Chapter 14: Zhou Yi’s Show of Authority—An Unconventional Beginning!

“Class is about to begin. All students of the Spirit Soul Academy, please proceed to the classrooms.”
“No latecomers allowed!”
“Three, two, one!”

The gates of the white teaching building slowly closed. Dressed in his white uniform, Huo Yuhao arrived just on time.

Class One was located in the first room on the left side of the ground floor, a tiered classroom mostly filled with students.

Only the very first seat in the front row remained vacant, the nameplate glowing softly: “Huo Yuhao.”

He made his way to the seat, casually surveying the room.

There were one hundred students in total, including his roommate Wang Dong, who sat in the middle. Surrounding them in three concentric circles were female classmates.

What a coincidence?

Huo Yuhao had reason to suspect he had been pushed to the front row.

He felt no great emotion about it; in fact, he was somewhat relieved—women only slowed down cultivation progress.

Taking his seat, Huo Yuhao immediately began circulating the Muscle-Tendon Change Classic, seizing every moment to cultivate.

The classroom was noisy, with whispers and chatter all around, making him stand out as quite the anomaly.

“Bang!”

A loud door slam caused Huo Yuhao to slowly cease his practice. An elderly woman entered, her hair white as cranes, tied up neatly. Though her face was deeply wrinkled, her eyes shone with an unusual brightness—clear and sharp, without the usual cloudiness of old age.

Such clarity could only mean one of two things: immense power or...

“Stop guessing. She’s disguised; her true form is a rather beautiful young woman,” Zhuge Lan revealed. “She’s afraid she can’t control the class, so she made herself look uglier.”

Huo Yuhao nodded in understanding.

As the teacher entered, the classroom gradually quieted.

The old woman walked to the podium, her gaze calm as it swept from left to right.

Most students dared not meet her eyes, but Huo Yuhao was not among them; he was even curiously studying her.

Their eyes locked.

The old woman felt a strange sensation—as if her disguise had been seen through.

She lingered on Huo Yuhao for a few more seconds.

Then she raised her voice—

“My name is Zhou Yi, head teacher of Class One.”

“In my class, no trash will ever pass the assessment.”

“I’m here to cultivate monsters, not fools.”

Zhou Yi’s voice was hoarse yet calm, like the grim reaper calling names.

Her disdain and arrogance stirred anger in many students.

Who didn’t consider themselves a genius after passing the Shrek Academy’s entrance exam?

Zhou Yi observed everything carefully and noticed that Huo Yuhao remained calm, even showing fluctuations in soul power—he seemed to be attempting “open-eye meditation cultivation.”

So diligent?

She decided to test this special recruit’s true caliber.

“Stand up if you’ve fought since enrolling.” Zhou Yi’s command rang out.

The students were stunned.

They were all new to the school—who hadn’t gotten into a fight?

Only Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong stood.

They instantly became the center of attention.

“Just two?” Zhou Yi said displeased.

“What a bunch of weaklings!”

“Don’t tell me you don’t dare cause trouble because you’re incompetent?”

“Everyone else, out now! Run one hundred laps around Shrek Plaza, no soul skills allowed.”

“If you can’t finish within one hour, you’re expelled immediately.”

The entire class erupted in uproar!

What kind of nonsense was this?

Punishing those who hadn’t fought and threatening expulsion for failure?

Some students stood to protest.

Zhuge Lan muttered his own complaints.

“I can understand Zhou Yi’s need to show authority.”

“But saying ‘cowards don’t dare cause trouble’—that line makes me sick every time.”

“What kind of bully act is this!”

Huo Yuhao quietly nodded in agreement.

Though he wasn’t overly friendly, he knew provoking trouble without cause was foolish.

Only fools did that.

“Buzz buzz buzz—”

A soul ring hovered at Zhou Yi’s feet, glowing yellow, purple, and black—six rings!

A Soul Emperor with six soul rings!

Such cultivation was extremely rare among freshmen.

The display immediately silenced any opposition.

Zhou Yi said coldly—

“If you’re unhappy, you can leave.”

“If I don’t see you running around Shrek Plaza within one minute, you’re all expelled.”

Her iron will spoke louder than words. Everyone got up and ran outside at once.

Huo Yuhao stayed put, thinking he might be exempt.

“You’re about to get screwed,” Zhuge Lan warned. “Better ask that she-devil if you have to run too, and if the time is the same.”

Huo Yuhao blinked.

People’s hearts were truly treacherous.

He decided to test it.

Raising his hand, he asked, “Teacher, do Wang Dong and I have to run as well? Is it a separate hour or the same time as the others?”

Zhou Yi looked at him unexpectedly.

“A smart one, huh?”

“Of course you have to run,” Zhou Yi said sternly. “But you...”

“Swoosh—”

Huo Yuhao shot out of the classroom like an arrow, pulling Wang Dong along as he passed.

Only a fool would stay to waste time!

He was only level 15, barely meeting the admission line.

If he didn’t work hard, he’d be eliminated for sure!

Zhou Yi never imagined this seemingly obedient boy had a rebellious streak.

After the classroom emptied, Zhou Yi suddenly laughed aloud, pulling out a report sheet to read.

“Eleven years old, level eleven, yet able to get personal attention from Dean Yan, striving for admission into the inner academy.”

“What secrets are you hiding?”

...

At Shrek Plaza, Wang Dong shook off Huo Yuhao’s hand, looking displeased.

Huo Yuhao was baffled.

“If I hadn’t pulled you, who knows how long you’d have wasted there? What’s your deal?”

“You...” Wang Dong was at a loss for words. “You squeezed me too hard!”

Huo Yuhao shuddered.

Hearing that from a guy’s mouth was just... unbelievable!

Not worth provoking.

He quickened his pace, calculating as he ran.

Shrek Plaza wasn’t large, about three hundred meters per lap; one hundred laps equaled thirty thousand meters.

Running at about 250 meters per minute, or 4 meters per second, was feasible.

All present were at least level 15 soul masters, so with soul power, finishing was possible if they didn’t slack off.

But if caught lingering, who knew what would happen.

“Good thing you reminded me, Lan. Otherwise, I’d be doomed.” Huo Yuhao said gratefully.

Zhuge Lan smiled but said nothing more.

At that moment, Wang Dong caught up.

“How did you beat me that day?”

“Your spirit is a mental attribute?”

“Is that your first soul skill?”

Huo Yuhao nodded and then shook his head.

Wang Dong was confused.

“What do you mean?”

“It’s a mental attribute spirit, but not a soul skill,” Huo Yuhao explained briefly. “If you had used your spirit, I wouldn’t have a chance.”

Wang Dong tossed his head with pride.

“Of course!”

“Among this year’s freshmen, not more than a handful can compare to me.”

“You only have a ten-year first soul ring; you definitely can’t beat me.”

If he showed even a bit of color, he’d open a dye shop.

Huo Yuhao was annoyed.

“You just lost to my ten-year soul ring.”

“Ahem!” Wang Dong changed the subject. “For pulling me just now, all past grudges are forgiven. From now on, I’ve got your back!”

Huo Yuhao rolled his eyes.

He didn’t want to chat with this arrogant guy, picking up speed once more.

“Hey!” Wang Dong caught up. “I’m not holding a grudge, so why are you still mad?”