Class Monitor! (Happy New Year!)

Jiang Nannan rose to her feet. Every boy in the class except Zhu Ziyang turned to look at her, because among the girls, only Tang Ya could barely rival Jiang Nannan in appearance.

"My name is Jiang Nannan. I'm from the Heaven Dou Empire." Jiang Nannan's introduction was brief. She sat down after a single sentence.

"Jiang Nannan. You're pretty, and your name sounds lovely too." Xia Yu smiled as she commented, then looked at Zhu Ziyang with a more scrutinizing gaze. "The boy sitting beside Jiang Nannan, please introduce yourself."

This time, it was the girls' turn to look over. Zhu Ziyang's looks stood in a class of their own among the boys.

"My name is Zhu Ziyang. I'm from the Heaven Dou Empire!" Zhu Ziyang's self-introduction was equally brief, and he sat down after speaking.

"Good. A very handsome young man, with excellent bearing. I like handsome boys best!" Xia Yu's eyes lit up when she heard Zhu Ziyang's name, and she offered her comment before turning to the others. "Next, the female student in front of Zhu Ziyang, please introduce yourself."

"My name is Yang Yun. I'm from Tide City in the Dou Ling Empire."

"Tide City, huh? That's traditional Sea Soul Master territory!" Xia Yu remarked.

"I'm from Cloud Sky City in the Star Luo Empire. My name is Luo Xuan."

"Luo Xuan..."

"..."

About half an hour later, all one hundred students had introduced themselves. Xia Yu had not missed a single one, commenting on each of them in turn.

All at once, the students felt much closer to her. Everyone thought this homeroom teacher seemed like a pretty good person.

"Very good. Now that everyone has gotten to know one another a little, I need to choose a Class Monitor. Is anyone willing to volunteer?" Xia Yu asked warmly with a smile.

The moment Xia Yu finished speaking, Zhu Ziyang immediately raised his hand.

There was no doubt that Zhu Ziyang was very interested in the position of Class Monitor. First, he was unwilling to be beneath anyone else. He had his pride, and among those his age, he wanted to stand at the absolute peak. Second, being a Class Monitor at Shrek Academy was a mark of status and recognition. As the leader of a class, a Class Monitor was already someone who had entered the academy teachers' field of view.

Along with Zhu Ziyang, two boys and two girls also raised their hands. Xia Yu looked the five of them over, and finally settled her gaze on Zhu Ziyang. Smiling, she said, "Zhu Ziyang, you'll be the Class Monitor of Class Four."

"Okay, Teacher!" Zhu Ziyang accepted calmly. This was within his expectations. His strength spoke for itself, and Xia Yu had no reason not to choose him. If a Class Monitor lacked the strength to convince everyone, what authority could he possibly have?

When Xia Yu chose Zhu Ziyang as Class Monitor, the other four wore unpleasant expressions. Some looked thoughtful, while others had defiance in their eyes. Clearly, they were dissatisfied with Xia Yu's arbitrary decision.

Xia Yu noticed their expressions, and a playful look appeared on her face. Eager to stir things up, she said, "Of course, the position of Class Monitor isn't set in stone. If any student can defeat Zhu Ziyang, they can take the position from him. Shrek Academy likes students who desire honor."

At Xia Yu's words, not only did the four students who had raised their hands brighten up, but even some who had not raised their hands began to stir.

"Alright, let's begin class officially." Satisfied with the students' reactions, Xia Yu smiled. "Starting today, I'll be your teacher for the Soul Master Development Path course."

As for Zhu Ziyang, who was being watched hungrily by so many students, he honestly did not care about their gazes. With his current strength, even against a Soul Ancestor, he could remain undefeated without using his Second Martial Soul or Soul Bone.

"Hey, Nannan, can you tell me how strong your Zhu Ziyang is? Why does he look like he isn't worried at all?" Tang Ya lay sprawled across her desk, looking at Jiang Nannan curiously as she asked.

"Take a guess." Jiang Nannan parted her red lips and gave a two-word answer.

"He can't really be a Soul Elder, can he?" Tang Ya sat bolt upright in shock and cried out in surprise.

"Student Tang Ya, do you have a question?" Xia Yu asked unhappily.

"N-No, hehe!" Tang Ya replied with an embarrassed laugh.

Xia Yu did not pursue the matter and continued teaching.

"Nannan, that Soul Elder freshman really is your Zhu Ziyang?" Tang Ya whispered into Jiang Nannan's ear.

"Mm." Jiang Nannan nodded lightly.

"Oh my god!" Tang Ya could not help opening her mouth wide, unable to speak for a long time.

The bell rang, ending the morning class.

Xia Yu immediately stopped her lecture, said that class was dismissed, and briskly left the classroom.

Shrek Academy's course schedule was quite interesting. There were only two classes each day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, each lasting an hour and a half. The purpose of this arrangement was obvious: to give the students more free time. After all, for Soul Masters, theoretical knowledge was ultimately only secondary. True strength was what mattered most.

As Zhu Ziyang and the other two prepared to leave the classroom, someone blocked their path.

"Zhu Ziyang, I challenge you!" the newcomer declared loudly.

The students in the classroom were immediately drawn in and gathered around, wearing all manner of expressions.

Zhu Ziyang paused, then looked at the person blocking their way. It was a slightly chubby red-haired youth. Zhu Ziyang remembered that his name was Wang Qiao, one of the students who had volunteered to be Class Monitor. A smile appeared on Zhu Ziyang's face as he said, "Sure."

When Zhu Ziyang agreed, every student present looked excited. Those eyeing the position of Class Monitor even revealed smug delight.

"Good. Let's go to Shrek Plaza!" Wang Qiao said with a smile after getting Zhu Ziyang's answer.

"Wait!" Just as everyone was about to leave the classroom, Xia Yu, who had been gone for some time, suddenly emerged from the crowd and stopped them.

"Teacher Xia?" Everyone was greatly surprised, while Wang Qiao's expression changed slightly. He worried that Xia Yu had come to stop them.

"If you're going to fight, it's best to go to the Soul Duelling Arena." Xia Yu paid no attention to the students' gazes as she spoke to herself, then looked at Zhu Ziyang and Wang Qiao. "However, I hope the two of you can move the duel to this afternoon's class. Then I can take the opportunity to introduce the academy's Soul Duelling Arena rules."

Xia Yu's words sounded like a discussion, but they left no room for doubt.

What else could Zhu Ziyang do? He could only agree. "I have no problem with that."

"I don't either." Seeing Zhu Ziyang agree, Wang Qiao agreed as well.

"Very good!" Xia Yu smiled and gave the two of them a satisfied glance, then vanished from the classroom in an instant, leaving the students dumbfounded.

After Xia Yu left, Wang Qiao looked at Zhu Ziyang with a somewhat arrogant expression. "Hmph, enjoy being Class Monitor while you can. This afternoon, it'll be mine! I have no intention of letting a commoner ride roughshod over me!"

Faced with Wang Qiao's aggressive manner, Zhu Ziyang merely smiled without saying anything.

The students dispersed, and Zhu Ziyang and the other two also left the classroom.