Lu Lin was growing curious. What kind of background did this Zuo Yiming have? Judging from Zhou Ziqiang's words, it seemed Zuo Yiming wasn't like them—not an off-world immigrant, but rather the scion of a prominent family with a high-ranking background.
While he was pondering, many students took a deep breath when Zuo Yiming stood up. Clearly, none of them had expected him to be here.
"Who exactly is this Zuo Yiming?"
"Zuo Yiming? He's from our Tongyuan City—er, no, he's a scion of the Zuo Family from the northeastern part of the Hua Xia District."
"This morning at the Awakening Base, the Talent he awakened was the Light Talent."
The Light Talent? When ordinary people awakened their Talent, it usually fell within the five elements: metal, wood, water, fire, or earth. Although occasionally, some commoners awakened special Talents due to innate genius, generally, those who could awaken special Talents belonged to great families. Zuo Yiming, a scion of the Zuo Family, was studying at Golden Sword High School for some reason, but his family was a genuine Star Core Warrior clan. The elders in his family were renowned Light Star Core Warriors in the Hua Xia District. Logically, there was no need for him to attend the school for a free Star Skill Guidance opportunity. Unless... he already knew that Master Jiang Yueming was responsible for this graduation Star Skill Guidance.
Zuo Yiming stood up, oblivious to the discussions of the students around him. He bowed deeply to Master Jiang. "Master Jiang, I am grateful for your guidance in Comprehending Star Skills. My father called just now and wishes to invite you to dinner, if you are available."
Jiang Yueming paused for a moment. Upon recognizing Zuo Yiming's striking resemblance to his father, understanding dawned. "Your father… Zuo Zhenyu? Very well. Since General Zuo has extended such a kind invitation, this old man will happily partake of a meal."
"Thank you for gracing us with your presence, Master Jiang."
Zuo Yiming bowed once more, then stood straight with a smile, awaiting Master Jiang's next instruction.
Observing their exchange, Lu Lin couldn't help but marvel. Look at him: an impressive family background, handsome and martially skilled, possessing a special Light Talent, capable of comprehending Double Star Skills—his noble bearing evident in every word and action. His family elders associated with Master-level figures like Jiang Yueming. Even without any overt displays, a clear boundary naturally formed, separating them from ordinary people. Even if everyone present was a future Star Core Warrior, in the eyes of a great family like the Zuo Family, they were hardly different from ordinary people. More importantly, Lu Lin recalled that Zuo Yiming's father, Zuo Zhenyu, seemed to be the commander of Tongyuan City's defense forces.
"And the third genius? What, do you need this old man to call you out?" Jiang Yueming said from the stage, a teasing tone in his voice, yet his gaze fell precisely on Lu Lin. "Such a good opportunity to make a name for yourself, you should seize it. You're not thinking of skipping the Eighteen University Union, are you?"
The Eighteen University Union was a league of the top eighteen Star Martial Arts Universities on Blue Star. Since their founding, these eighteen universities had a strict admission policy: only elites and geniuses were accepted. For ordinary Star Core Warriors, gaining entry to study there was exceedingly difficult. Even geniuses who entered the Eighteen University Union would be inspired by its fiercely competitive spirit. They would willingly relinquish the halo of their past genius and dedicate themselves to cultivation with the same effort as any ordinary student. For a thousand years, the Eighteen University Union had continually expanded and improved, supplying the Human Federation with millions of outstanding talents.
Following Master Jiang's gaze, the students all looked towards the line of people where Lu Lin sat.
Some lowered their heads, indicating it wasn't them.
Some glanced around, trying to spot who the final genius might be.
Some looked resentful; others were merely curious.
Luo Ling and Zuo Yiming, who were already standing, also cast inquisitive glances. The two were recognized geniuses at Golden Sword High School. Especially after awakening their special Talents, their fame within the school had reached its peak. However, neither of them had heard of a third student in the school who had awakened a special Talent.
"Damn it!" Zhou Ziqiang's eyebrows shot up, and he grabbed Lu Lin's sleeve. "Quick, head down! We can't attract attention now."
"Oh? Why?" Lu Lin asked, curious, but he made no move to get up.
"Why? Are you stupid?!" Zhou Ziqiang exclaimed. "Everyone's looking for the third person who comprehended Double Star Skills. We're not them! If we get mistaken for them, it'll be incredibly embarrassing. Not even someone as exceptionally talented as I, your Brother Qiang, could comprehend Double Star Skills. Do you think you can? What's with that look, Lu Lin? Don't tell me you actually think you're the genius who comprehended Double Star Skills!"
Their seats were in a corner of the classroom. When the students in front of Lu Lin all indicated that the third genius wasn't them, all eyes in the classroom focused on Lu Lin and Zhou Ziqiang. Zhou Ziqiang quickly pulled Lu Lin's head down, trying to avoid everyone's gaze.
"We're doomed, we're doomed, we're doomed!" he muttered. "Dude, get your head down!"
"No need," Lu Lin said softly.
Under the scrutiny of over a hundred pairs of eyes, each filled with various emotions, Lu Lin slowly rose from his seat.
"Fuck, Lu Lin, are you out of your mind?!" Zhou Ziqiang urged frantically. "Don't tell me you actually think you're a genius! Since Master Jiang said there's a third person, it means he already has someone in mind. You can't fake that kind of identity!"
"No need to fake it." Lu Lin stood straight. His gaze, firm and unwavering, met Master Jiang Yueming's smiling eyes.
Facing the stares of all the Awakeners of Golden Sword High School, Lu Lin straightened his back. He wore a playful expression. "Fatty," he said, "who ever said that I, Lu Lin, can't be a genius?"
His voice was calm but exceptionally firm.
Zhou Ziqiang stared at Lu Lin in disbelief. He truly hadn't imagined that the so-called third genius was the person right beside him. To think he had just kindly tried to pull Lu Lin under the desk to shield him from the attention. So, I was the clown all along?
Luo Ling met Lu Lin's gaze. She held it for a moment, then turned away.
Zuo Yiming met Lu Lin's gaze. His eyes held a hint of confusion, and also curiosity. This little Golden Sword High School had actually produced a second commoner genius. With a slight smile, Zuo Yiming also turned his head away.
"Good!" Master Jiang Yueming exclaimed upon seeing Lu Lin stand up. He had previously conducted Star Skill Guidance for Awakening graduates from elite schools and academies for nobles. But his most glorious moment was forty years ago, during a single Guiding session where he successfully helped two students comprehend Double Star Skills. For many years since, he hadn't encountered another situation where two students comprehended Double Star Skills simultaneously, let alone three.
He'd never expected this, never at all. Just as he was on the verge of retirement, Golden Sword High School, an ordinary school in such a remote place, had allowed him to achieve the feat of guiding three students to comprehend Double Star Skills in a single session! Master Jiang had reason to believe that for at least the next hundred years, no other Guide would be able to break this record of his.
"Good!" he said again. "Luo Ling. Zuo Yiming. Lu Lin. You have all done very well. Please, be seated."
Jiang Yueming waved his hand, the smile on his face impossible to conceal. "The Guiding ceremony has concluded. I, this old man, wish you all a bright future, prosperous martial fortune, and the strength to make our might known in other regions."
"Our Human Race is immortal!"
"Our Human Race is immortal!"
"Our Human Race is immortal!"
Inside the Multi-functional Classroom, as Master Jiang Yueming shouted, arm raised high, the students, one by one, raised their right arms. Their eyes were fervent, their blood boiled, and they roared in response.
"Our Human Race is immortal!"
"Our Human Race is immortal!"
"Our Human Race is immortal!"
...
These voices merged, creating a deafening roar that shook the surroundings and would strike terror into the hearts of any enemy.
Our Human Race!
Immortal!