"I'm sorry."
The one who had come to stand before Xie Xie to ask the question was a girl who appeared tall among her peers. Seeming to notice her lapse, she quickly apologized.
"Seeing those of you who fought Shrek Academy two years ago today, I got a bit excited."
Xie Xie gave a wry smile and said in a low voice, "It's nothing. Do you have any other questions?"
Really. Don't ask about that.
They had just been carried to victory in that battle. There was nothing to say.
The girl's eyes suddenly lit up, her tone carrying an unmistakable note of anticipation. "Um, where is Student Huo Yuhao? Didn't he come with you?"
Xie Xie: "..."
He knew it!
Although they had become famous alongside the Boss, the most famous of all was certainly the one who ranked first on the Junior Genius Rankings and had earned the title "Spirit Transmission," Boss Yuhao.
These people approaching them, their primary target was most likely him. Their secondary target was the rest of them.
Oh, no, that wasn't right. There was one other person.
Xie Xie looked toward Tang Wulin. He also had a crowd around him.
That was only natural. After they introduced themselves in class, everyone knew that Tang Wulin was now a Grade Four blacksmith.
In high-level academies, students had to deal with mecha and Battle Armor manufacturing. Not many people chose forging as a secondary profession, and even fewer were skilled at it. A forging genius like Wulin was naturally in high demand.
After a moment of silence, Xie Xie finally answered, "Ahem, Boss Yuhao is at Mingde Hall."
"Eh?!!"
The surrounding classmates were taken aback. Then someone said in realization, "I did hear that Student Huo Yuhao was invited by Mingde Hall. I didn't expect it to be true!"
"Really? That's Mingde Hall." A male student with glasses pushed up his frames, his tone full of disbelief.
"It's true. I heard about it at the Mecha Designer Association."
"I see... How amazing."
A buzz of quiet discussion immediately arose around them.
"Speaking of which, after hearing your self-introduction, Student Xie Xie, with your talent, you could also be ranked on the Junior Genius Rankings, couldn't you?" a male student asked curiously.
The Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy limited its intake to those under fifteen. This was because the usual age for entering middle school was nine, and middle school lasted six years. Although it was possible to graduate early, some spirit masters were already fifteen by the time they entered high school.
He was one such example. And after their earlier introductions in class, they had heard Xie Xie's age and strength.
Twelve years old, a Spirit Elder. That put him among the very top tier of their class.
"Well, maybe I'm not there yet." Xie Xie said modestly, but inwardly he thought otherwise.
Actually, with their qualifications, they could be ranked on the Junior Genius Rankings. But none of them had chosen to do so.
After all, if they went on the list now, they would most likely be placed near the bottom. And, there were two monsters on that list!
The members of this generation's Junior Genius Rankings were clearly destined to become mere foils for those two. Xie Xie didn't want to experience that.
If he truly wanted to stand out, he'd rather secure a place on the Continental Rankings in the future.
"I see. Personally, I think you're more deserving than that one over there."
The male student looked toward an ashen-haired young man sitting at a desk, his expression icy.
Undying — Xu Yucheng.
Xie Xie followed his gaze, raised an eyebrow slightly, and didn't reply.
He had heard of this one. Ranked twenty-fourth on the Junior Genius Rankings. His martial soul was said to be the Dark Demon Scythe.
That martial soul had side effects. It placed a great burden on the body. And while absorbing Spirit Souls was linked to spiritual power, withstanding spirit rings was linked to physical strength.
If one's body could not withstand a higher-grade spirit ring, they could not absorb a powerful Spirit Soul.
His first and second Spirit Souls were probably both hundred-year. But even so, one shouldn't underestimate him. Xie Xie silently quipped. But why, when you're such a glass cannon, is your title "Undying"?
Just then, Wang Jinxi walked over. Amidst the others' discussions, he pulled Xie Xie toward their small circle.
"What's wrong?"
"There are some people here we need to be cautious of."
Tang Wulin and Zhang Yangzi exchanged a glance. The few of them explained in low voices, "I just learned from some classmates. There are a few people in our class who are special and need attention."
"I know one of them. Xu Yucheng from the Junior Genius Rankings. Who are the others?" Xie Xie asked curiously.
"Shen Xing."
"What?"
Xie Xie was puzzled. "Who's that?"
Who was this person? He'd never heard of them.
"Her cultivation isn't high, but she's from the Shen family."
Zhang Yangzi pointed to a girl. Xie Xie turned to look. Aside from thinking she was pretty, he saw nothing else special about her.
Though she seemed a bit cold.
"The Shen family?" Xu Xiaoyan exclaimed instinctively, then quickly covered her mouth. "The Shen family of the Four Great Military Families?"
Her "teacher" had mentioned such common knowledge about the Federation's strength and power structure in their spare time recently. This included the four major powers, the four great military families, the eight great legions, and so on.
After all, they were coming to Mingdu, a place where various forces mixed. If they didn't even have basic common knowledge, they could easily fall into a pit.
In the eyes of the general public, the most familiar names were the Federation's four major powers: the Spirit Transmission Tower, Shrek, Mingde Hall, and the War Temple.
However, this was far from the Federation's true strength. There were also many sects and families not included.
And over years of evolution, family powers had become deeply embedded in the military, leading to the formation of multiple large regions within the Federation controlled by different families.
This was unavoidable. After all, martial souls were linked to bloodline inheritance. The descendants of powerful families had a higher probability of producing geniuses and powerful individuals. This structure had formed over a long time.
In these regions, the influence of the various families was deeply entrenched, almost impossible to shake. Even the Federation government approached this with caution, avoiding easily touching their interests. After all, if council members wanted to obtain power, they always had to rely on the support of these families.
Among them, the Four Great Military Families were the ones that held a very high level of influence in the military. The Shen family was one of them. Its influence included the North Sea Legion, one of the Federation's eight great legions. This showed its strength.
"Yes, that Shen family. She's probably here to gild her resume."
As a Federation-affiliated academy, the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy provided quite a few talented individuals to the Federation. Outstanding graduates, with recommendations, could obtain a good starting position in the military. It was a good place to build credentials.
Zhang Yangzi looked at Xie Xie. "Xie Xie, we're worried about you. There are quite a few students like her in the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy. Don't go around provoking everyone."
They had sampled Xie Xie's mouth, which could anger people, many times.
Did he not understand the value of being the "King of Trash Talk"?
Xie Xie rolled his eyes. "I'm the defensive counterattack type. If people don't bother me, I can't be bothered to deal with them."
"Heh."
The others gave cold laughs.
Do you think we believe you?
Just as the classroom was buzzing with noise, a teacher walked in. It was Lin Qinghan, whom Xie Xie and the others had met before. She entered and smiled. "There's another student joining our class today. Everyone, please welcome him."
A slender young man walked in. After a moment of silence, he introduced himself, "Hello, everyone. My name is Yuanen Yehui. Looking forward to working with you."
A ripple of applause sounded.
Nanaly, outside the classroom, watched this scene and left with satisfaction.
Since you have no plans to join the Dark Department for now, then for now, just live out your academy life peacefully.
You can enjoy a peaceful life until you reach the Title level.
***
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