Lin Tian vs. Yan! Connected? I'll Beat You to a Pulp!

The woman's exquisite face carried a seductive charm, and a natural allure shimmered in her eyes.

As she drew closer, a faint fragrance drifted into Lin Tian's nose.

The woman stopped before Lin Tian.

She gave him a once-over.

"Are you Lin Tian?"

Lin Tian looked at her.

"I am."

The woman raised her jade-like hand and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

"My name is Hu Liena."

"His Holiness the Pope arranged for me to show you around the academy."

"Come with me."

Lin Tian nodded and followed behind Hu Liena.

Hu Liena did not walk quickly.

Her legs, clad in black stockings, moved in alternating strides, while the hem of her white skirt swayed gently with each step.

She occasionally glanced back at him.

Lin Tian remained calm, his gaze fixed ahead, showing no sign of impropriety.

A flicker of surprise passed through Hu Liena's eyes.

"You're quite composed."

"What do you mean?"

"Nothing."

Hu Liena turned around and continued forward.

She first showed Lin Tian the teaching buildings, then introduced the academy's training grounds, soul beast archives, and cafeteria.

Along the way, the passing students all looked toward Lin Tian.

Since Hu Liena was personally guiding him, Lin Tian naturally attracted considerable attention.

When they reached a plaza, Hu Liena stopped.

"What is your relationship with the Grand Consecrator?"

Lin Tian stood behind her.

"A master and disciple relationship."

Hu Liena turned around, and the smile on her face immediately froze.

"The Grand Consecrator took you as his disciple?"

Lin Tian nodded.

The way Hu Liena looked at Lin Tian changed.

Qian Daoliu was one of the highest-ranking figures in Spirit Hall.

Normally, he rarely interfered with academy affairs, and no one had ever heard of him taking a disciple.

Hu Liena fell silent for a moment, her gaze gradually turning serious.

"Although you are the Grand Consecrator's disciple, no one in the academy will give you special treatment because of that status."

"Anyone who wants to rise above others must rely on their own strength."

"I despise well-connected people without any ability the most."

Lin Tian looked at her.

"You think I'm someone who got in through connections?"

"You only have level twenty Soul Power right now."

Hu Liena raised a finger and lightly tapped her own shoulder.

"And you just joined the academy."

"If the Grand Consecrator had not spoken up, you would not even be qualified to enter the Advanced Division."

Lin Tian smiled but did not answer.

Seeing that he remained silent, Hu Liena did not press the matter further.

She led Lin Tian across the plaza and into a broader area.

The buildings here were clearly more refined than those in the outer academy.

Most of the students traveling along the paths had Soul Power Levels above thirty.

From the nearby training grounds, sounds of colliding Soul Power could occasionally be heard.

Hu Liena stopped at the entrance, her expression carrying a hint of displeasure.

"This is the Advanced Division."

"With your Soul Power, you should be studying in the Intermediate Division."

"This time, the academy only allowed you in here out of respect for the Grand Consecrator."

Lin Tian glanced ahead.

"Since I am an exception, I'll make this exception reasonable."

Hu Liena was about to speak when a series of footsteps suddenly sounded behind them.

A group of people approached from the other side of the plaza.

The leader was tall and broad-shouldered, with striking red hair.

He wore the black fitted uniform of Spirit Hall Academy, with a flame emblem embroidered on his chest.

Upon seeing Hu Liena, the red-haired man immediately strode over.

"Nana, what are you doing here?"

Hu Liena glanced at him.

"I'm showing a new student around the academy."

Only then did the red-haired man notice Lin Tian.

He stopped and swept his gaze over Lin Tian.

"Who is he?"

Hu Liena turned slightly to the side.

"Lin Tian. He enrolled today."

"Lin Tian, this is Yan."

"He is a student in the Advanced Division."

Lin Tian looked at Yan.

"Hello."

Yan did not respond.

He stared at the enrollment papers in Lin Tian's hand, and his eyes gained a trace of contempt.

"Level twenty Soul Power?"

"Level twenty Soul Power, and you dare come to the Advanced Division?"

The nearby students heard this and quickly gathered around.

Yan raised his chin.

"Spirit Hall Academy respects strength above all else."

"With only level twenty Soul Power, you'd barely qualify to remain in the Intermediate Division. What are you doing in the Advanced Division?"

Lin Tian's expression did not change.

"The documents make it very clear. I am a student of the Advanced Division."

Yan took a step forward.

"You think having the Grand Consecrator's paperwork means you can throw your weight around in the academy?"

"People who got in through connections aren't welcome here."

"Get the hell back to the Intermediate Division."

A wave of discussion immediately rose around them.

"Level twenty Soul Power, and he wants to enter the Advanced Division?"

"The minimum for the Advanced Division is Soul Elder."

"Why should he be an exception?"

"Even if he is the Grand Consecrator's disciple, he can't break the academy's rules."

A silver-haired man stood behind the crowd.

He was handsome and composed, also dressed in the Advanced Division uniform.

After hearing the surrounding discussion, he frowned and walked to Yan's side.

"Yan, he's the Grand Consecrator's disciple."

"Isn't this a little inappropriate?"

Yan tilted his head and glanced at him.

"Xie Yue, so what if he's the Grand Consecrator's disciple?"

"Spirit Hall Academy belongs to the Pope."

"Even the Grand Consecrator cannot place a level-twenty soul master above every student in the Advanced Division."

Xie Yue did not say anything further.

Yan looked back at Lin Tian.

"Did you hear that?"

"This isn't a place you belong."

"Get lost."

Hu Liena stood to the side and never spoke up for Lin Tian.

She had already made her stance clear earlier.

If he wanted to remain in the Advanced Division, he had to prove his strength.

Lin Tian swept his gaze across the crowd.

Pair after pair of eyes rested on him.

Contempt, mockery, and eager anticipation for a show.

He lowered his head and looked at his hands.

After breaking through level twenty, the Tank Engine had completed ten enhancements.

The ten Attribute Forgers had also fused into his body.

Along with the Ten-Thousand-Year Spirit Ring and his two god-tier martial souls, he had yet to truly test his own strength.

The Yan before him was a suitable opponent.

Lin Tian raised his head and looked at Yan.

"Since Spirit Hall Academy respects strength above all else, why don't we have a spar?"

Yan froze for a moment.

"What did you say?"

"If I win, you will apologize, and no one may stop me from entering the Advanced Division."

Lin Tian paused briefly.

"If I lose, I will leave immediately."

The surroundings fell silent for a moment.

Then laughter spread through the crowd.

"He wants to challenge Yan?"

"A level-twenty soul master challenging Yan?"

"Is this newcomer crazy?"

Yan stared at Lin Tian, then burst into loud laughter.

"I can't believe there is such a reckless fool in the academy."

"Since you want to fight, then let's fight!"

"I'll let you know that the Advanced Division is not a place you can enter with a single document."

Lin Tian gripped the enrollment papers in his hand and handed them to Hu Liena.

"Hold these for me."

Hu Liena accepted the documents.

As she looked at Lin Tian's calm face, a hint of curiosity appeared in her eyes.

"Are you sure you want to challenge Yan?"

"I am."

Lin Tian stepped forward.

His black robe fluttered lightly in the wind.

"Let's begin now."