Raziel Phoenix leaned in close to Ray, their shoulders brushing. "I'm actually thrilled the Class Promotion Tournament has started. We're finally free from evening special training."

To maintain the competitors' condition and stamina, all tournament participants were exempted from night training. That alone was enough to lift Raziel Phoenix's spirits.

At that moment, Aaron stepped down from the stage, his gaze lingering on the trio with barely concealed shock.

He had personally overseen Raziel Phoenix's placement into First Grade Class Five. With Raziel Phoenix's talent, Class One would have been the obvious destination.

However, Raziel Phoenix's family had intervened, hoping the harsher environment of the weakest class would temper him further. That was how he ended up in Class Five.

Now, however, Aaron found himself re-evaluating everything.

Class Five had always been the academy's weakest class, burdened with the most pressure. Alfred's transfer there had been controversial, yet no one could deny his strength or his teaching ability.

With Raziel Phoenix anchoring the class, the pressure on the rest of First Grade had already increased. That was the very point of the Class Promotion Tournament: to provoke competition and ignite motivation.

But this was far beyond expectations.

Class Five's competitiveness had soared to a frightening level. Aaron couldn't help wondering why Alfred had selected Ray to compete. He clearly remembered that the boy's martial soul was Silverfalls Vine.

As for Lily, she was undoubtedly the student Alfred had been willing to lower his pride for. Even without seeing her full strength, the presence of a hundred-year soul ring spoke volumes.

This lineup was downright defiant of common sense.

Even First Grade Class One would struggle against them.

If a lower-ranked class swept upward through consecutive victories, it would reflect poorly on Aaron's student allocations. A bitter regret stirred in his heart over approving Lily's placement in Class Five.

"Want to go out and have some fun?" Raziel Phoenix whispered to Ray.

Ray shook his head. "I don't really feel like it. Dinner time's about to start."

Raziel Phoenix stared at him. "Is there anything in your head besides food?"

Ray replied earnestly, "If I don't eat, I'll be hungry."

Raziel Phoenix rolled his eyes. "Fine. I'll treat you if you come out with me. Staying trapped inside the academy every day is driving me mad."

West Ocean Academy wasn't particularly strict. West Ocean City was prosperous and safe, so students had considerable freedom.

"Alright," Ray agreed immediately.

Truthfully, he also wanted to finish the forging task he'd accepted from the Blacksmith's Association a week ago.

A second-rank forging task could earn anywhere from ten to thirty thousand federation coins.

Over the past few months, he had already accumulated close to a hundred thousand coins.

To him, this was a staggering sum. At this rate, he was confident he could afford a hundred-year spirit soul by the time he needed his second soul ring.

A hundred-year spirit soul meant two soul skills. That alone made it invaluable.

"I'm coming too," Lily said suddenly, appearing beside them.

Raziel Phoenix frowned. "I don't take girls out to play."

Lily snorted and turned to Ray. "Are you going with him, or with me?"

Raziel Phoenix answered smugly, "Isn't it obvious? We're roommates and brothers. What are you?"

Lily nodded calmly, then suddenly turned and shouted toward Alfred, "Teacher! I think our team's coordination still needs work. We should train more!"

"Hey!" Raziel Phoenix flashed forward and covered her mouth.

A silver glow rippled over Lily's body. In the next instant, she shifted two meters sideways, appearing beside Ray.

She smiled coldly. "Picking a fight?"

Raziel Phoenix sighed in defeat. "Fine, fine. If you want to come, then come."

He didn't truly hold a grudge against Lily. She was stronger than him, and that fact alone kept him wary. In all their training sessions, he had never beaten her one-on-one. Only when paired with Ray did victory become possible.

Strangely enough, Lily was gentle with Ray, yet relentlessly targeted Raziel Phoenix.

The three of them formed a peculiar balance: both Lily and Raziel Phoenix got along well with Ray, but not with each other. That was precisely why Ray had become the glue holding their team together.

They changed into casual clothes and left the academy together.

"Where are we going?" Ray asked.

Raziel Phoenix grinned. "Food first. Isn't that what you wanted? I know a great snack street."

Ray nodded. "You're treating, right?"

Raziel Phoenix scoffed. "Street snacks. Do you think this young master can't afford that?"

"A walking pile of coins," Lily muttered, deliberately moving closer to Ray.

Raziel Phoenix bristled. "If you don't like it, don't eat."

Lily lifted her chin. "I never planned to accept your treat. Ray, a man should be gentlemanly. You'll treat me."

Ray rubbed his forehead. "Can the two of you stop arguing? We're supposed to be relaxing."

Lily looked at him seriously. "So, you are treating me?"

"I am," Ray replied helplessly.

Lily smiled smugly and shot Raziel Phoenix a look. "Don't worry, miser. I'd never eat your food anyway. It smells like—" She waved her hand in front of her nose with exaggerated disdain.

Raziel Phoenix inhaled deeply, forcing himself to calm down. He wasn't her match in arguments or combat. That was exactly why he hadn't wanted to bring her along.

The snack street was a fair distance from the academy. They walked for a full half hour before reaching it.

The narrow street was lined with stalls on both sides. The moment they stepped in, rich aromas flooded their senses, a chaotic symphony of sizzling oil and spices.

"Let's start with skewered beef," Raziel Phoenix said enthusiastically. "Slow-cooked till tender. Eat it with rice, and you'll think you've reached heaven."

"Alright!" Ray grinned, hunger already bubbling up inside him.

The stewed beef was prepared in light-brown earthen jars.

After the meat was cleaned, slices of onion and ginger were placed inside before the jar was sealed to trap moisture and aroma. Once the beef changed color, more than ten kinds of spices were added, and the jar was left to stew slowly.

By the end, the meat turned soft enough to fall apart at a touch, its fragrance fully infused with the spices. It was one of West Ocean City's most famous comfort dishes.

The shop itself was small. The cooking table sat outside, lined with dozens of earthen jars resting over small flames. Steam puffed from beneath the lids, making them tremble slightly as a low humming sound rose from the heat. The air was thick with a rich, savory scent that tugged at the stomachs of passersby.

Inside, there were only five square tables, barely enough to seat twenty people. Even so, more than half the seats were already occupied.

Mid-autumn had arrived, and the nights were growing colder. Stepping into the shop felt like entering a pocket of warmth, wrapped in steam and fragrance.

Lily looked at Raziel Phoenix with clear surprise. "I didn't expect a rich young master like you to eat at a roadside shop."

Raziel Phoenix didn't argue this time. "This place was my mother's favorite. I came here with her often." As he spoke, he had already walked in and chosen the table farthest inside.

Ray gently nudged Lily before following him in, taking the seat opposite Raziel Phoenix.

"Oh! Raziel Phoenix's here, and you brought friends?" The shop owner greeted them warmly. His apron was stained with oil, and his smile was wide. "The usual?"

"Yes. Thanks, Uncle," Raziel Phoenix replied with a grin.

Before long, three jars of stewed beef were set on the table, along with bowls of rice and two simple vegetable side dishes.

"First time you've brought friends," Uncle Raph chuckled. "These side dishes are on the house." He reached out and affectionately rubbed Raziel Phoenix's head, just like an elder would a nephew.

Ray stared in shock. Raziel Phoenix was normally obsessed with cleanliness; his dorm bed spotless to the point of obsession. Yet now, he didn't flinch at all, smiling naturally instead.

"Thank you, Uncle," Raziel Phoenix said sincerely.

Both Ray and Lily felt their impression of him quietly overturn.

"What are you waiting for?" Raziel Phoenix said, already lifting the lid of his jar. A thick wave of fragrance surged upward. The broth shimmered a deep golden color, and chunks of beef floated within, so tender they broke apart at the slightest touch of his chopsticks.

He placed a piece atop his rice and ate it together, his expression instantly brightening.

Ray didn't even wait. He followed suit, eating eagerly.

"This is amazing," he said honestly. The rich broth and beef blended perfectly with the rice, salty and fragrant in all the right ways.

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