The next day.
During afternoon cultivation theory class.
"Cultivation isn't something that can be achieved overnight, especially for beginners just learning spiritual energy circulation." Wang Mingyuan adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses, sweeping his gaze across the freshmen in the classroom.
"Based on past experience, it usually takes you 10 to 15 days to initially grasp spiritual energy and break through to the Dew Realm." Wang Mingyuan paused, his eyes settling on Su Zhan in the middle of the classroom. Casually, he asked, "Su Zhan, how's your cultivation progress?"
Su Zhan, who had been looking down at his notes, raised his head calmly. "I reached the Dew Realm yesterday."
The entire classroom fell silent.
Xie Xi, who had been lazily leaning back in her seat, abruptly sat upright, her pupils contracting. All the other freshmen simultaneously turned their heads, their gazes focusing entirely on Su Zhan.
Dead silence.
Then...
"What the hell?! Three days?!"
"That's impossible! How could it be so fast?!"
The classroom instantly erupted in noise. Some students stood up in shock. Others rubbed their ears, doubting what they'd heard.
Wang Mingyuan froze for two seconds before adjusting his glasses again. "Say that again?"
Su Zhan repeated, "I've already broken through to the Dew Realm."
After a moment of silence, Wang Mingyuan asked, "How did you do it?"
Su Zhan thought for a moment. "Just followed your instructions."
Xie Xi remained silent, but her beautiful eyes burned with intense fighting spirit.
Wang Mingyuan took a deep breath. "Excellent. It seems we have an extraordinary student in our class." His gaze swept across the other freshmen, his tone returning to steadiness. "However, there's no need for excessive anxiety. Everyone's cultivation rhythm differs. Su Zhan's situation is relatively rare."
Immediately, complaints filled the air.
"Rare?! More like monstrous!"
"Is this the power of an SSS-ranked Life Soul?"
"Vermilion Bird Academy has had SSS Life Souls before, but none this insane!"
Wang Mingyuan rapped the podium. "Alright, quiet down." The classroom gradually settled, but glances still frequently drifted toward Su Zhan—complex emotions swirling in their eyes: shock, envy, jealousy, resentment, awe...
"Professor Wang, what's the fastest time for a Vermilion Bird Academy freshman to reach the Dew Realm?" someone asked.
This immediately captured everyone's attention. Though none had achieved this level yet, they were eager for the gossip.
"The fastest recorded breakthrough to the Dew Realm by a Vermilion Bird Academy freshman since its founding is—" Wang Mingyuan deliberately paused. The classroom became so quiet you could hear a pin drop, everyone holding their breath.
"One hour."
Instant uproar.
"One hour?! How is that possible?!"
"Is that even human?"
"Who was that monster?"
Su Zhan's eyebrows lifted slightly. He'd thought three days was fast, but someone had done it in just one hour.
Wang Mingyuan raised his hand for silence. "The record holder is none other than our current Vermilion Bird Academy Dean, Ye Hongyu."
The classroom echoed with collective gasps.
"Dean Ye? The one called 'Crimson Flame Asura'?" someone exclaimed.
"Correct." Wang Mingyuan nodded. "Dean Ye was among the first batch of Vermilion Bird Academy students. When she awakened her SSS-ranked Life Soul, Crimson Flame Phoenix, she broke through to the Dew Realm within one hour of learning cultivation methods. This record remains unbroken to this day."
His gaze turned meaningful as he looked at Su Zhan. "However, Su Zhan's three-day breakthrough already places him within the top 30 in Vermilion Bird Academy's history."
Another wave of murmurs swept through the classroom.
"Only top 30? With such talent? Vermilion Bird Academy truly has hidden dragons among its ranks!"
"Well, the academy has existed for fifty years. That's to be expected."
"Terrifying. Absolutely terrifying."
Wang Mingyuan continued, "Of course, cultivation speed is only one aspect of talent. True strength depends on later growth. Though Dean Ye broke through quickly, what made her legendary was her subsequent battlefield performance."
A sense of disappointment rose in Su Zhan's heart. Reaching the Dew Realm in three days—it was impossible not to feel some pride. But reality had dealt him a harsh blow. His talent wasn't particularly rare in Daxia's history. Just within the fifty-year-old Vermilion Bird Academy, he barely made top 30.
And how vast was Daxia? There were five top-tier institutions like Vermilion Bird Academy. How many years had passed since the Mist's invasion? Three hundred. How many geniuses had emerged in that time? He didn't know. Now he could only sigh—heroes were as numerous as fish in the sea.
"Now, I have another announcement." Wang Mingyuan changed topics, waving his phone. "Higher-ups have confirmed—in two months, you freshmen will be sent in batches to major awakened academies across southern Daxia for an exchange meeting."
"Exchange meeting? What kind of exchange?"
"Isn't it obvious? Fighting, of course."
"Makes sense."
"You clearly haven't studied Vermilion Bird Academy's history."
Liu Ziming chose this moment to speak up. "Vermilion Bird Academy's recruitment happens in three stages. First is direct admission—on Awakening Day, SSS-ranked individuals get immediately transferred. That's rare—our batch only has Su Zhan. Second is examinations—the main recruitment method. Anyone in southern Daxia with S-rank or higher Life Souls can take Vermilion Bird Academy's entrance test. Third—" he emphasized, "every year, freshmen are sent in batches to renowned awakened academies across southern Daxia for 'exchange meetings.' Superficially cultural exchanges, they're actually combat tournaments—a third recruitment method."
"Correct." Wang Mingyuan explained, "Anyone who defeats our academy's representatives can join Vermilion Bird Academy. For those who missed the first two opportunities, this is their last chance." His tone turned icy. "Of course, don't even think about throwing matches for personal gain. Anyone caught match-fixing will be immediately expelled—and no awakened academy in Daxia will accept you thereafter."
The students' expressions grew solemn.
"Consider this your test," Wang Mingyuan scanned the room. "Lose, and you'll repeat the year."
"Professor, I have a question." Xu Hao raised his hand.
"Go ahead." Wang Mingyuan gestured.
"Why is this exchange only for freshmen?"
"Good question." Wang Mingyuan spoke slowly. "This exchange's essence is recruiting talented students from other southern Daxia academies. But these talents are treasured wherever they are. The old foggies at those academies already resent this arrangement. Wait longer, and students develop loyalty to their schools—recruiting them then becomes far harder."
Su Zhan's eyes sharpened. An exchange meeting? A chance to gauge other awakened individuals' strength. Interesting.