Thanks to timely treatment and Jiang Mingyuan deliberately lowering the temperature of his flames, Wei Xiaofeng had only suffered burns to his skin. Under the school doctor's care, the charred outer layer peeled away, and new skin was already growing.
Long Hengxu had fared much worse. First, as the referee, he bore unavoidable responsibility for a match ending in serious injuries under his supervision. Second, Ye Yingluo had joined the homeroom teachers of Classes Two, Three, and Four in reporting him to the principal, accusing him of neglecting his duties and assigning outstanding students to Class Five.
In short, Long Hengxu had been suspended. The position of grade director was temporarily vacant, and the first-year homeroom teachers would discuss any matters among themselves.
On the sports field, Yu Zhen, the principal of Eastsea Academy, stood on the platform, with the homeroom teachers behind him.
"We've gathered everyone here on the sports field today mainly to make two announcements."
"First, due to circumstances beyond our control, this year's class promotion tournament ends here. First-year Class Five will officially be renamed first-year Class One, and all other classes will move down one place from their original rankings."
"Second, in light of the outstanding performance of this year's first-year students, the school has decided, after discussion, to establish a pilot class in the first year and select outstanding students to join it. For now, it will be called first-year Class Zero."
Jiang Mingyuan remembered the so-called honors classes at schools in his previous life. He wouldn't exactly call them unfair. Though honors classes received more resources, those of the regular classes weren't reduced as a result. In this world of Soul Masters, however, that might not be the case.
"I will now announce the students currently selected for first-year Class Zero."
"From first-year Class One: Jiang Mingyuan, Tang Wulin, and Xie Xie. From first-year Class Two: Zhang Yangzi and Wang Jinxi."
Since Wei Xiaofeng still needed time to recover, he had been excluded for now. After all, injured muscles and bones needed a hundred days of rest. His muscles and skin had been injured, so he would need at least a month or so to recuperate.
The students below began discussing the news among themselves, but Yu Zhen didn't intervene. He simply watched in silence. He had his own calculations.
Although Eastsea Academy was the top academy in Eastsea City, the city itself hardly ranked anywhere in the Federation.
For decades, the academy had remained unremarkable. Yu Zhen wanted to accomplish something significant before he retired. No matter what, he wanted to breathe some new life into Eastsea Academy.
That was when Wu Changkong had approached him.
Yu Zhen knew Wu Changkong had come from Shrek Academy, so no matter how uncooperative he was with the academy's arrangements, they still treated him well.
If even Wu Changkong approved of these first-year students, it meant these children had enormous potential. Perhaps they really could gain admission to Shrek Academy in the future. As their alma mater, Eastsea Academy would share in that glory.
He could also use these children to generate some momentum and give Eastsea Academy some good publicity.
"All right, I won't say any more. The five students whose names I just called should come to my office shortly. Everyone else, return to your classrooms with your homeroom teachers."
Five minutes later, in the principal's office, Yu Zhen took five agreement forms from a drawer and laid them out in front of the five students.
Tang Wulin picked one up and read it.
Putting aside all the unnecessary verbiage, the central requirement was that they not transfer schools before completing their studies in the Intermediate Division and Advanced Division. After graduating and making names for themselves, they would also have to return and give the students a few lessons.
Xie Xie scratched his head. He understood the principal's intentions, but this really wasn't something he could decide on his own.
"Principal, I'll go home and discuss it with my family, then give you an answer tomorrow."
Yu Zhen glanced at Xie Xie.
"You can go home and discuss it, but I don't have that much time to wait for you. Right here in this office, if you agree, sign it. If you don't, you may leave."
In the end, all five signed.
Xie Xie, Zhang Yangzi, and Wang Jinxi had originally planned to simply study at Eastsea Academy, graduate, and find jobs.
Tang Wulin was following Jiang Mingyuan. His stance was, "Wherever Brother Yuan goes, I go."
As for Jiang Mingyuan, his reaction was:
Seriously, man? In a world of supernatural powers, all you've got is a paper agreement? This has no binding power whatsoever.
After joining first-year Class Zero, the biggest change was that they moved into a newly built luxury dormitory building elsewhere.
Instead of their former four-person rooms, they each received a luxurious single room.
Xie Xie thought this was wonderful. His former roommates often snored, and though he knew they couldn't help it, his sleep had indeed suffered.
While cleaning his new room, Jiang Mingyuan suddenly sensed a presence at the doorway. He turned to look and found Tang Wulin standing there, looking somewhat downcast.
"What's wrong, Wulin?"
Jiang Mingyuan put down what he was working on and walked to the doorway.
Ever since Tang Wulin had broken the Golden Dragon King Seal, he had grown taller again. Now, Jiang Mingyuan had to tilt his head up to look at his face when standing in front of him.
Tang Wulin lowered his head slightly, his gaze gradually drifting down from Jiang Mingyuan's face.
Jiang Mingyuan's shirt was very loose. He had had it specially made. As he grew older, wearing his original clothes after transforming would feel far too tight.
An area of his back was left uncovered by fabric to allow his wings to emerge.
Only later had Jiang Mingyuan learned that, for most people possessing Beast Martial Souls, the horns growing from their heads, wings sprouting from their backs, or other unusual limbs were all formed from soul power. As long as their body shape didn't change significantly, their clothes wouldn't be affected.
Jiang Mingyuan couldn't explain what exactly was going on with his own wings. It was as though they weren't formed from soul power but grew directly out of his body, tearing through his clothes.
As Tang Wulin's gaze moved downward, he could see Jiang Mingyuan's delicate collarbones and fair neck. He couldn't see anything farther down.
After moving into the dormitory and then cleaning his room, Jiang Mingyuan had inevitably worked up a sweat. His thin clothing clung tightly to his skin.
Children of five or six hadn't really grown into their features yet. Unless they displayed particularly obvious sex characteristics, strangers could mistake their gender.
But they were already nine, and Soul Masters in particular developed much faster than ordinary people. Though Tang Wulin's face still had a certain delicate quality, anyone could tell he was a boy. Jiang Mingyuan, however, was different.
Even in his male form, Jiang Mingyuan's appearance leaned toward androgyny. With a little dressing up, people unfamiliar with him really wouldn't be able to tell.
Tang Wulin said nothing and left on his own, leaving Jiang Mingyuan utterly bewildered.
He turned to look at his room.
There's nothing wrong with it.
He dug a small mirror out of the cabinet and examined himself carefully. There was nothing dirty on his face, either. Then he lifted his shirt to his nose and sniffed it. No strange smell.
I don't get it. I really don't get it. Jiang Mingyuan turned around and went back to tidying his room.
Tang Wulin returned to his own room, sat on the bed, and pulled a photograph from beneath his pillow. It was his family portrait.
Only, there was an extra Jiang Mingyuan in it. He had cut him out of another photograph and attached him with double-sided tape.
Ever since the two of them had used their Martial Soul Fusion Skill, Tang Wulin had been unable to look Jiang Mingyuan in the eye with the same calm he had felt before.
"What exactly is wrong with me?"