I'll take you to Class One of the Heaven Rank first," Luo Chen said, leading Gu Chen through the Martial Soul Academy. After walking several hundred meters, they arrived at Class One of the Heaven Rank.
Although it was called a class, there were only nine students. However, the classroom was spacious enough to rival the large conference rooms from Gu Chen's previous life.
Inside Class One, there were a total of seven students—five males and two females.
As Luo Chen entered with Gu Chen, a stunning and alluring girl stood up from a mahogany desk and walked toward them. However, her expression carried an unmistakable disdain that didn't match her exquisite appearance.
"So, you're the new guy, Gu Chen? That wild kid from some remote corner of the world?" She sneered before pausing. "Oh, I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Hu Liena, eighteen years old, Martial Soul: Celestial Fox, Level 43 Control System Battle Soul Master, loyal to the former Holy Maiden, Bibi Dong—who is also my teacher."
Hu Liena deliberately emphasized the part about her loyalty to Bibi Dong.
"I heard you're loyal to the Pope? Hah!" She burst into laughter and turned to Luo Chen. "Luo Chen, as expected of the most useless person in our Heaven Rank Class One. You actually befriended someone who follows the Pope."
Luo Chen retorted indignantly, "What's wrong with being his friend? He's way more talented than you guys! Gu Chen is twelve years old and already at Level 40! You're all eighteen, and you're only at his level!"
At this, a sinister-looking young man at the back of the classroom stood up. "I, Xie Yue, am eighteen and at Level 43. So what? At least I'm better than you, a mere Grand Soul Master. Right, dead last?"
In Class One, Xie Yue, Hu Liena, and a burly young man named Yan were all loyal to Bibi Dong.
On the other side of the classroom, a 13-year-old girl and three boys around 16 or 17 were neutral, not aligning with either Bibi Dong or Qian Xunji.
While their neutrality kept them out of factional conflicts, it also meant they received fewer cultivation resources.
The three older boys were still only around Level 37-38 Soul Elders, whereas the 13-year-old girl, thanks to her talent, had reached Level 36—on par with them.
Luo Chen had told Gu Chen all of this.
Naturally, Luo Chen was also neutral. Otherwise, he wouldn't still be stuck at Level 29.
Gu Chen didn't respond; he simply walked further into the classroom.
Hu Liena raised an eyebrow. "What? As expected of some wild child from a backwater place—no manners at all? You don't even answer when spoken to?"
Gu Chen turned his head and said coldly, "It's not that I look down on you. I just don't want to waste my breath. If the teacher hadn't told me not to litter, I'd have thrown you out already. If you're sick, go see a doctor. Don't come bothering me—I'm not a veterinarian."
Ding-dong! Your friend, Zaun's Gu Chen, is now online!
"You!" Hu Liena was visibly furious.
"You looking to die, kid?" Xie Yue's face darkened as he stepped forward.
Gu Chen remained unfazed. "You think the whole world is your mom, so everyone has to humor you? Just because you look rare doesn't mean you're valuable. Before I met you, I didn't even realize I judged people by their appearance."
"Good. You've successfully caught my attention! Just wait for the combat class—I'll make sure you suffer!" Xie Yue threatened.
Gu Chen, who had once slain Soul Emperors and severely wounded Soul Douluos, found the idea of fearing a mere Soul Ancestor laughable.
"Look at you, trying to act all serious, like you can actually comprehend human speech. There are a lot of idiots in this world, but you're one of the best among them. I want to insult someone, but not you," Gu Chen sneered.
"A country bumpkin is still a country bumpkin—nothing but filth coming out of your mouth!" Hu Liena finally shot back.
Oh?
It had been a while since someone dared to trade insults with him. Gu Chen suddenly felt a strange excitement, like he had found a kindred spirit in trash talk.
"I just don't get it—ropes get tangled when they're too long, but why doesn't your tongue?" Gu Chen mused mockingly. "Don't talk to me—I can't understand you. If people saw me arguing with a pig, they'd think I was an idiot."
"Shut up and sit down!" Yan slammed his hand on the desk and roared.
"Why are you slapping the desk? Oh, I get it—you must be picking out a coffin for your mom," Gu Chen said, as if he had just come to a profound realization. Even Luo Chen, standing beside him, felt that Gu Chen was asking for a beating at this point.
At that moment, the classroom door opened again, and an unfamiliar girl walked in, leading Gu Yue Na. The new girl had short, silver-gray hair and a quiet demeanor. She didn't say a word upon entering, exuding a calm and reserved presence.
"This is my roommate, Feng Xiaoyu. She's thirteen years old, Martial Soul: Gale Bird, Level 36 Agility System Battle Soul Elder. She doesn't belong to any faction," Gu Yue Na introduced her before glancing at Luo Chen.
"This is my roommate, Luo Chen. His Martial Soul is Fried Rice. He's a Level 29 Food System Grand Soul Master," Gu Chen introduced.
"System, check Feng Xiaoyu's stats," Gu Chen commanded mentally.
Ding!
Character: Feng Xiaoyu
Age: 13
Strength: 1000
Spirit Power: 900
Bloodline: 100% Human
Level: 37 Soul Elder
Soul Rings: Yellow, Yellow, Purple
Loyalty: 16%
Overall Evaluation: A talented girl whose attributes surpass her peers. She has significant development potential.
Not bad.
"I'm Gu Chen." He extended his hand to Feng Xiaoyu, showing none of the arrogance from earlier.
"Feng Xiaoyu," she replied, lightly shaking his hand before letting go. Her voice was as cold as an icy spring.
"Gu Yue Na." Seeing that Gu Chen was friendly with Luo Chen, Gu Yue Na extended a bit of goodwill toward him as well.
"Luo Chen," he said, flashing a cute smile.
"Hey, don't ignore us!" Hu Liena and the others, who had been completely sidelined, protested angrily.
"Shut up!" Gu Yue Na tilted her head slightly, her gaze turning chillingly cold. It was as if an eternal frost had settled in her eyes.
Hu Liena, Xie Yue, and Yan froze.
In their eyes, Gu Yue Na's gaze carried an overwhelming, soul-piercing chill. They had the terrifying illusion that if they defied her, they would be dragged into the abyss, never to return.
Just then, a cold female voice sounded from the doorway.
"Class One of the Heaven Rank, all of you—assemble at the training grounds for combat class."
A black-haired female teacher stood at the entrance, holding a book—not just any book, but her Martial Soul.
"You must be the new students, Gu Chen and Gu Yue Na?" she asked.
Both nodded.
"I am Lucy May. You may call me Teacher May. I am your homeroom teacher, Martial Soul: Magic Book, Level 69 Soul Emperor. For the next few years, I will be your instructor," Lucy said.
Ten minutes later, on the Martial Soul Academy's training field, eleven students stood in a row as Lucy faced them.
"Since we have two new students today, let's begin with introductions," she instructed.
One by one, the students introduced themselves.
When it was Gu Chen and Gu Yue Na's turn—
"Gu Chen, Martial Soul: Golden Dragon, Level 41 Power Attack System Soul Ancestor."
"Gu Yue Na, Martial Soul: Seven-Colored Dragon, Level 41 Control System Soul Ancestor."
"Alright, release your Soul Rings," Lucy ordered.
Thirty-seven Soul Rings lit up across the field. But when Gu Chen and Gu Yue Na's rings appeared—
"Ten-thousand-year Soul Rings?! Impossible!" Hu Liena cried out in shock.