Chapter 76

"For twenty thousand years, Shi Shi Laike Academy has always remained neutral, supporting no faction and contributing its strength solely to the peaceful development of Douluo. It is hailed as the messenger of justice on the continent..."

In the Grade One, Class One classroom, Wu Changkong stood at the center of the podium, stating the twenty-thousand-year achievements of Shi Shi Laike Academy, while the soul guidance screen played a slideshow in sync, with image after image leaping onto it.

Today was the traditional Ideological and Moral Education class. Although Shi Shi Laike only holds classes five days a week, with each session lasting an entire morning, the Academy still insists on dedicating one precious morning every week to the ideological education of Outer Court students to enhance overall recognition and cohesion.

However, this class was destined to disappoint Shi Shi Laike Academy. During normal lessons, many young students would be willing to listen to the ten-thousand-year glory, but at this moment, the challenge from the third years was imminent, and the minds of the first years had already flown to that great battle, letting Wu Changkong's teachings go in one ear and out the other.

After a simple and brutal selection tournament, three winners were freshly minted. The first was the Netherworld Youming Wu Siduo, with twin martial souls + Soul Sect cultivation + the self-body martial soul fusion skill Netherworld White Tiger. She represented the first years in battle, and everyone was convinced.

The second was the Dark Bear Yang Nianxia, and this one was truly somewhat unexpected.

The number one combatant beneath the Five Great Heavenly Kings appeared on the surface to be the Undying Xu Yucheng, the only remaining four-ring Soul Sect.

But the Dark Demon Scythe soul master had a frail body, which caused Xu Yucheng to naturally possess a fatal weakness. Don't let Yang Nianxia's honest, bear-like appearance fool you; in reality, he is incredibly devious when it comes to fighting.

Relying on the thick skin and sturdy flesh of the Dark Gold Bear, Yang Nianxia withstood the attacks of the Dark Demon Scythe to engage in close-quarters combat with Xu Yucheng, ultimately ending the match with a single Terror Demon Dark Gold Fist.

The final auxiliary soul master was Xu Xu Li Zhi. Having become a designated disciple of the Shi Shi Laike Inner Court at the age of ten, the little fatty definitely had his tricks; no one among the first-year auxiliary soul masters could surpass him.

Zhao Xuanzhen, Gu Yue, Ye Xinglan, Tang Wulin, Youming Wu Siduo, Yang Nianxia, and Xu Xu Li Zhi—the seven-person team for the first years to face the third years was thus determined.

This was a team with very comprehensive capabilities, possessing everything from strong control and agility to defense and support. The first-year students looked forward to their intense battle with the third years.

"Ding-a-ling—"

The moment the bell for the end of class rang, Wu Changkong, upholding his teaching style of never dragging out a class, turned off the soul guidance screen in one second, then cast his gaze toward the four class committee members and said indifferently:

"Class dismissed. Zhao Xuanzhen, come with me to the office to get the materials. Gu Yue and Ye Xinglan, go to the third-floor information classroom to find Instructor Shen Yi. Tang Wulin, go to the Academy's Blacksmith Association; the Blazing Dragon Douluo, Master Luo Feng, has something for you."

The four of them split into three groups and departed. A look of disappointment flashed in the eyes of Youming Wu Siduo and the other two.

The third year was the strongest in terms of overall strength in the Outer Court. Youming Wu Siduo and Yang Nianxia had originally planned to find the four committee members in the afternoon to discuss tactics and conduct a practical drill.

Xu Xu Li Zhi, relatively speaking, had more thoughts; if everyone discussed tactics together, he could chat a few words with Ye Xinglan...

"What do we do, Sister Duo? I heard the third years are hiding a One-Word Character Doukai master, and not just one," Yang Nianxia said heavily. "A One-Word Character Doukai master who is a Soul King—if the Character Doukai fusion degree is high enough, their combat power is comparable to a seven-ring Soul Saint, not to mention that others also have multiple pieces of One-Word Character Doukai.

Looking at us seven, the class monitor has fused one piece of Two-Word Character Doukai, and I don't know how many pieces of One-Word Character Doukai Gu Yue and Ye Xinglan have, but no matter how we calculate it, we don't seem to be the third years' opponents..."

"Are you afraid?" Youming Wu Siduo said coldly.

"Afraid of what? At worst, we'll just get a beating."

Yang Nianxia shrugged: "It's not that, I'm just thinking about winning in my heart.

For me, even if I'm just a sidekick beside the class monitor, if we win against the third years, there's still a high probability of making the Youth Genius List, and at the same time, it will attract the attention of Shi Shi Laike Academy, gaining contribution point rewards and a tilt in cultivation resources."

"Sidekick?"

Xu Xiaoyan, who was passing by, caught the keyword and felt she had been mocked; her little mouth immediately pouted high.

"No need to waste brainpower thinking too much," Youming Wu Siduo said crisply. "The strong possess absolute right of speech. When the time comes, listen to Zhao Xuanzhen's arrangements; whatever he says, we do without thinking."

Yang Nianxia froze for a second, seemingly not expecting Youming Wu Siduo's admiration for the strong to reach such a point. He helplessly rubbed his nose and turned to leave the classroom.

"Whoosh—"

A burst of fragrance assailed the nostrils. A girl with silver hair and silver eyes stood prettily at the entrance of the first-year classroom. Her appearance was flawless, and the sunlight could not hide that peerless glory.

The moment he saw the silver-haired girl, Yang Nianxia felt his eyeballs were dazzled. The girl was endowed with the spiritual essence of heaven and earth, like a fairy descending to the mortal world. Compared to her, everything in the world paled in comparison.

Taking three steps back, Yang Nianxia subconsciously cleared the way. The silver-haired girl walked into the first-year classroom and instantly became the focus of the entire room. Regardless of gender, pairs of eyes widened into circles.

"Wow—"

A chorus of "wows" was heard. The girl was transcendently beautiful; just standing there in a simple white dress made her seem like the center of the world.

This year's first grade was recognized as having a crowd of beauties—Ye Xinglan, Youming Wu Siduo, Xu Xiaoyan, Zheng Yiran... The women each had their own merits, but they were still a significant distance away from the silver-haired girl.

In the entire Grade One, Class One, the only one who could compete with her was Gu Yue. The two beauties, one black and one white, were evenly matched in looks, but Gu Yue's temperament was quiet and cold, and she never wanted to interact with outsiders. The silver-haired girl was of the lively and cheerful type; such a girl was undoubtedly more popular.

Yang Nianxia tried his best to regain his senses and said as softly as possible: "Hello, beautiful, I am Yang Nianxia..."

Before he could finish, Yang Nianxia's tall body was kicked to the side of the road. Xu Yucheng popped out like a ghost, secretly enjoying the revenge for yesterday's fist to the face, and then switched to a heartthrob voice:

"Beautiful Miss, my name is Xu Yucheng. Is there anything I can do for you?"

"I'm looking for Zhao Xuanzhen. Where is he?" The silver-haired girl chuckled.

"Y-you're looking for the class monitor!?" Xu Yucheng's body trembled. "The class monitor went to the office with Instructor Wu to get materials; he should be back in a while.

May I ask, are you the class monitor's younger sister?"

Xu Yucheng showed a pleading look—please, it must be a younger sister!

Zhao Xuanzhen was a typical deceiver of appearances; he looked like a nice guy, but once he made a move, he turned into a cruel executioner. As long as he frowned, the entire Grade One, Class One would be silent as cicadas in winter, obedient as newly born quails.

If the silver-haired girl were Zhao Xuanzhen's lover and some misunderstanding occurred between them, with Xu Yucheng's fragile little body, there would be no other outcome than being swallowed alive!

"Younger sister? I'm not, eh."

The silver-haired girl's smile was cunning. Xu Yucheng's heart thumped up to his throat.

"I am a child bride."

Crack!

Xu Yucheng, shattered!

"Good brother, thank you for saving my life."

Yang Nianxia patted Xu Yucheng on the shoulder. His previous amorous thoughts disappeared completely. With a formulaic smile and a safe distance, he acted like a gentleman.

On the other side, Zheng Yiran paused in her action of playing with her emerald-green nails and said indignantly: "There is still such a bad custom as a child bride nowadays?

Miss, are you here today to break off the engagement, or to demand justice in public?"

"Neither..."

Xiang Xiang Naer's eyes rolled, and a layer of mist slowly rose. She cried: "Zhao Xuanzhen promised to marry me, but he left without saying goodbye to join Shi Shi Laike Academy, leaving me alone in my hometown to herd cattle!"

"What!?"

Zheng Yiran almost broke her cherished manicure, and Yang Nianxia looked incredulous.

"Such a beautiful girl, and the class monitor actually had the heart to abandon her."

"This villain must be executed!!!"

Grade One, Class One was filled with righteous indignation, verbally condemning the tyrant Zhao Xuanzhen!

"A bunch of idiots, haven't you recognized her yet? She is the Silver Dragon Xiang Xiang Naer, second on the Youth Genius List."

Luo Guixing said suddenly.

"Silver Dragon Xiang Xiang Naer, the class monitor's teammate from the Tianhai Alliance competition back then?"

Under Luo Guixing's prompt, the crowd was in an uproar. The development speed of soul masters far exceeded that of ordinary people. Three years later, Xiang Xiang Naer had grown from the green little girl in the recording into a graceful young lady.

"Twenty-second on the Youth Genius List, Confinement Luo Guixing." Luo Guixing stood up to introduce himself.

Xiang Xiang Naer said "oh," clearly having no impression of Luo Guixing. She usually only looked at whether she and Zhao Xuanzhen were in the top two, at most seeing Gu Yue, and didn't care about the remaining amoebas at all.

"I remember after that battle ended, Shi Shi Laike Academy invited you to be exchange students. Why didn't you come to the first grade with the class monitor?" Luo Guixing probed.

"Because those old antiques in the Sea God Pavilion opposed us having a romantic relationship."

Luo Guixing, Yang Nianxia, Xu Yucheng... were all dumbfounded in unison. The dignified Sea God Pavilion elders were called old antiques by Xiang Xiang Naer, and a romantic relationship—was it the one they understood...

Grade One, Class One was sweating, feeling they were going to be silenced by Zhao Xuanzhen when he returned. Only Xu Xiaoyan and Xie Xie snickered, guessing that Xiang Xiang Naer found the process of waiting for Zhao Xuanzhen boring and was joking to tease them.

Xiang Xiang Naer saw the dumbfounded first-year students and smiled: "Zhao Xuanzhen hasn't liked talking much since he went home recently; maybe he's been dating behind my back, so I've come for a surprise inspection."

"I was wondering why you couldn't stand up straight at such a young age; so you've been carrying a pot on your back every day."

A clear voice full of smiles came over. Xiang Xiang Naer turned her head suddenly, and a figure was standing at the door, tilting his head to watch her.

The sunlight shone from behind him. His features were handsome and outstanding, his posture tall and straight. Under the radiance, he looked like a moving painting. His eyes were as black as cold pools, and his lips were full of smiles.

Caught slandering by the person involved, Xiang Xiang Naer had no sense of embarrassment. Shi Laike a little white rabbit, she hopped over to Zhao Xuanzhen and asked: "Is it just you? Where did Gu Yue and Xinglan go?"

"They are helping Instructor Shen Yi compile data; they'll probably be busy until dinner time."

"Yay! (σ≧≦)σ"

Xiang Xiang Naer cheered, grabbed Zhao Xuanzhen, and rushed out the door, shouting: "Quick, quick, quick, let's go out and play for the afternoon, just the two of us!"

"Don't rush, wait a moment."

Zhao Xuanzhen patted Xiang Xiang Naer's little hand, took a stack of materials from his storage soul guidance device, stuffed them into the arms of the guilty Xu Yucheng, and said kindly: "Classmate Xu Yucheng, help me distribute the theory class materials, one for each person."

"Yes, class monitor..."

Xu Yucheng's legs were trembling, his expression extremely sad, fearing this was the final meal before execution.

"Let's go, let's go play."

"Hehe!"

Under the envious gazes of Grade One, Class One, Xiang Xiang Naer took Zhao Xuanzhen's arm, and the two left Shi Shi Laike Academy together.

The whole city was shining, the skyline was hidden in the clouds, the high-rise buildings looked like cages woven together from afar, and the traffic flowed into a long dragon.

Xiang Xiang Naer leaned half her body against Zhao Xuanzhen, skillfully jumping over a manhole cover under her feet like a nimble kangaroo, fully enjoying the wind, the sky, and the different scents of this city as spring turned to autumn.

Since they started school separately, they hadn't gone out to play alone for a long time. Now, reliving the old dream, the arc of Xiang Xiang Naer's red lips was beautiful, and this time it was finally her turn to sneak out!

Zhao Xuanzhen was also in a happy mood. Cultivation requires a balance of work and rest; this afternoon belonged to Xiang Xiang Naer, so he asked casually:

"Do the Limit Douluo and the Holy Spirit Douluo still hope you join Shi Shi Laike?"

Xiang Xiang Naer sighed: "Of course. Our initial exchange plan was set for a five-year term. Once the time is up, we can withdraw from Shi Shi Laike Academy at any time. Seeing that more than three years have passed, they are naturally more urgent.

Sigh, without paying attention, I've become so excellent that the Limit Douluo is chasing me to take me as a disciple. As long as I nod and apprentice, I can pick any 100,000-year soul bone in Shi Shi Laike.

But...

A loyal subject does not serve two masters. Once in the Spirit Pagoda, always in the Spirit Pagoda!"

Xiang Xiang Naer's extremely high sect awareness made Zhao Xuanzhen look up to her; there was no need to doubt the loyalty of the silver-haired girl!

"By the way, did Gu Yue take advantage of you? Did she use any underhanded tricks!" Xiang Xiang Naer held Zhao Xuanzhen's arm tightly in her arms, staring intensely as she interrogated him.

"Not really... she's a decent girl." Zhao Xuanzhen said helplessly.

"Don't be fooled by Gu Yue's surface work; that guy eats ice cream and spicy strips in private!" Xiang Xiang Naer said indignantly.

Hearing this, Zhao Xuanzhen squinted at Xiang Xiang Naer—did you eat any less!?

The two had known each other for more than seven years and were very familiar with each other. Xiang Xiang Naer looked proud, refuting Zhao Xuanzhen with her eyes!

Can I be the same as her!

The two talked and laughed all the way, not choosing the Xuanlong Street that carried both their names and martial souls, but heading to Phoenix Street in the Outer City.

At the familiar chicken cartilage shop, the owner was a middle-aged uncle, nearly fifty years old, chubby, with a white apron stained with some oil.

"Boss, we're back!"

The crisp voice like pearls rang out. The boss looked in the direction of the sound and couldn't help but pull a smile, seeing Xiang Xiang Naer holding Zhao Xuanzhen with one hand and waving at him with the other.

The two were connected by chicken cartilage, and they often came to take care of the business on weekdays. The boss almost watched them grow up.

Although Xiang Xiang Naer asked to fry two million catties of chicken cartilage with 20 million federal coins when she was seven, the boss almost thought he had offended the little girl, who actually planned to exhaust herself in such a cruel way.

Later, the boss discovered that Xiang Xiang Naer had no concept of money and physical strength at that time, and was simply a super foodie!

Over the years, Xuan and Na established a deep bond with the chicken cartilage boss, so the boss rented a larger shop, selling not only chicken cartilage but also various fried skewers.

The two sat at the VIP super round table reserved by the boss. Xiang Xiang Naer said heroically: "Boss, first bring 50 catties of chicken cartilage, and bring whatever else looks good. I have a good appetite today, I won't refuse anything!"

(End of chapter)