"Wang Zhong, come here. Wear this badge, and hold this flag."
In the classroom, Wang Zhong, who had surprisingly not skipped class after receiving Hu Liena's message, stared blankly as his homeroom teacher, Ying Yanyang, handed him a silver badge and a golden flag.
The badge was entirely silver-white, engraved with a small sword. Wang Zhong knew it was the school emblem unique to first-year students.
The golden flag was woven from the finest brocade. At the top, a pattern composed of various items was embroidered with gold thread. On the outer edge were two grass-like objects, and in the center was a long sword.
Holding these two items, Wang Zhong glanced at Hu Liena and Xie Yue, who were behind him, with a pleading look.
What was this for?
Why did he suddenly feel like something important had been entrusted to him, yet he had no idea what it was.
Hu Liena helplessly covered her forehead, unsure what to say. Xie Yue casually curled his lips, appearing uninterested.
As for Yan, he looked at Wang Zhong with envy.
The three auxiliary system students in the class, two girls and one boy, also looked at Wang Zhong with envy.
"Alright, with Wang Zhong as the leader, Hu Liena, Xie Yue, Yan, Yin Can, Feng Bailing, Zhao Ying, you six line up in order."
"Follow me to the arena for this year's first-half grand competition!"
Ying Yanyang's expression was solemn as he carefully straightened the wrinkles on his clothes and said sternly.
Wang Zhong's eyes suddenly lit up.
"So it's time for the grand competition already. No wonder Nana was so insistent yesterday that I must not skip class."
"But, even if it's a grand competition, why would I need this flag?"
Before Wang Zhong could ponder further, loud firecrackers suddenly erupted from outside the classroom.
"Let's go!"
Led by Ying Yanyang, the seven students of Class A followed him directly to a spacious open-air plaza.
The moment Wang Zhong saw the plaza, he almost exclaimed in amazement. It was so grand, so magnificent.
In the center of the plaza was a massive arena, surrounded by tiered seating that spiraled upwards.
To the east, at the highest point of the seating, stood an absolutely noble throne, with everything else seeming to converge around it.
A red carpet extended from beneath the throne, spreading outwards towards the edge of the plaza, as if in welcome of someone's arrival.
As the group reached the center of the arena, and while Wang Zhong was tilting his head, looking around, another group of people arrived and stood beside their class.
The leader was a woman with a gentle demeanor and a beautiful appearance, followed by three young boys and girls in school uniforms.
"Two long swords, second year."
Wang Zhong observed the silver badges on the chests of the three, engraved with two long swords.
As Wang Zhong sized them up, the three were also sizing up everyone in Class A.
"Yanyang, I didn't expect your luck to be so good this year, with a whole seven students in Class A! Unlike me, I only have three little ones in my entire class, so quiet."
The woman chatted with Ying Yanyang, smiling.
"Sister Lian, please don't tease. Everyone knows that Class A of the second year has a little monster. His Black Emperor Poisonous Scorpion martial soul has the potential to contend with that senior known as the Poison Douluo in the future."
"These little ones behind me, in terms of martial soul strength alone, can't compare to him."
Ying Yanyang replied with a light smile.
The homeroom teacher of Class A, second year, Shuang Yue Lian, whose martial soul was Ice Pure Lotus, was a level 74 auxiliary system soul master. Within the Spirit Hall, she was regarded as the most likely woman to inherit the position of Elder Chrysanthemum Douluo in the future.
It's important to know that Chrysanthemum Douluo was one of the few Titled Douluo in the Spirit Hall. For Shuang Yue Lian to be considered his successor, her character, methods, and talent were all evident. She was by no means as gentle as she appeared.
"You are that Wang Zhong with innate full soul power." Behind Shuang Yue Lian, a lean young man with an ordinary appearance, but eyes that were chillingly cold, spoke.
The moment he was locked onto by the gaze, Wang Zhong's hair stood on end.
Where his body was scanned by the other's gaze, it felt as if a needle was suspended inches above his skin, ready to pierce at any moment.
"Yes, I am. And who are you?" Wang Zhong asked, enduring the uncomfortable feeling.
"Heh, you don't even know our boss Pei Yan. It seems that Class A of the first year is just a bunch of trash with only a superficial appearance."
"Innate full soul power, I think it's just a lucky bastard from the countryside!"
Before the lean young man could speak, a short, chubby boy behind him sneered arrogantly, with his arms crossed.
"You fatso, what did you say!"
Hu Liena, standing behind Wang Zhong, was furious, her little face flushed red.
Although they were all orphans, Hu Liena and Xie Yue's parents were killed by evil soul masters, which led them to the orphanage.
But Wang Zhong was different. When he appeared at the orphanage, he didn't even know his own name, let alone his origin or parents. Even the name Wang Zhong was casually given by the院长.
As a childhood companion, even a childhood sweetheart, she absolutely could not tolerate someone insulting Wang Zhong like this.
Sensing Hu Liena's anger, Wang Zhong gently patted her shoulder, smiled, and shook his head, signaling her not to get angry and to leave it to him.
"Hey, fatty, what's your name?"
Wang Zhong asked with a light smile, seemingly unconcerned by what had just happened.
The fatty saw Wang Zhong's expression and thought he had backed down, his disdain intensifying.
"Listen up, I am Zhang Shuai!"
"Zhang Shuai, hmm, I've noted it down." Wang Zhong's gaze held a hint of depth as he nodded lightly.
He had been wondering who to take down in the second year, and now he didn't need to think about it.
In the past six months, Wang Zhong's physical training intensity had become even more terrifying, and the fatigue and pain of the past had returned.
With his previous experience, Wang Zhong knew this was due to a mismatch between the body's nutrition and training. He needed a large amount of precious medicinal materials and food for replenishment.
But he was already a member of Class A, enjoying almost over-spec treatment. If he wanted to increase his nutritional intake further, it would be impossible based on his grade level.
And the teachers would not agree to give Wang Zhong treatment exceeding that of his classmates.
Therefore, Wang Zhong set his sights on another competition that few people would initiate during the year-end grand competition.
Cross-level challenges between different grades of the same level!
That is, Class A of the first year versus Class A of the second year, a battle that could be described as a suicidal under-the-superior challenge!
Once Wang Zhong succeeded in the challenge, he would receive ten times the current resources!
And the challenged party, by losing to a lower-grade student, would experience a drastic drop in their rank, potentially falling to Class E.
Although cross-level challenges offered ten times the benefits, the difficulty of challenging across grades of the same level was far more than ten times.
Everyone at the same level had similar talent in soul power cultivation. Moreover, to advance to the next grade, one had to obtain an additional soul ring.
Therefore, if you wanted to challenge across grades, you would have to face an opponent who was at least ten levels higher than you and possessed an additional soul skill.
The weakest second soul skill was several times more powerful than the first soul skill.
With the two superimposed, the difficulty of this was chilling even to imagine.
But Wang Zhong was unfazed, his heart set on training resources, eager to try.
"Your Holiness the Pope arrives!"
Following a loud announcement, Wang Zhong's thoughts were pulled back to reality.
On the red carpet extending beyond the plaza, a woman as beautiful as an immortal, holding a scepter and wearing a crown, walked slowly towards them.
She was so noble, so majestic, and so elegant, as if all beautiful adjectives would not be out of place when applied to her.
Behind her, on the left and right, were a man with a seductive appearance and a man with a cold demeanor, radiating a terrifying aura unintentionally.
The two elders of the Spirit Hall, Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan, and Ghost Douluo Gui Mei.
"We welcome Your Holiness the Pope!"
"We welcome Your Holiness the Pope!"
"We welcome Your Holiness the Pope!"
...
Amidst the resounding cheers, everyone placed their right hand on their chest, bowed, and paid their respects.
She was the current Pope of the Spirit Hall, Bibi Dong.