Chapter 377 - Genius Youths Ranking? What's That?
The rotund Xu Lizhi immediately became the center of attention, but Tang Wulin’s eyes were glued to Ye Xinglan. He was surprised at how much she had changed over the past few years.
They were ten years old the last time they met. Three years later, Ye Xinglan had blossomed into a beauty. She stood around 160 centimeters tall, her slender figure accented by legs that seemed to go on forever. Like Xu Xiaoyan, her looks caused the hearts of all to tremble, drawing everyone’s gaze after they had recovered from Xu Lizhi’s hulking mass.
However, she still had on a serious expression. It was one thing that didn’t change since their last meeting. She still regarded everyone else coldly, an invisible barrier forming around her.
“Since you two transferred in late, you can take the empty seats in the back. We’re preparing for our match against the second grade right now. You’re free to join a team as well. I hope you’ll be able to fit in quickly,” Shen Yi said.
When Xu Lizhi had said he and Ye Xinglan might transfer to the outer court, Tang Wulin was doubtful at first. It seemed like such an improbable situation. Yet here they were. Xu Lizhi and Ye Xinglan were now his classmates.
Ye Xinglan had left a deep impression on Tang Wulin. Her Stargod Sword had reminded him of Wu Zhangkong, and he knew her strength couldn’t simply be measured by her cultivation.
Shen Yi left, but everyone’s eyes were still focused on the two newcomers. The majority of the gazes, however, zeroed in on Ye Xinglan.
Luo Guixing approached them first, greeting Ye Xinglan with a warm smile. “Hi, I’m Luo Guixing. May I ask how many soul rings you have?”
Ye Xinglan glanced at him before walking toward the back of the classroom, not bothering to say a word.
Luo Guixing stood there, stunned. His handsome good looks, gentle smile, and status as someone on the Genius Youths Ranking had never failed to charm anyone before. He had absolute confidence in himself, yet Ye Xinglan didn’t even spare him a second glance! Her attitude toward him was frigid as ice.
The other students cleared a path as Ye Xinglan strode off. Meanwhile, Tang Wulin ran to Xu Lizhi’s side, patting him on the shoulder. “We’re classmates now, so you should join my team. I really want you.”
Xu Lizhi hushed him. “Can’t you be a bit quieter? People are going to misunderstand!” Gu Yue couldn’t help but giggle as she watched the two from the side.
After fighting shoulder-to-shoulder in the tower attack, Tang Wulin trusted Xu Lizhi, and his companions knew Xu Lizhi’s strength was more than sufficient to make him a good teammate.
“Wulin,” Xu Lizhi said in near whisper. “Can you invite Xinglan too? With her personality, she’ll just end up all alone if you don’t. I can’t bear to see her like that!”
“Sure!” Tang Wulin held no grudge against her. Their team would gain another cornerstone if she agreed to join. He could only imagine how much stronger she had grown in the last three years.
Since Ye Xinglan refused Luo Guixing’s advances, no one else dared approach her. Among the students in the first grade, Luo Guixing was one of the most respected, more so than Tang Wulin. Everyone wanted to enter the team of a ranking control-type soul master like him. Although Tang Wulin was the class president, everyone knew that his martial soul was bluesilver grass. Even after he showed some of his power, his classmates placed him below the five rankers.
Tang Wulin sauntered over to Ye Xinglan. “Long time no see!”
Ye Xinglan glanced at him, her brow wrinkling when she recognized who it was. “Who let you drag Lizhi off to the tower attack? You’ve still got to answer to me for that.”
“Eh…” She’s still as stubborn as a mule!
“So? What about it?” Gu Yue interjected. She couldn’t stand Ye Xinglan’s attitude.
Ye Xinglan snorted but remained silent.
However, Tang Wulin met her cold snub with a warm smile. “Ye Xinglan, you should join my team. The competition this time requires teams consisting a minimum of three people to participate, so it’s impossible with just you and Lizhi.”
“I just won’t participate then.” Ye Xinglan glared at him.
“Okay. Tell me then, why are you cultivating?”
Ye Xinglan was surprised he didn’t press the issue but instead posed such a question.
“To become strong!” she answered.
“Oh. I see. Well, our opponents will be in the second grade. There are some powerful people in their class. Don’t you want to spar with them?”
“Powerful people?” Ye Xinglan’s cheek twitched.
Tang Wulin’s smile grew bigger at her show of interest. “How about you try battling them? How else will you know if they really are strong or not? Even the most boring things have value in doing. Join my team and you’ll have a chance to fight them.”
“The class president sure is confident, huh?” someone interjected from the side.
Tang Wulin turned to see Zheng Yiran looking at him dismissively. Indeed, it was Jade Snake Zheng Yiran, the poison-wielding ranker!
“Confidence is important for soul masters to have.” Tang Wulin smiled wryly at her.
“Oh my. Then let’s see you defeat everyone in our class and battle the second grade’s representatives.” She pointed at him. “Our team isn’t too powerful either. We just have Wu Siduo, Luo Guixing, Xu Yucheng, Yang Nianxia, and me. But we don’t need any deadweight. Just us five on the Genius Youths Ranking will be enough to win.”
Tang Wulin frowned. He cast his stare at the direction of the rankers, and sure enough, Wu Siduo, Luo Guixing, Xu Yucheng, and Yang Nianxia stood together. Wu Siduo was expressionless while Luo Guixing wore his usual half-smile. Yang Nianxia waved at him with an amiable expression.
Those five are joining hands?
Tang Wulin’s frown deepened. He understood that they were targeting him. All five were rankers and had the strength to match. Yet he became class president without fully displaying his power. It was natural that they held no respect for him.
Alright, then. Bring it on!
“Genius Youths Ranking? What’s that?” Ye Xinglan asked Zheng Yiran.
Zheng Yiran was stunned. “You don’t even know what the Genius Youths Ranking is? It’s one of the minor rankings under the Continental Ranking! It’s a list of the top thirty young soul masters, and the five of us are on it!” Pride filled her eyes as she proclaimed her status. Her sense of pride was rightly so, as she was able to climb into such a prestigious roll.
Ye Xinglan shook her head. “Never heard of it. I only know of the Continental Ranking. I guess you five are alright since you made it onto that ranking though.”
Ye Xinglan’s change of attitude took Tang Wulin by surprise. Huh. So she does have a cute side to her.
Zheng Yiran sneered. “Fine! If we meet in the arena, I’ll show you just what it means for someone to be on the Genius Youths Ranking!” She turned to Tang Wulin and smiled with narrowed eyes. “Class president, good luck. Really though, what meaning is there in you being the class president?”
Tang Wulin maintained a warm smile as he raised a hand to stop Gu Yue from speaking out.
Zheng Yiran flipped around and brushed past them. There had been some stragglers nearby, but after Zheng Yiran’s last remark, they all shifted further from Tang Wulin.
So the five of them are working together to shun us? To shun me?
Tang Wulin had never expected the situation to get this far. But now, he began to understand where he had gone wrong. It was his fault for not forming connections with his classmates after becoming class president, always too busy cultivating or blacksmithing. He had neglected to socialize. This served to compound their lukewarm opinion of him.
Debating over their battle armor plans with Wu Siduo ad Luo Guixing kindled their bad ill against him, ultimately leading to the current situation.
Luo Guixing approached him.
“Class president, I’ve discussed things with Wu Siduo and have come to a conclusion. Since we can’t help you as a maker or mechanic, then it’s not right for you forge for us. I have spoken to the teachers today and received approval to split up our group. Sorry for inconveniencing you.”
Now he’s turning his back on me? Breaking up the class council group?
“Fine.” Tang Wulin said quietly, almost in a whisper.
Luo Guixing kept his eyes trained on Tang Wulin. “Class president, the future is long.”
Tang Wulin smiled once more. “You’re right. The future is long.”