Zero Class (Heat is so bad, already broken defense!)

"We won!!"

"Class Five won!"

The Class Five students below were so excited they danced and cheered, pounding the arena railings with loud clangs until their voices cracked.

Some waved their school uniform jackets wildly, while others jumped high into the air. The entire corner of the stands was in an uproar.

"They were just carried by two people. What the hell are they so happy about?"

"No matter how awesome those two are, it has nothing to do with you."

Students from the other classes looked over with disdain, folding their arms and casting sidelong glances their way as sour mutters rose one after another.

Other than Gu Yuena and Fang Yuan, the rest of Class Five were still nothing but a rabble, a disorganized mess. Anyone could have gone up there and gotten carried to victory.

"Mother, let's go home after school."

"The Class Promotion Tournament is over, and that's enough. I don't want to fight in any more competitions. We've only been enrolled for a few days, yet it's been fight after fight. I'm getting sick of it."

Having activated two martial souls at once, Fang Yuan had long since depleted more than half his Soul Power. A flash of green light later, he returned to human form.

The dragon scales gradually receded from his arms, and the Little Broken Watch on his wrist dimmed as well.

His legs gave out, and he stumbled forward. Bracing himself against the ground, he panted heavily, his chest heaving.

Fortunately, he had not unleashed that final sword aura. He still had some Soul Power left and would not pass out on the spot.

"Sure, Mother supports you. Squabbling with a bunch of children really is boring."

Gu Yuena withdrew her martial soul, the silver radiance around her fading as she slowly walked to his side.

She bent down, slipped an arm beneath his knees and another behind his back, then effortlessly lifted him into her arms and turned to walk off the competition stage.

Her silver-purple hem swept across the steps, and the surrounding chatter unconsciously dropped by more than half. No one dared step forward to block her path.

"By the way, Mother, there's one last match today—the kendo exchange meet. It should be happening right about now. I wonder if it's started yet."

Lying in her arms, Fang Yuan suddenly recalled the exchange match the Kendo Club president had mentioned to him during recruitment.

"There's no need to watch. If you're truly interested in swordsmanship, Mother will invite a swordsmanship grandmaster tomorrow to come teach you personally."

Gu Yuena lowered her head to look at him, her eyes gentle and a faint smile on her lips. Her fingertips smoothed back the sweat-damp strands of hair on his forehead.

"Mother, I think Tang Wulin's current mental state probably won't let him break through the second seal. We should think of something—see if there are any mental control methods we can use."

Fang Yuan poked her shoulder with a finger and said it casually.

"Why are you suddenly worried about that useless Tang Wulin?"

Gu Yuena raised a brow, somewhat puzzled.

"If he doesn't break through the Golden Dragon King seal, won't he explode?" Fang Yuan said matter-of-factly.

"That's true, but breaking a seal is something he ultimately has to rely on himself for. Mental restraints are simple enough. I'll set one up for him later."

Gu Yuena spoke casually, clearly not taking the matter to heart.

Now that little Fang Yuan had brought it up, she happened to want to see what sort of backup plan the people of the Divine Realm had left for that little loser Tang Wulin.

The moment they stepped off the competition stage, the Class Five students swarmed over.

Wu Zhangkong and Musigang followed behind the crowd and slowly approached as well.

"The match is over. You both worked hard," Wu Zhangkong said after stopping before them.

"Mm." Fang Yuan nestled in Gu Yuena's arms and nodded slightly.

"Are you two free tonight?" Wu Zhangkong asked again.

"What is it?" Fang Yuan frowned slightly.

What was it this time?

The Class Promotion Tournament had only just ended. Were they going to arrange another competition?

"Nothing much. To celebrate our victory in the Class Promotion Tournament, we're planning to hold a banquet so everyone can get together," Wu Zhangkong said.

"I'm not in the mood to attend." Fang Yuan refused without even thinking.

"That's a pity." Wu Zhangkong did not press the matter.

"I haven't had any interest in competitions lately. I just want to cultivate in peace and reach Rank 40 early so I can enter the intermediate Spirit Ascension Platform," Fang Yuan added unhurriedly.

"Cultivation cannot be rushed. Oh, right—the school board recently discussed establishing a Zero Class. Both you and Gu Yue are on the Zero Class roster, and from now on, you'll receive the school's concentrated resource support." Wu Zhangkong dropped the news.

Hearing that, Fang Yuan turned his head to look at Musigang beside him.

"Teacher Mu, you used to be my private tutor. Tell Teacher Wu—do I lack those little resources?"

Musigang's old face reddened as he awkwardly shook his head at Wu Zhangkong.

"Uh..." Wu Zhangkong was momentarily speechless.

He had been so excited about winning the Class Promotion Tournament that he had forgotten Fang Yuan and Gu Yuena's backgrounds.

They lacked nothing at all.

The world of the rich was just that plain and unpretentious.

"Teacher Wu, Teacher Mu, my Fangyuan is tired. He's going home to sleep."

Gu Yuena spoke calmly, carrying him as she took a step forward.

The surrounding students instinctively made way for them. No one dared to stop them.

Just like that, she carried Fangyuan through the crowd and headed straight out of the academy.

"Old Mu, weren't you Fangyuan's private tutor? What kind of background does his family have?"

Watching the two figures recede into the distance, Wu Zhangkong turned to ask Musigang.

"No idea. As his private tutor, how could they possibly tell an outsider like me that much?" Musigang spread his hands.

"Tch, you were a pretty lousy private tutor, weren't you?" Wu Zhangkong teased.

"What do you mean lousy? Respecting a client's privacy is only proper!"

Musigang blew out his beard and glared. The two bickered as they headed toward the office.

Less than three days after the Class Promotion Tournament ended, Zero Class was officially established.

The announcement was posted in the most conspicuous spot in the academy, and every student passing by stopped to look at it.

There were four names on the final list: Gu Yue, Guyue Fangyuan, Wang Jinxi, and Zhang Yangzi.

Because their performances in the Class Promotion Tournament had been mediocre, Xie Xie and Tang Wulin had failed to make the cut and remained in Class One.

The day the news spread, Xie Xie stood before the notice board for a long time, his face as dark as stone. Tang Wulin stood beside him, clutching the corner of his clothes with his head lowered, silent for ages.

The next day, transfer student Xu Xiaoyan arrived at Eastsea Academy.

Inside the office.

Long Hengxu stood before Wu Zhangkong's desk, clutching Xu Xiaoyan's file with a solemn expression.

"Teacher Wu, you must accept this student. After the academy's comprehensive evaluation, she is absolutely qualified to enter Zero Class."

Leaning back in his chair, Wu Zhangkong glanced at the little girl standing beside him, his brows slightly furrowed.

"A one-ring Spirit Master with a hundred-year soul spirit. She looks completely ordinary—she doesn't even measure up to half of Fangyuan or Gu Yue."

Zero Class had only just been formed, yet someone was already being slipped in through the back door. He was somewhat displeased.

Having seen monsters like Fangyuan and Gu Yue, even ordinary geniuses could no longer catch his eye.

"Come on, what kind of monsters are Fangyuan and Gu Yue? You couldn't find a second pair like them in all of Douluo Continent, so stop comparing everyone to them."

Long Hengxu waved his hand with a bitter smile.

"With Gu Yue and Fangyuan's talent, they clearly can't be kept here for long. They'll most likely go to Shrek Academy in the future. Zero Class can't just have two people, so it's perfectly reasonable to take in a few students with decent aptitude to fill out the numbers."

"Mediocre aptitude?"

Xu Xiaoyan, standing nearby, froze.

Her martial soul was the Starwheel Ice Staff, something that appeared only once in a century within her family. Since childhood, she had stood out among her peers and had been doted on by the elders of her clan.

How had she become someone with mediocre aptitude after coming here?

"You're Xu Xiaoyan, right?" Wu Zhangkong tapped the tabletop with his fingertips, his tone calm. "I'll give you a chance to enter through the back door."

"If you can withstand three moves from Fangyuan's second martial soul, the Little Black Dragon, I'll let you join Zero Class."

"Three moves?" Xu Xiaoyan's eyes widened, and she could hardly believe it.

"Yes." Wu Zhangkong nodded.

"What's his cultivation level?" Xu Xiaoyan pressed.

"The same as yours. One ring."

"Isn't that a little too exaggerated?" Xu Xiaoyan pursed her lips, feeling somewhat unconvinced.

They were both one-ring Spirit Masters. No matter how strong he was, how much stronger could he be? Three moves—surely she couldn't fail to withstand even three moves.

"You'll know once you try." Wu Zhangkong rose to his feet.

"Yes, Teacher Wu."

Xu Xiaoyan nodded vigorously, agreeing without hesitation.

She seemed to have heard the name Fangyuan somewhere before. He appeared to be ranked first on some genius list.

Forget it. Who cared?

They were both one-ring Spirit Masters. How could she possibly fail to block three moves!