Champion

The next day, after the round-robin matches ended, there was half a day of rest. Early in the morning, the students of First Grade Class One were told to gather in the classroom.

After taking the Revival Soul Pill Wang Dong had given her, Huo Yuxi had recovered more than half of her Soul Power. When she arrived at the classroom, she discovered that neither Huo Yuhao nor Wang Dong had arrived yet.

The class bell had been ringing for quite a while before Zhou Yi finally entered the classroom. Her gaze swept over the room, but she said nothing. Her smooth fingers kept lightly tapping against the lectern, and the students below felt their hearts tighten at the sound.

Before long, a vigorous voice called out, "Reporting!"

Zhou Yi glanced over indifferently. "Get in here first!"

After Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong closed the classroom door, they hurried inside. Only then did Huo Yuxi notice that something was off about them.

Wang Dong was doing fairly well. She had always cared greatly about her appearance, so she had mostly tidied herself up on the way to the classroom.

Huo Yuhao, on the other hand, looked utterly disheveled. Half of the shirt that should have been tucked into his trousers hung outside, two buttons were undone, and his hair was a complete mess.

"What happened to you two?" Zhou Yi stared at them sharply. "Huo Yuhao, tell me. Did you two go out stealing chickens and dogs last night?"

Her voice was completely flat, yet it carried the greatest intimidation.

"Uh... sorry, Teacher Zhou. We slept over." Huo Yuhao had meant that they had overslept, but whether because he was still groggy or too nervous, he failed to notice the ambiguity in his words.

"Oh? Slept over?" A hint of teasing flashed through Zhou Yi's eyes as she looked at them, though she hid it so well that no one would notice without looking closely.

Huo Yuhao froze for a moment, his face flushing red. Wang Dong, standing behind him, could not help raising a hand to her forehead. What nonsense was this idiot spouting?

Zhou Yi suppressed the upward curve of her lips and walked to the lectern. "All right, go back to your seats."

Everyone could tell that Old Woman Zhou was in an especially good mood today. They did not remain puzzled for long, because her next sentence gave them the answer.

"Three days have passed, and the freshman assessment has officially ended. I'm very pleased, because all twenty-three teams in our class passed."

"Wow!"

Cheers soared through the classroom. Some excitedly hugged their teammates, some cried, and some stood up and applauded.

Watching this scene, Zhou Yi smiled as she recalled her original intention. With her abilities, she could have taught in the Inner Sect, but she believed that teaching these ordinary-talented children into outstanding soul masters was the true meaning of being a teacher.

This sense of fulfillment could not be found anywhere else.

After they had calmed down, she added, "You should all know that Shrek Academy holds advancement assessments every year. Passing this assessment only ensures that you will not be eliminated before the end of first grade."

"If you slack off from now on, then when you reach second grade, I may no longer see you within the academy."

"Also, although the freshman assessment has ended, among our twenty-three teams, fifteen teams still have matches left to play."

"The top sixty-four matches will be even more difficult, but they will also better prove your excellence. I hope all of you will give it everything you have."

Fifteen teams!

Hearing that number, the students of First Grade Class One all lifted their heads. Out of the sixty-four teams, their class occupied so many spots.

Zhou Yi continued, "Among these fifteen teams, two achieved perfect records. In the freshman assessment round-robin stage, there were only seven teams in total with such outstanding results."

"I originally intended to give them some rewards, but because someone from Huo Yuhao's team was late today, their merits and faults cancel each other out."

"And Huo Yuxi failed to remember what I told her during the assessment: remain vigilant at all times. She gave her opponents an opportunity to deal a heavy blow, so her reward is gone as well."

Huo Yuxi's eyes had lit up when she heard there would be rewards, but she never expected the reward already within her grasp to fly away. Her whole body immediately wilted.

Zhou Yi naturally saw her reaction clearly. Without explaining anything, she continued, "Tomorrow, the top sixty-four elimination matches officially begin. Let me explain the rules..."

Huo Yuxi was listening intently when she suddenly heard Zhou Yi call out loudly, "Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, the two of you put on iron vests and go run. Stop only when the dismissal bell rings."

The guilty expressions on their faces came into view. Why did the atmosphere between them seem so strange?

"Remember this: no matter how great your success, you must maintain a humble heart. As a soul master, in minor terms, arrogance will lead to failure. In more serious terms, it could cost us our lives."

"Etch these words into your hearts. No matter where you are or what you are doing in the future, you must remain humble and cautious within."

As Zhou Yi said this, she gave Huo Yuxi a particularly pointed look. Her talent was enough to look down upon her peers, but effort acquired through hard work was equally important.

"All right, that's enough for now. Let me tell you about tomorrow's elimination-round opponents. The fifteen teams that qualified, listen carefully."

Her expression was grave, and the students unconsciously straightened their postures and pricked up their ears.

"Among the seven undefeated teams, including Huo Yuxi's team from our class, two teams have Soul Elders with three soul rings."

The moment her words fell, the classroom erupted. "What? We never heard that other classes had Soul Elders before! They hid it far too well!"

"Quiet. These students were specially recruited, so I only learned this information recently as well. Although I'm asking you to give it your all, if you encounter them, do not force yourselves. The arena may claim that matches stop at the proper point, but nothing is absolute."

"Huo Yuxi, Lu Wanwan, and Luo Ling, come with me. Everyone else, study on your own in the classroom."

Picking up her books and turning to leave, Huo Yuxi asked Xiao Xiao to help tell Huo Yuhao later, then hurried after her.

When they arrived at Zhou Yi's office, the three of them stood obediently in a row like elementary school students who had done something wrong.

"Don't be nervous. It's not as if I'll eat you." Zhou Yi walked to her desk and sat down. "What I said in class earlier, about not forcing yourselves against three-ring teams, was not directed at you. The goal I set for you and Huo Yuhao's team is the top two. In truth, your team should be the one to take the championship."

"Only the top three in the top sixty-four elimination round can receive tangible rewards. I don't mind telling you that the reward for first place is a soul bone."

"But you do not need to put too much pressure on yourselves. Undefeated teams from different divisions will not meet in the first two matches."

"And as far as I know, the three-ring competitors in the other teams are all weaker than Huo Yuxi. With the boost from her soul ring years, barring any surprises, this championship will be yours."

"So take this seriously."

"Yes!"

Zhou Yi looked at their determined expressions and nodded in satisfaction. "Did you remember everything I told you in class about your opponents?"

"Yes, Teacher."

"Mm. These are the detailed files on those teams. Take them back and study them. But remember to rest as well. Keep yourselves in good condition for the battles ahead."

"Goodbye, Teacher." After taking the notebook, the three of them bowed together and withdrew from the office.

The difference in height between the three was rather interesting. Luo Ling was half a head taller than Lu Wanwan, while Lu Wanwan was half a head taller than Huo Yuxi. Standing side by side, they looked like signal bars.