The most apparent distinction between formal students and working students at Nuoding Academy wasn't talent, but background. Formal students often came from more privileged families, affording them better resources and less pressure.
However, in terms of cultivation, there wasn't much of a gap—most were still at rank four or five in spirit power, far from the tenth rank threshold required to obtain a spirit ring.
Still, by the academy's standards, any student who reached rank ten and became a true Spirit Master before graduating the sixth grade could be considered successful.
Suddenly—
"Ding! Three-Option System Activated! Host, please make a choice:
Option One: Ignore the mocking formal students. Reward: Primary Storage Spirit Tool +1!
Option Two: Teach them a lesson to uphold your dignity. Reward: Spirit Power +1 level!
Option Three: Turn around and leave the canteen quietly. Reward: 100 Copper Spirit Coins!
Please select within 30 seconds!"
As soon as the sneers of the formal students landed, the system's mechanical voice echoed in Yu Chen's mind.
Among the choices, Option Two clearly gave the best reward. Not only that—Yu Chen had no intention of tolerating their arrogance. His mind was made up.
"You lot…"
Xiao Wu, standing beside Yu Chen, frowned as she heard the insults. Anger flared in her eyes, and her fists clenched instinctively, preparing to act.
"Kneel and apologize."
Before Xiao Wu could make a move, Yu Chen stepped forward, shielding her. His gaze swept across the group of students with calm indifference.
Xiao Wu was momentarily stunned, then her cheeks flushed faintly. The way Yu Chen stood in front of her—steady, unshakable—moved her deeply.
"Hahaha!"
"A work-study pauper dares talk like that?! Do you even know who you're speaking to?!"
The youth in the lead—Yang Ming—sneered arrogantly. His tone was saturated with contempt.
"Kid! That's Brother Yang Ming you're talking to! The strongest genius in the fifth grade!"
"He hit level eleven last semester! You're just a first-year trash—how dare you speak to him that way?! You're looking to die!"
In a sudden uproar, a group of students surged forward, surrounding Yu Chen and his friends.
From their words, it was obvious—Yang Ming was a notorious bully, one of the strongest among the formal students.
Within Nuoding Academy, any student who reached the tenth level before sixth grade was hailed as a prodigy. An eleventh-level student in the fifth grade? That was no small feat.
"Brother Chen, be careful!"
Chen Rui, the chubby boy with a loyal heart, took a deep breath and stepped up. "We just started school, there's no way we're their match… I'll act as a shield, you make a break for it!"
Tang San's expression also darkened. His hand instinctively curled around the ribbon tied to his wrist. He didn't hesitate—if things turned south, he'd jump in.
They all knew Yu Chen was extraordinary… but this many opponents? They couldn't risk it.
"Poor students picking a fight?"
"Then I'll oblige!"
Yang Ming scoffed, basking in their nervous faces. Then, with a shout, a brilliant white spirit ring rose from beneath him. His figure trembled as blood-red fur covered him from head to toe.
Martial Soul—Red Moon Ghost Wolf!
As Yang Ming's transformation completed, the air thickened. A few nearby first-year students paled under the pressure of his spirit power.
Their legs trembled.
"Wait… aren't those the new work-study students?"
"Yang Ming again? Seriously, picking on them already?"
"This is ridiculous! Someone go get a teacher. At this rate, someone might die…"
Voices from all over the cafeteria stirred as more students gathered to watch.
Most assumed Yu Chen and his companions were doomed.
"Bring me that smug brat!"
Yang Ming's eyes glinted viciously. He licked his lips with anticipation.
"Attack!"
The group of formal students charged all at once, summoning their spirits in unison.
But just as their feet left the ground—
Boom!
Yu Chen stepped forward calmly. Spirit power burst from his body like a tidal wave. With a single palm strike—
Roar!
A golden dragon phantom erupted from his palm, slamming into the oncoming students!
"Pfft!"
"Guh!"
The force hurled the front line straight into the air. Several landed with loud crashes, coughing blood as they sprawled across the floor.
Yu Chen's spirit power had reached level 16—far beyond their league. Combined with his martial technique, Dragon-Subduing Eighteen Palms, their defeat was instant.
But it wasn't over yet.
Yu Chen shifted again. With a twist of his waist, he unleashed three consecutive palms.
Roar! Roar! Roar!
Three more golden dragons spiraled forth. Two crashed into the remaining formal students, flinging them like rag dolls. The third struck Yang Ming dead center.
"Break it for me!"
Yang Ming roared, activating his spirit ring. Sharp crimson claws extended from his hands, trying to intercept the golden phantom.
But how could he hope to match Yu Chen?
Boom!
The golden dragon slammed into him. The claws shattered instantly, bones cracking audibly. Blood spurted from Yang Ming's hands as he was blasted backward over ten feet!
He hit the ground with a sickening thud, his chest caved in and blood dripping from the corner of his lips. His spirit dissipated completely.
He looked less like a student and more like a battered beast.
It all happened in the blink of an eye.
A clean one-hit KO.
"..."
"Br—Brother Chen is insane…"
"H-He crushed an eleventh-level genius in seconds…"
Tang San and Chen Rui were frozen. Their mouths moved, but no words came out. Only stammers.
Xiao Wu, behind Yu Chen, hadn't even blinked during the whole thing. Her expression was still frozen in shock.
Back in the dorm, Yu Chen hadn't even used a third of his strength. And now?
He hadn't even revealed his Martial Soul—yet still crushed over twenty senior students, including a so-called genius!
What kind of power was this?
"Y-Yang Ming lost?! That fast?!"
"He didn't even summon his Martial Soul?! What is this monster?!"
"Dealt with all of them alone… in seconds?!"
The surrounding students stared at Yu Chen as though seeing a deity descend. Trembling, awe-struck, speechless.
One of the students who had gone to get a teacher… collapsed to the ground in shock.
A moment ago, he had worried Yu Chen might get killed.
Now, he wasn't sure if Yang Ming's life could even be saved!