The Birth of Class Zero
The walk to the cafeteria was a procession through a sea of whispers and awestruck glances. Yao Xuan moved with his team, the echoes of the arena's roar still vibrating in the air around them. Yet, his mind was already several moves ahead, parsing Gu Yue's invitation with the cool precision of a strategist.
'Is this considered meeting the parents?' The whimsical thought surfaced, tinged with irony. He understood the true gravity beneath her polite offer. Her suspicion—that he carried the soul essence of the Dragon God—was a powerful lever. And he would let her believe it. The Ancestral Dragon and the Dragon God of this world were branches of the same primordial root; no test her family could devise would find a meaningful distinction. To be seen as the Dragon God's heir was not a deception, but a strategic alignment with her deepest hopes. It would bind her to him, not through deception, but through the fulfillment of a destiny she desperately wanted to be true. Her loyalty, once fully secured, would be unshakeable. He accepted the invitation not just to explore his martial soul, but to walk willingly into the heart of her world, to cement the bond that was the emotional cornerstone of his entire journey.
Meanwhile, in the austere, book-lined silence of the Dean's office, a different kind of strategy was being formulated.
"So, Director Long," Dean Yu Zhen steepled his fingers, his gaze sharp behind polished spectacles. "You propose we funnel our best resources into a handful of first-year students, on the premise that they can breach the gates of Shrek Academy?"
Long Hengxu stood with respectful determination. "Dean, with all respect, 'a handful' undersells them. This year's cohort is anomalous. Five Great Soul Masters in the first year alone. Two of them executed a Spirit Fusion Skill in live combat. And one," he emphasized, leaning forward slightly, "Yao Xuan, neutralized that fusion skill alone. The spectacle was witnessed by the entire intermediate division. It has already shifted perceptions."
Yu Zhen's eyebrow rose. "A freshman broke a Spirit Fusion? You're certain?"
"As certain as the hundreds of testimonies you could collect," Long Hengxu affirmed. "And their teacher, Wu Zhangkong… his methods are severe, but the results speak for themselves. The rumor among the staff is that he's a Shrek graduate. If that's true, he knows the standard they need to meet better than anyone."
At the mention of Shrek, a familiar, complex light ignited in Yu Zhen's eyes—a mix of reverence, ambition, and the perpetual insecurity of a provincial academy head. Donghai City was rich, but isolated. Its academy was competent, not legendary. To have a student wear the green uniform of Shrek… it was a transformative dream.
"Your idea has merit," Yu Zhen conceded slowly. "Concentrate peak resources on peak talent, guided by a teacher who knows the pinnacle. It's a gamble, but the potential return…" He nodded, decision crystallizing. "I will convene the board tonight. Prepare your proposal in full."
The board meeting that evening was surprisingly swift. The memory of Guang Biao's humiliation and the sensational rumors from the tournament had already filtered through the academy's upper echelons. The proposal for a 'Special Experimental Class' passed with overwhelming support. The next afternoon, Wu Zhangkong was summoned.
Dean Yu Zhen laid out the plan: a dedicated class, top-tier resources, complete pedagogical autonomy. "The goal is Shrek, Teacher Wu. Are you willing to lead this charge?"
Wu Zhangkong's ice-blue eyes remained impassive, but a flicker deep within them—a spark of renewed purpose—betrayed his interest. "A class to challenge Shrek," he repeated, the words tasting of nostalgia and old resolve. "I am willing."
"Excellent! The initial selection will be the core participants from the final match: Yao Xuan, Gu Yue, Xie Xie from Class Five, and Zhang Yangzi, Wang Jinxi, Wei Xiaofeng from Class One."
"I have a condition," Wu Zhangkong interjected, his voice leaving no room for negotiation. "My student, Tang Wulin, must be included."
Long Hengxu, standing to the side, frowned. "Teacher Wu, his soul power is the lowest among them. His martial soul is Blue Silver Grass. The resource allocation is meant for the most exceptional—"
"Director Long," Wu Zhangkong cut him off, his tone glacial yet utterly confident. "You seek a student who can enter Shrek. I tell you, Tang Wulin has a ninety percent chance to do so under my guidance. Shrek's criteria are not merely soul power levels. They are will, perseverance, spirit, and latent potential. On these metrics, Tang Wulin exceeds many with brighter spirit rings. I stake my judgment on it."
The absolute certainty in his voice gave even Long Hengxu pause. Yu Zhen studied Wu Zhangkong—the man's aura of unshakable conviction was itself a powerful argument.
"Very well," Yu Zhen decided. "We add Tang Wulin. But the class will be subject to regular reviews. Underperformance will result in removal. Agreed?"
"Agreed." Wu Zhangkong gave a single, sharp nod. The fate of seven students, and perhaps the future reputation of Donghai Academy, was sealed.
The following afternoon, the entire intermediate division was assembled on the main playground. The sun beat down on a sea of curious, expectant faces. The promotion tournament for other classes continued in the background, but all attention was fixed on the podium.
Long Hengxu took the microphone, his voice carrying across the grounds. "In recognition of their exemplary performance, Class 1, Grade 1, is awarded a daily Class A meal stipend for the remainder of the semester." A wave of envious murmurs swept the crowd. He then gestured beside him. "Now, Dean Yu has an important announcement."
Yu Zhen stepped forward, his presence commanding silence. "The board of directors has observed exceptional promise in this year's freshman cohort. To nurture this potential to its fullest, we are establishing a pilot program: a special accelerated class."
He paused, letting the words sink in. "This class will be designated First-Year Class Zero. Its homeroom teacher will be Wu Zhangkong."
A ripple of shock and excitement passed through the students. Class Zero? It sounded mythical.
"The inaugural members, selected based on comprehensive assessment and tournament performance, are as follows." Yu Zhen's voice grew solemn, naming them like a roll call of honor:
"From the former Class 5: Yao Xuan, Gu Yue, Xie Xie, and Tang Wulin."
"From the former Class 1: Zhang Yangzi, Wang Jinxi, Wei Xiaofeng."
"For other students, this is not a closed door. Exceptional progress may earn you a place in Class Zero in the future. The former Class 1 will be temporarily overseen by Director Long until a new homeroom teacher is appointed."
The announcement hung in the air. Class Zero. It was a title that set them apart, marking them as both pioneers and prisoners of expectation.
"The named students," Yu Zhen concluded, "will accompany me to the office for a briefing. The remainder of the promotion tournament will proceed."
As Yao Xuan and the other six stepped out of the crowd, they moved through a tunnel of complex gazes—admiration, envy, resentment, and hope. They were no longer just students; they were an experiment, a symbol, and a bet.
Walking beside Yao Xuan, Gu Yue glanced at him. Her earlier invitation now took on new significance; they were not just classmates, but fellow travelers on a deliberately accelerated path. Tang Wulin, his face a mixture of stunned gratitude and fierce determination, fell into step beside Xie Xie, who wore a look of triumphant vindication. From the other side, Zhang Yangzi, Wang Jinxi, and Wei Xiaofeng approached, their expressions a blend of residual pride from the fight and a wary acceptance of this new alliance.
Together, the seven followed Dean Yu away from the sun-drenched field, leaving the noise of the ordinary tournament behind. They crossed a threshold, not just into an administrative building, but into a future that had been fundamentally reshaped by a dragon's claw and a teacher's unwavering faith. The classroom door of Class Zero awaited, and with it, a training regimen and trials that would forge them for challenges far beyond the walls of Donghai Academy.