Opening Ceremony

For a moment, Wu Changkong and Shui Bing'er only belatedly realized what was happening, and the atmosphere turned a little subtle.

Xue Wu was the first to break the silence. She stepped forward and generously held out her hand to Shui Bing'er. "You're Shui Bing'er, the Shui Family's eldest daughter, right? I'm Xue Wu. Like you, I'm a freshman this year. Nice to meet you."

Shui Bing'er looked at the hand extended before her, then reached out and shook it.

"Mm, nice to meet you too."

Their hands clasped.

Then they released each other at the same time, their gazes meeting again in the air.

Xue Wu said, "What I just said to Wu Changkong applies to you too. I want to fight both you and him."

"Mm, I'll see it through to the end."

It was their first meeting, and they had exchanged no more than a few words, yet the air was already filled with a faint scent of gunpowder.

Shui Yue'er watched with great interest, her large eyes darting back and forth between her sister and Xue Wu.

A moment later, Shui Yue'er clapped her hands. "It's getting late. I heard the academy is holding a welcome ceremony today, and we'll be assigned to classes too. If we don't head to the square now, we'll be late."

"Then let's hurry."

The four of them passed through the academy's cedar-lined path and arrived at the central square.

Several hundred beautiful girls had already gathered in the square. As the only boy, Wu Changkong stood out especially sharply.

Countless gazes turned toward him, and whispers began to rise around them.

Walking beside him, Shui Bing'er naturally felt those looks as well.

She glanced at Wu Changkong. "You're pretty popular."

"But I still prefer keeping a low profile."

"At this academy, I'm afraid you won't be able to keep a low profile."

"Besides, there's a good chance we'll be assigned to the same class."

"How can you be so sure?"

"Because Skywater Academy assigns classes based on strength."

Shui Bing'er explained, "Every year after the freshmen enroll, the academy places students into elite, excellent, and ordinary classes based on the combined results of their Martial Soul quality, Soul Power Level, and practical combat assessment.

"The Elite Class is for those with the highest talent. It only accepts the most outstanding geniuses."

"And class placement isn't permanent. There's a major exam every six months. If your results aren't good enough, you'll be demoted."

"You're level thirty-nine, and I'm level thirty-three. Unless something unexpected happens, we'll both enter the Elite Class."

"Alright, please take care of me in the future, Bing'er."

"Mm, likewise."

When Shui Qinghan stepped onto the stage, the entire square fell silent.

After a brief pause, her voice, amplified by Soul Power, rang clearly in everyone's ears.

"Welcome to Skywater Academy. I am your headmistress, Shui Qinghan."

"There are a total of two hundred and thirty freshmen this year, the largest intake in the past five years."

A low stir rose from below the stage. Quite a few freshmen looked at one another. Two hundred and thirty students was not a large number among the academies of the Heaven Dou Empire, but for Skywater Academy, it was already rare.

Shui Qinghan ignored the whispers below and continued, "I know that many of you came because of Skywater Academy's reputation. Some of you were forced here by your parents. Some may even have simply wanted to find somewhere to idle away your days."

"But let me tell you in advance: idling away your days is impossible here."

"Skywater Academy has stood for hundreds of years not because it has a pleasant name, nor because of the connections of its past headmasters, but because of its genuine teaching quality."

The square fell completely silent. Several freshmen who had been whispering to one another unconsciously straightened their backs.

Shui Qinghan slightly softened her tone. "Of course, the academy isn't all strictness."

"Here, you'll find the best cultivation facilities on the northern frontier of the Heaven Dou Empire, an experienced team of instructors, and... the rather lovely Heavenwater Lake."

"I hope that while cultivating diligently, you'll also enjoy every day you spend at the academy. Vice Headmistress Lan will explain the specific arrangements next."

She took a step back, and Lan Xiaoyue slowly walked onto the stage from the side of the platform.

A gentle smile rested on the vice headmistress's lips, forming a stark contrast to Shui Qinghan's imposing presence just now.

"Hello, students. I'm Vice Headmistress Lan Xiaoyue."

"First of all, congratulations on making it here through so many rounds of selection. Every one of you is someone to be proud of."

"For the next six years, you will study, cultivate, and grow here."

"I believe that on the day you graduate, when you look back on today, you will thank the past version of yourselves who chose Skywater Academy."

Several freshmen below the stage were moved by her words and began applauding unconsciously.

Lan Xiaoyue smiled and raised a hand to signal for quiet. "Before class assignments, there is one small ceremony. Would the senior students please step forward..."

As soon as she finished speaking, more than a hundred girls dressed in upper-year uniforms emerged in orderly lines from both sides of the square.

Their steps were neat, and each carried a silver tray lined with blue velvet. On the trays were neatly arranged brand-new enrollment badges.

The badges were made of silver metal. The front bore a relief carving of the academy, while the back was engraved with the academy's name and year of enrollment.

The senior students entered the freshmen's ranks one after another and personally pinned a badge onto every new student.

The senior student who stopped before Wu Changkong wore a ponytail. She looked fifteen or sixteen, and her movements were crisp and capable.

When she raised her head and clearly saw Wu Changkong's face, she froze for a moment. Then a look of realization appeared on her face.

"You're Wu Changkong?"

"Mm."

"Do your best, the only male student in our academy."

"Alright, Senior."

Once Lan Xiaoyue saw that every freshman had received a badge, she said, "The enrollment badge is a symbol of a Skywater Academy student's identity. It is also an agreement between you and the academy."

"No matter where you go, as long as you wear it, Skywater Academy will always be your home."

"Next, Headmistress Shui will explain the class assignment arrangements."

Shui Qinghan returned to the center of the stage with a roster in her hand.

She opened the roster. "You should all have heard something about Skywater Academy's class assignment system."

"The academy uses Martial Soul quality..."

The area below the stage sank into silence, every freshman holding their breath as they listened.

"Let's go over the class assignment rules. They're very simple. Students below level twenty Soul Power, step forward first."

More than a hundred and fifty freshmen gradually stepped out from the crowd and stood in the open space on the left side of the square.

"Students between level twenty and level twenty-five."

Far fewer people stepped out this time, around fifty or sixty. They stood on the right side of the square.

"Students between level twenty-five and level thirty."

More than a dozen freshmen stepped out from the ranks and stood in the central area.

Finally, Shui Qinghan raised her head. Her gaze swept across the students below before settling somewhere.

"Students above level thirty, step forward."

Wu Changkong and Shui Bing'er turned their heads at almost the same time, their eyes meeting.

The two stepped forward together and walked out from the ranks.