8: Chapter 8 Bro, you're really bad.

Relying on his nimble footwork and superb sword techniques, Mu Qingci forced Xiao Hongchen to retreat steadily.

He saw his chance and lit up his third spirit ring once more. As his Soul Power was consumed, all his attributes were significantly enhanced again, and he rushed in front of Xiao Hongchen in one go.

The cold sword blade stopped less than a foot from his neck. Xiao Hongchen dared not move, already drenched in a cold sweat.

"You have conceded, Senior Xiao."

At this moment, the incense stick had just finished burning.

This sparring match was not Mu Qingci lasting an incense stick's time under Xiao Hongchen, but rather Xiao Hongchen only lasting an incense stick's time under Mu Qingci.

"Sparring ends. Mu Qingci wins and has passed the entrance examination."

As Jing Hongchen's voice fell, Mu Qingci withdrew his Spirit, while Xiao Hongchen opposite him slumped to the ground on his backside.

"Lost. I actually lost!"

Xiao Hongchen's tone was filled with disbelief. He, a dignified Spirit Ancestor, and a high-level Spirit Ancestor about to become a Spirit King, had actually lost to a Spirit Elder who hadn't even obtained his fourth spirit ring yet.

His self-confidence had suffered a massive blow.

Since he was young, except for his sister Meng Hongchen, almost no one among his peers was his match, which had fostered his confidence and even arrogance.

Jing Hongchen looked at the dejected Xiao Hongchen and shook his head slightly: "It is good to suffer some setbacks; you will be able to go further in the future."

Meng Hongchen ran onto the arena with a giggle and grabbed Mu Qingci's arm: "Qingci, you are truly amazing. You could even defeat my brother so easily. It seems I probably won't be your match either."

"Sister Meng, you flatter me. Brother Xiao's strength is still very strong; he just isn't skilled at close-quarters combat, and I simply took advantage of that."

Meng Hongchen didn't care about that; she pulled Mu Qingci's arm and walked off the arena.

When they reached Xiao Hongchen, Meng Hongchen stuck out her tongue: "Brother, you are really weak, you can't even beat a new student."

Xiao Hongchen was already very depressed, and being told this by his own sister, his young heart suffered secondary damage, becoming even more dejected.

He stood up in a daze and walked towards his dormitory.

Mu Qingci was pulled along by Meng Hongchen, who said she wanted to take him on a tour of the campus.

The interior design of the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy was similar to the style of Mingdu, possessing a highly modern sense of technology.

Meng Hongchen held Mu Qingci's hand all the way, attracting the attention of many male students.

You must know that Meng Hongchen was a famous goddess within the academy and the ideal partner in the minds of many male students. Now, seeing her actively holding another boy's hand, those who liked Meng Hongchen naturally felt somewhat uncomfortable in their hearts.

But more of the reaction was helplessness; after all, not everyone could possess looks as heaven-defying as Mu Qingci's.

"Qingci, is your home far from here?"

"Quite far, it's still on the border of the Sun Moon Empire."

"Then when you came to Mingdu to study, wouldn't your parents be worried?"

"My parents passed away when I was very young; they are buried in the public cemetery in the suburbs of the city where my home is."

"Ah? I'm sorry, I shouldn't have brought that up..."

Meng Hongchen lowered her head, feeling a bit guilty, like a child who had done something wrong.

Mu Qingci reached out and gently stroked the top of her head: "It's okay, Sister Meng. Let the past be the past."

Meng Hongchen looked up, eyes teary as she looked at Mu Qingci, then her gaze became firm: "Then Qingci, from now on, treat me as your family!"

"Okay."

Mu Qingci returned with a smile as warm as the spring breeze, making the originally very serious Meng Hongchen bloom with joy, her heart fluttering.

"Alright, Sister Meng, let's stop here for today. School starts tomorrow, and I need to prepare well."

"Mm-hmm, Qingci, my brother and I are both in Grade Three, Class One. If you encounter any trouble, you can come find me. I will also come to see you often, hehe."

Meng Hongchen waved her hand and left with light steps.

The next morning, according to his student number, Mu Qingci walked into Grade One, Class One, and randomly found a seat in the corner to sit down.

As soon as Mu Qingci appeared, he attracted a lot of attention. There was no other reason; his looks were simply too outstanding. Both boys and girls were attracted to him.

The boys' gazes were mostly jealous, while the girls were infatuated.

Mu Qingci did not pay attention to the external gazes; he just sat in his seat, closing his eyes to rest.

"Quiet down!"

Just then, a female voice rang out, and subsequently, a woman wearing a standard teacher's uniform and high heels walked into the classroom.

"Let me introduce myself. My name is Sun Yao, and I am your homeroom teacher. Our Grade One, Class One is composed of the best seedlings of this cohort. I don't want to say too much, but I hope that everyone sitting here will strive to remain in Class One until graduation!"

"Teacher, what do you mean by that?"

A student who didn't quite understand Sun Yao's words immediately asked his question.

"I was just about to explain. In our Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy, there are five classes in each grade. In every major exam each semester, the bottom five students of each class will automatically be demoted to the next class, and the top five will be promoted to the previous class. Do you understand now why I said you should aim to stay in Class One? Class One does not raise trash!"

Next, Sun Yao spoke about some rules within the academy and then brought up another matter: "Next is the election for class cadres: one class monitor and one vice-monitor. You can volunteer yourself; if you are not convinced, then challenge them. I only look at the results."

Immediately, a boy rushed to the podium: "Hello everyone, my name is Wang Gang, Spirit is Dark Gold Bear, a level 28 attack system Spirit Grandmaster. I want to be the class monitor!"

With the first one, soon there was a second and a third.

There were many people running for class monitor and vice-monitor, and there were even individuals at the Spirit Elder level among them.

A twelve-year-old Spirit Elder could definitely be considered extraordinarily gifted.

Sun Yao watched this scene and nodded with satisfaction: "We have a dedicated arena; I will take you there. Whoever laughs last will be the class monitor."

Those who wanted to run for class monitor and vice-monitor, as well as other students who wanted to watch the excitement, all followed.

Arriving at a spacious arena, Wang Gang was the first to stand up on it.

Challenging him was a thin and tall student named Li Ke, whose Spirit was Gale Bird, and who also possessed level 28 cultivation.

Unfortunately, an agility-attack system fighting against the top-tier attack system Spirit, Dark Gold Bear, didn't have much chance of winning, and ultimately he could only regretfully be defeated.

Then a few more with Spirit Grandmaster cultivation went up, but the result remained the same.

Wang Gang stood on the stage with a smug expression, his arrogant eyes seeming to say that there was no one in this class who was his match.

Just then, someone who had been silent all along stood out.

"I will challenge you."

He nimbly jumped onto the stage, and subsequently, a long spear appeared in his hand. Following it were two yellow and one purple spirit rings; he was clearly a Spirit Elder.