Deception, But Not Entirely Deception

"Teacher Wu, Director Long."

"It's more or less healed already."

Tang Wulin withdrew his Blue Silver Emperor, looked toward Wu Zhangkong, and spoke slowly.

"Good."

Hearing this, Wu Zhangkong immediately responded, his expression still as cold as ever.

Even so, Tang Wulin, who knew him well, could tell that he was in a good mood. At the very least, his subtle expression carried a sense of relief.

"You did well... Since you're all awake, come with me for a trip."

Looking at Tang Wulin before him, Long Hengxu's shocked expression eased slightly as he spoke.

A good child—he knew how to respect his teachers, courteous and humble. He was countless times better than a certain hateful fellow named Wu Zhangkong.

"Take the children somewhere?"

"What's going on?"

Hearing his words, Wu Zhangkong was immediately puzzled and could not help asking.

The Class Promotion Tournament had already ended, and Long Hengxu had even said earlier that the final announcement concerning Class One would be discussed at a meeting tomorrow. Why was he taking them out now?

"Ahem, it's nothing much."

"Just now, the principal of Donghai Academy, Yu Lian, learned about what happened today and asked me to bring you over once you were feeling better."

"I think there's no better time than now."

Long Hengxu coughed lightly and said seriously.

Right now, Tang Wulin, Gu Yue, Xie Xie, along with Wang Jinxi and Zhang Yangzi from Class One, were all here. Wei Xiaofeng was also standing outside.

Was there any better time to go over?

"The principal?"

Upon hearing those two words, everyone present was taken aback. They knew a little about this principal, but not much.

They only knew that among the academy's graduates, those with good talent had become powerful Mecha Masters under his guidance. Among them, Xie Xie, the young master of the Mecha Family, was particularly outstanding.

Of course, the one who knew the least about him was Tang Wulin, a transmigrator. At this moment, facing that principal, only a few words remained in his mind: Master, what exactly do you do for a living?

"Principal Yu Lian... I really don't know much about him."

Tang Wulin could not help shaking his head.

He truly knew nothing about Donghai Academy's principal. After all, aside from establishing Class Zero and buying Spirit Pagoda tickets for Tang Wulin and the others, this principal was a nameless extra among nameless extras.

Still, the things he had done would bring Tang Wulin considerable improvement. All in all, he was a very good nameless extra.

"The principal?"

"Then let's go and hear what he has to say."

Wu Zhangkong's expression did not change as he spoke calmly.

He did not know much about this principal either, but the man was still his highest-ranking superior and had never provoked him. Naturally, he would remain respectful.

At the very least, he would not do to him what he had done before—breaking the Advanced Division director's leg.

After all, he feared nothing, but that did not mean he had no brains!

"Let's go."

Seeing Wu Zhangkong's relatively agreeable attitude, Long Hengxu nodded in satisfaction. Sure enough, when facing the highest authority, even someone like Wu Zhangkong could be fairly reasonable.

"Heh heh."

"Wu Zhangkong, it seems I've found a way to keep you in line."

As Long Hengxu walked toward the principal's office, he felt incomparably delighted and could not help thinking this.

Suddenly, today felt like a good day.

Of course, that was only if he ignored the fact that three students had suffered broken arms, broken legs, and broken torsos!

"Knock, knock, knock—"

Outside an office in Donghai Academy's Advanced Division.

Long Hengxu knocked lightly on the door. Behind him stood Wu Zhangkong, Tang Wulin, Gu Yue, and Xie Xie—the four members of the protagonist group—as well as three students from first-year Class One.

"Come in."

The next moment, a somewhat elderly voice came from within the room.

When they pushed the door open and entered, they saw an old man nearing sixty. His hair was black, his eyes bright and lively, and he looked exceptionally energetic.

This person was none other than Yu Lian, the principal of Donghai Academy, a level-68 Power Attack Department Six-Ring Battle Soul Emperor.

"Principal, I've brought all these talented students."

Long Hengxu stood respectfully before him and said with a smile.

"Principal."

Wu Zhangkong beside him also spoke calmly, offering a greeting. Tang Wulin and the others behind him likewise greeted the principal.

"You."

"Are all quite good."

Yu Lian's gaze turned toward Tang Wulin's group. His eyes swept over Xie Xie, Wang Jinxi, Zhang Yangzi, Wei Xiaofeng, and Gu Yue before finally settling on Tang Wulin.

"You new students this year possess far greater talent than previous students. Ordinary classes can no longer properly cultivate you, so..."

"I've decided to establish a Class Zero, one unlike any other class, yet with resources surpassing every other class—Class Zero."

Yu Lian continued as he looked at everyone before him.

"Class Zero?"

Hearing that name, everyone present was stunned, including Long Hengxu. Even Wu Zhangkong found it somewhat interesting.

"At present, Class Zero has only six students: Tang Wulin, Gu Yue, Xie Xie, Wang Jinxi, Zhang Yangzi, and Wei Xiaofeng... At Donghai Academy, only true geniuses may enter Class Zero!"

Yu Lian declared.

"Understood, Principal."

Hearing this, everyone present could not help feeling some anticipation toward Class Zero and immediately responded.

"However..."

"You lot, do you think you're all that capable?"

However, in the next moment, Yu Lian suddenly frowned. Looking at them with a cold expression, he abruptly said this.

"Huh?"

Hearing such sudden words, everyone was instantly stunned. Clearly, they had not expected him to say that, and confusion immediately appeared on their faces.

Naturally, Tang Wulin was not included. Looking at the scene before him, he only found it amusing. Two words instantly surfaced in his mind: sweet talk.

"He's about to sweet-talk us."

Tang Wulin could not help thinking.

Still, it was not entirely sweet talk. In the original story, the protagonist group had easily obtained countless benefits. That was not something ordinary sweet talk could accomplish.

One could only say that he was sweet-talking them, but not entirely.

So had he sweet-talked them or not? One could only say... he had, indeed!

"Heh heh."

"Do you think your talent is excellent? Do you think you're especially outstanding, nearly invincible among your peers? Do you think that even when facing older students, you have the strength to fight, and that you fear nothing?"

Yu Lian looked at everyone before him, his attitude plummeting as he continued coldly.

"..."

"Uh, isn't that true?"

Hearing his words, Wei Xiaofeng said nothing outwardly, but inwardly felt a wave of dissatisfaction and could not help thinking this.

He was a genius, and no ordinary genius at that. With such a distinction, he was naturally invincible among his peers. Even against ordinary older students, he felt no fear at all.

Didn't that mean he feared nothing? Of course, he did not dare say it aloud. The man before him was the principal, after all.

"Look at yourselves!"

"You may all look perfectly fine now, but earlier, one of you had a broken arm, one had a broken torso, and another even had both legs broken... In a mere Class Promotion Tournament, such severe injuries occurred."

"Is this the genius you take pride in and boast about?"

"Since when could people this weak use the title of genius?"

Yu Lian snorted coldly. Looking at them, he did not hesitate to reveal their earlier injuries.

Hearing his words, all the students present were stunned.

"This is what you call genius?"

"Think carefully about it, children."

Seeing everyone staring blankly before him, Yu Lian assumed they had fully taken his words to heart. His attitude softened somewhat as he spoke.

However, that was not why they were stunned. It was because of the injuries.

They all knew that their injuries had been treated by Tang Wulin. Even Wei Xiaofeng knew that. But the situation before them was completely different from what they had imagined.

They had thought the injuries were not serious, that they had merely fainted from superficial wounds. They had never expected bones to be broken...

Wait, they had been injured that badly?

Naturally, the principal had no need to deceive them. But if the injuries had been so severe, how had Tang Wulin treated them so easily?

"Tang Wulin actually...!"

"No way, damn!"

"Brother Lin, you...?"

"Holy shit..."

For a moment, Wang Jinxi, Zhang Yangzi, Xie Xie, and Wei Xiaofeng all turned astonished gazes toward him, their hearts filled with shock.

His healing abilities were actually this strong!

"Wulin, you..."

Among everyone present, Gu Yue was undoubtedly the most astonished. At this moment, she looked at Tang Wulin with intense curiosity.

Earlier, she had asked him about the treatment, and he had merely said, "The injuries weren't serious." Yet the truth was that their bodies had been broken!

"I expected you to downplay it."

"But saying broken bones weren't serious? That's a little too outrageous..."

Looking at Tang Wulin beside her, Gu Yue could not help pursing her lips in dissatisfaction, even with the principal present.

"Ahem."

"Because I could heal them, I said they weren't serious."

Tang Wulin thought for a moment, then solemnly spouted nonsense.

"Take a guess whether I believe that."

Gu Yue merely gave him a quiet glance.

At the same time, she could not help sighing inwardly. With merely the strength of a Grand Soul Master, he already possessed such powerful restorative abilities. If he became a Soul Douluo or even a Titled Douluo...

"If only I had met you earlier."

Gu Yue sighed.

If she had known someone with such powerful healing abilities long ago, perhaps her plans could have been advanced. What a pity...