The Soul Master class's cafeteria was on the left side of the dormitory building's ground floor. Not only did the food taste excellent, but quite a few dishes also contained nourishing ingredients.
People said a long illness made a good doctor, but under Kong Deming's arrangements, Kong Xuan and Kong Ling had spent the past two years constantly being "nourished"!
So the two of them could recognize these "potent tonics" made into dishes with a single glance.
The Soul Master class's cafeteria was free, too. It seemed the academy really was sparing no expense, a clear sign of how much importance it placed on them.
After breakfast, Kong Xuan, Kong Ling, and Xu Wei headed to the teaching building together, ready for their first lesson.
The three of them had eaten breakfast together that morning. It was not that Kong Ling had neglected to bring her roommate; she simply had no roommate.
There were twenty-five students in the Soul Master class, twelve boys and thirteen girls.
The dorm rooms were all doubles, so Kong Ling happened to receive a "bye."
Although the teaching building had only just come into use, Xu Wei proved through action that what he had said yesterday was no idle boast.
Following him, Kong Xuan and Kong Ling reached the classroom door as smoothly as an old carriage traveling a familiar road, without taking a single unnecessary step.
Morning sunlight spilled into the classroom through the enormous glass windows, and a faint scent of metal mixed with sandalwood drifted through the air.
The instant Kong Xuan's group stepped into the classroom, the somewhat noisy chatter came to an abrupt halt.
It was a tiered, circular classroom, with soul tool patterns flowing along the walls and several projection screens suspended from the ceiling.
The seats were arranged in a fan shape, rising from front to back to ensure that every student could clearly see the central demonstration platform.
At that moment, everyone in the classroom had their eyes on them.
More precisely, their eyes were on Kong Xuan and Kong Ling. Xu Wei seemed to have become practically invisible.
Their identical looks were already eye-catching, and those identical features were exceptionally attractive as well. Even though they were only eight-year-old children, they already had the potential to "topple nations and bring ruin to their people."
Of the two siblings, Kong Ling gave the impression of being delicate and frail, easily stirring others' desire to protect her.
Kong Xuan, on the other hand, always made people unconsciously feel a sense of pressure because of his golden eyes, leaving them inexplicably afraid and unwilling to meet his gaze.
Despite their identical looks, the siblings gave people entirely different impressions.
Xu Wei, however, seemed to have already grown accustomed to the pressure Kong Xuan gave him. After sweeping his gaze around the classroom, he said quietly, "Brother Xuan, let's sit over there."
On the evening they met, after learning that Kong Xuan, who was the same age as him, was already a rank-twenty-two Soul Grandmaster, Xu Wei had gotten over his shock and immediately acknowledged him as his big brother.
Born a commoner, he had the ways of the world down pat. With all those calls of "Brother Xuan," Kong Xuan would have to secure him a future.
Following the direction of Xu Wei's finger, Kong Xuan set off again and sat down in a seat beside the window.
At this point, waves of discussion rose in the classroom again. Though the voices were quiet, Kong Xuan caught the gist of them.
Several girls were even saying how handsome he was and how much they wanted to get to know him.
Hearing these comments, Kong Xuan's face darkened with black lines. They were only eight or nine years old! Could he only say that this really did live up to the name "Romance Continent"?!
Before long, a bell rang, signaling the official start of class.
Their homeroom teacher, Ren Jun, walked into the classroom right on time and swept his gaze across it. All twenty-five students were present.
Nearly two meters tall, Ren Jun walked up to the lectern, his stern, resolute face putting considerable pressure on the students.
Everyone watched him cautiously, seemingly not daring even to breathe too freely.
Ren Jun braced both hands on the teacher's desk and leaned forward slightly before speaking. "My name is Ren Jun. From now on, I'll be your homeroom teacher!"
"Now, the first item of our first lesson!"
"Choosing a class monitor!"
Kong Xuan could not help chuckling inwardly. He had genuinely feared that Ren Jun's opening words would be, "Everyone who's been in a fight, stand up!"
It seemed this teacher from Shrek Academy had not inherited the mindset that "those who dare not cause trouble are mediocrities."
Then again, even at the current Shrek Academy, only that old hag Zhou Yi did such a thing in the first lesson.
Ren Jun's words made everyone in the classroom want to start discussing it.
Yet his stern expression kept them from whispering among themselves.
Ren Jun's gaze swept across their faces as he asked, "Does anyone here want to be class monitor?"
The moment he finished speaking, a figure shot to his feet.
Compared with the others, he was noticeably taller and more muscular. Kong Xuan guessed that his Martial Soul was probably a beast Martial Soul.
As it turned out, Kong Xuan had guessed correctly. He was Xu Tianyi, a member of the Sun Moon Empire's imperial family, and his Martial Soul was the Purple Brilliant Heaven Destroying Dragon.
After him, four more figures stood up.
"Is that everyone?"
Ren Jun spoke again, seemingly somewhat dissatisfied that only five people wanted to compete for the position of class monitor.
Finally, his gaze settled on Kong Xuan beside the window, and he called out, "Kong Xuan, don't you want to be class monitor?"
Kong Xuan had not been particularly interested in the position, but since the teacher had called on him by name, he simply stood up.
Having read these students' information, Ren Jun had actually settled on his choice for class monitor long ago.
Once on his feet, Kong Xuan drew everyone's attention again, and they all committed the name "Kong Xuan" to memory.
Meanwhile, a dangerous gleam flashed in the eyes of Xu Tianyi, who had been the first to stand and was determined to claim the position of class monitor.
He did not know why, but he felt that Kong Xuan was his greatest rival in the contest for class monitor.
Moreover, as a member of the Sun Moon Empire's imperial family and a future prince, he found that he actually dared not meet Kong Xuan's gaze. That was somewhat unacceptable to someone as proud as him.
Ren Jun sighed. "All right, six people it is!"
"For Soul Masters, strength comes first in everything. Since you all want to be class monitor, let's see who's stronger!"
"Next, I'll arrange one-on-one matches for you. The final winner will be class monitor!"
Ren Jun's arrangement was simple and clear: it all came down to individual strength.
Someone, however, raised an objection to this method of competition.
Xu Tianyi's imperial status meant he had no fear of Ren Jun, his stern-faced homeroom teacher.
"Teacher, there's no need for all that trouble!"
Ren Jun looked at Xu Tianyi, not understanding what he meant.
Holding his head high, Xu Tianyi swept his gaze over his opponents before finally giving Kong Xuan a particularly pointed look.
"There's no need for one-on-one matches. Let them all come at me!"
Ren Jun narrowed his eyes at that. "You mean you want to settle everything in a single fight, one against five?"
Xu Tianyi said confidently, "Exactly!"
Xu Tianyi had received the finest education from childhood. His reputation as the imperial family's greatest genius was no empty boast.
He dared to make such a choice because he had absolute confidence in his strength!
Ren Jun glanced at Kong Xuan, then withdrew his gaze and could not help smiling. "Very good. Since you're so confident, that's what we'll do!"
"Everyone!" Ren Jun slapped the teacher's desk and called out, "Follow me to the Soul Fighting Arena!"