Chapter 203: Gu Shanhe
Chapter 203: Gu Shanhe
Early morning.
“Come on, hurry up!”
Kong Shijin called out, heading to the Central Plaza of the academy alongside many classmates.
Wang Che was among them.
His class had fewer than fifty students.
The entire Agricultural Planting Major had fewer than two hundred students.
Meanwhile, the Douhun Major started with at least three hundred students.
Yet the Agricultural Planting Major was Forest Sea Academy’s most skilled and proud specialty… it still couldn’t compare to the Douhun Major at all.
Other academies’ Douhun Majors would have even more students.
The top academies gathered the best talents; a single Douhun Major there had at least five hundred students.
However, there weren’t many top academies within the War Zone.
The Agricultural Planting Major had four classes. Wang Che was in class three, totaling forty-eight students.
Moreover, there were slightly more girls than boys.
It seemed farming appealed to girls more than it did to boys.
“Is there anyone in our class who’s strong in battles?”
The fifty students formed mixed groups, chatting as they walked towards the Central Plaza.
“I competed in our continent’s Brightmoon Cup. First round elimination… only fought two matches. That experience alone made me certain I wanted to grow crops!”
“I didn’t compete at all… When I signed up, the teacher said my Soul Pet’s Soul Power Cultivation was too low. Entering would just gift points to others. Better to just watch.”
“Uh… I competed in our city’s Dawn Cup. I was a top ten finisher. I didn’t join the Rising Dragon Cup after that… it felt terrifying… All my opponents had fully Third Stage Evolved Soul Pets. It wasn’t for me…”
“So… what about the girls? Uh… never mind, girls probably don’t like fighting…”
“Who says? I competed in our continent’s Flying Cloud Cup! I was one of the top hundred who reached the third round!”
“That strong? Flying Cloud Cup… that’s from Yunjiang Province, right? Like our province’s Brightmoon Cup…”
…
Everyone immediately turned to look at the girl.
She had a neat ponytail, a relatively tall and athletic build, a pretty face, and carried herself with a heroic spirit.
Yunjiang Province was located in the southwest central portion of the War Zone, adjacent to Xiyue Continent. That area had the most Sky Element Soul Pets.
The Flying Cloud Cup was similar to Xiyue’s Qihang Cup.
Each major province had similar tournaments. The rules were roughly the same, just the names differed.
Essentially, they were all Soul Pet Battle competitions for high school seniors across the entire province.
This girl with the ponytail was named Yun Feimo. Her name sounded very artistic.
In reality, her personality seemed quite outgoing and straightforward, not quite matching her name.
It was unclear why she chose this major.
Wang Che observed: their class, no, actually all four classes of the Agricultural Planting Major, didn’t have many skilled in Soul Pet Battles.
Being a Flying Cloud Cup Top Hundred was a respectable level.
It was equivalent to Cui Ao, who got eliminated by Wang Che in the very first match of the Qihang Cup’s third round.
She was probably quite a bit weaker than Cui Ao.
Cui Ao’s Flame Sparrow was very strong; if he hadn’t met Wang Che then, making the top thirty-two wouldn’t have been difficult.
At this level, she was already the best in their entire class, possibly even in all of Forest Sea Academy’s Agricultural Planting Major.
“With those skills, you’d be considered strong even among the students in our academy’s Douhun Major or other battle-focused majors! Why did you choose the Agricultural Planting Major, Yun Feimo?”
Kong Shijin asked.
“I like it,” Yun Feimo grinned. “In Soul Pet Battles, there’s always someone better. Too many strong fighters… I was lucky to barely make it to the third round. Later at home, I started growing some flowers and plants. I felt I had a bit of talent for it, so I came here for Agricultural Planting.”
“Actually, I think there’s someone in our major even stronger than me…”
The classmates chatted as they walked. Hearing this, everyone grew curious.
“Master, it’s you, isn’t it?” Kong Shijin immediately looked at Wang Che next to him. “Don’t tell me your Green Caterpillar is also crazy strong in battles? With your farming skills, you could probably teach us… If you’re this strong at battles too…”
“No! I can’t accept it!”
Kong Shijin pretended to thump his chest in mock pain.
“Soul Pet Battling… I’m alright. Relatively speaking, I’m better at Agriculture.” Wang Che smiled. “And don’t call me ‘Master,’ just ‘classmate Wang’ is fine.”
“Hearing that, I feel a bit relieved,” Kong Shijin covered his face dramatically with his hand.
“‘Relatively speaking’… that implies classmate Wang is also quite capable at battles,” another classmate laughed.
“I wasn’t referring to classmate Wang,” Yun Feimo beside him said, an odd expression on her face.
“Who then?” Kong Shijin was puzzled.
Yun Feimo didn’t answer directly. Instead, she glanced at the quiet Shui Qingling beside her.
Their Small Wooden Houses were close by. Well, all the girls’ Small Wooden Houses were grouped together.
They had probably become acquainted already.
“It’s not me, definitely not me,” Shui Qingling quickly waved her hands. “I’m only good at planting things. My Martial Soul is literally a medicinal field. How could I be skilled at fighting?”
“Then that probably means you are very skilled,” Wang Che remarked.
“Then that probably means you are very skilled.”
“Then that probably means…”
The other students immediately chorused along.
Shui Qingling looked at everyone, slightly embarrassed, and could only shake her head with a helpless smile, covering her forehead.
Amidst the banter and joking, they arrived at the Central Plaza.
The Plaza was already set up with various high platforms. New students grouped by major formed patterns like a Ba Gua (Eight Trigrams) formation around the central high platform.
A faint, pleasant fragrance drifted through the Plaza.
It was the scent of Dietary Meals.
In the center, besides the huge Soul Pet Combat Platforms, there were special platforms for preparing Dietary Meals and concocting potions, along with various instruments.
There was also a small patch of transplanted soil.
Likely meant for some kind of special demonstration.
The new students’ eyes shone with excitement and curiosity.
Before long, the Opening Ceremony officially began.
On the central Soul Pet Combat Platform at the front, the first person to appear was an elderly gentleman.
He had snowy white hair but looked vigorous and full of energy. Draped in robes patterned with various grasses, flowers, and trees, he walked lightly onto the stage.
It was the old headmaster of Forest Sea University— Gu Shanhe.
This was Wang Che’s first time seeing the old headmaster in person.
He looked spirited. To an ordinary person, he might just seem like a lively old man.
It didn’t look like he was an old principal who had weathered over two hundred years of storms.
“My fellow students, my name is Gu Shanhe. From today onward, for the next several years, you’ll likely see this face quite often. Everyone says that in this day and age, looks matter quite a bit. I hope this old man won’t feel too unsightly to you.”
Gu Shanhe’s opening line made many freshmen laugh.
He felt warm and down-to-earth, not stiff or overly serious.
An old man who really loved farming and agriculture.
That was the first impression many freshmen had.
He’s a Soul Pact Master over level eighty, Wang Che thought. His Mountain Martial Soul could easily crush a city or fill an ocean… He definitely isn’t just some old grandpa who enjoys farming.
Generally, when Soul Pact Masters surpass high-level status and reach the tier of Saint Soul Masters…
They become powerful beings whose strength far exceeds ordinary imagination.
Such mighty figures no longer need words or impressive appearances to display their authority.
Because true strength speaks for itself.
So, as freshmen, they’d only sense kindness and warmth from him.
Gu Shanhe soon smiled again, sharing stories about the school, the Agricultural Planting Major, and other academic disciplines.
“Twenty years ago,” he began lightly, “a freshman came to our school. He refused to believe me when I said, ‘Planting is vital for nurturing Soul Pets and cultivating Martial Souls.'”
“He struggled when he first enrolled, his Soul Pets grew poorly, and his Martial Soul development stalled completely. Eventually, he grew angry. He thought this old man was deceiving him.”
“He argued with me daily, bombarding me with theories…”
“Twenty years later, that same student became the vice-principal of Northern River University. He opened a secondary program in Agriculture.”
The crowd chuckled warmly.
Gu Shanhe didn’t lecture them, nor did he rally them with lofty encouragement.
He spoke casually, sharing simple stories about the school’s legacy.
Falling back on rigid, official speeches? Not a single one.
With his wealth of lived experience, a few engaging tales were enough to captivate the freshmen. They listened raptly, bursting into laughter one moment, feeling wistful and inspired the next.
He stood on stage for an hour.
For that whole hour, every single new student listened intently, without once nodding off.
His skill was undeniable.
“Honestly, I still love Soul Pet Battles,” Gu Shanhe chuckled. “Especially when I was young. I adored them. But back then, my Soul Pet was weak! Plus, my family was poor. Keeping a Soul Pet costs little if treated as a simple companion. But to truly battle? That requires expensive, top-quality resources for meticulous care and training.”
“So, all those years ago, I turned to Agricultural Planting research. I figured, if I couldn’t afford to buy those rare materials, maybe I could grow them myself?”
“Little did I know, diving into farming was like stepping into an endless sea. Once I entered, my dream of battling with my Soul Pet drifted away like a forgotten passerby…”
“Decades passed by in a blink.”
“I grew much, much stronger. I grew older too… though thankfully, I’m not quite bald!” Gu Shanhe ran a hand through his hair playfully. “But I definitely lost those intense worldly desires…”
The entire hall erupted in roaring laughter.
Everyone felt a deep sense of shared emotion.
“Later on, I established both the Douhun Major and the Yushou Major,” Gu Shanhe continued warmly. “I connected them with our core Agricultural Planting Major.”
“I decided it was time to chase that long-forgotten dream of Soul Pet Battle mastery!”
Gu Shanhe laughed heartily. “Which brings us to today! The very first event of our Opening Ceremony is one you all know well: a Soul Pet Battle! Our second and third-year students are hosting a special exhibition duel just for you, our fresh arrivals!”
“This is an instructive, learning match. Each first-year has one chance. If you feel confident — or naturally gifted — in battling Soul Pets, step up and challenge a senior.”
“Even a small advantage counts! Win, and you earn a reward.”
“Losing carries no shame here. Victory brings prizes!”
“While not necessary, I personally recommend battling in turns and splitting the possible reward.” Gu Shanhe’s eyes twinkled. “That’s what your seniors often did back when they were freshmen like you…”
With a final warm chuckle, Gu Shanhe slowly stepped down from the stage.
The students still wanted to hear so much more from this adorably earnest old man.
“The headmaster’s advice was golden!” Kong Shijin felt reassured he’d chosen the right school. “Those second or third-year seniors are leagues stronger than us. Trying alone would be pointless. So, let’s pick target and fought in turns!.”
“The headmaster outright suggested it, so it definitely isn’t shameful!”
“Ah,” Kong Shijin realized suddenly, “But when we are seniors next year, won’t fresh students challenge us the same way?”
Everyone paused. That felt… uncomfortably inevitable.
Wang Che smiled wryly and murmured softly:
“The cycle of fate treats everyone the same. No one escapes it.”
Kong Shijin blinked, then smacked his palm loudly. “That… actually makes perfect sense!”
“They’re stepping up now!” Yun Feimo next to him nearly vibrated with anticipation.
Everyone snapped their attention back forward.
True enough, fourteen seniors had appeared on the vast Soul Pet Combat Platform.
Seven young men, seven young women.
Objectively — impressively — all were quite good-looking.
Each stood calmly beside their chosen Soul Pet companion.
Scanning across them, Wang Che noted representatives of many attribute types except Yōu-kinds and those with the scarce Dragon Attribute.
Even a Soul Pet aligned with mechanical forces stood proudly.
They stood like challenge holders in assigned zones across the wide platform, relaxed smiles greeting the newcomers.
“The seniors… well, the guys are handsome,” Yun Feimo said thoughtfully as her gaze swept across them. “But honestly? None compare in sheer looks to Wang Che in our own class… Huh? Tian Xiaoyu is there too!”
She paused near the end, visibly catching her breath. “Wow… Wait, that senior… she’s stunning…”
True beauty, it seemed, was impossible to hide.
Even Yun Feimo, a fellow young woman, found herself mentally stumbling.
Wang Che’s gaze drifted idly across the platform.
The one who’d made Yun Feimo gasp stood farthest to the right.
She looked around twenty, nearly 1.7 meters tall. Glossy chestnut hair brushed her shoulders. Every feature seemed carved with exquisite care — especially her eyes. Large, wide-set, brilliantly water blue, they held a pure crystalline depth rare in most bearers of powerful strength.
She wore tailored, plain-white training attire. A faint, gentle smile touched her lips, radiating serene grace.
Her focus remained solely on her Soul Pet companion, her hand lightly stroking its head.