The next morning.
"Luo Chuan, over here!"
"You're here early too."
The cafeteria was still sparsely populated at this early hour. As Tang Luochuan entered, he spotted two familiar figures—seniors Mu Xi and Ouyang Zixin. The one who had called out to him was the former.
"Sister Mu Xi, Sister Zixin."
A faint smile played on Tang Luochuan's lips as he greeted them.
"Xiao Xi."
"Look how excited you sound. I've never seen you act like this around a boy before."
Ouyang Zixin teased with a grin.
"Huh? Zixin, get a grip! Luo Chuan is just a kid!"
Mu Xi visibly froze for a moment before hurriedly shaking her head.
"I was just joking."
"Were you seriously considering robbing the cradle?"
Ouyang Zixin chuckled. If their junior weren't so young, she might have genuinely believed her friend was interested in pursuing him.
But the key point was—Luo Chuan was just a little brother!
Sure, he was handsome, talented, and kind…
But his age was still a dealbreaker.
"By the way, Luo Chuan."
"Were those your parents yesterday? They were amazing."
Ouyang Zixin turned to Tang Luochuan, unable to help but marvel. After all, they were two eighth-rank Mecha Designers.
"Yeah, yeah!"
Mu Xi nodded enthusiastically, her face lit up with a bright smile. The sight of those two black mechas from yesterday morning still lingered vividly in her mind.
She had always thought mecha pilots were incredibly cool, but neither of her parents were one. If only Luo Chuan's parents could be hers too—wait, no!
"My parents…"
"are indeed outstanding mecha pilots."
Tang Luochuan smiled and nodded in agreement.
Had they not secluded themselves in Aolai City ten years ago, they would likely have already reached the potential to become ninth-rank Mecha Designers by now.
"Their Martial Soul talents must be impressive too, no wonder they have a genius son like you…"
"Both you and Xiao Xi have such great talent. If only my Martial Soul were a bit stronger!"
Ouyang Zixin couldn't help but murmur wistfully.
"Zixin, your Martial Soul is great too."
"Blue Silver Grass with the bloodline of the Blue Silver King is incredibly rare."
Seeing her friend's dejection, Mu Xi quickly comforted her in a gentle voice.
"Huh?"
"Blue Silver King's bloodline?"
Tang Luochuan was taken aback. Wait, Senior Ouyang Zixin's Martial Soul was Blue Silver Grass?
"That's right."
"Luo Chuan, did you not know? Even though Sister Zixin's Martial Soul is Blue Silver Grass, her Innate Soul Power is at level seven—an exceptionally rare case. She carries the bloodline of the Blue Silver King."
Mu Xi explained with a smile.
"Don't call it the Blue Silver King… That's just a nickname the academy gave me."
Ouyang Zixin shook her head repeatedly. She couldn't possibly compare herself to the real Blue Silver King. At twelve years old, she had only just barely broken through to the third ring—the pressure was immense.
"That's not your nickname, Zixin. Your title is 'Eastern Sea Academy's Flower.'"
"Xiao Xi, isn't that your title?"
"..."
Watching the two chattering girls, Tang Luochuan stayed silent, though he couldn't help but marvel inwardly. Who would've thought the legendary "Blue Silver King" of Eastern Sea Academy was right beside him all along!
"Sister Zixin, you'll only get better from here."
Tang Luochuan said with a smile on his face.
"Then I'll take your kind words, Luo Chuan."
Ouyang Zixin looked at him with a smile and spoke slowly.
"Alright, it's time for us to head to class now."
Mu Xi stood up with a gentle smile and said softly.
"Oh, Luo Chuan, don't forget you're accompanying me for forging this weekend!"
As they walked toward the teaching building, a crucial thought crossed her mind, and she immediately spoke seriously.
"Hmm?"
"Of course, no problem."
Tang Luochuan laughed heartily and nodded.
"Hmm?"
When Tang Luochuan arrived in the classroom, Gu Yue beside him gave him an unsettled glance, leaving him momentarily puzzled.
"What's wrong, Gu Yue?"
He couldn't help but ask softly.
"..."
Gu Yue remained silent, only lowering her head as if sighing before turning away.
"What exactly—"
"All students, assemble on the playground."
Before Tang Luochuan could finish, the school's broadcast sounded. By the time he and Gu Yue reached the playground, Dean Yu Lian had already convened a school-wide assembly on the same podium where Guang Biao had previously apologized.
"Students and teachers, as you all know, the class promotion challenge has always been our academy's way of training students across all grades to grow stronger. It even allows challenges against higher grades for self-breakthroughs."
"But starting this year, due to the exceptional strength of the first-year students, challenges from lower to higher grades will be canceled. Only intra-grade sparring will remain, except—"
"Except for Class One of the first grade."
"At the same time, we will establish a new class—"
"Class Zero."
Dean Yu Lian spoke slowly with a smile.
"Class Zero?"
Hearing this, many were confused, even the teachers were baffled—why create a "Class Zero" out of nowhere?
Only Wu Zhangkong seemed thoughtful. It appeared this was an elite class for geniuses. The candidates must be... His gaze swept over Tang Luochuan, Gu Yue, and the others, and Wu Zhangkong understood everything.
"Eastsea Academy's Class Zero will initially consist of the following members: Tang Luochuan, Gu Yue, Wang Jinxi, Zhang Yangzi, Wei Xiaofeng, Xie Xie, and Tang Wulin from Class One of the first grade..."
"Class Zero will be led by Teacher Wu Zhangkong and will enjoy the academy's finest resources. Each member will be trained toward becoming Mecha Designers and Battle Armor Masters."
"Our academy's students are all outstanding, but Class Zero will be the true geniuses among you."
Dean Yu Lian's voice wasn't loud, but it struck deep into everyone's hearts at that moment.
Eastsea Academy was no small institution. Pouring all its resources into fewer than ten students would be an extraordinary advantage.
"Dean."
"Why only these few freshmen? Isn't this a bit unfair?"
A fifth-year student raised a question.
"Oh?"
"Which class are you from, student?"
Dean Yu Lian smiled faintly.
"Fifth Grade, Class Four—Xie Burou."
"A senior student, you must be a Grand Soul Master by now?"
"Reporting to the Dean, I'm already a 25th-rank Grand Soul Master."
"You ask me why? Very well, Director Long Xuheng, give him the answer."
Dean Yu Lian turned to Long Xuheng beside him and chuckled.
"Yes, Dean."
Long Xuheng nodded.
"Tang Luochuan, age nine, 28th-rank Grand Soul Master."
"Gu Yue, age nine, 28th-rank Grand Soul Master."
Tang Luochuan and Gu Yue's cultivation levels were announced, causing an uproar among the crowd.
The students had long known that this year's freshmen were formidable, but they hadn't expected them to reach such terrifying heights.
Level 28—this was already the cultivation level required to graduate from the sixth grade of an intermediate academy, yet they were only nine years old!
"Zhang Yangzi, Wang Jinxi, and Wei Xiaofeng are also at the Grand Soul Master realm. Xie Xie is an 18th-rank Soul Master."
"Tang Wulin, 12th-rank Soul Master..."
"Teacher, why is Tang Wulin included?"
Hearing Tang Wulin's name, the same student couldn't help but ask again. He could understand the others, but this one...
He was only level 12.
"He is a third-rank Grand Artificer."
"If any of you can reach the third rank in the secondary profession of forging by the age of nine, I'll let you into Class Zero too."
Yu Lian's calm voice carried through the crowd, but these words only left everyone speechless. A third-rank secondary profession—that was even more terrifying than being a Grand Soul Master!
"Does anyone else have any objections?"
"But I think..."
"No one should have any objections now."
"..."
After the assembly ended, Tang Luochuan's gaze still lingered on Gu Yue. The reason was simple—she had been acting unusually all morning, barely speaking to him.
Could Gu Yue be going for the cold and aloof route? That couldn't be.
"Gu Yue."
"What's wrong with you?"
Tang Luochuan stepped in front of her and spoke up.
"..."
Gu Yue gave him a cold glance, then walked a few steps in another direction before stopping.
"What exactly is..."
"Of course, there's no problem."
Looking in Tang Luochuan's direction, she snorted and spoke word by word.
"Huh?"
Tang Luochuan froze, his expression turning puzzled. Wasn't that exactly what he had said to Sister Mu Xi?
Well, it seemed he'd been found out.
"Go walk with some other girl."
"Why follow me?"
Gu Yue shot him a glare, then walked off without looking back. He had just held her hand yesterday, and today he was walking with someone else...
Tang Luochuan, she didn't want to talk to him anymore!