They crossed the skybridge, passing beneath the Sector Six banners fluttering under the solar canopy, and soon passed the bridge to Sector Two. The hum of activity grew louder as they approached the heart of the campus.
"Instructor Pei, Instructor Luo," Fan Yumei finally spoke, her tone respectful but curious. "Will we be placed in new classes for our cultivation paths? Like Elemental Caller 101, Rune Master courses, and Soul Function bond classes? And how will that work?"
Her mind raced with focused determination. She didn't want to just rely on combat drills or beast bond training—she was hungry for knowledge. She needed to understand this world's roots, its systems, its contradictions. Some fragments echoed strange parallels with her old Earth life, but they were scattered—half-erased relics, misfiled or mythologized. She wanted more. She needed to know what tied them all together.
Pei Wutong nodded. "Yes. The curriculum will expand this term, covering your core disciplines alongside practical applications. You'll take specialized classes to refine each aspect of your path."
Fan Yumei nodded, unsurprised—but eager.
Instructor Luo added, "Special Advancement Class will be evaluated separately, of course." He glanced at Jin Minhe and Dai Lihua. "That includes refiner-specific live assessments. Be ready."
Jin winced. "Ugh. Soul channel tests again? I hate those. No snacks for my hard work," he huffed, just thinking about it.
"Then you'll need to learn to stabilize your link without food bribes," Instructor Pei said dryly. "That beast is loyal—but easily distracted."
Fan Yumei chuckled faintly.
Jin Minhe suddenly looked around, then turned to Fan Yumei, realization dawning.
"Where's Maxius, Lufei, and Mystic?"
"They're out today helping me with something," she replied casually, not elaborating.
"Oh," was all he said, pulling out an energy bar from his pocket.
The two instructors exchanged a look—speechless at his food-carrying habits.
They didn't have to walk far. The instructors led steadily, turning just past the garden sector when two familiar faces rounded the walkway ahead—Liang Chenwu and Dai Lihua.
"Oh?" Instructor Pei raised a brow, halting mid-step.
Dai Lihua straightened instantly. "Instructor," she said with a salute.
Liang Chenwu gave a short nod. "We were told to report to the ECSA sectors."
"Good. You're right on time," Instructor Luo said. "We'll all head in together. You'll get your schedules once we reach your department wings."
Jin Minhe gave a lazy wave. "I thought you two were already down there."
Liang Chenwu shrugged. "We stopped to grab our gear. Some of us prepare for class."
"Some of us eat breakfast," Jin replied, crumbs still dusting his shoulder from whatever flaky monstrosity he'd devoured earlier.
Fan Yumei walked silently beside them, still sharp-eyed but calm. She'd tucked the folded license packet into her uniform's side panel.
They reached the outer gates of the ECSA Department, where metallic seals glowed above reinforced doors. Everything here felt sharper—more militarized than the rest of campus.
One by one, the students stepped forward as the security ID scanner read their badges and assigned new section access.
"Elite Class: Fan Yumei."
"Special Advancement Class: Jin Minhe."
"Elite Class: Liang Chenwu."
"Special Advancement Class: Dai Lihua."
The group stood together for one last moment.
"Split from here," Instructor Pei said. "Special Advancement goes with me."
Luo gestured the other two forward. "Elite, you're with me."
Jin Minhe looked at Fan Yumei. "Save me some food in the afterlife if I fail."
Fan Yumei gave a nod that might've been a smirk. "Only if you deserve it."
Then they turned, parting paths—one headed into refinement chambers, the other toward the elemental caller meditation rings under the instructors' watch.
⸻
Instructor Luo gave Fan Yumei and Liang Chenwu a brief tour of each sector, pointing out the department zones and explaining the rules for both Elite and Special Advancement students.
"Your badge isn't the standard issue," he noted. "It gives you access to restricted areas—ones that other students can't enter without permission or direct authorization."
"Makes sense," Liang Chenwu nodded in understanding.
Fan Yumei absorbed it all without missing a step, filing every detail away. This wasn't just privilege—it was responsibility. And she wasn't about to waste it.
⸻
Later, after classes, Fan Yumei met Kai Shi and Min Zhao, who turned out to share some of her courses—and the same homeroom.
Kai Shi blinked in surprise when he spotted her. "What are you doing here?"
"Remember, she's an elite student now," Min Zhao snapped, glaring at Kai Shi for his tone. "She beat most Elite and Special Advancement classmates to get picked."
Min Zhao leaned closer to Fan Yumei and whispered, glancing sideways at Kai Shi, who was just out of earshot. "Don't mind him, Yuyu. He's still salty about your battle. It's a sensitive subject for him."
"Oh?" Fan Yumei glanced at Kai Shi, noting how awkward he seemed. She figured he felt a little weird about her—not in a bad way, just uncomfortable.
"Hey! Not true! I just feel like you didn't take me seriously enough!" Kai Shi pointed, flustered and embarrassed.
"Men should take a loss like one and not fuss endlessly about a win that didn't feel like one. What do you want from me? Your mother can indulge you, but I won't," Fan Yumei said coolly, giving him a once-over before glancing away.
"Ha! Need ice for that burn?" Min Zhao chuckled, flashing a provocative look.
Min Zhao grinned. "Hey, Yumei. Ready to get schooled?"
Fan Yumei smirked. "You better be, or I'm calling dibs on the top spot."
⸻
Later, Jin Minhe, Kai Shi, Zhou Qian, Liang Chenwu, and Min Zhao met up for lunch. This time, without Mystic around to give rides, they had to walk across campus to the dining hall.
Jin Minhe tripped on a loose tile, nearly face-planting.
"Graceful as always," Fan Yumei teased.
"Shut up, I was just checking for dropped snacks," Jin grumbled.
"Oh, snacks? I thought it was your face!" Liang Chenwu laughed.
They all burst into laughter, teasing each other with easy camaraderie.
Over food, the conversation turned to training.
Fan Yumei said, "My beast and I usually train three times a day. Sometimes two, but mostly three. We even run to classes wearing weights regularly—even when we're not training."
All four stared at her in horror.
Kai Shi broke the silence. "You're insane."
"Yeah, who does that?" Min Zhao added.
Jin Minhe shuddered. "That's, like, torture."
Fan Yumei shrugged, smirking. "Whatever gets you ahead."
⸻
The rest of the day flew by quickly.
Fan Yumei bid farewell to her friends, promising to come back and pick them up on Mystic in an hour or two—depending on the errands she had to run. She expected to see them ready for training when she returned.
"Dont forget the weights I have extra" she called out to them with a smirk not looking back.
"Groans," they all deflated—except Liang Chenwu, who was at a loss.
"The trainer from hell is returning…" Zhou Qian dropped to his knees, losing all strength and will to live.
"What? What's wrong with extra training?" Liang asked, confused, feeling like he was missing something.
They didn't answer—just kept muttering, "You'll see…" as they walked off, nursing their morning training bruises, now facing the threat of another round. They wanted to cry, but had no tears left to shed, leaving Liang Chenwu alone with his cloud of confusion and suspicion.
Once she'd officially stepped off campus, Fan Yumei pulled out a teleport scroll. The air shimmered around her as she walked through—appearing in front of Master Sun's villa.
Time to see what her kiddos and Master Sun had been up to all day.