Dawn broke over the Spirit Master Academy, casting long shadows across the training grounds. Lin Xiao arrived early, as usual, and made his way to the classroom assigned to Class F.
The room was small and cramped, located in the oldest building on campus. The windows were dusty, the desks scratched and worn. Sixteen students were already there, sitting in clusters and talking quietly. They all looked up when Lin Xiao entered.
He recognized some of them from the assessment—the students who had performed poorly. Most had low innate soul power or weak martial souls. A few looked resigned to their fate, others angry at the injustice.
Lin Xiao took a seat in the back corner and opened his notebook. He had copied the ancient scrolls into it over the past few days, creating a personal training manual that he could study anywhere.
"Welcome to Class F," a voice said from the front of the room.
The students turned to see a middle-aged man with kind eyes and a gentle demeanor. He wore the robes of a Spirit Grandmaster, his cultivation at Level 25 giving him a quiet authority.
"I am Instructor Liu," he said. "I will be your teacher for this academic year. I know many of you are disappointed to be in Class F. Some of you may feel this is unfair."
He walked to the center of the room. "Let me be clear: this class is not a punishment. It is an opportunity. The advanced classes move quickly, focusing on students who can keep up with a fast pace. Here, we will take our time. We will build your foundation properly, so that when you do advance, you advance solidly."
A boy in the front row raised his hand. "But Instructor, everyone knows Class F students never advance past Spirit Elder. What's the point?"
Instructor Liu smiled sadly. "It is true that many Class F students struggle. But not all. I have seen students from this class surpass those from Class A. The difference is not talent—it is perseverance."
He looked around the room, meeting each student's gaze. "Who here wants to prove the academy wrong?"
Silence. Then Lin Xiao raised his hand.
"I do," he said.
Instructor Liu's eyes widened slightly. "And what is your name?"
"Lin Xiao. Soul Bone Nunchaku, Level 5 innate soul power."
"Ah," Instructor Liu said. "I saw your assessment. Your control was impressive for someone with only three days of training. But your martial soul..." He hesitated. "It presents significant challenges."
"I know," Lin Xiao said. "But I'm going to overcome them."
Instructor Liu studied him for a long moment, then nodded. "Good. That is the attitude we need here."
He turned to the class. "Today, we will begin with basic soul power circulation exercises. These exercises may seem simple, but they are the foundation of all cultivation. Master them, and everything else becomes easier."
For the next two hours, Instructor Liu guided the class through meditation and breathing techniques, teaching them how to circulate their soul power through their bodies in specific patterns. Most students struggled at first, their control rough and unsteady.
Lin Xiao focused intensely. He had already been practicing basic circulation on his own, but Instructor Liu's techniques were more refined, more efficient. He followed the patterns carefully, feeling his soul power flow through his meridians with increasing precision.
By the end of the session, Lin Xiao's circulation was smoother than anyone else's in the class. Instructor Liu noticed.
"Excellent control, Lin Xiao," he said. "You have been practicing on your own?"
"Yes, Instructor."
"Good. That dedication will serve you well."
After the morning session, the class broke for lunch. Lin Xiao ate quickly, then returned to the oak tree for his personal training. He practiced the nunchaku movements he had learned from the ancient scrolls, combining them with the circulation techniques from Instructor Liu.
The combination was powerful. His soul power flowed more smoothly, the infusion into his nunchaku became more efficient. The gray light around the bones grew brighter, though still faint.
That afternoon, Class F had physical training with another instructor, a muscular man named Instructor Wang who focused on conditioning. He put the students through grueling exercises—push-ups, running, sparring drills.
Most students complained and slacked off, but Lin Xiao gave it his all. He had always believed that physical conditioning was just as important as soul power cultivation. If his martial soul was weak, his body needed to be strong.
Instructor Wang noticed his effort. "You there, with the ridiculous martial soul. What's your name?"
"Lin Xiao, sir."
"You're working harder than anyone else here. Why?"
"Because I need to," Lin Xiao said, still doing push-ups. "My martial soul is weak. My body has to be strong to compensate."
Instructor Wang raised an eyebrow. "Smart answer. Most students would blame their martial soul and give up. You're taking responsibility."
He walked away, but Lin Xiao could feel his eyes on him for the rest of the session.
When classes ended at sunset, Lin Xiao returned to the oak tree for another training session. He practiced until his body gave out, then sat in meditation, circulating his soul power according to Instructor Liu's patterns.
The moon was high when he finally headed home, exhausted but satisfied. His first day in Class F had been better than expected. The instructors were competent and supportive, and he was learning techniques that complemented his personal training.
As he walked, he thought about Instructor Liu's words—that Class F students could surpass Class A students through perseverance. It was a nice sentiment, but Lin Xiao knew the reality. The academy system was designed to favor talent. To overcome that, he would need to work harder than anyone else, be smarter than anyone else, and never give up.
He was ready for that challenge.
End of Chapter 4