Fan Yu watched Huo Yuhao accept the three Soul Bones, then turned and prepared to leave with Zhou Yi.
However—
"Wait."
A clear voice rang out.
Fan Yu stopped in his tracks. His brows furrowed slightly as he turned to look at Huo Yuhao.
Zhou Yi stopped as well and looked back, a hint of confusion in her eyes.
Huo Yuhao stood where he was, the three Soul Bones already tucked away.
His face showed no expression. His gaze rested on Zhou Yi as he spoke calmly:
"Teacher Zhou, you seem to have forgotten to apologize."
As his words fell, the surroundings fell silent.
Everyone's gaze focused on Huo Yuhao, then shifted in unison to Zhou Yi.
Apologize?
Hadn't the matter already been settled with three Soul Bones? Why was he still demanding an apology?
Fan Yu's brow furrowed even more deeply.
He looked at Huo Yuhao, his voice edged with displeasure:
"Huo Yuhao, didn't we agree just now to let bygones be bygones?"
His voice was low and resonant, carrying the distinctive authority of a Level 8 Soul Engineer.
The students around them felt that pressure and fell silent, not daring to speak.
But Huo Yuhao seemed completely unaffected.
He merely shook his head slightly, a faint smile still on his face:
"Teacher Fan Yu, what I said earlier was that three Soul Bones could spare Zhou Yi from kneeling."
He paused, his voice growing slightly firmer. "I never said she didn't have to apologize."
His gaze passed over Fan Yu and settled on Zhou Yi, a hint of scrutiny in his eyes:
"If you've done something wrong, shouldn't you apologize?"
He said it with complete conviction.
Hearing this, the students around them nodded and began whispering again.
"Exactly. Isn't apologizing the least you should do when you've done something wrong?"
"The three Soul Bones meant she didn't have to kneel. They never said she didn't have to apologize."
"Huo Yuhao's right!"
Fan Yu's expression darkened.
He stared at Huo Yuhao, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.
This boy was even more difficult to deal with than he'd imagined.
Three Thousand-Year Soul Bones still hadn't shut him up?
"Huo Yuhao."
Fan Yu's voice dropped, carrying a note of warning:
"You're going too far. Having strength is a good thing, but a tree that towers above the forest is bound to be battered by the wind. It's always wise to leave yourself a way out."
His words were heavy with meaning.
A tree that towers above the forest is bound to be battered by the wind.
He was warning Huo Yuhao not to push too far, or he'd pay for it later.
The students around them felt the pressure and lowered their heads, not daring to meet Fan Yu's gaze.
But Huo Yuhao—
He only smiled faintly.
The smile was so slight it was almost impossible to see.
Yet his eyes shone brilliantly.
"Teacher Fan Yu is right."
He spoke slowly, his voice calm as still water:
"Whether I leave myself a way out is none of your concern."
He paused, his gaze returning to Zhou Yi, his voice growing slightly firmer. "Zhou Yi, are you going to apologize or not?"
His voice boomed through the Soul Fighting Arena like a clap of thunder.
Everyone froze.
Huo Yuhao... was he really standing up to Fan Yu?
Defying a Level 8 Soul Engineer to his face?
Wasn't he afraid?
Fan Yu's expression turned completely dark.
He looked at the boy before him, a trace of murderous intent flashing in his eyes.
Three Thousand-Year Soul Bones weren't enough to settle this bet?
Huo Yuhao was truly greedy!
But Fan Yu didn't move.
He'd noticed that Huo Yuhao's gaze held not the slightest trace of fear.
His eyes were calm as still water, yet fathomless.
It was as if, to him, Fan Yu—a Level 8 Soul Engineer—was nothing more than an ordinary middle-aged man.
Fan Yu had only seen that kind of look in people who had truly faced life and death, with blood on their hands.
Just who was this boy?
Huo Yuhao sensed the murderous intent in Fan Yu's eyes, but he remained unmoved.
He knew exactly what he was doing.
Standing up to a Level 8 Soul Engineer would look like suicide to anyone.
But he had the confidence to do it.
That confidence came from within.
He could draw on Sister Tian Meng's spiritual power to briefly return to his peak and restore his spiritual power to the Divine Origin Realm.
The reason he hadn't dared use Tian Meng's spiritual power before was that his body had been too weak.
His frail, sickly body hadn't been able to withstand the vast spiritual power pouring into him.
If he'd tried to borrow it by force, his body would have collapsed on the spot.
But things were different now.
The first and second stages of the Myriad Tribulation Indestructible Body's first level were complete. With Copper Skin Golden Muscle, his body was far tougher than that of a Soul Master of the same level.
It still wasn't anywhere near perfect, but it was already strong enough to briefly withstand Tian Meng's spiritual power.
If he wanted, he could borrow Sister Tian Meng's spiritual power and return to his peak at any time.
It would only last for a short while, but that would be enough.
He could guarantee that, within Shrek Academy, he feared no one except the legendary Dragon God Douluo.
What's more—
He had a second trump card.
The Undead Semi-Plane.
In his previous life, as Electrolux's disciple, he'd naturally received Electrolux's true teachings and learned necromancy, as well as how to open the Undead Semi-Plane.
If it really came down to life and death, he could open Electrolux's Undead Semi-Plane and hide inside.
Even a Limit Douluo would be powerless to stop him.
So what did he have to fear?
The corners of Huo Yuhao's mouth lifted slightly. He met Fan Yu's gaze without backing down.
Standing behind Fan Yu, Zhou Yi's face turned pale, then flushed.
Looking at Huo Yuhao's calm face, she felt a wave of humiliation and fury unlike anything she'd ever experienced.
He wanted her to apologize?
In front of all these people, he wanted her to apologize to a new student who was only at Level 14?
She, Zhou Yi, had taught at Shrek for so many years. When had she ever endured such an insult?
But what could she do?
Fan Yu had already stepped in, and they'd already handed over three Soul Bones.
If she still refused to apologize, this matter would never end.
And if word got out, her reputation would only grow worse.
Zhou Yi glanced at Fan Yu beside her.
His expression was grim, but he did nothing. He merely looked at Zhou Yi.
Zhou Yi understood. Fan Yu wanted her to apologize to Huo Yuhao for now. Once the Freshman Assessment was over, he would make sure Huo Yuhao was expelled from Shrek Academy.
By then, killing him would be as easy as lifting a finger.
Zhou Yi took a deep breath, suppressing the fury and humiliation surging inside her, then raised her head and looked at Huo Yuhao.
Her eyes were full of resentment and murderous intent, but her voice was hoarse and low:
"I, Zhou Yi... have failed as a teacher and am unworthy of being an educator."
Every word seemed forced out through gritted teeth.
When she finished, she abruptly lowered her head, not daring to look at the people around her.
She was afraid she'd lose control and charge at Huo Yuhao to tear him apart.
Just you wait, Huo Yuhao.
After the Freshman Assessment, if you're still at Shrek Academy, I'll take your surname!
Zhou Yi swore to herself. Her fingernails dug deep into her palm, drawing blood.
Huo Yuhao watched it all, his face still completely expressionless.
He merely nodded faintly, accepting the apology as the insignificant thing it was.
Then he spoke slowly:
"Teacher Zhou, correcting your mistakes once you recognize them is the greatest virtue."
His voice was calm, without mockery or smugness. But to Zhou Yi, the words struck like a needle driven straight into her heart.
She trembled all over and gritted her teeth. She said nothing, only lowered her head and hurried away behind Fan Yu.
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