Looks like Tang Wulin has arrived.
Nan Fusheng didn't stop cultivating. He had no intention of approaching Tang Wulin just yet. After all, they were in the same class—there would be plenty of chances later. For now, he preferred to let Tang Wulin bond with his roommates.
Transitioning through cultivation...
At dawn, as the first ray of sunlight filtered through the window, Nan Fusheng opened his eyes.
After nearly a full day and night of continuous meditation, his mind and body were fully refreshed. With the help of his three "batteries", his soul power had progressed slightly once again. After reaching Rank 10, the pace of his advancement had quickened, but naturally, the amount of soul power required to level up also increased. It was something that could only be achieved through long-term accumulation.
After washing up with his three "chargers" in tow, Nan Fusheng headed straight for the academy cafeteria.
Along the way, he overheard some passing students chatting:
"Hey, did you hear? A huge eater arrived at school—some kind of legendary bottomless pit!"
The Intermediate Division's cafeteria was located inside a small building adjacent to the main teaching building. It had three floors, with each floor designated for different grade levels. First and second years ate on the first floor.
Inside, there were only tables—no chairs. This was part of Donghai Academy's tradition: students had to stand while eating to cultivate a sense of urgency. Nan Fusheng couldn't help but mutter:
"What kind of Shrek rule is this…"
Nan Fusheng hadn't arrived especially early, so the cafeteria was already bustling. There were three serving stations, labeled A, B, and C.
Set A meals were fully paid and had the best ingredients.
Set B meals were partially paid.
Set C meals were completely free, made with basic ingredients.
Nan Fusheng led Wang Ba and the others straight to the Set B window.
Breakfast was plentiful: milk, eggs, sausage, bread, and vegetables.
He and his roommates took a bit of everything. After paying, they found a quiet corner and began eating.
Some of the ingredients in Set B came from domesticated soul beasts. While not as nutritious as Set A, they were still better than the ordinary fare in Set C.
Nan Fusheng wasn't lacking in money. Before leaving Aolai City, he had discussed selling his house with local law enforcement. Though they initially brushed him off with the usual "you're still just a child," he eventually persuaded them.
He successfully sold the house, netting over 1.2 million federal coins. Combined with the 1,000 coins monthly stipend the government gave to registered soul masters, eating Set B meals was well within his means. As for Set A, it could be reserved for special occasions.
After breakfast, Nan Fusheng waited in the cafeteria for the opening ceremony to begin.
The Opening Ceremony
The grand plaza of Donghai Academy was filled with students. This was the only time of year that both the Intermediate and Advanced Divisions gathered together.
"Good morning, students. Today is our annual opening ceremony. Let us welcome Dean Yu to speak."
The Academy Dean was an elderly man who appeared to be in his sixties. Medium height, greying hair, glasses, and a scholarly aura.
"Greetings, students. Every year at this time, I find myself filled with emotion. Another group of students from both the Intermediate and Advanced Divisions has graduated and left our academy. But at the same time, new students join us, and others advance into the next phase of their education."
"To me, this academy is like the lifeblood factory of the Federation, constantly supplying fresh talent. In the future, I hope each of you can—"
Nan Fusheng stood among the new students, patiently listening to the dean's heartfelt speech.
The dean was eloquent and passionate, speaking without a script. His words carried emotion, and he spoke for nearly fifteen minutes before finally wrapping up.
Class Assignment
After the dean's speech came the most important part of the ceremony: class assignments.
Advanced Division freshmen were led away to their campus area for sorting, leaving only the first-year Intermediate Division students in the plaza.
"Now we'll proceed with class assignments. As you all know, the lower the class number in Donghai Academy, the better the students generally are—but this isn't absolute. We hope that even those in the lower-ranked classes can work hard and catch up."
"This year, we have 108 new students, divided into five classes. Now, those whose names I call, please step forward for Class One..."
When it came time for Class Five, Nan Fusheng's name was called.
"Tang Wulin, Zhou Changxi, Xie Xie, Yun Xiao, Nan Fusheng..."
He wasn't surprised. Though he claimed his martial soul had mutated, he had merely changed its name. He hadn't displayed anything particularly remarkable so far, so being placed in Class Five was expected.
His three roommates—Wang Ba, Yun Feng, and Zhao Xiao— were also assigned to Class Five, likely due to their low soul power (Rank 11) and relatively common martial souls.
Meanwhile, when Tang Wulin heard Nan Fusheng's name, he looked genuinely surprised and happy.
Meeting the Teacher
Class Five only had 20 students, the fewest among all five classes. Most looked listless, shoulders slumped with little energy.
"Class instructors, please return to your classrooms with your students to begin orientation."
Five teachers walked out of the side. One of them headed toward Class Five.
This teacher looked to be around 27 or 28 years old, standing well over 1.9 meters tall, with long legs in white trousers, a lean build, and an imposing presence.
His eyes were sharp and focused, his nose high and straight, his lips thin but well-shaped. A head of long, lake-blue hair trailed behind him in the wind, falling to his waist.
His dark green eyes, paired with the blue hair, gave him an unusual, almost alien air. His expression was blank, his gaze icy.
The moment the Class Five students saw him, they froze on the spot.
One girl whispered under her breath:
"The teacher is so handsome..."
"Follow me."
Just three simple words from the young teacher sent a chill down everyone's spine—a deep, instinctual coldness.
"Wu Zhangkong, huh... A Soul Emperor from Shrek Academy. I wonder if I could manage a deep-level parasitism on someone like him?"
Nan Fusheng mused. But after a moment, he wisely gave up on that suicidal idea.
"Better to find someone else to experiment on first."
Classroom Orientation
Class Five's classroom was on the first floor, at the far end of the hallway—the longest walk of all.
Inside were 30 sets of desks and chairs, with a teacher's podium at the front.
"Sit." The teacher's voice was cold and emotionless. Every time he spoke, it sent another chill down their spines.
Nan Fusheng casually took a seat near the back. His three roommates—Wang Ba, Yun Feng, and Zhao Xiao—instinctively followed and sat beside him.
Without realizing it, the three of them had started to follow Nan Fusheng's lead. This, too, was the subtle influence of the Worm of Time.
Though Nan Fusheng had only used shallow parasitism on them, they were already subconsciously leaning toward obedience. None of them even noticed the shift.