Instructor Zhou Yi

The morning at Shrek Academy was awakened by the crisp tolling of the morning bell.

As the sky just began to brighten, the first rays of the morning sun crossed the surface of Sea God Lake, spilling onto the white walls and dark tiles of the dormitory area, gilding the scattered courtyards with a soft, golden rim.

Soul birds sang their morning songs in the woods, and the air was filled with the refreshing scent of vegetation blended with soul power, making one feel relaxed and happy.

The small courtyard to the east was already brightly lit.

Huo Yuhao had risen early; before dawn, he was already sitting cross-legged in the cultivation room, circulating the soul power within his body according to the cultivation method Gu Yuan had taught him.

A white-gold soul ring revolved slowly beneath his feet, and his soul power, possessing the ultimate spirit attribute, flowed steadily through his meridians. With every full cycle, his soul power became a fraction more solid.

In just a few short days, his life had undergone a world-shaking transformation. All of this felt like an unreal dream.

"Don't be so tense."

Gu Yuan's voice came from the doorway of the cultivation room. He walked in slowly, appearing as a twelve-year-old boy, yet his brows and eyes carried a peace that seemed to see through the ways of the world.

"Today is just to report to class, no need to be so nervous."

Huo Yuhao quickly ceased his cultivation and stood up, his cheeks flushing slightly as he scratched his head in embarrassment: "Brother Yuan, I'm not nervous, just... a bit excited. I never imagined I could actually come to study at Shrek Academy."

His eyes were bright, filled with longing for the future.

A flash of understanding crossed Gu Yuan's eyes. He certainly knew Huo Yuhao's feelings; this child had suffered too much since he was young, and even the slightest bit of light was enough to make him give his all to grasp it.

"Rest assured, as long as you are willing to work hard, you will get the results you want."

Gu Yuan paused and added, "However, I must tell you in advance that our homeroom teacher, Zhou Yi, is Shrek Academy's notorious 'Iron-Blooded Homeroom Teacher.' Her teaching style is extremely strict, one could even say harsh."

But rather than calling Zhou Yi harsh, it would be more accurate to describe her as having a twisted psychology; if she were truly a virtuous educator, she wouldn't have been assigned to lead the first-year freshmen.

"Regarding such a teacher, no matter what harsh words she says, don't take them to heart, and don't talk back to her. After all, we are students now, but if she goes too far, she should be well aware of the weight of Douluo Hall."

Although it sounded a bit like bullying others by relying on one's status, why suffer needlessly when one has useful resources at hand?

Huo Yuhao nodded heavily, firmly engraving Gu Yuan's words in his heart: "I understand, Brother Yuan! I will definitely not bring shame to you or Douluo Hall."

Though young, he was well-versed in the ways of the world. He knew that his smooth entry into Shrek Academy was entirely due to the recommendation letters from Brother Yuan and Douluo Hall. If he performed poorly, he would lose not only his own face but also that of Brother Yuan and Douluo Hall.

Just then, Jin Ruiqiu's delicate, chirping voice came from outside the courtyard gate: "Yuhao! Are you two ready yet? We're going to be late!"

The two shared a smile and turned to walk out of the cultivation room.

At the courtyard entrance, Gu Yuena stood holding Jin Ruiqiu's hand. Gu Yuena wore a moon-white long dress, her silver hair tied up loosely. Her cold, clear brows and eyes softened somewhat in the morning light, and a faint aura of life lingered around her, like a snow lotus standing aloof from the world.

Jin Ruiqiu, on the other hand, wore a bright yellow dress, her golden curls tied into two buns. The flower-shaped mark on her forehead was faintly visible, and her large golden eyes darted around, her entire being radiating liveliness and charm.

She was carrying a small cloth bag filled with snacks bought when they entered the city yesterday. She had a candy in her mouth, her cheeks puffed out like a little squirrel hoarding food.

"Qiu'er, how many times have I told you, there must be a limit to our gluttony." Gu Yuena pinched her cheek helplessly and reached out to take the cloth bag from her.

Jin Ruiqiu immediately hid the bag behind her back, pouting and acting spoiled: "I'm only bringing a little bit, just to keep in my pocket! In case I get too tired during class, I can have a snack after class~"

The "little bit" of snacks in her mouth had already stretched the small bag out of shape; one could tell just by looking at its heavy weight.

As she spoke, she looked at Gu Yuan, her eyes filled with a plea for help: "Brother Yuan~"

Gu Yuan smiled helplessly and waved his hand at Gu Yuena: "Forget it, let her bring it."

Faced with Jin Ruiqiu's pouting, Gu Yuan couldn't resist at all. Who could refuse such a cute little girl?

"Yay! Brother Yuan is the best!" Jin Ruiqiu immediately jumped up, happily swinging her short legs, and ran to Huo Yuhao's side, tugging on his sleeve.

"Yuhao, what exactly was that second soul skill you mentioned yesterday? Can you demonstrate it for me after class?"

"Sure." Huo Yuhao nodded with a smile; he could never bring himself to refuse this cute little sister.

The four of them chatted and laughed as they walked along the stone path toward the freshman teaching building.

At this moment, Shrek Academy was already bustling with noise. Freshmen from all over the continent were converging on the teaching building.

The high-spirited boys and girls were filled with excitement and trepidation, gathering in twos and threes to discuss the upcoming class assignments and courses.

The gazes of the students passing by would involuntarily fall upon the four of them.

Gu Yuan and Gu Yuena, walking in front, were only twelve years old, yet they possessed a composure and presence far beyond their peers—one gentle and transparent, the other cold and ethereal. Standing together, they made it impossible for anyone to look away.

Following behind, Huo Yuhao and Jin Ruiqiu, one refined and resilient, the other charming and lively, were equally the most eye-catching presence in the crowd.

What was even more startling was that even though the four of them deliberately restrained their auras, the natural presence they exuded made the surrounding students afraid to approach easily.

Especially some keen-eyed soul masters could faintly sense that these four seemingly young boys and girls all harbored terrifying power within them.

"Who are these four? They look so impressive..."

"I don't know, never seen them before. But looking at their attire and their temperament, they must be from a major power."

The surrounding whispers reached their ears, and Jin Ruiqiu couldn't help but wrinkle her small nose.

The four had already reached the first floor of the freshman teaching building, at the door of the very last classroom, where the sign read "Freshman Class One."

The classroom door was wide open, and quite a few freshmen were already seated inside, a crowd of several dozen people.

The classroom was noisy, with freshmen getting to know each other and discussing, their faces full of excitement, except for the front row, which was left completely empty; no one dared to sit there.

After all, everyone knew that the first row was closest to the teacher, and in this Shrek Academy, known for its strictness, no one wanted to walk into the line of fire.

Gu Yuan scanned the classroom, walked straight toward the first row, and sat down in the middle seat.

Gu Yuena sat beside him naturally, while Huo Yuhao and Jin Ruiqiu followed suit, taking the seats next to them.

The moment they sat down, the entire classroom quieted down significantly.

The gazes of all the freshmen fell upon the four of them in unison, filled with shock and confusion.

Whispers erupted once more, yet the four of them remained completely indifferent.

Gu Yuan leaned back in his chair, his gaze sweeping across the classroom before finally landing on a seat by the window in the back row.

There sat a boy with short pink hair, his features as delicate as a girl's, his skin fair, and his brows and eyes picturesque. He was frowning as he looked at the four sitting in the front row, his eyes full of bewilderment.

Especially when he saw Huo Yuhao, his heart skipped a beat uncontrollably, and an inexplicable feeling welled up in his chest.

A faint smile curled the corners of Gu Yuan's mouth.

Those destined to meet would eventually cross paths in the same classroom. It was just that this time, without the shared days and nights of living in the same dormitory or the misunderstandings and scuffles of their first encounter, the tightly intertwined threads of fate had already diverged.

Just then, heavy footsteps echoed from the end of the corridor.

The footsteps were slow, yet carried an intense sense of oppression; each step felt as if it were landing directly on everyone's heartbeat.

The noisy classroom instantly fell silent enough to hear a pin drop. All the freshmen held their breath, looking toward the door with nervous anticipation.

The next second, a figure appeared at the classroom entrance.

It was an elderly woman with graying hair, wearing a washed-out gray teacher's uniform. Her face was covered in wrinkles and her back was hunched, making her look extremely old, yet her eyes were sharp as a hawk's, scanning every corner of the room.

Wherever her gaze fell, the freshmen subconsciously lowered their heads, not daring to meet her eyes.

She was Zhou Yi, the homeroom teacher of Freshman Class One, known as the most iron-fisted and strict teacher at Shrek Academy.

Zhou Yi walked slowly into the classroom. She didn't speak, simply standing on the podium, her icy gaze sweeping slowly over everyone in the room.

Her eyes held no warmth, scraping across everyone's face like a blade. The atmosphere in the classroom plummeted to freezing, and even the sound of breathing became cautious.

For a full minute, Zhou Yi didn't say a word, just quietly watching the freshmen below.

Many students felt their skin crawl under her gaze; their palms broke out in cold sweat, and they sat so straight they didn't even dare to move.

Even the fearless Jin Ruiqiu quietly tucked away the candy in her mouth, sat up straight, and stuck out her tongue, whispering to Huo Yuhao, "This Teacher Zhou looks so fierce..."

Huo Yuhao quickly made a shushing gesture, signaling her to be quiet.

Zhou Yi finally spoke, her voice hoarse and aged, striking the heart of every freshman like a heavy hammer.

"I am Zhou Yi, the homeroom teacher of Freshman Class One. For the next year, I will be responsible for all your foundational courses and combat training."

"First, I want to congratulate you. Being able to stand out from hundreds of thousands of candidates across the continent to step through the gates of Shrek Academy means you are all geniuses among your peers."

Her tone suddenly shifted, becoming cold and biting: "But I must tell you that arriving here does not mean you can rest easy. At Shrek Academy, geniuses have never been worth much. Every year, the number of geniuses eliminated here could line up all the way to the gates of Shrek City."

"My class has only one rule—the capable rise, the mediocre fall. My class has no need for trash."

Every student who passed the Shrek entrance exam was a genius in the eyes of others; to Gu Yuan, Zhou Yi's display of authority was merely her way of manipulating these naive youths, and Gu Yuena frowned in displeasure at her words.

"The elimination rate for my class over the next year is fifty percent. That is to say, of those sitting in this classroom now, only half will remain in this class a year from now to successfully advance to the second year. The rest will pack their bags and get out of Shrek Academy."

As soon as these words were spoken, the classroom erupted.

A fifty percent elimination rate!

This was far more brutal than they had imagined! The faces of many freshmen turned pale instantly, their anticipation replaced by trepidation.

Such a high elimination rate might be framed as selecting excellent students, but in essence, it was like raising venomous insects; they competed fiercely for advancement, cultivating with their lives, and the students' natural growth in power would eventually bolster the teacher's reputation for effective instruction. But who cared about the reasons behind it?

Zhou Yi tapped the podium coldly, the harsh sound restoring silence to the noisy room: "What are you clamoring about? Instead of making a fuss here, you'd better think about how not to get eliminated. In my class, there is only one criterion: strength. Without strength, even if you were a prince of an imperial royal family, I would still kick you out."

Having said this, her tone shifted sharply again, her piercing gaze sweeping the room once more as her voice rose: "Now, I will ask you the first question. Before reporting for the start of school, has anyone fought with others inside or outside Shrek City?"

The classroom was silent. All the freshmen looked at one another, no one daring to speak.

Everyone knew that while Shrek Academy valued combat, it strictly prohibited private fighting among students, especially during the enrollment period. Once discovered, the punishment ranged from a demerit to immediate expulsion.

Even the most rebellious genius dared not provoke Zhou Yi at such a time.

After a full ten seconds of silence, all the freshmen shook their heads in unison and shouted in one voice: "No!"

The sound was uniform yet carried a hint of guilt.

Seeing their reaction, Zhou Yi was not the least bit satisfied; instead, her expression darkened instantly, a flash of undisguised displeasure in her eyes as she snorted heavily.

"No?" Zhou Yi's voice was filled with mockery, as if looking at a pile of mud that couldn't be molded.

"You are all the top geniuses of the continent, people who will walk the path of a soul master in the future, and yet not a single one of you has fought anyone before school started?"

"Let me tell you, the motto of Shrek Academy has never been 'gentleness, kindness, respect, and frugality.' It only accepts monsters, not ordinary people!"

"What is a monster? It's not a bookworm who only knows how to sit in a classroom and study or cultivate soul power; it's a wolf that dares to fight, has guts, and possesses fangs! If you don't even dare to fight, if you don't even have the courage to strike, and if you only shrink back when encountering danger, why are you even cultivating? You might as well go home early and find a place to farm!"

"You are all as obedient as sheep, lacking even the courage to fight. I am truly ashamed for you!"

Zhou Yi's words lashed out like a whip against the faces of every freshman. Many flushed red and lowered their heads, while others showed defiance in their eyes, yet they dared not speak out.