The Path of Armor, The Eve of Competition
The brief respite ended not with chatter, but with a collective inhale of focus. Shen Yi's lecture shifted from the what of battle armor to the how—a roadmap that transformed abstract ambition into concrete steps.
Yao Xuan listened, his mind a well-organized workshop. As Shen Yi outlined the four second professions, he mentally cataloged his own status. Forging: Level 5. Mecha Design, Manufacturing, Repair: all Level 4. The system' quantified assessments aligned perfectly with Shen Yi's descriptions. Design and manufacturing were indeed the most directly synergistic paths, but his Extraordinary Comprehension allowed him to see the profound advantage of mastering forging. Controlling the base material at the most fundamental level meant his armor would be born from his own will and energy, not just assembled to his specifications.
When Shen Yi stated that no one had ever mastered all three core professions simultaneously, Yao Xuan's eyes didn't flicker, but a quiet flame of determination burned within. The Creation Soul Forging Technique was not a normal path. It demanded holistic mastery. The system's rewards weren't random; they were building a foundation for exactly that unprecedented synthesis. He wouldn't boast it, but the goal crystallized in his mind: to be the exception.
Gu Yue, beside him, noted the subtle shift in his aura—a faint tightening of focus, a deeper stillness. She understood. His path was one of integration, of leaving no aspect of his power to external dependency. It resonated with her own nature as the Silver Dragon King; her power was innate, elemental, and complete. She approved.
Shen Yi's explanation of the two methods—contribution points or camaraderie—elicited different reactions. Le Zhengyu's faction exchanged confident glances; wealth and status were their tools. Tang Wulin looked immediately toward Yao Xuan and Xie Xie, his expression earnest. Xie Xie himself looked thoughtful, perhaps realizing the value of the friends beside him over cold transactions.
Yao Xuan's approach was already decided. He had his team: Gu Yue, whose analytical mind could complement design principles; Tang Wulin, a forging brother; Xie Xie, whose agility might lend itself to precise manufacturing work. They would help each other. It was the only way that felt right.
Then came the class officer announcement. Shen Yi's proclamation that the forging committee member was pre-appointed cut through the room's speculative murmur.
"First, the forging committee member. Yao Xuan, stand up and let all the students get to know you."
A ripple passed through the classroom. Yao Xuan rose smoothly, his movement economical and poised. He turned to face his peers, his expression calm, neither arrogant nor overly modest.
The reaction was immediate and varied, painted across young faces still learning to mask their thoughts.
The Enhanced Charm, a passive system ability, worked in tandem with his natural bearing—honed by the Ancestral Dragon bloodline and a spirit tempered through struggle. He stood at 1.8 meters, his frame the perfect balance of lean strength and fluid grace, as if sculpted by wind and will rather than mere muscle. His skin held a healthy, subtle luminescence, a side effect of the purified soul power and dragonized body, making him seem somehow clearer than everyone else. His features were sharply defined yet harmonious, with eyes that held the quiet depth of a calm sea and the perceptive sharpness of a bird of prey.
Many of the female students felt a sudden, pleasant flutter, their eyes widening slightly. It wasn't just his looks; it was the composed, steady energy he emitted, like a anchored mountain in a choppy sea. A few glanced quickly at Gu Yue, who sat beside him with an air of serene belonging, and the nascent sparks of admiration were wisely tempered by that visible, unspoken bond.
The male students' reactions were more complex. Curiosity, assessment, and in many, the prickling of competitive instinct. They were all prodigies, used to being the center of their own worlds. A pre-appointed position, especially for one so outwardly exceptional, was a natural provocation.
"Teacher!"
The voice from the back was bold, edged with challenge. A boy with sharp features and russet hair stood up. It was not Le Zhengyu, but one of his apparent satellites, a fire-attribute soul master named Li Kai. "Respectfully, we've only just met. How can the academy appoint a committee member without demonstrating skill? Shouldn't such positions also be earned?"
A murmur of agreement rustled through parts of the room. Shen Yi's smile didn't fade; he seemed to have expected this.
"A fair question," Shen Yi acknowledged. "The appointment is based on verified professional certification and prior achievement. Yao Xuan possesses a fifth-rank blacksmith certification. Are there any other fifth-rank blacksmiths among the first-year students?"
The rustling died. Fifth-rank at fourteen was monstrous. Tang Wulin, a fifth-rank himself, nodded firmly, his support silent but clear.
Li Kai flushed but pressed on, driven by loyalty to his group or his own pride. "Forging rank is one thing, Teacher. But a committee member should also have the strength to back up their position. Will the forging committee member not also participate in the class monitor competition?"
Shen Yi looked to Yao Xuan, ceding the floor.
Yao Xuan met Li Kai's gaze, his own calm and unwavering. "I will participate," he said, his voice carrying easily without being loud. "The competition will judge combat and leadership. The forging committee position judges skill at the anvil. Both are valid measures of one's capacity to contribute to the class." He paused, then added, "If any doubt my forging skill, I am happy to provide a demonstration after the competition. We are here to learn from each other, after all."
The answer was diplomatic but firm. It acknowledged the challenge without conceding ground, offered proof but on his own terms, and subtly redirected the focus to communal growth rather than personal confrontation.
Li Kai, finding no opening for further argument under Shen Yi's watchful eye, sat down with a stiff nod.
Shen Yi moved on, announcing the other pre-appointed position—the design committee member, given to a quiet, spectacled girl named Li Xiao who had apparently submitted stunning theoretical designs during enrollment. The focus then fully shifted to the main event.
"The class monitor competition will be held in the Seventh Practice Field in one hour," Shen Yi declared. "The environment is simulated and will change. Form your teams of five. Remember, this tests survival, combat, and leadership. The victory goes not always to the strongest individual, but to the most cohesive unit."
As the class was dismissed, the room erupted into a buzz of frantic alliance-forming. Yao Xuan turned to his core. Gu Yue was already at his side, her silver eyes scanning the room, analytically categorizing the forming teams. Tang Wulin and Xie Xie quickly made their way over.
"Well, we've got our four," Xie Xie said, a grin on his face. "Who's our fifth? Wang Jinxi? Zhang Yangzi?"
Yao Xuan's Eye of Insight swept the room. He saw Le Zhengyu's group solidifying around Yuanen Yehui's formidable presence. He saw other clusters forming based on elemental affinities or apparent friendships.
"Zhang Yangzi," Yao Xuan decided after a moment. "His Bluesilver Grass has immense utility for terrain manipulation and control. It complements our lineup—your speed, Wulin's frontal power, Gu Yue's area control, and my versatility. We need tactical options, not just more raw force."
It was a strategic choice, not one of mere familiarity. Gu Yue gave a slight nod of approval. Tang Wulin, who got along well with the easygoing Zhang Yangzi, agreed readily.
As they moved to find him, Yao Xuan felt the new soul power vortex in his heart spin steadily, a calm center in the brewing storm. The theoretical lessons were over. The first practical test of their Shrek Academy life—and of the bonds they were forging—was about to begin. He glanced at Gu Yue, and in her returning gaze, he saw the same focused readiness. Together, they walked toward the arena, their team gathering around them.