Life at Tianxing Martial Arts Academy entered a steady rhythm, both tense and fulfilling. After several days of preliminary training and observation, the instructors of each class gained a basic understanding of their new students' physical fitness, temperament, and Martial Soul characteristics, allowing the academy's management framework to take shape.
The instructors for each class were experienced individuals; through several days of observation and assessment, they had gained a clear understanding of every child's physical limits, Martial Soul traits, personality, and even their mental resilience. Training plans were adjusted accordingly, becoming much more targeted.
For students with exceptional talent and solid foundations like Yu Yunting and Yu Yunyao, the training load was appropriately increased to provide greater challenges. For the majority of ordinary students, the focus was on steady improvement without damaging their foundations. Even for the lower-tier classes, the training content was by no means perfunctory; it was primarily aimed at tempering willpower and polishing fundamentals. After all, those who had passed the perseverance assessment to enter the academy already possessed extraordinary character.
By convention, each class needed to elect a temporary class monitor to assist the teacher with daily management and serve as a core figure in future class activities. The election criteria were simple and direct: the student with the best comprehensive quality would be chosen. This "comprehensive quality" encompassed current Soul Power Level, Martial Soul potential, physical foundation, classroom performance, and any latent leadership potential.
The result was without suspense.
In Class One, which was dominated by Power Attack System and Agility Attack System students, Yu Yunting was directly appointed as the temporary class monitor by his homeroom teacher, Lei Zhan, due to his Innate Full Soul Power of level thirteen, a physical foundation far exceeding his peers, and the inherent majesty of his top-tier beast Martial Soul, the Thunder Sacred Dragon.
When the announcement was made, although a few students from prominent backgrounds with arrogant dispositions flashed a look of defiance, the majority—including Gao Zeyu, a steady-minded student from a farming family—were completely convinced. Yu Yunting was usually gentle with others and trained diligently, and his strength was undeniable; with him leading, no one had any objections.
On the other side, in Class Three, which was dominated by Support System and Control System students, Yu Yunyao also won the favor of her homeroom teacher, Su Wan, and the recognition of her classmates with her Innate Full Soul Power of level thirteen, excellent physical flexibility, and a calm, quiet demeanor that revealed wisdom in the details. She became the temporary class monitor as a matter of course. Her roommate, Cui Xiaoya, was the first to express her support.
"The position of class monitor is not permanent," teacher Lei Zhan said in a resonant voice, his gaze sweeping over the eighty young yet earnest faces of Class One. "It is tentatively set for one month. After one month, we will re-evaluate based on your performance. Being a monitor means responsibility! You must unite your classmates, lead by example, and guide the class to strive for excellence in all evaluations! If you become slack or prove incapable, you will be replaced at any time!"
Teacher Su Wan also spoke gently to the students of Class Three: "The monitor is a service position, a bridge connecting the teacher and the students. I hope Yunyao can be a good leader, and I hope all of you will support her work so that we can make Class Three a positive and upward-moving collective."
Yu Yunting and Yu Yunyao each expressed in their respective classes that they would do their best and not let the teachers and classmates down. Although the siblings had different personalities, they had been taught by their parents since childhood to understand the weight of the word "responsibility." They did not feel smug about their temporary lead; instead, they felt the pressure.
Tianxing Academy was not all harmony; the competition mechanism was quite strict. The entire Junior Department was roughly divided into several groups based on the students' Martial Soul characteristics and potential: seven classes dominated by Power Attack and Agility Attack (Class One through Class Seven), three classes dominated by Support and Control (Class Eight through Class Ten), and one special class, Class Eleven.
The students of Class Eleven generally possessed lower-quality Martial Souls, and their Innate Soul Power was mostly below level three. They had been admitted as an exception due to the perseverance and determination they displayed during the entrance test, which far exceeded that of ordinary people. The academy gave them a chance, but the road ahead was destined to be more difficult than for others. This year, Class Eleven had over fifty students, each with a stubborn, unyielding look in their eyes.
The academy encouraged healthy competition between classes. At the end of each month, a "Class Comprehensive Evaluation" would be conducted, with rankings based on scores in multiple dimensions such as classroom discipline, hygiene, martial arts training progress, and academic performance. For the top-ranked classes, the academy provided substantial rewards—for example, a month's supply of free Soul Beast Meat and customized medicinal cuisine for the entire class!
For students from ordinary backgrounds with scarce resources, this was undoubtedly a huge temptation. Soul Beast Meat could strengthen the physique and accelerate the cultivation of Qi and Blood, while customized medicinal cuisine could nourish the meridians and mend foundations. These resources allowed them to shorten the gap with students from wealthy backgrounds at the starting line. Therefore, every class was determined to come out on top in the monthly evaluation.
In addition, individuals who performed exceptionally well in class activities or large-scale competitions had the opportunity to be recognized by the academy as "Core Disciple," enjoying more resource allocation and guidance from famous teachers. That was the fast track to the Path of the Strong.
The atmosphere of competition began to permeate from the very first week of school. During martial arts class, although the training areas for each class were separate, the students could see each other's performance.
Class One was sweating profusely under the "devil training" of teacher Lei Zhan; Class Three was undergoing seemingly gentle but mentally exhausting flexibility and balance training under the firm yet soft guidance of teacher Su Wan; even the students of Class Eleven were conducting basic physical training that far exceeded their own limits under the leadership of a stern teacher, gritting their teeth and persisting without a single complaint.
As the monitor of Class One, Yu Yunting felt a heavy sense of responsibility. He not only had to complete his own high-intensity training but also keep an eye on the state of his classmates. If some students lacked stamina, he would quietly slow down his pace to run with them for a while; if some students had incorrect form, he would take the initiative to step forward during breaks and patiently correct them using the methods his father had taught him. After training, he would also organize a few close classmates to practice more, urging each other on.
"Yunting, I just can't seem to master this Force Application Technique," Gao Zeyu said, wiping his sweat with a look of frustration.
Yu Yunting walked over and demonstrated it himself: "Zeyu, look, you need to tighten your waist and abdomen. The power starts from the ground, passes through your legs, waist, and back, and finally concentrates on your fist. It's not just using the strength of your arms. You try."
With his help, Gao Zeyu quickly found the trick and was overjoyed. Yu Yunting's attitude of being down-to-earth and helpful quickly won the favor of most of his classmates in Class One, and the class cohesion began to manifest.
Yu Yunyao was doing equally well in Class Three. She was meticulous and good at observing. When she discovered that her roommate, Cui Xiaoya, seemed unable to keep up with the progress of the flexibility training, she invited Cui Xiaoya to practice more during their spare time and shared some stretching techniques.
"Xiaoya, this movement needs to be coordinated with your breathing. Take it slow, don't rush," Yu Yunyao guided softly. "Yes, that's it, just hold it for a little longer."
With her help, Cui Xiaoya's movements improved significantly, and she was deeply grateful. Yu Yunyao also used her affinity with plants to guide her classmates in identifying the flowers and plants around the Martial Arts Arena during breaks, explaining some basic knowledge of medicinal properties. This not only broadened their horizons but also eased the fatigue of training, making the atmosphere in Class Three exceptionally harmonious.
However, beneath the calm campus life, small ripples were hidden. One day after school, Yu Yunting and Gao Zeyu were walking to the cafeteria together when they heard a commotion as they passed a small grove.
"A piece of trash from Class Eleven, and you think you're worthy of eating at the same table as us? Get lost!" an arrogant voice rang out.
Yu Yunting frowned, exchanged a glance with Gao Zeyu, and walked over quickly. In the clearing among the trees, several boys wearing the uniforms of Class Seven with arrogant expressions were surrounding two students wearing the simple uniforms of Class Eleven. Of the two surrounded, one was thin and small, his head lowered with fists clenched, while the other glared back, refusing to back down.
"What's going on?" Yu Yunting stepped forward, his voice calm but carrying a sense of majesty.
The students from Class Seven turned their heads at the sound, and their arrogant momentum faltered when they saw it was Yu Yunting. Yu Yunting's identity and strength were no longer a secret among the new students.
"Yu... Yu Yunting, this is none of your business! These poor ghosts from Class Eleven were blocking our way!" the tall boy in the lead said, trying to stay calm.
"Don't forget where this is. This is not a place for you nobles to throw your weight around," Yu Yunting's gaze swept over them. "The academy rules prohibit students from fighting privately and bullying classmates. Do you want to violate the academy rules?"
Gao Zeyu also stood by Yu Yunting's side, glaring at them.
The complexions of the Class Seven students shifted; they were clearly wary of the academy rules. The leading boy snorted sullenly: "Hmph, meddlesome! Let's go!" After saying that, he led his group away in a dejected manner.
Yu Yunting looked at the two students from Class Eleven and asked gently: "Are you two alright?"
The student who had been glaring took a deep breath, cupped his hands and said: "Thank you, monitor Yu, for stepping in! My name is Shi Lei, and this is Lin Feng. We are fine!"
The other thin student, Lin Feng, also raised his head and said in a low voice: "Thank you..."
Yu Yunting waved his hand: "It was just a small effort. We are all classmates, and we should help each other. If they look for trouble again, you can tell the teacher, or... you can come find me." He could see that this Shi Lei had a backbone, and although Lin Feng seemed a bit gloomy, there was a sense of unwillingness deep in his eyes.
A flash of gratitude crossed Shi Lei's eyes, and he nodded heavily: "Yes! Thank you!"
Leaving the small grove, Gao Zeyu remarked with emotion: "Yunting, you were really majestic just now! Those guys from Class Seven are usually so arrogant."
Yu Yunting shook his head: "Bullying others with one's status is not what a strong person does. The academy established Class Eleven to give them a chance, so we should not look down on them. True strength is making your ability match your status, not using it to bully the weak."
Gao Zeyu nodded thoughtfully.
At dinner, Yu Yunting told his sister about the incident. Yu Yunyao frowned slightly after hearing it: "Class Seven... I heard their class atmosphere is a bit... Brother, you did the right thing. But be careful, they might not let it go easily."
Yu Yunting smiled and put a piece of her favorite green vegetable into her sister's bowl: "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing. The academy has rules; they won't dare to act recklessly. What about you? Is everything going smoothly in your class?"
"It's quite good," Yu Yunyao smiled faintly, a hint of playfulness flashing in her eyes. "Our classmates are all very harmonious. However... teacher Su said today that next month we might start basic drills for Martial Soul coordination, and it seems like it will be linked with the Power Attack System classes."
Yu Yunting's eyes lit up: "Really? Then maybe our class will be able to cooperate with your class!"
"Maybe," Yu Yunyao nodded. "When the time comes, it will depend on the performance of your Class One. Don't drag our Class Three down." She made a rare joke, revealing a bit of liveliness.
"Hmph, just wait and see! Our Class One will definitely be the strongest!" Yu Yunting said, unconvinced.
The siblings looked at each other and smiled, and a warm sense of competition filled the air.
Night fell, and Tianxing Academy gradually quieted down. In the dormitory, Yu Yunting was still reading books on basic martial arts theory under the lamp, while Gao Zeyu was doing his basic pre-sleep exercises nearby. Yu Yunyao and Cui Xiaoya were whispering about the Martial Soul Energy Guidance Technique that teacher Su had taught today.
The framework of the classes had been built, and an atmosphere of competition had already formed. The young eagles began to flap their immature wings, learning to fly in the melting pot of the collective, learning to collaborate, and learning to face the wind and rain. The pressure of the monthly evaluation was like a whip hanging over their heads, motivating every student to strive forward.
Yu Yunting and Yu Yunyao, as class monitors, were growing rapidly while fulfilling their responsibilities. They began to realize that while individual strength was important, how to unite a collective and lead everyone to progress together was another profound subject.
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Translated by: randomtranslator.com
Proofread by: GodKun-Chan