Chapter 213: The Academy

Tiancheng Guang was rubbing his deck in the waiting room.

His current deck had been "updated" many times; though it still lacked a coherent "axis," he felt that, at the very least, someone unfamiliar with this deck could now use it properly.

Whether or not he could keep winning didn't matter—what mattered was that it was usable.

Elevating the academy's rank…

From "Lower" academy to "Upper" academy—such as Red advancing to Yellow, Yellow to Blue—this was explicitly documented in the original story.

In fact, under normal circumstances, students of the "Obelisk Blue" academy in Duel Academy were promoted directly from the junior division; only then could they become "Blue." In the original story, Wan Wan Zhangmu was exactly such a case.

Outside of this, even someone like Sanze Sanze Dadi, who ranked first in the entrance exam and excelled in practical combat, could at most enter Duel Academy as "Sun God Yellow."

In the original story, Marufuji Ryo was also clearly shown progressing from Red to Yellow, then to Blue.

Though… Tiancheng Guang didn't understand how he managed to advance from Red to Yellow while sleeping through class with Judai.

Of course, it's also possible Judai genuinely didn't want to attend class and just slept, while Ryo pretended to sleep in class but secretly worked hard to astonish everyone.

In any case, promotion wasn't particularly remarkable—it wasn't rare in the original story.

So…

Tiancheng Guang picked up his deck, sat on the chair, tilted his head, and gazed half-upward.

"So why are there so many humans outside?" Ye La floated in midair, glanced around outside, then turned back to Tiancheng Guang. "Isn't this nothing special?"

Yes.

It wasn't anything special.

Honestly, thanks to Fengguang Company's investment, Tiancheng Guang had no financial worries at all in the short term—he no longer ate bread, scavenged cafeteria meals, and studied while starving like he had when he first enrolled.

Moreover, his actual base and residence wasn't the dormitory—it was the "Great Cosmos Workshop." Thus, even if he advanced from Yellow to Blue, the greatest convenience and advantage—a more luxurious, larger dorm—was completely useless to him.

If that's the case, whether or not he advanced didn't matter at all; even without promotion, his current standing in the academy meant no Blue academy student would dare give him orders.

While Tiancheng Guang was lost in thought, in the principal's office, two people were arguing fiercely.

One was Professor Kuronos, the Professor of Greedy Pot, whom Tiancheng Guang knew very well; the other was a middle-aged man with a slightly balding head, short and stocky build, fat face, dressed in a formal suit, and a mustache shaped like the character " Ba "—Professor Napoleon.

"Professor" was a position in Duel Academy, roughly equivalent to vice-principal. When Principal Jiao Dao was away on official business, he temporarily entrusted the principal's duties to Professor Kuronos, with Professor Napoleon as his assistant.

Now, the two were arguing.

"Marufuji Ryo lost a crucial duel. We must make new changes," Professor Napoleon said. "I think the Red academy is pointless—just eliminate it outright!"

"Oh my goodness—how can you do that? Even the worst students deserve a place to survive! Are you going to make them camp in the wild?!"

"Then fire them. Duel Academy doesn't need such failures," Professor Napoleon said. "We've worked so hard to establish ties with so many companies and conglomerates—we need to show them our academy's achievements. Red is just a stain!"

"Oh my goodness—no no no no—no no no no—" Professor Kuronos shook his head like a spinning wheel. "The academy's highest principle is always teaching and nurturing. If we can't even teach students how to be human, and only treat them as commodities or profit links, how can we run a proper academy!"

He fiercely rebutted.

Regardless.

In his eyes, Professor Napoleon's actions were far too extreme.

Though Professor Kuronos disliked some Red academy students, he never went this far.

While the two continued bickering, they heard the students' cheers and enthusiastic voices. Professor Napoleon paused his argument and turned toward the outside.

"Is this the student you've been praising?"

"Yes. Student Tiancheng Guang—the strongest, most ultimate Fusionist in Duel Academy, and the one I believe… is our school's new pinnacle!" Professor Kuronos held Tiancheng Guang in extremely high regard.

Upon finishing, Professor Kuronos immediately stood up and walked out. Professor Napoleon hurried to follow.

Professor Kuronos blocked Tiancheng Guang in front of the stage. Tiancheng Guang bowed to the professor and asked what he wanted.

Professor Kuronos opened his mouth, hesitated, then merely smiled and said: "Student Tiancheng, don't feel any pressure. Just duel normally."

"Uh, okay, thank you for your concern, Professor. I will." Tiancheng Guang didn't press further.

Though he sensed Professor Kuronos had something on his mind, he wouldn't ask now—after all, Professor Napoleon was standing just behind him.

He nodded to Professor Napoleon, then turned and walked toward the dueling arena.

Professor Napoleon had spent the entire past year on field duty, so he'd never seen Tiancheng Guang in person. Now that he had, his first impression was at least favorable.

"If he loses to Professor Rex, then according to our agreement, you must adopt my policy."

Professor Kuronos remained silent, refusing to answer on this point.

Professor Rex belonged to the faction under Ma Professor Chi Ma Ling Wang and taught second-year Dimensional Studies. He possessed formidable dueling skills and had once shone brightly on the competitive stage.

As an opponent for an "upgrade" duel… this opponent was far too strong!

Regardless of whether Tiancheng Guang was stronger or not, according to school rules, a teacher should never be an opponent! Theoretically, Tiancheng Guang's opponent should be a third-year Blue academy senior.

Of course, he had also made a prior agreement with Professor Napoleon: no matter the duel's outcome, Tiancheng Guang would definitely become "Blue."

The agreement was this—earlier, during their argument, Professor Napoleon insisted the school must change its operations and strategy, abandon the failures, and recruit anew.

After Marufuji Ryo's defeat, the students had lost all motivation, completely neglecting their studies, often distracted and absent-minded.

Moreover, some previously cooperating conglomerates and financial groups had begun to show signs of doubt.

If so, they must see a clear change from Duel Academy!

To prevent those students from losing their place of learning, Professor Kuronos proposed continuing the school's existing strategy and selecting "Tiancheng Guang" as the new academy "pinnacle."

Over the past year, Tiancheng Guang and his friends had taught him many lessons, especially awakening him to realize that educating students shouldn't be limited to daily academics, but must encompass life and future. Even Red academy students had their own brilliance; expelling them arbitrarily was abandoning the root for the branch.

A temporary defeat meant nothing. He believed his most trusted student, Marufuji Ryo, would return stronger and deliver astonishing performances on the professional stage again.

But he didn't want Tiancheng Guang to bear excessive pressure, didn't want him to shoulder this responsibility.

If responsibility had to be borne, let him bear it alone—so he never revealed the truth to Tiancheng Guang.

Yet—

His consideration was clearly in vain.

Because, as Tiancheng Guang stepped onto the dueling stage, countless students sat down eagerly awaiting this new duel after Marufuji Ryo's defeat, cheering and encouraging Tiancheng Guang, calling his name loudly—completely dispelling the previous atmosphere of burdened worry.

After all, Tiancheng Guang's duels were always strange, bizarre, and entertaining—precisely the kind that stirred people's interest most easily. This was also one reason Professor Kuronos scheduled the duel for the moment when the American branch students arrived—after all, one couldn't show favoritism.

But Professor Kuronos hadn't expected that, while he prepared backstage to watch the duel, the school's public address system suddenly blared Professor Napoleon's voice. He froze, stood up, and was about to call and stop Napoleon's action—when Napoleon, on the other end, had already used brief keywords to reveal his earlier "wager" with Professor Kuronos.

Thus, all the students knew—

This duel wasn't merely Tiancheng Guang's upgrade exam.

It was also a crucial duel determining Duel Academy's future direction!

Debates, arguments, cheers, celebrations, curses, pleas—all kinds of voices reached Tiancheng Guang's ears. He saw a teacher in purple uniform slowly ascending the dueling stage.

"How could this be? Why make A-Guang bear such a heavy responsibility!" Sanze Sanze Dadi leapt to his feet. "I'm going to find Professor Napoleon!"

Wan Wan Zhangmu also slammed his fist on the table: "What does this have to do with Tiancheng? Why burden him with this responsibility?!"

The Taylor sisters exchanged glances, both seeing excitement in each other's eyes. For these two sisters who chased entertainment, having such drama on their very first day at school was truly thrilling.

So that's how it was—

Turning back, Tiancheng Guang had already figured out the entire chain of events.

So that's how it was.

This had happened in the original story too—but there, Professor Napoleon directly dueled Professor Kuronos to decide the fate of the Red academy.

Realizing this, Tiancheng Guang smiled. Under the watchful eyes of those worried or confused, he shouted toward the ceiling camera:

"Don't worry, Professor!"

"No matter what kind of duel it is, I won't back down!"

"I'll give everyone my answer!"

Chapter Two: I'm promoting a friend's book. As usual, I've slightly delayed the update… Starting tomorrow, I'll work hard to increase updates!

《Don't Force Me to Cast the Divination》

Synopsis: Chen Chen Huan suddenly transmigrated into the small role of a Zhenzi in the Great Zhou Dynasty.

In an age of chaos where divine scholars and monstrous powers shake the land, he starts by offending powerful clans and faces imminent death.

Fortunately, by accumulating karmic ties, he can record the destinies of all beings and absorb them as his own.

Record the "Fortunate Wealth Destiny," and obtain Qingchu coins!

Record the "Lone Star of Misfortune Destiny," and obtain the Seven Kill Sword!

Record the "Sovereign of All Under Heaven Destiny," and obtain the Map of Mountains and Rivers!

Chen Chen Huan: "I warn you—don't force me to cast the divination…"

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(End of Chapter)