"You can challenge me, but I'm already ready to laugh at you."

As Mo Yuan, Ning Tian, Wu Feng, and Bai Yi headed downstairs and passed the field not far from the teaching building, a conversation caught their attention.

"Anyone whose name I call, step forward. Cheng Cheng, Qiu Jianyao, Tang Dao, Shangguan Chentian, Lin Zheyu, Zhuge Yun, Tailong, Tang Ling, Yun Xiaopiao."

"You nine can pack your things and leave the academy. From this moment on, you are no longer students of Shrek Academy. Shrek Academy has no need for students who cut corners. If you have strength but lack a decent and upright character, then once you're fully trained, all you'll bring any nation is disaster, not aid."

Looking at the elderly woman with a head of white hair and a deeply wrinkled face, and hearing her utterly outrageous words, Mo Yuan immediately realized who she was.

Zhou Yi, homeroom teacher of Freshman Class One.

"Are all the teachers at Shrek Academy this outrageous? It's only the first day of school, and she's already expelled so many students?" Bai Yi said, dumbfounded.

The students from Class Nine, following behind them, had heard Zhou Yi as well. They couldn't help wondering if Teacher Mu Jin would also expel them at the drop of a hat, just like that old woman.

"Ha. She's an exception. Don't worry," Mo Yuan explained.

He had nothing to say about Zhou Yi. After all, she was the sort of person who'd declared on the first day of school that every student who hadn't fought the day before was useless, and that anyone who didn't dare cause trouble was mediocre. They didn't live in the same world.

After this little interruption, the students of Newborn Class Nine noticeably quickened their pace. Nobody wanted to be expelled over something as minor as being late.

As they passed the field, Mo Yuan's gaze lingered briefly on two figures.

One was an old acquaintance, Huo Yuhao. The other was a young man with short pink-and-blue hair. He had delicate features, fair skin, and a pair of unusually large eyes the same pinkish blue as his hair.

Looking at the boy, Mo Yuan narrowed his eyes slightly. A subtle curve appeared at the corner of his mouth, its meaning unclear.

"Wang Dong..."

The Battle Soul Zone was an important area of Shrek Academy, located in its northwest corner. Many upper-year students often came here.

Various competitions could be held here. Dedicated teachers acted as referees, determining the winners, protecting students, and providing aid and treatment.

Of course, the Outer Court was still the Outer Court; there was no such thing as a free lunch. Using the Battle Soul Arena required a fee of ten Gold Soul Coins.

That was no small sum, but most students were still more than happy to pay it. After all, this was the only place in Shrek Academy where they could fight without restrictions.

They didn't need to worry about seriously injuring someone by hitting too hard. The teachers serving as referees knew how to keep things under control.

Winning a match in the Battle Soul Zone also earned students a certain number of Academic Credits, which would count toward their year-end exams.

However, students only had to pay to use the Battle Soul Arena when earning Academic Credits or sparring privately. Teachers didn't need to pay when using it for lessons.

The Battle Soul Zone was hexagonal and about as large as Shrek Square. A broad open space in the center served as the fighting area, surrounded by rows of tiered benches that spread upward and outward. The venue could probably hold several thousand people at once.

By the time the four of them arrived at the Battle Soul Arena, most of Newborn Class Nine had gathered. They were all seated on the eastern stands.

Mu Jin was in the center of the arena, chatting and laughing with two teachers, a man and a woman. They were likely referees responsible for maintaining the venue and treating injuries.

When she saw Mo Yuan and the others arrive, Mu Jin smiled and nodded to the two referees, then beckoned Mo Yuan over.

The two referees also left the center of the arena and went to the nearby stands, apparently ready to step in and treat any injured students.

"Mo Yuan, since I've nominated you as class monitor, and someone wants to challenge you, you'll defend your position in the first match."

"No problem."

Mo Yuan readily agreed. He was only going up against a bunch of Soul Grandmaster kids. It wouldn't take long.

Seeing him accept, Mu Jin smiled and patted his shoulder. Then she turned toward the eastern stands and addressed the students of Class Nine seated there.

"What I said earlier still stands. Whoever defeats Mo Yuan becomes the new class monitor. If no one steps forward to challenge him, Mo Yuan will become class monitor by default."

"But as geniuses admitted to Shrek Academy, surely you're not all too cowardly to step forward?"

As soon as Mu Jin finished deliberately provoking them, several male students on the stands rose to their feet, unable to resist the taunt. They glared at Mo Yuan with hostility.

Mu Jin nodded in satisfaction, then left the center of the arena and joined the other two referees on the nearby stands.

In the arena, Mo Yuan felt the hostile stares aimed at him and suddenly remembered something. An amusing idea came to mind.

The corners of his mouth lifted slightly. He clasped his hands behind his back and put on a haughty expression, speaking coolly to the students who had stood up to challenge him.

"You can challenge me, but I'm already ready to laugh at you."

The moment he said this, the Battle Soul Arena fell silent. The students who had wanted to challenge Mo Yuan froze for a moment, then anger spread across their faces.

Along with several others who had taken the bait, they rushed toward the arena one after another, looking as if they couldn't wait to gang up on Mo Yuan and beat him senseless.

"Heh. Teacher Mu Jin, that student of yours has quite a sharp tongue. He's got me wanting to step into the ring and test him myself."

The male teacher responsible for maintaining the arena and protecting the students chuckled.

"Teacher Qiu, you're a Soul Emperor. My Soul Elder student probably wouldn't be a match for you," Mu Jin said with a faint smile, subtly revealing Mo Yuan's cultivation level.

Sure enough, the two referees beside her looked surprised, then exclaimed in admiration.

"An eleven-year-old Soul Elder! What a genius. No wonder he can speak so arrogantly!"

"Teacher Mu Jin, you've really gained a genius student this time. I'm afraid Teacher Zhou Yi will lose to you again."

Hearing the name of her archenemy, Zhou Yi, Mu Jin looked at Mo Yuan in the arena and the two Soul Elders, Ning Tian and Wu Feng, in the stands. Her spirits lifted.

"Of course."

On the stands, Wu Feng snorted and curled her lip. "What a show-off. He's already a Soul Ancestor, but he's pretending to be a Soul Elder to deceive everyone. How boring."

Unlike Wu Feng, Ning Tian gazed at Mo Yuan, who stood calmly in the center of the arena, her eyes shining. On Douluo Continent, geniuses always attracted the opposite sex.

And an arrogant genius wasn't off-putting. If anything, he attracted even more admirers.

Elsewhere, after the students shoved and jostled among themselves, the male student who had first challenged Mo Yuan in class came out on top. He leaped down from the stands and landed in the arena, facing Mo Yuan.

"So what if you're a thirty-ninth-level Soul Elder?! Rank doesn't represent strength! I'll be the one to challenge you today!"

The male student shouted at Mo Yuan, then stomped hard on the ground as his Martial Soul appeared.

A six-foot-three-inch iron spear, its shaft wrapped in a dragon pattern, appeared in the boy's hands. He flicked his wrist and thrust it forward, its gleaming point aimed straight at Mo Yuan.

"Yang Xun, Martial Soul: Dragon Patterned Spear, twenty-second-level Battle Soul Master!"