Homeroom Teacher Zhou Yi

Shrek Academy's morning was awakened by the crisp toll of the dawn bell.

The sky was only just beginning to lighten. The first rays of sunlight crested over Sea God Lake and fell across the dormitory's white walls and dark-tiled roofs, gilding the scattered courtyards with a soft golden edge.

Soulbirds sang their morning songs in the woods. The air was fresh with the mingled scents of grass, trees, and Soul Power, lifting the spirits.

The little courtyard to the east was already brightly lit.

Huo Yuhao had risen early. Before dawn, he had sat cross-legged in the training room, circulating his Soul Power according to the cultivation method Gu Yuan had taught him.

A white-gold Soul Ring slowly revolved beneath his feet. His Soul Power, imbued with the ultimate Mental Attribute, flowed steadily through his meridians. With every circulation, it grew a little more refined.

In just a few short days, his life had changed beyond recognition. It all felt like an unreal dream.

"Don't be so tense."

Gu Yuan's voice came from the training room doorway. He walked in at an unhurried pace, looking like a twelve-year-old boy, though his calm eyes seemed to have seen through the ways of the world.

"You're only going to report to your class today. There's no need to be so nervous."

Huo Yuhao quickly stopped cultivating and stood up. His cheeks flushed slightly, and he scratched his head sheepishly. "Brother Yuan, I'm not nervous, just... a little excited. I never thought I'd really get to study at Shrek Academy."

His eyes sparkled, full of longing for the future.

A knowing look flashed through Gu Yuan's eyes. Of course he understood how Huo Yuhao felt. The boy had suffered too much since childhood; even the smallest glimmer of light could make him fight with all his might to seize it.

"Don't worry. As long as you're willing to work hard, you'll get the results you want."

Gu Yuan paused, then added, "But I should warn you ahead of time: our homeroom teacher, Zhou Yi, is known throughout Shrek Academy as a 'ruthless homeroom teacher.' Her teaching style is extremely strict—so strict, you could even call it harsh."

But rather than calling Zhou Yi harsh, it would be more accurate to call her a twisted sadist. If she were truly a good teacher, she wouldn't have been reassigned to teach first-year freshmen.

"With a teacher like her, no matter how harsh her words are, don't take them to heart, and don't talk back. We're students right now, after all. But if she goes too far, she should understand the weight the Douluo Hall carries."

It did sound a bit like throwing his weight around, but if you had useful resources and didn't use them, weren't you just asking for trouble?

Huo Yuhao quickly nodded, taking Gu Yuan's words firmly to heart. "I understand, Brother Yuan! I definitely won't bring shame on you or the Douluo Hall."

Though young, he understood people better than most. He knew that the only reason he had been able to enter Shrek Academy so smoothly was Brother Yuan and the recommendation letter from the Douluo Hall. If he performed poorly, he wouldn't just disgrace himself—he'd disgrace Brother Yuan and the Douluo Hall too.

Just then, Jin Ruiqiu's sweet voice called from outside the courtyard gate. "Yuhao! Are you two ready? We're going to be late!"

The two exchanged smiles and walked out of the training room.

At the courtyard gate, Gu Yuena stood holding Jin Ruiqiu's hand. She wore a moon-white dress, her silver hair loosely pinned up. The coolness of her features had softened in the morning light, and a faint aura of life surrounded her like a Snow Lotus blooming apart from the world.

Jin Ruiqiu wore a bright yellow little dress, her golden curls tied into two buns. The flower-shaped mark on her forehead was just visible. Her big golden eyes darted about, and every inch of her radiated liveliness and charm.

She was holding a little cloth bag packed with snacks she had bought in town the day before. A piece of candy was still in her mouth, her cheeks puffed out like a little squirrel stashing food.

"Qiu'er, how many times have I told you? Even if you love snacks, you need to have some restraint." Gu Yuena pinched her cheek helplessly and reached for the cloth bag.

Jin Ruiqiu immediately hid it behind her back and pouted. "I'm only bringing a tiny bit! I'll just keep it in my pocket. If class is tiring, I can have a snack during break~"

The "tiny bit" of snacks had already bulged the little bag out of shape. Just looking at it, anyone could tell how heavy it was.

As she spoke, she turned to Gu Yuan, her eyes pleading for help. "Brother Yuan~"

Gu Yuan smiled helplessly and waved to Gu Yuena. "Let her bring it."

He was completely powerless against Jin Ruiqiu's pleading. Who could say no to an adorable little daughter?

"Yay! Brother Yuan's the best!" Jin Ruiqiu immediately jumped up, happily kicking her short legs. She ran over to Huo Yuhao and tugged at his sleeve.

"Yuhao, what exactly is that second Soul Skill you told me about yesterday like? Could you show me after class?"

"Sure." Huo Yuhao smiled and nodded. He couldn't bring himself to refuse this sweet, charming little girl either.

The four chatted and laughed as they followed the stone path toward the freshman teaching building.

Shrek Academy was already bustling. Freshmen from all over the continent were streaming toward the teaching building.

The spirited boys and girls, their faces full of excitement and nerves, gathered in groups of two and three, talking about their upcoming class assignments and lessons.

The students they passed couldn't help glancing at the four.

Gu Yuan and Gu Yuena walked ahead. Though they were only twelve, they had a composure and presence far beyond their years: one gentle and perceptive, the other cool and otherworldly. Together, they drew every eye.

Behind them, Huo Yuhao and Jin Ruiqiu were just as striking in the crowd, one resilient and handsome, the other lively and charming.

More startling still, even though the four deliberately kept their auras in check, the effortless presence surrounding them made the students nearby hesitate to approach.

Some of the more perceptive Soul Masters could faintly sense that these four young-looking boys and girls concealed terrifying power within them.

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

"I don't know. I've never seen them before. But judging by their clothes and bearing, they must come from a major power."

The whispers reached Jin Ruiqiu's ears, and she couldn't help wrinkling her little nose.

The four had reached the first floor of the freshman teaching building. At the door of the classroom at the very end was a sign bearing the words "Freshman Class One."

The classroom door stood open, and many freshmen were already seated inside. Dozens of them filled the room.

The classroom was noisy as the freshmen introduced themselves and chatted, their faces full of excitement. Only a large stretch of seats at the front remained empty. No one dared sit there.

Everyone knew the first row was closest to the teacher. At an academy as strict as Shrek, no one wanted to stick their head into the line of fire.

Gu Yuan glanced around the classroom, then headed straight for the first row and took a seat in the middle.

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

The moment they sat down, the entire classroom grew much quieter.

Every freshman's gaze snapped toward the four, their eyes full of shock and confusion.

Whispers broke out around them again, but the four paid them no mind.

Gu Yuan leaned back in his chair and swept his gaze across the classroom, finally settling on the window-side seats at the back.

A pink-haired boy sat there. His features were so delicate he could have been mistaken for a girl, and his skin was fair, his brows and eyes picturesque. He frowned as he watched the four in the front row, his expression full of confusion.

Especially when he saw Huo Yuhao, his heart gave an involuntary little thump, and an inexplicable feeling rose within him.

The corner of Gu Yuan's mouth curled into a faint smile.

Those destined to meet would still find each other in the same classroom. But this time, without sharing a dorm and spending every day together, without the misunderstandings and squabbles of their first meeting, the tightly intertwined threads of fate had already branched apart.

Just then, heavy footsteps sounded from the far end of the corridor.

The footsteps were slow, but carried an immense pressure. Every step fell as though it were landing on everyone's heartbeat.

The noisy classroom fell so silent you could hear a pin drop. All the freshmen held their breath and stared nervously toward the door.

The next moment, a figure appeared in the doorway.

She was an old woman with white hair, dressed in a gray teacher's uniform washed pale with age. Wrinkles covered her face, and her back was hunched. She looked extremely old, yet her eyes were razor-sharp, like a hawk's, sweeping over every corner of the classroom.

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

She was Zhou Yi, the homeroom teacher of Freshman Class One and the most iron-blooded, strictest teacher in Shrek Academy.

Zhou Yi slowly walked into the classroom without a word. She simply stood at the lectern, her cold gaze sweeping over every student below.

Her gaze held no warmth. It scraped across their faces like a knife, and the classroom atmosphere plunged to freezing point. Even their breathing grew cautious.

For a full minute, Zhou Yi said nothing. She simply watched the freshmen below.

Many of them felt their skin crawl under her gaze, their palms slick with sweat. They sat ramrod straight, not daring to move a muscle.

Even Jin Ruiqiu, who feared nothing, quietly took the candy from her mouth and sat up straight. She stuck out her tongue and whispered to Huo Yuhao, "Teacher Zhou looks so scary..."

Huo Yuhao hurriedly gestured for her to be quiet, signaling that she shouldn't speak.

Zhou Yi finally spoke. Her voice was hoarse and aged, crashing into every freshman's heart like a heavy hammer.

"My name is Zhou Yi, and I'm the homeroom teacher of Freshman Class One. For the next year, I'll be responsible for all your basic courses and combat training."

"First, congratulations. You stood out from hundreds of thousands of candidates across the continent and made it through the gates of Shrek Academy. You're all geniuses among your peers."

Her tone suddenly shifted, turning icy. "But let me make one thing clear: coming here doesn't mean you can rest easy. At Shrek Academy, geniuses are a dime a dozen. Every year, enough geniuses are expelled to form a line all the way to the gates of Shrek City."

"My class has only one rule—those with ability rise, and the mediocre fall. My class has no use for trash."

Of those who passed Shrek's entrance tests, who hadn't been called a genius by others? In Gu Yuan's eyes, Zhou Yi was merely throwing her weight around and bullying this group of sheltered youths. Gu Yuena also frowned deeply, displeased by her words.

"Over the next year, my class will have a fifty percent elimination rate. That means only half of you sitting in this classroom now will still be in this class a year from now, advancing to the second year. The rest can pack their things and get the hell out of Shrek Academy."

The moment she said this, the classroom erupted.

A fifty percent elimination rate!

That was far more brutal than they had imagined! The faces of many freshmen turned deathly pale, and their anticipation gave way to anxiety.

At best, such a high elimination rate was a way to select outstanding students. In essence, though, it was raising Gu. They would compete relentlessly and cultivate themselves to the point of exhaustion just to advance. As the students' cultivation improved, the teachers would naturally gain a reputation for excellent instruction. Who cared about the reason behind it?

Zhou Yi rapped on the lectern, her sharp knocks bringing the noisy classroom back to silence. "What are you making such a fuss about? Instead of making a scene here, you'd be better off thinking about how not to get eliminated. There's only one rule in my class: strength. Without strength, even if you're a prince of the imperial family, I'll still kick you out."

As she said this, she abruptly changed tack once more. Her sharp gaze swept across the room, and her voice suddenly rose. "Now, my first question for you. Before reporting for school, did any of you get into a fight with someone in or around Shrek City?"

The classroom fell silent. The freshmen looked at one another, but no one dared speak.

Everyone knew that Shrek Academy encouraged practical combat but strictly forbade students from fighting among themselves. Getting into a fight during registration could mean anything from a demerit to expulsion.

Even the most unruly genius wouldn't dare stick their head into Zhou Yi's line of fire at a time like this.

After more than ten seconds of silence, all the freshmen shook their heads together and shouted in unison, "No!"

Their voices were perfectly synchronized, yet tinged with guilt.

Zhou Yi looked at the students below. Instead of looking satisfied, her expression darkened, a flash of undisguised displeasure in her eyes. She gave a heavy snort.

"None?" Zhou Yi's voice dripped with scorn, as if she were looking at a bunch of good-for-nothings.

"You're the top geniuses on the entire continent, people who will walk the path of Soul Masters in the future, and not one of you got into a fight before school started?"

"Let me tell you: Shrek Academy's motto has never been 'gentle, good, respectful, frugal, and yielding.' It's 'we only accept monsters, not ordinary people!'"

"What makes someone a monster? Not a bookworm who sits in a classroom, buries their nose in books, and cultivates Soul Power. A monster dares to fight, dares to struggle, has spirit and fangs like a wolf! If you don't even dare to fight, if you don't have the courage to strike, if you'll only cower when danger comes, what are you cultivating for? You might as well go home early and find somewhere to farm!"

"You're all as obedient as lambs. You don't even have the courage to fight, and I'm ashamed of every one of you!"

Zhou Yi's words lashed across every freshman's face like a whip. Many flushed red and lowered their heads. In the eyes of quite a few others, defiance flickered, but they dared not voice their anger.