Sigma Man, Huo Yuhao!

"Beauty! Sit by me! I have an empty seat here!"

"Get lost! Take a look at yourself—do you really think you're worthy of inviting a goddess?!"

The surrounding boys stood up one after another, scrambling to extend invitations to her, but Wang Dong'er didn't even glance at them.

She walked straight to the empty seat beside Huo Yuhao, pulled out the chair, and sat down with crisp, decisive movements.

The classroom fell silent for a fleeting moment before erupting into an uproar.

"No way? She actually sat next to that guy?"

"Damn, look closer—that guy is actually really good-looking too! Could they have known each other already?"

"Don't tell me I've already been dumped before I even started?"

"Damn it! If I'd known, I would've sat in the back row!"

Huo Yuhao, who had been sitting with his eyes closed, focusing his mind and honing his spiritual power within his sea of consciousness, sensed someone sit down beside him and opened his eyes.

When he saw that the person sitting next to him was none other than Wang Dong'er, his pupils constricted slightly, his heart filled with surprise.

This pervert who disguised herself as a boy hadn't been expelled by the academy?

To have such a serious matter—violating school rules and attempting to sneak into the boys' dormitory—hushed up... could her background be that deep?

Meanwhile, Cao Jinxuan, sitting on his other side, had his eyes glued to her.

In all his years, this was the first time he had seen a girl this beautiful. He hurriedly flashed what he considered his most handsome smile at Wang Dong'er and spoke up enthusiastically:

"Hello there, classmate! My name is Cao Jinxuan. May I ask what your name is?"

Faced with Cao Jinxuan's enthusiastic overture, Wang Dong'er merely cast a faint glance at him and said coldly:

"Shut up. Don't talk to me."

Cao Jinxuan was struck as if by lightning. He slumped back into his seat, devastated, and lay face-down on his desk, looking as if life had lost all meaning.

Wang Dong'er's attention, from start to finish, hadn't lingered on Cao Jinxuan for even half a second; it was entirely fixed on Huo Yuhao beside her.

She noticed that from the moment she sat down, Huo Yuhao had only opened his eyes to look at her once, then immediately closed them again.

He didn't fawn over her like the other boys, nor did he apologize for yesterday's incident; he didn't even spare her an extra glance.

It was as if she were nothing more than an insignificant passerby.

How dare he ignore me!

A nameless fire flared up in Wang Dong'er's heart, accompanied by deep confusion.

This isn't right!

This was completely different from what she had expected!

In her original plan, once Huo Yuhao saw her true appearance after changing back into girl's clothing, he would be completely stunned by her beauty.

Then, he would scramble to strike up a conversation, bowing his head in humble apology for what happened yesterday!

But the reality was entirely different!

The Huo Yuhao before her was acting as if he hadn't seen a thing, completely impervious to her charms, not even bothering to lift his eyelids.

Acting!

This guy is definitely just pretending to be calm! Wang Dong'er thought firmly, a smile tugging at the corner of her lips.

Playing hard to get with me, are you?

Fine. She didn't believe that if she took the initiative to lower her posture and talk to him, this kid could keep up the act.

Wang Dong'er cleared her throat and turned to face Huo Yuhao.

Her beautiful eyes curved into a gentle, sweet smile, and she spoke in a soft voice:

"Hello, classmate. Your name is Huo Yuhao, right?

Regarding what happened yesterday, there was indeed some misunderstanding between us.

Would you like to have lunch together and talk it over? My treat."

As soon as these words left her lips, the entire classroom exploded!

"Holy crap! The goddess actually took the initiative to invite that kid to lunch?"

"I can't take this! Why didn't the goddess invite me like that?!"

"No, why isn't that kid saying anything? Hurry up and say yes! If you're not going to, let me!"

"I'm so jealous I could die! Why don't I get this kind of treatment?"

The surrounding boys beat their chests and stamped their feet, their eyes filled with envy, jealousy, and hatred. They stared daggers at Huo Yuhao, wishing they could swap places with him on the spot.

But just as everyone expected Huo Yuhao to nod and agree in a hurry, he slowly opened his eyes, looked calmly at the confident smile on Wang Dong'er's face, and shook his head:

"I need to cultivate at noon. I don't have time."

A single sentence instantly plunged the noisy classroom into a deathly silence.

Wang Dong'er froze completely, her powder-blue eyes filled with disbelief, her mind gone entirely blank.

After a brief moment of dead silence, the surrounding students erupted into deafening exclamations.

"Holy crap! Did I hear that right? He actually refused!"

"He actually turned down the goddess's invitation? Is there something wrong with this kid's taste?!"

"The goddess is so embarrassed, this guy really deserves to die!"

"I'm done! If it were me, I would've said yes a hundred times over! What on earth is this kid thinking?!"

The classroom turned into a chaotic mess in an instant, everyone's jaws dropping at Huo Yuhao's words.

Wang Dong'er herself was utterly bewildered; she never imagined she would actually be rejected!

Is this some kind of joke?!

She had been rejected in public by a one-ring Spirit Master?!

Isn't this kid's martial soul the Spirit Eye?

How could he be so blind? Can't he see what I look like?!

Is cultivation really more important than me?

Tap, tap, tap!

Just as Wang Dong'er was fuming, a series of footsteps echoed from the classroom entrance.

An elderly woman with graying hair and a stern face walked in slowly. Her sharp gaze swept coldly over the rowdy students, and she spoke in a harsh voice:

"Why is it so chaotic? You're still bickering when class has already started; it seems none of you are prepared to study at Shrek!"

She paused, her gaze sweeping across the entire class, and said word by word:

"Now, everyone head to Shrek Square and run one hundred laps around it! Anyone who doesn't finish within two hours can pack their things and get out of Shrek!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the classroom exploded, all the freshmen wearing expressions of disbelief.

Running laps the moment they arrive—what kind of teaching method is this?

But before they could complain or grumble, six soul rings suddenly lit up around Zhou Yi. The terrifying pressure of a Soul Emperor surged forth like a tidal wave, forcing everyone to shut their mouths instantly.

"What are you still standing there for? Do you want to get out now?"

Zhou Yi barked.

The students dared not hesitate for a second longer; they swarmed out of the classroom and sprinted toward Shrek Square.

Upon hearing this, Huo Yuhao asked Zhao Ze in his sea of consciousness, feeling puzzled:

"Master, can just running like this really improve soul power cultivation?"

"It's not very useful."

Zhao Ze's voice came from the sea of consciousness.

"With the time it takes to run those hundred laps, you could perform much more efficient training. You could say the cost-effectiveness is pitifully low."

Huo Yuhao was stunned upon hearing this.

He had thought this top academy on the continent would have some special teaching methods!

"However, for you, it is quite necessary."

Zhao Ze changed his tone and added with a smile.

"Sweating a bit more is just the thing to flush out impurities through your pores."

Huo Yuhao nodded and hurriedly followed the crowd toward Shrek Square.

Meanwhile, Wang Dong'er, who had fallen behind, pouted as she watched Huo Yuhao's retreating back.

Although she was full of resistance toward these hundred laps, the moment she thought of Huo Yuhao, her competitive spirit was instantly ignited.

Huo Yuhao!

You just wait!

I am going to surpass you today no matter what!

I'll make you realize the consequences of annoying this young lady!

Wang Dong'er thought indignantly to herself, only to be suddenly called out by Zhou Yi.

"Wang Dong'er."

Wang Dong'er hurriedly stood up and said:

"Teacher Zhou, I'm here."

Zhou Yi crossed her arms and sneered, her sharp gaze scanning her up and down, her tone filled with coldness:

"You're something else, aren't you? Openly violating academy rules the moment you arrive—you've got quite the nerve.

Tell you what, the others are running one hundred laps; you, you'll run one hundred and fifty. If you don't finish, you're out just the same."

Wang Dong'er: ???