Classroom turmoil

Morning, Sacred Orchid Institute, Junior Martial Artist Class.

Xiao Tianhao arrived in class early.

After observing himself over this period, he discovered that his body seemed to have grown younger. The Profound Space Pearl must have reshaped it during his transmigration, leaving him with the body of someone around sixteen.

Since spiritual energy nourished people in the world of Tales of Demons and Gods, they matured relatively early, much like those on the Douluo Continent. At sixteen, he looked about the same age as Nie Li and the others.

A little later.

The students trickled into the classroom. More than twenty of them were deep in animated discussion, though a few had yet to arrive, including Xiao Ning'er, Ye Ziyun, Shen Yue, and his followers.

"Have you heard?"

"Heard what?"

"You don't even know? A new teacher from the Sacred Family is coming to teach us. I heard she's even a Three-Star Silver Demon Spirit Master!"

"Really? That's the Sacred Family, one of the Three Major Pinnacle Families! Would someone like that really teach commoners like us?"

"Ah, you've got a point. If we weren't in the same class as the noble children, it would probably never happen."

Xiao Tianhao was in the same class as Nie Li and the others from the original story. Since he had no family background, he had also been classified as a commoner.

He was sitting in his seat when a graceful figure suddenly appeared at the door.

Xiao Ning'er wore a pale blue gauze dress, its hem embroidered with delicate silver patterns that flickered like fireflies as she walked. Her raven hair was loosely pinned up, with a few stray locks falling beside her fair neck, making her collarbones look all the more exquisite.

Her brows resembled distant, ink-dark mountains, her eyes cold stars. A thin, chilly mist always seemed to veil her gaze, melting only a little when she smiled. Slender and straight-backed, she stood like a magnolia beneath the moon, carrying an aloof yet dazzling air.

Xiao Ning'er spotted Xiao Tianhao, and the icy expression on her face swiftly melted like snow in spring. The corners of her lips lifted slightly, like a fine crack opening across a frozen river, letting a faint but genuine warmth ripple through. She walked over slowly and sat beside him.

"Tianhao, good morning!"

"Morning, Ning'er!"

After greeting him, Xiao Ning'er took a box of pastries out of her Space Ring and set it on the desk.

Xiao Tianhao looked at the box of exquisite pastries on the desk. Intertwining lotus vines were carved along the edges of the wooden food box, and a faint fragrance of osmanthus drifted out when she opened it. Several Crescent Rice Cakes were topped with bright red berries, clearly prepared with care.

"I made these this morning. They're still warm." Xiao Ning'er's voice was softer than usual, morning light reflected in her cool eyes. "You came so early today, I thought you might not have had time for breakfast."

Several nearby students stole glances at them, surprise in their eyes. Everyone knew Xiao Ning'er was cold and distant. Apart from necessary exchanges about coursework, she rarely struck up conversations.

She also came from the Winged Dragon Family, one of the Seven Great Families, and was the institute's icy goddess. Xiao Tianhao could feel several jealous gazes boring into his back, accompanied by whispered conversations.

He picked up a rice cake. It was soft, pleasantly chewy, and delicately sweet, with the berries' slight tartness perfectly balancing the sweetness. She really was skilled. "Thanks. It's delicious."

Xiao Ning'er's lips curved into a smile. Before that warmth could fade, a commotion arose at the door. Several students in luxurious brocade robes entered, clustered around a figure. Leading them was Shen Yue.

The moment Shen Yue entered, he shot a vicious glare at Xiao Tianhao and Xiao Ning'er.

By now, everyone in the class had arrived.

Then a teacher walked in.

She wore a short, pale purple dress that hugged her curvaceous body, with a full bust and long, fair legs.

Her carefully applied makeup made her look beautiful and refined, but her phoenix eyes held a slightly sidelong gaze. Every gesture radiated a coldness that kept people a thousand miles away, while seductive arrogance lingered at the corners of her eyes and the tips of her brows.

She was Shen Xiu, the teacher from the Sacred Family.

"Demon Spirit Masters and martial artists have five ranks: Bronze, Silver, Gold, Black Gold, and Legend. Each rank is further divided into five star levels."

"I hope you will behave appropriately and know your place. Commoners are commoners. You will never fly up onto a branch and become phoenixes." Shen Xiu looked haughtily at the commoner students.

Nie Li and his friends happened to be sitting behind Xiao Tianhao.

Nie Li raised an eyebrow and smiled. "People from the Sacred Family really do walk around with their noses in the air, just like the rumors say." No sooner had he spoken than Shen Xiu cut him off sharply from the podium. "Whoever was talking down there, stand up!"

Nie Li rose without either servility or arrogance. "Teacher, I was only talking with my classmates."

"Who gave you permission to talk during class?" Shen Xiu's gaze landed on Nie Li, scrutinizing him. "You're Nie Li?"

"Yes."

She then picked up a scroll and looked over Nie Li's information.

"Heavenly Marks Family... a red Soul Sea? Your initial Soul Force is only five, and your strength is twenty-one. You're not even as good as a commoner. No wonder you question what I say.

"With such poor talent, I doubt even your own family pays you any attention. Yet you dare act so arrogantly and show no respect for your elders?" Shen Xiu's tone was openly contemptuous.

"So what if I have a red Soul Sea? I can still cultivate into a pinnacle Demon Spirit Master. And Instructor Shen Xiu, since you look down on commoners so much, don't you know that Lord Ye Mo was also a commoner in his youth?"

"Your background doesn't determine everything. With perseverance and determination, even a commoner can reach the peak."

"But you, Instructor Shen Xiu, talk of nothing but nobles and commoners, crushing other people's confidence. You don't deserve to be a teacher."

As someone who had been reborn, Nie Li could look down on Shen Xiu without hesitation, and he fired right back.

"Insolence!" Shen Xiu slammed a hand onto the podium. Her Three-Star Silver Soul Force erupted, her Demon Spirit instantly merged with her, and an invisible pressure enveloped the room.

Pale red Soul Force gathered at her fingertips. She clearly intended to put Nie Li in his place. The nearby commoner students shrank back in fear, while Shen Yue and the others wore expressions of gleeful anticipation.

Ye Ziyun and Xiao Ning'er felt displeased. People from the Sacred Family really were detestable.

Just then, Xiao Tianhao suddenly stood. "Teacher, Nie Li was only telling the truth. What was wrong with that?"

Shen Xiu turned her gaze toward Xiao Tianhao, the chill in her eyes deepening. "What, someone else wants to stand up for him? Which family are you from?" In her eyes, anyone who dared defy her must have some backing.

"I'm just a commoner student." Xiao Tianhao calmly met her gaze. "But I know that as a pinnacle family, the Sacred Family should lead by example, not use its power to bully others."

"What a sharp-tongued commoner!" Momentarily at a loss for words, Shen Xiu grew even angrier. She picked up Xiao Tianhao's admission records and looked them over.

What she saw left even her somewhat stunned.

A cyan Soul Sea, tested Soul Force of ninety, strength test of three hundred...

But even so, she could not possibly praise a commoner, especially one who had just opposed her.

If she praised him, where would that leave the Sacred Family's dignity?

"Even if your talent is decent, how far can you cultivate without resources to support you?"

"You needn't concern yourself with that, Instructor Shen Xiu."

Nie Li sneered. "You certainly are fair, Instructor Shen Xiu. Just now, you said my talent was poor. Now that you've met a genius like Xiao Tianhao, you still spare no effort in mocking and suppressing him. You only have eyes for nobles. What a disgrace to a pinnacle family."

"Instructor Shen Xiu, why don't we make a bet? Since you say my red Soul Sea gives me poor talent, let's bet on whether I can reach Bronze Rank by the Year-End Test in two months."

Xiao Tianhao couldn't help pressing a hand to his forehead with a rueful smile. Well, we're right back where we started.

"Xiao Tianhao, Nie Li, both of you, go stand at the back for the rest of the lesson!" Shen Xiu ordered angrily.

This time, Xiao Tianhao said nothing and simply walked to the back. Nie Li followed.

The commoners Du Ze, Wei Nan, Zhu Xiangjun, Zhang Ming, and Wang Hu began talking quietly.

Du Ze spoke first. "Nie Li is a noble's son, and Xiao Tianhao is a talented commoner. Neither of them had to stick his neck out like this. They're fighting for us commoners. We shouldn't just sit here doing nothing."

"Exactly. I, Wang Hu, am not someone who doesn't understand gratitude. Besides, Xiao Tianhao is my roommate."

Wang Hu nodded as he chimed in.

The other three also spoke up.

"Right. We should support them."

"Then let's go to the back too."

"Okay."

At that moment, Lu Piao spoke as well. "Hey, hey, hey! Are you planning to leave me out? This young master is tired of sitting anyway. I'd like to stand for a while too."

Before long, the back of the classroom was full of standing students.

Shen Xiu merely glanced at them and said nothing. A few commoners weren't worth any more of her attention.

Xiao Ning'er had also intended to walk to the back and stand with Xiao Tianhao, but Shen Xiu shot her a warning glare.

That left her deeply torn. Xiao Tianhao was her good friend, she had feelings for him, and he had helped her so much.

But her Winged Dragon Family could now be considered a vassal of the Sacred Family. She couldn't disregard her family, so she could only cast Xiao Tianhao an apologetic glance.

Xiao Tianhao smiled back at her. Naturally, he understood her predicament. Besides, it wasn't anything serious, just standing as punishment. He couldn't bear to make a beautiful girl stand with him anyway.

Sunlight spilled through the windows onto them, stretching their shadows long.

As the other students looked at them, the initial scorn in their eyes had turned into sincere admiration.

Of course, the nobles gathered around the Sacred Family were gloating over their misfortune.

At the podium, Shen Xiu clenched her fists so tightly that her nails nearly dug into her flesh. She silently swore to herself, Xiao Tianhao, Nie Li, just you wait. Sooner or later, I'll settle this score!

After class.

On the path behind the mountain, Xiao Tianhao and Nie Li gradually disappeared into the distance, leaving only the heavy sound of their footsteps echoing through the valley.