Nan Fusheng had no intention of greeting anyone and went straight to his dorm. Although only a month had passed, there was surprisingly little dust inside.
It seemed the academy had arranged for cleaning staff to tidy it up. Not paying it much mind, Nan Fusheng sat cross-legged on his bed and began cultivating. At this moment, only cultivation could soothe the pain in his heart.
Knock, knock, knock.
Before long, heavy knocks sounded from outside—seemingly Xie Xie pounding on Tang Wulin's door. Faint voices of conversation could be heard.
Knock, knock, knock!
The next moment, someone knocked on Nan Fusheng's door. Xie Xie's loud voice rang out, "Fusheng, Fusheng! Are you in there? We've got a newcomer reporting in!"
"I'm coming, I'm coming…"
Nan Fusheng's weary voice drifted out as he opened the door. Standing there was Xie Xie, along with a pretty girl.
"Whoa… what the heck happened to you in the past month? You look like the walking dead."
Xie Xie looked Nan Fusheng up and down, unable to hide his shock.
"Don't worry about it. You wouldn't understand my pain. What's the matter?" Nan Fusheng replied irritably.
Before Xie Xie could answer, the girl behind him suddenly shoved him aside.
(Xie Xie: "Ow—what's with you girls and pushing people?")
She stepped forward to face Nan Fusheng. Her hair was a light, ocean blue, tied into two ponytails that gave off a lively, youthful vibe. At the moment, her delicate face was slightly flushed.
"Hello, my name is Xu Xiaoyan. Thank you for saving me last time on the Spirit Ascension Platform. May I ask your name?"
"My name is Nan Fusheng. About last time—don't think too much of it. I just lent a hand; it's nothing worth remembering."
Nan Fusheng studied her carefully. The young girl's appearance was indeed striking; even at her young age, she was a beauty in the making. But more importantly, her martial soul was impressive.
"That won't do. The Xu family always repays its debts. If you ever need help in the future, you can come find me, and I'll get my brother to assist you." Xu Xiaoyan said seriously.
Girl… are you a bit touched in the head? If I need something and you're just going to get your brother to help me… wouldn't I be better off just going to your brother directly? Nan Fusheng thought, remembering that her brother had already told him the same thing before.
"Hey, don't ignore me! Fusheng, have you seen Wulin anywhere?"
At the side, Xie Xie, whose very name contained the word for "chance encounter," was getting a whiff of gossip in the air. But concern for his buddy won out, so he interrupted them.
"Wulin? Haven't seen him. You could ask Gu Yue."
Nan Fusheng turned to Xie Xie. "Anyway, I need to rest now, to ease the pain in my heart. Make yourselves at home."
Without giving Xie Xie the chance to ask "What pain?", he shut the door right in their faces.
The next morning, the opening ceremony was held. As expected, Class Zero stood at the very front of all the first-year classes, lined up in a neat row.
Well, only four of them, because Tang Wulin was late.
Nan Fusheng stood at one end, followed by Gu Yue, Xie Xie, and Xu Xiaoyan.
Wu Zhangkong stood with the other teachers, face expressionless as always, as if nothing concerned him.
"Do you think Wulin forgot the opening ceremony time? Why isn't he here yet?" Xie Xie whispered to Gu Yue.
"Do you think he's you?" Gu Yue replied coolly.
Xie Xie was indignant. "Hey, there's a limit to your favoritism! When have I ever been late? It's always him!"
"Then it must be that he has a reason." Gu Yue said.
Once again, Xie Xie took a critical hit and was left speechless.
At that moment, the principal began his speech, and Tang Wulin finally arrived, taking a spot between Nan Fusheng and Gu Yue.
The ceremony was the usual routine—same words, same proceedings—and ended quickly. Then the homeroom teachers led their classes back for opening remarks and encouragement. Actual lessons wouldn't start until tomorrow.
For Class Zero, things were simple. Counting the newcomer Xu Xiaoyan, there were only five people.
"Introduce yourself," Wu Zhangkong said directly to Xu Xiaoyan once they were in the classroom.
Standing, she looked slightly shy. "Hello everyone, my name is Xu Xiaoyan. I'm ten years old. My martial soul is the Starwheel Ice Staff. My soul power is at level seventeen."
Wu Zhangkong nodded. "In the next month, you must prove your strength—and that you're a good fit for Class Zero as a team. After a month, we'll decide whether you stay."
"Yes," Xu Xiaoyan answered obediently.
Then Wu Zhangkong turned to the others. "After a month's break, we need to re-check your physical condition—and your combat abilities. You have half an hour for meditation to get into your best state. That goes for you, too." The last part was directed at Xu Xiaoyan.
For him, having accurate data was the key to tailoring their training.
The series of tests that followed even made Wu Zhangkong raise an eyebrow.
Xie Xie and Gu Yue's physical strength hadn't changed much.
But Nan Fusheng's strength… had jumped to nearly three thousand jin in a single punch.
What on earth was going on with this kid? Could it be that, like Tang Wulin, he also had a mutated bloodline? Wu Zhangkong's worldview was starting to feel shaky. Was extraordinary strength some sort of characteristic of children from Ao Lai City?
Tang Wulin's numbers had also improved, but not nearly as dramatically—certainly nothing like Nan Fusheng's surge. Even so, the figures for both boys left Xu Xiaoyan staring in disbelief.
She even whispered to Xie Xie, asking if they were human—and not spirit beasts in disguise.
By comparison, Xu Xiaoyan's physical strength was pitifully low, practically indistinguishable from an ordinary person's.
What shocked Wu Zhangkong, however, was the mental power tests.
First up was Xie Xie, whose mental power had broken past sixty, reaching sixty-nine points, placing him in the high Lingyuan Realm.
Next was Xu Xiaoyan. Wu Zhangkong had deliberately arranged her second, assuming that since the academy had admitted her into Class Zero, she must have some specialty—especially with such a weak body, perhaps her mental power was exceptional.
Her result was eighty-one points, also in the high Lingyuan Realm. Not exactly a prodigy—just twelve points above Xie Xie—but leaning toward mental and elemental control in her cultivation.