Blackmailing Zhou Yi

Mu Jin gritted her teeth, just about to continue arguing—

Right at this moment.

A soft radiance suddenly emerged between the two.

The light was warm and bright, like the morning sun, or perhaps gentle wings, brushing lightly over everyone present.

As the light dissipated, a figure slowly materialized.

It was a middle-aged man who looked to be about fifty or sixty years old, dressed in the pristine white robes that symbolized the high-ranking members of the Inner Court. The edges of his robes were embroidered with faint golden patterns that shimmered with a soft luster under the sunlight.

His expression was benevolent, with shallow wrinkles at the corners of his eyes and a gentle smile playing on his lips.

A pure aura of light radiated from his entire being, making anyone who saw him feel an immediate sense of closeness.

"Dean Yan!"

"Dean Yan!"

Zhou Yi and Mu Jin were both stunned, then exclaimed in unison.

They hurriedly reined in the anger and unwillingness on their faces, bowing their heads respectfully.

The person who had arrived was none other than the Dean of the Martial Soul Department—Yan Shaozhe.

The helmsman of the Shrek Academy Martial Soul Department, a rank 95 Super Douluo, titled "Bright Phoenix."

Huo Yuhao stood on the Soul Fighting Platform, his gaze passing over the crowd to land on Yan Shaozhe.

Deep within his eyes, a faint white light swirled—his Spirit Eye martial soul had remained in its possessed state, and his Spirit Detection had never ceased.

Long before Yan Shaozhe appeared, he had already "seen" him.

That figure had been quietly standing in a corner of the Soul Fighting Arena from the very moment he defeated Wang Gang.

He had stood there silently, his aura so restrained it was nearly non-existent, as if he had merged with the surrounding air.

Had Huo Yuhao's spiritual power not reached the Divine Origin Realm, granting him perception far beyond that of an ordinary person, he would never have discovered the Dean's presence.

Yan Shaozhe had arrived here long ago.

And he had been watching for a while.

A realization flashed through Huo Yuhao's mind—if he had been unable to defeat Wang Gang, if he hadn't been able to block that punch, Yan Shaozhe would naturally have intervened to save him.

But since he had won, Yan Shaozhe continued to hide, only choosing to "coincidentally" appear at this very moment.

Yan Shaozhe stood between the two, his gaze sweeping over Mu Jin and Zhou Yi with a gentle smile on his face.

"What happened just now? I was passing by and heard quite a commotion, so I came in to take a look."

His voice was gentle and steady, like an elder inquiring after a junior.

As he spoke, his gaze shifted slightly, his peripheral vision lingering on Huo Yuhao for a fleeting second—so fast that it was almost imperceptible.

But Huo Yuhao noticed it.

Seeing the Dean ask, Mu Jin hurriedly stepped forward and recounted the ins and outs of the matter.

From the conflict between Huo Yuhao and Zhou Yi in the classroom, to the wager they had made, to Huo Yuhao fighting seventy-one people in a row on the Soul Fighting Platform, and finally to Wang Gang consuming the Blood Soul Pill—

She laid it all out, leaving no detail behind.

Finally, Mu Jin took a deep breath, stared fixedly at Zhou Yi, and said in a deep voice:

"Dean Yan, as a homeroom teacher, not only did Zhou Yi force a freshman to face a gauntlet of opponents, but she even allowed a student to consume a forbidden drug like the Blood Soul Pill while knowing he was outmatched! Such behavior severely violates the ethics of a teacher and should be strictly punished!"

Having said this, she stepped back, waiting for Yan Shaozhe's verdict.

After hearing her out, Yan Shaozhe still wore a gentle smile, as if he were merely listening to a trivial matter.

But in his heart, he was calculating rapidly.

He was naturally aware of what had transpired.

From the moment Wang Gang consumed the pill, he had understood—Zhou Yi could not escape responsibility.

However...

Yan Shaozhe's gaze lingered on Zhou Yi for a moment, and the image of another person surfaced in his mind.

Fan Yu.

The pillar of the Soul Guidance Department, the youngest Level 8 Soul Engineer in Shrek Academy, and someone with the potential to reach Level 9 in the future.

Fan Yu had not originally intended to stay at Shrek.

It was Zhou Yi who had touched his heart and made him stay.

It could be said that if not for Zhou Yi tethering him, Fan Yu would have long since left Shrek Academy for places willing to offer him better treatment.

If he were to punish Zhou Yi for this "small matter," causing Fan Yu to become dissatisfied or even contemplate leaving Shrek...

That would be a massive loss for the Academy.

Yan Shaozhe weighed the options for a moment and quickly made his decision.

He looked at Mu Jin, his face still bearing that gentle smile, and spoke slowly: "Teacher Mu Jin, do you have any evidence for what you have just said?"

Mu Jin froze.

Evidence...

She had no evidence.

Wang Gang had already been carried off to the infirmary, unconscious.

Even if he were to wake up, given his gratitude and fear toward Zhou Yi, he would never step forward to testify.

As for the moment Zhou Yi gave Wang Gang the medicinal pill, no one had seen it but the two of them.

Mu Jin opened her mouth, but no words came out.

Seeing this, Yan Shaozhe sighed softly, his tone remaining gentle:

"Teacher Mu Jin, I understand how you feel. But the Academy handles matters based on evidence. Without evidence, we cannot jump to conclusions."

He paused, then added:

"Let this matter... end here."

End here.

Mu Jin's body stiffened slightly, realizing that if she continued to pursue this, she would only incur Yan Shaozhe's displeasure.

Even if she were right, what could she do?

Yan Shaozhe was the Dean of the Martial Soul Department; his word was authority.

Zhou Yi stood to the side, the corners of her mouth curling up slightly as a flash of triumph crossed her eyes.

She had known it would end like this all along.

With Fan Yu and the Soul Guidance Department behind her, a trivial matter like this couldn't harm her in the slightest.

Mu Jin bit her lip and lowered her head, her fingernails digging deep into her palms.

Just then—

A clear, resonant voice rang out.

"Dean Yan, this matter is not yet settled."

The voice was not loud, yet it reached everyone's ears with perfect clarity.

Everyone turned in unison, looking toward the direction of the sound.

Huo Yuhao was walking down from the Soul Fighting Platform.

His pace was neither fast nor slow, each step steady and powerful.

His right hand hung at his side; the wound on his fist had stopped bleeding, but the mottled bloodstains remained shocking to behold.

He walked right up to Yan Shaozhe, stopped, and looked up, meeting the gaze of this Rank 95 Super Douluo head-on.

His posture was upright, his gaze sharp.

There was no fear.

There was no retreat.

There wasn't even the humility or deference one should show when facing a powerhouse.

He simply stood there, locking eyes with Yan Shaozhe, his expression as calm as water.

Yan Shaozhe was slightly taken aback.

It had been many years since he had seen a student dare to look at him like this.

Especially a freshman.

And, a student who was only Rank 14.

Yan Shaozhe's gaze lingered on Huo Yuhao for a moment, a flicker of something unreadable passing through his eyes.

This boy was no simple character.

"Oh?" Yan Shaozhe still wore a gentle smile, his tone peaceful. "Student Huo, what do you mean by that?"

Huo Yuhao did not beat around the bush.

He spoke directly, his voice clear and firm:

"The wager Teacher Zhou agreed to make with me—if she lost, she would have to admit in public at the main gate of Shrek Academy, in front of everyone, that she is incompetent at teaching and unworthy of being a mentor."

He paused, his gaze shifting to Zhou Yi, a sharp light flashing in his eyes:

"Now, she has lost."

"It is time for her to fulfill her promise."

As soon as the words fell, a wave of low murmurs erupted around them.

"A wager? What wager?"

"I heard it was about making Huo Yuhao kneel and apologize, and if Huo Yuhao won, Zhou Yi would have to go to the main gate to kneel and admit her fault!"

"Good heavens, that's too ruthless!"

"What's so ruthless about it? Zhou Yi agreed to the wager herself; is she trying to welch on it now that she's lost?"

Amidst the murmurs, Zhou Yi's expression turned unsightly in an instant.

She opened her mouth, wanting to retort, but found herself unable to speak.

Because what Huo Yuhao said was the truth.

Yan Shaozhe's brows furrowed slightly.

He was indeed unaware of this wager.

He looked toward Zhou Yi, his gaze carrying a hint of inquiry.

Zhou Yi lowered her head and remained silent.

Seeing this, Yan Shaozhe understood—Huo Yuhao's words were not false.

He pondered for a moment, then looked at Huo Yuhao again, his face still wearing a gentle smile, though his tone carried a bit more of a persuasive edge:

"Student Huo, it is better to be forgiving when one can. You still have to study at Shrek Academy and will have to get along in the future. Why not loosen the terms? There is no need for kneeling; a public apology will suffice. What do you think?"

His voice was gentle, as if he were merely offering a well-intentioned suggestion.

But the meaning behind his words could not have been clearer—give me some face, and let this matter rest.

Everyone around them heard the weight in Yan Shaozhe's words.

For the Dean of the Martial Soul Department to personally intervene—what a massive amount of face that was.

If it were anyone else, they likely would have taken the opportunity to step down gracefully.

However—

Huo Yuhao shook his head.

"Dean Yan, the matter of kneeling was something Teacher Zhou added herself."

His voice was calm, yet carried an unquestionable firmness:

"Besides, if I had lost, I fear Teacher Zhou would only have been more relentless in making me fulfill the wager, wouldn't she?"

Yan Shaozhe was slightly taken aback.

Huo Yuhao looked him straight in the eye and continued:

"At that time, would Dean Yan have stepped forward to say 'it is better to be forgiving when one can' on my behalf?"

This question struck straight to the heart of the matter.

Yan Shaozhe fell silent.

Because he knew the answer.

He would not.

If Huo Yuhao had been the one to lose, Zhou Yi would never have let him off. And he, Yan Shaozhe, would never have stepped in to mediate for a freshman he didn't even know.

This was reality.

Yan Shaozhe looked at the youth before him, a complex feeling rising in his heart.

This youth was even more perceptive than he had imagined.

But perceptive or not, Huo Yuhao's unyielding attitude stirred a trace of displeasure in Yan Shaozhe's heart.

He was the Dean of the Martial Soul Department, a rank 95 Super Douluo.

He had personally intervened to mediate, giving the other party plenty of face.

Yet this level 14 freshman not only failed to appreciate it but was now making it impossible for him to step down in public.

Yan Shaozhe's face still held a gentle smile, but deep within his eyes, a faint trace of coldness flickered.

He did not speak again, merely turning slightly to fix his gaze on Zhou Yi.

The meaning was clear—

Handle your own affairs yourself.

Zhou Yi's expression changed completely.

She looked at Yan Shaozhe's "helpless" expression, then at the students around her staring at her, and a sense of unprecedented panic surged in her heart.

Make her kneel at the main gate of Shrek Academy?

Admit her own incompetence as a teacher in front of everyone?

Impossible!

Absolutely impossible!

She, Zhou Yi, had taught at Shrek Academy for so many years; she had always been the one to expel students—how could there be any reason for a student to make her kneel?!

But if she didn't...

Zhou Yi raised her head and looked at Huo Yuhao.

The youth stood there, watching her with a calm gaze, as if waiting for her answer.

Zhou Yi took a deep breath, suppressing the panic and fury in her heart, and spoke:

"Student Huo, regarding the kneeling... please choose a different condition."

Her voice was somewhat dry, carrying a hint of undisguised compromise.

The surrounding students heard this and one after another revealed expressions of astonishment.

Zhou Yi was backing down?

The Zhou Yi known for her strictness, who would expel students at the drop of a hat, was actually backing down to a freshman?

Huo Yuhao heard this and was not surprised.

He had long anticipated that someone like Zhou Yi would never willingly fulfill the terms of the wager.

He did not get angry either, merely raising an eyebrow slightly and saying indifferently:

"Oh? What condition does Teacher Zhou wish to swap it for?"

Zhou Yi gritted her teeth and said, "Tell me, what do you want? As long as it is within my power, I will agree to it."

As she spoke, a flash of ruthlessness crossed her eyes—as long as she could muddle through today, there would be plenty of opportunities in the future to deal with this brat who didn't know the immensity of heaven and earth.

Huo Yuhao glanced at her, as if he had seen through the thoughts in her heart.

A faint arc curled at the corners of his mouth.

"Since that is the case—"

He paused, then spoke slowly:

"I want three Soul Bones over a thousand years old, two of which must be wood-attributed or water-attributed."

Zhou Yi's expression froze instantly.

"Or—"

Huo Yuhao continued, his voice remaining flat:

"One Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone."

The moment the words fell, a chorus of gasps echoed all around.

Soul Bones?!

Those were things a hundred times more precious than Soul Rings!

A thousand-year Soul Bone was worth a fortune, enough to keep an ordinary family living without worry for generations.

A Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone was an even rarer treasure, one that could fetch an astronomical price even in an auction house!

Huo Yuhao opened his mouth and demanded three thousand-year Soul Bones, or one ten-thousand-year Soul Bone?

This was an exorbitant demand!

Zhou Yi's complexion turned livid instantly.

She widened her eyes, staring fixedly at Huo Yuhao as if looking at a madman.

"Soul Bones?!"

Her voice rose sharply, so piercing it almost shattered eardrums:

"Why don't you just go rob someone?!"

Huo Yuhao heard this and did not get angry.

He merely smiled faintly and spoke slowly:

"Teacher Zhou, either give me the Soul Bones, or kneel in public. You choose one."

His voice was calm, yet carried an unquestionable firmness.

Zhou Yi's chest heaved violently, her face alternating between shades of green and white.

Seeing this, Huo Yuhao continued:

"Teacher Zhou, you wouldn't want all the students at Shrek Academy to know that you are a teacher who doesn't keep her word, would you?"

He paused, his voice deepening slightly:

"As a holy land for Soul Masters, if Shrek Academy were to have a teacher like you who goes back on her word, I'm afraid its reputation would suffer quite a bit, wouldn't it?"

These words carried immense weight.

The surrounding students looked at one another, some nodding, others whispering.

"He's right. If you make a bet, you should fulfill it when you lose."

"Teacher Zhou is usually so strict, expelling students for nothing, yet now she wants to welch on a debt?"

"If this gets out, where will Shrek's face be?"

The murmurs grew louder, reaching Zhou Yi's ears like needles pricking her heart.

Her expression grew increasingly unsightly.

Yan Shaozhe stood to the side, his brows slightly furrowed.

He looked toward Huo Yuhao, a complex glimmer flashing through his eyes—this youth possessed not only exceptional talent but also a remarkably deep cunning.

If Zhou Yi failed to honor the wager today, even if the academy managed to suppress the matter, the underlying problem would remain unresolved.

Yan Shaozhe's gaze swept across the faces of the surrounding students—each young face was etched with shock, curiosity, excitement, and an eager desire to share the news with others.

There were two classes present here, totaling two hundred students in all.

One might be able to silence a single person, but could one silence the mouths of the masses?

Impossible.

Once the information spread, it would sweep through the academy like a wildfire.

One would tell ten, ten would tell a hundred, and before long, the entire Shrek Academy would know—Zhou Yi had made a wager with a student and was now trying to renege on it after losing.

By then, it would not just be Zhou Yi's reputation in ruins; the prestige of Shrek Academy itself would suffer.

Shrek Academy, the continent's premier holy land for soul masters, had stood for ten thousand years; its foundation rested not only on strength but also on integrity.

If people came to believe that Shrek's teachers could break their word, where would the academy's face be left?

But if he truly forced Zhou Yi to kneel...

Yan Shaozhe looked at Zhou Yi.

Zhou Yi's face was currently ashen, her chest heaving violently, her eyes filled with malice and resentment.

Given her personality, forcing her to kneel in public would be worse than death.

Furthermore, Fan Yu stood behind her.

If Zhou Yi were pushed to the point of kneeling, what would Fan Yu think? What would he do?