X-Dragon Era

By the time they made their way back to the classroom of the eleventh class for non-established students, lunchtime had arrived, and under Instructor Musha's guidance, everyone took out their tableware from the cubbyholes behind the classroom according to the numbers on their Academy Badges.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

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There were four levels to that cabinet, with twenty-five compartments on each level. Inside each compartment were two steel bowls, a steel plate, and a pair of steel chopsticks, all marked with a student's number, leaving no room for error.

After retrieving their respective bowls and plates, everyone was already ravenous, but the food was not yet ready, so they had no choice but to wait at their seats.

About fifteen minutes later, finally... the aroma of food wafted in from the door, and the next moment... several stout, robust women walked in, each carrying an iron or wooden pot.

"Dang dang!" Clanging a huge rice spoon against the iron pot, a burly, greasy woman bellowed, "Alright, now everyone, in the order of your numbers, come up with your tableware to collect your food."

Hearing this, Xin Yun was the first to stand up. As number 1001, he naturally was the first to receive his food. No one else, even if they were seated closer, had any chance to go before him.

Taking Xin Yun's steel bowl, the burly woman first opened a wooden pot. Inside, it was filled with steaming white corn rice. With a sweep of her ladle, Xin Yun's large bowl was quickly filled to the brim. Although the rice was quite plain, the portion was very generous, enough to guarantee fullness...

After serving the corn rice, the woman opened an iron pot, and what lay inside was a pot full of vegetable soup, with leafy greens resembling bok choy or mustard greens, and a few chunks of greasy meat floating in the broth.

Taking the second steel bowl, the woman scooped a full bowl of the vegetable soup. There was more soup than vegetables, and only a few pieces of meat, but it was already not bad.

As the woman dished out the soup, another plump woman took the steel plate and used bamboo tongs to place some pickles on it; and just like that, today's lunch was served.

Carrying a large bowl of corn rice, a bowl of brothy vegetable soup with few veggies, and a small plate of pickles, Xin Yun returned to his seat. Wasn't life a bit too hard?

Shaking his head, Xin Yun was truly hungry, and though the food was not particularly special, it smelled good. Wielding his chopsticks, he took a big mouthful of corn rice, then picked up his bowl of soup and drank heartily, followed by a bite of pickles. It might be simple fare, but it was actually quite tasty and very satisfying!

While Xin Yun devoured his food like a tornado, the same could not be said for the others. Anyone who could afford to attend Combat Dragon Academy was either rich or noble, and this held true even for the non-established classes. Keep in mind...

whether it was for the non-established classes, or for students like Yi Luo Xiang and Yan Qingying from the elite class, everyone paid the same tuition, not a cent more or less.

"Gurgle... gurgle..." Finally, Xin Yun took a deep breath, downing the last mouthful of his vegetable soup and licking his lips, then he stuffed the remaining few pickled vegetables into his mouth, chewing with lingering satisfaction. As for the corn rice, not a single grain was left.

Letting out a contented burp, Xin Yun felt extremely fulfilled. Leaning back in his chair, he glanced around. What he saw was that a chubby classmate sitting next to him was staring blankly at his soup and pickles on the table, with his bowl of corn rice untouched.

"Plop... plop..." Under Xin Yun's gaze, tears rolled down the chubby boy's cheeks, dropping into his bowl of soup, one by one.

"What... what's wrong?" Seeing this scene, Xin Yun was taken aback, but as he looked around the room, he found the atmosphere utterly oppressive, with everyone wearing faces as if their parents had just died. What was...

After a brief moment of shock, Xin Yun quickly came to understand. The various ordeals of the day had created a substantial gap in everyone's feelings. They were all human, yet the treatment was drastically different. Faced with their current situation and the modest fare in front of them, it was difficult for the kids not to feel miserable.

As for Xin Yun, he surely did not care about these things. Although the soup and vegetables were simple, they were genuinely good to his palate, quite enjoyable, and definitely not inferior to sumptuous dishes, which could become sickening if eaten too often.

Shaking his head, Xin Yun stood up, walked to the podium with his big bowl, and said with a smile, "Madam, could I have another serving please? Your soup and pickles are incredibly delicious. The corn rice is also fragrant and perfectly textured. Wonderful!"

Hearing Xin Yun's praise, the previously stern-faced woman suddenly smiled with joy, and said, "Really? You think it's delicious? Then have more, come on... let me serve you!" As she spoke, the hefty woman stretched out her large hand, took Xin Yun's bowl, and filled it with another big portion of corn rice and vegetable soup, even adding a good amount more pickles.

After thanking the woman sincerely and with a smile, Xin Yun took his filled bowls and plate back to his seat and continued to eat heartily until he had finished the last sip of soup. Only then did he lean back into his chair again, rubbing his belly in discomfort but with a look of utmost satisfaction.

But was Xin Yun truly content and at ease? No... how could he possibly be satisfied or comfortable? Not only was the food coarse, they didn't even have a dedicated dining hall and had to eat in the classroom!

However... the austere environment only served as a reminder, fueling his desire for power, inspiring him to aspire ever higher. Now that he had eaten his fill, it was time to practice tirelessly.