This guy was a real powerhouse. They had to get on his good side. Even if they couldn’t, they absolutely couldn’t afford to offend him.

Of the new students registering, two-thirds had only just awakened. Only one-third were Martial Cultivators who had practiced Cultivation for a while after their awakening.

However, they were generally all below Level 15.

Compared to Bai Junran, who had declared, "You’re all trash," Tu Xiao’an seemed incredibly down-to-earth in the eyes of the crowd, even though he hadn’t said a word to them.

Experts were supposed to be proud and aloof, wild and untamable.

Tu Xiao’an led Dongfang Yuan to the very front, and the new students, with a tacit understanding, let him be the first to register and have his strength measured.

Everyone wanted to see the true strength of this super-newcomer who had fought Bai Junran of the Super Genius Class to a standstill.

"You go first."

But Tu Xiao’an was speaking to Dongfang Yuan. 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

Dongfang Yuan was stunned. ’Is there really any point in me going up there to be measured?’

However, getting measured for class placement was a rule at the Ancient Academy. All new students had to have their strength measured before they could be assigned to a class.

Feeling apprehensive, Dongfang Yuan could only force himself to walk toward the white Crystal Stone. He moved so slowly he might as well have been a septuagenarian.

"Who’s that? He’s hanging out with the super-newcomer, who even let him go first. That fatty must be an expert, right?"

"’Fatty’? You got a death wish? You know he’s an expert and you still dare to be so disrespectful?"

"Just watch. I bet he’s a Rank Two. You have to have some serious clout to be standing with that super-newcomer."

Birds of a feather flock together. That saying was almost never wrong.

Many people whispered among themselves, speculating about Dongfang Yuan’s strength, their voices filled with anticipation. After all, everyone loves a good show.

Dongfang Yuan walked forward nervously, but to the crowd, he seemed calm, steady, unhurried, and completely confident.

He walked up to the white Crystal Stone and glanced at the middle-aged instructor. Seeing the man’s impassive expression, Dongfang Yuan grew even more nervous and handed over his admission notice.

"Alright, you may begin. Place your hand on the Crystal Stone and circulate the Elemental Power in your body with all your might."

Dongfang Yuan pursed his lips. ’Elemental Power? What the heck is that? I’ve never heard of it.’

But he was already up there, so Dongfang Yuan could only force himself to place his hand on the white Crystal Stone. It was icy, the cold so sharp it felt like it was piercing his bones.

"Look! He didn’t even pause to circulate his Elemental Power, he just put his hand right on it! You know what that means? His control is so precise that it’s instantaneous! He’s definitely a Rank Two Martial Cultivator!"

"I’m more curious about his Awakened Ability. Maybe he’s a Biological Controller."

The new students on the sidelines chattered with great enthusiasm, nearly all of them fixing their fervent gazes on Dongfang Yuan.

’What the hell? What’s going on? Why is everyone staring at me...’

Dongfang Yuan felt the scorching gazes and his heart pounded with anxiety.

’Does everyone have such high expectations for me? But why?’

He was completely baffled. More than that, he was trapped in an awkward predicament he couldn’t escape.

The awkward part was that his hand had been on the white Crystal Stone for ages with no reaction, except that it was now so cold he could barely stand it.

But since the middle-aged instructor hadn’t said anything, Dongfang Yuan didn’t dare pull his hand back.

Most importantly, the Crystal Stone wasn’t displaying any data for him.

Subtly, Dongfang Yuan shot a pleading look toward Tu Xiao’an on the sidelines.

He saw Tu Xiao’an give him a faint smile and a nod.

’Does my brother-in-law have some trick up his sleeve to make the Crystal Stone cheat for me?’

Dongfang Yuan’s imagination ran wild. Dr. Snake had once said he had a pretty good Talent and would most likely awaken.

’In other words, I’m a genius. Awakening is a certainty; it’s just a matter of when.’

’In that case, what’s there to panic about? I’m bound to awaken eventually. Besides, I have my admission notice. It’s not like they can kick me out.’

’The worst that can happen is I get put in the lowest class. What’s the big deal?’

With that thought, the tension in Dongfang Yuan’s heart finally eased considerably.

’That’s right. I’m destined to be a badass in the future; I just haven’t started yet.’

After a long moment, the white Crystal Stone finally reacted. A white light flared, and Dongfang Yuan’s hand began to tremble. He felt a mix of nervousness and a complete lack of expectation.

’My body hasn’t awakened, and I don’t have any Elemental Power. What the hell is it going to measure?’

’It probably can’t even measure a single thing.’

In contrast, the eyes of the watching students were filled with anticipation and excitement.

Huge characters materialized on the Crystal Stone: "Dongfang Yuan. Unawakened. Rank: None."

"Unawakened?"

The middle-aged instructor froze, staring at Dongfang Yuan in disbelief. ’Is this guy just some regular person who snuck in?’

He hurriedly glanced at the admission notice in his hand. It read "Dongfang Yuan." That was correct.

What was going on? Even as an instructor, he was completely baffled.

The area fell silent in an instant. You could have heard a pin drop. Everyone stared blankly at the big, chubby kid, Dongfang Yuan, up on the platform.

So much for the Rank Two expert they were expecting.

Instead, he had slapped everyone in the face, and hard. Forget Rank Two, he wasn’t even Rank One. He was just an unawakened commoner.

If you’re a commoner, then just be a commoner. Why put on such a show and go up to be measured? Was there any need for that?

Was he just hogging the stage?

Even the thick layers of fat on Dongfang Yuan’s face couldn’t hide his embarrassment. He dreaded the sudden silence; the contrast with the earlier excitement was too stark.

He looked at the new students, who seemed even more shocked than he was, and had no idea what to say.

’What’s my being unawakened got to do with you? You’re all acting like you just lost a million bucks.’

"Ahem..." The middle-aged instructor was no ordinary person. He reasoned that regardless of whether this student had awakened, he must have had his reasons for receiving an admission notice.

The academy had officially accepted his enrollment, so the instructor could only bite the bullet and announce, "Dongfang Yuan, lowest class."

No surprise there. Dongfang Yuan gave a sheepish smile.

Compared to those who had awakened but were still placed in the lowest class, he considered himself lucky to have made it in at all.

An invincible mindset.

Tch...

The new students, snapping out of their stupor, booed in unison. They had thought the fatty was a Challenger-tier expert, but it turned out he was Bronze V.

Dongfang Yuan practically fled the stage amidst the jeers. He scurried over to Tu Xiao’an and complained, "Brother-in-law, why didn’t you help me?"

"How was I supposed to help with that?" Tu Xiao’an was speechless.

Dongfang Yuan pressed, "Then what did you mean by giving me that confident nod?"

"Confident? I was just nodding to tell you not to be nervous."

Dongfang Yuan was at a loss for words.

Alright, so he had been overthinking things. Way, way overthinking.

Just then, Tu Xiao’an made his move. Holding his admission notice, he walked toward the white Crystal Stone. The jeering crowd instantly fell silent.

The super-newcomer was taking the stage. Once again, all eyes were locked on Tu Xiao’an, their gazes fervent, their breathing shallow and quick.

This guy was the real deal—genuinely powerful. Everyone had witnessed it firsthand, and the instructor had certified it as well. In fact, the instructor’s certification had been the most profound, having been sent flying through the air by him.