Celebration Dinner After School

After the match ended, Wu Changkong merely said coldly, "School's out," then turned and left first.

After his initial satisfaction, Long Hengxu began to feel somewhat astonished by the lineup of Freshman Class Five.

Just now, he had only been pleased with the quality of the match, but upon thinking carefully, this had been Class Five against Class Four.

In previous years, the representatives sent by Class Five and Class Four had usually resulted in Class Four crushing Class Five, or the two classes getting locked in a prolonged struggle. There had never been a match that ended in under a minute like this.

This could not even be considered a crushing victory, because there had only been the crushing—no process involved.

Xie Xie had been assigned to Freshman Class Five by him. With Xie Xie's talent, he should undoubtedly have entered Class One through that fight incident.

However, his family had approached Long Hengxu and said they hoped he could receive better tempering, which was why he had been assigned to Class Five.

At the time, Long Hengxu had several considerations. As the weakest class, Class Five faced far greater pressure from the academy than the other classes. Wu Changkong had also happened to be transferred to Freshman Class Five. Though almost no one in the academy's upper ranks liked that cold and arrogant male god, they had to acknowledge his formidable teaching ability and personal strength.

Taking it a step further, with a genius like Xie Xie in Class Five, the promotion matches would certainly put considerable pressure on the other freshman classes, thereby spurring the motivation for teaching and learning throughout the entire first year.

It served multiple purposes. That was why Xie Xie, a genius, had entered Class Five.

But now, it seemed that Class Five's competitive strength had already exceeded his original expectations. He was rather curious why Wu Changkong had sent Tang Wulin to participate in the promotion matches. He remembered clearly that this child's Martial Soul was Blue Silver Grass!

As for that girl, she should be the one Wu Changkong had been willing to apologize to him in order to bring into the class. Although he had not seen her truly display her strength today, the fact that she possessed a hundred-year Soul Ring spoke volumes.

With a Class Five team like this, they might truly defy the heavens! Even Freshman Class One would not find it easy to defeat them.

Long Hengxu had his reasons for thinking so. Freshman Class One's training had all been conducted at outside facilities paid for by Ye Yingluo herself, while Eastsea Academy's records only covered the students' circumstances at the time of enrollment.

Lin Yu's awakening of his Spirit and acquisition of three purple Soul Rings had happened after enrollment registration had ended.

Thus, in Long Hengxu's eyes, Lin Yu was still merely a Soul Grandmaster with two hundred-year Soul Rings.

During the promotion matches, if the lower-ranked classes won consecutively, it would not be a good thing for him, the person responsible for admitting students. It would prove that he had misjudged them during admissions and assigned the classes unfairly.

He was already beginning to regret agreeing to let Gu Yue join Class Five at Wu Changkong's request.

One could only wonder what Long Hengxu would think when he truly met Lin Yu and saw his three purple Soul Rings, as astonishing as a stroke of great fortune.

Xie Xie did not become smug just because this battle had been a one-sided victory. After all, he knew perfectly well that Freshman Class One's team included a three-ring Soul Elder—and a super Soul Elder with three purple Soul Rings.

He even doubted whether any of the Federation's first-tier major cities could produce a three-ring Soul Elder with entirely purple Soul Rings at this age.

"What's wrong with you? We clearly won, so why do you look so listless?" Tang Wulin asked, lightly poking Xie Xie in the back.

Xie Xie gave a bitter smile. After hesitating for a moment, he still did not tell Tang Wulin and Gu Yue about Lin Yu.

After all, they still had to face Class Three and Class Two before fighting Class One. Telling Gu Yue and Tang Wulin the information now would not do much good beyond increasing their psychological pressure.

In his view, there was no way to guard against Lin Yu's methods in advance. They could only rely on their Soul Power to withstand them head-on, so saying it or not made little difference.

"It's nothing. I've just been under too much pressure lately, and my brain's a little tired. You guys go back. I'll go take a walk by myself." Xie Xie smiled as he brushed it off, but his acting was so poor that anyone with a functioning brain could tell that something was definitely wrong.

Tang Wulin blinked. After hesitating briefly, he still said, "Let's go together. Eastsea City's public security is indeed pretty good, and the academy isn't too strict either, but we're a team. It's better to act together in situations like this."

Xie Xie nodded along and smiled at Tang Wulin. "Sure, sure. I'll treat you to a meal. Let's go out and eat something good."

At the mention of food, Tang Wulin's eyes immediately lit up.

Yet beneath his craving for food, his peripheral vision happened to catch Lin Yu, who was also preparing to leave the academy.

"Huh? That's a student from Class One, right?" Tang Wulin pointed at Lin Yu's back and asked Xie Xie.

Xie Xie nodded, then said to Tang Wulin, "His name is Lin Yu. I know him too. We can be considered acquaintances."

Tang Wulin naturally said to Xie Xie, "In that case, should we invite him to come along? We can also learn a little about Class One while we're at it."

Xie Xie's expression stiffened, but seeing Tang Wulin's expectant gaze, he fell silent for a moment before finally nodding. "Then wait here. I'll go talk to him."

After Xie Xie stopped him, Lin Yu raised an eyebrow and glanced at him. "What is it?"

Xie Xie gave a light cough, then said to Lin Yu, "Brother Yu, do you have any plans for leaving the academy?"

Lin Yu shook his head. "No, I'm just taking a walk. What's up?"

Xie Xie smiled. "If you don't have anything planned, how about we go together? My treat. Class Five won this match pretty nicely, so we're going to have a celebratory meal and enjoy ourselves together."

Lin Yu pursed his lips and pretended to ponder for a moment before nodding. "Then I'll take you up on that. You're even bringing a Class One student like me to Class Five's celebration dinner."

Smiling, Xie Xie grabbed Lin Yu by the arm. "We're all students of Eastsea Academy. What's there to impose about? Come on, come on. Let me introduce you. That's Tang Wulin, our captain..."

Gu Yue naturally wanted to go out as well, so after Lin Yu watched the little three-person scene play out, the four of them left Eastsea Academy together.

Since they had come out to eat, Xie Xie led the three of them toward the snack street.

The snack street was not particularly close to Eastsea Academy. The four of them walked for a full half hour before arriving.

Shops stood side by side along both sides of the not-so-spacious street. The moment they reached the entrance, the three of them smelled all kinds of aromas drifting out from within the snack street, making their mouths water.

"Let's eat that first—braised beef in a sealed pot. It's especially tender and soft, and it tastes best with some white rice." As a local of Eastsea City, Xie Xie took the initiative to suggest.