Lan Zhen, Lei Wei, and Shi Feng went back to their boys' dorm 21, while Gu Na'er, Bing Xue'er, and Yu Xiatao returned to their girls' dorm 15. After chatting for a while about the day's training, the long lectures, and what might come next year, they each finally lay down to rest. The campus soon fell quiet as night covered the academy, and all of them drifted into sleep, their minds anticipating what the morning would bring.
When the first light of dawn filtered through the academy's windows, the girls' dorm master began her usual routine, knocking at each room and calling out to wake the students. In room 15, Gu Na'er stretched and yawned, while Bing Xue'er sat up briskly and brushed her long hair back. Yu Xiatao muttered sleepily before finally dragging herself out of bed. After a few minutes, the three girls had washed up, dressed neatly in their academy uniforms, and stepped out of the dorm together. Their spirits were fresh, though the air was still cool with the lingering touch of morning mist.
As they walked toward the boys' dorm, Bing Xue'er crossed her arms and said in a half-serious tone, "I feel like it's become our duty now—going every single morning to wake those fools up." Her voice carried a playful hint, but her eyes rolled with mock annoyance. Na'er giggled softly, while Xiatao covered her mouth and laughed too. The bond between the three had only grown stronger after a year of training side by side.
Just as they reached the boys' dorm, they were met with an unexpected sight. Zhen, Wei, and Feng were already outside, fully dressed in uniform and looking fresh, as if they had been waiting for some time. The girls froze mid-step, eyes widening. Zhen lifted his hand and greeted warmly, "Good morning…" Na'er blinked once before smiling faintly. "Morning," she replied.
Bing Xue'er's expression shifted into suspicion, and Shi Feng immediately caught it. Smirking like he had just won a contest, he asked, "What's this? Shocked to see us awake so early without your help?"
Bing Xue'er snapped, put her hands on her chin, and said loudly, "Tell me the truth! There's no way you boys can wake up this early on your own!"
Shi Feng puffed out his chest and smiled with pride. "Because we've learned discipline. We've learned to wake up early. From now on, we don't need you girls to knock on our door."
For a moment, his statement almost sounded convincing, but then Zhen tilted his head, his expression innocent but cutting. "Feng, didn't we wake up early because you never went to sleep last night…?"
A heavy silence hung in the air before Lei Wei broke down into uncontrollable laughter. "Hahahahaha!" Yu Xiatao clutched her stomach and joined in, while Na'er and Xue'er burst out laughing just as hard. Shi Feng's proud smile collapsed into an embarrassed grimace, his face turning red. "Zhen, can't you let me look good for once?! I was trying to impress them!" he protested. The laughter only grew louder, echoing along the path to the academy.
Eventually, they all composed themselves and continued walking together. As the academy gates loomed ahead, Zhen stopped and looked at each of his companions with a rare serious expression. "From today, we are officially Class 2 Year 2 students. This is a new beginning. Let's give it our best, together." He raised his hand, palm open in front of him. The others exchanged glances, then smiled and placed their hands on top of his, forming a small tower of unity. That single moment of camaraderie filled them with confidence.
The group entered the academy building, their footsteps echoing through the wide halls. They climbed the staircase to the first floor, where their new classroom awaited. Class 2 Year 1 had been left behind on the ground floor; this new step felt symbolic of their progress. Inside, the classroom buzzed with familiar faces, each student having grown stronger over the past year. Zhen and his friends found their desks and sat down, talking quietly among themselves as more classmates streamed in.
After a few minutes, the chatter hushed when the door opened. Guan Fang, their head teacher, entered with his calm yet commanding presence. Instantly, every student stood up in unison and greeted, "Good morning, Head Teacher."
Guan Fang nodded, a faint smile touching his lips. "Good morning. Let's begin the class." His sharp eyes swept across the room, studying his students with a mix of authority and approval. "In just one year, all of you have improved greatly. Your efforts are evident, and now, every one of you has achieved a bond power rank above 15. That is an accomplishment worth being proud of. Especially you, Lan Zhen."
Dozens of eyes turned toward Zhen, who sat upright, unsure whether to feel embarrassed or proud. Guan Fang continued, "Lan Zhen has reached the peak of Spirit Forged Master—Rank 19. This is a remarkable feat. Not a single student from Class 1 has reached that level yet."
Whispers of amazement spread through the room. Some looked at Zhen with admiration, others with motivation to push themselves harder. Guan Fang nodded, clearly pleased. "And it's not only Zhen. Some of you have also achieved Rank 18, showing exceptional growth in your bonds and discipline."
All the students were smiling brightly. Their hearts were filled with pride, and instead of feeling like rivals, they now felt like one big team moving forward together. They all realized very clearly how far they had come from the day they first entered the academy.
But Guan Fang's expression soon turned serious, his gaze tightening. "Now that you have completed your first year and proven your strength, the real competition begins. The trials ahead will test more than just your power. They will test your resolve, your teamwork, and your bonds. Be prepared—because from this day forward, everything you've learned will truly be put to the test."
The whole class went completely silent. Every student felt the weight of the words, and the message sank deep into their hearts. They all understood very clearly that a new and much harder chapter of their academy life was starting from this moment.