Xu Zhengyang's life then returned to normal, not much different from his first year, except for more team training and participation in some internal team matches.
Apart from Ma Rulong, who is Soul Emperor, the rest of the team are all of very average strength, and their combat power is even weaker than Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen, so they can't put any pressure on him at all.
However, there are nearly a hundred students in the second year of the Practical Control Department. Every month, there is a department-wide challenge competition, and every year has such a challenge competition. In fact, the distinction between years is not so strict here, and people from different years can also challenge each other.
Even the classes are not divided by age, but by the level of the Soul Engineer. However, all students must be in the second year, because only in the second year will they directly learn about controlling Soul Tool.
In other words, theoretically speaking, both Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen are now Level 4 Soul Engineer and can start their fourth year. However, they must first attend their second year because only in the second year will the basics of the Practical Control Department be taught.
Originally, everyone in Class One except Xu Zhengyang was Level 3 Soul Engineer, which once again put Xu Zhengyang at the bottom. Xu Zhengyang was speechless; how could he, the class monitor, always be at the bottom? Why was he always so conspicuously at the bottom?
However, judging from the current situation of the academy, it seems that they don't want to break up Class Two, nor do they want to divide the members of Class Two according to the Soul Engineer level, because the current situation of Class Two is too good, better than any previous class, especially the learning atmosphere is very good. Not only do they train hard, but they also like practical combat, and even their research on Soul Tool is very in-depth.
This situation of cultivating both Martial Soul and Soul Tool simultaneously has occurred in every previous session, but the number has been small. Never before has it appeared in such a large number as in Class Two, causing the academy's higher-ups to pay close attention to the entire Class Two.
Especially the physical examination at the beginning of the second year, the results of which surprised countless people. The physical examination results of all the students in Class 2 were the best in the entire grade, and the trend was extremely exaggerated. Their physical fitness was a whole realm higher than their actual Soul Power Level. Xu Zhengyang was a monster among monsters.
"Physical Strength: Level 69; Physical Resilience: Level 68; Soul Power Fluctuation Level: Level 38; Height: 1.86 meters; Weight: 79 kilograms; Left Arm Length: ----; Bone Age: 13 years old; Head Soul Bone Attachment; Right Hand Soul Bone Attachment. Overall Rating: Soul Elder, Physical Strength: Soul King; Physical Power: Level 68."
When the data came out, even Teacher Xu Jie was a little stunned. After a year of cultivation, Xu Zhengyang's physical fitness had improved significantly again, almost reaching the Soul Sage level.
The entire academy seemed to be discussing the changes in Class One. The academy leaders gradually realized that strong physical fitness was very beneficial for cultivating Martial Soul, researching Soul Tool, and even for future development. Now, it seemed that everyone was starting to discuss promoting Xu Zhengyang's training model throughout the entire academy.
Xu Zhengyang didn't care about any of that; he was currently watching the first internal challenge competition for the Practical Control Department since his second year.
All personnel in the Practical Control Department must participate, and failure will result in a deduction of academic credits, affecting the allocation of casting materials in the future.
At this moment, Xu Zhengyang, Meng Hongchen, and the rest of Class One gathered together, watching with great interest as Xiao Hongchen wreaked havoc on the arena. This guy Xiao Hongchen was like a battle maniac, actually fighting against a fifth-grade expert on the arena. This was a Soul King -level Soul Master, and Level 5 Soul Engineer at that, one of the higher-level Soul Engineer among all the students in the academy. All the Level 6 Soul Engineer students in the academy had entered the Illustrious Virtue Hall and rarely moved around inside the academy.
At this moment, the fifth graders were all indignant. They couldn't believe they had been bullied by a thirteen-year-old second-year student. But even when several of them went up to fight, they were all easily defeated by Xiao Hongchen.
Looking at Xiao Hongchen's arrogant appearance, Xu Zhengyang couldn't help but shake his head. This guy's talent as Soul Engineer was indeed extremely high, and his talent for cultivating Soul Master was also quite good. As long as he cultivated step by step, he could at least become a top Soul Emperor in the next competition, and even had a chance to break through to the Soul Sage realm. He also had a chance to become Level 7 Soul Engineer. He truly deserved to be hailed as a genius that was only seen once in a thousand years.
Just then, a figure suddenly walked out from the upperclassmen. This person looked to be around twenty years old, with long black hair simply tied back. His face looked somewhat unhealthy and pale, but he was extremely handsome. His eyes looked dull and lifeless, and even his walk was very steady.
Xu Zhengyang glanced at him and his expression changed instantly. He sensed a murderous aura emanating from the man, or rather, a sword aura. In particular, the man was holding an object that resembled a sword but was not quite a sword. It looked like a long, black iron rod, about four feet long.
Xu Zhengyang instantly understood that although the strength of the person in front of him was unknown, he was definitely not weak, and should be Ji Juechen, whom he had been looking for.
However, Xu Zhengyang didn't know how to describe Ji Juechen. In the original work, he was the most inspiring person among all the characters, and could even be said to be the most inspiring person in the entire Douluo World. He came from an ordinary background, had only level three Innate Soul Power, and his Martial Soul was also very ordinary, but he was able to break through the shackles of his Martial Soul and Innate Soul Power and cultivate to the level of Titled Douluo, which can be described as defying the heavens and changing his fate.
However, for the sake of the so-called sword path and the so-called becoming stronger, Ji Juechen directly left the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy and the Sun Moon Empire, and instead joined his mortal enemy, the Tang Sect.
From beginning to end, the Sun Moon Empire and the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy did nothing to wrong him; they even provided him with cultivation resources, and Jing Hongchen even listed him as the chief of the Practical Control Department. But the result was a heartless betrayal.
In terms of cultivation, Xu Zhengyang admired Ji Juechen's unwavering dedication to sword practice and his ten years of diligent work. However, in terms of his conduct and dealings with others, Ji Juechen had indeed failed the Sun Moon Empire and Jing Hongchen's nurturing.
Meng Hongchen said, "Why is it this Sword Fanatic? My brother is probably going to be defeated too."
Xu Zhengyang asked, " Meng Hongchen, you also know this Sword Fanatic? Is he very strong?"
Meng Hongchen seemed a little helpless. "This Sword Fanatic isn't Soul Engineer at all. Although he's somewhat handsome, he has a strange personality. He's been constantly polishing that long, thin thing in his hand, which is said to be an extremely precious piece of Extraterrestrial Meteoric Iron. This Sword Fanatic to forge it into a sword, and it seems to have already begun to take shape."
"I don't know what my grandfather was thinking, actually letting someone who isn't Soul Engineer become the head of the Practical Control Department. I heard that this person is extremely powerful in combat and very warlike. He has no rivals in the entire Practical Control Department, of course, this does not include those Level 6 Soul Engineer who entered the Illustrious Virtue Hall."
Xu Zhengyang nodded. "This person is indeed very strong. Although his Soul Power is not very high, his combat ability is outstanding. I can feel a familiar aura from him, an aura that seems somewhat similar to mine."
Meng Hongchen said, "You and this guy are both eccentrics. You went to the Douluo Continent at such a young age, that's not something a human would do. This Ji Juechen is the same. He fell in love with his sword when he was six years old. It is said that when he was eight, his Soul Power reached level ten, and he entered the gathering place of Soul Beast alone. Three days later, he came out covered in blood and possessed his first Hundred-Year Soul Ring. After that, he went to the Extreme North Extreme North and trained there for ten years before returning. It seems that he only returned last year. After returning, he directly entered the Practical Control Department."
Xu Zhengyang pondered. Meng Hongchen's explanation made sense. Ji Juechen went to the Extreme North to train for ten years when he was around eight years old. He was probably in his early nineteens now. Given that he was too old to participate in the Soul Master Tournament, he was too young.
Ji Juechen was six years older than him and eight years older than Huo Yuhao.
Judging from Ji Juechen's Soul Power Level, he should currently be at the Soul King realm.
Xiao Hongchen, who had been extremely arrogant, became serious after seeing Ji Juechen enter the arena. He might have dared to underestimate anyone else, but he clearly knew Ji Juechen Ji Juechen, especially his strength.
Ji Juechen remained calm. " Xiao Hongchen, you are no match for me. You may leave."
Xiao Hongchen's face darkened. "Enough nonsense, let's fight once we're on the stage. Otherwise, what are you doing here? Do you just want to uphold your fifth-grade dignity?"
Ji Juechen shook his head. "I'm not interested in you. You should know that I only fight the strong. I heard that there's a master in your class who only uses Tool Martial Soul. Even if you and your sister team up, you're no match for him. I came here for him."
After saying this, Ji Juechen turned his head to look at Class One's seats, and then looked at Xu Zhengyang who was next to Meng Hongchen.
Xu Zhengyang clearly sensed a murderous aura in that gaze, an aura of someone who had fought with Soul Beast for a long time, and an unyielding will to pursue strength, which made him feel as if he were being targeted by a ferocious beast.
Their gazes were extremely sharp. Ji Juechen was like a newly drawn sword, exuding Sword Intent, while Xu Zhengyang stood proudly like a long spear, full of terrifying destructive power.
The two were like needles clashing against wheat awns, neither willing to yield, standing facing each other from a distance, both displaying extremely strong killing intent, and the entire air seemed to freeze in that instant.
Xu Zhengyang didn't waste any words and jumped directly onto the stage.
"Let me handle this; you're no match for him."
Xiao Hongchen, who was still on the stage, glanced at Xu Zhengyang, then at Ji Juechen, and couldn't help but shake his head. He was clearly very helpless with these two monsters, and finally had no choice but to step off the stage.
Ji Juechen.
Ji Juechen's introduction was simple, but his eyes appeared unusually cold.
Xu Zhengyang nodded. " Xu Zhengyang!"
Ji Juechen, who seemed to be a man of few words, spoke up again, "I heard that a master has come to the academy's Practical Control Department. He has defeated Level 5 Soul Engineer among the regular team members, and also defeated Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen at the same time. I originally thought it was a bit of an exaggeration, but now it seems that was an understatement."
"I didn't originally intend to get involved in Xiao Hongchen's little squabbles, but after taking a peek from afar, I sensed something similar in you to me, something I've been searching for. That's why I came up here, hoping to get some guidance from you."
Xu Zhengyang nodded. "Likewise, you're the purest person I've ever met, it's just a bit of a pity."