The Era of Gods

As time passed, students gradually returned to the classroom after passing the tests set by the senior students.

There are always those who celebrate and those who worry. The vast majority of students saw significant improvement in their abilities after a month of hard work. Perhaps some still fell short of the previous cohort of seniors, but as long as you sweet-talk the seniors a bit, you generally could pass.

However, there was still a small group of students whose abilities were far from satisfactory, and they simply could not gain the seniors’ approval.

After all, the performance of each student was under the watchful eye of the homeroom teacher. A slight bluff might go unnoticed by the teacher, but if the difference was too great, the seniors couldn’t let too much slide right under the

teacher’s nose.

So

“Ji An, Zu Ding, Shang Keluo….”

With each name that instructor Zhu Hong called out, the already dejected students looked up with even more dismay on their faces.

“Regrettably, you failed to meet the passing score in two major assessments. As per the regulations, you will be demoted to Elite Class 2.

Even if they had anticipated this outcome, when the teacher officially announced it, the dozen or so students still showed faces filled with sorrow.

To be demoted from Elite Class 1 to Elite Class 2 might seem like a small drop since both are elite classes, but in reality, whether in status or treatment, not to mention the perception of the school’s upper echelon, the difference was like night and day.

Senior Year 2 had ten classes, each with too to 150 students. Among them, two were elite classes, but in reality, only Class 1 was the genuine elite class. Class 2 merely served as a reserve, unable to compare with Class 1 in terms of attention or resources.

It might sound good to be in an elite class, but in reality, many top resources were exclusive to Class 1 and inaccessible to Class 2, which were all prepared with Class 1 in mind.

Thus, being demoted from Elite Class 1 to Elite Class 2 meant being expelled from the school’s core circle, resulting in a drastic fall in both resources and status.

The remaining students had mixed reactions to those making the melancholic exit. The ones ranked lower were filled with anxiety, knowing that each major class assessment came with the risk of elimination for those at the bottom of the list.

On the other hand, those ranked higher were much more relaxed, as they were far from the reach of elimination, especially the dozen or so students like Lin Xiao who sat atop the Crystal Disc -they were the elites among elites, with no risk of elimination and naturally in high spirits.

As instructor Zhu Hong waved her hand, the figures of the demoted students vanished from the classroom, leaving 88 students remaining.

“You see, students, remaining in Elite Class 1 means not only receiving more attention and resources but also facing fiercer competition. If you can’t keep up, the only option is to fall behind,” she said.

Just as Zhu Hong finished speaking, homeroom teacher Jin Sisi spoke in a more soothing tone:

“Of course, being eliminated now doesn’t mean there’s no future. During the mid-year and final exams, we will select outstanding students from Elite Class 2 and other classes to be promoted to Elite Class 1. Those who are eliminated can still return if they meet the growth requirements in the next stage.

Lin Xiao

He made a face. Already lagging behind, being demoted to Class 2 meant less attention and fewer resources than Class 1, making a return quite difficult.

“Alright, now let’s proceed to the awarding of prizes.

The homeroom teacher waved her hand, and a screen popped up in front of everyone, revealing three cards that gleamed with golden light.

“Among these, the top ten students in evaluation will receive a blueprint for a standard Lightning Spire. In addition, two of the students who received exceptional evaluations from Senior sister Xiong Chu Mo and Cao Yichen will receive two already constructed Lightning Spires.”

After the teacher finished speaking, behind her, a young man with lightning surrounding him, forming a pair of lightning wings, looking much like Thor, Ning Shaoyun, swiftly glanced at his dozen or so competitors and looked expectantly at the homeroom teacher.

Most of the other dozen or so students seated on the Crystal Disc raised their heads to survey the rest, evidently very concerned.

Jin Sisi ignored these students, her gaze passing over the central group, and called out two names:

“Gu Xiaoming and Lin Xiao, please stay behind. The rest may leave.”

As the words fell, all eyes turned to Lin Xiao and the other boy. Ning Shaoyun’s face began to show irritation as the teacher read out the names.

He had no complaints about Gu Xiaoming, a baby-faced boy who seemed very amicable but came from a far more distinguished background and was stronger than himself, which left him with no grounds to argue.

But this boy named Lin Xiao….

He remembered him as a specially recruited student from the Super Newcomer Summer Camp, a countryside kid with no background to speak of. He immediately stepped forward, raised his hand, and spoke out loud:

“Teacher, I have a question!”

Jin Sisi glanced at him, understanding his intent, and nodded:

“Ning Shaoyun, please speak.”

Ning Shaoyun said loudly:

“I want to know if Lin Xiao received an exceptional evaluation?”

Noticing the other students’ interest in the question, Jin Sisi nodded and replied:

“That’s correct. That’s the evaluation by Senior sister Xiong Chu Mo. There’s no mistake.”

At this, most students sighed in resignation, including several of the top-ranked ones, evidently holding Senior sister Xiong Chu Mo in high regard.

But Ning Shaoyun was not convinced, or rather, he was not willing to give up his spot.

What may seem like just an excellent evaluation actually related to a few top-tier resources and very important opportunities in the homeroom teacher’s hands.

This was no secret. Everyone who managed to enter Glorious Middle School Elite Class 1 came from extraordinary backgrounds, at least descendants of True Gods, and most were aware of this. The majority were clear that they were unable to compete for these opportunities without sufficient strength under the same family conditions.

Ning Shaoyun, however, believed he had a chance. His own strength was among the top five in the class, and the difference among the top five was negligible; no one could completely outclass the others. In such a situation, everyone had a chance to compete.

If it were another classmate he knew who nabbed the spot, he might not have any recourse, given the similarity in family backgrounds.

But if it were Lin Xiao or another specially recruited student, he had other ideas.

He mustered his courage and said:

“I’m not convinced. I want a one-on-one challenge!

After speaking, he glanced at Lin Xiao with an unconvinced expression and said:

“I’m not satisfied. If you dare, let’s have a one-on-one fight.”

All the students looked on with interest. The teacher in charge did not stop the challenge, instead watching with intrigue. In the school, teachers would not interfere with one-on-one challenges; they actually enjoyed witnessing various challenges and competitions.

Of course, as long as they weren’t mean-spirited bullying.

Under the gaze of dozens of pairs of eyes, Lin Xiao smiled slightly and asked the teacher:

“Teacher, do I have to accept this challenge? Will it affect my grade for this major class if I refuse?”

Ning Shaoyun’s face changed slightly.

The teacher, Jin Sisi, shook her head and said:

“No, you can refuse, and it will not affect the grade of this major class, but it will influence how other students perceive you.”

“Oh!”

Now that Lin Xiao understood, he smiled at Ning Shaoyun and said:

“In that case, I won’t accept your challenge.”

With a mix of anger and frustration, he added:

“But don’t be impatient. After I get that reward, if you’re still interested, we can have a one-on-one fight then.”

When speaking, his face was full of sincerity, but internally he thought:

“Idiot, you think I’ll just accept a challenge because you say so? Who do you think you are!”

Since the one-on-one fight wasn’t mandatory, Lin Xiao would not accept it. 1 le wasn’t foolish; accepting would mean giving up the teacher’s and Senior Chumo’s recognition and letting go of his spot to compete again.

Although he was usually low-key, his character was one of traditional humility and elegance from Ancient HuaXia. He was also very intelligent and did not like to stand out.

But he wasn’t stupid, nor was he modest to a fault. When he needed to fight for something, he wouldn’t hesitate.

The moment Ning Shaoyun aggressively contested for the spot, the astute Lin Xiao quickly sensed that there must be something special about this opportunity—it was more than just obtaining two Lightning Spires. Although valuable, they certainly weren’t worth the risk of offending Senior Chumo, especially after Ning Shaoyun already had the blueprints. Coupled with Senior Chumo’s reminder, he was sure there was more to this opportunity.

So…

He firmly refused.

Jin Sisi, the teacher, gave him an approving glance. She wouldn’t look down on him for cowardice like other students might. Instead, she appreciated his flexibility and intelligence, nodding as she said:

“Since Lin Xiao does not wish to accept the challenge, let’s drop the matter. Gu Xiaoming and Lin Xiao, please stay after class. The rest of you may leave.” As she said this, her voice contained a hint of a compelling authority that made Ning Shaoyun’s face pale slightly, realizing it was a warning from the teacher.

He dared not criticize the teacher, but…

He glared fiercely at Lin Xiao before vanishing in a flash.

This threat…

Lin Xiao didn’t take it to heart at all.

In Radiant Academy, aside from the true high-ranking officials of the superpower Radiance, nobody could manipulate situations openly within the academy.

And as for the real high-ranking figures, why would they bother to trouble him over such trivial matters?

Without any need to investigate, he was certain that Ning Shaoyun’s ancestry for a hundred and eight generations had no such influential figures.

If there were such high-ranking officials, he would likely be in the top school instead of the second-rate one.

With no drama to watch, the other students gradually left, soon leaving just him and the other baby-faced youth.

The teacher then distributed the rewards. Two completed Lightning Spires, sealed within a silver scroll with a vast internal space, ready to be taken out and placed whenever necessary.

Unfortunately, this space scroll that could contain two Lightning Spires was single-use. Once the items were removed, the scroll would be destroyed, much to his regret.

After distributing the rewards, the teacher addressed the two of them.

“I believe you both know that these two spots offer more than just the benefit of having two Magic Towers. Student Gu Xiaoming should already know this, but Lin Xiao might not. Let me explain.”

Lin Xiao’s spirits lifted, knowing the crucial part was coming, and he listened very attentively.

Jin Sisi explained to him:

“In Glorious Middle School, elite classes are formed from the second year. As the teacher of an elite class, I hold many resources distributed by the school, as well as most of the top-tier resources and opportunities for the second year in Glorious. In addition, I also possess personal resources, including a few unique, major opportunities.”

The teacher narrated slowly, and even Gu Xiaoming, who already knew, listened diligently:

“Ordinary resources and opportunities aside, since most students have a share, but some top-tier resources and opportunities are limited in number and can only be given to the few students 1 consider the most outstanding. In every major class, I take note of the exceptional students, and over time, the students who consistently earn outstanding evaluations will naturally get their opportunities.”

She paused for a moment, and Lin Xiao distinctly felt a shift in her gaze: