Zhou Yi

After breakfast, Beibei led Feng Tianyu to the Grade 1 Class 1 classroom. They hurried as fast as they could, but they were still too late.

They were late. They hadn't made it to the classroom before the bell rang.

By the time Beibei and Feng Tianyu reached the classroom door, a middle-aged woman in a pale moon-white robe was already standing at the lectern, stern-faced and cold-eyed, lecturing the other students.

Beibei grimaced. He clearly knew this middle-aged woman. Her name was Zhou Yi, and at the academy she was known as a demon teacher. She was famous for her high-pressure teaching style.

Although her students' promotion rate was high every year, that was only because she expelled every student who lacked talent.

To a certain extent, she was the ultimate embodiment of Shrek Academy's elite education. She had learned the very essence of its teaching methods inside and out!

Shrek Academy only accepted monsters, not ordinary people. Most geniuses worthy of being called monsters would become powerful as long as they didn't die young.

Then Shrek Academy could shamelessly claim that those powerful people had grown strong only because of the academy's training.

And so, a virtuous cycle took shape!

The more geniuses they recruited, the more powerhouses they trained. The more powerhouses they trained, the more geniuses they could attract!

Zhou Yi was far too shrewd. She had learned the essence of Shrek Academy: just expel the underachievers, and the remaining top students would make the promotion rate look spectacular.

At the classroom door!

Beibei glanced at Feng Tianyu. He was older, so if someone had to get scolded, he would take the hit.

"Reporting in!"

Beibei announced their arrival, but Zhou Yi acted as if she hadn't heard him and continued lecturing the students below.

The students didn't dare even raise their heads. Some looked sympathetic, while others seemed to be enjoying the show. They had all experienced Zhou Yi's terrifying ways.

At that moment, they knew only that the two latecomers were in for trouble.

Three minutes, five minutes, ten minutes!

Every minute dragged on like an hour. For a full ten minutes, Zhou Yi ignored Beibei and Feng Tianyu at the door.

Feng Tianyu's sword-like brows knitted together. It was only his first day of class, and the teacher had already given him a harsh lesson. The next few years were probably going to be rough.

Beibei caught sight of Feng Tianyu's frown from the corner of his eye. He knew he couldn't stay silent any longer. Drawing a deep breath, he spoke up again, louder this time.

"Reporting in!"

"Sorry, Teacher Zhou. We're late!"

As if Beibei's voice had annoyed her, Zhou Yi stopped lecturing and glared over, her eyes like knives. Her voice was as cold as the ice of the Extreme North.

"What are you making all that noise for?"

"You two transfer students who got in through connections should know how lucky you are to be studying in my class!"

"And yet you're late. Are you showing contempt for me or for Shrek Academy? Don't think that having connections gives you the right to do whatever you please!"

"I, Zhou Yi, don't care about connections. No matter who's backing you, if you get on my bad side, I'll have you expelled from Shrek Academy!"

"Even if the Heavenly King himself came today, you two still wouldn't be allowed into the classroom. I don't need late students in my class!"

Her stern tone made it sound as if Beibei and Feng Tianyu had committed some heinous crime!

They were being harshly reprimanded and threatened with expulsion just for being late on their first day. Zhou Yi was throwing her weight around at two children, and she did it with plenty of swagger!

Beibei's eyes reddened. After all, he was only ten. He had grown up doted on by Mu En, with Zhang Lexuan always ready to grant his every wish. When had he ever been scolded like this?

He gritted his teeth, his body trembling faintly despite himself, but he forced himself not to talk back.

Seeing this, Feng Tianyu couldn't let Beibei take the blame alone. He stepped forward and spoke in a clear voice.

"Teacher, I'll take responsibility for my own actions!"

"It was because people crowded around to look at my Mutated External Martial Soul in the dormitory that I got delayed and couldn't reach the classroom on time!"

"If someone has to be punished, punish me alone. Don't let Beibei suffer for my sake!"

Beibei's eyes were red as he tugged Feng Tianyu back.

"Tianyu, we're roommates. If she won't let us into the classroom, then she won't let us in. Don't talk about dragging me into this!"

As Beibei and Feng Tianyu tugged at each other, Zhou Yi strode to the door in her high heels. That was when she noticed the large gray wolf standing upright outside with them.

A Mutated External Martial Soul?!

The thought flashed through Zhou Yi's mind. She looked again at Feng Tianyu's face. He seemed only six or seven years old, yet at such a young age he had been specially admitted to Shrek Academy as a transfer student.

What did that mean?

Zhou Yi wasn't a fool. It took her only a moment to realize that Feng Tianyu must have extraordinary talent. He was also a promising candidate with a chance of entering the Inner Court one day!

At first, Zhou Yi had assumed that the two transfer students assigned to her class were noble scions with powerful connections, sent there to gild their reputations.

But it seemed that wasn't the case.

These two children seemed worthy of receiving instruction from her, Zhou Yi.

But Zhou Yi's high-pressure teaching style required her to maintain her authority at all times. She had to suppress her students in every way, ensuring they wouldn't dare resist and would obediently follow her instructions and run drills.

Zhou Yi's face was cold, and her eyes were as gloomy as a freezing pool. Her voice was so cold it seemed water would turn to ice.

"I haven't said I forgive you, and already you're trying to take the blame for each other!"

"My word is final. Neither of you will enter the classroom today. You'll stay outside and learn your lesson!"

"Not everyone is qualified to learn from me, Zhou Yi. Whether you can stay will depend on how you perform!"

Then Zhou Yi pointed at Grey Wolf.

"If that thing is your Martial Soul, why don't you put it back inside you? Why summon it and parade it around?"

"Letting people crowd around you in the dormitory and drawing attention at the academy—does that make you feel especially accomplished?"

"You're so young, and you're already going astray. Do you enjoy the feeling of having all eyes on you that your Mutated External Martial Soul brings?"

"If you like showing off and making a spectacle of yourself, then quit those bad habits at once if you want to study in my class!"

"Put away your Martial Soul immediately. With a record like yours, I'll apply to the academy to have you expelled!"

Zhou Yi's presence was imposing. As Shrek Academy's notorious iron-fisted rose, she had always ruled her class with an iron fist. Her domineering nature and unquestionable tone pressed down on Feng Tianyu's shoulders like a mountain.

Feng Tianyu knitted his sword-like brows, his small face tense. Even under immense pressure, he firmly shook his head.

"No!"

"I promised Grey Wolf I'd give him his freedom. I won't lock him inside my body without his permission!"

"He's my partner and comrade-in-arms. I summoned him because I respect him, not to show off!"

Feng Tianyu's refusal made Zhou Yi feel that her authority had been challenged. Even though he had explained himself, it did nothing to dispel her anger. Her voice rose eight degrees.

"You're going to disobey my orders?"

As Zhou Yi roared in fury, the students in the classroom craned their necks to look over, excitement showing on their faces. They genuinely admired Feng Tianyu.

He actually dared to disobey that old woman's orders! The students cheered him on in their hearts, and some even gave him a thumbs-up.

Looking down at Feng Tianyu, Zhou Yi glared viciously. A powerful aura burst from her body, and red light surged out, condensing into a red dragon behind her.

Yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black—the five Soul Rings, the optimal configuration, rose one by one from beneath her feet. The terrifying pressure of a Soul King crashed down on Feng Tianyu's shoulders.

A Soul King in her thirties bullying a tiny six-year-old Soul Master—only Zhou Yi would do such a thing.

Today, she was determined to establish who was superior and make the little brat in front of her bow his head.

Zhou Yi issued her naked threat.

"I'm not listening to your explanation. I'll ask you one more time: are you putting that thing away or not?"

"If you disobey my orders, I'll apply to the academy to have you expelled from Shrek Academy immediately, and you'll lose the chance to study here forever!"