Chapter 31: Chapter 31: Would you like to join Class Zero
"This is the last time I'm doing something like this. It nearly cost me my life," Xia Yi muttered, deeply regretting his decision. He had not expected the resentment within Wu Jin to be so overwhelming.
"Just a moment? No, you were absorbing resentment for almost an entire night," Wu Jin replied, drawing back the curtains. Only then did Xia Yi notice the faint light of dawn creeping in—morning was almost here.
"An entire night?" Xia Yi was stunned. To him, it had felt like merely a fleeting instant.
"That's because you entered a deep meditation state," Wu Jin explained calmly. "For soul masters, deep meditation is a rare and valuable opportunity. Every time one enters such a state, it results in a significant power boost. Check your soul power now."
Hearing this, Xia Yi quickly circulated his soul power and discovered, to his astonishment, that he was already halfway to level eleven. Moreover, a cold force lingering in his body was continually being absorbed and converted into soul power.
"If I can fully transform the freezing energy that stiffened my body, I might break through to level twelve in no time," Xia Yi exclaimed with excitement, looking at Wu Jin. The idea of absorbing Wu Jin's resentment daily and swiftly catching up to geniuses like him, Gu Yue, and Na'er was exhilarating.
"Your body is strong, but you've already felt it—this resentment is dangerous," Wu Jin warned. "Even for someone like you, absorbing too much before fully recovering will leave permanent damage. And don't expect to enter a deep meditation state every time."
"Still, it didn't seem that difficult to absorb the resentment," Xia Yi remarked curiously.
Wu Jin fixed him with an incredulous stare. "Absorbing resentment is easy. Many people can do it. I could wake them before their bodies reach their limits. However, the real issue is that most can't convert resentment into soul power like you can. Instead, they use special techniques to expel it from their bodies. What remains inevitably seeps into their souls, accumulating over time until they fall into darkness, becoming evil soul masters. Even just staying in the same dormitory as me could have a long-term corrupting influence. Yet you absorbed so much and still have clear eyes and an unshaken will."
"So I can help you absorb resentment regularly?" Xia Yi asked with curiosity. Wu Jin's observations aligned with his own feelings—while the resentment invaded his body, it seemed incapable of touching his soul.
"After you recover and rest for a while, yes," Wu Jin confirmed. "This way, I can cleanse myself of resentment, and you can grow stronger. It's a win-win situation."
Xia Yi's expression shifted. "You're not planning to back out on the Ice Phoenix Flower, are you?"
Wu Jin's eye twitched. He hadn't expected Xia Yi to be so sharp, detecting his hesitation almost instantly. "Of course not," Wu Jin replied stiffly. "I always keep my word. I promised it to you, and I'll deliver."
Seeing Wu Jin's faintly twitching face, Xia Yi grinned, finally satisfied. The thought of not only improving his cultivation but also receiving a priceless hundred-thousand-year Ice Phoenix Flower made him burst into hearty laughter.
Wu Jin's internal equilibrium, just barely restored, was shattered anew. Seeing Xia Yi's carefree smile reignited his frustration, filling him with an urge to knock the grin off his face.
"Enough laughing. Focus on circulating your soul power to digest the resentment," Wu Jin grumbled. "Let's see if you're in any condition to attend class later."
Xia Yi's body swiftly adjusted, and by sunrise, he could move freely, though his body still carried a biting cold. He felt well enough to attend class without issue.
Class One at East Sea Academy held about forty to fifty students, with most desks shared by two students. Wu Jin, however, was the exception. Due to his towering stature and the constant aura of resentment he radiated, he occupied a corner desk all by himself. The other students were too intimidated to sit near him.
When Xia Yi entered the classroom with Wu Jin, the students erupted in murmurs, but none dared to intervene—even Wei Xiaofeng, who had faced Class Zero during the promotion tournament, refrained from speaking out. Fear of Wu Jin was evident in every gaze directed at him.
Perhaps it was his connection with Xia Yi or the fact they were both soul beasts in human form, but Wu Jin only seemed to show traces of emotion when interacting with Xia Yi. To everyone else, he remained icy and impenetrable, like an eternal glacier.
"Xia Yi, Wu Jin, come with me," a frosty voice interrupted. The class turned to see Ye Yingluo entering with a stony expression. "I'm taking you to complete your registration."
"Registration? Why does Wu Jin need to come along?" Summer Yi frowned in confusion. Before he could get an answer, Wu Jin had already stood and left the classroom, not bothering to wait for him.
When Xia Yi caught up, he overheard Ye Yingluo speaking to Wu Jin. "When you meet the Dean, you don't need to worry about my feelings. Just make the choice that's best for you."
Wu Jin nodded slightly, silent as always. He had already guessed the purpose of this meeting.
East Sea Academy was determined to gather all its top talents in Class Zero to make a splash in the upcoming Skysea Alliance Tournament. Given Wu Jin's extraordinary gifts, the academy was unlikely to let him remain in Class One.
Sure enough, the moment Xia Yi followed Ye Yingluo and Wu Jin into the Dean's office, he heard Dean Long Hengxu's deep voice:
"Wu Jin, would you like to join Class Zero?"
(To be continued…)