Not even a warm-up, why am I sweating?

Time passed quickly. As the laps increased, the students' breathing gradually became heavier. It was at this moment that the gap in physical fitness and cultivation became apparent. Zhou Yi hadn't forbidden the use of soul power for assistance, so they were all using it to recover their stamina for the long run.

Lin Yuan completed one hundred laps in an almost crushing manner. His pace was steady and unhurried, as if the distance beneath his feet was being folded invisibly, each step covering more ground than others.

Following Lin Yuan, the leading group consisted of over a dozen individuals, all maintaining a brisk pace. Wang Dong was at the forefront of this group, his steps light yet powerful, with minimal exertion. His speed remained undiminished, keeping him firmly in the first tier.

Behind the leading first tier was the main group. At least seventy students were in this area, running at a consistent pace without much strain. At their current speed, completing the hundred laps within an hour seemed achievable.

Lagging at the very end were another dozen or so students, including Huo Yu Hao. To catch up with his classmates, Huo Yu Hao had started out at a high speed, but after about twenty laps, his stamina began to wane significantly. Coupled with his congenital condition, he not only ran last but also fell behind by several laps due to starting a little later than everyone else.

"After a hundred laps, you're not even breaking a sweat?" Zhou Yi asked, hands on her chest, looking coldly at Lin Yuan.

Lin Yuan wiped at a non-existent bead of sweat on his forehead and smiled faintly. "Why should I sweat? Over a hundred laps, more than thirty kilometers, it doesn't even count as a warm-up."

Zhou Yi stared at Lin Yuan, her sharp eyes narrowing slightly, while a rare, faint curve appeared on her lips, no longer as stern as before. "You do have a bit of arrogance, but it's backed by substance." She raised her hand and patted Lin Yuan's shoulder with moderate force. "Go rest on the side and see if your two 'friendly sparring partners' can last until the end."

Lin Yuan nodded and walked to the shade of a tree by the track, sitting down. His gaze, however, involuntarily drifted to Huo Yu Hao at the back.

More than half the time had passed when Zhou Yi's voice suddenly echoed in every student's ears: "Accelerate. My position is the finish line."

As she spoke, Wang Dong had already zipped past her, becoming the second to complete the hundred laps. His face was flushed, and he slowed down with a slight pant. After him, students gradually began to finish their laps. At this point, there was still a quarter of an hour left before the hour was up.

Huo Yu Hao's speed was no longer as fast as it was at the beginning. His school uniform was soaked with sweat. His Martial Soul was spirit-based, meaning his soul power offered relatively little assistance to his body. If he hadn't cultivated the Mysterious Heaven Skill, he would be far worse off than he was now. He was currently three laps behind several students beside him, still twenty laps short of a hundred. Running twenty laps in fifteen minutes was an almost impossible task.

Zhou Yi stood there quietly. She paid little attention to the students who had already finished but focused her gaze on those still running. Among them, Huo Yu Hao was the most exhausted. His sweat-soaked uniform was undeniable proof, yet he gritted his teeth and persevered.

Just then, Lin Yuan instantly appeared beside Huo Yu Hao, grabbing his shoulder with one hand. "Hold onto me tightly. The speed is about to increase significantly."

As soon as Lin Yuan finished speaking, Huo Yu Hao felt his surroundings shift. The track beneath his feet seemed to fold. With Lin Yuan holding him, each of his steps covered several meters. The two of them moved like streaks of light, leaving afterimages across the track.

This was not true teleportation but a masterful folding of space. Students on the outer lanes only saw the two of them flash by lap after lap, their shock leaving them breathless.

"Lin Yuan, how did you do that?" Huo Yu Hao asked, panting.

"Don't talk. Adjust your breathing," Lin Yuan's voice was calm and powerful. "Circulate your soul power according to the rhythm I'm giving you."

Under Lin Yuan's guidance, Huo Yu Hao's soul power was skillfully channeled, and his stamina consumption noticeably decreased. Although his speed was still astonishing, his body was no longer being pushed to its limits.

Fifteen minutes later, the final lap was completed. Both of them slowed down simultaneously, stopping steadily in front of Zhou Yi.

Zhou Yi looked at Huo Yu Hao, then at Lin Yuan, a cold smile playing on her lips. "You're good at setting the pace."

"Teacher wants results," Lin Yuan said with a faint smile. "He finished."

Zhou Yi didn't press further. By now, all students had completed their hundred laps within the allotted time and were standing loosely in Shrek Square. She turned to the students expressionlessly and said calmly, "Those whose names I call, step forward: Cheng Cheng, Qiu Jianrao, Tang Dao, Shangguan Chentian, Lin Zeyu, Zhuge Yun, Tai Long, Tang Ling, Yun Xiaopiao."

A total of nine people were called. The next second, the named students stumbled forward.

Zhou Yi said calmly, "The nine of you can pack your bags and leave the academy. From this moment on, you are no longer students of Shrek Academy."

"Ah?" The nine students, still exhausted, were stunned. The other students erupted in an uproar.

Zhou Yi said coldly, "Shrek Academy does not need students who resort to shortcuts. Having strength without a sound and correct mindset will only bring disaster, not help, to any country once cultivated. Although I have a bad temper, I always mean what I say. These nine individuals all slacked off during the run and did not complete the hundred laps. If you are unconvinced, you can report me to the Dean's office, but for now, you can leave."

Under Zhou Yi's imposing presence, the nine singled-out students left dejectedly. Of course, they didn't go to pack their bags but headed straight to the Dean's office to lodge a complaint. It was only the first day of school; how could they possibly accept this?

Huo Yu Hao's sweat had increased. He had personally witnessed Zhou Yi impartially dismiss nine students, and he couldn't help but feel nervous. If Lin Yuan hadn't helped him just now, he would likely have been among them. Thinking of this, he couldn't help but cast a grateful glance at Lin Yuan.

The expressions of the remaining students had completely changed. They looked at Zhou Yi, not daring to breathe too loudly. Of course, Lin Yuan was not among them. He was leaning against a tree, propping his chin with one hand, leisurely observing everything with a faint smile playing on his lips.

"Everyone, go back to your dorms to change, and then head to class. I'll give you fifteen minutes." With that, Zhou Yi turned and headed directly back to the teaching building.

This time, no one dared to delay. Almost everyone sprinted towards their dorms at a hundred-meter dash pace. Lin Yuan, not having sweated, went directly back to the classroom to rest his eyes.

Zhou Yi had given them fifteen minutes to change, but in reality, it took less than ten minutes for all the students to be seated neatly in the classroom. Looking at the nine empty seats, the fear in their eyes had not yet subsided.

Everyone had heard the saying that it was easy to get into Shrek Academy but difficult to leave, but only now did they truly feel the intense crisis. No one dared to entertain any thoughts of taking shortcuts anymore.

What annoyed Lin Yuan somewhat was that Huo Yu Hao, who was supposed to be sitting to his right, had been squeezed aside by Wang Dong, who then took the middle seat between them.

Looking at Huo Yu Hao, whom she had pushed aside, Wang Dong raised her chin triumphantly, as if she had won a battle.

Lin Yuan propped his chin with one hand, leaning by the window, a playful smile on his lips. He slowly said, "Little Dong'er, are you grabbing seats like this because you want to be closer to me?"

"Who are you calling Little Dong'er!" Wang Dong was choked by the sudden address, her ears turning red. Her large, powder-blue eyes widened, and she forced herself to remain calm, retorting, "I just don't want to be next to someone who smells of sweat, understand?"

Hearing this, the smile on Lin Yuan's lips deepened. He casually draped his arm over Wang Dong's shoulder, his tone laced with lazy teasing. "Then you're right to get close to me. I only have a fresh scent, no sweat." His hand gently patted Wang Dong's shoulder, his movements as natural as if he had done it countless times.

Wang Dong froze instantly, her ears turning so red they could bleed. She instinctively wanted to shake off Lin Yuan's hand, but her shoulder was held gently, the pressure not heavy but as steady as if rooted, making it impossible to shake off.

"Don't push your luck!" Wang Dong lowered her voice, glaring at Lin Yuan indignantly. "Take your hand off!"

Lin Yuan said "Oh," but deliberately pushed his luck further, pulling his arm around Wang Dong's neck, bringing them even closer. His voice dropped lower, with a hint of a mischievous smile. "Little Dong'er, your face is so red, are you running a fever? Should I check?" As he spoke, he genuinely raised his other hand and pretended to seriously reach for Wang Dong's forehead.

"Don't touch me!" Wang Dong sharply turned her head, dodging his hand, but she couldn't shake off his arm on her shoulder. She was both embarrassed and angry, but with classmates around, she couldn't make a scene. She could only lower her voice and threaten, "If you keep this up, I'll..."

Lin Yuan chuckled and leaned closer to Wang Dong's ear, his voice laced with a hint of teasing. "You'll do what?"

This made Wang Dong's ears turn even redder with anger, but she couldn't retaliate. She could only lower her voice and grit her teeth, "You just wait!"