Dormitory

Huo Ling was led to the door of a dormitory by the homeroom teacher, who then hurried off, apparently to pick up another student.

Huo Ling pushed open the dormitory door and looked the room over.

It was a very ordinary dorm room, with two beds and desks.

One of the beds was occupied by someone sleeping.

Huo Ling had just set down his luggage when a delighted shout came from behind him.

"Little Huo! Big Brother knew you'd definitely make it back alive!"

Ren Zhengyang had been sleeping soundly, but the vigilance he had developed in the Spirit Realm still startled him awake. The moment he opened his eyes, he saw Huo Ling standing with his back to him.

"Of course. Could something this minor possibly stump me?"

Huo Ling turned around, sat on the bed, and smiled.

"So, did you awaken?" Ren Zhengyang leaned over, sat on the bed, and threw an arm around Huo Ling's shoulders.

Huo Ling nodded lightly.

When he saw that Huo Ling had successfully awakened as well, Ren Zhengyang's grip tightened slightly around his shoulder. "Good lad. Looks like the Twin Heroes of Third High really are heaven-sent talents!"

"So? What grade aptitude did you get? Your big brother here has third-grade warrior aptitude. I'll keep looking after you in the future."

Ren Zhengyang asked with an expression that practically begged to be praised.

"Heh, I'm just a little better than you—second-grade caster aptitude!"

Seeing the way he was acting, Huo Ling couldn't help raising a brow as he replied with a smile.

The moment Ren Zhengyang heard that, he froze on the spot, his hand falling limply to his side.

Then he grabbed Huo Ling by both shoulders and shook him wildly. "Fine, fine, fine! When I told you to do well, I meant for you to stay alive! I didn't tell you to suddenly do this well!"

"Second-grade caster aptitude? You brat, this hurts worse than killing me!"

"Hahahaha!"

"How am I supposed to be your big brother now? Where am I supposed to put this big brother's face?" Ren Zhengyang released Huo Ling's shoulders and put on an expression of feigned agony.

"It's fine. From now on, I'll be your big brother. I'll look after you," Huo Ling teased.

"Huo Ling! Hurry up and let me hug your thigh."

With a thump, Ren Zhengyang threw himself down and hugged Huo Ling's leg. Then, as though recalling something, he continued, "Little Huo, I can't be your big brother anymore, but you know I have a younger sister."

"You know my sister is as lovely as a flower and beautiful as an immortal. How about this? I'll suffer a little loss and introduce my sister to you. From now on, I'll be your brother-in-law."

"Get lost. It's not like I haven't met your little sister." Huo Ling shoved Ren Zhengyang away with a laugh.

Huo Ling and Ren Zhengyang were childhood friends who had known each other since elementary school. Huo Ling had met Ren Zhengyang's sister too. She was nothing but a chubby girl, and Huo Ling had no interest in her whatsoever.

After the two messed around and laughed for a while, the tension they had carried in the Spirit Realm finally eased somewhat.

After a while, Ren Zhengyang said, "Do you know Wu Yishuang's Spirit Awakening result?"

Wu Yishuang was also a girl in their class. She was very pretty and came from a good family; both her parents were professionals.

Her family was quite well-off, but she was extremely proud. She had always looked down on the other students in class and often looked at people down her nose.

"What was her result?"

"Her Spirit Awakening failed!" Ren Zhengyang laughed with delight.

"She strutted around all day like she owned the world, but she came back from the Spirit Realm after only three days. Her Spirit Awakening failed, so now she can't put on airs anymore."

Over the next three days, Huo Ling and Ren Zhengyang remained in the dormitory. Counting from the day of their Spirit Awakening, this was already the tenth day.

Normally, those sent to the Spirit Realm could return within three to seven days. If they exceeded that time, they most likely would never return.

At the homeroom teacher's summons, Huo Ling and the others went to a classroom.

After entering, Huo Ling saw that compared with their former high spirits, quite a few of his classmates now seemed subdued.

Quite a few others wore delighted smiles. They were probably the ones who had successfully awakened.

After waiting for a long time without anyone else entering, Huo Ling counted the number of classmates. Only thirty-one remained.

That meant at least thirteen people had died on the path to Spirit Awakening.

Huo Ling let out a breath, his mood somewhat heavy.

The homeroom teacher walked to the podium and clapped his hands, drawing everyone's attention.

"First, let us observe a moment of silence for the students who did not return."

The homeroom teacher's tone was grave. People were not plants or trees—how could they be without feeling? More than ten living lives had become forever separated by life and death after only a few days.

The students lowered their heads in silent mourning as well.

A few minutes later, everyone raised their heads.

The homeroom teacher continued, "Now, let us applaud the students who successfully awakened!"

In an instant, thunderous applause filled the classroom.

"I never imagined that among my students, there would be someone who awakened second-grade caster aptitude! Let us give Huo Ling another round of applause!"

The homeroom teacher's voice was full of excitement.

As soon as those words were spoken, the students applauded while staring at Huo Ling in shock. None of them had expected him to possess such high aptitude.

The former Huo Ling had not exactly been unknown in class, but he had been close. His family circumstances were poor, and aside from being somewhat physically fit, he had nothing remarkable about him.

Yet his Spirit Awakening had granted him such excellent aptitude.

The female students looked at Huo Ling with affection in their beautiful eyes. Everyone's gaze held envy and jealousy, and they wished they could take his place.

Yet Huo Ling remained composed. He sensed a lonely gaze upon him and turned to look. It was Wu Yishuang.

Huo Ling glanced at her, then turned away. In the past, this girl had relied on the fact that both her parents were professionals and that her family was well-off. She and Huo Ling had belonged to two different classes.

Now that Huo Ling had awakened successfully and become a professional, he and Wu Yishuang, an ordinary person whose Spirit Awakening had failed, would likewise belong to two different classes.

"Lastly, students who did not successfully awaken should not lose heart. Even if you do not become extraordinary professionals, you can still have bright futures. Next, let us wish them success as they repeat a year and gain admission to a good vocational academy next year!"

Applause rang out once more...

This time, forty-four students from Huo Ling's class had participated in the Spirit Awakening. Among them, thirteen had died or gone missing.

Twenty had failed to awaken. Although they had not succeeded, having been tempered by the Spirit Realm, their physical fitness would still be much better than that of students who had never gone there.

They would also hold greater advantages in their future studies and work.

Eleven had successfully awakened. Among them, Huo Ling had the best aptitude. Most of the others possessed third- or fourth-grade warrior aptitude.

Besides Huo Ling, there was another girl with caster aptitude, though hers was only third-grade.

Once the homeroom teacher had finished speaking, it was time for them to leave. Next came applying to universities.