Zhou Yi Apologizes

Fan Yu watched as Huo Yuhao accepted the three soul bones, then turned, preparing to leave with Zhou Yi.

However--

"Wait a moment."

A clear, resonant voice rang out.

Fan Yu's footsteps faltered, his brows furrowed slightly as he turned to look at Huo Yuhao.

Zhou Yi also stopped and looked back, her eyes filled with a hint of confusion.

Huo Yuhao stood where he was, the three soul bones already tucked away.

His face remained expressionless, his gaze fixed on Zhou Yi as he spoke indifferently:

"Teacher Zhou, it seems you have forgotten to apologize."

As his words fell, the surroundings instantly went silent.

Everyone's eyes focused on Huo Yuhao, then shifted in unison toward Zhou Yi.

Apologize?

Hadn't the matter already been settled with three soul bones? Why was an apology still required?

Fan Yu's brows knitted even tighter.

He looked at Huo Yuhao, his tone carrying a trace of displeasure:

"Huo Yuhao, didn't we agree just now that this matter would be wiped clean?"

His voice was low and heavy, carrying the unique authority of an eighth-rank soul engineer.

The surrounding students felt that pressure and fell silent, not daring to speak.

But Huo Yuhao seemed completely unaffected.

He simply shook his head gently, a faint smile still lingering on his face:

"Teacher Fan Yu, what I said earlier was--three soul bones are enough to keep Zhou Yi from kneeling."

He paused, his voice slightly sharpening: "I never said she didn't have to apologize."

His gaze moved past Fan Yu and landed on Zhou Yi, his eyes filled with scrutiny:

"When one does something wrong, shouldn't they apologize?"

The statement was delivered with righteous confidence.

Hearing this, the surrounding students nodded one after another, and whispers broke out once more.

"That's right, isn't it only natural to apologize after doing something wrong?"

"The three soul bones were to avoid kneeling, it didn't say anything about not apologizing."

"Huo Yuhao is right!"

Fan Yu's expression darkened.

He stared at Huo Yuhao, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

This youth was even more difficult to deal with than he had imagined.

Three thousand-year soul bones, and they still couldn't shut his mouth?

"Huo Yuhao."

Fan Yu's voice dropped, carrying a hint of warning:

"You are being a bit too excessive. Having talent is a good thing, but the tree that stands above the forest will be destroyed by the wind. Leaving yourself a way out is always for the best."

The words were heavy with implication.

The tree that stands above the forest will be destroyed by the wind.

This was a warning to Huo Yuhao--do not push too far, or you will suffer the consequences later.

The surrounding students felt the pressure and lowered their heads, not daring to meet Fan Yu's gaze.

But Huo Yuhao--

He merely smiled slightly.

The smile was so faint it was barely visible.

Yet his eyes were startlingly bright.

"Teacher Fan Yu is right."

He spoke slowly, his voice as calm as water:

"Whether I leave myself a way out or not is none of your concern."

He paused, his gaze landing on Zhou Yi once more, his voice slightly heavier: "Zhou Yi, are you going to apologize or not?"

This demand, like a thunderclap, exploded within the Soul Fighting Arena.

Everyone was stunned.

Huo Yuhao... was he actually standing his ground against Fan Yu?

In front of an eighth-level Soul Engineer, he was standing his ground?

Was he not afraid?

Fan Yu's expression darkened completely.

He looked at the youth before him, a flicker of killing intent flashing through his eyes.

Were three thousand-year soul bones not enough to settle this wager?

This Huo Yuhao was truly greedy!

But he did not move.

Because he discovered that the gaze Huo Yuhao directed at him held not a shred of fear.

That gaze was as calm as water, yet bottomless.

It was as if, in his eyes, he—an eighth-level Soul Engineer—was nothing more than an ordinary middle-aged man.

Fan Yu had only seen such a gaze on those who had truly experienced life and death and had blood on their hands.

What on earth was this youth's background?

Huo Yuhao felt the killing intent in Fan Yu's eyes, yet his heart remained completely undisturbed.

He knew exactly what he was doing.

Standing his ground against an eighth-level Soul Engineer was, in anyone's eyes, a suicidal act.

But he had the confidence to do so.

This confidence came from himself.

He could borrow the spiritual power of Tian Meng to briefly return to his peak, restoring his spiritual power to the Divine Origin Realm.

The reason he had not dared to easily utilize Tian Meng's spiritual power before was because his physical body had been too weak.

His previous sickly frame could never have withstood the influx of Tian Meng's immense spiritual power.

If he had forced it, his body would have collapsed instantly.

But things were different now.

With the first and second stages of the Myriad Tribulation Indestructible Body achieved, his Copper Skin Golden Muscle meant his physical strength far exceeded that of soul masters at his level.

Although it was still far from perfect, it was enough to briefly withstand the infusion of Tian Meng's spiritual power.

As long as he was willing, he could borrow Tian Meng's spiritual power to return to his peak at any moment.

Though it would only be for a short while, that short while was enough.

He could guarantee that within Shrek Academy, apart from the legendary Dragon God Douluo, he feared no one.

What's more—

He had a second trump card.

The Undead Semi-Plane.

In his past life, as a disciple of Electrolux, he had naturally received his true inheritance, learning necromancy and the ability to open the Undead Semi-Plane.

If it truly came to a life-or-death crisis, he could directly open Electrolux's Undead Semi-Plane and hide inside.

Even a Limit Douluo would be unable to do anything to him.

So, what did he have to fear?

The corners of Huo Yuhao's mouth curled up slightly, his gaze fixed directly on Fan Yu without the slightest retreat.

Zhou Yi stood behind Fan Yu, her face shifting between shades of green and white.

Looking at Huo Yuhao's calm face, a surge of unprecedented humiliation and anger welled up in her heart.

Make her apologize?

In front of so many people, apologize to a level-fourteen freshman?

She, Zhou Yi, had taught at Shrek for so many years; when had she ever suffered such indignity?

But what could she do?

Fan Yu had already stepped in, and the three soul bones had already been given away.

If she did not apologize now, this matter would never end.

If word got out, her reputation would only become more tarnished.

Zhou Yi glanced at Fan Yu beside her.

Fan Yu's expression was grim, but he did not take any action, merely casting a look at Zhou Yi.

Zhou Yi understood his intent: Fan Yu wanted her to apologize to Huo Yuhao for the time being, and once the freshman assessment concluded, he would ensure Huo Yuhao was expelled from Shrek Academy.

By that time, killing him would be a trivial matter.

Zhou Yi took a deep breath, suppressing the surging anger and humiliation in her heart, and raised her head to look at Huo Yuhao.

Her eyes were filled with malice and murderous intent, yet her voice was hoarse and low:

"I, Zhou Yi... have failed in my teaching and am unworthy of being a mentor."

Every word seemed to be squeezed out from between her teeth.

After speaking, she lowered her head abruptly, not daring to meet the gazes of those around her.

She was afraid that she might be unable to stop herself from rushing over to tear Huo Yuhao apart.

Just you wait, Huo Yuhao.

If you are still at Shrek Academy after the Freshman Assessment, I, Zhou Yi, will take your surname!

Zhou Yi swore silently in her heart, her fingernails digging deep into her palms until blood began to seep out.

Huo Yuhao watched this scene, his face remaining completely expressionless.

He merely nodded faintly, accepting this insignificant apology.

Then, he spoke slowly:

"Teacher Zhou, to recognize one's mistake and correct it is the greatest virtue."

His voice was calm, devoid of mockery or triumph, but to Zhou Yi, these words felt like a needle piercing fiercely into her heart.

Her entire body trembled and she gritted her teeth, saying nothing as she simply kept her head down and followed behind Fan Yu, walking away quickly.