Lin Luo returned to camp with the group.

Li Ping had been healed by the Holy Maiden class monitor. Along the way, Lin Yuxun felt deeply guilty—even though it wasn’t intentional, as class monitor and a woman chosen by the gods, she’d completely forgotten about a classmate. No matter how low his presence was, how could she blame Li Ping?

Just because someone has low presence doesn’t mean they’re not human.

The moment Lin Luo stepped into camp, the atmosphere felt off.

Jiang Xiang—nearly 1.9 meters tall—charged over like a wall of meat, hot wind trailing behind him.

"Miss Lin! Feier!" Jiang Xiang barreled toward the two girls, excitement blazing in his eyes. "I’ve got huge news!"

Lin Yuxun blinked in confusion. "What is it?"

Han Lianfei’s brows furrowed slightly.

"Come, come over here—I’ll tell you." Jiang Xiang grabbed both girls’ hands. His strength was monstrous even before, and now he dragged them over despite their reluctance.

Lin Luo’s brows tightened.

"Guess what? I’ve awakened!"

A crowd of classmates had already gathered, having witnessed Jiang Xiang’s awakening. He launched into a boisterous retelling for Lin Yuxun and Feier—the two prettiest girls in class—gesturing wildly like a bear in mating season as he explained what awakening meant.

"Bro Jiang, show ’em your power!" one of his lackeys yelled.

Jiang Xiang sprinted to the camp’s edge. Face flushed, he heaved a boulder—easily 300–400 kilograms—over his head.

Gasps and cheers erupted. Even girls’ eyes sparkled with admiration.

"Bro Jiang, you’re insane!"

"Bro Jiang’s mighty! Bro Jiang’s fierce! Bro Jiang’s a real man!"

"Way better than some cross-dresser!"

"...!" Lin Luo, standing far away, flinched. "The hell? How’d that even drag me in?"

*Wait. I shouldn’t be angry.* As the God Emperor, he knew better. But he was young—his mental discipline still lacking. *They’re mocking cross-dressers. I’m a real man. Why get mad?*

From afar, Lin Luo calmly assessed Jiang Xiang. He sensed every detail: the intensity of his Spirit Energy, the position of his Phantom Spirit within his body. Jiang Xiang couldn’t possibly detect this scrutiny.

Jiang Xiang had always been strong. Now, awakened as a Spark Level One warrior-type, his strength surpassed ordinary Spark Level Ones. He could likely even challenge Spark Level Twos.

*Impressive. Can fight beyond his level.*

Lin Luo shrugged inwardly, giving silent praise.

But Jiang Xiang spotted his expression. He’d never seen Lin Luo as a threat—back at school, he’d bullied and insulted him freely. Now, swollen with pride, he stalked over, eyes icy.

"What’re you staring at, shrimp?" Jiang Xiang loomed over Lin Luo. Three of Lin Luo wouldn’t match his width.

"Huh? Just heard you awakened. Congrats," Lin Luo replied casually. As classmates—and as God Emperor—he held no grudge over schoolyard squabbles. Jiang Xiang’s power helped the class survive. No need for trouble.

Jiang Xiang snorted hotly. "What was that look just now? Unhappy ’cause I awakened? Or just disdain? Spit it out! I promise I won’t kill you after!"

"Hahahaha!" His lackeys jeered.

"Bro Jiang, I saw it—he was totally sneering at you!"

Jiang Xiang’s eyes hardened. "Oh yeah?"

"Beat him up, Bro Jiang!"

"Just don’t hit his face~~~"

That last jab ignited Lin Luo’s temper. *Damn it. I crossed dimensions to save you lot. Kicked a Leviathan away. And you say this?* Then he sighed. *...They don’t know it was me.*

"Beat him? Back at school, this little girl couldn’t take a shove from me. Now with my strength—" Jiang Xiang rolled up his sleeves, flexing thick muscles. "One punch might kill him!"

His fist shot out—stopping mere centimeters from Lin Luo’s nose.

"Hmph?"

Strands of Lin Luo’s hair fluttered slightly. His eyes didn’t even blink.

"Scared stiff, huh?" Jiang Xiang sneered. "I’m in a good mood today. Kneel. Apologize. Call me ‘Bro Jiang’ three times—‘I was wrong’—and I’ll let you off." He glared down. "Kneel. Now."

Zhang Dajian, leaning against a post chewing grass, drawled, "Little missy, Bro Jiang’s being generous. Kneel and apologize already."

Lin Luo’s gaze stayed calm, as if Jiang Xiang were air. Hands in pockets, he turned to leave.

"Fuck!" Jiang Xiang roared, charging after him, fist raised like a winnowing basket.

"Stop it!" Lin Yuxun shouted. "Jiang Xiang, that’s enough!"

*Damn it—I’m teaching this punk a lesson today!*

No one could hold Jiang Xiang back. He lunged.

Suddenly, Zhang Dajian darted in, grabbing Jiang Xiang’s fist.

"Fat Jiang! You dare hit my sister Lin!"

Jiang Xiang smirked coldly. He twisted—

*Thud!*

—he slammed Zhang Dajian into the wooden fence. An awakened Jiang Xiang was far stronger.

*Sigh...* Lin Luo sighed, pulling his hands from his pockets. Time to silence this wild boar.

But before he could move—

Lin Yuxun blurred forward, faster than any ordinary girl. Her figure seemed to glow as she blocked Jiang Xiang’s path.

Jiang Xiang’s fist hovered, nearly striking a girl. He held back. Had it landed, he’d be dead.

"Enough, Jiang Xiang!" Han Lianfei rushed over, gripping his thick arm.

Jiang Xiang’s massive frame sank slightly. "Tch. Fine. For the monitor and Feier’s sake, I’ll let it slide this time." He threw his head back, bellowing at the crowd: "From now on, I’m boss here! Anyone acts tough with me again—remember, this is another world! Killing’s not even illegal!"

"Jiang Xiang!" Lin Yuxun snapped. "Everyone’s thirsty and starving. Can you stop causing trouble?" She pulled out a map. "Lin Luo drew this. We found water."

"Water? Seriously?" Thirst hit them all at once. These pampered high schoolers had endured half a day without water—but barely.

"The water source is marked here," Lin Yuxun said. "We need to decide: fetch it tonight or at dawn?"

Jiang Xiang snatched the map. "Damn, Lin Luo draws well! Good thing I didn’t hit you—if you’d gone stupid, who’d map for us?" He wiggled his hips toward Lin Luo. "Sorry, little sister Lin Luo."

Lin Luo couldn’t be bothered with trash like this.