"I also think he might one day surpass Yun Ming." Dean Xu Lin nodded, glanced at Long Chen on the competition stage, and said to the elder beside him:
"Take the boy for treatment—he's badly burned. If he's not healed soon, his life could be in danger."
"When he wakes, make sure to remind him to forget this matter. Under no circumstances should he become enemies with Yun Ze. If he dares to use his family's power for revenge, don't blame the academy for being ruthless."
At these last words, a flash of killing intent appeared in Xu Lin's eyes. Between Long Chen and Yun Ze, he would definitely side with Yun Ze.
The latter's talent simply couldn't be compared to the former's. Anyone with half a brain knew who was worth cultivating.
"Understood," one of the elders replied.
Yun Ze left the Soul Battle Arena with Gu Yuena.
In the corridor, Gu Yuena said, "The dean and several other academy leaders were watching just now." Her senses were extraordinary—although those leaders had concealed their auras, she had still detected them.
Yun Ze was unsurprised. "I noticed. The reason my final strike targeted Long Chen's right chest was to test their attitude."
His ability to sense auras was extremely sharp; the moment Xu Lin and the others arrived, he felt it.
This sensing ability had nothing to do with spiritual power—it was pure instinct. Because Xu Lin and the others were stronger than him, that dangerous pressure could not be hidden.
Even if Di Tian himself masked his aura and approached, Yun Ze could still detect him instantly, let alone Xu Lin and company.
"Test their attitude? Toward what?" Gu Yuena hadn't caught on yet.
"Of course, toward choosing between us and Long Chen," Yun Ze said softly.
"If they intervened, it would mean they'd chosen Long Chen. If they didn't, it means they've chosen us."
"From now on, you can let Di Tian act as he pleases. There's no need to hold back—the academy won't side with Long Chen against us."
"Alright," Gu Yuena agreed.
After leaving the building, Gu Yuena went to the Sun and Moon cafeteria to keep eating—she hadn't been full earlier.
Yun Ze headed to the library to continue reading the black-grade mecha book he hadn't finished, his mind calm and unaffected by the battle.
He might have been at ease, but the academy was in an uproar. The fight had spread like wildfire—within half an hour, everyone knew.
Someone at the scene had recorded it with a soul tool, and now the footage was being broadcast on the academy's big screens.
A level 21 Grand Soul Master crushing a level 41 Soul Sect—this news was explosive and unbelievable. Students rushed to watch the video to confirm it was real.
After watching, almost everyone reacted the same way—staring in shock, unable to believe their eyes.
Not only was Yun Ze's overwhelming combat strength shocking, but the fact that he was only at soul power level 21 also stunned them.
Within an hour, Yun Ze's name was firmly imprinted in the minds of the students. Words of praise flowed freely.
Just like that, Yun Ze became a sensation in the academy—a rising star with great power, outstanding temperament, and striking looks, enough to make many female students swoon.
Discussions about him spread everywhere, mostly about the battle. They wanted to talk about other things, but realized they didn't know much else about him.
"He went into the fourth floor of the library," one student who had seen him there reported.
That news shocked people again—they all knew the entry requirements for the fourth floor. The fact he could enter meant his identity was far from ordinary.
The library soon filled with curious onlookers who wanted to see what made Yun Ze so special.
Unaware of the commotion, Yun Ze sat quietly in the reading room, poring over materials.
Hours passed, and night had fallen. Seeing there was still an hour before the meeting, Yun Ze noted his page number, closed the book, and returned it to its place.
As he descended the stairs, he saw many students gathered. In an instant, all their eyes shifted to him.
"He's even more handsome than in the video," one female student whispered shyly to her friend.
Yun Ze showed no discomfort under their stares, walking calmly down the steps and heading straight toward the stairs to the second floor.
An old man lounging by the fourth-floor staircase smiled and nodded at the sight. "Calm and unhurried—his state of mind is good."
The crowd simply watched him pass. Some wanted to greet him, but didn't act.
Yun Ze now carried less of his usual warmth and more of an aloofness that kept people at a distance.
Even some older students felt a bit intimidated and dared not approach—somehow, they feared this side of him.
Just as he reached the first-floor library, he ran into Gu Yuena.
"You're coming down already? I thought you'd lose track of time reading again," she greeted with a smile.
She had come to remind him about the meeting, worried he might get too absorbed in reading.
"I wouldn't forget the time," Yun Ze replied. "I just stayed a bit longer since I usually just eat at this time anyway. But since we have the meeting tonight, I didn't read too much."
They walked side by side toward the exit.
"Seeing all these people looking at me like that… has the news about my fight with Long Chen spread?" Yun Ze asked.
Gu Yuena looked at him in surprise. "How did you know?"
Yun Ze smiled, glancing at the nearby students. "Their expressions and eyes told me."
"If it weren't for that incident, their looks wouldn't carry such a mix of shock, envy, and curiosity."
"You're amazing—being able to read so much from just expressions and glances," Gu Yuena praised sincerely.
"It's nothing. If you observe enough people, you naturally pick up on these things—it's just experience," Yun Ze said.
Even so, the sparkle in Gu Yuena's eyes remained. She smiled. "The fight has definitely spread. You're the academy's star now."
"I've even heard that a lot of female students want to meet you. If you were a little older, they might just throw themselves into your arms."
Her tone carried a trace of jealousy.
"It's just childish excitement. Give it some time and their enthusiasm will fade," Yun Ze said dismissively.
He had once been worshipped by trillions of beings and hadn't cared—he certainly wouldn't now.
Hearing this, Gu Yuena's mood lifted. She dropped the topic and said, "Let's eat first, then head to the meeting."
"Have you eaten?" Yun Ze asked casually.
"No."
"Then hurry, or we'll run out of time."
"I eat fast," Gu Yuena said, though not with much confidence.