"Starting today, you are officially students of Class One, Year One."
Zhang Lexuan's gaze swept over the young faces below the stage, her warm voice ringing clearly in everyone's ears.
"The Freshman Assessment is over, but that does not mean you can relax. On the contrary, true learning is only just beginning."
As she said this, she glanced at Wang Yan beside her.
Wang Yan smiled and took over.
"My name is Wang Yan. From now on, I will serve as your assistant homeroom teacher, mainly responsible for theory classes and explaining martial soul knowledge."
"The fact that you were able to enter Class One proves that both your talent and assessment results have been recognized by the academy."
"But I hope you remember one thing: Shrek has never lacked geniuses."
As soon as those words were spoken, quite a few students in the classroom instinctively looked toward Long Yaochen.
Wang Yan naturally noticed this and could not help pushing up his glasses, his smile carrying a trace more emotion.
"Of course, student Long Yaochen is an exception. I can give you a little inside information.
"Student Long Yaochen came from the Sea God Pavilion to gain experience.
"You may use him as your goal, but if you fail to catch up, do not be discouraged."
He came from the Sea God Pavilion?!
Wang Yan's words left all the students present stunned.
They had originally thought Long Yaochen might have come from some prominent clan, but they had never expected him to actually be from Shrek.
Long Yaochen curled his lip and did not refute it.
He could hardly say that he came from under the chief consecrator of the Holy Spirit Cult, could he?
After everyone came back to their senses, Zhang Lexuan continued:
"Next, there is one more matter.
"Some of you may not know me. I was formerly the homeroom teacher of Freshman Class One—Zhang Lexuan.
"Due to my previous physical condition, student Long Yaochen had always assisted me in my work as my teaching assistant.
"Now that Teacher Wang has arrived, it is time to choose an official class monitor to lead our Class One, Year One."
At the mention of the words "class monitor," many students perked up.
A class monitor had access to far more than an ordinary student.
But... would it really be their turn?
Sure enough, Zhang Lexuan had already turned her gaze to Long Yaochen and said calmly, "From today onward, Long Yaochen will serve as the class monitor of Class One, Year One."
The classroom fell silent.
There was not a single voice of objection.
After all, yesterday's battle on the Soul Fighting Platform was still fresh in their minds.
Three rings, three thousand-year Soul Rings, a Quasi-Soul Ancestor, crushing three opponents alone and winning the championship.
What blind fool would compete with him for the position of class monitor?
Zhang Lexuan looked around. Seeing no objections, she said in the same gentle voice, "Since no one objects, then it is settled. Next, Teacher Wang will teach everyone theory."
"Students..." Wang Yan smoothly took over and began his endless lecture.
Miraculously, the students in the class were all drawn in by his extensive knowledge.
Even Long Yaochen thoroughly made up for his lack of martial soul knowledge.
After all, he really had come from the mountains.
After school.
Outside Shrek Academy, the familiar fragrance of grilled fish drifted through the air once more.
Huo Yuhao skillfully turned the fish on the iron rack. Their golden skin curled slightly under the charcoal fire, while droplets of oil fell into the embers with a soft sizzling sound.
This was perhaps the most successful thing he had done since coming to Shrek. Every day, people lined up in long queues just to buy his grilled fish.
Especially after Old Tang arrived, he felt that his skill at grilling fish had reached the level of a Title Douluo.
But... what use was that?
Huo Yuhao tugged at the corner of his mouth and gave a self-mocking smile.
"Little Yuhao!"
A familiar voice rang out from not far away.
Tang Ya hurried over while pulling Bei Bei along, her eyes lighting up at once.
"Do you have any grilled fish left? Save two for me!"
Huo Yuhao raised his head and forced a smile.
"Sister Tang Ya, Senior Brother."
Bei Bei glanced at him and quickly noticed that something was off with his state.
"Yuhao, the class assignments and the list of core disciples should be out today, right?"
Hearing that, Tang Ya immediately reacted and said excitedly, "That's right! You were so outstanding yesterday. You must have become a core disciple, right?"
Huo Yuhao's movements paused slightly.
The charcoal fire reflected on his face, making his expression seem somewhat obscure. He lowered his voice. "More or less."
Tang Ya froze. "What do you mean, more or less?"
Huo Yuhao lowered his head and continued turning the fish, his voice very soft. "I am indeed a core disciple... but I'm in the Soul Tool Department, and it's only an observation slot."
The air suddenly fell silent for a moment.
Tang Ya's eyes widened, as if she could hardly believe what she had heard. "An observation slot? And in the Soul Tool Department?"
"How is that possible?!" Her voice rose sharply, drawing the attention of several students waiting nearby to buy grilled fish.
"You defeated Dai Huabin and the others yesterday morning! That was the Hell White Tiger! Even if you lost to that hateful Long Yaochen in the afternoon, they still can't refuse to make you a core disciple of the Martial Soul Department!"
Huo Yuhao said nothing and merely handed over the grilled fish he had finished cooking.
But Tang Ya did not take it, her face full of indignation.
"What does Shrek mean by this? Little Yuhao is from our Tang Sect! Bei Bei, go ask your Great-Grandfather Xuan. We can't just let this matter go!"
Bei Bei frowned but did not answer immediately.
Before his eyes flashed the sun-like, dazzling figure of Long Yaochen from yesterday's Soul Fighting Arena.
Although he also disliked Long Yaochen intensely, he had to admit that the other party's strength was such that, even if he had taken the field instead, the outcome likely would not have been much better.
Moreover, the strike with which Huo Yuhao had shattered the Hell White Tiger that morning had indeed been astonishing.
But at the same time, Bei Bei had not forgotten the scene at the end of the finals, when Huo Yuhao publicly defied Yan Shaozhe.
That was not simply refusing to accept defeat.
It could even be said that he had somewhat lost control.
The academy's decision not to place him on the Martial Soul Department's core disciple list was likely not only because of his Soul Power and Soul Rings.
Still, he ultimately could not say these things in front of Tang Ya and Huo Yuhao.
I haven't returned to the inner courtyard in a long time... I can take the chance to see how Senior Sister's injury is doing.
After a brief silence, Bei Bei finally nodded. "I'll find an opportunity to ask Great-Grandfather Xuan."
Only then did Tang Ya relax. Turning to comfort Huo Yuhao, she said, "Little Yuhao, don't lose heart. The Soul Tool Department is still the Soul Tool Department, and the observation slot is only temporary. Once Bei Bei finds out what happened, there may still be a turning point."
Huo Yuhao nodded without saying anything.
But he had already sneered several times inwardly.
A turning point?
With Long Yaochen, the person they treated like a treasure, around, what could possibly be left for him?
Was he supposed to beg Long Yaochen to toss him a few resources as charity?
"Sister Tang Ya, are Soul Tools really that powerful?"
After a moment of silence, Huo Yuhao asked.
"Although I really don't want to admit it..."
At the mention of Soul Tools, Tang Ya's mood sank somewhat, but she still explained:
"Soul Tools are indeed far more powerful than hidden weapons. They are something capable of changing the entire landscape of Soul Masters.
"Even auxiliary-type Soul Masters can possess considerable combat strength with Soul Tools.
"Even the legendary level-ten Soul Tools are said to possess the power to slay gods!"
"Slay gods..." Huo Yuhao murmured, a spark of hope igniting in his eyes.
Level ten... the power to slay gods?
I don't want to slay gods. I only want to shoot that sun—
Down from the sky!
Before you continue