I've also recently started a new translation, please check it out and show your support! Douluo: AFKing to Become a God
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The morning mist over Sea God Lake had yet to fully dissipate. Shen Yi stood beneath a willow tree, clad in a white teacher's robe. Her gaze lingered briefly on Gu La's emerald-gold hair as the trio approached.
The battle from three years ago still felt like it happened yesterday—it was etched vividly in her memory.
As in the original storyline, Shen Yi and Wu Zhangkong were responsible for teaching the new students. Shen Yi had been waiting by the lake, and she wasn't surprised to see Gu La. Someone had already informed her about the missing student.
Shen Yi smiled warmly. "It's been a month since the start of the semester, and the positions of class president and study committee have already been filled. If you're interested, you can challenge for them later."
Unlike in the original storyline, over the past three years, Gu Yue had grown more distant from Tang Wulin and hadn't helped him during the competition for class president.
Ultimately, Wu Siduo secured the position of class president with her four-ring cultivation and self-fusion martial soul technique.
Gu Yue became the vice-president, while Tang Wulin only took on the role of forging committee member. However, as an ordinary student rather than a work-study student, Tang Wulin didn't face excessive expenses and was quite content with his lot.
Since all three were coming from the inner court, Shen Yi gave them a brief overview of the class situation.
Ye Xinglan raised her head proudly. "Teacher, I'm only interested in becoming stronger. Let others handle the class duties."
Xu Lizhi remained silent. His cultivation time was already stretched thin, and his secondary profession—limited by his rank—only allowed him to be a third-level mech repairman.
"Class duties…"
Gu La hesitated. He didn't lack the small amount of contribution points that came with being a class officer. The recipe for his bone-strengthening ointment had already amassed enough resources for him to forge a four-character battle armor. As his forging level increased, so would his wealth.
"I'm not interested either. Let them have it."
Shen Yi chuckled, not finding Gu La arrogant in the slightest. As one of the homeroom teachers, she was well aware of his martial soul data and exam scores—a twin martial soul wielder with ten-thousand-year spirit souls and a perfect admission score. Even Wu Siduo wouldn't stand a chance against him in the class.
Shen Yi led the three into the new student teaching building, arriving at a massive amphitheater-style classroom capable of accommodating three hundred people. The entire class consisted of a hundred students—all the new arrivals.
Gu La nodded inwardly. It seemed Shrek Academy had learned its lesson. Rather than dividing students into smaller classes, they let the two best teachers handle large-scale instruction.
In the same classroom, under identical teaching conditions, it was easier to identify who was truly worth cultivating.
When the other students noticed the addition of three new classmates, curious glances darted their way.
"It's been a month since school started, and they're still accepting new students? Is Shrek's supervision this lax?"
"That guy is so handsome! Totally my type!"
"The girl looks cold… just like the vice-president…"
The chatter rose and fell. Tang Wulin waved at Gu La and Xu Lizhi. He sat with Xie Xie, next to the group of class officers.
Since Tang Wulin was merely a forging committee member, neither Wu Siduo nor Luo Guixing held any grudges against him for his "unorthodox rise." Moreover, they had no issues with a fifth-level forger, so their relationship with Tang Wulin remained amicable.
"Tang Wulin, do you know them?"
Luo Guixing adjusted his tactical goggles, a glint of sharpness flashing in his eyes as he subtly probed for information about Gu La.
This wasn't much of a secret. Tang Wulin nodded. "Gu La and I both came from Donghai Academy. After the entrance exam, he was invited directly into the inner court."
Finally, Tang Wulin added, "He's stronger than the class president."
He had long noticed Luo Guixing's occasional air of superiority, looking down on his Blue Silver Grass martial soul. But due to his personality, Luo Guixing hadn't made it too obvious, so Tang Wulin hadn't bothered to take offense.
In fact, this month, Tang Wulin had taken the time to unlock the second layer of his seal. Yet even now, he couldn't do anything against Luo Guixing's space-element martial soul, which allowed him to teleport anytime, anywhere—it was infuriatingly unfair.
No matter how powerful one's strength was, it meant nothing if they couldn't land a hit.
But it wouldn't be long now. Unlocking the second layer of his seal had brought him closer to mastering the first technique of Nine Arts of the Golden Dragon!
Upon hearing Tang Wulin's words, Wu Siduo didn't say anything, but her gaze sharpened suddenly, fixing intently on Gu La.
As a member of the Netherworld Family's younger generation, she feared no challenge. Moreover, she wanted to see just how strong Gu La—who had been invited into the inner court—really was!
Shen Yi raised her hands slightly, her soul power rippling outward, silencing the classroom chatter. "Our class has three new transfer students joining us: Gu La, Ye Xinglan, and Xu Lizhi. Everyone, give them a warm welcome."
Tang Wulin led the applause, but it was sparse and scattered throughout the room.
When privileges weren't enjoyed by oneself, no one liked them.
Inevitably, many students felt resentment toward the three transfers.
Gu La, however, paid no mind to the hostility from strangers. Looking at the tiered classroom, he felt a strange sense of nostalgia and almost wanted to sit in the back. But remembering that he was supposed to be a good student, he took the seat in the front row reserved for him by Shen Yi.
Ye Xinglan walked straight to the empty seat beside Gu La, while Xu Lizhi squinted his small eyes, nearly on the verge of tears. With no choice, he sat further back, settling behind Tang Wulin's left side.
Wu Zhangkong stepped onto the podium, his icy demeanor silencing the room completely. "Gu La, make sure to catch up on the lessons you missed over the past month after class. If you have questions, come ask me or Teacher Shen."
"To everyone else, today's morning class is changed. We're going to the arena."
After a month, Wu Zhangkong needed to reassess Gu La.
Wu Zhangkong understood the significance of meditation under the Ancient Gold Tree. While others might not grow much in a month, he knew Gu La was a true monster—one who defied conventional expectations.
Especially considering there were a few so-called members of the Genius Youths Rankings in the class who were a bit full of themselves. Gu La's arrival would serve as a reality check to show them the vast differences in talent.
Over a hundred students marched toward the arena. The arena was similar to the Spirit Ascension Platform—a combat space where soul masters below a certain cultivation level could fight freely without worrying about casualties.
Inside the arena were hundreds of egg-shaped pods. Shen Yi lightly tapped a button on the wall, activating the arena.
Wu Zhangkong spoke indifferently, "Each of you choose a pod and enter. You'll be transported to a forest. The environment is limited—you'll encounter other classmates or soul beasts."
"The arena is completely safe. Death triggers automatic ejection from the space, and your real bodies won't be harmed. Scores will be calculated based on the number of eliminations and time spent inside. A small number of contribution points will be awarded, so don't think about slacking off."
Many students didn't yet grasp Wu Zhangkong's deeper meaning. If the relationships among the students were likened to a food chain, Gu La was undoubtedly the prehistoric shark (Megalodon) at the top.
Once everyone settled into their pods, Shen Yi activated the arena device, and a disorienting sensation of weightlessness reverberated through everyone's minds.
Buzz—
Gu La opened his eyes to find himself in a lush, verdant primeval forest. Vegetation blanketed the earth, and the fresh scent of nature invigorated his senses.
He took a deep breath. "A pity—it's all virtual."
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