Face Hao If You've Got Guts!

In the classroom of Freshman Class One, Lin Jiayi stood at the podium, explaining the situation to the students below.

"Today, our class welcomes four new students." Lin Jiayi gestured toward the four beside him. "Xiao Hongchen, Meng Hongchen, Ye Chenxing, and Ye Xue. A few days ago, these four students were attacked while out hunting spirit rings and missed yesterday's regular freshman registration and examination. However, after a comprehensive assessment by the academy's higher-ups, it was decided that they would be directly assigned to our Class One."

The class assignments at Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy differed from those at Shrek Academy. They were strictly based on examination results; the more outstanding the student, the higher their class ranking.

Although the four had delayed yesterday's registration and class-placement examination because of the attack and their spirit ring hunt, that naturally was not a problem for Jing Hongchen. With a wave of his hand, he directly assigned them to the best Class One.

As for why Qian Renxue, who had originally been staying at home, had not registered on time? This Angel God, who in her previous life had only received one-on-one tutoring from Limit Douluo, had absolutely no experience with ordinary schooling. The maid at home, A Yin, had also grown up wildly and lacked common sense. In the end, that led to the delay.

There was no shortage of handsome men and beautiful women among spirit masters, and that was even more true at the imperial soul engineering academy, where the Sun Moon Empire's finest geniuses gathered. Yet even among this already exceptional crowd, the four standing on the podium were the most eye-catching.

Below the podium, the eleven- and twelve-year-old boys and girls had already begun whispering among themselves.

"They're all way too good-looking."

"That white-haired boy is totally my type."

"Didn't you say yesterday that you liked older upperclassmen?"

"The red-haired one is even more handsome. He's got that bad-boy charm."

"Forget it. He's the headmaster's biological grandson, Xiao Hongchen."

The girls whispered among themselves. The boys were not quite so exaggerated with their words, but their gazes repeatedly swept over Qian Renxue and Meng Hongchen, unable to hide the amazement in their eyes.

The four gave brief introductions. Just as they were about to take their seats, a discordant voice suddenly rang out.

"Teacher. We all got into Class One by passing strict entrance examinations. Why do those four get to join directly?"

The speaker was a boy wearing a black hoodie over his white school uniform. Lin Jiayi raised an eyebrow slightly. The boy had a gloomy air about him; he was quite the thorny troublemaker, daring enough to step forward.

"These four students' talents fully meet Class One's standards." Lin Jiayi's tone allowed no doubt. "The academy's rules are absolutely fair. If Wang Jiahao has any objections, he may submit formal feedback to the academy."

Wang Jiahao gave a cold snort. Submit feedback to the academy? He had heard it clearly just now. The red-haired boy leading the group was the headmaster's biological grandson. Was he supposed to report the headmaster's grandson for abusing his privileges?

Who was standing below the hall, accusing this official?

He had been born in a remote region of the Sun Moon Empire, but both his martial soul and soul engineering talents were exceptional. Otherwise, he could never have tested into Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy from such a small place.

The contradiction between his inferiority over his background and his pride in his talent made him both withdrawn and attention-seeking. He always liked using exaggerated behavior to deliberately cultivate some so-called "mysterious aura."

The moment the four transfer students appeared, the attention of over half the girls in class had been drawn to the white-haired boy. In Wang Jiahao's excessively inflated self-image, all those admiring gazes should have belonged to him! Jealousy gnawed at him, making him aim his spearhead at the four without hesitation.

Wang Jiahao abruptly straightened up. Only then did everyone notice that he wore a black mask over his face. His black outerwear swelled as if stirred by a windless breeze, and that black outfit and mask were actually his martial soul! It was an extremely rare spatial-type martial soul, capable of storing items and releasing them from any part of the clothing. As a soul engineer's martial soul, it was absolutely outstanding.

He stared directly at the podium, his challenge undisguised. "Class One values strength, not background. Since you had the privilege of skipping the examination, you should at least show us why you deserve to sit here!"

Before Ye Chenxing could react, Xiao Hongchen's face had already darkened. He stopped walking, frowned deeply, and strode straight toward Wang Jiahao.

Although Ye Chenxing had thoroughly put him in his place, the pride in this young master of Illustrious Virtue Hall had not changed in the slightest. How could he allow someone else to provoke him like this?

Watching this rumored young prince approach step by step, Wang Jiahao felt somewhat intimidated. But when he thought about how he was also a rare genius, why should he lower his head? To save face in front of the female students, he forced himself to stay calm and glared back fiercely.

The two stood face-to-face, locked in a big-eyed stare for quite some time.

Just as the class could not tell whether they were about to fight or do something else, Xiao Hongchen spoke.

"You doubt our strength?"

Wang Jiahao had actually begun regretting provoking him, but there was no backing down now. He could only grit his teeth and force out, "So what if I do?"

Buzz—

A faint hum vibrated through the classroom. Two yellow and one purple, three dazzling spirit rings rose one after another beneath Xiao Hongchen's feet. The pressure of a Soul Elder instantly swept across the entire room.

Wang Jiahao's doubts were forcibly choked off in his throat by that pressure. The previously noisy classroom fell deathly silent in an instant.

Eleven years old, three rings.

Feeling the shocked and reverent gazes around him, Xiao Hongchen suddenly felt an indescribable surge of emotion.

That's right! This is how it should be! This is the treatment a young master like me deserves!

The humiliation and blows he had suffered over the past few days from that freak Ye Chenxing had finally found balance among these normal people.

"Damn, you've got to be kidding me. A Soul Elder? I heard Xiao Hongchen was supposed to be a soul engineering genius?"

"What do you know? He's an all-rounder!"

Listening to the whispers around him, Wang Jiahao's urge to retreat was already pounding like a drum. He had reached Rank Twenty-Five at twelve years old and had been praised as a "genius unseen in a century" in the remote city where he grew up. He had also ranked near the top in yesterday's placement test, which had rapidly inflated his ego. Only now, facing Xiao Hongchen directly, did he realize how foolish he had been.

He was indeed a genius, but Xiao Hongchen was a genius among the geniuses gathered in this academy from across the entire empire!

Xiao Hongchen stepped forward, and Wang Jiahao instinctively took a step back.

"Do you have any more questions now, Wang Jiahao?"

Wang Jiahao was nearly crushed by that overwhelming presence. He had wanted to admit defeat right then, but from the corner of his eye, he saw the boys' mocking looks and the girls' admiring gazes toward Xiao Hongchen. His fierce pride made him clench his teeth, and in a desperate grasp at straws, he suddenly pointed.

"What about him?! Why does he get to join?!"

Everyone followed his finger and turned in unison toward the white-haired boy still standing on the podium, watching the show with a relaxed expression.

Xiao Hongchen was stunned at first. Then the terrifying aura around him vanished instantly, and his expression became extremely strange.

He silently withdrew his spirit rings, sighed, stepped forward, and heavily patted Wang Jiahao on the shoulder.

"I thought you were just a clown jumping around, but I never expected... you to be a true warrior."

Wang Jiahao clearly failed to catch the hidden meaning in Xiao Hongchen's words. Seeing that the others were no longer laughing at him, he seemed to grab hold of his final lifeline and urgently demanded, "Whitey! Why didn't you take the placement examination? Don't tell me you're a Soul Elder too?!"

Meng Hongchen frowned and took half a step forward, about to speak, but Ye Chenxing raised a hand to stop her.

"I'm not a Soul Elder."

Wang Jiahao instantly became excited. "Then why can you enter Class One directly?!"

Lin Jiayi's expression completely darkened. He had thought this was merely youthful hotheadedness, but Wang Jiahao was being far too ungrateful. Just as he was about to reprimand him, he heard Ye Chenxing chuckle.

"Teacher Lin, this student does have a point. I didn't take the placement examination, so how could I enter Class One for no reason?" Ye Chenxing wore a gentle smile. "How about this? Please arrange a temporary placement assessment for me. Pick someone from Class One as my opponent. If I can defeat him, then I'll be considered qualified for Class One. Is that acceptable?"

As he spoke, his gaze swept across the class, but he pointedly did not look at Wang Jiahao.

"I wonder which student from Class One would be willing to step up?"

"I will!"

How could Wang Jiahao fail to understand such an obvious challenge? He immediately spoke up to accept.

Lin Jiayi frowned slightly. His lips moved as he transmitted his voice to Ye Chenxing. "Your Highness, given your status, there is truly no need to lower yourself to his level."

"It's fine. I also want fewer troubles in the future."

Seeing that Ye Chenxing insisted, Lin Jiayi could only nod in agreement. He cleared his throat and announced, "Very well. In that case, everyone should take their seats and begin class. During the soul tool practical lesson before noon today, the two of you will go to the Soul Duel District for the assessment."

As the dean of students, Lin Jiayi possessed considerable authority. Altering and arranging one or two lessons was naturally no problem, especially for the Class One he personally taught.

Wang Jiahao returned to his seat resentfully. Ye Chenxing found an empty seat by the window in the back row of the classroom.

When Meng Hongchen saw Ye Chenxing sit down, her eyes lit up. Like a cheerful rabbit, she hopped toward the seat beside him.

However, before she could get close, a blur flashed past. At an astonishingly terrifying speed, Qian Renxue got there first, pulled out the chair, and sat firmly beside Ye Chenxing without expression.

Meng Hongchen jumped in fright and stood frozen in place.

Wasn't she only a Great Spirit Master? How could she be that fast?!

...No, wait! The point was, how did she steal my seat?!

Meng Hongchen stomped her foot in frustration, but there was nothing she could do. She could only sit down aggrievedly in the seat behind Ye Chenxing. She frantically comforted herself in her heart: It's fine, it's fine. They're siblings, after all. It's normal for them to sit together. Just like all siblings in the world, they were close and inseparable...

As she was thinking that, she glanced to the side and happened to see Xiao Hongchen pull out a chair beside her and sit down. This young master still wore that smug, infuriatingly pleased expression from having just successfully shown off.

Looking at her own brother's face, a burst of inexplicable anger suddenly surged through Meng Hongchen's heart. Without warning, she raised her foot and stomped hard on the top of Xiao Hongchen's foot!

"Gah—!"

Xiao Hongchen grimaced in pain and looked at his sister with a face full of question marks.

"???"

Ye Chenxing also found Qian Renxue's behavior a little strange this time, but he did not pay it much mind.

As the class bell rang, Lin Jiayi officially began the day's lesson.

As the dean of students at Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy, Lin Jiayi had not originally needed to personally teach on the front lines.

However, he had reached his current position not through connections or backdoor dealings, but through his genuine strength as a Rank Eight Soul Engineer and his exceptional administrative and teaching abilities.

This time, Jing Hongchen had specifically arranged for him to serve as Class One's homeroom teacher, which showed considerable thought.

On one hand, this Class One used an unprecedented small-class system, with only half as many students as a normal class. It gathered precious future talents of the empire like Ye Chenxing and the Hongchen siblings, so they had to be watched over by someone absolutely trustworthy. On the other hand, under Elder Kong's instructions, many of the empire's Rank Eight and Rank Nine Soul Engineers had been arranged to teach Class One. Looking across the academy, aside from a veteran Rank Eight Soul Engineer like Lin Jiayi, ordinary teachers would likely not even be acknowledged by those arrogant high-level soul engineers.

Yesterday had only been for registration and testing. Today was the true first lesson. The academies of Douluo Continent naturally did not divide their subjects into the complicated categories of language, mathematics, foreign language, physics, chemistry, biology, and so on like Azure Star in Ye Chenxing's previous life. The major courses here were extremely straightforward, with only two subjects: theory and practical application.

As the first theory lesson for new students, the Sun Moon Empire had an unshakable tradition of identity education. Its central purpose was only one: recount the empire's history and strengthen identification with the Sun Moon Empire.

Just as Ye Chenxing expected, the course content was basically the same as what he had read in the library over the past few days, making it somewhat dull.

However, the children born and raised in the Sun Moon Empire seemed very interested. Especially when Lin Jiayi shifted to the world-shaking war caused by the collision of the continents thousands of years ago, the atmosphere in the previously quiet classroom visibly became restless.

After all, that was the deepest and most painful thorn buried in the hearts of the entire Sun Moon Empire for thousands of years.

Defeat, ceding territory, and even being forced to change the name of the continent where their ancestors had lived for generations from Sun Moon Continent to Douluo Continent. Even though neither the students nor the teacher present had personally experienced that era, it did not stop them from resonating with it.

"Students," Lin Jiayi said as he swept his gaze across the room, throwing out a question at the right moment. "Remembering history is meant to help us walk toward the future. What do you think the Sun Moon Empire must rely on if we are to completely defeat them now and wash away the humiliation of those years?"

"Soul tools!" Most of the freshmen beneath the podium shouted in unison.

However, Xiao Hongchen, a textbook soul engineer, did not join in this time. He silently looked at the white-haired figure seated in front of him and grumbled inwardly.

What soul tools do we need? That monster alone is enough.

Lin Jiayi turned around, picked up a piece of chalk, and wrote three large, powerful characters on the blackboard.

Soul tools.

"Very good. Then, can anyone tell me what soul tools truly are?"

The moment he finished speaking, Wang Jiahao shot his hand high into the air as if electrocuted. He already enjoyed showing himself off before others, and after suffering the embarrassment of being humiliated before the entire class earlier, he was now even more impatient to prove himself again by answering a question.

Lin Jiayi nodded, signaling for him to answer.

Wang Jiahao stood up, chest held high, and declared loudly, "Teacher, soul tools are the most powerful weapons of us soul engineers! It is precisely because of soul tools that our Sun Moon Empire can lead so far ahead in strength. As long as we continue developing more destructive soul tools, we will definitely be able to utterly crush the former Three Douluo Kingdoms!"

Lin Jiayi nodded slightly. "Very spirited! That is indeed an answer worthy of approval."

Hearing the dean's affirmation, the students below could not help but grow excited as well. That was right. The gap in soul tool technology was exactly what gave the Sun Moon Empire the confidence to look down upon the other three kingdoms.

In the common view of the Sun Moon Empire, the three former Douluo kingdoms were more like a group of apes, while they were the humans who knew how to use tools.

Wang Jiahao thoroughly enjoyed the feeling of being the center of attention. As he sat down, he deliberately turned around and raised his chin provocatively in Ye Chenxing's direction.