BUTTERFLIES (Arc 2&3; The Undefeatable Class 192)

Chapter 87: Hall of Principals

After running for what seemed to be only a few seconds, the guard finally stopped. He gently placed me on my feet and with an apologetic expression, said, "I hope you'll forgive me in the future. This was my order — to bring you straight here the moment you arrived."

  'Chameleon,' the first thing I felt like telling him on seeing his present expression.

  My head was slightly dizzy, but with true essence, I was able to keep sober in no time.

  "Your order was to bring me here immediately, huh?" I asked, quickly observing where I'd been taken to.

  Before us was an extremely good-looking, antique-styled, temple-like building... jeez, I wish I had a simpler term of describing this.

  My eyes, after gazing upon the building in awe for a moment, didn't fail to notice the name plaque over the entrance.

  "Hall of Principals?" I muttered, jig-sawed.

  Whoever wrote those words on the plaque must have really been someone skilled in cardiography and painting. The writing was charged with a sort of otherworldliness that could never be found anywhere, from the realistic Earth. It was only something a skilled Gifted Cultivator could achieve and produce.

  'But why was I sent for... had I broken a school rule or something?' The thought arose upon my mind, giving way to more curiosity.

  The guard simply walked forward and approached two guards who were guarding the entrance of this place, asking that they report our presence. Only my name was mentioned though.

  One of the guards nodded, silently, and went into the building.

  I sent out my spiritual consciousness after the guard, but my spiritual consciousness was repelled by an internal force the moment the door shut behind the latter.

  I shook my head in a bitter smile. It seems there was an anti-spiritual consciousness set up within the building. Or, could it have been the Spatial Lock? Anyways, if just anybody could keep tab of the activities going within, then would it matter if the principals met together, inside or outside?

  Later, I would definitely ask Teacher Kira to teach me the tricks behind Spatial Lock.

  "Come in!" exclaimed the guard who'd earlier gone in. Lost in my devious thoughts, I hadn't noticed when he'd stepped out.

  I swallowed my saliva, noisily. The guard who'd brought me here led the way.

  Together, we stepped into a grand hall with nine silver-coloured high chairs upon which nine people (seven men and two women) were seated. The hall wasn't so large, albeit quite spacious, and was painted all over in white. As a Meditation realm cultivator, my memory did not fail in recalling these people. They were the same set of people who had made an appearance during the school's Open Day, and had personally welcomed us, new batch of students, officially.

  Yes, that's right. They were the nine principals of the nine professions of the Junior Academy of the Gifted!

  I made a curtesy to them. Although their expressions could barely be read, the slightest detail did not escape my eyes. I'd first noticed surprise spread across in a split-second, followed by pleasure, then a rein-in of emotions. However, why these emotions went thus, I definitely could not tell.

  "Welcome! Stand in the centre before us, Stephanie, so we could see you better," said the man seated in the most vantage point between all nine of them. A name quickly resurfaced in my mind. This person was definitely Principal Dongwu who'd disguised himself in the Beast Identification part of my 2-star beast tamer examination. He was also the one who'd led the beast tamers examiners of JAG profession, entrance examination.

  At the centre of the hall, there was a large circle, wide enough to contain a dozen people. It even somehow seemed to be drawn for that purpose.

  With my United Heavens Cultivation Technique, I was able to ease my mind of its initial nervousness, and garnered up some courage to walk straight up to the Centre Circle.

  These people were quite scary and all... that, however, didn't change the fact that they were only in the Spirit realm. Plus, I didn't seem to sense any kind of threat or something. Believe me, facing Stealth God Wulin's aura was an eye opener.

  "Quite an interesting lass," said a lady in a sparkling, white dress. Some of the others smiled in coherence, nodding also.

  Unknowingly to me, my overconfidence at the moment had slipped off my body, giving my aura a form of valiancy which caught the principals by surprise. To understand what I mean, take killing intent for example. With the telepathic connection to one's mind, when one has an intention to kill, a form of dark aura is exuded from one — by default. In comparison, when I numbed the pressure from the principals, I'd gained my confidence, and this confidence gave my aura a sudden caprice.

  Principal Dongwu cracked his voice to speak.

  "You must be wondering why you were sent for as soon as you arrived."

  My brows furrowed in a split-second. Before now, I'd have asked whether I'd broken a school rule and was in trouble. However, after catching a glimpse of their true emotions, curiosity took place of the initial fear. I nodded.

  He continued, "Well, it's to welcome you from your beast tamer examination, of course!"

  Every other person broke into a grin, and I could've sworn to see the kind of pride a father shows off when his child did something applaudable, like getting a good grade.

  My mind was on overdrive. How could such a small matter be enough to catch the attention of all nine principals of the JAC? I was tongue-tied, even on how I was to respond. I didn't even know if I was to laugh or cry!

  One man suddenly burst into laughter. He was quite old (as all the others, in fact, were).  Still, one couldn't miss his handsomeness. He came down from his throne-like seat like the descending of a leaf, and walked towards me in large strides.

  "Xiezi!" Principal Dongwu from his own position, called to this man. "Don't you think it's too early? We've talked about the sequence of this meeting before!"

  The man ignored Principal Dongwu and met me in no time. From my peripheral vision, I could see some of the other principals face palming, with their shoulders bobbing in silent laughter.

  Principal Xiezi was from the Formation Guild as his principal uniform told. Besides, my memory could not fail me too. He had definitely introduced himself thus, during the Open Day. Now that I thought of this, Harty (Did I mention that was the name I gave the Dragon-clawed Hartebeest?) said that this person was the one who had set up the 4-star Concealing Formation back in that forest where I took the exam.

  The man placed his palms on my shoulders. His aura gave off the feeling of  "over enthusiasm" and "very approachable".

  "Congratulations, Stealth God!" he exclaimed in my face, not realising the fact that he was already very close to me. It was like he'd been controlling himself not to shout those three words since the moment I'd walked in. He —even!— almost dropped to his knees and bowed, had I not stopped him.

  My mind was shooting fireworks — how did he know I'd become the new Stealth God? Was it public knowledge that anyone who tamed Harty would become the new Stealth God?