The Trash-Talking Princess Tang

Tang Wutong saw the three of them chatting away without so much as paying her any attention. She felt a little irritated, but still kept up her aloof act without showing it. As far as she was concerned, if they wanted her to join in, they could come ask her themselves.

Xiao Yi certainly wasn't going to go out of his way to talk to her. He'd introduced them purely out of courtesy; needing an invitation to join a conversation was just pathetic.

Before long, the class bell rang, and an old woman with graying hair walked into the classroom to its chime.

Her skin was wrinkled, her hair white, and her back straight. She looked full of energy, nothing like someone her age. That was because she really didn't look like that. Zhou Yi was actually quite attractive; this was just a disguise behind a mask. Otherwise, Fan Yu wouldn't have taken a liking to her. She did it purely for what she called her teaching philosophy.

Zhou Yi surveyed the classroom, quite satisfied with the students' reactions. She coughed twice and began her baffling routine.

"We at Shrek are the Monster Academy. We cultivate monsters, not trash. I hope none of you here are the latter."

Though this year's freshmen included a few promising talents, Zhou Yi still decided to show off her old tricks.

"Anyone in this class been in a fight? Stand up now." The classroom fell utterly silent. The students were a little confused by the question.

Xiao Yi and the others were just as bewildered. They had no idea what she was going to do next.

When no one responded, the corners of Zhou Yi's mouth curled faintly. Her expression remained as arrogant as ever.

"What a bunch of good-for-nothings. All of you, get out and run a hundred laps around the plaza. Anyone who doesn't finish will be expelled." Zhou Yi looked furious, as if she were exasperated with them. Her eyes blazed.

Xiao Yi didn't mind. A hundred laps would be easy for him. He could beat Zhou Yi, too. He'd broken through to level 39 just yesterday, and by the Freshman Grand Competition, he'd likely be a Soul Ancestor at the very least.

But just because Xiao Yi didn't mind, that didn't mean everyone else felt the same. Tang Wutong had never had a good temper, and as the Divine Realm's little princess, she'd been spoiled rotten and was used to doing whatever she pleased. Zhou Yi had called her trash for no reason on the very first day of class, then ordered her to run laps. She'd been holding back for too long.

With a loud crash, Tang Wutong sprang to her feet, startling Xiao Xiao, Huo Yutong, and Xiao Yi beside her. Xiao Yi's heart sank. Damn, I forgot there was a hothead here.

"Old hag, what gives you the right to keep calling us trash? Who the hell are you to point fingers at me?"

She hadn't bothered to keep her voice down. Her tirade left the rest of the class staring in shock, and even Zhou Yi was stunned. She hadn't expected a student to dare defy her.

Her eyes instantly turned bloodshot, and she began panting like a bull. Her aura surged, a red dragon's phantom appearing behind her as six Soul Rings rose at her feet—two yellow, two purple, and two black, the standard configuration.

"You little brat! How dare you insult a Shrek teacher! Didn't your elders teach you to respect your teachers?"

Tang Wutong sneered inwardly, her contempt only growing. She kept spewing insults, turning into the trash-talking Princess Tang as she laid into Zhou Yi below. The more vicious the words, the better. Even Xiao Yi was dumbstruck.

Zhou Yi grew even angrier. Her aura shifted again, and a murderous chill instantly locked onto Tang Wutong.

Realizing things were about to go south, Xiao Yi hurried forward and covered Tang Wutong's mouth.

"Stop talking for a second. If she attacks, you could get beaten to a pulp no matter how powerful your family is."

Tang Wutong glared furiously at Xiao Yi, about to retort, when Zhou Yi roared from below.

"Fine! Very well! I've been at Shrek for so many years, and this is the first time a student has ever cursed me like that. Today, I'll teach you what it means to respect your teachers, in place of your elders!"

As soon as she finished speaking, a torrent of flames, carrying a terrifying aura, hurtled toward Xiao Yi and Tang Wutong.

Xiao Yi had already let go of Tang Wutong and was preparing to run out with the crowd. He turned around and saw her standing there like an idiot, as if she'd been scared stiff.

Damn it, does this woman have no brains? She doesn't even know how to dodge?

Tang Wutong really was frozen with fright. She hadn't expected Zhou Yi to actually attack her. Her face went deathly pale as the flames bore down on her.

A flash of purple lightning streaked by, and Tang Wutong vanished, leaving only an afterimage in her place.

The Soul Skill's strike smashed the afterimage to pieces. The desks and chairs in the area were blown into splinters, leaving only a few blocks of wood sizzling as they burned.

Tang Wutong was still reeling when she realized Xiao Yi had slung her over his shoulder in an unbearably humiliating position.

He saved me? Before she could think any further, she noticed her embarrassing pose and immediately began struggling.

"Hey, Xiao Yi! Put me down! I'll have Big Uncle and Second Uncle deal with this. I'll make sure Zhou Yi regrets it!"

Zhou Yi didn't care what the two of them were saying. She let out a furious roar. She'd truly lost her head by now; anyone would have snapped after being cursed at like that. A Soul Ring flashed beneath her feet, and she charged toward them.

Xiao Yi swatted Tang Wutong on the butt as she wriggled on his shoulder like a caterpillar, telling her to hold still.

Tang Wutong's cheeks instantly turned scarlet, the blush spreading all the way to her ears. Her whole body went limp as an electric current shot through her, and she nearly let out a moan.

She couldn't believe Xiao Yi had dared to smack her butt. She'd completely forgotten she was dressed as a boy. Of course, Xiao Yi knew she was a girl. He'd done it on purpose.

Seeing Zhou Yi still coming, Xiao Yi silently cursed the powerful people at Shrek for doing nothing but sit around and collect their pay. He had no choice but to fight.

Three purple Soul Rings rose beneath his feet. The lightning around him grew denser, and scales appeared on his arms and forehead.

A pair of eyes, each bearing three green petals, slowly opened. Tang Wutong stopped struggling, staring in a daze at the three Soul Rings circling beneath Xiao Yi's feet. Cries of astonishment rose from outside the classroom, followed by a thunderous shout: "Stop!"

But Zhou Yi was already blinded by rage and paid no heed. Like a flaming war chariot, she charged toward them.

When Zhou Yi was only a few meters away, a massive, deep-blue serpent's tail lashed out like a bolt of lightning and slammed into her, sending her flying.

The air rippled. A gigantic Nether Cold Ice Python, its body seemingly carved from icy-blue jade, emerged from the void. Its whole body appeared and coiled around Xiao Yi in a protective stance.

Tang Wutong, the students gathered outside, and even Yan Shaozhe, the Martial Soul Department dean of Shrek Outer Court who had just arrived, were all dumbfounded.

Tang Wutong didn't even notice she'd been put down. She stared blankly at the Nether Cold Ice Python coiled protectively around her and the tall figure standing in front of her. A ripple stirred in her heart.

The moment Yan Shaozhe came in, he saw one freshman carrying another over his shoulder. He'd already been stunned by the freshman's astonishing Soul Ring Configuration, his mouth still hanging open. Then something even more shocking happened.

The freshman's Soul Rings lit up, and a Nether Cold Ice Python suddenly emerged from the void. One flick of its tail sent Zhou Yi, a Soul Emperor, flying.

Before Yan Shaozhe could say anything, a shriek came from the crater where Zhou Yi had landed. A red figure shot out, clearly still ready to fight.

"Aaagh! You insolent brat! How dare you humiliate me like this! I'll make sure you die a horrible death!"

"Zhou Yi! Enough! Have you embarrassed yourself enough already?"

Before she could attack, another furious shout rang out, bringing her back to her senses.

"D-Dean?"