Freshman Class Nine

"Wonderful! Now I finally don't have to hold back my soul power cultivation to avoid killing hundred-thousand-year soul beasts, and I can finally fulfill my promise to Sister Xue and Sister Bing." Tian Chen was thrilled. To avoid hunting hundred-thousand-year soul beasts, he had been suppressing his martial soul's level to extend the window in which he could absorb a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring. Otherwise, with his innate soul power of rank twenty, he would not have only just reached rank forty, even after spending time cultivating Three Thousand Thunder Movement and his spiritual power.

Now that he had a way to condense soul rings, he no longer had to suppress his soul power cultivation. He had also just reached rank forty, so he would try condensing a soul ring when he had time.

Just then, Wang Dong knocked on the door and said, "Tian Chen, are you done yet? I'm uncomfortable too! Hurry up."

Only when Tian Chen heard Wang Dong knocking did he realize how long he had been immersed in his excitement. He hurriedly composed himself and stood, walking toward the door as he said, "Coming, coming! Just a moment." He opened the door and saw Wang Dong standing outside with a helpless expression. He couldn't help smiling. "Sorry, sorry, I got a little distracted. Go on in. I promise I won't keep you waiting so long next time."

Wang Dong rolled her eyes at him in exasperation, then hurried into the bathroom and shut the door.

Meanwhile, in the Sea God Pavilion, Ma Xiaotao slowly woke. She shifted a little, seemingly trying to recall something, and murmured, "What... happened?"

She forced herself to stand and tried hard to recall what had happened, but remembered nothing. Her only memory was of a handsome boy with enormous wings and a gigantic golden phoenix appearing behind him. It had felt as though her martial soul was not even worthy of being its slave.

Just then, Yan Shaozhe's voice rang out. "You're awake! Why didn't you tell me you could no longer suppress the evil fire inside you? Luckily, you ran into Tian Chen today. Otherwise, who knows what terrible disaster you might have caused."

"Also, Xiaotao, we discovered a sacred, powerful light energy inside you, carrying a strange energy of its own, that suppressed your evil fire. Do you remember what happened before you passed out?"

Ma Xiaotao shook her head.

"I don't remember anything! All I remember is seeing an enormous golden wing. But what kind of light power could actually suppress my phoenix evil fire?"

"It was a kind of ultimate light. That was what suppressed your phoenix evil fire. But you were already unconscious when we arrived. There were only three freshmen there, and we didn't see that person."

"Xiaotao, try to think back carefully. If we can find this person, perhaps you'll be able to eliminate the danger of your phoenix evil fire completely."

Yan Shaozhe urged her.

"Yes, Teacher. I'll definitely find him."

Early the next morning, Tian Chen, Wang Dong, and Xiao Xiao all got up bright and early, intending to head to Freshman Class Nine ahead of time and adjust to their new surroundings.

After reaching the teaching building, Tian Chen and the others entered the classroom, causing quite a stir.

That was because Tian Chen was already a celebrity at the academy. To put it more dramatically, he was the secret crush of every girl there. It would have been difficult not to cause a stir.

"Heavens! Isn't that my dream guy, Tian Chen? (´з｀)ﾉ He actually joined our Class Nine!"

"Wow! Look, he looked at me! I'm going to faint!"

In a particularly conspicuous part of the classroom, three strikingly beautiful girls sat together. One girl, with exquisite features and short, fiery-red hair, said irritably, "Tch, what's so great about that lousy guy? Isn't he just a little handsome and a little strong? Ning Tian is much easier on the eyes."

[I think both of Wu Feng's character models look good, so I included them both.]

[I still prefer Nanmen Yun'er's manga design.]

But the girl with pale-green hair beside her reacted completely differently, openly swooning. "I wouldn't call him too handsome. He's just exactly my type in every way. What about you, Ning Tian?"

[Ning Tian's animated design always feels a little neither male nor female to me.]

Ning Tian merely shrugged lightly. As the next sect master of the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, she had been instilled with the sect's principles from childhood, leaving her unable to decide her own love life freely.

Along the course of her destiny, her future partner seemed to have already been limited to combat soul masters who were sufficiently powerful.

Although the reports of Tian Chen's accomplishments had sparked considerable interest in her, none of that could outweigh the sect's rules and restrictions.

She knew she carried the future of the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect on her shoulders. She could not choose a partner based solely on a momentary flutter of her heart.

Before long, a teacher in his thirties, yet still looking young and attractive, stepped up to the lectern.

From the lectern, Mu Jin looked at Tian Chen and the other two seated below and nodded in satisfaction.

"Everyone, several new students have transferred into our class today. I hope you'll all get along and help them settle into the Class Nine family quickly. Now, let's begin the lesson."

"Tian Chen, stand up."

Hearing this, Tian Chen slowly rose.

"I've reviewed your records, and your soul power is the highest in the class. Therefore, he will be the class monitor of Freshman Class Nine from now on. The position is subject to change. Whoever can defeat Tian Chen can replace him." As soon as Mu Jin finished speaking, the students began rubbing their fists and flexing their wrists. After all, hearsay was hollow; seeing was believing. Although Tian Chen had already inspired plenty of astonishing rumors, some of them had only heard those stories. How could they know without testing him themselves?

Looking at the boys poised to spring into action, Mu Jin sighed. These little fellows really wouldn't shed a tear until they saw the coffin.

"It looks like some people are pretty excited. Teacher Mu, I'd like to satisfy a few of our classmates' wishes and let them see the gap between us," Tian Chen said contemptuously.

At those words, the students who already disliked Tian Chen for his popularity with the girls looked even more displeased.

Mu Jin could only shake his head at the sight. Still, it would be a good thing if they learned that beyond every great person stood someone greater, and beyond every sky lay another heaven.

"All right, then! Assemble in the Soul Fighting Zone."

At Mu Jin's command, almost everyone headed to the Soul Fighting Arena, eager to see the strength of this outer academy celebrity.

Tian Chen stood in the center of the Soul Fighting Zone, his posture straight and his gaze calm and confident. He surveyed the surrounding crowd, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly, as though he had already foreseen the outcome.

"All right, quiet down, everyone!" Mu Jin's voice rang out through the crowd, instantly silencing the noisy Soul Fighting Zone.

Tian Chen nodded slightly to signal that he was ready. He slowly closed his eyes and took a deep breath, as though gathering all the power in his body.

"Come at me together! I'm in a hurry." Tian Chen's voice was cool and confident, echoing throughout the Soul Fighting Zone and making everyone around him suck in a sharp breath.

Mu Jin frowned. He knew Tian Chen was powerful, but this sort of provocation was a little too arrogant. Still, he understood that Tian Chen might be trying to prove himself as quickly as possible and intimidate those who refused to accept him.

Just then, the tall young man at the head of the group snorted. "Tian Chen, don't blame us for showing no mercy!"

Tian Chen smiled faintly, his eyes still closed, as though he had not heard the threat. His breathing gradually steadied, and an invisible force seemed to gather around his body.

Tian Chen's eyes snapped open, a sharp gleam flashing through them. The next instant, a streak of lightning darted ceaselessly through the Soul Fighting Arena, moving too fast for anyone to make out his actions.

In that mere blink of an eye, everyone who had wanted to test Tian Chen's strength lay on the ground, clutching their chests and wrists, their faces twisted with pain and terror.

Deathly silence filled the Soul Fighting Arena. The spectators who had been clamoring just moments earlier now held their breath, staring at the scene in stunned disbelief.

Tian Chen slowly raised his hand above his head, his voice cold and resolute. "Taken down!" His voice echoed through the Soul Fighting Arena like an irresistible command.

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