A Title I Couldn't Think Of

The afternoon cafeteria was as noisy as ever, and Li Chushui's groaning complaints as she slumped over the table had become part of the daily routine.

Compared to Class Five's brutal training, where everyone was squeezed to the limit by Wu Changkong, Chen An's campus life seemed exceptionally relaxed and unhurried.

Class One's training pace was balanced, and their homeroom teacher, Ye Yingluo, never forced her students to cultivate beyond their limits.

Combined with Chen An's own natural attributes, his physique and bloodline had long surpassed those of Soul Masters his age. Ordinary class training and Soul Power refinement placed almost no pressure on him.

Tang Wulin, on the other hand, had every moment of her schedule packed full, with barely any free time at all.

Most of the time, Chen An stayed by her side, waiting quietly and keeping her company. Over time, he keenly noticed a subtle change.

The Golden Dragon King aura hidden within Tang Wulin was no longer as dormant and faint as it had initially been.

As her body was continuously tempered and her Soul Power steadily increased, the Golden Dragon King seal buried deep within her bloodline had begun to loosen.

The change was incredibly subtle. Ordinary Soul Masters had no way of noticing it; only the Silver Dragon King of the same origin, and him, who had fused with the Silver Dragon King's Dragon Scale, could sense it.

The weaker the seal became, the more Chen An could absorb, and the more efficient his leveling would become.

When the event triggered another Bloodline Evolution, that would be another wave of bonuses.

On his bed in the boys' dormitory, Chen An sat cross-legged with his eyes closed, meditating and regulating his Soul Power.

In a secluded corner of the empty training ground, while everyone else rested, he sat alone in silence, consolidating his spiritual power.

Within the unknown Sea of Consciousness, on a dark and tranquil patch of grass, he once again sat down cross-legged.

The black silhouette still stood motionless in the center of the grass, its voice slowly drifting through the spiritual space.

"Did you notice it?"

Chen An did not open his eyes. "Notice what?"

"I saw you meditating here and thought you'd noticed the difference between this place and the outside world."

"Is meditating here different from meditating outside?"

"The difference is enormous."

The silhouette spoke calmly, explaining at an unhurried pace.

"This is your origin spiritual world. Everything here is constructed from your thoughts.

Meditating here means there is no outside noise to interfere with you. The efficiency of consolidating spiritual power and organizing Soul Power is far higher than in reality.

It is only because your spiritual power is still so weak that you can barely rely on this space. You cannot yet experience its ultimate amplification."

Chen An took a deep breath.

"It's that impressive?"

At once, Chen An calmed his mind and devoted himself completely to meditation.

From then on, Chen An thoroughly developed the habit. Whenever he had free time to rest, regulate his breathing, or meditate, he would actively enter the Sea of Consciousness to cultivate.

The black silhouette remained standing in the center of the grass, quietly watching the boy persist in meditation day after day.

Class One's training ground at Eastsea Academy.

Ye Yingluo walked slowly through the ranks, her gaze passing over every student as she observed their cultivation states, her expression calm and solemn.

All of Class One sat cross-legged with their eyes shut, meditating and regulating the Soul Power they had cultivated during the day.

Soon, her gaze fell upon Chen An once again.

Her careful observations over this period had given her an increasingly clear understanding of this unusually gifted student, while the doubts in her heart only deepened.

Chen An was far too disciplined, so disciplined that he did not seem like a boy his age at all.

He had almost no unnecessary play or idle chatter. His routine was regular, his temperament steady, far surpassing the restlessness and immaturity of his peers.

His social circle was also extremely simple, even sparse.

He always kept his distance from ordinary classmates. He rarely formed close friendships, and even when they met, he only exchanged a few simple pleasantries without ever becoming overly familiar.

Only when facing Xie Xie, Wang Jinxi, Zhang Yangzi, and the others did he take the initiative to talk and spar. He would stay longer during combat practice, and after some time, he became only somewhat familiar with those few talented classmates.

Aside from that, when facing her as his homeroom teacher, Chen An always maintained a calm and distant manner that was neither servile nor overbearing.

He was respectfully reserved, yet showed no closeness at all. He was as polite as if he were treating a stranger, completely lacking the intimacy and dependence ordinary students showed toward their teachers.

Even when she took the initiative to arrange a meeting to learn more about him, he always managed to tactfully avoid the subject without revealing anything, his boundaries measured perfectly.

Ye Yingluo knew clearly that this child had been deliberately keeping his distance.

As her thoughts turned, she recalled the scene at the cafeteria entrance.

After days of observation, she had already confirmed that the short-haired girl Chen An waited for punctually every day was Tang Wulin from Class Five.

She had also already investigated the connection between the two.

The academy records stated clearly that Chen An was a child adopted by Tang Wulin's family. He had no relatives, no family ties, and a blank past.

Two lonely children, keeping each other company and relying on one another.

Having understood that, Ye Yingluo could not help feeling somewhat conflicted.

Chen An's talent and strength were plain to see. He crushed those in the Two-Ring Realm, fought opponents above his level, possessed a steady temperament, and was exceptionally disciplined. He was the most astonishing new student she had seen since becoming a teacher.

As for Chen An's personality, she could not say much. As long as he did not cause any trouble, Ye Yingluo ultimately only withdrew her gaze lightly.

Chen An stood at the cafeteria entrance.

More than two months had passed. Other than those who paid absolutely no attention to passersby, nearly everyone recognized him.

And gradually, the situation had turned him into something of a mascot.

Several older students approached and raised their hands in greeting. "Hey, buddy, here again today?"

Chen An did not respond. After passing him, the older students began fooling around.

"He's waiting for a girl. Why are you butting in?"

"Mind your own business."

A few seconds later, several older female students came over. They gathered around Chen An, pulled out a camera, and flashed peace signs.

"Say cheese."

Click.

"Come on, junior. Open wide, ah—"

A few older female students who had seemingly triggered some code that made them want to feed him like he was a kitten stuffed his mouth full of tasty food.

More people merely glanced at him and passed by than actually interacted with him.

Chen An did not dislike their behavior, because whenever one of them came close, he would look at the Roulette. Its sections sometimes changed, triggering direct bonuses.

Unfortunately, they were all pathetic sections with values like Soul Power +1.

The main characters really did give much higher values.

"Sorry for making you wait. Chushui twisted her ankle, so she can't come today."

Tang Wulin took the water from Chen An. The moment she approached, the Roulette's sections began refreshing.

Chen An truly hoped he could reach level 25 soon and gain his next chance to draw.

"It's fine. I don't have anything to do anyway. Or next time, I can wait for you at the training ground."

Tang Wulin suddenly choked on hearing that.

"Cough, cough, cough! No, no, you don't have to wait for me to eat every time."

Naturally, Chen An did not agree. With the seal in place, his growth progress was already so slow. If he reduced contact with her, would he not have the Roulette for nothing?

"Oh."

At a time like this, as long as he showed his introverted side, Tang Wulin, as the older sister, would soften.

After seeing the subtle expression of Chen An lowering his eyes, she did indeed begin explaining.

"It's not that I don't like you waiting for me. I just think you could do more things for yourself. Your sister will be fine on her own."

"Mhm, okay."

Back in the cafeteria, Chen An and Tang Wulin were famous for their appetites.

Their table was piled high with empty plates. Everyone was used to it by now; they would only be surprised if their appetites ever decreased.

"The Class Advancement Tournament is coming soon. Are you confident, Sister Wulin?"

Tang Wulin paused. "Are you looking down on your sister?"

"Of course not."

"Then just wait and see. I'll fight my way into your Class One."

The girl spoke with confidence and certainty.

"Although Teacher Wu Changkong only selected the two of us, we'll definitely win."

Her positive spirit really was infectious. She had the feeling of a hot-blooded shonen manga protagonist.

Chen An sighed softly. He was much more pathetic by comparison.

He picked up his empty plate and was about to leave when a hand suddenly pressed down on his shoulder.

Chen An turned his head to look.

Gu Yue came to his side carrying a tray.