Lu Hu's heart burned with unparalleled confidence.

In his mind, even though the elite trainees were only Middle-Rank Apprentices, Fang Zhou's extraordinary skills and rich combat experience were more than enough to make him stand out from this group of young talents and command everyone's respect. Of course, beneath this steadfast trust, Lu Hu also harbored a nearly impossible dream. He dreamt that Fang Zhou could successfully advance to Upper-Rank Apprentice before the start of the new recruits' competition. Such an achievement would not only create a massive gap in strength between Fang Zhou and the other new trainees in his year but would also be a great reassurance for Sea City Military Academy.

However, Lu Hu knew that such an expectation was nothing more than a foolish dream. In the history of Sea City Military Academy, no student had ever advanced from a newly Awakened recruit to an Upper-Rank Apprentice in just four short months.

In his view, even for someone as exceptionally talented as Fang Zhou, such a leap was an unattainable height. Despite Fang Zhou's astonishing Talent, he couldn't defy Natural Law by forcefully shortening the timeline of his growth.

Just as Lu Hu was lost in these complex thoughts, his eyes suddenly shot wide, his outwardly calm expression finally breaking.

At this moment, Fang Zhou, facing Instructor Lu Hu's sharp gaze, remained perfectly calm and composed. However, the powerful aura of an Upper-Rank Apprentice emanating from him was impossible to conceal.

Lu Hu blinked, confirming again and again that he wasn't mistaken. He quickly stepped down from the stage, walked over to Fang Zhou, and asked with wide eyes, "Fang Zhou, have you broken through to Upper-Rank Apprentice?"

The moment he spoke, the Seed Students who had been watching his every move erupted into shocked murmurs.

"Upper-Rank Apprentice?!"

They couldn't believe their ears.

Gu Zhiqiu's gaze was piercing, his eyes locked on Fang Zhou in utter disbelief as a storm of emotions churned within him. With the Perception he had only just attained as a Middle-Rank Apprentice, he couldn't accurately gauge Fang Zhou's strength in a non-combat state without deliberately probing. It was only after hearing Instructor Lu Hu's words that he realized Fang Zhou had quietly broken through to become an Upper-Rank Apprentice.

He's truly in a league of his own!

Standing to the side, the two assistants, Bai Xiaochan and Meng Hongzhuang, couldn't control their expressions at all. Joy and excitement practically spilled from their eyes. The powerhouse they'd attached themselves to had just become even more formidable, and they couldn't help but be thrilled.

Talk about a good eye for talent! Whose judgment was as good as theirs among all the students present?! After all, who wouldn't want to fight alongside a genius with limitless potential and share in a glorious future?

Fang Zhou, however, just nodded calmly and replied, "Yes, Instructor Lu Hu. I had a sudden insight during Meditation last night, broke through the bottleneck, and advanced to Upper-Rank Apprentice. It was all very sudden, so I wasn't able to report to the instructors in time. Please forgive me."

Hearing this, a gratified smile spread across Instructor Lu Hu's face. He praised Fang Zhou repeatedly, his voice filled with pride and anticipation.

"Good! Good! Good! Fang Zhou, you've truly made me see you in a whole new light! You are worthy of being called an Undead Mage with an Innate Holy Body! Breaking through on the eve of the new recruits' competition is a heaven-sent opportunity!"

Instructor Lu Hu said excitedly, "As long as you hurry and master this newfound power, I am certain you will dominate the upcoming new recruits' competition!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Instructor Lu Hu eagerly pulled out his personal terminal and quickly shared the exhilarating news with the other instructors.

After hearing Fang Zhou's personal confirmation, the other Seed Students could no longer contain their disbelief, and they burst into hushed, urgent discussions. The crowd of Seed Students, regardless of whether they had previously doubted him or always believed in his extraordinary strength, could not suppress their excitement.

Among them, Bai Xiaochan and Meng Hongzhuang's reactions were particularly eye-catching. They circled Fang Zhou excitedly, their faces beaming with brilliant smiles, as if trying to express their joy through movement.

It wasn't that they lacked self-control, but Fang Zhou's breakthrough was simply too shocking, delivering a massive psychological impact. This impact stemmed not only from Fang Zhou's personal achievement but also from the influence he would now wield.

Fang Zhou's promotion to Upper-Rank Apprentice wasn't just a symbol of personal honor; it was a massive boost for the entire Team. With an Upper-Level Undead Mage leading them, Sea City Military Academy was bound to achieve outstanding results in the upcoming new recruits' competition.

More importantly, tradition held that outstanding Team members would receive substantial rewards. For first-year, Middle-Rank Apprentice Seed Students like Bai Xiaochan and Meng Hongzhuang, this was an irresistible temptation. After all, the opportunity to be selected for the representative Team was rare. Once chosen, having a formidable figure like Fang Zhou to tower over the competition meant they would reap the glory and substantial rewards of victory.

A rising tide lifts all boats.

Faced with such tangible benefits, it was only natural they wouldn't feign composure.

And so, the two assistants celebrated joyfully for quite a while, only gradually quieting down when Fang Zhou shot them a pointed look.

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