"Let's go."
Tang Luochuan responded with a smile, his eyes filled with tenderness as he looked at Gu Yue and Na'er before him.
"Let's take Na'er back to the Inner Court first."
Gazing toward the direction of the Inner Court, a thoughtful expression crossed Tang Luochuan's face. It was already quite late, and time to send Na'er back.
"Just drop me off at the dormitory building."
"You take Na'er back to the Inner Court."
After passing the dormitory building, Gu Yue's calm face carried a faint smile as she spoke softly.
"Mm, I'll head back soon too."
Tang Luochuan nodded with a smile, gently embracing the girl before him and watching her leave.
"Na'er."
"I'll take you back."
"Alright."
"But I don't want to go back to the Inner Court..."
A trace of reluctance flickered in Na'er's eyes, but she still obediently nodded and responded softly.
Inner Court, Sea God Island.
"Luo Chuan, Na'er..."
"You're back."
Inside the small wooden house, Yun Ming wore a faint smile as he looked at the figures of Tang Luochuan and the others, speaking warmly.
He had thought Na'er might stay in the Outer Court.
"Pavilion Master."
"I'm bringing Na'er back."
Tang Luochuan responded with a smile, his voice gentle. Without lingering too long, he soon turned back the way he came.
"Luo Chuan..."
"His aura has grown stronger again."
Watching the departing figure, Yun Ming's eyes held deep contemplation. As one of the people on this continent closest to that realm, he could sense something extraordinary about the young man.
That already immensely powerful Martial Soul seemed to have ascended yet again. What level was it now? A God-level Martial Soul? A true God-level Martial Soul?
He had seen so-called God-level Martial Souls before—for instance, Chen Xinjie, the Vast Sea Douluo, who was over a century older than him and the current head of the Sea God Clan.
Apart from possessing the overwhelmingly powerful Sea God Martial Soul, which made him invincible at sea, he also wielded the Divine Artifact, the Sea God Helmet, bestowed by the God of the Sea, Tang San. He could rightfully be called the strongest of this era.
Yet, even so, his talent and potential paled in comparison to Luo Chuan's.
"Perhaps."
"He is the greatest hope for the divine realm."
Yun Ming's gaze drifted to the sky, where beyond the endless expanse, he seemed to see a vast barrier. Slowly, his thoughts wandered further away.
If there was anyone in this world who could reach that pinnacle, aside from Tang Luochuan, there was no one else.
"..."
The next day.
Inside Class One of the first grade, Tang Luochuan and his companions were already in their seats. Though hailed as the strongest freshman class in history, their daily life remained largely unchanged.
The only difference was that many classmates couldn't help but harbor their own ambitions regarding the group's possession of Battle Armor. After all, who wouldn't want to own Battle Armor as a Soul Ancestor?
"Brother Luo Chuan, Wu Lin..."
"Your Battle Armor is amazing!"
Before class began, Luo Guixing, Xu Yucheng, Yang Nianxia, and others on the Teenage Genius List eagerly approached Tang Luochuan and his brother, their eyes burning with fervor.
If anyone deserved the most credit for their Battle Armor, aside from Tang Wulin—who was already a recognized Rank-6 Forging Master—it was undoubtedly their leader, Tang Luochuan.
As young geniuses, they naturally understood the importance of Battle Armor and couldn't help but feel envious.
When would they get their own Battle Armor?
"We..."
"We must become powerful Battle Armor Masters too."
Determination flashed in the eyes of Luo Guixing, Xu Yucheng, and Yang Nianxia as they silently vowed to themselves.
They weren't shameless enough to ask Tang Luochuan for help. Although they were classmates, their relationship wasn't that close. Besides...
The three of them specialized in Mecha design, Mecha manufacturing, and forging respectively. By working together, they might just be able to start with a single Battle Armor component!
The young genius trio, activate!
"Xiaofeng, I noticed everyone else has one. Do you have Battle Armor too? I remember you were just a substitute..."
Meanwhile, Zheng Yiran couldn't help but curiously ask her younger cousin Wei Xiaofeng, her face full of questions.
She had clearly seen from the spectator stands that all students participating in the second-year challenge possessed Battle Armor, indicating a high adoption rate. She recalled her cousin had only managed to secure a substitute position...
Although Xiaofeng's cultivation wasn't as advanced as many in their class, he had been part of Luo Chuan and Wu Lin's core group, which earned him the substitute spot.
"Substitute... I wasn't originally a substitute!"
"I was eighth!"
Hearing this, Wei Xiaofeng froze momentarily, his calm expression rippling with frustration as he sighed.
He hadn't been a substitute initially—he had been part of the main team. Unfortunately, the second-year team only fielded seven members, leaving him, ranked eighth, out of the lineup.
"Mhm..."
Zheng Yiran nodded speechlessly. If only seven people competed and you were eighth, what else could you be but a substitute?
"But as for Battle Armor..."
"I have five pieces."
Wei Xiaofeng grinned smugly, looking refreshed.
"Five pieces!"
Zheng Yiran's eyes widened in surprise. Most others only had five or six pieces at most, yet her little cousin, a mere substitute...
Had five too!
"In the future..."
"I guess I'll have to ask Luo Chuan to forge Battle Armor for me too."
Zheng Yiran blinked, the thought popping into her mind unbidden. Of course, she wouldn't let Luo Chuan work for free.
"Ha!"
Beside her, Wei Xiaofeng puffed up with pride.
Truth be told, it wasn't just five pieces—his entire set of Battle Armor had already been prepared by his leader. He just wasn't strong enough to absorb it all yet.
"With the power of these five pieces, even an ordinary Soul Ancestor might not be able to do much against me."
Wei Xiaofeng mused to himself, smirking slightly. Now, he saw the likes of Xu Yucheng and Luo Guixing as nothing special!
Hmph! Who dared say Wei Xiaofeng was useless now? With his leader's power backing him, he was more than capable!
"But to keep following my leader..."
"I'll have to work extra hard."
Wei Xiaofeng's eyes burned with resolve.
Slacking off forever...
Would never let him stay by his leader's side!
"..."
Meanwhile, in Class 1 of the second grade, all eyes involuntarily turned toward Yuanen's seat, their gazes filled with bewilderment.
The reason for their surprise was simple—the person sitting there wasn't their class monitor at all!
Their class monitor, Yuanen, was a taciturn and highly reliable guy who did little else besides striving to become stronger. But right now...
The person sitting in that seat wasn't a boy at all! Not only that, it was an exceptionally beautiful girl with a faint smile that drew the attention of every passing male student.
"Classmate, you are..."
"Are you here to see the class monitor?"
At this moment, Duan Hunxiao wore a puzzled expression as she looked in the other's direction, unable to suppress her confusion.
Who is this?
She was certain their class didn't have anyone like this person. So why had they suddenly appeared in the monitor's seat?
"Hmm..."
Yuanen Yehui turned around, about to explain, when a voice suddenly interrupted.
"Hey hey hey, Old Duan, you just don't get it."
"This is obviously the monitor's girlfriend."
Beside them, Qiu Palei appeared with a grin, speaking bluntly.
"Hello, sister-in-law."
He immediately said with a laugh.
"..."
"I'm Yuanen."
Hearing this, Yuanen Yehui could only smile helplessly before speaking slowly.
"Oh, so your name is Yuan..."
"Wait, what did you say your name was?"
Qiu Palei started smiling, but his expression quickly froze completely, as if he'd heard something earth-shattering.
"I'm Yuanen."
"Class monitor of Class 1, Grade 2. Yuanen."
Yuanen Yehui said slowly with a smile.
"You're the monitor..."
"No, you can't be..."
Duan Hunxiao and Qiu Palei exchanged glances, both seeing the same bewilderment and astonishment in each other's eyes as they spoke in unison.
You're the monitor?
Then where's our monitor?!
Our monitor couldn't possibly be a girl, could he?
(End of Chapter)