Chapter 6: The Academy Tournament and the Jealous Seniors
Nuoding Academy was usually a place of quiet study, but once a year, the "New Student Rankings" turned the campus into a mosh pit of ego and spirit rings.
"I'm just saying, San, the logistics of this tournament are flawed," Ye Chen said, leaning against a stone pillar while adjusting his new school uniform. "They want us to fight for 'honor'? Honor doesn't pay for the extra chicken legs I've been ordering. I want a trophy I can at least use as a bowl."
Tang San, sitting cross-legged nearby, opened one eye. "The winner gets a stipend and access to the Spirit Library's restricted section. That's more valuable than chicken, Ye Chen."
"To you! To me, it's just more reading. My brain is already full of 'Don't Punch the Teachers' and 'Carrots are Friends.' I don't have room for ancient history."
Xiao Ling walked up, her violet ponytail swaying. She looked at Ye Chen with a smirk. "Are you nervous? I heard the third-year seniors are planning to 'teach the work-study kids a lesson' because we've been getting too much attention."
Ye Chen straightened his collar, his 40% Kevin Hart energy flaring up. "Nervous? Ling-Ling, please. I'm the 'Lesson.' I'm the Syllabus. Those seniors are about to find out that seniority doesn't mean anything when you're fighting a guy who eats sunlight for breakfast. If they want a piece of me, I hope they brought a receipt, 'cause I'm not giving refunds."
The Arena
The school arena was packed. In the center stood Xiao Chen-yu, the son of the city lord and the "Big Shot" of the senior class. He was Level 13, possessed a Wolf soul similar to Su Yuntao's, and had a look on his face that suggested he'd never been told 'no' in his life.
"Which one of you is the one who broke the testing crystal?" Xiao Chen-yu shouted, his eyes landing on Ye Chen. "Step up. I want to see if a commoner's 'Superman' can stand against a noble's wolf."
The crowd went silent. Ye Chen hopped over the railing, landing with a heavy thud that cracked a floor tile.
"First of all, it's not just a wolf, it's a puppy," Ye Chen said, pointing at the faint gray aura around the senior. "Second, 'Commoner'? Man, I'm the King of the Sun. I'm the Emperor of Energy. You're just a guy with a bad haircut and a complex. Let's skip the monologue and get to the part where you fly into that wall."
"Arrogant!" Xiao Chen-yu roared. "First Spirit Skill: Wolf Claw!"
He lunged, his hand transforming into a jagged claw. He was fast for a student, but to Ye Chen—now bolstered by his Level 10 Super Strength—the boy looked like he was moving underwater.
Ye Chen didn't move. He didn't even raise his hands.
CLANG.
The wolf claw hit Ye Chen's chest and made the sound of a fork hitting a cast-iron skillet.
Ye Chen looked down at his shirt. "Oh, you did not. This was fresh from the laundry, Wolfy! You just put a snag in the fabric! Do you know how hard it is to get blood and grass out of white cotton?"
Xiao Chen-yu froze, his fingers throbbing from the impact. "How... how are you so hard? Did you use a defensive skill?"
"I am the defensive skill," Ye Chen said. He reached out—not a punch, just a firm flick of his middle finger against the senior's forehead.
BOOM.
Xiao Chen-yu didn't just fall; he went airborne. He flipped twice in the air and landed in a heap ten feet away, his wolf transformation flickering out instantly.
Ye Chen turned to the stunned audience. "Is that it? Is that the 'Elite' experience? Because I've had tougher fights with a stubborn jar of pickles. If any other seniors want to 'educate' me, please form a single-file line. I'd like to finish this before the cafeteria runs out of the good rice."
Xiao Ling leaned over the railing, whispering to Tang San, "He's getting cocky."
"He's been cocky since he was three," Tang San replied, though he couldn't hide his own smile. "But at least he's consistent."
The Aftermath
As Ye Chen walked off the stage, he caught a glimpse of the Grandmaster in the shadows. Yu Xiaogang looked concerned. He knew that a power like Ye Chen's wouldn't stay a secret for long.
Ye Chen, however, didn't care about the Spirit Hall or the politics of the continent yet. He walked straight up to Xiao Ling and held out a hand. "So, Ling-Ling. Since I just defended the honor of Room 7, you think I can get a bite of that high-grade carrot you've been hiding?"
Xiao Ling laughed, a sound like silver bells. "In your dreams, Superman. But I might let you carry my books."
"Carry your books? I'm a Title Douluo in training! I'm—" Ye Chen paused, then shrugged. "Fine. But only because the sun is out and I'm feeling generous."
Behind them, Tang San watched his friend, realizing that while he was focused on revenge and the Tang Sect, Ye Chen was busy turning the entire world into his own personal comedy show. But deep down, San knew—if anyone ever truly threatened them, the funny guy with the blue soul would be the most terrifying thing on the planet.