You're celebrating too soon!

Three days later, early morning.

Ring-ring—!

The piercing school bell echoed through the dormitory building, signaling that the freshmen were about to begin their formal classes.

Dormitory 108.

After circulating his soul power for one final cycle, Long Yaochen slowly opened his eyes. Although several days had passed, his complexion had not improved much.

For the past few days, he had been cultivating incessantly whenever he had nothing else to do.

However, the more he cultivated, the more alarmed he became. The rate at which his divinity was expanding was simply too fast; he had only just suppressed it a few days ago, and already it was showing signs of resurfacing.

It hung over his head like the Sword of Damocles.

He was in no rush to seek out Mu En; after all, if he were the one to initiate the conversation, it would be a transaction.

But if Shrek owed him an explanation first, that would be a different story.

And today, that explanation might very well come knocking on his door.

"Hey, are you going or not?"

Wang Dong stood at the doorway with her arms crossed, her tone impatient.

Yet, her powder-blue eyes kept glancing toward Long Yaochen's face from time to time.

Ever since this guy had suddenly entered meditation a few days ago, he had acted like someone owed him eight million Gold Soul Coins whenever he woke up. It didn't look normal no matter how she viewed it.

The two had barely spoken a word to each other over the past three days.

Long Yaochen raised his eyes to look at her, a faint, elusive smile playing on his lips.

"Are you that concerned about me?"

"Who's concerned about you!"

Wang Dong bristled instantly, snorted coldly, and turned to leave. "This Young Master is just afraid you'll be late on the first day of class and embarrass me along with you!"

Long Yaochen chuckled and followed at a leisurely pace.

As soon as he stepped out of the room, he saw Huo Yuhao coming out of the room next door at the same time. His gaze swept over subconsciously, and Huo Yuhao's eyes happened to meet his.

Their gazes locked in mid-air for a fleeting moment.

So... can a person really look this good?

Huo Yuhao was stunned for a moment before nodding in acknowledgment.

But Long Yaochen did not respond, merely withdrawing his gaze with a thoughtful expression.

Strange. Why can I always sense that feeling of emptiness in Huo Yuhao's destiny?

Wang Dong noticed his gaze and asked suspiciously, "Do you know him?"

"No." Long Yaochen shook his head.

"Then why were you looking at him?"

"He's easy on the eyes."

With that, he headed downstairs.

Wang Dong: "..."

A sense of displeasure rose in her heart.

What is that supposed to mean?

He finds everyone easy on the eyes, but finds this Young Master unpleasant?

Not long after, when the two walked into the Freshman Class One classroom one after the other, it was already filled with many students.

As soon as Long Yaochen stepped through the door, the previously noisy classroom fell silent for an instant.

There was no helping it... his face was simply too conspicuous.

Dressed in the white freshman uniform with his black hair hanging down, there wasn't a single flaw to be found in his features. Coupled with that faint, ethereal aura of divinity, a sense of transcendence instantly swept across the entire classroom.

Wang Dong was also exceptionally good-looking.

Yet, standing beside Long Yaochen, she felt for the first time that she was being overshadowed.

She gritted her teeth and snatched a seat by the window. Long Yaochen didn't stand on ceremony and sat down right beside her.

Although many gazes in the class were gathered on them, Wang Dong felt one gaze that was particularly intense.

She looked up and happened to see a delicate girl with twin tails staring fixedly at Long Yaochen.

Upon realizing that Wang Dong had spotted her, the girl shyly lowered her head.

"Tch... always attracting bees and butterflies," Wang Dong muttered under her breath.

Ding—!

The class bell officially rang.

Just then, an elderly woman with wrinkled skin and white hair walked into the classroom from outside.

She wore her graying hair in a bun and was dressed in a white robe. Her eyes were devoid of any emotion, as if she were appraising merchandise.

Her gaze swept calmly from left to right. In an instant, the once-lively classroom fell silent, and a sense of oppression settled over nearly everyone present.

"My name is Zhou Yi."

Her aged voice echoed through the classroom; it was not loud, yet it made everyone's heart tighten.

"Starting today, I am the homeroom teacher for Freshman Class One."

She walked to the podium, braced her hands on the desk, and swept her cold gaze across the room.

"I don't care which empire or family you come from, nor do I care how many people called you a genius in the past."

"Once you are here with me, there is only one rule."

"Monsters stay."

"Trash, get out."

These concise words instantly ignited the atmosphere of the entire class.

Many students wore indignant expressions; every one of them was a local prodigy, so how could they tolerate such words?

Even Wang Dong frowned, clearly displeased.

Long Yaochen, however, merely leaned lazily against the back of his chair, a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes.

This Zhou Yi... she was even more suitable for his plans than he had imagined.

But that was fine; the crazier she was, the wider he could open his mouth!

"From enrollment until now, those who have fought, stand up."

A subtle commotion rippled through the classroom. Many freshmen looked at one another, but no one dared to move.

Who would fight right after school started? And who would admit to it if they had?

Wang Dong stiffened. She recalled the scene a few days ago in the dormitory where Long Yaochen had pinned her to the bed frame, and her cheeks flushed slightly.

Did being unilaterally suppressed count as a fight?

No!

I was just careless for a moment.

She looked up and glanced at Long Yaochen, who remained as steady as Mount Tai, and her racing heart calmed slightly.

"You don't even dare to fight? Haven't you heard that those who dare not cause trouble are mediocre? You really are a bunch of trash."

Zhou Yi's icy voice struck the lake that was Freshman Class One like a giant boulder.

The sound of discussion erupted instantly like splashing water.

But the next second, a powerful wave of soul power suddenly burst forth from Zhou Yi's body!

Two yellow, two purple, and two black.

Six soul rings rose beneath her feet. The terrifying pressure of a Soul Emperor level expert crushed down upon the freshmen below like a surging tide.

The students who had been indignant just a second ago turned deathly pale in an instant.

The noisy classroom fell into dead silence.

At this moment, no one in Freshman Class One dared to breathe loudly, and none even had the courage to look Zhou Yi in the eye.

In this suffocating silence:

"Heh..."

An ill-timed chuckle instantly shattered the solidifying atmosphere.

"The best academy on the continent, the best teacher in the academy, and this is it?"

"Only knowing how to use your status to bully first and second-ring freshmen?"

Long Yaochen rested his chin on one hand, his fingertips tapping the desk nonchalantly. His tone was flat, completely unaffected by Zhou Yi's Soul Emperor pressure. "In my opinion, Shrek Academy is nothing more than this."

Swish—!

Dozens of freshmen in the class instantly turned their horrified gazes toward Long Yaochen.

Had this guy lost his mind?

That was a six-ring Soul Emperor! Did he have a death wish?!

Even Wang Dong, sitting next to him, was dumbfounded.

Was this guy really this brave?

On the first day of school, he was insulting both the homeroom teacher and Shrek Academy directly?

On the podium, the sneer on Zhou Yi's face froze. She narrowed her eyes, a dangerous glint within them, and her tone was filled with chill: "Kid, do you know what you are saying?"

Facing the death glare that could crush an ordinary student, Long Yaochen simply stretched and slowly stood up.

Now was the time to light the fire.

"Of course I do."

He stared straight at Zhou Yi, his gaze devoid of any evasion, a hint of mockery playing on the corners of his lips.

"Didn't you just say that those who dare not cause trouble are mediocrities?"

"Now I've caused it."

"Why are you the one getting anxious instead?"

Hiss—

A chorus of gasps echoed throughout the classroom.

Beside him, Wang Dong's eyes widened abruptly, only one thought remaining in her mind.

If he died, would she ever be able to find another roommate who looked like this?

Even Huo Yuhao, who had kept his head down in the back row the entire time, stared blankly at Long Yaochen, lost in his own thoughts.

The fluctuations of soul power emanating from Zhou Yi grew increasingly intense, causing cold sweat to stream down the faces of the students in the front rows.

Long Yaochen merely offered a faint smile.

"What? Are you so happy to see a monster like me who dares to cause trouble that you're speechless?"

"My apologies then, but you're celebrating a little too early."