"So, can I come hang out with you? I'm on break now too."
"Hmm... Elf Planet is a closed planet. Only major factions like Shrek, Spirit Pagoda, War God Temple, and Tang Sect have access."
Gu Xun explained Spirit Star's purpose—providing a habitat for soul beasts. But wasn't that just another form of captivity?
"Huh? No wonder I've never heard of Elf Planet... So I can't come visit you then?"
Lan Xuan Yu instantly deflated, looking utterly dejected. Seeing this, Gu Xun casually remarked.
"It's fine. We'll meet when the chance arises."
"Hmm... Well then, Gu Xun, let's train. Teacher Nana said once I reach Level 19, I can go find her."
Seeing this, Lan Xuan Yu prepared to train with Gu Xun, who seemed somewhat reluctant.
"If you're training, just train. Why are you grabbing my hand?"
"Oh, I'm training beside you. It'll go faster this way."
Saying this, Lan Xuanyu tugged Gu Xun toward the sofa. Gu Xun looked at the seemingly much shorter Lan Xuanyu before him.
Lan Xuanyu's hands were also noticeably smaller than his own. Gu Xun couldn't shake the feeling something was off—could it be that Lan Xuanyu was stunted?
Ah, whatever. Training is training. Gu Xun pushed these thoughts aside. Now was the time to just let things be.
Time slipped by bit by bit, and Gu Xun's month-long vacation flew by.
Gu Xun and Dong Qianqiu arrived at the Tian Dou Intermediate Spirit Master Academy. Due to their outstanding performance at the Elementry Academy, they had been placed in the academy's specially established elite class.
"Gu Xun, I got a new dorm room too," Dong Qianqiu said, flashing her dorm key. Gu Xun paid it no mind—he was a commuter, so it didn't concern him.
Instead, Gu Xun set up a teleportation anchor in an unoccupied corner near the academy gates.
"Qianqiu, I've placed the teleportation anchor here. If you ever want to visit Elf Planet or the villa estate, just come over and use the teleport."
"Got it."
Gu Xun glanced at Dong Qianqiu and offered a reminder. Dong Qianqiu nodded in acknowledgment before responding.
Afterward, Gu Xun and Dong Qianqiu entered the elite class, where many students were already waiting.
Gu Xun immediately spotted the window seat at the back and walked over. Back row, window seat—the king's domain.
Dong Qianqiu followed Gu Xun and eventually sat beside him. Watching the other students introduce themselves to each other, Dong Qianqiu grew curious.
"Gu Xun, why do you always insist on sitting in the back?"
Dong Qianqiu wondered why Gu Xun always chose the back window seat. Hearing this, Gu Xun replied with a nonchalant air.
"You wouldn't understand. It's an obsession from Earth. Back row, window seat—the king's homeland."
"Earth? Is that your homeworld?"
Dong Qianqiu froze upon hearing the mention of Earth, then recalled Douluo Planet's vivid azure hue.
"...Whatever you say."
Gu Xun promptly went blank, head propped up in his hands. Dong Qianqiu rolled her eyes at his response.
Soon, all the students had gathered. Gu Xun scanned the room—the elite class was small, only thirty students.
Yet these boys and girls, roughly seven or eight years old, were likely the most outstanding pupils from all the branches of Tian Dou Academy.
Tian Dou Academy had numerous branches across Tian Dou Planet, and they gathered the most promising talents from each branch for intensive training.
The ultimate goal of this training was to secure admission into Shrek Academy. If a student gained entry into Shrek Academy, or other top institutions like Sun Moon Academy, the higher-ups would allocate more resources to that branch. All branches operated under this mindset, striving to obtain greater resources by concentrating their efforts on cultivating promising students.
Naturally, the resources consumed by such intensive training were immense, making it impossible to support too many students simultaneously. Thus, the small class size was entirely reasonable.
As Gu Xun pondered this, a stern male instructor entered the room, instantly silencing the students.
"I am your homeroom teacher. You may address me as Teacher Wang. For the next several years, I will serve as your homeroom teacher and guide your class."
"Now, please begin with self-introductions."
After Teacher Wang spoke, he turned to the first student in the front row. The student jolted upright and immediately stood to say.
"My name is Yang Dongmei. My martial spirit is Soul Breaking Spear. Level 18."
"What? Dongmei?"
Gu Xun blurted out the name instinctively, drawing the stares of the entire class toward him.
Dong Qianqiu, feeling the collective gaze, shifted slightly away from Gu Xun.
"Yang Dongmei..."
Yang Dongmei rolled her eyes, repeating her name once more. Gu Xun gave an awkward chuckle.
"Sorry, I overreacted."
The crowd withdrew their gazes. Self-introductions resumed, and Gu Xun drifted off again until a familiar name caught his ear.
"My name is Lan Mengqin. My martial spirit is Snow Maiden. Level 24."
Lan Mengqin's level startled everyone. They hadn't expected someone to already be at level 24.
Gu Xun glanced at Lan Mengqin. She seemed to be Dong Qianqiu's teammate. He hadn't expected to meet her here. She appeared quite talented, possessing dual martial souls—one Snow Maiden, and the other seemed to be a zither.