Battle!!!

Lin Yan's words landed like a heavy hammer, smashing fiercely into the hearts of every student present.

Quite a few of them trembled with rage. When they looked at Zhou Yi, their eyes held not only disgust and hatred, but also a lingering fear they could barely conceal. If Lin Yan had not exposed her today, would they too have been ruined by Zhou Yi without ever understanding why in the future?!

At the same time, Huo Yuhao, seated in the front row, clenched his fists tightly, his face filled with shock. Beibei's earlier introduction of Zhou Yi—"high promotion rate" and "strict teaching"—flashed through his mind, sending a chill down his spine. He only had Soul Power at level 11. With Zhou Yi's temperament, would he not be expelled sooner or later?

"Brother Lin is right! Zhou Yi, besides threatening people with expulsion, what else can you do?"

With Lin Yan standing at the forefront, Little Fatty Chen Beixuan could no longer hold back. He shot to his feet. Though both his legs were trembling, he still forced himself to say, "Go ahead and expel me if you can! I never particularly wanted to come here to study anyway!"

Ye Liangchen hurriedly stood as well. Though his voice trembled slightly, every word was clear. "That's right! What gives you the right to curse at us whenever you want? What gives you the right to threaten us with expulsion? We came here to study, not to be threatened by you!"

With Little Fatty and Little Skinny taking the lead, several other students found their courage as well and indignantly echoed, "Let's go protest to the Academy! I refuse to believe the Academy will let someone like you run wild!"

"You don't deserve to be a teacher at all!"

"Zhou Yi, get the hell out!"

Listening to the growing chorus of agreement below the platform, then looking at Lin Yan's composed expression and his every word striking straight at the heart, Zhou Yi—

Her towering rage instantly clouded her mind, and she roared hysterically, "Rebellion! You've all rebelled!"

"Lin Yan! You have no respect for your teacher! You dare to defy me in public and slander me! Today, I'll cripple you no matter what!"

Before her words had even faded, the six soul rings beneath Zhou Yi's feet erupted with dazzling light, and overwhelming Soul Power swept across the entire room.

Her figure flashed as she lunged at Lin Yan like a mad dog, aiming straight for his dantian. She clearly truly intended to cripple his cultivation.

The students below cried out in alarm. Little Fatty and Little Skinny shouted anxiously, "Brother Lin, watch out!"

Facing Zhou Yi's sudden attack, Lin Yan's expression did not change. He swiftly shifted to the side, easily dodging her strike without even letting her touch the corner of his clothes.

Zhou Yi missed, becoming even more humiliated and enraged. Just as she was about to attack again, Lin Yan's icy voice stopped her.

"Zhou Yi!"

Lin Yan's voice rang out with resounding force, carrying an undeniable dominance.

"You once said that those who dared not cause trouble were mediocrities. Then today, I'll tell you what happens to those who stir up trouble recklessly and bully the weak with strength!"

His gaze burned as he stared directly at Zhou Yi's twisted, crazed face, his tone imposing. "This is a classroom. If you have the guts, come outside and fight me!"

After saying that, Lin Yan did not spare Zhou Yi another glance. He turned and walked toward the classroom door, the fiery aura around him growing hotter with every step.

Watching Lin Yan's upright back, Zhou Yi trembled with fury, her teeth grinding loudly as she roared and chased after him. "Good! Good! Good! Once I cripple you, let's see if you still dare act so arrogantly before me!"

Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, and the rest of the class were still stunned that Lin Yan had dared declare war on Zhou Yi. Seeing her chase outside, they all rose to their feet and hurried after them.

Lin Yan walked onto the field in front of the teaching building, stopped, and slowly turned around.

Facing the approaching Zhou Yi and the gathered students behind her, he took a deep breath, circulated all his Soul Power, and issued a challenge that boomed like thunder through the entire Shrek campus, reaching everyone's ears with perfect clarity:

"I am Lin Yan! Eleven years old, Soul Power level 32!"

"My martial soul is Emperor Flame—Ultimate Fire!"

"Today, because Zhou Yi is immoral, incompetent, tyrannical, and unjust, I hereby request a battle with her. I ask the Academy to approve it!"

That was right!

After absorbing his third soul ring and refining that Wither-Bloom Dragon Fire from before, his martial soul, Emperor Flame, had finally evolved once again!

Ultimate Fire!

This was the foundation of his absolute confidence that he could earn Shrek Academy's attention!

An ultimate attribute—especially Ultimate Fire—was simply too tempting for Shrek Academy, which was currently lacking in new talent and facing the watchful Sun Moon Empire, with another war possibly breaking out at any time!

After all, the Sea God Pavilion Master from four thousand years ago, who had commanded the three great empires, decisively defeated the Sun Moon Empire, and established Shrek Academy's current status as a "nation within a nation," possessed Ultimate Fire!

What was more, Ultimate Fire naturally countered Soul Tools. Under such extreme heat, countless Soul Tools would melt directly into molten metal!

As Lin Yan's voice echoed throughout Shrek Academy, the entire campus fell silent.

In the Academic Affairs Director's office, Du Weilun's expression changed drastically. He sprang up from behind his desk, his first thought being: Who dares make such a clamor here?!

No! Ultimate Fire?!

In the Spirit Department Dean's office, Yan Shaozhe abruptly rose to his feet as well.

In the Soul Tool Department Dean's office, Qian Duoduo and Xian Lin'er were equally stunned.

Within the experimental area, Fan Yu's expression suddenly changed.

In the Inner Courtyard on Sea God Island, Xuan Zi, who had been guiding students in combat practice, sharply raised his head. Ma Xiaotao, Ling Luochen, and the other Inner Courtyard students fighting ahead also stopped at the same moment, all looking toward the Outer Courtyard with shocked expressions.

Before the freshman dormitory building, Mu En, who had been dozing in a rattan chair, opened his clouded eyes as well.

For a moment, all of Shrek Academy's attention was firmly drawn by Lin Yan's declaration of war.

Seeing Zhou Yi chase outside, Lin Yan did not bother waiting for a response from Shrek's higher-ups.

The reason he had publicly exposed Zhou Yi's misdeeds and submitted a request to Shrek Academy was merely to give himself just cause and leave both sides a way out afterward.

That way, once he displayed his extraordinary potential and combat power later, with reason and evidence on his side, who would still care about a mere Zhou Yi?!

Zhou Yi rushed over at full speed, but after hearing Lin Yan's words, she abruptly halted and cried out in shock, "What! Ultimate Fire?!"

"Impossible! How could you possess Ultimate Fire?!"

At that moment, the urge to retreat instantly arose in Zhou Yi's heart. More than anyone, she understood that if Lin Yan truly possessed Ultimate Fire, he was not someone she could afford to offend.

But at this point, even if she wanted to retreat, it was already too late!

"Zhou Yi, fight me. Otherwise, get out of Shrek today."

Standing in the center of the field, Lin Yan's Emperor Flame surged around him. Nine-colored flames coiled about his body like lively dragons and serpents, and the extreme heat scorched the surrounding air until it warped and distorted.

Seeing Lin Yan's display, Zhou Yi's face darkened as violent fury churned within her.

Then another thought came to her. So what if it was Ultimate Fire?

She was a Soul Emperor now. Could she possibly lose despite being more than thirty levels above him?

Besides, she had already completely offended Lin Yan. If she allowed him to grow smoothly, how could Shrek possibly have a place for her in the future?!

With that thought, Zhou Yi hardened her heart, and malice rose within her.

That's right! Before the Academy's higher-ups arrived, before anyone could confirm whether Lin Yan truly possessed Ultimate Fire, she should simply cripple him—cripple his martial soul!

By then, the Academy would never act against her, an "outstanding" teacher, for the sake of a useless cripple whose claim might not even be true!