"Wow, look at the big talker!"
A sarcastic voice came from the side.
"No wonder he's the Freshman King, so grand that he looks down on us ordinary folk. I'm curious, Xu Luo, what species are your troops?"
Before Xu Luo could respond, Wang Xiaoling had already stepped in.
"What's wrong, Xiang Xun? Got your title taken away and now you're bitter? Trying to stir up trouble?"
"Wang Xiaoling, what's it to you? It's only been a day, and you're already cozying up to him? Does a merchant always smell like money?"
Xiang Xun mocked, then turned his taunting gaze towards Xu Luo.
"What's this, our Freshman King hiding behind a girl? Letting a girl stand up for you? I sure envy your charm!"
"You..."
Wang Xiaoling, her chest heaving with anger, was speechless.
Xu Luo frowned. He had wanted to keep a low profile, but now trouble had come to him.
In fact, everyone was very curious about Xu Luo's species. Yesterday's battle footage, though impressive, didn't clearly show what his creatures were.
"Xu Luo, what kind of species do you have?"
"I watched your fight yesterday; it was amazing. Can you sell me some of your troops?"
"Yes, yes, if possible, I'd like to buy some too."
The students were eager to buy some to study or perhaps crossbreed with their own species, hoping to create new variants.
Xu Luo responded to their curiosity with a casual tone, though he was aware of their motives.
"They're just some bugs, nothing special."
The students around him looked incredulous.
"Bugs? Bugs with that kind of power?"
"They took down a Lord-level two-headed ogre chieftain. Bugs did that?"
"Come on, Xu Luo, tell us. We won't leak your secrets!"
The students, raised in influential families, were naturally inclined to gather intelligence.
"They're really just bugs."
Xu Luo spoke nonchalantly.
Despite their evolution, the Zerg were still bugs.
"If you don't want to say, fine!"
Seeing Xu Luo's determination, the group left, disappointed.
"Xu Luo, would you sell your species? I'll pay fifty thousand faith power for a few to study, or we can trade equivalent resources or credits."
Wang Xiaoling approached, her scent drifting towards Xu Luo.
Mutant species intrigued everyone, but not everyone was lucky enough to encounter one.
"I'll pay a hundred thousand for a few!"
Xiang Xun, forgetting his earlier mockery, now eagerly offered.
Mutant species were rare and valuable. If the Xiang family could study and replicate them, the cost would be justified.
But Xu Luo refused.
"No sale!"
Xu Luo's calm response infuriated Xiang Xun. To him, Xu Luo's refusal was a severe insult.
Just as Xiang Xun was about to retort, he noticed a figure at the door and wisely held his tongue.
"Good morning, everyone!"
Zhong Tianyue entered the classroom, his gaze sweeping across the students, instantly silencing the room.
Though these students came from prestigious backgrounds, they still respected the principal.
This was why the principal personally taught the elite class; ordinary teachers couldn't control these students.
Seeing the calm classroom, Zhong Tianyue nodded.
"For the past month, I've been guiding you, and I'm pleased to see that most of you are still here."
"I will teach the elite class for three years, but as you've seen, not everyone can stay. This month, someone has already dropped out. I hope that in the future, you will remain here, and fewer will fall behind."
Although Zhong Tianyue's words were subtle, everyone understood the school's system.
Every month, there was an exam, and only the top fifty in the grade could stay in the elite class. Those who fell behind had to leave.
The elite class curriculum was less intensive than the regular classes. Besides theoretical lessons, most of the time was spent self-studying, i.e., developing their divine realms in the world of the gods.
This alone gave them more time than regular students to build their divine realms.
Elite class students rarely stayed in the classroom. They could be found using the school's various special facilities.
These facilities, more than the stipend, were the real draw of the elite class.
The simulated battle arena allowed them to engage in combat simulations with different species.
The real battle arena let students connect their divine realms and battle each other.
The plane exploration center let them explore different planes, giving them an early start compared to regular students.
There were many other facilities, both hidden and public.
Regular students could use them too, but they were costly. Using them once or twice was manageable, but regular use was unaffordable without family support.
Compared to these benefits, the elite class's monthly stipend of one million faith power was just a basic allowance.
One million faith power was a fortune for regular students. How long would it take them to save that amount?
Without family backing, such gaps were insurmountable.
Consequently, elite class students only grew stronger, widening the gap with regular students.
Though harsh, this was the current reality. Human civilization had to concentrate limited resources on nurturing true powerhouses rather than numerous ordinary deities.
After his address, Zhong Tianyue began the day's lessons, guiding the elite class with a mixture of strictness and encouragement, aiming to push them towards greater heights.
Xu Luo, despite the attention and challenges, focused on absorbing the benefits of the elite class, determined to leverage them for his own growth and the advancement of his Zerg.