Karma leaned back lazily in his seat, watching the scene unfold with mild amusement.
'I thought the first day of the institute was going to be boring,Damn it—my old man really forced me to come here. Even my mother couldn't do anything this time.'
He glanced around the classroom again, lips curling slightly.
'But looking at the present scene… this doesn't feel half bad.'
A murmur spread through the class.
"Lord Ye Mo, right? He also used to be a commoner," a random student whispered, drawing Du Zhe's attention.
Karma raised an eyebrow.
'That's right,Now that I think about it, that old man was always humble. Not like those arrogant nobles.'
A childhood memory surfaced—Ye Mo smiling warmly at him.
At the time, young Karma had screamed and ran away, convinced that the old man was trying to kidnap him.
Even now, remembering it gave him chills.
'…Creepy old man.'
Karma shook his head and refocused on the classroom.
Shen Xiu pointed sharply at Nie Li.
"You—! In the hundreds of years of Glory City's history, only Lord Ye Mo managed to climb that peak!"
Nie Li replied calmly, unfazed.
"But didn't the teacher just say that it's impossible? Isn't Lord Ye Mo the best example that regardless of background, everyone's potential is limitless? Nothing is impossible as long as one is willing to work for it."
A vein twitched on Shen Xiu's forehead.
Du Zhe looked at Nie Li with admiration, while Karma observed thoughtfully.
Shen Xiu unfurled a scroll with a sharp flick of her wrist.
"You think you're clever, hm? Twisting words like this—do you think that changes reality?"
Her eyes narrowed. "You only see Lord Ye Mo's glory, not the countless failures beneath him. Your name is Nie Li, correct? Since you run your mouth so freely, let's see if your talent can back it up."
She scanned the scroll.
"Nie Li.
Red Soul Realm.
Current Soul Force: 5.
Physical Strength: 21."
Her lips curled in disdain.
"With this talent, you will only ever become a Bronze Rank fighter in your entire life. Becoming a Demon Spiritualist is impossible for you."
The entire class fell silent.
Ye Ziyun, Karma, and Shen Yue all turned to look at Nie Li.
"You're inferior even to some commoners here," Shen Xiu continued coldly. "No wonder you dare speak so recklessly."
Karma's expression stiffened.
'Damn… his talent really is the lowest of the low, he thought. I almost feel sorry for him now.'
Shen Yue snorted.
'Hmph. Trash like that can only live in the slums of Glory City. If not for Ye Ziyun, I wouldn't even bother attending this class.'
"With talent like this," Shen Xiu sneered, "even your own family wouldn't care about you—yet you dare disrespect your elders and speak without restraint."
Nie Li slowly raised his head and met her gaze.
"Teacher," he said coldly, "do you really believe a Soul Realm decides a person's future? With your despicable character, you only defend the gifted and mock the mediocre—yet you dare speak of principles?"
Shen Xiu froze in shock.
"Silence! Who do you think you are? You dare disrespect your teacher?!"
Nie Li's voice grew sharper.
"I feel ashamed to have a teacher like you. I guarantee that in this class, many commoners will exceed your expectations and achieve things beyond imagination. Instead of teaching them faithfully, you crush their morale from the start."
"You are unworthy of being a teacher."
The classroom was dead silent.
Nie Li pointed at himself and declared loudly,
"My talent is weak—so what? One day, I will become a Legend Rank Demon Spiritualist and marry the most beautiful woman in Glory City!"
As he said, his eyes met Ye Ziyun's.
She froze, then quickly turned her head away, cheeks burning red.
Shen Yue scowled darkly.
Karma, who had been watching the entire exchange with interest, suddenly froze as those words sank in.
'The most beautiful woman in Glory City'…
'Nie Li was clearly looking at Ziyun.
Since when did that happen?'
Karma thought.
'When did Ye Ziyun become the most beautiful?'
He glanced at Ye Ziyun, unconsciously judging.
Ye Ziyun noticed his gaze—and for some reason she didn't understand, she felt an overwhelming urge to punch him.
Instead, she viciously stomped on his toes.
Karma yelped internally, clutching his foot in agony, tears welling in his eyes.
'What did I do?!
...how the hell does she know what I was thinking?!'
Shen Xiu burst out laughing.
"This is the funniest joke I've ever heard. A Red Soul Realm trash claiming he'll become a Legend Rank Demon Spiritualist like Lord Ye Mo?"
She scoffed. "Lord Ye Mo was born with a Cyan Soul Realm. You really think success relies on luck alone? Ridiculous!"
"Instead of running your mouth," she sneered, "why don't you start studying seriously?"
Nie Li replied calmly, yet fiercely,
"I know your heart is filled with contempt. But one day, I will shut your mouth with facts."
"Aptitude does not determine achievement. Using the weak to defeat the strong—overcoming the heavens themselves. We practitioners already challenge the impossible."
The atmosphere in the classroom subtly shifted. Students straightened unconsciously.
"Without an unyielding heart," Nie Li continued, "without the courage to turn the impossible into reality, even extraordinary talent is useless."
He looked straight at Shen Xiu.
"So, Teacher—how about a bet?"
Karma's eyes lit up.
'A bet?
I like bets.'
"What bet?" Shen Xiu asked coldly.
"In the exam two months from now," Nie Li said, "I will reach Bronze Rank Demon Spiritualist. If I fail, I will leave the academy."
He stared directly into her eyes.
"But if I succeed—you will resign."
The classroom exploded into shock.
Ye Ziyun covered her mouth with both hands.
Karma's expression turned serious.
Shen Xiu laughed mockingly.
"You think you can raise your Soul Force from 5 to 100 in two months? Hahaha!"
"I ask only one thing," Nie Li replied. "Do you dare—or not?"
Shen Xiu sneered.
"Such arrogance. Why wouldn't I dare? I don't believe an egotistical brat like you will amount to anything."
She pointed toward the back of the room.
"For the next two months, you will stand at the back of the class."
Nie Li calmly walked to the back.
"Since Teacher accepted the challenge," he said, "don't regret it later."
"Regret?" Shen Xiu scoffed. "Don't come crying to me when you fail."
A student snickered.
"Look—the future Legend Rank Demon Spiritualist got punished."
Laughter followed.
Du Zhe clenched his fists.
'He stood up for us commoners, he thought. I can't sit while he stands.'
He stood and walked to Nie Li's side.
Nie Li smiled at him.
"If you also want to stand," Shen Xiu snapped, "then stand."
Lu Piao joined them.
Nie Li asked quietly, "Why did you come?"
"Sitting is boring," Lu Piao grinned. "Standing feels cooler."
Nie Li rubbed his nose.
"Haha. Suits you."
More students whispered.
"He spoke for us."
"He even dared to bet."
"Nie Li seems reliable."
"I'll support him to the end!"
Three more students stood and joined them.
Nie Li thought quietly, With this group of brothers… this doesn't feel bad at all.
Karma watched the scene unfold. He glanced once toward the back, then back at the teacher.
Finally, he made up his mind.
He whispered something into Ye Ziyun's ear—then stood up and walked to the back.
The entire class was stunned.
The Prince of Glory City, the pinnacle of nobility, had joined them.
Karma smirked at Shen Xiu, then sighed inwardly.
He looked at the shocked Ye Ziyun and spread his hands helplessly, as if to say—
'What can I do? This just feels like the right thing to do.'