"What's there to discuss? You all know my strength."
Xie Xi narrowed her eyes. "Or are you afraid you'll lose if I join your team?"
"Reverse psychology doesn't work on me."
Su Zhan turned to the other three. "What do you think?"
Liu Ziming immediately raised his hand. "I agree! Xie's skills are undeniable, and she's easy on the eyes too."
Xu Hao nodded. "Having Xie join would definitely boost our team's strength."
Feng Jue gave a brief nod. "Acceptable."
Seeing this, Su Zhan extended his hand toward Xie Xi. "Welcome aboard. But forget about the money—we're teammates now."
"Suit yourself."
She paused at the doorway and added, "By the way, I usually train at 6 AM, but... we can decide the exact time. Just notify me."
The moment Xie Xi's footsteps faded down the hallway—
"Holy shit, that tigress is finally gone!"
Liu Ziming dramatically clutched his chest as he slammed the door shut.
"Six in the morning? I didn't even wake up that early in high school! Now in college we're supposed to train at dawn? This defies all natural order! Xie Xi must be missing some screws upstairs!"
Xu Hao couldn't help laughing. "She said we could decide the time, didn't she? And where was all this bold talk when she was standing right here?"
"Duh!"
Liu Ziming flopped onto his bed with an eye roll. "Say it to her face? I'd like to live a few more years, thanks!"
Feng Jue remarked coldly, "Talking behind someone's back shows no backbone."
"Hey!"
Liu Ziming sat up indignantly. "Mr. Poker Face, that's where you're wrong! Some things absolutely shouldn't be said to someone's face—that's why we have behind-the-back commentary! Perfectly logical!"
"Your twisted logic never fails to amaze."
Su Zhan chuckled despite himself.
"Damn right it's logical."
Liu Ziming wagged his head triumphantly before deflating. "But seriously, you guys don't understand—you really don't want to mess with Xie Xi."
Xu Hao raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Our fearless Young Master Liu actually has something that scares him?"
For once, Liu Ziming didn't argue back. Instead, he sighed. "Do you know who Xie Xi's family is?"
The room fell silent.
Liu Ziming lowered his voice. "Both her parents are awakened at the Vice Dean level of Vermilion Bird Academy. And rumor has it her family has deep military connections. My dad warned me a thousand times never to cross her."
He drew a finger across his throat. "Or they'll shut down my family's business overnight."
Su Zhan listened carefully.
Just as he'd suspected.
Though this background...
He did win 900,000 from her.
Would she hold a grudge?
Well, he had nothing to lose anyway.
He'd cross that bridge when he came to it.
Feng Jue unexpectedly chimed in. "So that's why you..."
"Exactly!"
Liu Ziming spread his hands. "First, her background crushes mine. Second, she could beat me to a pulp. What choice do I have but to tuck my tail between my legs?"
Suddenly his eyes gleamed mischievously. "But now that she's our teammate, there'll be plenty of opportunities to..."
"Opportunities for what?"
Xu Hao asked warily.
"Build connections, obviously!"
Liu Ziming said with exaggerated innocence, though his sly grin betrayed him. "Think about it—if we befriend her, we might meet some military daughters..."
THUD!
A pillow smacked squarely into Liu Ziming's face.
"Go dream your pipe dreams elsewhere."
Su Zhan said irritably.
......
At Vermilion Bird City's airfield, several commercial airliners stood in orderly rows.
With so many groups of freshmen attending the exchange event,
the academy had arranged regular flights to Lan City instead of charter planes.
After days of training together, Su Zhan's team of five had developed basic combat synergy.
What excited their teammates most was Su Zhan's newly acquired time acceleration ability—
though controlling it remained difficult.
Even with the risks, the four couldn't get enough of this power.
The thrill of breaking limits proved irresistible despite potential loss of control.
Su Zhan's only complaint: it drained too much spiritual energy.
Now they waited in the boarding area,
surrounded by fellow freshmen and regular passengers.
Liu Ziming stretched while surveying the scene. "Tch, I thought we'd get a private jet. Instead we're cramming with civilians?"
Xu Hao sighed. "With so many groups heading to different locations, chartering planes for all would overwhelm Vermilion Bird's airport."
Wang Mingyuan closed his checklist with a smile. "Everyone here? Boarding begins—Lan City's just two hours away."
Each group of exchange participants received an accompanying professor
to facilitate communication with host academies.
Wang Mingyuan served as mentor for Su Zhan's team.
Su Zhan checked his boarding pass. "Let's go. Our flight departs in fifteen minutes. First class."
As they settled into their seats,
Liu Ziming claimed the window seat. "Leaving after just two months... Gotta admit, the view's fantastic here."
Xu Hao grinned. "Young Master Liu, don't tell me this is your first flight?"
Liu Ziming scoffed. "As if! My family's private jet... Never mind, you'll just accuse me of showing off."
Without turning, Xie Xi remarked, "Then why not have your family send their jet?"
Liu Ziming coughed awkwardly. "Ahem... Maintaining a low profile, you know?"
Su Zhan asked casually, "Anything we should know about Lan City?"
Adjusting his gold-rimmed glasses, Wang Mingyuan explained, "Treat it like Jiang City—except... don't hold back."
"Don't hold back?"
Su Zhan frowned slightly.
What kind of advice was that?
"As one of Daxia's five elite academies, the freshman exchange serves as Vermilion Bird's stage to showcase strength."
Wang Mingyuan pushed up his glasses. "Let other awakened see what true genius looks like."
At this, Xie Xi's lips curved into a battle-ready smile.
Liu Ziming leaned in. "So Professor Wang means... we should flex hard?"
"Watch your phrasing."
Wang Mingyuan cleared his throat. "It's called representing the academy's excellence."
He surveyed the five and continued, "Remember, your performance directly impacts Vermilion Bird's reputation. Only by demonstrating top-tier talent will other awakened respect our academy."
"Which helps attract more outstanding candidates."
Su Zhan mused aloud.
"Precisely."
Wang Mingyuan nodded approvingly. "So for this exchange, you must not only win—but win spectacularly."
"But if everyone from Vermilion Bird wins, how will other academies recruit?"
Xu Hao worried aloud.
"Some must lose."
Wang Mingyuan explained. "Every year some from our academy lose, though not many. It doesn't affect our prestige."
His gaze settled on Su Zhan. "But you're different. Su Zhan, you're the only SSS-ranked Life Soul holder in southern Daxia this year.
The first freshman to reach Dew Realm.
Many eyes are on you. If you lose—whether in individual or team matches—it would disgrace Vermilion Bird.
People would say an SSS Life Soul holder couldn't be properly trained here, that we mislead students."
"I understand."
Su Zhan nodded solemnly.
Hmm...
This time, he had a reason not to lose.