Volume One: The Awakening of the Dragon Soul Chapter 58: The Results of Class Assignment

"Why is her element unknown?" Mo Xing asked in surprise, pointing at the element column. A line of text popped up—
"Element cannot be classified."
"Isn’t the otherworld supposed to have nine major elements? Why... why does Shiyan’s element column show 'cannot be classified'?"
"Perhaps it’s outside the nine major elements," Zhang Zhihai replied calmly. "Anything is possible. We need to prove that possibility with action."
"Make use of your initiative—I'll leave this task to you," Zhang Zhihai said, patting Mo Xing's shoulder. "Go ahead and explore and communicate!"
"Ah? This..." Mo Xing was momentarily speechless.
Great One, Great One, aren’t you just matchmaking here?
"Chengzi, how are you arranging manpower for assistance over at Chiyue Academy?" Zhang Zhihai suddenly asked.
"The school doesn’t plan to send too many people," Chengzi replied after a pause. "After all, the school has more girls, the journey is long, and the tasks are arduous. Few girls can endure such hardship, so these aid missions usually send boys. Among them is Gaddy Goss."
"Oh? Gaddy Goss is joining too?" Zhang Zhihai’s eyes brightened. "He’s a pretty formidable opponent."
"D... Diga? No, that’s not right..." Mo Xing realized he’d mispronounced the name, hastily correcting himself. "Is Gaddy Goss really that strong? To be acknowledged by the Great One..."
"Yes, he’s an outstanding berserker," Zhang Zhihai said with a smile. "Last year, I met him in the individual semifinals of the [Freshman Cup]. It took ten whole minutes to decide the winner."
"Ten minutes..." Mo Xing couldn’t grasp what ten minutes meant for a duel between Great Ones, but for himself it was neither long nor short. "So... so in the end, you won, Great One?"
"Naturally," Xia Ningxin said coldly.
"Last year’s [Freshman Cup] individual finals was a Saint Void Royal Academy internal match~" Chengzi smiled. "The opponents were Zhihai and Xia Ningxin, both sitting right in front of you~"
"So... so strong! Took both champion and runner-up..." Mo Xing was shocked. He never expected to share a meal with last year’s [Freshman Cup] champion and runner-up...
How could he be so lucky!
"Not only that, Saint Void Royal Academy achieved a [Freshman Cup] three-peat, and also won the last [Academy League] championship, completing a true grand slam," Chengzi added.
"Incredible, my academy!" Mo Xing exclaimed, a sense of pride welling up inside him.
The strongest academy is truly the strongest! It’s not just hype! [Freshman Cup] three-peat! Last [Academy League] champion! No wonder the Saint Void Royal Academy’s freshman assessment has almost a fifty percent elimination rate! It’s to select and cultivate the best talent!
It’s just like Teiko Junior High from 'Kuroko’s Basketball'! A powerhouse through and through! How does that saying go...
Champions may come and go, but the dynasty stands strong!
"Can you tell me about the [Freshman Cup]?" Mo Xing scratched his head. "I... I’m really curious."
"Your instructor will go over these competitions in detail during classes," Zhang Zhihai said with a faint smile. "But if you’re truly curious, we can give you a rough overview."
"Of course, thank you, Great One!" Mo Xing nodded vigorously, like a well-behaved fluffy pup.
"The [Freshman Cup] and [Academy League] are traditional names. Their real names are [Spring Cup] and [Summer Cup], held at different times with different participants," Zhang Zhihai explained.
"The [Spring Cup] is held during the transition from winter to spring—over the winter break," Zhang Zhihai continued after a pause. "It’s the stage for all academy freshmen to showcase themselves, and you’ll participate in it in three months."
"Oh, so that’s how it works." Mo Xing nodded, muttering, "This world even has winter and summer breaks..."
"Of course." Zhang Zhihai smiled lightly. "Similarly, the [Summer Cup] is held during the summer break, open to all enrolled students across the academies. If the group draws are favorable, you might even have a duel with me."
"You’re joking, Great One," Mo Xing scratched his head. "How could I ever beat you?"
"This era belongs to us, but even more to you," Zhang Zhihai replied calmly. "If one day I fall, remember to take up the torch. Before that day arrives, grow stronger quickly."
"Save everyone, return to the world of men," Chengzi nodded.
"The torch never goes out," Xia Ningxin concluded.

Mo Xing stood stunned, feeling something deep within his soul stir. Gazing at the three Great Ones before him, united by a common belief, he smiled too, his eyes shining. "Yes... I will..."
"I’ll strive to become stronger, and take up the baton..."
"Save everyone, return to our original world..."
"The torch never goes out!"
Sunday afternoon.
After finishing today’s training, Mo Xing collapsed exhausted on the lawn, gasping for breath.
He recalled Saturday night—yesterday’s dinner. After chatting about the competitions, Zhang Zhihai and the others told him what to watch out for during the Dragonfang Island aid mission.
He occasionally asked Zhang Zhihai some detailed questions, like whether Dragonfang Island had a lot of tyrannosaurs, only to be met with Xia Ningxin’s cold retort, "Do you think this is Jurassic Park?" He was stunned and instantly felt foolish... Meanwhile, Chengzi would comfort him, telling him not to worry too much about it.
After that meal, he not only unlocked a wealth of knowledge but also got a sense of the three Great Ones' personalities:
Xia Ningxin...
The cool little princess, always teasing him. Though she was the campus beauty and stunning, did she really have to keep roasting him?
Chengzi...
The warm-hearted big sister, opposite to Xia Ningxin, gentle and patient, always willing to answer his questions.
Zhang Zhihai, the Great One...
The embodiment of strength, cultured and handsome, smart and a natural leader. All-around outstanding, though a bit gossipy...
"What are you muttering about?"
Suddenly, a familiar voice startled Mo Xing, prompting him to scramble upright.
"Great One..." Mo Xing breathed a sigh of relief. "You always appear out of nowhere—nearly scared me to death."
"Haha, how was the training?" Zhang Zhihai asked with a smile.
"Exhausting! Worse than military drills! All three days’ worth of training crammed into today—almost killed me!" Mo Xing replied with a bitter smile. Last night after dinner, he realized he hadn’t trained with the Great One, and since Friday’s training hadn’t passed, today brought new tasks.
Three days’ training! All dumped onto today. He’d been training since eight in the morning, with only a break for lunch, no real rest at all!
So miserable!
Absolutely miserable!
"Still, you pulled through, didn’t you?" Zhang Zhihai smiled. "The real battlefield is harsher—you might not even get lunch."
"Is that so?" Mo Xing asked knowingly.
Zhang Zhihai sat down on the lawn, took a water flask from his storage ring, and handed it to Mo Xing.
"Need a drink?" Zhang Zhihai smiled. "Clean, pure water."
"Of course! I’m dying of thirst!" Mo Xing grabbed the flask and drank greedily. He could have used his Dragon God powers to conjure a small water ball, but for some reason, those tasted bland—like spicy strips without the spice, not 'authentic' at all!
"Great One, you’re like Doraemon! Always carrying good stuff!"
"Plot convenience," Zhang Zhihai replied with a laugh.
"Haha, I never expected you to crack international jokes, Great One—cough, cough—" Mo Xing laughed, then choked on the water.
"By the way, the class assignments are out," Zhang Zhihai said, taking a document from his storage ring and waving it in front of Mo Xing.
"What! So fast?" Mo Xing took the document and began to flip through it.

"The first few pages are theory course instructors..." Mo Xing muttered, sliding his finger across the paper. "Let me check Professor Longlian’s student list..."
"Doesn’t seem to include me..." After skimming through, Mo Xing sighed. "No idea which instructor I’ll get assigned to."
"The master opens the door; cultivation depends on the individual," Zhang Zhihai smiled. "No matter which instructor you get, you must work hard yourself."
"Of course!" Mo Xing patted his chest. "I’ll listen diligently and practice hard!"
He turned another page, and his eyes were immediately drawn to the top two lines:
In bold blue letters: "Professor Xue Dinghai’s student list"
Below, in small black letters: "Mo Xing"
"This..." Mo Xing froze, speechless.
What the—?
Xue Dinghai?
That dreadfully boring bald director?
He’s my theory course instructor?
Heavens! Is this a mistake?
They actually assigned such a 'sleep-inducing' middle-aged man as my mentor?
"This... this isn’t just opening the door—it’s sending me straight to the underworld! Looks like I really have to rely on myself!" Mo Xing said helplessly, not daring to recall Xue Dinghai’s lectures—he’s the silent demon!
Wherever he goes, not a blade of grass survives!
"Is it really that hopeless?" Zhang Zhihai smiled calmly. "Theory courses are taught in large classes, covering broad topics. To truly improve, it depends on how your practical course instructor guides you to tap your depth—"
"That is, your potential."
"Great One is right!" Mo Xing nodded in agreement. "Practical courses are small classes, the instructor teaches more intricately, and with hands-on practice, ability improves faster!"
At this, Mo Xing hurriedly flipped through the document faster, driven by overwhelming curiosity to learn the answer...
His practical course instructor...
Who would it be?
"Chen... Chen Mousse?" Mo Xing finally found the name and was stunned. "I don’t think I’ve heard of this instructor... Great One, do you know who that is?"
"Quite familiar," Zhang Zhihai replied calmly.
"So... what kind of person is she?" Mo Xing pressed on.
"Her?" Zhang Zhihai paused.
"Hard to say in a word."
———— Idle chatter by the pit ————
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