57: Chapter 57 Don't forget, what am I for?

Su Xiaoxiao smiled, made an OK gesture, and walked toward that corner.

Lin Fan watched her walk up to Qin Ling and say a few words.

Qin Ling raised her head and glanced toward Lin Fan's side.

Then, she nodded.

Su Xiaoxiao smiled, turned back, and made a victory gesture toward Lin Fan.

The corners of Lin Fan's mouth curled up slightly.

The team was complete.

The next day at noon, in a corner of the cafeteria.

Five people sat in a circle; this could be considered the team's first formal meeting.

Xu Ziyan enthusiastically organized things.

"Come, come, let's all get to know each other. From now on, we're comrades in the same trench, so let's first report our respective assets."

He spoke first.

"My name is Xu Ziyan, a Rank 15 Armor Warrior. My Armor Spirit is the Snow Spirit Fox, Rank 17, high-grade mortal spirit. I specialize in ice-type control, and my long-range output is decent too."

Sun Wei scratched his head honestly.

"My name is Sun Wei, a Rank 14 Armor Warrior. My Armor Spirit is the Iron Armor Rhino, Rank 15, middle-grade mortal spirit. I don't have any great skills, just thick skin and high durability. You all can charge forward without worry; I'll hold the line in the back."

Su Xiaoxiao blinked her eyes and spoke with a sweet expression.

"My name is Su Xiaoxiao, a Rank 15 Armor Warrior. My Armor Spirit is the Ice Crystal Butterfly, Rank 17, low-grade mysterious spirit. Ice-type control and output, I look cute, but I'm strong in a fight."

After finishing, she specifically tilted her chin at Xu Ziyan, as if saying, "What are you looking at? Not convinced?"

Xu Ziyan silently averted his gaze.

Qin Ling kept her head lowered, silent for a few seconds.

Then she spoke softly.

"Qin Ling, Rank 14 Armor Warrior. Armor Spirit is the Red-Gold Queen Bee, Rank 15, middle-grade mortal spirit."

After finishing, she lowered her head again and said nothing more.

Finally, everyone's gaze fell on Lin Fan.

Lin Fan put down his chopsticks.

"Lin Fan, Rank 17 Armor Warrior. Armor Spirit is the Shadow Wood Spirit Snake, Rank 20, high-grade mysterious spirit."

The whole place was quiet for two seconds.

Sun Wei's eyes widened.

"Rank 20? And a high-grade mysterious spirit Armor Spirit?"

"Rank 17 Armor Warrior? Do you really only have two armor apertures?"

Su Xiaoxiao narrowed her eyes, looking Lin Fan up and down.

"Class monitor, are you trying to be Heaven-Defying?"

Qin Ling raised her head and glanced at Lin Fan.

In that glance, there was finally a hint of obvious fluctuation.

Surprise, and also a little bit... curiosity?

Lin Fan waved his hand.

"Just good luck, just good luck. Let's not talk about that for now; let's analyze the competition."

He paused, his expression becoming serious.

"You all should have heard about the strength of Class 1, right?"

Xu Ziyan sighed.

"I've heard. That bunch in Class 1 are all tough characters. It's said their average Rank is above 16, and I heard some have even achieved a Breakthrough to the Armor Warrior realm."

Xu Ziyan counted on his fingers.

"Class 1's average Rank is 16+, and us? Average Rank 15."

Su Xiaoxiao rested her chin on her hand.

"The Rank isn't even the most fatal part. The key is the quality of the Armor Spirit. The worst Armor Spirit in Class 1 is a high-grade mortal spirit. On our side..."

She didn't continue, but the meaning was obvious.

Except for her Ice Crystal Butterfly and Lin Fan's Shadow Wood Spirit Snake, which are Spirit Rank.

Xu Ziyan's Snow Spirit Fox, Sun Wei's Iron Armor Rhino, and Qin Ling's Red-Gold Queen Bee are all just mortal spirit rank, and two of them are even just middle-grade mortal spirit.

Xu Ziyan sighed.

"Calculating it like this, it won't be easy for us to win the championship."

Sun Wei scratched his head.

"How about... we lower our goal? Aim for the top ten?"

Su Xiaoxiao rolled her eyes.

"Sun Wei, can you have some ambition? Since we're already here, of course we should go for the championship!"

Xu Ziyan smiled bitterly.

"That's the logic, but the gap in strength is right there. Any one of those people from Class 1 is stronger than us."

Lin Fan hadn't spoken the whole time.

He kept his head lowered, seemingly thinking about something.

Xu Ziyan looked at him.

"Lin Fan, what do you think?"

Lin Fan raised his head, scanned everyone, and smiled mysteriously.

"The Rank gap can't be made up in a short time, so we can only start by working on the quality of the Armor Spirit."

Xu Ziyan's eyes lit up.

"You mean..."

Lin Fan leaned back, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Don't forget, what is my specialty?"

...

Friday arrived quickly.

Today was the day of the official opening of the Academy Tournament.

A huge arena was set up on the playground, colorful flags fluttered all around, and the stands were filled with students and teachers.

The ninety-five first-year students were all gathered in the waiting area, clustered in groups of three or five, whispering about the upcoming competition.

Lin Fan led his team into the waiting area.

Xu Ziyan walked at the very front, head held high and chest puffed out, looking much more confident.

Sun Wei followed behind him, his steps much lighter than usual, and his honest face showed a bit of pride.

Qin Ling still kept her head lowered, but the corners of her mouth seemed to be slightly upturned.

Su Xiaoxiao looked at one, then looked at the other, and finally couldn't help it.

"What's wrong with you guys? Acting all mysterious one by one?"

She leaned in close to Xu Ziyan.

"What exactly did Lin Fan do to you?"

Xu Ziyan chuckled and didn't speak.

Su Xiaoxiao looked at Sun Wei.

Sun Wei scratched his head and smiled foolishly.

"The class monitor won't let us say."

Su Xiaoxiao rolled her eyes in annoyance and turned to look at Qin Ling.

Qin Ling rarely raised her head, but said softly.

"Once the competition starts, you will know."

Su Xiaoxiao: "..."

She took a deep breath, walked up to Lin Fan, and glared at him.

"Lin Fan, what on earth are you playing at?"

Lin Fan had his hands in his pockets, looking relaxed.

"Nothing, just adjusted their state a little."

Su Xiaoxiao narrowed her eyes.

"Adjusted their state?"

Lin Fan nodded.

"Yeah, adjusted their state."

Su Xiaoxiao stared at him for several seconds, finally admitting defeat.

"Fine, fine, you're amazing, you're mysterious, I'll wait and see!"

Just as she was speaking, a teacher walked onto the stage and tapped the microphone.

"Quiet."

The whole place quieted down.

The teacher scanned the area and said in a loud voice.

"The First-year Armor Beast Class Academy Tournament starts now. There are ninety-five students participating in this competition, freely formed into nineteen teams."

"The competition adopts a knockout system; opponents are decided by drawing lots, the winner advances, and the loser is eliminated. The final champion team will be determined."

"Now, please have the team captains come forward to draw lots."

Lin Fan looked at his teammates, then walked toward the drawing table.

A circle of people was already surrounding the drawing table; they were all the captains of the teams.

Lin Fan scanned the area and saw a few familiar faces.