In the classroom, Wang Yan stood at the podium, looking at the freshmen below as they chatted among themselves. A trace of helplessness crossed his face.
He was mild-mannered and wouldn't throw his weight around, much less use strong-arm tactics to cow the students like Zhou Yi did.
For a moment, he stood there, wanting to speak but stopping himself. The atmosphere was a little awkward.
Cao Longyan took it all in. Without the slightest hesitation, he stood up and bowed to Wang Yan.
"Everyone, quiet down."
His voice wasn't loud, but it carried an unquestionable authority.
Ever since the first day, when they'd seen him face off against Zhou Yi and display his overwhelming strength, as well as tailor his top-student plans to each person, the whole class had already been won over.
At his words, the classroom fell silent. The students all sat upright in their seats.
Cao Longyan's gaze swept across the class before settling on Wang Yan at the podium. Calmly, he said,
"From today on, Teacher Wang Yan will be our homeroom teacher... Let's welcome him."
With that, he was the first to clap.
Seeing this, the rest of the class joined in. The atmosphere grew warm in an instant.
Looking at the blue-haired boy before him, Wang Yan couldn't help but marvel inwardly.
So this was Cao Longyan, the class monitor of Freshman Class One, endorsed by Teacher Zhou Yi... He really was extraordinary... He was also the student Dean Yan and the others had repeatedly told him to keep a close eye on.
Not only was he powerful and exceptionally gifted, he was a born leader. Neither the geniuses of the Inner Court nor even the Later Generation Shrek Seven Devils—aside from the First Generation Shrek Seven Devils—could match his presence and prestige.
Wang Yan was grateful. He gave Cao Longyan a slight nod, then began his lecture.
Wang Yan's research into Martial Souls had long since reached its pinnacle.
He wasted no time on small talk. Instead, he brought out his real expertise, giving every student in the class a detailed, one-on-one analysis.
From the fundamental attributes of their Martial Souls to the most suitable ways to train, then on to their future paths of development—every point was precise, every recommendation spot-on.
Every student he analyzed wore an expression of shock and admiration.
"So my Martial Soul can be used like that!"
"Teacher Wang Yan is amazing! He saw right through my problem at a glance!"
"I feel like I can see my future so clearly!"
Only Cao Longyan remained calm throughout.
As a transmigrator, he already knew Wang Yan's abilities inside out.
This future leading authority on Martial Soul theory in Shrek Academy's outer Martial Soul Department really did have a terrifying gift for analyzing Martial Souls.
When Wang Yan got to Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, and Xiao Xiao, he paused, his tone turning serious.
"Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, Xiao Xiao, come to my office after class. There are a few things I need to confirm with you."
Cao Longyan's thoughts stirred.
He knew Wang Yan had probably noticed that their Martial Souls were unusual.
Huo Yuhao in particular. He'd already intercepted the Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion Martial Soul that Huo Yuhao had in the original story.
He was curious: without the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm and Ice Empress, what would Huo Yuhao's Second Martial Soul be? And what other secrets did Huo Yuhao hold...
At last, Wang Yan's gaze fell on Cao Longyan.
He shook his head slightly, a helpless smile on his face.
"Cao Longyan, your situation is far too special... With my abilities, I can't offer any useful analysis. Besides, Dean Yan and the others told me to let you walk your own path."
His words sent the class into an uproar.
Teacher Wang Yan had just shown them that his Martial Soul Theory was all but infallible, yet he'd been stumped by Cao Longyan!
"Whoa! The class monitor is incredible! Even Teacher Wang Yan can't analyze him!"
"Class monitor, this must be a first in Shrek's history!"
"The academy's never made a decision like this before!"
Wang Dong sat to the side, watching Cao Longyan bask in everyone's admiration again. She puffed out her cheeks and muttered under her breath,
"What's so great about him? He's showing off again... I'll catch up to him, just you wait!"
After all, she had Twin Martial Souls. The potential of Twin Martial Souls wasn't necessarily any lower than that of Cao Longyan's top-grade Ice Dragon King Martial Soul.
Cao Longyan only smiled faintly and paid it no mind.
The bell rang.
Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, and Xiao Xiao followed Wang Yan to his office.
Cao Longyan went along too.
He wanted to see Wang Yan's analysis. More than that, he wanted to clear up what had happened yesterday with Xiao Xiao as soon as possible.
He remembered Wang Dong's analysis from last night. The more he thought about it, the more plausible it seemed.
But as he stepped out of the classroom, he happened to run into Su Yao, who had just parted ways with Xiao Xiao.
As he passed Su Yao, Cao Longyan felt her gaze on him—full of anger, yet impossible for him to understand.
Wait, he didn't think he knew her. And he didn't think he had any grudge against her, either.
Her inexplicable hostility puzzled him, but he only frowned, didn't stop, and hurried to catch up with Wang Yan and the others.
Inside Wang Yan's office
Wang Yan closed the door and got straight to the point, without beating around the bush.
"Wang Dong, Xiao Xiao, you two have Twin Martial Souls, don't you?"
Both of them were startled. Their eyes widened, and their mouths fell open, then stayed that way.
Seeing their shocked reactions, Wang Yan became even more certain of his guess and continued,
"I watched the recording of your duel with Teacher Zhou Yi yesterday several times. Xiao Xiao, the flute you brought out at the end, and Wang Dong, the hammer you brought out, were Martial Souls, not Soul Tools. Although they had no Soul Rings, your Soul Power fluctuations—especially yours, Wang Dong—along with the fact that your second Soul Ring was a thousand years old and your physical constitution far surpassed ordinary people, all made it much more likely that you had Twin Martial Souls."
Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao recovered from their shock, realizing they couldn't hide it anymore.
This Teacher Wang Yan was amazing!
After a moment's hesitation, they both released their Second Martial Souls.
A flute, emerald green from end to end and inlaid with phoenix patterns, appeared in Xiao Xiao's hand. It was the Nine Phoenix Flute!
A short, pitch-black hammer crackling with black-and-blue lightning appeared in Wang Dong's hand. It was the Clear Sky Hammer!
Cao Longyan was slightly taken aback when he saw Xiao Xiao reveal the Nine Phoenix Flute Martial Soul without a Soul Ring.
He remembered that Xiao Xiao's Nine Phoenix Flute had originally had a Soul Ring, hadn't it?
Could his transmigration have triggered the butterfly effect and changed all this?
"This is the Nine Phoenix Flute and the Clear Sky Hammer! One is a rare, ancient artifact Martial Soul; the other was once the greatest artifact Martial Soul on the continent!"
Wang Yan couldn't help exclaiming.
Xiao Xiao and Wang Dong hadn't expected Teacher Wang Yan to recognize their Martial Souls at a glance.
Wang Yan's gaze then fell on Huo Yuhao.
His eyes were full of excitement and curiosity.
"Huo Yuhao, to be honest, I couldn't tell what your Martial Soul was from the footage of your duel with Teacher Zhou Yi... But I can sense that it's a rare spiritual-type Martial Soul. Would you show it to me?"
Huo Yuhao was also a little surprised. He chose not to hide it and directly released his Martial Soul, the Spirit Eye.
His pale-blue eyes radiated strange mental fluctuations.
"Teacher Wang Yan, my Martial Soul is the Spirit Eye. In other words, it's my eyes."
"So it's a rare and powerful Body Martial Soul!"
A glimmer of delight flashed through Wang Yan's eyes.
"Then are your Soul Skills related to the spiritual realm, too?"
Huo Yuhao nodded.
"My first Soul Skill is Spirit Detection. It can..."
Huo Yuhao's Soul Skill worked just as it did in the original story.
Seeing this, Wang Yan immediately gave the three of them a series of personalized training recommendations.
But Wang Dong and Huo Yuhao both looked hesitant.
Cao Longyan could understand Wang Dong's hesitation. She had powerful backing, after all, and her own training methods.
But Huo Yuhao had neither the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm nor Electrolux's cheat-like help. Why was he hesitating, too?
Had he found a new opportunity?
As expected of the child of destiny. Even after losing his greatest opportunity, he could find a new path on his own...
Cao Longyan thought to himself.
That settled it: he had to secure Huo Yuhao's allegiance ahead of time.
In the future, if he wanted to overthrow Tang San, he'd first need to make Huo Yuhao one of his most capable allies.
Even if he had to settle for less, he couldn't let Huo Yuhao end up on Tang San's side!
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