Chapter 34: Gu Yue Enrolls

In Class 1's classroom, Ye Yingluo was teaching a lesson on the theory of martial souls.

Jing Shaoyu, seated by the window, gazed outside with a bored expression. It wasn't that Ye Yingluo's teaching was inadequate, but everything she covered was something he already knew, making the lecture rather dull for him.

Suddenly, his body tensed, and his eyes widened.

Who did he see? The girl from East Sea Park last night! So, she really was Gu Yue!

A subtle sense of helplessness washed over him, followed by a fierce wave of ambition and determination, quickly filling his heart.

With that, Jing Shaoyu's attention wandered even further from the lesson.

Meanwhile, on the training field, Xie Xie was called over by Wu Zhangkong. Confused, he became even more puzzled when he noticed the unfamiliar girl standing beside Wu Zhangkong.

"I'll give you a chance: defeat her, and you can skip running for the rest of the morning," Wu Zhangkong said dismissively.

"No problem!" Xie Xie's eyes lit up at the prospect.

"Rest for twenty minutes; then we'll start," Wu Zhangkong instructed.

"Yes, sir!" Xie Xie immediately sat down cross-legged and closed his eyes, beginning to meditate and recover.

Gu Yue glanced around the academy with curiosity, seeming to take interest in everything around her, but she didn't spare Xie Xie a single look, as if her upcoming opponent was of no concern.

Wu Zhangkong noticed her behavior and commented, "Underestimating your opponent is unwise."

Gu Yue responded calmly, "I'm not underestimating him." Despite her words, her demeanor suggested that Xie Xie wasn't even worth her notice.

Wu Zhangkong didn't push further and resumed watching the other students as they ran. Gu Yue's gaze shifted to the Class 5 students running laps, her eyes lingering momentarily on Tang Wulin at the front, a glimmer of coldness flashing in her eyes before she looked away toward the teaching building.

Tang Wulin felt an inexplicable chill but shrugged it off, his curiosity piqued about what Wu Zhangkong wanted with Xie Xie and who that aloof-looking girl was.

Class 1 was located on the first floor, close to the training field, so when Gu Yue glanced over, she immediately spotted Jing Shaoyu sitting by the window. A faint smile appeared in her eyes.

In no time, twenty minutes had passed. Xie Xie sprang to his feet, eager to start.

"Both of you, stand thirty meters apart," Wu Zhangkong ordered.

The two stepped back to put thirty meters between them. Gu Yue withdrew her gaze and turned to face Xie Xie, her expression blank. Xie Xie, on the other hand, looked excited, ready to win and show off to Tang Wulin later.

"Begin!" Wu Zhangkong's sharp command cut through the air.

Xie Xie immediately activated his martial soul, his speed bursting forth as a yellow soul ring floated behind him. Holding his Light Dragon Dagger, he dashed towards Gu Yue, moving swiftly like a predator, quickly closing the thirty-meter gap.

Gu Yue reacted calmly, lifting her hand as two yellow soul rings appeared under her feet. The sight made Xie Xie's pupils contract in shock, even as Wu Zhangkong raised an eyebrow in surprise.

Though startled by Gu Yue's strength, Xie Xie didn't falter. With a resonant hum, his Light Dragon Dagger lashed toward Gu Yue's shoulder.

Just as the dagger was about to hit, a green glow appeared around Gu Yue, and a sudden gust of wind knocked Xie Xie off course, causing his strike to veer off target.

Gu Yue's counterattack didn't stop there. Fireballs, ice spikes, and beams of light shot from her hands, a dazzling display of elemental abilities that left Xie Xie overwhelmed and Wu Zhangkong impressed.

The result was inevitable. Gu Yue, with her adept control over multiple elements and the advantage of being a Grand Spirit Master, defeated Xie Xie in under a minute, nearly shattering his confidence until a cold hum from Wu Zhangkong snapped him back to reality.

Class 5 students, who had been running laps, stopped in amazement at the fight. It was almost unbelievable—a mere minute to take down Xie Xie. She was… terrifyingly strong!

"What are you looking at? Have you finished running?" Wu Zhangkong barked, sending the students scurrying like startled rabbits to resume their laps.

"Alright, you're now a member of Class 5. Start with the physical training," Wu Zhangkong said to Gu Yue, looking satisfied. He then glanced at Xie Xie, adding, "You too, Xie Xie."

"Wait! Didn't you say I wouldn't have to run if I won?" Xie Xie protested, horrified.

"Did you win?" Wu Zhangkong replied icily.

"I…" Xie Xie wanted to argue but fell silent, dejectedly heading back to the track as his recent defeat stung.

Gu Yue joined the Class 5 students, moving gracefully as she fell in line.

Tang Wulin dropped back to run beside Xie Xie, asking with concern, "You okay, Xie Xie?"

"Yeah, I'm fine, just annoyed. I've never lost so badly before," Xie Xie muttered glumly.

"No big deal," Tang Wulin comforted him. "It's not the first time. You'll get used to it!"

"Are you serious?" Xie Xie's eyes widened in disbelief. "Is that supposed to be comforting?"

"Heh, just being honest!" Tang Wulin smiled innocently, though to Xie Xie, it looked rather mischievous.

As they spoke, Gu Yue ran past them without a glance. The two boys stared after her before turning to each other, exclaiming in unison, "She's so cold!"

It wasn't an exaggeration—Gu Yue exuded an icy, unapproachable aura that made any classmate who wanted to get closer shy away. Her frosty demeanor was just too intimidating.

---

When the morning classes ended, Xie Xie caught up to Tang Wulin as he headed to the cafeteria.

"Hey, Tang Wulin, wait up!"

"What's up? Are you finally treating me to a Class A meal?" Tang Wulin asked, grinning in anticipation.

"All you think about is food!" Xie Xie rolled his eyes. "Aren't you curious about that Gu Yue? Isn't she… strange?"

"Are you still hung up about earlier?" Tang Wulin looked at him in exasperation. "So she beat you; why take it so personally?"

"Come on! Do I look that petty?" Xie Xie protested. "I'm just worried about the class-ranking match. What if Teacher Wu makes her participate? Someone in our class might be replaced!"

"Oh!" Tang Wulin seemed to grasp the situation, then gave Xie Xie a sympathetic pat on the shoulder. "Don't worry, Xie Xie. Even without you, we'll still win!"

"What?" Xie Xie was momentarily stunned before he processed Tang Wulin's words, protesting indignantly, "You're assuming I'll be the one replaced? Why not you?"

"Of course! Haha, everyone knows you can't beat me!" Tang Wulin flashed a big, cheeky grin.

"You!" Xie Xie was momentarily at a loss for words.

Just then, a refined, sunny-looking boy with a handsome face and elegant demeanor passed by. Xie Xie nudged Tang Wulin and remarked, "Hey, Tang Wulin, did you see that? He's even better looking than you!"

"I'm not blind; I see him," Tang Wulin said, rolling his eyes. "I think I remember him from the registration day."

"Look, he seems to know Gu Yue!" Xie Xie elbowed Tang Wulin again, his excitement rising. "She's actually smiling? So that's what it's like to be good-looking!"

"Tough luck, Xie Xie; it's a face-obsessed world," Tang Wulin said, placing his hands on Xie Xie's shoulders with mock seriousness. But his big eyes sparkled with laughter.

"Shut up!" Xie Xie slapped his hands away in irritation. "I'm plenty confident in my looks!"

"Hahaha!Really?" Tang Wulin laughed, sprinting toward the cafeteria.

"Get back here!" Xie Xie shouted, running after him.