After a brief silence, the venue erupted in chaos.
"Holy shit! What kind of move was that?!"
"Did anyone see that final technique? How did Senior Xie suddenly freeze?!"
"SSS-ranked Life Souls are just too broken."
"This is insane! I can't even process it."
"What do you know? Su Zhan deliberately closed the distance to secure victory during that brief control window. It's not as miraculous as you're making it out to be."
At the faculty observation area.
Su Zhan approached.
Wang Mingyuan adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses, his gaze appreciative: "Well fought, especially your tactical design. Deliberately showing openings to lure the enemy deeper - even I was somewhat surprised."
Su Zhan gave a slight bow.
Wang Mingyuan turned to Kong Wu beside him, a teasing smile playing on his lips: "Old Kong, seems like your week of special training wasn't very effective, was it?"
Kong Wu's dark face flushed red as he crossed his muscular arms: "Bullshit! What does his victory have to do with you? Why are you so smug?"
Wang Mingyuan shook his head with a smile and said nothing more.
"You don't know shit!"
Kong Wu slammed a palm on the railing, denting the metal handrail: "What's one win? That girl Xie Xi has had it too easy - no one could touch her in high school. A little setback might do her good!"
Wang Mingyuan chuckled: "That much is true, but a loss is still a loss."
"Hey, Wang."
Kong Wu's temple veins bulged: "You little..."
As the two instructors bickered.
Su Zhan stood between them, caught between amusement and exasperation.
Just then, Xie Xi passed by below the walkway. Hearing the argument, she glanced up and locked eyes with Su Zhan.
She snorted coldly, mouthing the words: "Next time, I'll win."
Then left without looking back.
"Don't forget the transfer!"
Su Zhan called after her.
Xie Xi's steps faltered, her mouth twitching.
This time she truly left without turning back.
Su Zhan watched her retreating figure, then looked at the still-arguing instructors, suddenly feeling a headache coming on.
"Su Zhan."
Wang Mingyuan broke off the argument, saying: "I have a cultivation theory class this afternoon. Don't forget to attend."
"Understood."
Su Zhan nodded.
Cultivation theory was an essential subject for every Awakened.
Because the audience was so broad.
And fearing one teacher couldn't handle them all.
The Academy assigned multiple instructors.
"30,000 Daxia currency received from Daxia Bank."
Su Zhan's phone vibrated with the notification.
The money had arrived.
"Brother Su, knew you could do it."
Xu Hao and the other two approached quickly.
Genuinely happy for him.
"Su Zhan, you seem so honest and unassuming on the surface."
Liu Ziming said with a grin: "But you're better at deceiving women than I am. Your whole fighting style is one big trap - you scammed that Xie Xi girl out of everything she had."
Feng Jue rolled his eyes at Liu Ziming as usual.
Quietly putting some distance between them.
As if telling everyone - I don't know him.
Su Zhan frowned.
This kind of talk was fine in private.
But with so many people around now, this image... wasn't great.
So he said: "I won some money today. Dinner's on me tonight."
...
Afternoon.
The class bell rang.
Wang Mingyuan stood before the holographic projector, his gold-rimmed glasses reflecting pale blue data streams.
About thirty students sat below.
"Today we'll cover the three essential elements of cultivation."
Wang Mingyuan tapped the lectern, and the projection switched to a tripod diagram:
"Talent, effort, and resources - none can be lacking.
Talent determines your ceiling, but talent needs development.
That requires effort."
"Everyone here at Vermilion Bird Academy is exceptionally gifted."
Wang Mingyuan leaned on the lectern, scanning the room with piercing eyes: "What Vermilion Bird lacks isn't people with top-tier talent, but those who combine the right mindset with hard work."
He continued:
"The final element is cultivation resources. Being Awakened is expensive.
But the Academy has already provided you with basic cultivation resources.
If you want more, you'll need to complete missions or find other ways to earn money for additional resources.
But remember - too much of anything is bad. There must be balance. Overusing cultivation resources will destabilize your foundation and create dependency.
As for finding that balance, Vermilion Bird has specialized equipment to test your physical data. The numbers will tell you."
"Now, let's discuss cultivation proper."
Wang Mingyuan clasped his hands behind his back, his steady gaze sweeping across every student.
The holographic projection expanded behind him, displaying a human meridian map with Life Soul energy flowing through it.
The sound of flipping notebooks rose from below.
Everyone focused intently, pens ready to take notes.
"Awakened cultivation revolves around three core principles."
Wang Mingyuan waved a hand, and the projection split into three paths:
"Your Life Soul isn't a tool, but an extension of your soul. The first step is truly understanding your Life Soul."
The projection showed a shadowy figure meditating.
Life Soul energy within its body pulsed with each breath, gradually merging with the physical form.
"Meditate daily, feel your Life Soul's rhythm, make it part of you rather than something external."
The image changed to show spiritual energy coursing through meridians.
"Spiritual energy is the foundation of Awakened, but absorbing it recklessly only damages your meridians."
Wang Mingyuan tapped lightly, and the projection demonstrated precise spiritual energy circulation paths: "Proper cultivation means letting spiritual energy nourish your body like a gentle stream, not scour it like a flood."
His gaze swept the room: "Remember, cultivation isn't about who absorbs the most spiritual energy, but who uses every bit most effectively."
The projection suddenly shifted to intense combat scenes.
Awakened battling Mist creatures, sparring with each other.
"Training behind closed doors is ultimately just theory."
Wang Mingyuan's voice rose sharply: "True breakthroughs often come at life-or-death moments.
That's why the Academy arranges practical combat courses."
He adjusted his glasses: "The enemies you'll face won't fight you mechanically."
"That's all theory."
Wang Mingyuan continued: "Now, let's discuss practice."
Su Zhan watched intently, not blinking.
He knew what came next.
Was the crystallization of 300 years of human knowledge since the Mist invasion.
Only by standing on predecessors' shoulders could one advance further.
"Spiritual energy is the foundation of Awakened."
Wang Mingyuan spoke deliberately, ensuring every word was clear: "But how you absorb, refine, and utilize it determines your cultivation efficiency.
"Those who haven't perceived spiritual energy cultivate like blind men groping an elephant.
Spiritual energy is everywhere, but you must first learn to see it.
The first step for beginners.
Close your eyes, regulate breathing, clear your mind, let your spirit sink inward.
Then.
Use willpower to guide your observation of spiritual energy's flow within.
Next.
Through controlled breathing, let external spiritual energy naturally permeate your body.
Spiritual energy is like wind - it can't be forced, only followed."
"Finally..."
...