Class Zero is established

The next day, a murderous chill hung over the promotion tournament Arena. When Class One's team appeared, a wave of stifled gasps swept through the crowd. Their homeroom teacher, Ye Yingluo, wore a long robe embroidered with intricate dark patterns. Her face was cold as frost, her gaze sharp as a blade as she swept it over the three members of Class Zero opposite her, the corners of her mouth curling in contempt.

The three students behind her were none other than Wei Xiaofeng, Zhang Yangzi, and Wang Jinxi, who had declared yesterday that they would end Class Zero's winning streak.

"Tang Wulin, today is the end for you." Ye Yingluo tossed out those icy words, then returned to the spectator seats.

At the Referee's command, the match instantly reached a fever pitch.

Zhang Yangzi struck first. His Martial Soul, the Dark Illusion Raven, soared skyward, its enormous wings blocking out the sun as he instantly unleashed his second Soul Skill, Eternal Night Domain. Thick black mist poured down like ink, swallowing the entire Arena in an instant until no one could see even a hand before their face.

"Careful, they're using the darkness as cover!" Xie Xie frantically searched the darkness with his senses, but could only catch a few blurry afterimages.

Wang Jinxi's Martial Soul, the Ancient Dragon King, let out a deafening roar. Though still in its juvenile form, it already possessed the oppressive might of the Dragon Clan. He held the front line, his entire body covered in dark golden Dragon Scales, enduring Tang Wulin's probing Blue Silver Grass Entanglement as he advanced step by step, clearing a path for his teammates.

The true killing blow came from Wei Xiaofeng. He activated his Martial Soul, the Nether Snake, and his body instantly became slippery and formless, blending perfectly into the darkness. As an agility-type Soul Master, his speed surged beneath its cover. Like a venomous snake seeking someone to devour, he silently slipped past Tang Wulin's defenses and lunged straight at Gu Yue in the rear.

"Die!" Wei Xiaofeng's snake tail, charged with venomous Soul Power, lashed viciously at Gu Yue's waist.

Gu Yue's expression remained unchanged as freezing air erupted around her. "Ice Wall!"

A thick shield of ice instantly formed at her side, blocking the lethal blow. Yet Wei Xiaofeng's attack was only a feint. Using the force of the rebound, he slipped into the darkness and vanished once more.

"In this darkness, we are the masters!" Zhang Yangzi's arrogant laughter rang out from every direction.

Tang Wulin's brows knitted tightly. With his vision obstructed, he could not precisely deploy his wide-area control. Xie Xie tried to dispel the darkness with the Light Dragon Dagger's radiance, but within the Eternal Night Domain, that light was as feeble as a dying candle in the wind.

"We can't let this continue!" Resolve flashed in Tang Wulin's eyes. He took a deep breath, and the Bloodline Power within him surged—the strength bestowed upon him by the Golden Dragon King Bloodline. Yet instead of unleashing his physical strength, he drew upon the trace of sacred light within his bloodline.

Then he did something no one had expected. His First Soul Ring lit up beneath his feet, but what he released was not Blue Silver Grass's Entanglement. It was an entirely different power.

"Twin Martial Souls, Second Martial Soul—Soft Bone Rabbit!"

With a clear, lilting cry, a wave of pink Soul Power rippled outward. Then, with a soft pop, a pair of fluffy rabbit ears, snowy white as jade, sprouted from the top of Tang Wulin's head!

The ears were roughly half a foot long, gleaming white from base to tip, with a faint blush of red at their ends. They trembled gently with his breathing, utterly adorable. Tang Wulin had already been delicate-featured and handsome, but framed by those rabbit ears, his skin looked even fairer and his eyes more lustrous. He radiated an exquisite beauty that blurred the line between male and female, like an elven prince stepping out of a fairy tale.

"What Martial Soul is that? It's so cute!" The female students below the arena instantly erupted into squeals.

Tang Wulin ignored the gasps around him. He closed his eyes and concentrated fully on drawing out that trace of light-attribute power within him. Although the Soft Bone Rabbit Martial Soul itself had granted him no Soul Skills, the light originating deep within his bloodline was darkness's nemesis.

"Light, break the dawn!"

At Tang Wulin's low cry, the rabbit ears atop his head suddenly burst with dazzling pink-gold light. This was no Soul Skill, but an eruption of pure light energy that instantly illuminated the entire domain of darkness.

Under that sacred radiance, Zhang Yangzi's Eternal Night Domain melted rapidly like snow beneath the sun. The darkness dispersed, leaving everything in the Arena with nowhere to hide.

"What?!" Zhang Yangzi discovered in horror that the control ability his Martial Soul prided itself on could offer no resistance whatsoever against this pure power of light.

"There!" Xie Xie's eyes lit up as he finally caught sight of Wei Xiaofeng's figure concealed in the shadows.

"Light Dragon Thrust!"

Xie Xie instantly became a streak of light, lunging straight at Wei Xiaofeng. Without the darkness to conceal him, Wei Xiaofeng's advantage in speed was greatly diminished. Before he could react, Xie Xie's Light Dragon Dagger was already at his throat.

At the same time, the silver whip in Gu Yue's hand coiled around Wang Jinxi's feet like a nimble snake and yanked him hard to the ground.

"The match is over!" the Referee announced loudly. "Class Five, Tang Wulin's team wins!"

The entire crowd fell silent, then erupted into thunderous applause. Everyone had been won over by Tang Wulin's stunning Soft Bone Rabbit Martial Soul.

Yet just as the three members of Class Zero were about to leave the arena, the defeated Wang Jinxi and Zhang Yangzi suddenly exchanged a glance, a trace of desperate resolve flashing in their eyes.

"You think you can beat us? It won't be that easy!" Zhang Yangzi roared, his Soul Power erupting once again.

"Martial Soul Fusion Skill—Dark Eagle Dragon!"

Their bodies instantly fused, transforming into an enormous dark skeletal dragon. Its spread wings blotted out the sky and sun, and its terrifying pressure made the entire Arena tremble.

"Careful!" Wu Changkong instantly appeared before the three members of Class Zero. He stared coldly at the fused beast. "The match is already over. Are you still trying to cheat?"

Sensing the terrifying sword intent emanating from Wu Changkong, the Dark Eagle Dragon shrank back. Finally, at Ye Yingluo's signal, the two reluctantly undid their fusion.

Watching his opponents retreat in disgrace, Tang Wulin touched the spot atop his head where the rabbit ears had already withdrawn and thought, Looks like I'll have to train even harder from now on.

The sunset's lingering glow edged Eastsea Academy's administrative building in solemn gold. Inside the principal's office, however, the atmosphere was even heavier than the darkening sky outside. The repercussions of the thrilling promotion match that had just ended had yet to settle.

"Hengxu, have you really thought this through?" Principal Yu Zhen sat behind his broad desk, tapping his fingers lightly against its surface as he regarded the middle-aged man before him with a penetrating gaze. "Those children may be talented, but Ye Yingluo trained them herself, after all. And they've just made enemies of Tang Wulin and the others. Bringing them over now could make them difficult to manage."

Standing before the desk was Eastsea Academy's dean of students, Long Hengxu. He was tall and strongly built, with resolute features and an unquestionable decisiveness in his eyes. Hearing the principal's concerns, he nodded slightly, his voice low but firm. "Principal, that grudge is precisely why we need to bring them over. A greenhouse cannot nurture a tree that towers into the sky. Only through constant clashes and adjustment can the truly strong emerge."

He walked to the window and looked at the young figures on the distant training grounds before continuing slowly. "You saw it yourself. Tang Wulin's potential can no longer be measured by the standards of an ordinary class. And Wang Jinxi and Zhang Yangzi have extremely compatible Martial Souls. You also witnessed the power of that hastily executed Martial Soul Fusion Skill yesterday. If they remain in Class One under Ye Yingluo's impatient pursuit of quick results, their talents will only go to waste. They might even fall apart because of Wei Xiaofeng's departure."

"Wei Xiaofeng..." The principal sighed. "I heard his family arranged his transfer overnight?"

"Yes." Long Hengxu frowned slightly, a hint of regret in his voice. "The Wei Family arranged better resources for him elsewhere. His parents felt that staying at Eastsea Academy would only leave him living in Tang Wulin's shadow. It's a pity. With him here, Class Zero's offensive lineup would have been more complete. But this works too. Without Wei Xiaofeng stirring things up, Wang Jinxi and Zhang Yangzi may actually be able to settle down."

Long Hengxu turned and looked the principal straight in the eyes. "Principal, I propose that we establish First-Year Class Zero immediately, with Teacher Wu Changkong as its homeroom teacher. As for the students... besides Tang Wulin, Gu Yue, and Xie Xie, I want to recruit Wang Jinxi and Zhang Yangzi. Those two may only have two rings now, but with proper guidance, they can absolutely become Tang Wulin's sharpest spears!"

The principal was silent for a moment before finally nodding, a faint smile appearing on his lips. "All right. Since you put it that way, we'll follow your plan. But Long Hengxu, let me make the unpleasant part clear up front: if Class Zero fails to produce results, or causes even greater trouble, you'll be held responsible as dean of students."

"Agreed." A rare smile appeared on Long Hengxu's face, and anticipation shone in his eyes. "I believe this will be the most glorious cohort in Eastsea Academy's history."

A short while later, Long Hengxu strode onto the training grounds with an air of unquestionable authority. Tang Wulin and the others, who had been resting, immediately straightened.

"Assemble!" Long Hengxu's voice boomed like a bell. "From today onward, Eastsea Academy's First-Year Class Zero is officially established. Tang Wulin, Gu Yue, Xie Xie, the three of you will remain. In addition, Wang Jinxi, Zhang Yangzi!"

At the sound of their names, Wang Jinxi and Zhang Yangzi, who had been standing off to one side, stiffened and instinctively clenched their fists.

Long Hengxu swept his blazing gaze over them. "Although Wei Xiaofeng has left for family reasons, Class Zero will not be left incomplete. From this moment on, you two are officially assigned to Class Zero! Your past grudges end here. In Class Zero, you have only one goal: to grow stronger and surpass everyone else!"

Tang Wulin looked at the two boys opposite him, whose expressions were complicated, and extended his hand first, a brilliant smile spreading across his face. "Welcome aboard, teammates."

Wang Jinxi and Zhang Yangzi exchanged a glance. At last, they too extended their hands. Former opponents finally clasped hands together. After its twists and turns, First-Year Class Zero had at last welcomed its true members.