The worse you are, the stronger you become: My summoned beast is a photographer.

"Oh my god, they're kissing again!"

The other students in the class, seeing this, began to mutter in disbelief. In the back row, Aura was passionately kissing Ming Luochen, oblivious to everyone else, their lips glued together as if covered in adhesive.

These past two days, everyone has been fed up with their PDA – these two don't care about other people's feelings at all, they're constantly hugging and kissing each other, from break time to class time, and from class time to break time.

Hollen entered the classroom, his heavy footsteps drawing the students' attention. Seeing that it was the principal, everyone straightened their posture, even the most troublesome students became quiet.

Hollen's eye twitched—Aura and Ming Luochen in the corner were engrossed in their kiss, completely unaware, as if the whole world had shrunk to just the two of them. He walked over to them, but neither of them reacted.

"Cough cough—"

Hollen coughed twice as a reminder, like knocking on a tightly closed door.

There was no reaction. Their lips were still stuck together.

[So sweet—my wife doesn't have any wisdom teeth, her tongue is so smooth...] Ming Luochen was deeply engrossed in the kiss.

Someone nudged his shoulder, and he waved his hand impatiently, like shooing away a fly. He was nudged again, and finally turned around angrily, only to be met with the face of the elephant-headed principal—that face with the long nose was inches away, the tip of the nose almost touching his face. The words he was about to say got stuck in his throat, turning into a muffled "uh."

"Principal, is there something you need?" Aura blushed and asked shyly, hurriedly putting Ming Luochen down from her arms, her ears so red they could bleed.

"You still need to be mindful of the occasion at school. I know you're getting married, but if you want to kiss, you can do it at home," Hollen said kindly, swaying his long trunk slightly. There was no reproach in his tone; instead, it carried a hint of understanding from someone who had been through it all.

"I understand." Aura felt even more embarrassed and gave Ming Luochen a resentful look, her eyes clearly saying: It's all your fault.

Principal Hollen looked at Ming Luochen. He had recently heard from many teachers that Aura's grades had skyrocketed, and her knowledge had even surpassed theirs. Some of her questions were so difficult that even professors couldn't answer them and were left speechless.

She knew perfectly well that all of this was because of Ming Luochen. Aura's knowledge base couldn't possibly have improved that quickly; she was too lazy to even flip through her textbooks.

"Ola, I would like to invite you to participate in the university alliance liberal arts competition three months from now."

"Wow—a university alliance!" The other students exclaimed in surprise, and the classroom erupted in excitement.

That's the most important competition for humanities students, a major national talent exchange event among universities. Winning a prize in the competition can lead to admission to a top-tier university without taking the entrance exam, even for humanities majors. The future is even brighter, with unlimited potential for civil service positions.

"Ah... I can't." Aura quickly shook her head, making a pinwheel shape with her hands in front of her chest. She could compete in martial arts, but this kind of cultural competition was out of the question; it would only be embarrassing for her.

"Don't be so modest. Your teachers all say you've improved a lot and think you have a chance to win a prize for the school," Hollen earnestly advised, his trunk curling slightly. He hadn't expected Aura to refuse—if the opportunity had been given to someone else, they'd probably be overjoyed. After all, each university only had three spots each year, and countless people would fight tooth and nail for them.

"Principal, I really can't do it. Besides, I prefer martial arts, so please give the opportunity to the arts class." Aura really didn't want to go. She knew her own limitations—even if she was called on by the teacher during the exam, the truly capable ones were Ming Luochen; she was just a mouthpiece.

Hollen wanted to persuade him further, but the school bell rang, so he had to turn around and leave, planning to come back another day to work on it.

Compared to the liberal arts competition, Aura would much rather participate in the annual College League Knights Championship – that's the battlefield she truly loves, a place where sweat and glory intertwine.

Principal Hollen was in a dilemma. He hadn't expected Aura to refuse so decisively, and a hint of disappointment flashed in his elephant-like eyes. Pudi Yale Academy was the only aristocratic high school in the southwestern border region, but compared to aristocratic high schools in the capital and other top-tier cities, its strength was still relatively weak. Its highest historical ranking was only eighteenth place, achieved two years ago, still a considerable gap from the top ten, like an insurmountable chasm.

The Imperial Royal Academy in the capital city, in particular, basically swept the top three spots; it's a place teeming with geniuses. The other four top-tier city aristocratic schools competed for the remaining seven spots in the top ten. Then came the battleground in the first-tier cities—the intensity of the competition was evident, with every point fought tooth and nail.

Pudi Yale Academy is located in a first-tier city. Hollen doesn't aim for the top ten, but he'd like to strive for the top fifteen. If successful, it would be a significant achievement in his educational career, allowing him to retire in style. Moreover, a higher ranking would mean more admissions to top universities, benefiting generations of students.

"Ola, why don't you reconsider? If you get a good ranking, it will bring honor to the school, increase the number of students admitted to top-tier universities, and increase educational funding. Then we can replace more desks and chairs." Hollen played the emotional card, his trunk curling slightly, his tone earnest.

Would a prestigious school lack a few desks and chairs? Ming Luochen didn't believe such nonsense. Who wouldn't need money to attend a prestigious school? They could tear down and rebuild a school with a flick of their fingers. However, this competition seemed to have prizes, and the prizes for the top ten were quite generous. The key was that the school would cover all expenses for food, lodging, and travel—essentially a free trip—and since the competition was after the wedding, wasn't that a ready-made honeymoon? Ming Luochen was somewhat tempted; the image of the two of them walking hand-in-hand through the streets of an unfamiliar city was already surfacing in his mind. He looked at the elephant-headed principal and asked curiously:

"Principal, what are the rewards for winning a prize?"

Hollen could see that Ming Luochen was somewhat tempted, and sensing there was a chance, his smile became even more kind and friendly, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes crinkling together: "You don't know that yet. But every year the awards are jointly funded by the Imperial Palace and the alliance of major universities, and the first-place winner is guaranteed at least an SS-level item—all to cultivate future pillars of the nation."

Ming Luochen pursed his lips speechlessly. He already knew from his wife's memories that the first-place reward was at least SS-level—wasn't that obvious? It was as if he hadn't said anything at all.

Not only does the first-place winner receive an SS-level reward, but the second and third-place winners also receive S-level rewards, the fourth to sixth-place winners receive A-level rewards, and the seventh to tenth-place winners receive B-level rewards. Almost all of the top twenty students are highly sought after by the nation's top universities, receiving direct admission to top-tier institutions and scholarships that cover tuition fees – a meteoric rise to success.

"Then you should check out this year's prizes first. If there's something suitable, my wife will definitely participate." Ming Luochen said with little interest, his tone as casual as if he were picking out cabbages at the market. Then he remembered something else, "Oh, right, you should also ask about the first place prize."

"I feel like he's showing off, but I have no proof." Someone in the class immediately whispered, their voices low but loud enough for those around them to hear—they'd never seen anyone so dismissive of the competition, directly asking about the first-place prize as if it had nothing to do with them, their tone so arrogant it could fill the entire classroom.

Hollen's eyes shone like two lit light bulbs. He thought Ming Luochen was incredibly arrogant, but he liked it. He nodded repeatedly, his elephant ears twitching twice: "Okay, I'll definitely help you find out."

Aura didn't find Ming Luochen arrogant. The knowledge in his memory contained too much profound learning, including poetry, songs, military strategies, and so on, which were absolutely overwhelming to this world. If he were to take out poems like "Prelude to Water Melody," "Ode to the Goddess of the Luo River," and "Snow in the Garden of Delight" from his world, even those famous literature professors would be so shocked that they would kneel down and proclaim their conquest, never daring to claim they understood poetry again.

"Sure enough, my husband is so handsome." Aura looked at Ming Luochen with a hint of adoration in her eyes. She believed that if he used his full strength, he could wipe out all the literary geniuses in the world, and all the so-called masters would pale in comparison.

【My wife is amazing too. We're one scholar and one warrior, we're practically invincible.】 Ming Luochen looked into Aura's eyes, her amber eyes reflecting his face. He couldn't help but lean in and kiss her lips, completely forgetting that dozens of eyes were watching.

Seeing the two of them being all lovey-dovey again, Hollen twitched, unsure what to say—did they really have to be this sweet? Couldn't they be apart for even a moment? But since he needed their help, he chose to turn away, ignoring the curious stares with his broad back, and said to the other students, "Stop looking, focus on your studies."

The students in the class looked at the principal strangely—how had he become so hypocritical? He had just said that no one was allowed to be affectionate in the classroom, but now he was acting like he didn't see anything?

After saying that, Hollen walked out, his steps light as if he were walking on clouds, eager to find out the rewards for this year. Maybe Pudi Yale Academy could even win first place in the competition. He made up his mind and muttered to himself, swinging his trunk, "If the rewards aren't enough, I'll invest in the organizers to upgrade the prizes."

Back in the principal's office, Hollen immediately took out the crystal ball, held it in both hands, and chanted a spell: "Ipparipris, come forth, Benuna August."

As the incantation was finished, ripples spread across the crystal ball. When the mist dissipated, the figure of a middle-aged, red-haired woman appeared. Her stunningly beautiful face was breathtaking; her long red hair cascaded down like a waterfall, and her slightly upturned phoenix eyes exuded a cold and aloof elegance that kept people at a distance.

"Horen? What's up?" Benuna August's phoenix eyes gleamed with a cold beauty, her red lips slightly parted, wondering why Horen had suddenly sought her out. She leaned back in her ornate chair, her fingers casually twirling a strand of hair.

"Lady Benuna, I would like to know what the rewards are for this year's University Alliance Liberal Arts Competition?" Hollen forced a smile with utmost respect, bowing at a ninety-degree angle, clearly in awe of this demigod-level leader of the entire university alliance.

Even though he was the dean of Pudi Yale Academy and the minister of the Southwest All-School Alliance, one look from Benuna could give him nightmares for three days.

"Hmph—" Benuna seemed to have heard a joke, the corners of her mouth turned up slightly, revealing a mocking arc, and she couldn't help but tease, "Why are you asking this? It has nothing to do with your Pudi Yale College."

Hollen smiled obsequiously, his voice trembling slightly as he said, "Lady Benuna, this year our high school division has produced a prodigy. If the reward is good, he's willing to participate in the competition. So I've come to inquire first—if the reward isn't good enough for him, I'm willing to personally add the first-place prize." He wiped non-existent sweat from his forehead.

"Oh~ a prodigy? And first place?" Benuna looked at Hollen as if he were an idiot, her phoenix eyes slightly narrowed, wondering what was wrong with him, if he had gone mad. Wanting to be number one? That was like talking in his sleep. The geniuses at the Imperial Royal Academy weren't to be trifled with. And his words sounded like he looked down on the humanities competition.

"Really, Lady Benuna, how could I dare to lie to you?" Hollen explained anxiously, his elephant ears turning red with urgency. In fact, even he himself found it somewhat absurd and laughable—a noble school in a first-tier city actually wanted to compare itself with the Imperial Royal Academy in the capital; no one would believe it if they told others.

Seeing Hollen's anxious expression, Benuna raised an eyebrow slightly, realizing he wasn't joking, and the sarcasm in her tone lessened: "Really?"

"Yes, absolutely. He wrote a poem called 'Saying Goodbye to Cambridge Again' on a pop quiz a few days ago." Hollen proved it enthusiastically, gesturing unconsciously with his hands.

"Read it to me." Benuna was also intrigued. She leaned back in her chair, crossed her arms in front of her abdomen, and wanted to see how talented this so-called genius really was.

"Alright." Principal Hollen quickly took Aura's exam paper from the table, cleared his throat, and held the paper in both hands as if it were a sacred object, reciting the poem—

"I leave as softly as I came; I wave goodbye to the clouds of the western sky..."

His voice echoed in the office, each word flowing like a stream.

The words were incredibly beautiful and evocative. Benuna was captivated, her gaze softening as she felt the deep longing in the verses, the tenderness, reluctance, and tinged sadness of parting. She seemed to see the Cambridge Bridge at sunset, a figure gently waving goodbye by the river.

After Hollen finished reciting the poem, he waited for Benuna's feedback, barely daring to breathe.

One minute, two minutes... there was no reaction from the crystal ball; it was so quiet you could hear your own heartbeat.

After a long silence, Hollen finally spoke cautiously, his voice so soft it was as if he were afraid of disturbing something: "Lady Benuna, what do you think?"

Benuna snapped out of her reverie, still savoring the imagery of the poem, her eyes slightly dazed. She tapped the table with satisfaction, her fingertips striking rhythmically: "Not bad, truly talented." Her voice held a hint of seriousness, less of her previous dismissive tone.

"Then... I wonder what the prize for first place this year is?" Hollen was overjoyed—it seemed that Aura and Ming Luochen really had the ability to win the championship, and he almost laughed out loud.

Silence fell again on the other end of the crystal ball, with only the sound of Benuna's fingers tapping on the table, one tap after another, as if tapping on Hollen's heart.

Hollen didn't dare to disturb him, quietly leaning forward to wait, his trunk nervously curled into a circle, his eyes fixed on the blurry figure in the crystal ball.