Tian Chen had won!!!
Just like that, he had won. The entire fight had lasted less than a minute, yet Tian Chen had defeated so many people.
How was that possible?! They had thought that even if Tian Chen was powerful, he would need at least some time to break free of so many people surrounding him. Who could have imagined that he would crush every one of those students who refused to believe the warnings in an instant?
"Who else?!" His gaze swept across the crowd like cold lightning. The students who had still been clinging to a shred of hope lowered their heads, no longer daring to entertain the slightest thought of resistance.
In contrast, the girls in the stands practically had hearts shining in their eyes.
Ning Tian watched Tian Chen, the interest in her eyes growing stronger. Powerful, aloof, handsome-he's practically my ideal future partner. As long as I can win him over, the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect's return to its peak will be just around the corner...
"How is that possible? No matter how strong he is, he's still only a Soul Elder. How could he knock down so many people in an instant?" Wu Feng exclaimed in astonishment. Even a Soul Emperor would struggle to defeat so many people in such a short time!
She had originally doubted the rumors circulating through the academy, but now she believed them. After all, the facts were right before her eyes. She had no choice.
Once this bout of soul fighting... no, this crushing defeat was over, Mu Jin led the students back to the classroom and wrote "Tian Chen" in large letters on the blackboard.
"From now on, Tian Chen is the class monitor of Freshman Class Nine. Does anyone object?" Everyone shook their heads. What a joke-who among those students would dare say no? The places where they had been hit still hurt.
Mu Jin nodded in satisfaction. "Very good. Since everyone acknowledges Tian Chen's strength, he will be our class monitor from today onward. Tian Chen's performance today also taught everyone a vivid lesson. He showed us the gap in strength, but more importantly, he showed us the direction we should strive toward. Don't let today's defeat bring you to a standstill. Treat your setbacks as experiences that temper you."
After hearing Mu Jin's words, everyone nodded. They etched today's setback deep into their memories and learned what it meant for there to always be someone beyond the strongest person, another heaven beyond the highest sky.
The day's classes soon ended. Ning Tian walked over, held out her hand, and said, "Tian Chen, I'm Ning Tian from the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect. Could we get acquainted?"
The fact that she had introduced her background right away made it clear that Ning Tian was showing off her credentials to attract Tian Chen.
Seeing Ning Tian take the initiative to approach him, Tian Chen shook her hand and said, "Of course."
He had actually anticipated that Ning Tian would approach him when he decided to join Class Nine. After all, everyone from the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect admired strength. To bring out the full potential of their martial souls, they had to find powerful partners.
In the original story, Ning Tian had fallen for Huo Yuhao after his rise later on. Strictly speaking, though, it was not really love-she had merely taken a fancy to his talent. Later, in the Heaven and Earth Question... Dog-Training Valley, she had been turned into a man, and from then on, she and Wu Feng, who loved her, had lived a life that made one envy lovebirds rather than immortals.
"Ding! Congratulations, host, on checking in with the original story's A-rank goddess Mu Jin. You have received Soul-Nourishing Dew x10."
(I forgot to write this in the previous chapter, so I'm adding it now.)
"Ding! Congratulations, host, on checking in with the original story's SR-rank goddesses Ning Tian, Wu Feng, and Nanmen Yun'er. You have received god-tier Soul Tool talent and Transformation Pills x10."
Tian Chen looked over the system rewards and nodded in satisfaction.
"Are you free this afternoon? Would you like to have a meal together?"
Ning Tian's face was full of smiles as she offered the invitation sincerely.
Tian Chen raised his head, met Ning Tian's eyes, and smiled faintly. "Sure. I'd be happy to."
However, the moment Ning Tian finished speaking, Wu Feng, Nanmen Yun'er, Wang Dong, and Xiao Xiao froze beside them. The atmosphere immediately grew delicate.
Apart from Wu Feng, all of them felt that Ning Tian had moved too quickly.
With that in mind, Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao immediately crowded around Tian Chen and declared, "We're coming too!"
"I... I'd like to come too," Nanmen Yun'er told everyone softly and timidly.
At that, the smile on Ning Tian's face stiffened slightly.
"Haha, looks like everyone's pretty enthusiastic."
Tian Chen chuckled softly, trying to ease the tension. "Since everyone wants to come, let's all go together! We're classmates now, so this is a good chance to get to know each other."
Wu Feng stood to the side, frowning slightly. She merely swept a cool glance over everyone before looking at Tian Chen, a hint of scrutiny in her eyes.
At Tian Chen's words, a flicker of delighted surprise crossed Nanmen Yun'er's eyes. She nodded gently and said softly, "Then... thank you, Tian Chen."
Their classmates watched their class monitor get surrounded by four (five) beauties, envy written all over their faces. They wished desperately that they were the ones in his place. Unfortunately, they simply did not have the strength.
Once they reached the cafeteria, they had practically no reservations about ordering, since Ning Tian, their wealthy little benefactor, was treating them.
They went straight for soul beast meat and the roots, stems, and tender shoots of plant-type soul beasts.
That single meal cost nearly a hundred gold coins.
After they finished eating, Ning Tian leaned forward slightly, her hands resting naturally at her sides. With a hint of reluctance and anticipation in her voice, she said goodbye to Tian Chen. "See you tomorrow, Tian Chen. I hope we can get together more often."
"Definitely!" Tian Chen looked at Ning Tian and nodded.
Once Ning Tian left, Wang Dong finally could not hold back any longer.
"Still staring? She's already gone."
Tian Chen came back to his senses with a slightly awkward smile. Scratching his head, he said, "Haha, I got a little distracted." He looked at Wang Dong with a trace of curiosity in his eyes. "Oh, right, Wang Dong. I have a gift for you!"
As he spoke, he took a soul bone radiating golden light from inside his clothes.
"That's a soul bone!!!" At the sight of the unmistakable soul bone, Wang Dong covered her small mouth and gasped quietly.
"That's right. This is part of the compensation Dean Yan promised us last time. This one is a Light Saint Lion left arm bone. I picked it out for you." Tian Chen placed the soul bone in Wang Dong's hands.
"Thank you, Tian Chen." Wang Dong gazed at him with gratitude and tenderness.
"And Xiao Xiao, this one's for you!" Tian Chen took out another soul bone, this one bronze-colored, and held it out to Xiao Xiao.
"There's one for me too?" Xiao Xiao asked excitedly.
"Of course. It's a fifty-thousand-year Soul-Shaking Ape left arm bone. It can significantly improve your control abilities, so it should be very helpful to you."
Xiao Xiao accepted it with excitement and delight, tears almost spilling from her eyes.
The next second, she walked up to Tian Chen and brushed her lips against his cheek, as lightly as a dragonfly touching the water.
Smack!!!
Tian Chen froze. He raised a hand and touched his cheek, which still bore a trace of Xiao Xiao's saliva.
Having done her naughty deed, Xiao Xiao's ears turned crimson. She shyly turned and left.
Watching this, Wang Dong felt both angry and helpless. There was nothing she could do. She had always interacted with Tian Chen under the guise of a boy, so even after witnessing this scene, she could not say anything.
Tian Chen glanced helplessly at Xiao Xiao. In truth, over the time they had spent together, he had already developed feelings for her. The two of them simply had not found a chance to make those feelings clear.
"Hmph!" Wang Dong turned away and left with somewhat heavy steps. A jumble of emotions churned in her heart. Although she had long known that Xiao Xiao's feelings for Tian Chen were different, seeing this still left her unable to suppress a sense of loss.
After both of them had left, Tian Chen was the only one remaining.
Suddenly, Tian Chen addressed a pillar behind him. "You've been watching for so long. Isn't it time you came out?"
At those words, Tang Ya trembled slightly behind the pillar, then slowly stepped out.
Tian Chen turned around and said, "Senior Tang Ya, I didn't expect it to be you!"
"Go on, then. What did you come to see me about?"
Tang Ya scratched her head awkwardly and said, "Junior, I came to discuss something with you!"
Before you continue