Class Promotion Tournament

Ginkgo trees were living fossils among plants. The creatures that had once helped pollinate them had long gone extinct over the course of history.

Just like this plane, which Tang San's hidden schemes had gradually eroded, it was steadily losing its authority and life.

The ginkgo tree had ultimately been able to reproduce again because it had waited for humanity to evolve.

So, had He shown me this leaf because He had been waiting for me?

Luo Qing carefully put away the two ginkgo leaves and returned to Class One.

Inside Class One, the students were chattering away as they planned their tactics.

Three-person teams had been a tradition across Douluo Star since ancient times.

It was said to have become popular thirty thousand years ago. Even the revered first-generation master of the Spirit Pagoda had once shone brilliantly in a three-person team.

The first round of selection began within each class.

Since Luo Qing had essentially gone from contestant to examiner, he was in no hurry.

The remaining teams numbered four.

One of them was formed by three old acquaintances of his.

Xie Xie, Gu Yue, and Tang Wulin.

Their team was clearly the strongest among the four.

Most of the other three teams were unwilling to simply admit defeat.

Thus, a simple arena match was held on the training field.

Tang Wulin stood at the front, with Gu Yue and Xie Xie on her left and right.

Facing them was their first opponent.

"Tang Wulin, I know you—"

A girl from the opposing team suddenly spoke.

"My name is Zhang Jiaxin. Even if you and Gu Yue are strong, you'll only be defeated generals beneath me in the future."

Xie Xie was dumbfounded.

Whose subordinate was this? How could she be so fierce!

He himself did not dare claim he could definitely beat Tang Wulin, much less Gu Yue. What did this girl named Jiaxin usually do to be this bold?

"Jiaxin, say a little less..."

A girl beside her, seemingly her teammate, protested weakly.

"Hey, it's fine—"

"As members of our team, we should have this sort of presence. And even if Jiaxin falls, isn't there still me, Li Jiahao?"

said another boy, dressed entirely in black and fond of wearing a mask.

"They seem pretty distinctive. I just wonder how much they actually weigh."

Luo Qing watched clearly from the back. The match was about to begin.

The six of them returned to their starting positions.

Seeing that both teams were ready, Wu Zhangkong announced the start of the match.

The moment it began, Jiaxin and Jiahao burst into laughter and charged forward.

About five minutes later, Jiaxin and Jiahao lay powerlessly on the ground.

"I'm truly sorry that we failed to make Lady Tang Wulin use her full strength..."

Jiahao lay face down on the ground, stubbornly using his hand to write the character for "miserable" on the dirt.

Jiaxin, on the other hand, appeared exceptionally open-minded. "As expected... are you... my destined rival?"

"I acknowledge... your strength!"

"Stop embarrassing yourselves here!"

The remaining girl dragged the two of them away, red-faced.

As for the final battle, it ended quickly as well.

Two two-ringed Soul Masters and one at the peak of one ring was already a formidable lineup among first-year students.

Even in second year, such strength would not rank near the bottom.

Before long, Tang Wulin's three-person team successfully became Class One's representatives.

Wu Zhangkong applauded with considerable satisfaction.

"Just as I expected. But judging from your performance just now, you seem to have improved again."

His calm eyes swept across the faces of the three.

"At the very least, you have developed a bit of coordination. You're no longer as easily picked off one by one as before."

"But, Teacher Wu Zhangkong... when will Big Brother Luo Qing take the field?"

Wu Zhangkong looked at Tang Wulin, who had spoken.

"Luo Qing has already been designated by the academy as the final challenge, an additional test question arranged for the end."

"If you want to challenge him, you must first defeat the teams sent by the other classes to challenge us."

"Furthermore, the academy has specially prepared a prize as the reward for making it to the end."

"As long as you can defeat every remaining team sent by the other classes for the class promotion tournament, I will take you to the Ascension Platform."

At the mention of a prize, their eyes immediately lit up.

"Really? The place that can increase the age of Soul Rings?"

Wu Zhangkong nodded slightly.

"That's right. It is a prize specially arranged by East Sea Academy, awarded to the champions of the class promotion tournament."

"As for Luo Qing, he is more like a test to examine your final results. Even if you can't beat him, it doesn't matter."

"What a joke. How could the three of us working together possibly fail to beat him?"

Gu Yue was somewhat impatient by then. She had a tiny bit of doubt regarding Luo Qing's strength.

"Whether Luo Qing is truly worthy of standing in that position remains to be seen. We'll definitely test what he's made of when the time comes."

Seeing how full of confidence they were, Wu Zhangkong smiled faintly. "That would be for the best. I wish you victory."

Since they were Class One, even in this bloody battle for class rankings, their matches were scheduled relatively late.

However, perhaps because a tall tree caught the wind, most of the selected elites from Classes Two through Five held a different kind of competitive attitude toward Class One.

"So these are the people from Class One? Why are two little girls leading a sissy?"

Xie Xie immediately flew into a rage.

"Who are you calling a sissy? Dare to have a match with me?"

But the crowd was bustling, and he could not find the person who had just spoken.

"Enough, calm down. There's no need to lower yourself to their level."

"They're just the howls of defeated dogs. There's no need to take them to heart."

Gu Yue was far more arrogant. She did not care about those who provoked them at all. In her eyes, her team had only one true enemy.

She turned and saw Luo Qing standing to the side, licking an ice pop.

"Alright, I'll announce the matchups."

Long Hengxu, the dean of students, cleared his throat onstage.

He began a completely pointless pre-match speech.

The students below grew incredibly bored waiting. Perhaps realizing that he had spoken for too long, even the dean of students himself felt a little embarrassed.

"Well then, students, there's no need for me to say more."

"Next, Class Four will face Class Five. Will Class Four defend its position, or will Class Five rise another rank?"

"I announce that the students of Classes Four and Five should get ready!"

"Begin!"

The grand, bloody battle for class rankings began, and the students fought with fiery enthusiasm.

The people watching from the side, bloodthirsty spectators unable to join the matches themselves, had a wonderful time.

"Yes, that's it! Use your first Soul Skill and charge him!"

"Hey, isn't your Martial Soul a bull? Ram him with your horns!"

After several rounds of matches, Class One was about to face its first battle.

The three people on the other side slowly stepped onto the stage. The leader spoke confidently.

"Let me introduce ourselves. We're from Class Two."

"But we'll soon be Class One—"