as he condensed the Sky Light Dragon Spear again.

But Wu Zhangkong's voice rang out. "Enough."

The three of them stopped at once.

Wu Zhangkong walked into the arena, his gaze sweeping over the three.

"Zhong Shenxiu wins."

After announcing the result, he looked at Tang Wulin and Gu Yue. "You two worked well together, but the gap in strength was too great. Tang Wulin's physical strength is astonishing, but his attacks are too simplistic. Gu Yue's elemental control is powerful, but her defenses are lacking."

Then he looked at Zhong Shenxiu. "Your combat experience is extensive, and both your strength and speed are outstanding. But your Soul Power consumption is a problem. The light spears you create are powerful, but repeated use will rapidly drain your Soul Power."

Zhong Shenxiu nodded without speaking.

He knew Wu Zhangkong was right.

Though the battle had been brief, repeatedly using the Sky Light Dragon Spear had already consumed nearly half his Soul Power.

If Tang Wulin and Gu Yue had held out longer, he might have fallen into a disadvantage.

But in battle, there were no ifs!

"Alright, today's practical combat lesson ends here."

Wu Zhangkong looked at all the students. "Go back and summarize what you gained today. Write a report and hand it to me tomorrow."

The students answered and dispersed, but their eyes still could not help drifting toward Zhong Shenxiu.

This battle had completely established Zhong Shenxiu's position in Class 1-5—the strongest.

Zhong Shenxiu withdrew his martial soul and headed toward the edge of the field.

As he passed Xie Xie, Xie Xie suddenly spoke. "Wait."

Zhong Shenxiu stopped and turned his golden vertical pupils toward him.

Xie Xie gritted his teeth. Though his dark green eyes still held some unwillingness, they contained even more complicated emotions. "Today... I lost. But next time, I'll definitely beat you."

Zhong Shenxiu looked at him for several seconds, then nodded. "As you wish."

With that, he turned and left.

Xie Xie watched his departing back and clenched his fists.

He knew that today's defeat was a humiliation, but it was also motivation. He would grow stronger—strong enough to defeat that guy named Zhong Shenxiu.

Zhong Shenxiu left the academy, intending to visit the city's Soul Tool materials market.

With twenty thousand Federal Coin in hand, he planned to buy some basic materials and tools first, then try making the simplest Soul Tool for lighting.

If he succeeded, he could open up a stable source of income and prepare to buy Soul Guidance Batteries later to nourish the Dragon Origin Realm.

But just as he reached the academy gates, someone stopped him.

It was a somewhat thin-looking youth, with faint bruises still lingering on his face. The marks around his mouth and cheekbones were especially obvious. Though he had used high-quality healing medicine, the traces of the beating from three days ago had not fully faded.

Most noticeably, he was missing one front tooth, and his speech still leaked air slightly.

It was Lin Xuan.

Zhong Shenxiu stopped, his golden vertical pupils calmly watching him without speaking first.

He had assumed Lin Xuan had come for revenge—after all, Zhong Shenxiu had beaten him so badly and humiliated him so thoroughly. No spoiled young master would simply let that go.

Zhong Shenxiu had even prepared himself to fight again. Though Lin Xuan looked like he had not fully recovered, who knew whether he had brought helpers?

But what happened next completely exceeded his expectations.

Lin Xuan drew a deep breath, then—bowed deeply to Zhong Shenxiu.

Ninety degrees.

A standard apology bow.

A rare change appeared on Zhong Shenxiu's face: first surprise, then suspicion, and finally disbelief.

Those molten-gold vertical pupils, always as still as an ancient well, rippled faintly for once.

"You..." Zhong Shenxiu began, uncertainty in his voice.

"Student Zhong Shenxiu."

Lin Xuan straightened up. Though his voice was still somewhat muffled, his tone was exceptionally serious. "I came to apologize to you."

Zhong Shenxiu watched him silently, waiting for him to continue.

"What happened three days ago was my fault."

Lin Xuan's expression was complicated, filled with shame, regret, and a trace of relief. "I shouldn't have stolen your money, dirtied your bed, or relied on my family's influence to bully people. After my father took me home, he gave me a harsh lesson and made me reflect behind closed doors for three days."

He paused, then continued. "My father said that the Lin Family had achieved what it had today not by bullying the weak, but through upright business and real strength. Before... I was too immature."

Zhong Shenxiu still said nothing, merely watching him quietly.

Lin Xuan felt unnerved beneath those golden vertical pupils, but he forced himself to continue. "Those twenty thousand Federal Coin were compensation my father told me to bring. I know money can't make up for everything, but... I hope you can accept my apology. From now on, I won't cause you trouble at the academy, and I won't bully anyone again."

After saying that, he bowed once more.

This time, Zhong Shenxiu did not immediately tell him to rise.

He stared at Lin Xuan for a long time, those vertical pupils seeming capable of piercing through appearances and looking directly into the heart.

He was judging whether Lin Xuan's words were sincere or false, whether he was merely pressured by his family or truly repentant.

Nine years of slaughter within dreams had given him an understanding of the darkness in people's hearts far beyond that of his peers.

But likewise, it had made him keenly sensitive to whether emotions were genuine.

And at this moment, what he sensed from Lin Xuan was genuine shame and remorse.

"Get up." Zhong Shenxiu finally spoke, his voice returning to its usual calm.

Lin Xuan straightened, looking at him with some apprehension.

"I'll take the money," Zhong Shenxiu said. "And I accept your apology."

Lin Xuan let out a breath of relief, a faint smile appearing on his face—though with a missing front tooth, the smile looked rather comical.

"However," Zhong Shenxiu abruptly changed course, "I don't need your promise."

Lin Xuan froze. "What?"

"You said you won't cause me trouble again, and that you won't bully people anymore."

Zhong Shenxiu's golden vertical pupils met his directly. "I don't need that kind of promise. If you've truly changed, you'll naturally do it. If you haven't, a promise is useless."

He paused, his tone cold but serious. "In this world, the strong devour the weak. You have money and influence, so you can bully people—that is your ability. But likewise, if others are stronger than you, beating you and trampling you is only natural."

Lin Xuan opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but ultimately fell silent.

"Your father is right. The Lin Family did not gain what it has today by bullying the weak," Zhong Shenxiu continued. "But have you ever considered this? If one day the Lin Family encounters a force stronger than yours, and they bully you the same way you bullied others, what will you do?"

"This world has always been this way. Either the sheep die or the wolves die. Either the weak wolves starve to death, or the weak sheep are bitten to death."

Lin Xuan's expression changed slightly.

"So become stronger."

Zhong Shenxiu turned, preparing to leave. "Not to bully others, but so you won't be bullied. I hope you remember that."

With that, he stepped onto the street without looking back.

Lin Xuan remained where he was, watching Zhong Shenxiu's retreating figure with complicated feelings.

He had originally thought that after apologizing, even if they could not become friends, they could at least settle their grudge. But now it seemed Zhong Shenxiu did not care about any of that.

The indifference in those golden vertical pupils made him realize something: in Zhong Shenxiu's eyes, whether he apologized or not, Lin Xuan was merely an insignificant passerby.

That realization hurt him more than being beaten.

Yet at the same time, Zhong Shenxiu's final words planted a seed in his heart.

"Become stronger... not to bully others, but so you won't be bullied."

Lin Xuan clenched his fists.

He turned and walked back toward the academy, his steps far more determined than when he had arrived.