Freshman Class Nine

Yu Chen glanced at Wang Dong beside him, who was acting strangely and fidgeting throughout, secretly puzzled.

Something was off. This girl was way too abnormal today.

Could she have taken a liking to me? No way. We'd barely exchanged a few words in total.

He could not be bothered to make wild guesses and immediately cast the distracting thoughts aside.

After sleeping until broad daylight, his stomach had long since been growling with hunger.

Fortunately, he had only taken the Golden Dragon King's authority and had not inherited that absurdly astonishing appetite. Otherwise, the cafeteria's breakfast today would not even have been enough to fill the gaps between his teeth.

The three of them walked to the academy cafeteria. The moment they looked up, they spotted a wooden sign hanging on the wall, its rule written plainly: Food and drinks were not to be taken out of the cafeteria.

Huo Yuhao turned to Yu Chen and asked, "Brother Chen, what are we eating this morning?"

Wang Dong, who had also calmed herself, leaned in and followed up with a question. Her expression had finally returned to normal.

"Obviously, we'll pick the cafeteria's best and most expensive dishes. I'm treating today, so order whatever you want."

Huo Yuhao was still a little embarrassed upon hearing that. Scratching his head, he said, "That doesn't seem right. How can we keep making you spend money?"

Yu Chen waved a hand and said nonchalantly, "It's nothing. I have more Gold Soul Coins than I can ever spend."

Wang Dong's eyes lit up. It was not that she was unwilling to spend money herself, but being treated by Yu Chen inexplicably made her happy. Even ordinary food seemed as though it would taste a little better.

Huo Yuhao suddenly realized something and muttered quietly, Could Brother Chen be some secretly wealthy young master?

In the blink of an eye, nearly a kun-year had passed. The three finally finished eating and left the table, having spent a full 100 Gold Soul Coins on breakfast.

Naturally, that was because it was all soul beast meat containing Soul Power.

After breakfast, the three parted ways and returned to their respective dormitories.

In the blink of an eye, the third day arrived. The academy officially began classes, and Yu Chen got up early at dawn to get himself ready.

Before long, Yu Chen entered the classroom. Freshman Class Nine was already packed, and Ning Tian of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was seated with her attendant, Wufeng.

As the saying went, the true protagonist always made their entrance last.

The entire class turned to look in unison amid the bustling noise. Yu Chen slowly stepped into the Freshman Class Nine classroom, ignored the room full of people, and headed straight for an empty seat in the last row before sitting down calmly.

He smiled faintly to himself. Homeland of the King, I'm here.

The noisy classroom had not even been quiet for a moment when a gentle yet somewhat imposing figure walked in.

It was Teacher Mu Jin, the homeroom teacher of their Freshman Class Nine.

She wore a simple, elegant teacher's robe, her temperament cool and dignified. The instant she entered the classroom, the previously boisterous room fell completely silent, and every student instinctively sat up straight.

Mu Jin raised a hand to suppress the noise and said in a clear voice that carried through the room, "For today's first class, we'll do introductions. Briefly state your name, martial soul, and Soul Power Level."

As soon as she finished speaking, quite a few students below immediately grew nervous.

Mu Jin stood before the podium with a calm expression, though a trace of anticipation was hidden in her heart.

She had long received word from the academic affairs office that this year's Freshman Class Nine had a heaven-defying dark horse hidden within it—a youth who had already reached Level 45 as a power-attack Soul Ancestor.

Ordinary freshmen only possessed Soul Power in the twenties. Those who could break through Level 30 and become Soul Grandmasters were few and far between. A Soul Ancestor in the forties among freshmen was simply an overwhelming advantage.

That was the true reason she was especially looking forward to the introductions today. She wanted to see with her own eyes exactly what kind of person that peerless genius, who had entered the freshman class as an exception, was.

Mu Jin secretly competed with Zhou Yi in her heart, a faint, imperceptible smile hidden at the corner of her lips.

Zhou Yi, let's see what you can use to compete with me this time.

Mu Jin pointed toward the front row and instructed, "Then we'll begin with the first student in the first row. Come up and introduce yourselves one by one."

After the first dozen or so students finished their introductions, it was soon Wufeng's turn.

"My name is Wufeng. My martial soul is the Red Dragon, and my Soul Power is Level 25."

After speaking, she swept her gaze across the class, her eyes full of provocation and her expression one of utter disdain for everyone else.

Many students below were holding back their anger, privately complaining that she was far too full of herself.

But her Level 25 Soul Power was the real deal. No matter how dissatisfied they were, no one dared to openly start a conflict with her.

Soon, Ning Tian slowly walked onto the podium.

"My name is Ning Tian. My martial soul is the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, and I am a Level 31 Soul Elder."

The moment she said that, the classroom erupted, every face filled with shock.

Many people began discussing it quietly. Support-type martial souls were already far more difficult to cultivate than other types, yet she was a Level 31 Soul Elder at such a young age. It was simply outrageous.

As the freshmen finished introducing themselves one after another, cries of astonishment rose and fell throughout the classroom.

Amid the crowd's lively discussions, it was finally Yu Chen's turn in the last row.

Mu Jin's gaze settled on Yu Chen in the back row, and she was already certain that he had to be the rumored young Soul Ancestor.

Yu Chen stood tall as he slowly rose from the last row. A faint yet piercing dragon's might seemed to surround him. He was quiet and steady, yet possessed an aura that towered over everyone present, instantly suppressing all noise in the classroom.

He walked calmly up to the podium. His cool voice was not loud, yet it rang clearly through the entire classroom. "My name is Yu Chen. My martial soul is the Golden Dragon, and I am a Level 45 power-attack Soul Ancestor."

The brief sentence fell!

The entirety of Freshman Class Nine instantly fell dead silent. A needle drop could have been heard.

The people who had been marveling at Ning Tian's Level 31 Soul Elder status just moments ago all had their pupils constrict. The shock on their faces was almost impossible to conceal. After being stunned for several seconds, the entire room exploded into uproar!

"Level 45?! Did I hear that right? A freshman! A Level 45 Soul Ancestor?!"

"Has he gone insane?! Miss Ning Tian being Level 31 was already outrageous, but this is a complete crushing gap!"

"The Golden Dragon martial soul! A legendary ultimate beast martial soul! A naturally top-tier bloodline!"

"Everyone else is just beginning to explore the twenties, while he's already a Soul Ancestor. Is he even a freshman? He's here to crush us with a higher level of power!"

The entire class whispered among themselves. Gasps and discussion erupted completely, their faces full of disbelief as their gazes toward Yu Chen shifted from unfamiliarity to overwhelming shock and reverence.

Meanwhile, Mu Jin, the homeroom teacher on the podium, trembled slightly. An intense gleam burst into her eyes, and she could no longer maintain her usual dignified composure.

She stared fixedly at the calm, unruffled youth on the stage. Ecstatic joy surged through her heart, and every inch of her radiated irrepressible excitement!

That was right! It was him!

The heaven-defying freshman Soul Ancestor mentioned by the academic affairs office really was a student in her class!

Thinking of Zhou Yi from the neighboring class, who had always competed against her, Mu Jin felt utterly exhilarated. Her lips could not stop curving upward—Zhou Yi, you had lost this round completely and utterly!

Thinking back to that year, despite her desperate pleas, Zhou Yi had still expelled her younger brother. What was the reason? Improper character...