Class Placement Tournament, Eastsea F4 Strike Again

"Boss, are you done hugging? We still have a mission to complete," Xie Xie's voice rang out at the most inappropriate moment.

"We're work-study students now. We have to do the assigned work to earn contribution points." Xu Xiaoyan blushed, her eyes wide and her little mouth slightly open. Her starlike pupils were filled with shock, and she nearly dropped the Starwheel Ice Staff in her hand. She looked utterly stunned, like she had just witnessed a ship sail.

Gu Yue's body suddenly stiffened as though she had been burned, and she instantly pulled away from Tang Wulin's embrace. Her ears flushed a scorching crimson that spread down her neck. Even her usually cool purple eyes misted over, and she no longer dared to look at Tang Wulin.

She subconsciously clenched the hem of her skirt until her fingertips turned white. The curve of her lips still bore traces of her earlier breakdown and tears, but she forcibly pressed them into a line, trying to put on her usual aloofness. Yet the panic in her eyes could not be hidden.

"Don't get the wrong idea. I was just afraid Wulin would be sad." Gu Yue's voice trembled slightly as she tried to explain calmly. Tang Wulin was a little embarrassed too and scratched his head.

"Right, whatever you say." Xie Xie curled his lips into a mischievous grin.

"Alright, alright, I get it, I get it. Let's hurry and finish the mission, or we won't get any contribution points." Xu Xiaoyan came back to her senses and stuck out her tongue. "Hehe, I'll get ready right away." As she spoke, she tightened her grip on the Starwheel Ice Staff.

Gu Yue took a deep breath and tried to regain her composure. Her cool, detached aura returned. "Let's go." She took the lead toward the mission site.

Tang Wulin and Xie Xie exchanged a glance and quickly followed. Along the way, Xie Xie kept teasing Tang Wulin about what had happened. Tang Wulin blushed but had no idea how to refute him. Gu Yue stayed at the front, only occasionally turning her head to sneak a glance at Tang Wulin, a hint of shyness and gentleness flashing through her eyes.

A few days later, Tang Wulin and his companions were assigned to the same class.

- Homeroom Teacher: Cai Yue'er, known as Elder Cai, dean of the Outer Academy, Silvermoon Douluo, a level ninety-six assault-type Limit Douluo, personally serving as the new students' homeroom teacher.

- Assistant Homeroom Teachers/Counselors: Wu Changkong, mainly responsible for combat training and daily class affairs, and Shen Yi, responsible for supplementary instruction and administrative matters. The two assisted Elder Cai with class management.

When Xie Xie saw the class assignment list, he shuddered. The moment he heard the news, his scalp went numb and cold sweat broke out on his back. He instinctively wanted to hide, even quieting his breathing, afraid that his lively nature would anger that "grim reaper." After all, even Teacher Wu Changkong had to be extremely respectful before Elder Cai.

"That powerful old hag is going to be our homeroom teacher? Our days are going to be rough." Xie Xie backed away in fear and shock.

"Exactly! During the entrance exam, we almost failed to get into the academy because of her. Now we really won't have any good days ahead of us." Xu Xiaoyan swallowed nervously.

The moment Gu Yue learned that Cai Yue'er would be their homeroom teacher, her heart sank sharply. Then an icy chill spread through her, and even the faint smile at the corner of her lips vanished completely.

She knew all too well how sharp and perceptive Cai Yue'er was. The eyes of that Sea God Pavilion elder seemed capable of seeing through the deepest secrets in a person's heart. Yet within Gu Yue surged the Dragon God's Power, along with the mission she bore as the ruler of soul beasts. Becoming the student of someone like that was no different from placing herself in the most dangerous situation. Every step she took in Shrek from now on would have to be more restrained and cautious.

"Wulin." Gu Yue's voice was lower than usual. Her fingers unconsciously twisted the corner of her clothes. When she looked up at him, the chill in her eyes had been suppressed until it was nearly invisible. "Our homeroom teacher is Teacher Cai Yue'er."

Tang Wulin froze for a moment, then scratched his head and smiled. "Teacher Cai? She's an elder of the Sea God Pavilion, and she's amazing at theoretical classes. We've hit the jackpot getting to be her students!"

Looking at his bright smile, Gu Yue's heartstrings trembled lightly, and the gloom in her heart suddenly faded somewhat. She lowered her eyelashes to conceal the fleeting vigilance in her eyes, her voice softening. "It is pretty good." After a pause, she added an almost imperceptible reminder, "When class starts, you... don't be too reckless."

Tang Wulin did not catch the deeper meaning in her words and merely took it as her usual thoughtfulness. He nodded firmly. "Don't worry! I'll definitely listen carefully in class and won't cause trouble for Teacher Cai!"

Gu Yue said nothing more. She merely gazed at his profile and thought silently, As long as I'm here, I won't let her get the chance to discover even the slightest flaw in me through you.

The first class finally began. Teacher Shen Yi stepped onto the platform. "Today is the first day of school. We'll hold a Class Placement Tournament to select our class officers. Students, do your best."

Inside the simulation pods, everyone lay down one after another. As the light flashed, they entered the academy's specially designed virtual forest. Tang Wulin thought, This time, I'll use my own strength to win the position of class monitor. I won't resort to schemes like I did in my previous life.

Very soon, the East Sea Four Cubs met within the virtual space and formed an alliance.

"Captain, it looks like someone's coming from up ahead." Xu Xiaoyan spoke with heightened vigilance.

"Then we fight." Tang Wulin waved his fist and charged forward. His fist transformed into a Golden Dragon Claw in midair as he rushed straight at the figure and engaged them in battle. The surrounding mist slowly spread.

Before the mist in the virtual forest had dispersed, two figures sprang out from behind the trees. Their claws glinted coldly after Martial Soul Possession as they lunged straight for Tang Wulin's back while he was fighting another opponent.

Gu Yue's gaze sharpened. Her fingers did not move, yet the air around her abruptly solidified. Half a foot of ice spikes instantly formed beneath the left ambusher's feet. As he staggered, several wind blades howled toward him, accurately striking at the joints of his Martial Soul. The person on the right had just begun to change direction when the earth beneath his feet suddenly churned, wrapping around his ankles like invisible hands and turning him into a perfect target for Tang Wulin's turning punch.

"Focus on the enemy in front of you." Her voice came through the thin mist, calm and without a trace of emotion. At the same time, she lightly pointed at an agility-type student trying to ambush them from afar. The canopy above his head suddenly shook violently, and countless leaves gathered into sharp green blades that rained down densely, forcing him to retreat in embarrassment and instantly exposing him to Xie Xie's attack range.

Gu Yue stood within the shadows of the trees. With a gentle wave of her fair hand, ice, wind, and earth elements alternated and intertwined, weaving an invisible barrier around Tang Wulin.

She did not linger in battle. Every use of her elements precisely suppressed the enemy's attacks, clearing obstacles for Tang Wulin without revealing the slightest trace of the Dragon God's Power. Using only the purest elemental control, she quietly paved his path toward becoming class monitor.

"Well done, Gu Yue. Leave the rest to us." Light Dragon Dagger and Shadow Dragon Dagger suddenly gathered in Xie Xie's hands.

The light and shadows in the forest suddenly shattered. Xie Xie shot out like a streak of silver lightning, a pale purple Soul Ring lighting beneath his feet. Two blades of light abruptly formed in his hands, their edges flowing with sharp, icy radiance.

He was unbelievably fast. He seemed to leave only an afterimage where he stood before closing in on the agility-type student attempting to circle around and ambush them.

First Soul Skill, Light Dragon Clone, activated. Two identical figures flanked the opponent from both sides, their Light Dragon Daggers piercing toward his weakness with a sharp whistle through the air. Before the enemy could react, Xie Xie flicked his wrist, and the light blades drew two tricky arcs that forced him back again and again.

Seeing his opponent trying to escape, Xie Xie tapped the ground with his toes and accelerated once more. Second Soul Skill, Light Dragon Impact, erupted with fierce sword energy. The light blade's radiance surged, tearing through the air like a brilliant streak.

With a crisp clang, the opponent's hastily raised Martial Soul buzzed violently from the impact. Xie Xie used the recoil to spin, then kicked the opponent hard in the waist and sent him flying out of the battle zone. His movements were clean and decisive, carrying the sharp vigor unique to youth.

The final strike declared the opponent eliminated. Tang Wulin was not about to be outdone and charged toward an assault-type student.

A fierce wind suddenly rose through the forest as Gold-Pattern Blue Silver Grass burst from the ground beneath Tang Wulin's feet.

The yellow glow of his first Soul Ring was dazzling. His left arm tensed abruptly as the first Soul Skill of Blue Silver Grass, Entanglement, activated. Dozens of vines with a metallic sheen shot out like lightning, accurately wrapping around the assault-type student's legs.

The student roared and swung his fists at the vines. His punches were fierce, but the metallic toughness of the Blue Silver Grass withstood them firmly. Tang Wulin advanced rather than retreating, shooting forward like a leopard. A dragon claw emerged from his right arm, its dark golden scales gleaming coldly under the sunlight—the sharp edge of the Golden Dragon Claw tore through the air and struck at his opponent's weakness.

"Hah!" With a low shout, he lowered his shoulder slightly and poured all his strength into his fist, forcibly knocking aside his opponent's blocking arm. The instant his dragon claw caught the opponent's Martial Soul shield, his second Soul Ring lit with purple radiance.

The second Soul Skill of Blue Silver Grass, Blue Silver Thorn Array, burst from the ground. Countless spikes shot upward, leaving the opponent with nowhere to dodge.

Just as the opponent was about to be hurled into the air by the thorns, Tang Wulin turned his wrist and withdrew most of his force. He merely gave a light push with his dragon claw, steadily sending the student out of the battle zone. He withdrew his stance, and the Blue Silver Grass quietly retreated into the soil. A thin sheen of sweat slid down his brow, but his eyes burned with the courage and integrity of youth.

"Big Sister Gu Yue, the captain and Xie Xie are both so amazing. We can't fall behind either." Xu Xiaoyan's eyes glowed with a pearly white light.

The third Soul Ring of the Starwheel Ice Staff lit up, and a pale blue halo spread outward from her—Star's Shackles!

The student trying to flee suddenly felt the space around him freeze. His limbs felt bound by invisible chains, and even the circulation of his Martial Soul slowed by half a beat. He looked up in horror and met Gu Yue's icy gaze.

Gu Yue lifted her fingertips slightly, and a violent wind swept out with ice crystals.

Second Soul Skill, Ice Seal, arrived in response. The biting cold seeped through the gaps in Star's Shackles and penetrated the student's clothing. In the blink of an eye, a thick shell of ice formed around him.

Before the icy shell could fully solidify, Xu Xiaoyan turned her wrist. The Starwheel atop her ice staff burst with dazzling silver light, and Star's Judgment struck the ice shell with perfect accuracy. Ice shards scattered everywhere as the student groaned and completely lost his fighting strength.

The two stood side by side. Xu Xiaoyan raised a hand to wipe the thin sweat from her brow, her eyes full of excitement. Gu Yue lowered her eyes to watch the cold air dissipate from her fingertips, her expression still calm. Only when she glanced at Tang Wulin on the other side of the battlefield did an almost imperceptible gentleness flash through her eyes.

"Great, Captain! We successfully defeated the first team!" Xu Xiaoyan said happily.

"Everyone, keep it up. There are still several teams left." Tang Wulin wore a confident smile, but he did not notice Gu Yue's gaze fixed firmly on him.