Ye Xinglan: I'll Take Responsibility for This...

Because of yesterday's legendary battle that dethroned Shrek, two students from Class Zero made it onto the Youth Genius Ranking: Tang Wulin and Huo Yuhao.

Tang Wulin's inclusion on the list is no surprise. He defeated Yu Tianlong, Four-Ring Soul Ancestor, in a single, brutal move on the arena, and the shocking footage of his victory has already spread across the internet.

Ironically, it's precisely because of this film that many people suspect Shrek's Yu Tianlong of rigging the match.

After all, how could a normal Four-Ring Soul Ancestor be so easily defeated by a One-Ring Soul Master?

Although Huo Yuhao stood at the back of the team throughout that match and didn't seem to make many moves, his three ten-thousand-year Soul Ring were enough to prove everything!

Many people speculated that Huo Yuhao was a Support Type Soul Master based on the surge in aura emanating from his four teammates.

It's fair to say that while the guess was incorrect, it wasn't entirely wrong either.

In comparison, while the other students in Class Zero also performed exceptionally well, they inevitably appeared somewhat "mediocre" under the overwhelming brilliance of these two.

Xie Xie practically buried his face in front of the light screen, muttering to himself, "Wulin's 'Dragon Fist' title is quite fitting, it was earned with a single punch... wait?"

He glanced at Huo Yuhao's name, which was listed first, and asked with some surprise, "Why is Yuhao's name empty? He doesn't even have a title?"

That's right, in just this one battle, Huo Yuhao, a ten-year-old boy, has directly jumped to the top of the Youth Genius Ranking!

"That's because Yuhao hasn't shown enough information."

Xu Xiaoyan smiled, clearly having noticed this detail long ago, and explained, "The judges of the list probably weren't sure how to summarize him either, so they couldn't decide on a particularly suitable title for the time being."

As she spoke, she lightly swiped her finger along the edge of the screen, bringing up the real-time comments section below the leaderboard.

She quickly glanced at a few items, then suddenly burst out laughing, her eyes crinkling into a smile.

"Look at this top comment... suggesting that Yuhao's nickname should be '30, Thirty Thousand '!"

"The reason... the most obvious and undisputed evidence is those three Ten Thousand Year Soul Rings!"

Thirty Thousand?

This somewhat playful yet extremely straightforward nickname instantly tickled everyone's funny bone.

Xie Xie was the first to slap his thigh and burst out laughing, even Gu Yue's cold and aloof expression was tinged with a faint smile.

Tang Wulin tried to hold back, but his face turned bright red, and in the end he couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Only the protagonist, Huo Yuhao, showed a fleeting, almost imperceptible darkening on his face, a deep sense of helplessness flashing in his eyes.

He watched his companions laughing so hard they were practically falling over, then silently turned his gaze to the window, as if making a silent protest against this "simple and crude" naming aesthetic.

In the most luxurious suite on the top floor of the Heaven Sea Hotel, the air seemed to solidify into heavy lead, pressing down on everyone's chest.

Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, the sky was bright and clear; it was a rare and beautiful day.

But the gentle sunlight could not dispel the deathly gloom inside the room; it could only illuminate a few pale and tense faces.

After a long while, a figure slowly stood up from deep within the sofa.

Ye Xinglan lowered her head, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her clothes. She swallowed hard a few times before squeezing out a dry voice. "I'm sorry... this whole thing started because of me."

Her voice was hoarse, as if it had been polished by rough sandpaper, and every word carried a heavy weight.

"I will take responsibility."

"You're in charge?!"

Yu Tianlong suddenly raised his head, his eyes bloodshot and fixed on Ye Xinglan.

His eyes were filled not just with anger, but with a near-mad hatred and humiliation.

Yesterday's scene kept burning in his mind: being blasted away by a single punch from a One-Ring Soul Master and fainting in front of everyone, becoming the most glaring blunder of the entire battle.

All the mocking, shocked, and incredulous glances seemed to transform into poisonous needles, pricking his reason until it crumbled.

He practically roared, his shrill voice piercing the oppressive silence. "What will you use to take responsibility?!"

Spit almost splashed onto Ye Xinglan's face.

His chest heaved violently, like a wounded wild beast trapped in a cage, yearning to pounce and tear something apart.

The other Shrek members in the room, though not as distraught as Yu Tianlong, no longer showed any camaraderie in their gazes toward Ye Xinglan; only cold resentment remained.

That look seemed to say, "If it weren't for your meddling Ye Xinglan, and your insistence on provoking Class Zero before the competition, how could they have been forced to accept the challenge?"

How could he have fallen from his lofty position to become the "sinner" of the Shrek Academy overnight, a laughingstock across the entire continent?!

An invisible pressure pierced Ye Xinglan like an ice pick, causing her thin shoulders to tremble slightly.

"This matter... can't be entirely blamed on Sister Xinglan."

A slightly timid but courageous voice rang out.

Xu Lizhi stood up, a hint of anxiety on his round face, trying to ease the suffocating atmosphere.

"Class Zero... they're really strong, we..."

"Shut up!!"

Yu Tianlong's roar abruptly cut off Xu Lizhi's words.

He abruptly turned his head, his sinister gaze like a knife piercing the chubby boy who was trying to defend Ye Xinglan, his face full of contempt and impatience. "Who gives you the right to speak here?!"

He stepped forward, spitting as he spoke, "You two think you're qualified to enter the Inner Court?"

"Those teachers in the college, they're fucking blind!!"

Xu Lizhi was choked by the sudden poison and turned pale. He opened his mouth, but could no longer make a sound. He could only clench his fists and stand helplessly half a step in front of Ye Xinglan.

"Bang!"

The heavy solid wood door was suddenly pushed open from the outside, slamming against the wall with a dull thud.

Shen Yi walked in, his face expressionless, only his eyes held a layer of unyielding frost.

The indoor lights shone on her face, highlighting her cold, hard features.

Her gaze was like a knife, and it was aimed first at Yu Tianlong, who was almost out of control.

"You can say those words again in the Inner Court, in front of all the Elder," her voice was not loud, but each word was clear. "You can say them again."

Yu Tianlong's body suddenly stiffened, and the surging rage and humiliation instantly froze on his face.

His facial muscles twitched a few times, and his clenched fists turned white at the knuckles, with veins bulging.

But in the end, under that cold gaze, all the resentment and rebuttal were forced back down into the depths of his throat.

He slumped back onto the sofa, turned his face away, his chest heaving violently, leaving only his heavy breathing that was particularly jarring in the silence.

Shen Yi stopped looking at him and slowly scanned the young, pale faces in the room.

"The speed and intensity of the public outcry exceeded expectations."

She spoke, her voice low. "The academy has already been alerted."

The air seemed to freeze even more.

All the students held their breath, even the most indignant Yu Tianlong pricked up his ears.

"The dean personally sent a message," Shen Yi continued, "Ordering us all to remain in Skysea City and await the academy's decision."

Ye Xinglan looked up blankly, her once bright eyes now dull and lifeless. Her dry lips moved slightly as she asked, "Teacher... what will the outcome be?"

Shen Yi's gaze lingered on her pale face for a moment.

She shook her head almost imperceptibly. "I don't know the final decision."

Shen Yi's tone remained calm, but his next words sent a chill down Ye Xinglan's and Xu Lizhi's spines.

"But..."

Her gaze swept between Ye Xinglan and Xu Lizhi.

"The two of you... I'm afraid you can't stay in the Inner Court any longer."

After he finished speaking, the room fell into a deathly silence.

Xu Lizhi's chubby face instantly lost all color, and his pupils dilated.

Ye Xinglan seemed to have lost her last bit of strength; her body swayed almost imperceptibly, and she collapsed to the ground.