Lin Yuan paid Dai Hua Bin's hostility no mind. Sunlight filtered through the glass and fell across his silvery-white hair, refracting into scattered halos that made his cool, aloof aura even more pronounced. Before long, Huo Yu Hao, who had been taken to the Soul Tool Department by Zhou Yi and become Fan Yu's disciple, returned. Behind him was Wang Yan, the newly appointed homeroom teacher of Class One Freshman.
Behind the podium, Wang Yan began, "Next, we will elect the class monitor and vice monitor. Since all the students in Class One are Assault System and Control System Battle Soul Masters, the two positions will be held by students from those respective systems, with the roles switching every month. I will nominate the candidates, and afterward, everyone will vote by secret ballot."
As he spoke, he turned to the blackboard and wrote down two rows of names. The first was labeled "Assault System," beneath which he wrote, in order: Lin Yuan, Wang Dong, Dai Hua Bin, Zhou Si Chen, Huang Chu Tian, and Wu Feng. The second was labeled "Control System," with Huo Yu Hao at the top, followed by Cao Jin Xuan, Lan Su Su, and Lan Luo Luo.
There were nine names on the blackboard in total, and Wang Yan's preference was clear from the order in which they had been written. No one objected to Lin Yuan being placed first among the Assault System candidates. Their team had just won the Freshman Assessment championship, with Lin Yuan as the absolute mainstay. His cultivation was also the strongest in the entire year, his Soul Power having reached level thirty-nine.
But when Huo Yu Hao's name appeared at the top of the Control System list, whispers broke out across the classroom. The original Class One Freshman students were fine with it, since they understood Huo Yu Hao's hard work. Most of the freshmen who had been merged in, however, wore disdainful expressions.
Although Huo Yu Hao had won the Freshman Assessment championship alongside Lin Yuan and Wang Dong, many students privately felt that he was the luckiest freshman of the year. A One Ring Soul Master with only a Ten Year Soul Ring had not only stumbled into the championship but was also enjoying the treatment of a Core Disciple. That was enough to make people envious—and to provoke plenty of jealousy.
"Teacher Wang, I have an objection." Wu Feng, who was seated in the back near Dai Hua Bin, suddenly raised her hand.
Wang Yan's teaching style was completely different from Zhou Yi's. He had a mild temperament, and he asked with a smile, "What is it, Wu Feng?"
With a look of contempt, Wu Feng said, "I don't think Huo Yu Hao is qualified to take part in the class monitor election. He's just a One Ring Soul Master, and his Soul Ring is only ten years old. Even if he won the Freshman Assessment championship, it was only because he rode on Lin Yuan and Wang Dong's coattails. What gives him the right to run for class monitor?"
Her words immediately drew support from quite a few students, especially those from the Control System. For a moment, the crowd seemed almost worked into a frenzy.
Lin Yuan slowly raised his hand. His violet eyes calmly swept across the restless crowd, and the noisy classroom instantly fell silent. He rose to his feet, standing straight as a pine. His silvery-white hair glowed softly in the morning light, while his voice remained indifferent yet carried an unquestionable force. "You can object, but first, you need to be qualified to object. First of all, no matter what you say, Huo Yu Hao has a share in that Freshman Assessment championship. That is an undeniable fact. Second, quite a few of you may have already lost to us. If you're unhappy about it, keep it to yourselves. Or I can give you a chance—come at me together. Get past me first, then talk."
The classroom fell completely silent, every gaze fixed on Lin Yuan. Wu Feng's face flushed red from his retort. Her lips moved, but she did not dare argue back. She clearly remembered how her team had been crushed by Lin Yuan alone in the round of thirty-two match, without even getting a chance to fight back.
"Teacher Wang Yan, I suggest we don't elect the class monitors today. Have Teacher Zhou Yi come tomorrow. You can tell her what happened just now and let Teacher Zhou handle it."
Wang Yan looked at the naturally imposing aura around Lin Yuan, then glanced at the students who had gone silent in fear. With a helpless cough, he said, "Lin Yuan is right. Team honors belong to every member, and Huo Yu Hao's contribution in the competition was obvious to everyone. But since there is controversy, we will postpone the class monitor election. Tomorrow, Teacher Zhou Yi and I will handle it together. For today, we will proceed with class as usual."
As soon as he finished speaking, the dismissal bell rang at just the right moment. Wang Yan picked up his lesson plans, reminded them of a few key points for review after class, and hurried out of the classroom. He needed to find Zhou Yi quickly and explain the situation. That "Abbess Miejue" had quite the temper. If she found out someone was questioning a student she valued, who knew what kind of commotion she might cause.
The atmosphere in the classroom remained somewhat tense. Wu Feng returned to her seat and shot Huo Yu Hao a vicious glare, but she did not dare say another word. Dai Hua Bin leaned back in his chair, lightly tapping the desk with his fingertips. His gloomy gaze swept over Lin Yuan and the other two, as though he were plotting something.
Lin Yuan stood and patted Huo Yu Hao on the shoulder. "Don't mind it. Strength will prove everything."
Huo Yu Hao nodded, and his clenched fists slowly relaxed. With Lin Yuan and Wang Dong beside him, those questioning gazes no longer seemed so piercing. Wang Dong crossed her arms like a small beast protecting her cubs, lifting her chin toward Wu Feng with undisguised contempt in her eyes.
"Come on, let's eat." Lin Yuan took the lead, his silver hair tracing a light arc beneath the sun. Wang Dong and Huo Yu Hao immediately followed, and the three of them walked out of the classroom side by side, leaving behind a room full of students with thoughts of their own.
In the cafeteria, Lin Yuan still carried six stainless steel meal trays and swept through the dishes at the premium counter. Wang Dong complained that he was a "bottomless pit" while putting the braised pork from her bowl into his. Huo Yu Hao quietly ate his meal, occasionally looking up at Lin Yuan with gratitude in his eyes.
"Teacher Zhou will definitely deal with those people tomorrow." Wang Dong swallowed a mouthful of food and said indistinctly, "She's always protective of her own. She'll make those who objected understand what they're in for."
The next morning, when Lin Yuan and the other two entered the classroom, quite a few students had already arrived. The room fell silent for a moment upon seeing Lin Yuan, and everyone's attention focused on Huo Yu Hao. Huo Yu Hao, meanwhile, looked toward Wu Feng's seat. Wu Feng was absent.
When the class bell rang, Wang Yan and Zhou Yi entered the classroom almost exactly with it. Zhou Yi's expression appeared calm, but her eyes were like sharpened blades as they coldly swept over the entire class. The students who had come from other freshman classes were fine, but the original Class One students, aside from Lin Yuan, all felt their hearts tighten.
In truth, after Wang Yan had told Zhou Yi what happened the day before, she had immediately given him a vicious scolding. Though Wang Yan held a higher position in the academy than Zhou Yi, Zhou Yi did not care about that in the slightest.
Wang Yan did not walk to the podium. Instead, he stopped by the door, while Zhou Yi alone stepped behind the podium. Her icy gaze swept around the room. Even students unfamiliar with her fell silent under that sharp stare.
Wang Yan had never taught a class with Zhou Yi before. He had only heard about her teaching style, and after being scolded by her yesterday, he had been simmering with frustration. Let's see how you plan to manage a bunch of students who are already prodigies.
"Everyone, stand." Zhou Yi barked coldly.
The original Class One students instantly rose to their feet. The other students stood as well, though some were faster than others.
Zhou Yi said coldly, "Very good. There are sixty-seven students in the class. One is absent. Thirty-six stood immediately upon hearing the command, while the remaining thirty delayed to varying degrees. When I call your names, leave the classroom and stand in the corridor as punishment."
"Huang Chu Tian." The first person Zhou Yi called was Huang Chu Tian, who, like Huo Yu Hao, enjoyed the treatment of a Core Disciple.
Huang Chu Tian was slightly stunned, then said with a smile, "Teacher Zhou, isn't this a little too serious? I was only a little late standing up."
Zhou Yi did not waste a word. With a flash, she appeared in front of Huang Chu Tian, grabbed him by the collar, and flung him straight out the window with a swing of her arm. A scream came from outside, then there was no further sound. Not only were the students stunned, even Wang Yan was startled.
"Ye Yulin, Yu Ling, Tang Xiaoxiao, Ouyang Haiya..." The icy voice continued calling names. Before long, all thirty students who had been slow to stand were called out.
With Huang Chu Tian's fate as an example, no one dared resist. Seeing the six Soul Rings light up around Zhou Yi, the students obediently walked out of the classroom one after another.
Zhou Yi said flatly, "I am announcing two matters. First, the class monitors are hereby appointed: Lin Yuan as the Assault System class monitor, and Huo Yu Hao as the Control System class monitor. Second, from now on, anyone who dares question a teacher's decision in class will be expelled."
"Teacher Zhou, shouldn't the class monitors be elected?" Dai Hua Bin suddenly spoke up.
Zhou Yi shot him a cold glance. "I just said that anyone who dares question a teacher will be expelled. You are a Core Disciple, so I have no authority to expel you. But I will apply to the academy to have you transferred out of Class One Freshman. Dai Hua Bin, stand up and get out."
Dai Hua Bin froze. He had not expected Zhou Yi to be so forceful, and for a moment, he was dumbfounded. Before he could react, Zhou Yi had already reached him. Without the slightest ability to resist, he was thrown straight out the window.
"Teacher Zhou, I refuse to accept this!" Zhu Lu cried out sweetly.
Zhou Yi grabbed her and instantly hurled her out the window. "If you don't accept it, get lost."
If Huang Chu Tian being thrown out had already shocked the entire class, then Zhou Yi tossing two Core Disciples out the window left Class One of the first year silent enough for a pin to drop. Even the students being punished in the corridor heard the commotion. Everyone was horrified, and the atmosphere instantly became incomparably grave.
Wang Yan instantly understood why Lin Yuan had suggested postponing the election yesterday and waiting for Zhou Yi to handle it. Only now did he realize this was not resolving a dispute at all—it was setting rules in the most direct and domineering way possible! Watching Zhou Yi's swift and decisive methods, then recalling the scolding he had received yesterday, he suddenly felt that Lin Yuan's prediction had been practically clairvoyant. At the same time, he finally understood why Zhou Yi had never been promoted to a senior teacher.
"Teacher Wang, you are the lead homeroom teacher of Class One. Though I am the assistant homeroom teacher, I have the right to practice my own teaching philosophy. Please report to the academy that the students Huang Chu Tian, Dai Hua Bin, and Zhu Lu have seriously violated class discipline, and their offenses are severe. Since they are Outer Court Core Disciples or students receiving Core Disciple treatment, I do not have the authority to expel them. But ask the academy to transfer them out of this class. I will not teach students like them. Also, Wu Feng skipped the first class after the classes were reassigned without reason. Ask the academy to transfer her out as well."
Wang Yan said urgently, "Teacher Zhou, please calm down first. They are all Core Disciples. Doing this may cause trouble."
Zhou Yi gave him a cold look. "In my eyes, there are only obedient and disobedient disciples, outstanding and unqualified disciples. There are no so-called Core Disciples. My decision is final. They must leave. All right, you teach the students in the classroom next. I'll teach the ones outside." With that, she turned and walked out of the classroom.
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