Snatching Class One's Ace, Huo Yuhao Gives Up the Assessment and Transfers to the Soul Guidance Department

That morning, in the Freshman Class 9 classroom.

Mu Jin stood at the lectern in a simple, light-gray dress. She wasn't teaching today; instead, she held a list and read from it.

"The following students have undergone a comprehensive evaluation over the past three months. The Academy recommends that you transfer to the Soul Guidance Department to continue your studies."

Most of the students on the list had Soul Power in the teens and only average Martial Soul talent.

Those whose names were called lowered their heads or turned red-eyed, but none objected.

That was simply how Shrek Academy operated.

Those who lacked potential were redirected to the Soul Guidance Department.

It wasn't quite expulsion, but for children who had enrolled dreaming of becoming powerful Soul Masters, it was no different from a heavy blow.

After finishing the list, Mu Jin set down the paper. Her voice softened.

"Although we've only studied together for three short months, I remember every one of you. Whether you stay in the Martial Soul Department or go to the Soul Guidance Department, you're all students of Shrek."

Mu Jin paused.

"The Freshman Assessment is the day after tomorrow. I hope those of you who remain won't fall behind."

The classroom was quiet for a few seconds before scattered applause broke out.

Dai Huabin sat in the back row and didn't clap.

He noticed that Mu Jin seemed much more solemn than usual.

After spending every day together for three months, he had gotten a feel for his gentle homeroom teacher's temperament. The calmer and warmer Mu Jin seemed, the more she cared.

A teacher like her really did make people feel at ease.

When the bell rang, most of the students left.

Mu Jin stood at the classroom door and beckoned to the back row. "Huabin, Lulu, Dong'er, Xiao Xiao, Yajie, Ning Tian, Wu Feng, Yun'er—you eight, stay behind."

The eight students made their way to the lectern one after another.

Mu Jin closed the classroom door, rummaged in her desk drawer, and spread a stack of papers across the teacher's desk.

"The Freshman Assessment team assignments are out," Mu Jin said bluntly. "Your three teams are the strongest cards in Class Nine. Today, I'll tell you everything I've managed to find out."

Dai Huabin and Zhu Lu stood close together.

Wang Dong'er stood with her arms folded between Xiao Xiao and Cui Yajie.

Ning Tian stood on the other side with Wu Feng and Nanmen Yun'er.

Mu Jin opened the first page of the papers.

"Every class has teams worth mentioning in this Freshman Assessment. But there are only two that you really need to keep an eye on."

She held up one finger.

"First, Xie Huanyue's team from Class Two."

"Xie Huanyue?" Xiao Xiao tilted her head.

Ning Tian took over.

"Xie Huanyue's Martial Soul is a Rubber Elephant. He's a Soul Elder at level thirty-one, and the only other freshman in Class Two at Soul Elder level besides Huabin and me."

Mu Jin nodded.

"Exactly. Xie Huanyue's Rubber Elephant is an extremely powerful defensive Martial Soul. It'll be very troublesome to deal with."

Dai Huabin nodded. He naturally knew about Xie Huanyue.

But now that he and Zhu Lu had their Martial Soul Fusion Skill, they were invincible in the Freshman Assessment!

"The second one." Mu Jin turned to the next page. "Huang Chutian's team from Class Seven."

"Huang Chutian isn't particularly outstanding on his own. He's only a two-ring Soul Grandmaster. But there are two others on his team: Lan Luoluo and Lan Susu. The twin sisters have a Martial Soul Fusion Skill."

At that, everyone present changed expression.

A Martial Soul Fusion Skill.

In all of Class Nine, only Dai Huabin and Zhu Lu could use one.

Wang Dong'er glanced at Dai Huabin without thinking.

Dai Huabin's expression didn't change, but he had already started analyzing the situation.

Lan Luoluo and Lan Susu, the twin sisters, had appeared in the original story. Their Martial Soul Fusion Skill was quite powerful.

However, their individual Soul Power Levels weren't high, which limited the fusion skill's potential. Their Martial Souls weren't particularly strong among Body Martial Souls, either.

What really caught Dai Huabin's attention was the person Mu Jin hadn't mentioned.

"Teacher Mu Jin," Dai Huabin said.

"Hmm?"

"What about Class One? Is there no team from Class One that we need to watch out for?"

His question was partly a probe.

In the original story, Class One had a trio made up of Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong'er, and Xiao Xiao. Wang Dong'er alone had been enough to crush most freshmen. But now, both Wang Dong'er and Xiao Xiao had been drawn into Class Nine by him.

What did Class One have left?

At the question, a very peculiar smile appeared on Mu Jin's face.

It was three parts schadenfreude and seven parts genuine delight.

"Class One..."

Mu Jin set down the papers and braced both hands on the teacher's desk, unable to hide her satisfaction.

"Thanks to Dong'er and Xiao Xiao joining our Class Nine, that woman Zhou Yi hardly has anyone left to work with."

Wang Dong'er smiled. "You're putting a lot of pressure on me, Teacher Mu Jin."

Xiao Xiao secretly covered her mouth and giggled.

Mu Jin waved a hand and continued. "And it's not just the two of you transferring. With Zhou Yi's demonic training methods, several students dropped out of Class One over the past three months."

Wu Feng chimed in. "Dropped out? People actually drop out of Shrek Academy?"

"They were scared off by Zhou Yi's training," Nanmen Yun'er added, which was rare for her.

Mu Jin didn't deny it, though her expression grew a little more restrained.

"Zhou Yi really did push them too hard. I heard she later recommended one of her students for transfer to the Soul Guidance Department."

There was a trace of anger in Mu Jin's voice when she mentioned the Soul Guidance Department.

Dai Huabin knew that anger was because of Fan Yu.

"What's the situation with that student?" Dai Huabin pressed.

"Level fifteen. His Martial Soul is his eyes. I don't remember his name."

Mu Jin thought for a moment before continuing.

"Zhou Yi said the student's physical fitness was too poor for the Martial Soul Department, but that his Spiritual Power was exceptionally strong. She thought he might have potential in the Soul Guidance Department."

Level fifteen.

An eye-based Martial Soul.

Exceptionally strong Spiritual Power.

Dai Huabin was sure it was Huo Yuhao.

Without the Mystic Water Pill to cleanse and strengthen his body, or the Soul Ascension Pill to raise his Soul Power, that guy had still gone from level eleven to level fifteen in three months.

It seemed Sky Dream Ice Silkworm was still working its magic.

Dai Huabin silently assessed the situation: in the short term, Huo Yuhao posed no threat.

"Class monitor, what are you thinking about?"

Xiao Xiao's voice brought Dai Huabin back to the present.

"Nothing." Dai Huabin gathered his thoughts and looked at Mu Jin. "So, Teacher Mu Jin, can we pretty much ignore Class One in this assessment?"

Mu Jin nodded, her smile returning.

"That's more or less right. Zhou Yi's had a truly miserable year. I ran into her in the teachers' dining hall yesterday, and she looked like she'd swallowed ten pounds of bitter melon."

After saying that, Mu Jin couldn't help laughing.

She quickly coughed twice and resumed the proper bearing of a homeroom teacher.

"All right, that's all the intelligence I have. The three teams should go back and rest up for the Freshman Assessment the day after tomorrow."

Mu Jin looked around at the eight students standing in front of her.

Dai Huabin and Zhu Lu stood shoulder to shoulder. One had golden hair and sinister eyes; the other, dark hair and a cool, stern bearing. Even standing still, they exerted an invisible pressure.

Wang Dong'er, Xiao Xiao, and Cui Yajie each had their own strengths.

Wang Dong'er, with her pink-and-blue hair, radiated a defiant pride. Xiao Xiao's small frame concealed the astonishing potential of Twin Martial Souls. Beneath Cui Yajie's smiling, peach-blossom eyes, her Spiritual Power was growing ever sharper.

Ning Tian was poised and composed, Wu Feng full of Battle Intent, and though Nanmen Yun'er spoke little, she was extremely effective.

Three months ago, these children had been nothing but a group of freshmen just starting school.

Three months later, Mu Jin felt she might be holding the strongest hand among this year's freshmen.

"Keep the championship in Class Nine."

Mu Jin's tone was calm, as if she were stating a fact.

Dai Huabin raised an eyebrow, the corner of his mouth twitching. "Don't worry, Teacher."

Zhu Lu gave a quiet hum beside him.

Wang Dong'er planted her hands on her hips and snorted. "I'll show that Xie Huanyue what the Light Goddess Butterfly can do."

Cui Yajie smiled and patted Wang Dong'er's shoulder. "Dong'er, your opponents are the Lan Twins. Leave Xie Huanyue to me."

"Why? First come, first served!"

"Because I'm a year older than you."

"You!"

Xiao Xiao hurriedly grabbed Wang Dong'er before she could blow her top.

Watching them bicker, Wu Feng rolled her eyes and muttered, "Everyone in Class Nine is so noisy..."

Nanmen Yun'er silently nodded in agreement.

Ning Tian smiled and turned to Dai Huabin. "See you the day after tomorrow, class monitor."

"See you then."

After everyone left, Dai Huabin and Zhu Lu walked together along the path back to the dormitories.

The campus was quiet in the evening, the setting sun stretching their shadows long behind them.

Zhu Lu followed half a step behind Dai Huabin when she suddenly spoke. "Huabin, you were thinking about that Huo Yuhao just now."

It wasn't a question.

Dai Huabin paused and glanced at her.

Zhu Lu's expression was calm, but as she spoke, she lightly clenched the edge of her sleeve.

"Every time you hear news about him, your breathing changes."

Dai Huabin didn't deny it.

Zhu Lu spent every day and night with him. She knew every subtle reaction of his body. It was too hard to hide anything from her.

"That person hates me," Dai Huabin said without beating around the bush.

Zhu Lu nodded. "I know. I could tell at the grilled-fish stall."

"But he's only level fifteen now. He poses no threat." Dai Huabin put his hands in his pockets and kept walking.

Zhu Lu caught up with him. After a few seconds of silence, she spoke softly.

"Whether he's level fifteen or level fifty, I'll stand in front of you."

Dai Huabin glanced back at her.

Under his gaze, Zhu Lu grew a little uncomfortable and turned her head away. The tips of her ears were already red.

"Come on, let's go back and eat." Dai Huabin reached out and ruffled her hair.

Zhu Lu didn't dodge. Instead, she lowered her head a little, making it easier for him to ruffle.

Their figures slowly disappeared around the corner of the dormitory building.

At that very moment, in the experimental building of Shrek Academy's Soul Guidance Department, a boy in a gray shirt crouched in front of a pile of parts. By the dim light, he repeatedly took apart the most basic Soul Tool core in his hands.

His fingers were steady.

Far steadier than his level-fifteen Soul Power would suggest.

The boy looked up toward Shrek Square outside the window. A banner for the Freshman Assessment had already been hung up, its huge red characters especially conspicuous in the sunset.

That boy was Huo Yuhao.

Huo Yuhao looked away and lowered his head, continuing to take apart the core.

He wouldn't participate in the Freshman Assessment.

But as long as he could stay at Shrek Academy and grow stronger, he wouldn't stop.