"Oh, if it isn't Class Five's big eater?"
A snide voice suddenly cut in, thick with mockery.
Wei Xiaofeng stood there with several Class Two students behind him, his arms folded across his chest as he eyed Lu Chen sidelong. A disdainful smile curled his lips. "What good does eating so much do? You're still a bunch of useless mud that can't stick to a wall!"
"What the fuck did you say?!"
Xie Xie exploded the instant he heard that.
Who cared who he meant? Mocking Class Five meant mocking him!
He sprang to his feet, his clenched fists cracking and his eyes blazing red, ready to charge over and fight Wei Xiaofeng on the spot.
Just then, a hand suddenly caught the back of his collar.
The grip wasn't strong, but it carried an unquestionable authority.
"Sit down."
Lu Chen's voice was bone-chillingly cold, without a trace of emotion.
Xie Xie stiffened, most of his fury instantly doused. He struggled unwillingly, only to find that he couldn't break free at all. He could only sit back down in frustration, glaring viciously at Wei Xiaofeng, his chest heaving with anger.
Lu Chen leisurely wiped his mouth and tossed the napkin aside before slowly standing.
He wasn't particularly tall or imposing, yet he carried an invisible pressure.
His reddish-gold eyes glanced coldly toward Wei Xiaofeng, utterly unruffled, yet they instantly sent a chill rising from the depths of Wei Xiaofeng's soul.
"The day after tomorrow, our Class Five will face your Class Two." Lu Chen spoke softly, but his voice reached everyone's ears clearly. "I hope you'll still be as arrogant then as you are today."
With that, he couldn't be bothered to spare Wei Xiaofeng another glance. He pulled along the still-fuming Xie Xie, signaled to Gu Yue beside them with his eyes, and turned to leave.
Throughout it all, no one noticed Tang Wulin, who had been left behind.
He was like an invisible person, forgotten by everyone at the table.
Watching Lu Chen and the others walk away, then looking at the disdainful gazes of Wei Xiaofeng and his companions, Tang Wulin clenched his fists tightly, his nails digging deep into his palms, his heart filled with hurt and disappointment.
The next day, the class promotion tournament began as scheduled.
Class Five's opponent was none other than Class Two.
Before the match, Wu Zhangkong specifically called Lu Chen aside and instructed him calmly, "Today, you are not allowed to fight."
Lu Chen paused in surprise, then nodded.
He understood Teacher Wu's intention: to give Xie Xie, Gu Yue, and Tang Wulin a chance to train.
Lu Chen had no objection whatsoever.
After all, in his eyes, Class Two was simply far too weak.
Once the match began, Xie Xie took the lead, bringing the advantages of an agility attack specialist into full play. The dagger in his hand struck like a venomous snake, targeting every opening his opponents exposed.
Gu Yue stood at the rear, freely switching between wind, water, and fire elements. Elemental attacks rained down, leaving their opponents scrambling.
Even Tang Wulin displayed his strength. Though his Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul wasn't powerful, it could still provide a measure of control.
The three worked together seamlessly, beating Class Two's four contestants until they had no chance to fight back.
In just ten minutes, all four members of Class Two had been knocked off the stage.
Class Five won with ease!
The entire crowd erupted.
No one had expected the class that had once ranked dead last to become so strong!
The day hurried past just like that.
However, early the next morning, the school issued a notice: an exceptionally heavy rainstorm was expected, and the class promotion tournament was temporarily canceled.
Standing at the dormitory entrance, Lu Chen looked up at the sky.
Dark clouds blanketed the sky, lightning flashed, and thunder roared. A violent elemental force churned within the clouds, inspiring fear at the sight.
Lu Chen stopped in his tracks and instinctively frowned, suddenly feeling that he didn't want to go out.
Weather like this was perfect for cultivation.
Lu Chen decisively turned around and returned to his dormitory.
He sat cross-legged on his bed and soon entered a state of cultivation.
His consciousness sank, instantly entering the realm of Nibelungen.
The moment he entered, Lu Chen was stunned by the sight before him.
The previously half-withered World Tree was now brimming with life.
Its trunk had grown thicker, and the cracks in its bark had vanished, replaced by a faint layer of green.
Quite a few tender green leaves had sprouted on its branches, swaying gently in the breeze and giving off a rich breath of life.
What delighted him even more was that his Soul Power had actually broken through to rank eighteen the moment he began cultivating!
How long had it even been?
He had only reached rank fifteen a few days ago, and now, in just those few days, he had already broken through to rank eighteen?
Lu Chen looked utterly dumbfounded.
Wait, what exactly happened?
How did I not know anything about it?
Naturally, Lu Chen didn't know that the previous night, Nidhogg inside him had secretly slipped into Tang Wulin's body and devoured the power of the Golden Dragon King Bloodline's first seal.
Nidhogg had absorbed most of that power, while a small portion had merged into the World Tree, restoring its vitality.
And because of the World Tree's evolution, he too had gained considerable benefits, his Soul Power breaking straight through to rank eighteen.
This was practically a meat pie falling from the sky!
Lu Chen suppressed his delight and began studying alchemy under Constantine.
Constantine's alchemy was far more profound than this world's forging techniques.
Under Constantine's guidance, Lu Chen's skill in alchemy was improving at a rate visible to the naked eye.
At the same time, he also tried to invoke the Dragon Script that had just appeared in his mind.
It was an extremely basic piece of Dragon Script, yet it contained incomparably powerful strength.
Word Spirit: Emperor!
This was a Word Spirit that could utterly suppress every person or beast possessing a draconic bloodline.
Once unleashed, no matter how powerful a dragon was, it would grow weak before him.
This Word Spirit was practically tailor-made for him!
Thrilled, Lu Chen began trying again and again to invoke this Word Spirit.
Time slipped past, little by little, amid his intense cultivation.
Meanwhile, Tang Wulin's days were utterly miserable.
He arrived at the Blacksmith's Association full of anticipation, wanting to attempt Thousand Refinements.
However, to his horror, he discovered that his strength was no longer sufficient.
Hammers he had once lifted easily now felt unbearably heavy.
While forging, his lack of strength caused him to make many basic mistakes.
In the end, his Thousand Refinements attempt failed!
Master Cen Yue stood beside him, looking at the half-finished piece in Tang Wulin's hands, a flicker of disappointment crossing his face.
He gently patted Tang Wulin's shoulder, wanting to say something, but ultimately said nothing.
In his view, Tang Wulin was rushing for quick results.
He hadn't even mastered the basics, yet he was already thinking of attempting Thousand Refinements. Failure was inevitable.
The look in Master Cen Yue's eyes filled Tang Wulin's heart with a sense of injustice.
He wanted to explain, to tell Master Cen Yue that his strength really had disappeared, that he wasn't rushing for quick results.