First Show of Brilliance

Cao Longyan slowly stood up.

There was no arrogance, no defiance. First, he inclined his head slightly toward Zhou Yi at the front of the classroom, his manner respectful but not servile.

"Teacher Zhou, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to offend you. I just don't agree with your approach."

His words were both courteous and edged, and the entire room fell silent.

Even Zhou Yi was taken aback.

This wasn't quite what she'd imagined...

With her usual temper, anyone who dared speak to her like that in class would have been crushed beneath her Soul Power and told to shut up.

But when she met Cao Longyan's calm, fathomless blue eyes, she found herself—unusually—holding back her anger. She spoke coldly, but with patience.

"Oh? Then tell me, what exactly is wrong with my approach?"

The new students around them were utterly dumbfounded. Their eyes widened, and their mouths hung open, as if they'd forgotten how to close them.

That was the infamous Teacher Zhou, the devil teacher! Rumor had it she had a fierce temper, was extremely strict with her students, and would expel them at the drop of a hat. Yet now she was patiently listening to a new student make his case?

Was the person standing at the front really the Zhou Yi they'd heard about?

Cao Longyan stood ramrod straight, his gaze never leaving Zhou Yi. His voice was cool, but not unpleasant.

"There's nothing wrong with holding students to high standards and tempering their character. Shrek keeps only the strong, and I agree with that."

"But threatening to 'expel' us at every turn and using one-size-fits-all punishments to force everyone into line, without giving new students a chance to adjust or correct their mistakes—that's wrong."

"Besides, Soul Masters from different disciplines have different levels of physical fitness, and Soul Masters at different cultivation levels do too. Holding all of them to the same standard is also wrong!"

Zhou Yi raised an eyebrow, growing more curious by the moment.

"Go on."

"When new students first arrive at Shrek, they're still finding their footing and haven't gotten used to their surroundings. To ruthlessly punish them for some trivial, supposed mistake isn't teaching. It's bullying—using strength to oppress the weak."

Cao Longyan met her gaze calmly.

"What's more, you're teaching first-year students here instead of continuing to teach third-years. You should know better than anyone why that is..."

That last remark was practically a slap in the face.

Zhou Yi froze, her pupils suddenly contracting. A chill washed through her.

The whole class drew a sharp breath. No one had imagined Cao Longyan would be this bold!

Still, they admired him for daring to stand up to the devil teacher... because they didn't dare. At least, they could never have said it to her face like Cao Longyan had.

Zhou Yi stared at him for a moment, then suddenly smiled. There was a hint of amusement in her expression, and a hint of challenge.

"You've got some nerve, kid... All right, I'll give you a chance. If you can last one incense stick against me, I'll change my approach."

"But I'll use only Soul Power and Soul Skills at your cultivation level. That should be fair, right? I wouldn't want people saying I bullied a child."

Everyone was sure Cao Longyan would refuse.

His opponent was a Six-Ring Soul Emperor. Even if they had the same Soul Power and could use the same Soul Skills, her combat experience and technique were far beyond what a bunch of eleven- and twelve-year-old new students could withstand.

But Cao Longyan merely smiled and nodded, answering without hesitation.

"All right. I accept."

The whole class erupted in an uproar. They couldn't believe Cao Longyan had actually agreed.

Zhou Yi gave him a long look, then said no more. She simply called out to the class.

"Everyone, assemble at Shrek Square!"

With that, she turned and strode out of the classroom.

Cao Longyan followed right behind her.

Wang Dong and Huo Yuhao froze for half a second before snapping out of it. They hurried after him and grabbed him, one on either side.

"Cao Longyan, have you lost your mind? She's a Soul Emperor!"

Wang Dong was so frantic her voice had changed.

Huo Yuhao looked just as worried.

"Longyan, it's too dangerous. How about... the three of us fight her together? At worst, we'll all be punished."

They had already made up their minds to stand together, come what may.

Cao Longyan patted their shoulders. He only smiled without a word, then gently shook his head, declining their offer.

The students around them watched his retreating figure. Beyond their shock, all they could do was sigh. A few even wore the look of people watching a clown.

Shrek Square

Zhou Yi and Cao Longyan stood facing each other. She took an incense stick and a small censer from her Soul Tool, set the incense in the censer, then used her Soul Power to control it and lower it slowly in front of the class, with Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong at the head.

"Ready?"

"Anytime," Cao Longyan replied coolly.

Zhou Yi flicked a finger, and the incense caught fire.

At that very moment, Soul Power burst from Cao Longyan.

"Hum—"

The phantom of the Ice Dragon King Martial Soul appeared behind him, his entire body wreathed in icy blue energy.

The next instant, three pitch-black Ten Thousand Year Soul Rings rose slowly from beneath his feet, arranged in a neat row, their profound light striking fear into the heart.

"Ten Thousand Year Soul Rings?! Three of them?!"

"An eleven- or twelve-year-old Three-Ring Soul Elder?!"

Someone cried out in shock.

And the most terrifying part was yet to come.

The freezing chill of Ultimate Ice swept across the square, turning the air white with mist.

The Ice Dragon King's bloodline pressure spread invisibly. Several new students with Beast Martial Souls felt their legs give way and nearly fell to their knees.

The square fell completely silent. Only heavy breathing could be heard.

Zhou Yi's pupils contracted.

Ultimate Ice?! A True Dragon Martial Soul?! Three Ten Thousand Year Soul Rings?!

And his Soul Power seemed close to level forty!

At last, she understood. This wasn't an ordinary new student at all. He was a complete and utter monster!

When had the academy taken in a monster like this?!

She didn't dare be careless for even a moment. She focused every ounce of her attention, using only her first three Soul Skills and Soul Power at the Soul Elder level as she pressed toward Cao Longyan.

Even with their Soul Power equalized, her Soul Emperor combat technique, experience, and control over her Soul Power far outstripped those of the new students.

Yet Cao Longyan handled her with complete ease.

"First Soul Skill, Ice Dragon King Storm!"

"Second Soul Skill, Ice Dragon King Breath!"

"Third Soul Skill, Ten Thousand Mile Ice Seal!"

"Self-Created Soul Skill, Wrath of the Ice Dragon King!"

With just these four moves, Cao Longyan easily handled Zhou Yi's attacks. He hadn't even used the power of the Ice Empress, Sky Dream Ice Silkworm, or Electrolux, nor had he used his three top-quality Soul Bones.

If they knew he still had so many trump cards up his sleeve, would the other students lose all hope? Would Zhou Yi start questioning her whole life?

Under everyone's anxious gaze, the incense slowly burned down.

When the last spark died, the square erupted.

"He... He really lasted?!"

"A Three-Ring Soul Elder withstood a Soul Emperor's three Soul Skills? Is he even human?"

"Three Ten Thousand Year Soul Rings... Ultimate Ice... a True Dragon Martial Soul..."

Zhou Yi drew a deep breath, withdrew her Soul Power, and looked at Cao Longyan with a completely different expression. A clear smile touched her face.

"Good. I lost, and I'll honor our wager. Starting today, I'll change my approach."

What had happened so far was already shocking enough.

But Cao Longyan's next words took an unexpected turn and left everyone stunned again.

"Teacher Zhou, running laps is still necessary for training. You just don't need to condemn everyone with a single stroke."

"Anyone who fails can have it recorded. Expel them only after three infractions, and give new students room to adjust and learn from their mistakes."

He paused, then glanced at the students, whose faces were alight with anticipation, and spoke coolly.

"If someone doesn't want to run, they can do what I did: last one incense stick under your attacks, and they'll be exempt. It's fair and voluntary. No one's being forced."

Zhou Yi's eyes lit up at his words.

It kept the strictness while showing compassion. Shrek would still maintain its high standards without seeming cold and heartless.

For a moment, she even felt ashamed. She'd taught for so many years, yet a child saw things more clearly than she did. What had she been doing all this time...

"Good idea. We'll do it your way."

Zhou Yi looked at the students beside her, sparks practically flying from their eyes, then turned back to Cao Longyan. Her admiration for him nearly overflowed.

He was exactly the class monitor she wanted!

Among the crowd stood a petite figure with green hair. Her cheeks were flushed, and her gaze never left Cao Longyan, though he hadn't noticed her.