In class, Luo Yanglu looked at the students before him and said with a smile, "As expected, Class Two emerged victorious in the match between Class Three and Class Two. In a few days, it will be your turn to take the stage. Who wants to go?"
Hearing this, Xie Xie glanced at his classmates around him, his lips twitching.
The three Rank 19 Soul Masters from the start of the term had all advanced to Great Spirit Masters by now.
He had the Light Dragon Dagger Martial Soul, Rank 21 soul power, and was an Agility-Attack Battle Soul Master.
Wang Jinxi had the Bone Dragon King Martial Soul, Rank 21 soul power, and was a Power-Attack Battle Soul Master.
Zhang Yangzi had the Dark Phantasm Hawk Martial Soul, Rank 21 soul power, and was a Control Battle Soul Master.
Wei Xiaofeng had the Green Shadow Snake Martial Soul, Rank 22 soul power, and was an Agility-Attack Battle Soul Master.
Add Gu Yuena and Huo Yuhao to that, and their class had six Soul Masters above Rank 20!
Wouldn't sending any three of them be an easy win?
Noticing Xie Xie's nonchalant expression, Luo Yanglu offered a word of caution. "Xie Xie, don't get careless."
"Yes, Teacher," Xie Xie replied, snapping out of his daze and hastily nodding.
He held a great deal of respect for this teacher who treated everyone fairly.
Luo Yanglu let his gaze sweep across the classroom, secretly frowning.
Having too many geniuses was also something of a headache. Who should he send onto the stage?
After thinking it through carefully, Luo Yanglu ruled out Huo Yuhao and Gu Yuena first. After all, having them go against Class Two would practically be bullying.
A moment later, Luo Yanglu addressed the remaining four: "Wang Jinxi, Xie Xie, Zhang Yangzi, Wei Xiaofeng, the four of you come with me to the office. We'll draw lots."
The four exchanged glances, immediately understanding Luo Yanglu's intent. Grins broke out across their faces as they followed him out.
Showing off—who at their age didn't love that?
Huo Yuhao watched the four leave with mild amusement. He stood up, nodded toward Gu Yuena beside him, and walked outside toward the campus grounds.
He intended to go with Gu Yuena to observe the forging area and properly iron out a few details.
***
Upon arriving at the office, Luo Yanglu was in no hurry to produce slips of paper for the students to draw lots. Instead, he pulled out an agreement.
"This is an academy initiative. Originally, the principal was supposed to present it to you after the Class Promotion Tournament, but I'll tell you about it first."
"The principal plans to establish Class Zero to cultivate geniuses who surpass their peers, and in my eyes, all of you fit the bill. Naturally, so do Yuhao and Gu Yuena. Those two are practically guaranteed spots; they're already living in single-occupancy dorms over by the academy's green belt. If you join this program, you will be arranged to stay over there as well."
The four looked enlightened.
So that was it. No wonder they had always felt something was out of the ordinary.
"This document is the agreement provided by the academy. Sign it, and you can enter Class Zero to receive the academy's full support and cultivation. However!"
Here it came.
The four students' hearts skipped a beat, and they listened intently.
In every matter, that "however" was what people feared most.
Luo Yanglu pointed to a section of the agreement, his voice turning solemn. "Once you sign this agreement, you cannot transfer schools until you have completed your studies in both the junior and senior divisions of the intermediate academy. So you had better think it over carefully."
Luo Yanglu could understand why Yu Zhen offered such a contract. After all, the academy was investing money and resources to nurture these students; if they bolted to another academy midway through, it would all be for nothing.
Yet understanding it was one thing; whether these students before him could accept it was an entirely different matter.
While the other three still hesitated, Wei Xiaofeng was the first to raise his hand and ask, "Um, Teacher Luo, does that mean if we join Class Zero, we won't be able to transfer to other advanced academies?"
"That's correct."
Luo Yanglu smiled with a gentle expression. "It depends on what you want for yourselves. You may also discuss it with your parents and families first. Consider this special consideration on my part. If you wait until the academy comes asking, they won't give you the chance to consult anyone."
Wei Xiaofeng paused, falling silent for a moment. A flicker of struggle crossed his eyes before he finally said, "Thank you, Teacher, but I want to attend Shrek Academy. That is my family's expectation for me."
Luo Yanglu shook his head. "It doesn't matter. Everyone has their own aspirations, as long as you don't regret it. But I will say this: the cultivation resources provided by the academy this time are no worse than Shrek Academy's."
A trace of shock flashed through Wei Xiaofeng's eyes, and he instinctively doubted the claim. After thinking it over, he still shook his head. "Thank you for your kindness, Teacher, but my mind is made up... In that case, I'll take my leave first."
With that, he moved to exit the office, clearly assuming that having turned down the offer, he was no longer qualified to participate in the Class Promotion Tournament.
"Wait, when did I say this had anything to do with drawing lots?"
Luo Yanglu called Wei Xiaofeng back, caught between tears and laughter. Under the latter's somewhat embarrassed gaze, he looked toward the three who remained silent.
"Before we draw lots, tell me what the three of you think."
Hearing that, Xie Xie recalled the conversation he had had with his father back home.
***
"Our teacher gave me an abridged version of the Spirit Pagoda's meditation technique. He might be from the Spirit Pagoda."
"Is that so?" His father's expression had turned complicated, as though he had thought of something. "Then his presence at East Sea Academy likely means there is some agreement between the Spirit Pagoda and East Sea Academy. If he makes a move, don't hesitate."
"But wouldn't the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy be the most suitable for me?" Xie Xie had asked, puzzled.
Behind the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy stood Mingde Hall, making it one of the preeminent academies on the continent.
Mingde Hall had been passed down for ten thousand years and was connected to that Silver Moon Douluo of the Sun Moon Empire. With a long history and profound heritage, it was an essential cradle of talent for the Federation.
To Mecha Masters and those fond of Soul Tools, the appeal of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy was not necessarily inferior to that of Shrek Academy.
"Between Shrek and the Spirit Pagoda, which do you think is stronger?"
"Each has its merits?"
Hearing this, Xie Xie's father had looked at him quietly for a moment before speaking. "Don't forget the Heirloom Soul Spirit you are set to inherit in the future."
"..." Xie Xie seemed to realize something. "I understand."
***
Xie Xie took a deep breath and stepped forward. "Teacher, I am willing to join the Class Zero initiative!"
Teacher Luo Yanglu came from the Spirit Pagoda, and his classmates Huo Yuhao and Gu Yuena were almost certainly with the Spirit Pagoda as well. Since both of them had joined this initiative, the resources involved were obvious.
East Sea Academy could never provide the resources needed to nurture those two monstrous talents; only the Spirit Pagoda could. The core executor behind this Class Zero plan had to be the Spirit Pagoda!
Wang Jinxi and Zhang Yangzi exchanged glances. Without any intention of going home to consult their families, they nodded as well.
A trace of a smile flickered in Luo Yanglu's eyes. "Alright, let's draw lots."
After going through the process, the three selected to compete were everyone except Xie Xie, but he didn't care in the slightest.
Just as they were about to leave, Luo Yanglu called back the three who intended to enter Class Zero and smiled at them. "The previous agreement was from the academy. Now, let me show you the Spirit Pagoda's agreement."
***
Xie Xie and the other two stepped out of the office in a daze, taking a long while to gather their wits.
Wang Jinxi clicked his tongue in awe. "Is that the foundation of the Spirit Pagoda?"
As long as they met the contractual criteria and joined the Spirit Pagoda, they would receive the Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Spirit most suited to them, along with access to a series of high-end auxiliary cultivation facilities like the Ascension Platform and virtual battlefields... Was Shrek Academy like this as well?
A colossal faction truly was different.
Zhang Yangzi was equally stunned. Soon, he thought of Wei Xiaofeng, who had refused, and sighed. "What a pity. Xiaofeng shouldn't have turned it down."
Beside them, Xie Xie kept his head lowered without saying a word, only a single thought echoing in his mind:
His father hadn't steered him wrong this time.
Chapter 59