Volume One: The Dragon Soul Awakens Chapter 42: Choosing Mo Xing

“This isn’t quite right, is it? Having students take part in this kind of war?” said Mentor Chen Mosi.

“Mentor Mosi, I know how much you care for your students.” At that moment, Director Xue Dinghai also spoke up, “Han Chuan Academy hopes that every school will send their best to participate in this operation. If we do otherwise, we’ll be subject to criticism.”

“So you mean our other students aren’t elite, is that it?” Chen Mosi sneered.

“You—! Don’t twist my words!” Xue Dinghai retorted angrily.

“How am I twisting your words? Which school rule am I violating? Go ahead, tell me.” Chen Mosi smiled. Contrary to her beautiful appearance, a lioness dwelled in her heart—her sarcasm carried a biting edge.

“All right, enough quarreling,” Grant Shar, the principal, cut in. “For this operation, we’ll certainly be sending our finest students, but what we lack is a charismatic leader.”

“I firmly believe Zhang Zhihao is up to the task!”

“Thank you for your trust, Principal. I’ll do my utmost to fulfill this mission,” Zhang Zhihao nodded in acknowledgment.

“Zhang Zhihao…” Chen Mosi hesitated, clearly not in favor of the operation.

“It’s all right, please trust me, Mentor.” Zhang Zhihao smiled. “Principal, how do you plan to assign our students for this mission?”

“I intend to dispatch over fifty Honglan-level elites, including several at the A-rank. They’ll be divided into ten teams, each led by an A-rank student, with you as the overall commander. Teacher Su Yunzhou will also assist; he’s familiar with the terrain over there,” Grant Shar explained.

“Understood.” Zhang Zhihao nodded. “However, I’d like to add one more member. With his involvement, I believe our chances of success will increase. I hope for your approval, Principal.”

“Oh?” Grant Shar’s curiosity was piqued. “And who might that be?”

“Actually, everyone here knows him,” Zhang Zhihao paused.

“Don’t keep us in suspense, disciple,” Chen Mosi whispered.

“It’s a freshman—”

“Mo Xing.”

The name triggered a flurry of discussion among the mentors.

“Mo Xing? The freshman who officially tested at level zero, but is actually level sixty at the Greenwood tier?”

“Yes, yes! I heard the crystal ball didn’t shatter during his ability assessment that day!”

“That’s not possible—the crystal ball is always accurate, unless he can conceal his aura.”

“Not to mention, during the freshman trials, that two-on-five comeback is still vivid in my mind.”

“This kid’s got potential. Including him in the operation makes sense.”

Suddenly, someone rapped the table sharply, drawing every gaze—Xue Dinghai. He moved his lips slightly and said, “Potential aside, the boy’s woefully inexperienced. I don’t think he should be part of this mission.”

Unlike the other mentors, Xue Dinghai cast a dissenting vote. He was never one to follow the crowd, always maintaining his own unique perspective.

“Every newcomer needs tempering. I believe Mo Xing deserves to participate,” Teacher Tianqi suddenly spoke up.

“Oh?” Xue Dinghai let out a mirthless laugh, surprised to see Tianqi voicing an opinion at this moment.

“I agree—Mo Xing should be included,” added Teacher Long Lian, raising his hand. “We ought to shore up our weaknesses.”

“I agree as well,” echoed another mentor, raising her hand.

“I agree,” another joined in.

“I agree,” more and more hands were raised.

“Just who is this Mo Xing?” Chen Mosi muttered to herself. She’d been away with a delegation to Xianling Academy for an exchange, only just returned today, and was completely unaware of this remarkable figure making waves on campus.

“A very promising freshman,” Zhang Zhihao replied quietly. “And my roommate, as it happens.”

“What? What a coincidence!” Chen Mosi was taken aback.

“So, you’re all determined to go against me, are you?” Xue Dinghai’s anger boiled over, like a volcano on the verge of eruption.

“I agree as well.”

A cultured voice sounded, drawing everyone’s attention—Su Yunzhou, the usually neutral mentor, had also cast his vote in favor.

“Yunzhou, even you?” Xue Dinghai was stunned at Su Yunzhou’s raised hand.

“Dragonfang Isle is worth a visit,” Su Yunzhou said calmly, a faint violet gleam flickering in his eyes.

Hawkeye!

“Fine, vote as you wish, all of you,” Xue Dinghai fumed, like a Gargamel beset by blue imps. “The principal has the right of final veto. Principal, what’s your view?”

All eyes turned to Grant Shar at the center, his expression tranquil, like a chief justice unmoved by the heated arguments of prosecution and defense, his heart firmly anchored in impartiality.

“I’d like to hear from Zhang Zhihao,” Grant Shar said.

“The reason is simple,” Zhang Zhihao smiled, “since the principal and mentors have chosen me as team leader, it shows you trust my judgment.”

“My decision to include Mo Xing in this mission is an extension of that judgment,” he added, his eyes bright and resolute.

The mentors fell silent for a moment, then broke into resounding applause.

“You’re that confident in your own judgment?” Xue Dinghai frowned. He hadn’t expected a student to speak with such conviction, a confidence that roared like a lion king and pressed his own objections into submission.

“Director Xue, you should have received Mo Xing’s A-rank mission completion form, right?” Zhang Zhihao said. “He took part in the Divine Armory Tower operation and helped me apprehend Li Qingchi.”

“Yes, that’s correct.” Xue Dinghai nodded. He had indeed received Mo Xing’s mission form after the morning theory class.

“He’s remarkable,” Long Lian praised. He’d not known, since Xue had yet to make the news public.

“This boy’s future is limitless,” Chen Mosi smiled as well.

“I’m in need of a capable assistant, so I hope Director Xue will approve Mo Xing’s participation in the Dragonfang Isle mission to assist me,” Zhang Zhihao added.

Xue Dinghai was silent for a moment. He pinched the bridge of his nose, took a deep breath, and raised his head. “Very well. I approve Mo Xing’s participation in the Dragonfang Isle operation.”

He had conceded.

For the first time in years, Xue Dinghai found himself agreeing with someone else’s proposal—much less a student’s. Even when a motion passed, he typically maintained his opposition—like when the elective “Pet Rearing” was proposed. Nearly everyone, teachers and students alike, supported it, but he alone stood up and grumbled, “A waste of time, a course like this?” Even after the course was approved, he kept resisting.

But this time, he truly yielded.

“Thank you, Zhang Zhihao, for your outstanding argument,” Grant Shar applauded as well. “As principal of St. Sky Royal Academy, I hereby approve Mo Xing’s participation in the Dragonfang Isle operation.”

The mentors erupted in even louder applause, Xue Dinghai included.

Zhang Zhihao bowed deeply, speaking courteously, “Thank you all for your confidence.”

Dormitory 198, Rain Apartment.

“Achoo!”

Mo Xing, just out of the shower, sneezed.

“Autumn’s here, junior. Remember to wear more layers,” advised Senior Cai Hong, who was busy feeding the cat.

“Ah—thank you for the reminder, senior.” Mo Xing nodded, when suddenly a shadow appeared on the chair beside him, startling him.

“Senior Mianhua?”

“Shh!” Senior Mianhua gestured for silence.

“Cover for me, I need to get back to my room,” he whispered, glancing at Xiaoyueying the cat. “Just make sure that feline doesn’t notice me.”

“Uh… all right.” Mo Xing nodded, using his body to block the cat’s view as he shielded Senior Mianhua to the bedroom. Over these past days, their camaraderie had grown, and the dorm was starting to feel like home.

Of course, it hadn’t lessened Senior Mianhua’s fear of cats.

They were halfway to the bedroom, just a step from the small hallway. At that moment, Senior Cai Hong looked over and said, “Hey, Mianhua, you’re back?”

Ordinarily, that would be nothing, but for Senior Mianhua, this was a critical moment—a butterfly effect in the making.

“Meow?” Xiaoyueying turned as well, spotting Mianhua’s “fox’s tail” peeking out, and pounced.

“Aaah!” Senior Mianhua, terrified, scrambled for the bedroom door, intending to lock himself in, but tripped midway. Xiaoyueying leaped and bounced on him gleefully.

“Cai Hong, you’ll pay for this—” Mianhua cursed inwardly.

“Meow—” Xiaoyueying purred with delight.

“Mianhua, down for the count already?” Senior Cai Hong laughed heartily.

Mo Xing couldn’t help but smile at this trio of clowns.

“Click.”

The dorm door opened gently. Mo Xing turned—Zhang Zhihao had returned.

“You’re back, legend?” Mo Xing asked. “Have you eaten?”

“I ate at the student council,” Zhang Zhihao nodded, then took a card from his storage ring and handed it over.

“What’s this?” Mo Xing took the card, feeling its texture—much like a bank card. Did this world have banks too?

“Your magic card, also your student ID. I picked it up early for you from the director,” Zhang Zhihao explained. “It contains your personal information and magic credits.”

“Oh, thanks so much!” Mo Xing scratched his head and stored the card in his storage ring. “By the way, what are magic credits?”

“Magic credits are a reference value, data condensed into the card through special means. Their main use is for monetary exchange,” Zhang Zhihao replied. “You earned a total of ten thousand magic credits in the Divine Armory Tower operation—that’s ten thousand gold coins.”

“What? Ten thousand gold coins!” Mo Xing was stunned.

He was finally rich!