The next day, class one of the first-year students had already been properly assigned. Among the freshmen, all Assault System and Control System students were placed into Class One.
The homeroom teachers of Class One were Zhou Yi and Wang Yan—one a Soul Emperor and the other a Soul King. Both of them had connections as well. Zhou Yi's husband was Fan Yu of the Soul Engineer Department, an eight-ringed Soul Douluo-level powerhouse. Wang Yan, on the other hand, was practically a "connections among connections" type of figure.
Early in the morning, Su Yunlin was taken away by Zhou the old lady, and Wang Dong naturally followed along. Huo Yuhao also went with them.
Soul Engineer Department.
Qian Duoduo and Fan Yu were already waiting. The moment they saw Su Yunlin arrive, Qian Duoduo immediately stepped forward.
"Classmate Su Yunlin, I'm Qian Duoduo, Vice Dean of the Soul Engineer Department. You can just call me Dean Qian. I heard from Zhou Yi that you're a Soul Engineer? What level are you now?"
Su Yunlin looked confused. Why was this old Qian so enthusiastic?
"Level four. I should be close to level five now."
Upon hearing this, Qian Duoduo's eyes lit up immediately. But then he remembered Su Yunlin was a core disciple of the Martial Soul Department. If they tried to poach him, Yan Shaozhe would definitely blow up.
More importantly, Su Yunlin's cultivation level was already very high. Even Qian Duoduo felt that if Su Yunlin hadn't focused on Soul Engineering, he'd probably already be a Soul Ancestor by now.
Qian Duoduo coughed lightly. "Ahem… Su Yunlin student, are you interested in coming to the Soul Engineer Department to cultivate Soul Engineering?"
Only then did Su Yunlin understand. So he was here to poach him.
"Dean Qian, does our academy have any ninth-level Soul Engineers?"
Qian Duoduo shook his head. "No. I'm an eighth-level Soul Engineer, and my wife—the dean of the Soul Engineer Department—is an eighth-and-a-half-level Soul Engineer."
Su Yunlin shook his head. "Then forget it. I won't learn much here."
Qian Duoduo's mouth twitched. That rejection was way too fast. But thinking about it, it made sense. At Su Yunlin's age and level of Soul Engineer proficiency—already at level four, possibly five—he must have a master guiding him. That master was most likely also an eighth-level Soul Engineer. They really had no advantage.
"Fine then. Just come to the Soul Engineer Department more often for exchanges. You do cultivate Soul Engineering after all—share ideas and experiences."
Su Yunlin nodded. "Alright."
After that, it was Huo Yuhao formally becoming Fan Yu's disciple. Su Yunlin and Wang Dong stood to the side watching, even catching a glimpse of Zhou Yi's true appearance.
Wang Dong couldn't help but exclaim, "Wow, Teacher Zhou is actually a beauty. Why does she disguise herself as an old lady?"
Zhou Yi glanced at him with her beautiful eyes. "Do you think I'd still have any authority if I looked like this? I have my own teaching philosophy. Alright, you should all go to class. Don't be late for Teacher Wang's lesson."
Su Yunlin then left the Soul Engineer Department with Wang Dong and returned to Class One. Huo Yuhao followed behind them.
In the classroom, Wang Yan had just begun the lesson. At this moment, he was preparing to elect the class monitor.
Class One consisted of Assault System and Control System students. One monitor would come from Assault System, and a deputy monitor from Control System.
Wang Yan preferred gentle teaching methods, so he selected several outstanding students and let the class vote.
For the Assault System, there was no suspense—Su Yunlin's votes far exceeded everyone else.
But for the Control System side, things were different. Huo Yuhao's name had been written on the list by Wang Yan, which immediately caused dissatisfaction among the class.
The first to stand up was Wu Feng, who believed Huo Yuhao was unqualified to compete for the position.
Su Yunlin rested his chin on his hand and watched the show.
Help Huo Yuhao? Why would he?
Does Huo Yuhao—the "Huo Guai" protagonist—need his help?
That was Su Yunlin's thought. As for Wang Dong beside him, he originally wanted to step in, but seeing that Su Yunlin didn't move, he also held back.
Huo Yuhao took a deep breath and stood up. "Teacher Wang, I accept Wu Feng's challenge!"
Wang Yan sighed. "Alright then. I'll take you to the Combat Arena."
Wang Dong leaned toward Su Yunlin and whispered, "Yunlin, did Huo Yuhao's brain short-circuit? He's a one-ring Spirit Master, and his first Spirit Ring is only ten years old. He's going to fight Wu Feng, a two-ring Spirit Grand Master?"
"Wu Feng isn't weak. Even I would have to put in effort to beat her."
Su Yunlin shrugged. "What does it have to do with us? He has his own ideas. What, you want to help?"
Wang Dong spread his hands. "After all, Huo Yuhao is from the Tang Sect. I just joined too. If a fellow disciple is bullied and I don't do anything, it feels a bit wrong. What if something happens to him—how am I supposed to explain it to Sect Master Xiao Ya?"
Su Yunlin's mouth twitched.
The daughter of the founder sure thinks a lot about social obligations.
Wang Dong suddenly changed tone. "Yunlin, you should join the Tang Sect too. Please? The Tang Sect just happens to be missing a talented Soul Engineer like you."
"No."
Wang Dong pouted, then gathered his courage and lowered his voice. "If you join the Tang Sect… I—I'll kiss you once."
Su Yunlin's whole body jolted. He looked at Wang Dong in disbelief. "What kind of outrageous nonsense are you saying?"
Wang Dong's face turned bright red. "Y-you already knew, didn't you?"
Su Yunlin continued pretending not to understand. "Knew what?"
Wang Dong became furious. "You bastard!"
Behind them, Xiao Xiao looked at the two handsome boys in confusion.
They were originally in the same class, and she sat right in front of Su Yunlin, so they were somewhat familiar (as in, Su Yunlin would occasionally say a few more words to her).
In the eyes of the other girls in Class One, Su Yunlin and Wang Dong were both extremely aloof and rarely spoke to girls, spending all their free time cultivating.
Everyone generally thought they just loved cultivation.
But Xiao Xiao felt like she had discovered something groundbreaking.
She widened her eyes. "They wouldn't be… ahhh! What a waste of handsome guys!"
Combat Arena.
Wang Yan brought Huo Yuhao and Wu Feng to the dueling stage. Only Class One students were present in the viewing area.
"Betting time! Betting time! I'm the banker—anyone want to place bets? Huo Yuhao ten-to-one, Wu Feng one-to-ten!" Zhou Sichen shouted.
Dai Huabin walked over. "I bet one hundred gold soul coins on Wu Feng."
Su Yunlin arrived shortly after. "Five hundred gold soul coins on Huo Yuhao."
Zhou Sichen had just been about to complain about Dai Huabin when Su Yunlin placed his bet.
Dai Huabin looked at Su Yunlin disdainfully. "Didn't expect Class Monitor Su to have decent strength, but terrible judgment. I'll add another five hundred on Wu Feng."
Su Yunlin didn't even look at him and turned to leave.
That action instantly made Dai Huabin furious.
"Su Yunlin! I'm talking to you! Don't think I'm afraid of you just because your soul power is higher!"
Su Yunlin slightly turned his head, his gaze sweeping over Dai Huabin from the corner of his eye.
Then he calmly spat out two words:
"Monkey."
"You—!"
Dai Huabin's veins bulged as he nearly rushed forward.
"Calm down, Huabin." Zhu Lu grabbed him, pulling him back down.
Zhu Lu was an Agility Attack System Soul Master, but because she and Dai Huabin had a Martial Soul Fusion Skill, she was specially admitted into Class One.
Wang Dong watched Su Yunlin return and recalled what just happened. He leaned over and whispered, "Yunlin, why did you bet on Huo Yuhao? It's obvious he can't win."
"Just messing around. I'm not short on money."
Wang Dong nodded. They really weren't short on money.
"By the way, why do you keep calling him a monkey? Monkeys are supposed to be smart. My second uncle… ah no! Anyway, monkeys are smart."
Su Yunlin stroked his chin. "Maybe it just slips out. It feels more insulting. Calling him sick cat or paper tiger doesn't hit hard enough. But 'monkey'—he instantly loses it."
Wang Dong nodded thoughtfully. "So using your words, this is 'getting ridiculous,' right? What does that even mean? It feels like whenever you say it, it's really mocking."
"It means someone is acting all loud and impressive but has no real ability. Stop barking."
Wang Dong suddenly lit up. "Then in the future, if someone is being noisy, I just say 'barking' and they'll get mad, right?"
Su Yunlin was slightly surprised, then gave him a thumbs up. "Didn't expect you to have talent in insulting people."
"Hehe, Yunlin, what does 'insulting people' mean? Like spraying water at them?"
Su Yunlin: "...."