Chapter 43: Chapter -43 A false alarm.
Chapter -43.
As Chen Feng pondered his thoughts, he noticed a male student at the front of the line offering to let him cut in. "Brother Feng, please go ahead!"
However, Chen Feng politely declined the gesture, choosing instead to take his place at the back of the line for food.
The cafeteria was quite empty, as each grade had its own dining area, and since Chen Feng was opting for the premium dishes, he quickly got his meal.
While enjoying his lunch, a striking young man with black hair and blue eyes entered the cafeteria. Upon spotting Chen Feng, his face lit up. After grabbing his food, he hurried over to join Chen Feng, eager to share a meal.
This newcomer was Wu Yue, who firmly believed that Chen Feng's future would be extraordinary. After witnessing Chen Feng's impressive victory over the academy's twin stars, Xu San Shi, just the day before, he was even more thrilled.
Though Wu Yue didn't fully grasp the significance of Chen Feng's second martial soul, Ultimate Ice, he recognized the power of dual martial souls nonetheless.
The match had left Wu Yue exhilarated; his "big brother," Chen Feng, had triumphed over the renowned twin stars of Shrek Academy, showcasing both remarkable combat skills and a cultivation level far beyond that of his peers.
Wu Yue was certain that being titled Douluo was just a formality for Chen Feng, and becoming a Super Douluo was almost guaranteed. He felt incredibly lucky to be in the same dormitory as someone so exceptional.
After the competition, numerous girls had crowded around Wu Yue, seeking information about Chen Feng. But Wu Yue, self-proclaimed as Chen Feng's loyal little brother, had no intention of revealing any details.
"I can't share anything! Do you know I'm Chen Feng's little brother? You really think I'd tell you anything? No way!"
He had been anticipating Chen Feng's return to the dormitory to show his loyalty, but was surprised when Chen Feng didn't come back at all the previous night.
So when he spotted Chen Feng this morning in the cafeteria, he darted over like a cat attracted to fish, eager to be near him.
"Big brother, I'm so glad to see you! Why didn't you return to the dorm last night?" Wu Yue asked curiously.
Chen Feng, amused by Wu Yue's excitement, gave him a half-smile but chose not to respond; he preferred to keep his private life to himself.
Realizing how he came off, Wu Yue felt a bit embarrassed and wanted to smack his own face in an attempt to lighten the mood. He shook off the feeling, quickly redirecting the conversation. "Ahem, big brother, let's eat! We've got classes soon. Oh, and you won't believe it—so many beautiful girls were asking about you yesterday!"
As Chen Feng listened, he learned that after last night's Soul Fighting competition, it wasn't just some girls from the freshman class who were curious; there were students from higher years as well.
Before long, breakfast was done, and Chen Feng and Wu Yue made their way to the freshman teaching building.
They soon reached classroom nine of the freshmen. As soon as Chen Feng stepped inside, all eyes were on him.
"Class monitor!! You're amazing!!"
"Class monitor!!! The strongest!!"
"Class monitor, I adore you..."
The classroom erupted with excitement.
Chen Feng raised his hand for silence, and surprisingly, the room quieted down in an instant.
"Alright, everyone, we're all classmates here, so let's focus on our studies, especially since we have the freshman assessment coming up in three months."
As soon as he sat down, before Wu Yue could take his seat, a blonde girl gestured to him. Being the gentleman he was, he relinquished his spot and moved to the back row.
Glancing around, Chen Feng saw Ning Tian with her short golden hair sitting beside him, while Nanmen Yooner was blocked by Wu Feng.
Chen Feng felt little interest in Ning Tian. After spending time with the more mature and beautiful Ling Luocheng, Ning Tian just didn't catch his eye. If he were to commit to her given the traditions of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile School, it would likely mean being tied to her in a serious relationship, leaving no space for other romantic interests in the near future. Naturally, considering the school's strictness, Chen Feng was less than enthusiastic.
Meanwhile, Ning Tian was oblivious to Chen Feng's lack of interest, staring at him with intense admiration. Having witnessed his incredible skills the night before, she was convinced he would redefine greatness on the Douluo Continent and saw him as the perfect match for herself, planning to pursue him actively.
In her eyes, being a prominent figure from the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile School, she believed no one could deny her intentions with Chen Feng. So she spent the entire morning trying to engage with him.
"Chen Feng, what are your hobbies?"
Chen Feng: "Not much."
"Chen Feng, what's your favorite food?"
"I'm not picky."
"Chen Feng, can we talk about what the teacher covered in class?"
"Mm..."
As the morning flew by, the class bell rang, and Chen Feng alongside many others headed to the cafeteria for lunch.
Watching Chen Feng walk away, Ning Tian sighed, realizing that even chasing a genius like him was tough. Yet, human nature is often greedy; what's hard to attain becomes even more desirable. Chen Feng's indifference only fueled Ning Tian's determination.
Soon, only a handful of students remained in the classroom: Nanmen Yooner with her green hair, Wu Feng, and Ning Tian.
"Looks like Chen Feng isn't interested in you, huh, Ning Tian? Hehe~" Nanmen Yooner teased.
Having been turned down by Chen Feng, Ning Tian was understandably upset and coldly replied to Nanmen Yooner, "It's just a minor setback."
With that, they left the New Student Teaching Building and made their way to the cafeteria.
Ning Tian vowed silently, "One day, I will make Chen Feng like me. As a young master of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile School, I am the one destined for him."
Meanwhile, Wu Feng, trailing behind, sighed loudly, catching the attention of some male students who gulped nervously as her muscular frame loomed over them.
Frowning at them, Wu Feng glared, sending several of the new male students scurrying away in panic.
At Shrek Academy, while upperclassmen were prohibited from fighting freshmen, students could engage in friendly sparring amongst themselves, as long as nobody got seriously hurt.
Wu Feng's explosive temperament and strength as a Level 25 Soul Master certainly left an impression on the newbies.
After scaring off a few timid boys, Wu Feng felt better.
She had always thought he was only interested in Ning Tian, but Chen Feng's presence had her puzzled. To Wu Feng, it seemed she didn't entirely dislike Chen Feng—in fact, she had a budding fondness for him...
Shaking her head, she mused, "I'm still figuring things out; whether it's men or Ning Tian, I guess I'll come to understand it in a few years."
Now that she had resolved her thoughts, Wu Feng felt reinvigorated as she headed to the Shrek Academy cafeteria with Ning Tian.
...
Meanwhile...
At Shrek Academy on Sea God Island...
In Yan Shaozhe's office, he was in high spirits. After discussions with the Sea God Pavilion elders the previous night, they finally came up with a plan for cultivating Chen Feng and, more importantly, for strengthening his ties with Shrek Academy.
This plan was Yan Shaozhe's idea: pairing the gifted genius with the Ultimate Ice Martial Soul, Chen Feng, with his disciple, Ma Xiaotao.
This collaboration would not only help Ma Xiaotao tackle her issues with evil fire but also allow them to train together, enhancing their growth.
Moreover, if Ma Xiaotao served as a link between Chen Feng and Shrek Academy, it could foster Chen Feng's affection for the academy. The academy would also be able to offer him resources and support for obtaining soul rings and more.
Yan Shaozhe believed that once she bonded with Chen Feng, he would eventually see Shrek Academy as his home.
This plan was based on a mutually beneficial exchange of sincerity, and the elders at the Sea God Pavilion unanimously approved Yan Shaozhe's proposal.
Ultimately, they entrusted Yan Shaozhe with this important mission.
Having just sent word to Ma Xiaotao to come to his office, Yan Shaozhe took a packet of tea leaves from a box on his table.
He added the leaves to a teapot, poured in hot water, discarded the first brew, and poured hot water again to properly steep the tea. Those who understand tea know that the second brew is always the best. Yan Shaozhe leisurely awaited his disciple's arrival, pouring himself a cup to savor.
Suddenly, the door was flung open with a slam as a vivid red figure charged into Yan Shaozhe's office.
"Bang!"
Yan Shaozhe shook his head. "You really need to work on your impatience; who will want you in the future if you keep this up?"
Ma Xiaotao seemed to ignore her teacher's advice, clearly irked after coming out of her training session.
"Teacher, what's up? I'm about to break through to Level 64!"
Yan Shaozhe was taken aback by her declaration. Break through to Level 64?? He distinctly recalled that his disciple had just achieved Level 63 two months ago! Could she truly make such quick progress?
As he scrutinized her more closely, he noticed that she didn't seem to have much evil fire lingering.
This was astonishing! After such extensive practice, shouldn't her evil fire have built up significantly? Why was it so low now?
Contemplating this, Yan Shaozhe's expression hardened; he crushed the teacup in his hand, staring at Ma Xiaotao. "Xiaotao, did you use some other method to get rid of the evil fire?!"
Yan Shaozhe was genuinely worried; if she indeed had taken a different route, he might need to ditch this plan and report to Elder Mu to alter their approach.
Hearing her master's misunderstanding, Ma Xiaotao quickly clarified, "Master, that's not it! I didn't use any other method. My rapid progress is all because of a junior named Chen Feng, who completely purified my evil fire! I'm no longer troubled by it, so my cultivation has sped up naturally."
Yan Shaozhe's eyes brightened. "Xiaotao, who purified your evil fire?"
Ma Xiaotao smiled brightly, "Chen Feng did!"
Wiping the sweat from his brow, Yan Shaozhe thought to himself, "What a false alarm; you really worried me there!"
*****
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