29 Selecting 10 Participants

After Song Weihan told him all this, Sheng Feilong was somewhat downcast. He didn't know that the Spirit Ascension Platform had such tight rules, though, when taking the resources spent into consideration, it makes sense that even high level figures can only allow talented individuals entry. He thought a bit about his options, and eventually decided on what to do. Looking up to Song Weihan, a bit of determination shimmered in his eyes.

"In that case, I won't ask you to give me or Brother Wang an entry, Master! We'll fight for the spots with everyone else."

Song Weihan smiled at Sheng Feilong and spoke with a small laugh in his voice.

"A good decision. While using connections is a good way to progress fast, it's still most important to rely on your own strength. Though, if you change your mind, just ask. For now we'll pretend we never talked about this."

The next two weeks flew by relatively fast. Most of the students tried to show off during class in hope to change the teachers impression, even the most lazy of the bunch acting like honour students! Sheng Feilong told his friends to act as they usually would, saying that, if the teachers were that easily influenced be the children's behaviour, they would've just sold them the tickets instead of evaluating them.

Like that, Jian Wang and the others relaxed and didn't put much extra effort into their behaviour. They were still attending school normally, following their usual schedules and would only join mandatory physical training and combat classes. Soon enough, the day of the announcement came. After lunch, when the atmosphere in the classroom had already become tense, the teacher entered the and students quickly quieted down and took their seats.

Walking up to his desk, the teacher went through the attendance list, calling for the students as every single one of them replied with vigour. Afterwards, the teacher looked at the class while all students were expectedly looking at him, waiting for him to announce who will be allowed to enter the Spirit Ascension Platform. The teacher cleared his throat and began talking.

"During the last two weeks, your other teachers and I have been evaluating all of you, as mentioned before. We have put together a list with the 10 people who will obtain tickets to enter the Spirit Ascension Platform from the school." The teacher held a piece of paper, likely the namelist, in his hand, looked at it for a moment and put it down again.

"However, during our evaluation, we also noticed a stark difference in your behaviour compared to the way most of you usually conduct yourselves. All of you tried your best to impress the teachers in those two weeks, acting as one would usually expect a honour student to behave. Only 5 of you didn't put on this act and behaved like they usually would. Jian Wang, Jian Shiguan, Su Liyun, Sheng Feilong and Xiao Yuewu, what are your thoughts on that matter?"

All five of them were stunned for a moment; they didn't expect to be called out. Sheng Feilong was the first to snap out of it and stood up to answer the teacher.

"We behaved like usual because we didn't want to influence the evaluation. All of us have been at the Academy for a few months by now, and we thought that two weeks of good behaviour wouldn't make much of a difference."

The teacher looked at him with indifference and spoke in a monotonous voice like he was stating obvious facts.

"All of you, with the exception of Su Liyung, merely attend the minimum of mandatory classes. Though all of your works and grades are acceptable, you do nothing extra for or in the name of the Academy. Are you that confident that the Academy would waste precious resources like the entry tickets on you just because you're above average?"

Before Sheng Feilong could answer, Xiao Yuewu had stood up, indifferently looked at the teacher and spoke is his usual arrogant voice to him.

"We are Soul Masters. If we bow down and wag our tails in front of every possible reward, how big or small it may be, what different are we from beggars at the side of the road? If the Academy deems us unfit to obtain an entry ticket because of our own pride, then I have nothing to say to that."

The teacher, as well as the rest of the class, listened to Xiao Yuewu before the teacher looked at Sheng Feilong and the rest, asking for their opinion. Sheng Feilong looked at the others, who were still staring at him, obviously trusting him with this matter, before he spoke to the teacher.

"We are of the same opinion, in general."

"Very well. You may sit down again." The teacher nodded and then emerged from behind his desk, taking a few steps forward to stand in front of the class, still with the same document in his hand. He cleared his throat again before beginning to announce the names of the children who will obtain an entry ticket. He went through the first 5 names and anyone of Sheng Feilong's group or Xiao Yuewu's names had yet to be called out.

"Zhi Luo... Jian Wang. Su Liyun. Sheng Feilong. And lastly, Xiao Yuewu. The ten of you will enter the Spirit Ascension Platform under the name of the Academy. The class is dismissed for today."

After the teacher left, the classroom exploded in emotion. A few of the ones who were chosen, cheered on top of their lungs, while others congratulated them or looked at them in envy. Xiao Yuewu had the same indifferently arrogant expression as always and quietly left. Sheng Feilong and the others were frozen. 3 people out of their group of 4 were chosen, but the odd one out was Jian Shiguan. Sheng Feilong turned around to face her and spoke with a complicated expression.

"Shiguan, this-" before he could even finish, Jian Shiguan burst out laughing while pointing at the three of them. "What's wrong with your expressions, ha, ha, ha! You've been selected to enter the platform, can't you at least cheer a bit like those other airheads?"

Jian Wang looked at her, still with the same complicated expression, and quietly spoke.

"Yeah, but only the three of us..."

Jian Shiguan sneered and glared at him, her arms crossed in front of her chest.

"So what? It's just our first year here. You better be careful that I don't snatch your spot next year! Whatever, if you don't want to celebrate, then I'm out of here. Since classes ended early, I won't join Senior Song's training today."

After saying all that, Jian Shiguan simply left, not even waiting for the others to reply to her. Su Liyun tried to go after her, but was stopped by Jian Wang.

"Just let her go. She probably can't hold it any more."

"But..." Su Liyun looked at him with a sad expression when Sheng Feilong cut her off.

"He's right. Let it go. She'd just turn away and slam the door..."

(A/N: Oh god, I hope Disney won't sue me for that, but I just couldn't resist. I'm sorry!)

They talked a while longer until Su Liyun was picked up by her mother and Sheng Lingtian came to bring Sheng Feilong and Jian Wang to the Spirit Pagoda. They went through their training as usual, though Song Weihan was a bit surprised that Jian Shiguan wasn't there. Sheng Feilong had already told his father about being selected by the Academy and planned to tell Song Weihan what happened later. Instead of a team fight against Song Weihan, Sheng Feilong and Jian Wang fought against each other, which unceremoniously ended in Sheng Feilong's irrefutable victory.

The next day, something clearly unexpected happened. Xiao Yuewu came to school with bruises all over his face. No one dared to ask as his mood was obviously bad, but a few children said that they saw him get beaten up by a few Xiao Clan member yesterday in the afternoon. Rumours quickly spread and soon the whole class knew about it.

The day quickly went by and Sheng Feilong and the others sat at the cafeteria during lunch break, eating their meals when Xiao Yuewu came over to them. Jian Shiguan and Su Liyun didn't seem happy as they didn't like him, while Jian Wang was more or less neutral. Xiao Yuewu only glanced at them before focusing on Sheng Feilong, who looked up at him while munching on a carrot.

"Do you need something?"

Xiao Yuewu glanced at Jian Shiguan again before answering Sheng Feilong.

"It's about the Spirit Ascension Platform."

"And?" Sheng Feilong impatiently asked after swallowing a mouthful of his carrot. Xiao Yuewu didn't seem to mind and calmly continued.

"Let me join your team when we enter."

The moment he said that, before Sheng Feilong could even answer, Jian Wang and Su Liyun simultaneously blurted out a single word. "No!"

Xiao Yuewu flinched, but still looked at Sheng Feilong, who also calmly looked at the former with a indifferent expression.

"And why should we?"

Xiao Yuewu furrowed his brows and put on a serious expression.

"The Spirit Ascension Platform is dangerous. Having more people is safer and you're lacking a Agility Type Soul Master in your team. My skills will be helpful and, as long as we cooperate, we'll be able to gain a lot from entering and hunting there."

Sheng Feilong continued to look at Xiao Yuewu, all the while munching down on his carrot, and thought about it for a bit. The others didn't disturb him; they believed his jdgement. After a while, he took another bite of his carrot, munched on it and swallowed before looking at Xiao Yuewu again.

"Rumours say you got beat up by a few Xiao Clan members? As a big clan in the city, the Xiao Clan probably gets a few entry tickets as well, right? I guess you asked to join them, they didn't like the idea, beat you up and, with no other option left, you came here to ask us, since the three of us are still a better choice than the other 6 of our class. Am I right?"

Xiao Yuewu clenched his fists and teeth harder and harder the more Sheng Feilong said. He was absolutely spot on. Xiao Yuewu took a moment to calm down and indifferently replied to Sheng Feilong.

"Yes. Even if those 6 work together, they can't compare to your team."

Sheng Feilong bit off a piece of carrot again, nodded and spoke with a full mouth.

"Alright, you can join. But you have to listen to my commands in there. If you don't, then I don't mind killing you. It's less troublesome than an untrustworthy ally."