After listening to what Long Yi said, Zhen and the others were shocked. Their minds churned with confusion and disbelief, and unspoken words flickered in their eyes. A team? Us? The idea felt overwhelming, almost too large to grasp for children who had only just stepped into the world of cultivation. Their gazes darted nervously between each other, trying to make sense of the teacher's words.
Lei Wei finally broke the silence, rubbing the back of his neck. "But Miss Holy Lord, we are still too young for that." His voice carried both hesitation and a trace of fear.
Bing Xue'er added quickly, almost blurting the words out, "Yes, it's only been two weeks since we started at the academy. How could we possibly form a team?"
The others nodded in unison, their doubts pooling into a collective silence.
Long Yi only smiled, her expression calm, her tone carrying the weight of experience. "I knew you would have many questions after hearing this," she said. "But let me tell you a story. Twenty years ago, in this very academy, a group of six friends came together. Despite the doubts surrounding them, they chose to form a team called Darkness Light. At that time, they had already become Holy Masters. They earned their team's title when they proved themselves to be the strongest in the academy, standing above all other competitors."
Her words drew them in like a spell. Even the restless Shi Feng sat still, hanging on every word.
Zhen leaned forward, his eyes wide. "Holy Masters? That means… they were rank 30 and above."
Long Yi nodded, her expression proud but solemn. "Yes. And one more thing—when they reached rank 30 and became Holy Masters, they were only 14 years old."
The group gasped, exchanging looks of shock and awe. Their thoughts raced: At such a young age, they formed a team? Could we ever reach such heights? The weight of history pressed down on them, but in that heaviness was also a spark of possibility.
"You are almost 8 years old now," Long Yi continued, her voice steady. "Zhen has already reached rank 14, while the rest of you have reached rank 12. That is something to be proud of." She paused, letting the truth of her words sink in. "In the academy, many teams form every year. But only the strongest of the strong earn true recognition. Only such teams gain the right to choose their own team's title, and later, to fight for the honor of protecting our Holy Beast Empire—and sometimes even the entire Holy Continent. You will learn more about the formation of teams and their importance in tomorrow's morning class."
Her words lit a fire in their hearts. Still, Zhen raised his hand again, his brows furrowed in thought. "Teacher, I learned from our head teacher that there are three empires in the Holy Continent—the Holy Heaven Empire, the Holy Soul Empire, and our Holy Beast Empire. Which one is the strongest?"
Long Yi's eyes sharpened. She answered without hesitation. "The Holy Soul Empire."
Her reply deepened their curiosity. Gu Naer, tilting her head, asked with shining eyes, "Miss, what about the members of Darkness Light? We also learned that all six of them became Holy Kings—rank 98. Where are they now?"
Long Yi's smile faded slightly, replaced by a wistful expression. A faint sigh escaped her lips. "I don't know where they are now. Their paths have long disappeared into legend."
The room grew quiet, the mystery of the past lingering in the air. Then, Long Yi straightened her back and clapped her hands. "Enough for tonight. Don't let your minds wander too far. For now, your only focus should be reaching rank 20 and becoming Soul Lords. Understood?"
The children nodded quickly, their eyes still bright with wonder but also determination.
That night, Zhen and his friends returned to their dormitories, but none of them could sleep easily. In the girls' dormitory, Room 15, Gu Naer, Bing Xue'er, and Yu Xiatao lay awake, their thoughts looping endlessly around the word team. They whispered to each other in the darkness, wondering what kind of team they could become. Meanwhile, in the boys' dormitory, Room 21, Lan Zhen, Lei Wei, and Shi Feng also lay restless. Their gazes wandered to the ceiling, and unspoken questions filled the space between them. Team. Could we really do it?
The dawn came swiftly. The rising sun spilled golden light across the academy grounds, illuminating its walls and courtyards with a brilliance that seemed to echo the students' rising hopes. The female dorm master bustled through the halls, knocking on doors and calling the girls awake. Naer, Xueer, and Xiatao dressed quickly, their anticipation for the day making their movements brisk. Together, they made their way toward the boys' dormitory.
But as they reached the entrance, the boys' dorm master stepped forward and blocked their way. His arms were crossed sternly. "What are you three doing? Girls are not allowed inside. This is the boys' dormitory."
Xiatao stepped forward politely, bowing slightly. "Sir, we are here for our friends."
Naer clasped her hands together and pleaded sweetly, "Could you please wake them up for us? Their room number is 21."
The dorm master squinted at them, clearly unconvinced, but after a pause he sighed and nodded. He stomped inside the dormitory, his footsteps echoing down the hallway, until he reached Room 21. Standing before the door, he knocked loudly and barked, "Wake up, boys. Your friends are waiting for you."
Inside, Shi Feng groaned under his blanket. The loud knocking grated on his ears, and in his half-asleep state, he snapped without thinking. "Don't make noise, you PIG!"
The dormitory went silent. Outside the door, the dorm master's face turned beet red, his mustache quivering with rage. He clenched his fists and bellowed so loudly the walls shook: "WHO ARE YOU CALLING A PIG, YOU IDIOTS?! WAKE UP!"
The roar shook the boys awake instantly. Their eyes widened in terror as they scrambled out of bed. Even the girls outside heard the thunderous shout and burst into uncontrollable laughter. Xiatao covered her mouth, smirking. "I'm definitely sure Feng said something again." The three girls bent over in fits of giggles.
Red-faced and embarrassed, the boys finally dressed and dragged themselves outside. Zhen, trying to maintain some dignity, bowed his head slightly. "Thank you, Naer, Xueer, and Xiatao. Because of you, we woke up on time."
Lei Wei and Shi Feng both nodded sheepishly, avoiding eye contact with the furious dorm master who still glared behind them.
Naer smiled cheerfully, her eyes gleaming with mischief. "It's okay. We're happy to help."
With the morning chaos behind them, the six children walked side by side toward Class 2. Along the corridor, however, sneering voices drifted toward them. A group of Class 1 students stood together, pointing and laughing. "Isn't that the group from the trash class? No matter how close they are, trash will always be trash." Their mocking voices rang out, joined by scornful laughter.
Feng, Xueer, and Xiatao's tempers flared instantly. Their fists clenched, their steps halting, ready to fight. But Zhen, Naer, and Wei stepped forward calmly, holding them back. Zhen's voice was quiet yet unyielding. "Don't waste your strength on words. We will prove them wrong—with our strength."
The others looked at him, saw the certainty in his eyes, and nodded. Their determination grew stronger.
When they finally entered Class 2, they noticed five seats empty, their classmates absent. Moments later, Head Teacher Guan Fang strode into the classroom. The students quickly rose as one and greeted him in unison. "Greetings, Head Teacher."
Guan Fang nodded, his gaze sweeping the room. His eyes landed on Zhen, Feng, and Wei. "Today, you three managed to arrive on time," he said, his tone neutral but edged with dry humor.
The three boys exchanged embarrassed glances, remembering the ridiculous scene from the previous day. A faint blush colored their cheeks.
Without lingering on the matter, Guan Fang clapped his hands once, the sharp sound cutting through the whispers in the room. "Let's begin the lesson."