"From today onward, everyone is a classmate in the genius class! Please take care of each other from now on!"
A burly man with a fierce face stood on the podium, announcing loudly.
A prominent scar ran across his face, exuding a rugged aura. He looked less like a teacher and more like a battle-hardened warrior.
Feng Lin's eyes flickered with a sharp gleam, and he realized that the homeroom teacher of the genius class was actually an elite cultivator.
In the entire Earth Middle School, he was second only to the principal.
It seemed the school truly valued the genius class, sending an elite cultivator from who-knows-where to serve as the homeroom teacher!
Feng Lin nodded to himself.
While he observed others, they observed him in turn.
The sharp-faced homeroom teacher's eyes gleamed with intensity as he repeatedly scrutinized Feng Lin, curiosity and assessment evident in his gaze.
After all, Earth Middle School's long-standing top genius had been Duan Yunliu, whose life force was close to 10, just one step away from becoming an interstellar cultivator. But compared to Feng Lin, he was utterly insignificant.
This youth had risen powerfully, clearing the Virtual Martial Tower in a single minute, stunning everyone and rendering the genius class meaningless.
Before this youth, who could claim to be a genius?
Feng Lin had already firmly stepped into the ranks of interstellar cultivators. Though his life force index was unclear, it was undoubtedly far beyond 10; otherwise, it couldn't have caused the Virtual Martial Tower system to crash.
Indeed, Earth Middle School had long been in decline, and the sudden emergence of such an unparalleled genius had excited the principal immensely. He had repeatedly urged the teacher to nurture Feng Lin well, ensuring he achieved the best results in the school's history in the interstellar college entrance exam.
Not just the rugged homeroom teacher, but most of the class's attention was now fixed on Feng Lin.
Only two people were exceptions: Zhao Kai and Klot. After a winter break of training, they had also managed to enter the genius class.
When they had provoked Feng Lin earlier, the terror of facing death had shaken them to the core, and they had no desire to experience it again.
They looked at Feng Lin as if he were a fearsome beast, not daring to glance at him more than necessary.
But one gaze was filled with fighting spirit, fixed on Feng Lin.
This was a handsome black-haired youth, his face carrying an air of pride and defiance.
He was Duan Yunliu, with a life force of 9.6, long the undisputed top student of the school. He had cleared the Virtual Martial Tower in his sophomore year.
Accustomed to being number one, how could he accept being overshadowed by an unknown upstart who had come out of nowhere?
His eagerness to challenge Feng Lin was written all over his face.
Feng Lin's eyes were cold and deep, ignoring the subtle hostility from others.
Not being envied is the mark of mediocrity!
Whether others love me or hate me... it's all like passing clouds...
The only thing Feng Lin cared about was the upcoming interstellar college entrance exam.
Though this high school exam, like a carp leaping over the dragon gate, still existed and remained enduring, after ten thousand years of technological development, it had spread across the entire interstellar realm, and its form had inevitably changed.
Interstellar universities were a collective term, with their own hierarchy. From low to high, they were: planetary universities, star domain universities, star nation universities, and finally, cosmic universities.
The level of university one applied to determined the application process.
For planetary and star domain universities, one could register at their own school, as long as their final exam scores met the admission requirements.
Star nation and cosmic universities were different. These were the true elite universities of interstellar humanity, requiring registration at designated locations and passing multiple rigorous tests.
Moreover, each school had limited application slots.
The so-called classmates in the genius class looked at Feng Lin with extreme wariness. With limited slots, they feared he would snatch their chance to apply for star nation universities.
As for cosmic universities, no one even considered them.
This was humanity's top university, recruiting across the entire interstellar realm. Only the most elite geniuses could enter, and it was said to even admit some capable alien races with no hostility toward humans.
They knew their limits. They were merely cultivators from the most backward region of the interstellar realm.
They might be considered geniuses at Earth Middle School, but they wouldn't even stand out in the solar system, let alone across the entire interstellar realm.
So, applying to cosmic universities never crossed their minds.
Feng Lin's eyes were as cold as a deep pool, taking in everyone's hostility without a change in expression.
A dragon does not dwell with snakes. How could these people understand his ambitions?
Their so-called hostility was laughable, like mice on the ground resenting an eagle for dominating their territory.
The genius class was Earth Middle School's elite class, receiving the school's full resources to train them for admission to good schools, bringing honor and fame to the school.
Even the slots for star nation universities numbered only about a dozen. With many monks and little broth, the competition was fierce.
The genius class didn't have traditional lessons. Instead, the interstellar cultivator homeroom teacher guided students in training, helping them strengthen their cultivation before the exam.
As long as one's life force increased, their intelligence would grow, and theoretical knowledge would be easily understood. There was no need for deliberate teaching; self-study sufficed.
"Registration begins now!" On the first day of the genius class, the rugged homeroom teacher announced solemnly, initiating the pre-registration for the college entrance exam. Then, he would tailor special training for each person's application goals.
As the most outstanding genius in the Virtual Martial Tower, Feng Lin was asked first: "Feng Lin, you go first! Tell me which level of interstellar university you want to apply to, so I can record it!"
Without hesitation, Feng Lin slowly spoke, "Cosmic University!"
The moment the words left his mouth, the entire room fell silent.
The other classmates breathed a collective sigh of relief—their slots were safe!
Then their eyes widened.
What? He wants to apply to Cosmic University?
Where does this guy get his confidence?
...
Regardless of whether Feng Lin had the ability, they sadly realized that while they saw him as a rival, he had never even considered them worthy of notice.
"You want to apply to Cosmic University?" The rugged homeroom teacher couldn't believe it either.
"That's right!" Feng Lin remained calm. "Cosmic University recruits across the entire universe, even accepting alien races. It emphasizes equality for all, so no matter how backward the star domain or how weak the school, there will always be at least one slot! Doesn't our school have one? I want that slot!"
Though his words were calm, they were filled with authority, as if to say, "Who else but me?"
The rugged homeroom teacher nodded, acknowledging Feng Lin was right, but then quickly shook his head.
It was true that Earth Middle School had one slot for Cosmic University, but since no one had applied for years, it had been left unused and was usually sold to other high schools for a large sum of star coins.
Now that Feng Lin wanted this slot, the school would lose a significant amount of star coins this year. Would the principal agree?
He awkwardly realized that as the homeroom teacher, he had no say in this matter.
"Wait here! I'll get the principal to talk to you!" The rugged homeroom teacher glanced at Feng Lin and hurriedly left.
The genius class was already buzzing with excitement, but Feng Lin waited quietly, his heart undisturbed.
Soon, the principal arrived in a rush. Seeing Feng Lin, he asked directly, "You want to apply to Cosmic University?"
It was the same question, filled with doubt.
Since it concerned him, Feng Lin didn't show impatience and confirmed again, "That's right!"
The principal was troubled. Selling this Cosmic University slot to another school would bring in at least ten million star coins, a crucial source of income for Earth Middle School, which already lacked cultivation resources.
"How can you be sure you'll get in? This slot is very important to the school. If you're not certain, you'd be wasting the school's assets, understand?" The principal didn't give an immediate answer but questioned instead.
Feng Lin didn't explain. Actions speak louder than words—why say more?
He shook his body, releasing the restraints on his life force. His overwhelming vitality surged forth, distorting the very air around him.
The pressure of his life force was tangible, bearing down like Mount Tai, making everyone feel as if disaster was imminent.
The entire room fell into dead silence...