The vacation ended, and Shrek Academy returned to its usual bustle.
A few days later, the students trickled back to their seats in the first-year Class One classroom.
When Tang Wulin entered the classroom, he immediately sensed that the atmosphere had changed.
Everyone's eyes settled on him, filled with awe, envy, and defiance.
But Tang Wulin paid none of it any mind.
His gaze went straight to a figure in the back row.
Luo Guixing.
The space-type Soul Master who had once been so arrogant and unruly, styling himself a first-year genius, now sat there quietly.
When Tang Wulin came in, Luo Guixing neither gave him a provocative look as he had last semester nor deliberately turned away to pretend he hadn't seen him.
He raised his head, and his gaze met Tang Wulin's.
The contempt and jealousy were gone from his eyes, replaced by an unprecedented seriousness and acknowledgment.
He had admitted it.
He acknowledged that Tang Wulin was the strongest opponent he had ever encountered, and the only rival who could make him feel threatened enough to force himself to keep growing.
"Class Monitor, long time no see."
Luo Guixing spoke first, his voice calm but carrying a barely perceptible hint of fighting spirit.
Tang Wulin raised his eyebrows, walked over, and asked with a smile, "What? Looking for trouble?"
Luo Guixing shook his head, a confident smile curling his lips. "Of course not. It's a new semester and a new school year, isn't it? Everyone trained quite a bit over the break. We ought to find a chance to spar."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the seven people behind Tang Wulin: Gu Yue, Xie Xie, Xu Xiaoyan, Wu Siduo, Wang Qiu'er, and Ye Xinglan.
"How about a friendly match? Just like last semester's competition."
"You, Gu