Douluo Dragon King: I, Huo Linfei, the Mecha Illusionary Lin God

For the next month, Class 5 lived a peaceful life.

Or rather, it appears calm on the surface.

Wu Changkong's teaching method is very special - he hardly lectures, but just gives his students a bunch of cultivation methods and combat techniques and lets them practice on their own.

Students can ask questions, but he answers very concisely, sometimes not at all, letting them figure it out on their own.

But Huo Linfei discovered that Wu Changkong had been observing them all along.

Especially observing yourself.

After class, Wu Changkong called him to his office.

"Your martial soul is the Superpower Lock?" Wu Changkong asked.

"Yes." Huo Linfei nodded.

"Innate full soul power?"

"Yes."

Wu Changkong was silent for a few seconds, then said, "Your talent is enough to get into Shrek Academy."

Huo Linfei was taken aback: "Shrek?"

"The top academy on the continent." Wu Changkong looked at him. "With your talent, you could receive the best training at Shrek Academy. But at East Sea Academy... you might be overlooked."

Huo Linfei laughed: "Teacher, didn't you also come from Shrek Academy?"

Wu Changkong's eyes flickered slightly: "How did you know?"

"I'm just guessing," Huo Linfei said. "The aura you exude, and your understanding of combat, can't be taught in an ordinary academy."

This was half true and half false. Actually, Huo Linfei heard it from Mu Ye, who mentioned that there was a teacher at Donghai Academy who was from Shrek Academy and had exiled himself here because of certain things.

Wu Changkong did not deny it: "I was once a student of Shrek Academy, and also... a sinner."

His voice was soft, but Huo Linfei could hear the heaviness in it.

"So you now want to train outstanding students and send them to Shrek Academy as a way of atoning for your sins?" Huo Linfei asked.

Wu Changkong suddenly looked up, his icy blue eyes fixed on Huo Linfei, his gaze sharp as a knife: "You know too much."

Huo Linfei didn't back down: "I'm just guessing. But if it's true, teacher, I'm willing to become the student you send to Shrek Academy."

Why?

"Because I want to become stronger," Huo Linfei said. "Strong enough to protect the people I want to protect, strong enough to realize my dreams. If Shrek Academy is the best on the continent, then I'll go there and stand at the top."

Wu Changkong looked at him for a long time before finally nodding: "Okay. If you can really do it, I will personally recommend you to Shrek Academy."

It's a deal.

Besides his studies at the academy, Huo Linfei also had to deal with the instruction of two teachers.

Zhenhua and Muye kept their promise and came to Donghai City once a week. Sometimes they came together, and sometimes they came separately.

Zhenhua taught forging, starting with the most basic properties of metals and progressing to the most complex spirit forging techniques. He taught in great detail, but also very quickly—Huo Linfei's speed of understanding surprised even him.

"Your talent for fire gives you a natural advantage in forging."

Zhenhua said, "But remember, skills can be learned quickly, but experience takes time to accumulate. Don't rush to reach higher levels; first, lay a solid foundation."

Huo Linfei nodded: "I understand, teacher."

"And another thing," Zhenhua added.

"Your soul power is too low right now. Spirit forging requires a lot of soul power and mental energy. With your second ring cultivation, it's too much of a stretch to force it. Break through to the third ring as soon as possible and become a Soul Master. Only then can your forging skills truly take off."

Makino's side, on the other hand, has a completely different style.

He didn't start teaching mecha from theory; instead, he took Huo Linfei directly to the mecha training ground in Donghai City and had him personally pilot, disassemble, and assemble the mecha.

"Theory can be learned from books, but practical experience is essential."

Makino said, "This is a Federation-standard white mech, the most basic model. Your task today is to disassemble it and put it back together. Time limit: three hours."

Huo Linfei stared at the five-meter-tall steel behemoth before him, his lips twitching:

"Teacher, I'm only nine years old..."

"Age is no excuse." Makino said expressionlessly. "Weren't you very confident? You said mecha were the future, that you would create mecha that surpassed battle armor. If you can't even handle the most basic model, then all those words are just empty talk."

Huo Linfei was provoked.

He rolled up his sleeves, his superpower lock lit up, and his armed form activated—not for combat, but to amplify his power.

Three hours later, the mech stood perfectly intact on the training field.

Makino checked it over and nodded: "Passed. But using an armed soul skill is considered cheating. No soul skills allowed next week."

Huo Linfei collapsed to the ground, covered in sweat, but his eyes shone like stars: "Teacher, I can do it."

"I know." Makino rarely showed a smile. "Otherwise, I wouldn't have taken you as my disciple."

Under the rigorous training of his two teachers, Huo Linfei's soul power steadily improved, rising from level 26 to level 28. His forging skills also steadily progressed towards level six, and his knowledge of mecha advanced by leaps and bounds.

Tang Wulin's progress was also going smoothly. Under Mu Chen's guidance, he successfully obtained the Level 4 Blacksmith Badge, just one step away from Level 5.

Everything is moving in a positive direction.

until that day.

One afternoon a month after the start of the semester, Class 5 was having a practical lesson.

Wu Changkong stood on the sidelines, watching the students battle in pairs.

His gaze lingered on Huo Linfei most of the time; the child was progressing too fast, so fast that it shocked him.

Suddenly, the classroom door was pushed open.

A girl walked in.

In that instant, the entire training ground fell silent.

It wasn't because the girl was particularly beautiful—though she was indeed very beautiful. Long silver hair, purple eyes, exquisitely beautiful features, and a cool, aloof air made her look like someone who had stepped out of a painting.

It was because of her eyes.

Those purple eyes held no emotion. No curiosity, no tension, no expectation, only an unfathomable calm.

The moment Gu Yue stepped into the training ground of Class 5, the air in the entire space seemed to freeze.

It wasn't because of her stunning beauty—although her silver hair and purple eyes certainly made all the boys take a second look. It was because of her aura, that innate, aloof and superior air that transcended all others.

She stood at the door, her gaze sweeping across the room before finally settling on Tang Wulin.

It was just a glance, then quickly looked away, so fast that almost no one noticed.

But Gu Yue's heart skipped a beat.

The Golden Dragon King... it really is the aura of the Golden Dragon King.

Although it was very faint, although it was sealed, and although the blue-haired boy himself might not even know it, Gu Yue was all too familiar with that domineering aura that originated from the depths of his bloodline and belonged exclusively to the Dragon God.

That's why she came.

As an avatar of the Silver Dragon King and one of the incarnations of the Lord of Soul Beasts, Gu Yue was sent to the human world. One of her most important tasks was to find the vessel for the Golden Dragon King's bloodline, observe him, study him, and, if necessary, control him.

Tang Wulin is that vessel.

So Gu Yue came, came to Donghai Academy, and came to Class 5.

The reason was simple: she wanted to get close to Tang Wulin and find out what had happened to him and why the Golden Dragon King's divine core was inside a human child.

As for the fact that Class 5 is the worst class, Gu Yue doesn't care at all.

So what if she's in a lower-ranked class? She's not really there to study. As long as she gets closer to her goal, it doesn't matter which class she's in.