Chapter 9

The next morning, after enduring Eastsea Academy's headmaster's long and tedious speech, they finally reached the class assignment segment.

As expected, Xiling, Tang Wulin, Xie Xie, and the others were all assigned to Class Five.

Once the assignments were finished, the five instructors each headed to their respective classrooms.

The one who entered Class Five was Wu Zhangkong, a man with an icy temperament. He looked to be around twenty-seven or twenty-eight, and his long lake-blue hair was especially eye-catching.

"Follow me."

Wu Zhangkong swept his gaze indifferently across the room. His frigid presence sent chills through the entire class, while Xiling alone remained completely unaffected.

In the Class Five classroom, Xiling chose a seat by the window in the back row, while the other students picked their own seats.

Wu Zhangkong walked to the podium, his detached gaze sweeping over the class. "My name is Wu Zhangkong. For the next six years, all of you will be my students."

"First, let me make one thing clear. Pretend you never heard what Director Long Hengxu said just now. Even if you are a bunch of trash, I will make you the strongest among your peers."

"Unless you drop out, this will be your goal for the next six years."

"Now, starting with the first person in the first row, introduce yourselves. Name, Martial Soul, Soul Power Level, and what kind of Soul Master you want to become. Say it all!"

The first student reacted quickly as well. "Hello, everyone. My name is Yun Xiao. My Martial Soul is the Star Compass, and my goal is to become an intelligent support-type battle Soul Master."

After Yun Xiao finished, it was Tang Wulin's turn. "My name is Tang Wulin. My Martial Soul is Blue Silver Grass. Soul Power Level eleven. My goal is..." Tang Wulin paused. "I don't have a goal yet."

"A useless Martial Soul. Of course he doesn't have a goal." Someone muttered, but before the words had even fully left his mouth, a piece of chalk landed right in his mouth.

Ignoring the student's retching, Wu Zhangkong's icy voice rang in everyone's ears, making them fall silent in fear. "In this world, there are no useless Martial Souls, only useless people."

"Before calling someone else useless, take a look at yourself. If you weren't useless, would you have been assigned to Class Five?"

"Continue!"

Hearing that classic saying from the master, Xiling curled his lips. One sentence had insulted himself twice. That was really something.

Still, coming from Wu Zhangkong, those words carried a bit more intimidation.

"My name is Zhou Changxi. My Martial Soul is the Great Strength Divine Ape. My goal is to become a strength-type battle Soul Master."

"Xie Xie. Martial Soul: Light Dragon Dagger. Soul Power Level eighteen. Agility attack-type battle Soul Master."

The moment Soul Power Level eighteen was announced, waves of astonished exclamations filled the classroom. Especially in Class Five, where the average Soul Power Level was only around eleven or twelve, Xie Xie was undoubtedly a genius.

The surrounding gasps and praise made Xie Xie unconsciously lift his chin.

Then it was Xiling's turn. He slowly rose to his feet. "My name is Xiling. My Martial Soul is the Void Core. Soul Power Level thirty-one. All-round battle Soul Elder."

When it came to his goal, Xiling clearly hesitated. Ever since awakening the Void Core, he had lost his goal. Whatever he wanted, he did not need to desperately chase after it. That was just how it was when you had cheats.

"...Just go with the flow and follow my heart."

As those simple words fell, the entire classroom instantly went deathly silent.

Those who had just been marveling at how impressive Xie Xie's level eighteen Soul Power was all froze in place. Their pupils shrank sharply, their faces filled with disbelief.

Soul Power Level thirty-one? A battle Soul Elder?

Among Class Five's freshmen, whose average level was only eleven or twelve, there was actually a three-ring Soul Elder hidden among them? Even in Class One, he would be among the best!

The pride that had just appeared on Xie Xie's face vanished without a trace. His mouth hung wide open as he stood there completely dumbfounded.

"You're joking, right? Thirty-one?" He had never imagined that Xiling, who had been punished alongside them yesterday, was this powerful.

Tang Wulin also stared blankly at Xiling. His heart pounded wildly, and he was so shocked by that level that he could not speak.

Was this the gap between him and a true genius? Tang Wulin secretly clenched his fists. I have to work hard and become stronger too.

Wu Zhangkong's cool, impassive face finally showed a clear reaction. His narrow eyes tightened slightly as his gaze fixed on Xiling.

Aside from that exaggerated Soul Power Level, he had also noticed another key term: "all-round." However, he did not question him about it just yet.

"Next."

After Xie Xie and Xiling, none of the other freshmen showed anything particularly outstanding. The introductions quickly came to an end.

Wu Zhangkong clasped his hands behind his back, his cold gaze sweeping over the room.

"Classes officially begin tomorrow. My teaching methods are different from those of other teachers. If you fear hardship, exhaustion, or pain, transfer schools or find a way to change classes as soon as possible. Those who remain, prepare yourselves mentally. Class dismissed."

With that, Wu Zhangkong strode away on his long legs.

The moment Wu Zhangkong left, the classroom erupted into commotion. It was completely abuzz, with everyone either discussing Wu Zhangkong or Xiling.

Amid the noise, Xie Xie was the first to lose patience. He rushed to Xiling's desk in a few quick strides. "Xiling! You, you're really level thirty-one?!"

Xiling raised his eyes and gave a faint hum.

"Then can you come outside and fight me? I want to see how big the gap between us is."

The entire class instantly fell silent and turned to look at them.

Tang Wulin hurriedly tugged on Xie Xie's sleeve. "Xie Xie, don't... Xiling is very strong. Aren't you just asking to be beaten up?"

The moment he heard that Xie Xie wanted to fight him, Xiling became interested. He looked at Xie Xie with a faint smile. "Are you sure you want to fight me?"

Xie Xie felt somewhat uneasy under Xiling's gaze, but he still lifted his chin and said with determination in his eyes:

"I'm sure! I just want to see for myself how strong a three-ring Soul Elder like you really is, so I can know where I fall short!"

Seeing how serious he was, Xiling nodded. "Fine, I'll fight you. Just don't cry if you lose."

There was no special reason why he agreed to fight Xie Xie. He simply wanted to bully him a little.

At that, Xie Xie immediately straightened his back and shook his head like a rattle. "Who's going to cry? I, Xie Xie, keep my word. Even if I lose, I'll accept it wholeheartedly!"

The two left the teaching building one after the other, and Tang Wulin could only follow behind them helplessly.

Eastsea Park was not far from Eastsea Academy. It only took a little over ten minutes to walk there.

The three of them reached a clearing deep within the park's woods and stopped.

Xie Xie turned to Xiling. "Xiling, let's fight here."

"I'm an agility attack-type Soul Master, so I'll retreat fifty meters. When I say start, we can begin."

Xiling leaned against a tree trunk, a faint smile on his lips. "Sure. You make the rules. I'm fine with anything."

He did not look serious in the slightest. His cultivation alone crushed Xie Xie's, and with the Void Core added in, dealing with an agility attack-type Soul Master at level eighteen was no different from teasing a child.

Tang Wulin hurriedly retreated beneath a large tree nearby, unable to stop himself from curiously watching this utterly uneven matchup.

Xie Xie took a deep breath and said nothing more. He turned and quickly retreated fifty meters before stopping. Then he spun around, his gaze instantly becoming focused and sharp.

He knew very well how great the gap between his and Xiling's realms was, so he did not dare relax in the slightest. Soul Power quietly began circulating around his body.

"I'm getting ready!"

As his words fell, a bright yellow Soul Ring slowly rose from beneath Xie Xie's feet, and the Light Dragon Dagger appeared in his hand.

His feet exerted a slight force as his body tensed like a drawn bow ready to fire. His eyes stayed locked on Xiling in the distance, waiting for the right moment to strike.

Xiling still stood there lazily, not even summoning his Martial Soul.

"Three, two, one, begin!"