Gu Yue stood very close, her breath brushing Lu Guan's neck, an intimate tension hanging between them.
Lu Guan was just about to step back when a bone-chilling wind suddenly swept through the sky.
Whoosh-
A white-clad figure slammed down onto the open ground beside them like a sharp sword, forcibly cutting through that intimate atmosphere.
The newcomer had long, ice-blue hair and held a sword that was still giving off cold air.
It was none other than Wu Changkong.
He surveyed the surroundings, his gaze finally locking firmly onto Lu Guan and Gu Yue.
Wu Changkong had noticed the commotion from the dean's office. He had originally thought some senior students were sparring, only to discover two children of nine or ten.
Moreover, the destructive power of their clash had far exceeded anything students in the junior division could produce.
Peerless geniuses!
Wu Changkong's long-dormant heart suddenly began pounding fiercely.
He put away the Heavenly Frost Sword and clasped his hands behind his back, trying to keep his voice steady.
Lu Guan looked over. White clothes, blue sword-it was definitely Wu Changkong.
"I am Wu Changkong, a teacher in Eastsea Academy's junior division."
"Eastsea Academy will soon establish a special class called Class Zero."
"I am now formally inviting you both to join Class Zero."
The students watching from the edge of the field were rather bewildered.
Class Zero?
Wu Changkong looked at Lu Guan and continued laying his bargaining chips on the table.
"As long as you join Class Zero, all of Eastsea Academy's cultivation resources will be directed toward you unconditionally."
"I will personally guide your cultivation."
"In the future, I will lead you into the finest institution on the entire continent-Shrek Academy!"
Shrek Academy!
The moment that name rang out, the surrounding crowd erupted.
That was the sacred destination every Soul Master dreamed of!
Wu Changkong was very pleased with their reaction.
He believed no young Soul Master could resist the allure of Shrek Academy.
He was determined to secure these two geniuses.
Lu Guan's response was, "Uh, mm-hmm, mm-hmm..."
Wu Changkong was capable, responsible, and willing to dedicate himself to others. Overall, he was a decent person.
But he had one fatal flaw: his almost blindly devoted loyalty to Shrek students.
That alone meant he and Lu Guan could never walk the same path.
Come on, if you're going to be blindly loyal, it has to be to me.
Otherwise, what is this? A mission handed down by your Shrek masters?
Faced with the invitation, Gu Yue gave no answer, merely looking silently at Lu Guan.
Lu Guan decisively shook his head. "No."
Nope.
Wu Changkong froze, wondering whether he had misheard.
"What did you say?"
"I said I'm not interested." Lu Guan curled his lip. "Neither Class Zero nor Shrek Academy interests me."
What a joke.
Shrek Academy was essentially Hengshui High School.
Whether compared with the Body Sect or the Spirit Pagoda, Shrek Academy fell far short in how generously it allocated resources.
It even made you work for the academy to earn contribution points!
That might be useful to ordinary people. But for Lu Guan? Ha.
What they offered was absolute garbage.
Wu Changkong's brows knitted tightly. This boy's tone was far too arrogant.
He turned toward Gu Yue.
"And you?"
In Wu Changkong's eyes, this girl, who possessed Elemental Control over multiple elements, had potential that might even rival Lu Guan's.
"If he isn't going, neither am I."
Wu Changkong choked with frustration.
"Do you know what Shrek Academy represents?" Wu Changkong's tone grew heavier. "For countless Soul Masters, it is..."
"It isn't your place to teach them what it represents."
A languid female voice, carrying an overwhelming pressure, suddenly rang out overhead.
Immediately afterward, the temperature across the sky soared.
A dazzling mass of fiery-red light descended from above, landing steadily in front of Lu Guan and Gu Yue.
The fiery light dispersed.
Leng Yaozhu stood there in a red dress, her presence utterly unrivaled.
She was also holding the hand of a sulking Na'er.
The moment Na'er landed, she shook off Leng Yaozhu's hand and rushed to Lu Guan's side like a little tiger guarding her food.
She seized Lu Guan's arm and stared fiercely at Gu Yue across from her.
"Stay away from him!" Na'er ground her little canine teeth.
Gu Yue looked at Na'er, a faint gleam flashing through her black eyes, but said nothing and simply stood quietly where she was.
At the sight of Leng Yaozhu's sudden appearance, every muscle in Wu Changkong's body instantly tensed.
So powerful!
The aura radiating from this woman was as unfathomable as an abyss, as vast as the sea. Its pressure made even breathing difficult.
"Who might you be?" Wu Changkong asked gravely.
Before Leng Yaozhu could speak, a sudden flurry of stumbling footsteps came from the edge of the field.
Long Hengxu, Eastsea Academy's dean, came sprinting over with several school administrators, sweat pouring down his face.
When Long Hengxu reached Leng Yaozhu, his legs went weak, and he nearly dropped to his knees.
"D-Deputy Pagoda Master Leng!" Long Hengxu's voice trembled, his waist bent so low he was almost touching the ground. "Why didn't you notify us before honoring Eastsea Academy with your presence? We could have prepared a proper welcome!"
At those words, everyone fell as silent as cicadas in winter.
Deputy Pagoda Master?
The Spirit Pagoda's Deputy Pagoda Master?!
Wu Changkong's pupils sharply contracted.
Heavenly Phoenix Douluo, Leng Yaozhu!
A Super Douluo!
She was one of the people standing at the very pinnacle of the entire continent's pyramid!
Among the crowd, Tang Wulin and Xie Xie, who had been hiding in a corner enjoying the spectacle, were so frightened their jaws nearly hit the ground.
"Xie Xie, how high-ranking an official is Deputy Pagoda Master Leng?" Tang Wulin muttered quietly.
All he knew was that the Spirit Transmitter from the Spirit Pagoda who had guided his awakening was very powerful.
Xie Xie was a local and naturally understood what a Pagoda Master of the Spirit Pagoda represented. He grabbed Tang Wulin's head and pushed it down.
"Stop talking! She's a Super Douluo! A big shot who could flatten all of Eastsea City with a flick of her finger! Lower your head, quick, and stop looking around!"
The two little brats hastily ducked their heads, not daring to breathe too loudly.
"Aunt Leng," Lu Guan greeted her respectfully.
Leng Yaozhu smiled in response, then glanced at Long Hengxu without bothering to acknowledge him.
She turned to Wu Changkong with a faint, ambiguous smile.
"What, does Eastsea Academy now recruit students by forcing a sale?"
Wu Changkong answered respectfully, "Deputy Pagoda Master Leng, these two children are exceptionally gifted. If they remain at Eastsea Academy, I will guide them into Shrek..."
"Shrek isn't worth a damn!"
Leng Yaozhu cut him off mercilessly.
"Does someone from my Spirit Pagoda need that?"
Leng Yaozhu pointed at Lu Guan.
"This boy belongs to my Spirit Pagoda."
Then she pointed at Gu Yue. "And this girl has caught my eye. From now on, she'll be my disciple."
Wu Changkong stood there, unable to utter a single word.
Before the Heavenly Phoenix Douluo and the colossal entity that was the Spirit Pagoda, Shrek might carry some weight, but he was nothing.
"All right, let's head back."
Leng Yaozhu could not be bothered to waste any more words, nor did she have any interest in dealing with a mere Eastsea Academy teacher. She simply extended an invitation to Gu Yue.
Gu Yue glanced at Lu Guan and Na'er, then nodded.
Na'er clung tightly to Lu Guan's arm and dragged him forward, terrified that Gu Yue might get close again.
Gu Yue stepped forward and followed them.
Long Hengxu wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and let out a long sigh of relief.
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