Shen Yuyan couldn't help but glance toward the back of the classroom again.
Li Fengyuan was still sitting there lazily.
His head tilted slightly as he leaned against his desk, looking as if he might fall asleep at any moment.
The image didn't match the rumors at all.
The person people were describing yesterday sounded calm, composed, and skilled.
But the person sitting there now looked like the same careless young master who spent most of his time idling around the academy.
Shen Yuyan frowned slightly.
The two images simply refused to overlap in her mind.
She didn't think that even she could fight against someone like Wie Tianhao.
Not to mention when he uses Qi but even without using Qi, he could beat her 9 out of 10 times.
(Is it really the difference in background?)
After all, Li Fengyuan came from the Li Family, one of the Twelve Noble Lineages.
Even if she had talent, her resources were nothing compared to the Li Clan.
She also works hard every day to improve compared to Li Fengyuan who spent most of the day idling around.
So, the only thing Li Fengyuan had better compared to her was resources.
Perhaps he had used some powerful technique.
That explanation sounded far more reasonable to her.
And she wasn't the only one thinking this.
Around the classroom, many other students had similar assumptions.
Whispers continued to circulate quietly.
Some sounded impressed.
Others sounded skeptical.
But no matter what they believed, one thing was certain—
Li Fengyuan had become the center of attention again.
Just as the whispers began growing louder again—
The classroom door opened once more.
A middle-aged instructor walked in, wearing the dark robes of the academy.
Immediately, the entire classroom fell silent.
Elder Meng has arrived.
Everyone hurried back to their seats.
Elder Meng swept his gaze across the room before nodding slightly.
"Class will begin!"
Just like that, the noise faded away.
The lesson passed more quickly than most had expected.
Elder Meng spoke steadily from the front of the room, his voice neither loud nor soft, yet every word carried clearly to the back.
He explained foundational principles of cultivation theory—Qi circulation, meridian stability, and combat awareness—topics that most students were already familiar with.
Still, none dared to slack off.
Li Fengyuan, however, was bored with being taught what he already knows and more.
It was like teaching numbers to someone who can solve trigonometry.
From time to time, Shen Yuyan's gaze drifted back again.
"Class dismissed!"
Elder Meng's voice cut cleanly through the room.
The students let out quiet breaths of relief, some stretching, others beginning to whisper again.
But before anyone could stand—
"However," Elder Meng continued, his tone shifting slightly, "I hope everyone remembers that today you have additional class on Array!"
That single sentence immediately drew everyone's attention back.
Indeed, there was a special class today though if not for Elder Meng's reminder, none would have remembered.
Just as the reminder settled in, the classroom door opened once more.
A figure stepped in.
He was dressed in deeper, more intricate robes than the standard instructors, faint patterns woven along the sleeves that seemed to subtly guide the flow of Qi around him.
Elder Meng turned immediately.
A polite smile appeared on his face as he cupped his fists.
"Elder Wei!"
At those words, several students straightened instinctively.
So this was the Array instructor?
Elder Meng stepped aside without hesitation.
"I'll leave the class to you," he said courteously.
Elder Wei gave a faint nod, his expression calm but distant.
Elder Meng did not linger. After a brief glance across the room, he exited, leaving the classroom entirely in Elder Wei's control.
Elder Wei walked to the front slowly.
His gaze swept across the students as if evaluating each of them in a single glance.
Then—
"Without further waste of time," he said flatly, "let's begin!"
No introduction.
No pleasantries.
Straight to the point.
"Listen carefully," Elder Wei said, folding his hands behind his back as he began pacing slowly.
"An Array is the art of inscribing Qi patterns into the world itself."
He raised a hand, and a faint ripple of energy spread from his fingertips, forming a simple geometric pattern in the air.
"It uses formations, symbols, and materials to guide and amplify Qi beyond the limits of a single cultivator."
The faint pattern flickered, then expanded outward.
"In simple terms, an Array allows the weak to achieve the strong… and the strong to become terrifying."
A low murmur spread through the classroom.
Elder Wei continued without pause.
"A defensive Array can block attacks far beyond your cultivation level."
"With the right offensive Array, even a group of low-level cultivators could kill someone far stronger than them."
"And large-scale Arrays—"
The pattern shifted again, briefly forming something vast and intricate before dispersing like mist.
"—can protect entire cities… or destroy them."
Silence fell!
Even Zhao Dazhu, who usually struggled to pay attention, stared with wide eyes.
'How come I didn't know Array was so powerful?'
"However," Elder Wei said calmly, "Arrays are extremely difficult to learn."
"They require not only precise control of Qi, but also a deep understanding of structure, timing, and balance."
"A single mistake…"
He flicked his fingers lightly.
The pattern shattered instantly.
"…and the entire formation collapses."
Some students swallowed nervously.
Others looked both excited and intimidated.
"Because of this," Elder Wei said, turning back toward the class, "Array Masters are rare and highly respected."
"Even the great clans compete to recruit them."
He said proudly. Likely because he was Array Master himself, and that's why he felt that being Array Master was the most difficult profession.
Li Fengyuan hadn't moved since Elder Meng's class.
Head tilted.
Eyes half-closed.
Looking as if he might fall asleep at any moment.
Elder Wei's gaze swept across the room once more.
"Now," he said, voice sharpening slightly, "let us see how much you understand."
His eyes moved from student to student.
Some avoided his gaze.
Others sat up straighter.
Then his eyes stopped at the very back, on Li Fengyuan.
Elder Wei's expression hardened.
"You!"
His voice cut through the silence.
"Li Fengyuan!"
Every head turned instantly.
Li Fengyuan slowly opened his eyes.
Elder Wei's lips curled faintly, though there was no warmth in it.
"How bold of you," he said coldly. "To sleep during my lecture."
"I—" Li Fengyuan began, straightening slightly.
But Elder Wei didn't let him finish.
"Or perhaps," he continued, voice laced with disdain, "this is only to be expected. After all, someone like you wouldn't understand something as profound as Arrays."
A ripple spread through the classroom.
That was no longer a simple reprimand but personally insulting him.
"I suppose I shouldn't expect much from a spoiled young master who relies solely on his family," Elder Wei added.
Zhao Dazhu and Jia Hao frowned.
This had gone too far.
Even Shen Yuyan and Xiao Mie's brows drew together slightly.
Li Fengyuan looked at the man in front of him.
Calm and unbothered.
Just looking at his name, one would know why he was specifically chosen.
In his previous life…
This exact scene had played out the same way.
The same targeting.
The same deliberate humiliation.
Back then, he hadn't even slept and paid attention yet he was still chosen.
While right now, Elder Wei was pretending to reprimand him because he was asleep, similar things would have happened even if he wasn't asleep.