Yet, soon enough, in actual warfare, instances arose in the military histories of both the Demon race and the True Strategy Dynasty where mage units were discovered by the enemy and stealthily targeted in surprise assaults.

Mage units lacking competent command often suffered total annihilation when suddenly ambushed at close quarters. Conversely, mage units possessing superior command abilities were recorded in critical moments calmly directing defenses, repelling the foe, or holding out until warrior reinforcements arrived.

Following the divergent outcomes of several campaigns, no mage ever again uttered that studying military strategy was futile.

The seated magic students suddenly rose in unison, bowing deeply to the teacher standing at the podium, then promptly returned to their seats to pack their belongings.

The teacher pulled open the classroom door and walked out slowly, clutching a stack of thick textbooks, noticing the look of astonishment on Gan Jing and the wooden-faced Tian Ce—evidently, they hadn't expected to find two warrior students present in the magic department.

The magic students, having packed their books and items, drifted out in small groups, chatting and laughing, unsure if they were discussing problems or merely making small talk.

The vast classroom was instantly left with only Bi Luo, quietly and slowly gathering her things. Not a single person accompanied her out; from a distance, she appeared desolate and lonely, as if she were the only person in the whole world.

Several magic students regarded Gan Jing with caution, their gazes lingering on the wooden-faced Tian Ce before softening. One of them even offered Tian Ce a slight nod of greeting. Gan Jing’s peripheral vision took in Tian Ce repeatedly; why did everyone greet this man wherever he went? What kind of system had the Principal established that could generate such intense rivalry between the magic and warrior departments?

One magic student walked directly in front of Tian Ce, bowing low: "My Lord."

Oh? Gan Jing's steps toward the classroom faltered slightly. The first-class sections of every academy generally housed the highest-caliber students. This wooden-faced Tian Ce was truly formidable, considering the term 'My Lord' was typically used by a retainer addressing a superior, yet he had managed to secure students from the Magic First Class—his own peers—as his retainers.

Impressive, truly impressive! Gan Jing glanced back at Tian Ce. According to Duan Feng Bu Er’s account, the Conquering Academy usually saw upperclassmen with power and influence take on junior students with potential as retainers; peers of the same grade usually held a certain degree of pride.

For Tian Ce to recruit students of the same grade, especially from Magic First Class, indicated more than ordinary ability. Gan Jing stepped into the classroom, observing the neatly arranged desks. Bi Luo was still quietly packing her belongings with her head down, the scattered sounds of her tidying filling the room.

All items secured in her satchel, Bi Luo lifted her chin, her neck tightening slightly, and let out a small gasp mixed with surprise and a touch of joy: "Ah…" Gan Jing intensely wished to reach out and remove the great magic hat to see the expression hidden beneath that brim.

"Xu… Gan Jing…"

"Mm." Gan Jing nodded, taking a gentle step forward, arms opening slightly to give Bi Luo a brief, reunion-like hug: "It's been a long time."

"Mmm…" Bi Luo’s voice sounded somewhat nervous: "Y-yes… it’s… it’s been a long time."

Gan Jing took the heavy book bag from Bi Luo’s hand. Bi Luo made no move to reclaim it; having spent so much time together, they understood each other perfectly—heavy burdens were always borne by the warrior, Gan Jing, even if the satchel wasn't overly weighty.

The two walked out of the classroom side by side. The few remaining magic students stared at Gan Jing with open astonishment, their expressions quickly shifting to one of mocking amusement, as if anticipating a good show.

This routine had played out almost daily for the entire first month. Influential students from all corners had come to visit the legendary Bi Luo, whispered to be a peerless genius even surpassing the geniuses among geniuses.

Some visitors weren't even from the Conquering Academy, yet they sought her out. Rumors circulated that even the Grand Magicians’ Guild from the Divine Capital had sent envoys just to catch a glimpse of the young archmage, whose genius was supposedly beyond description.

However, every visitor and faction departed filled with immense anticipation, only to leave deeply disappointed.

A genius archmage beyond description? They never even saw her. All they encountered was a magic student whose power was decidedly unremarkable.

"I really don't get why the Principal insists on backing her."

"Exactly! If I had the resources given to her, I might have become an archmage too."

"Stop bragging! Do you think becoming an archmage is easy?"

"Even if I’m worse, I’d still be better than this idiot with those resources, right?"

"That’s true, I suppose…"

"What is the Principal thinking? Even the combined resources of the second and third ranked on the Magic Hundred Battles List aren't half of what this woman gets… Why does she deserve it?"

"Right, right! She can't even enter the Magic Hundred Battles List, so why does she get so many resources?"

All sorts of murmurs, not deliberately lowered, seemed instead intentionally amplified to reach Bi Luo’s ears and provoke her.

Gan Jing noticed Bi Luo burying her head extremely low, as if by pressing it down low enough, she could block the words out entirely. One hand secretly gripped Gan Jing’s arm tightly, squeezing repeatedly, almost as if fearing Gan Jing would lash out physically.

"That person will probably regret wasting their time meeting the supposed genius soon enough."

"Yeah, hehe…"

"The final assessment for the first semester is coming up. I doubt anyone will team up with her."

"True. We probably won't see such interesting spectacles next semester."

"What a shame. We might never know what face is under that hat before she drops out."

"It must be ugly, right? Otherwise, why hide it every day?"

"Exactly, exactly! Must be ugly."

"Hard to say… Maybe she’s the greatest beauty…"

"Do you believe that?"

"I don't!"

"Then why bring it up?"

"Can’t I make a joke?"

Gan Jing stopped walking, feeling the hand pulling his sleeve grow tighter. A near-pleading voice reached his ears: "Let’s go, ignore them…"

"Just let them mock like this?" Gan Jing stared at Bi Luo, realizing this wasn't the first time such words had been spoken. Jealousy was normal, but deliberately rubbing salt into someone’s wounds out of envy—that was too much!

"I…" Bi Luo took a deep breath, keeping her head rigidly low: "I want to defeat them myself…"

Indeed! Gan Jing raised his free hand and lightly scratched his head. This girl appeared timid and fearful on the surface, but inwardly she was far more resolute; he had seen that much during their previous duel.

"Asking…," Gan Jing tugged at the corner of his mouth: "If my friend is spoken of like this, I get very unhappy and quite annoyed. Facing so many of them one by one will exhaust you. How about lending me two?"

Lend? Bi Luo, still looking down, paused. Could this sort of thing be lent?

The wooden-faced Tian Ce observed the surrounding magic students whose faces were etched with mocking sarcasm, nodding frequently. Coming to the Conquering War Academy was the right choice. Principal Isabella’s introduction of the law of the jungle onto campus had indeed greatly boosted everyone’s competitive spirit, breathing vigorous life into what had become a stagnant Conquering War Academy.

With limited resources, everyone had to strive desperately to become stronger; academic results in all subjects had improved, as surpassing others was the only way to secure better and more substantial resources.

Yet, inexplicably, one person was exempt from this law of the jungle. No matter how poor her professional magic assessment scores, she still received the largest share of resources.

"I say, you few men."

Gan Jing felt Bi Luo tugging at his sleeve, urging him to leave. He countered by grasping her small hand, immediately feeling her body tense slightly. Her icy little hand suddenly warmed rapidly, the blood beneath her skin surging faster: "Bullying a girl like this, isn't that going too far?"

The faces of several magic students showed expressions of shocked surprise, which quickly morphed into mocking sneers.

"What’s that supposed to mean? Trying to play the hero in front of a girl?" Among the mages, a noticeably heavy, obese man, weighing at least two hundred pounds, stepped forward slowly, holding a magic staff. The eight-star mage emblem gleaming brightly on his chest was especially jarring: "Are you a new transfer student? Which family are you from? You don't even know what this woman looks like, yet you rush to defend her?"

"Me?" Gan Jing thought for a moment: "From the Torrent Battle Fortress! Bi Luo is my friend. You were speaking your little secrets quite loudly just now. Apologize to her now, and we can forget the matter."

"Apologize?"

The magic students exchanged glances, then burst into a wave of loud laughter. This topic was simply too hilarious—demanding an apology to a student like this? And the demand coming from a warrior student, no less!

The wooden-faced Tian Ce, whose folding fan had been closed, suddenly snapped it open with a 'shua,' fanning himself lightly in front of his chest, watching the spectacle with keen interest. He raised a hand, stopping a retainer mage who was about to step forward, and said calmly: "If you don't want to end up lying in the hospital and missing the assessment, just stand still and watch."

"Hospital? Lying down?" The mage looked questioningly at Tian Ce; after all, he was a seventh-rank mage and possessed a certain level of defensive capability if trouble arose.

"Lu Xi, just watch. You’ll understand when you see it," Tian Ce gently swayed his fan, radiating confidence: "Gan Jing just arrived at the academy, so he probably doesn't know that the relationship between the magic and warrior departments, thanks to the Principal's special provocation, is like water meeting fire."