Huo Yuhao ran while laughing like a child who had just found candy:
"Hehe... haha..."
His laughter echoed across the morning plaza, strangely infectious.
The other students all glanced his way, their eyes conveying the same thought:
Is this guy really mentally sound?
Huo Yuhao did not care what others thought.
As he ran, he happily calculated in his heart:
Two top-grade rare Soul Bones!!!
One left leg bone and one right leg bone!
Both were things others could only dream of obtaining!
If he absorbed them now, would he not be able to run even faster?
His eyes lit up, and he immediately called out to the system in his mind:
"Jiahao System, I want to absorb these two Soul Bones!"
[Top-grade rare Soul Bones, host beginning absorption!]
Before the words had even faded, two golden chicken-claw-shaped leg bones appeared out of thin air. They streaked through the air as beams of light, one left and one right, and flew straight into Huo Yuhao's legs!
Huo Yuhao shuddered all over as his legs instantly felt as though two scorching currents had been injected into them.
Below the teaching building.
Zhou Yi stood with her hands behind her back, her sharp gaze fixed on the students running across the plaza.
Suddenly, she frowned.
That Huo Yuhao...
She noticed a faint, unusual aura fluctuating around Huo Yuhao's legs.
That was not what ordinary Soul Power should feel like.
Zhou Yi narrowed her eyes.
Could it be... Soul Bones?
And more than one?
Two Soul Bones at such a young age?
She rapidly calculated in her mind. Anyone who could possess Soul Bones at that age was most likely backed by a major power.
No matter which possibility it was, it pointed to one thing:
This kid was not simple.
Zhou Yi had originally planned to use the excuse that he could not finish two hundred laps to expel this troublemaker directly.
But now, she smiled.
Those who dared not cause trouble were mediocre.
My judgment was right after all.
Huo Yuhao was a little monster.
This year's promotion rate would depend on him!
She could just expel everyone else!
On the plaza.
Huo Yuhao grew more excited the longer he ran.
The heat brought by the two Soul Bones surged back and forth through his legs.
Try the Soul Skill?
With a thought, he tried to understand his Soul Bone skill:
A strange sensation came from his legs.
The skill's name surfaced in his mind:
[Chicken You Are Too Beautiful]
Huo Yuhao: "???"
What the hell was that?
Chicken You Are Too Beautiful?
What kind of ridiculous Soul Skill name was that?!
He sensed the information in his mind: a buff-type plus control-type Soul Skill.
In that case, he might as well give it a try!
He could buff himself and finish these two hundred laps!
Huo Yuhao took a deep breath and shouted in a low voice:
"Chicken Claw Leg Bone Spirit Bone Skill, Chicken You Are Too Beautiful!"
The Soul Skill activated.
The Soul Bones in his legs instantly erupted with a bizarre power, making his body begin to move uncontrollably.
Faint background music seemed to echo through the air:
"Seeing you walk toward me makes my heart stir~"
Huo Yuhao subconsciously performed several between-the-legs dribbling moves.
"Chicken You Are Too Beautiful~"
"Chicken You Are Too Beautiful~"
He began doing the bizarre Iron Mountain Lean, swaying left and right with unbelievable smoothness.
All the students were stunned.
They stared at Huo Yuhao with their mouths wide enough to fit an egg.
As Huo Yuhao danced, he observed his surroundings, and his eyes lit up.
It really was a control-type Soul Skill!
It was powerful!
It had controlled so many people!
On the field, over a hundred people had all been forcibly rooted in place, staring blankly as Huo Yuhao danced to his heart's content alone in the middle of the plaza.
Running laps was naturally no challenge for Wang Dong'er.
Although she was usually somewhat lazy, her physical fitness was genuinely excellent. She ran like a light butterfly, and her breathing barely became uneven.
Lin Ye had initially worried that he might struggle to finish.
But after his Martial Soul evolved into a lotus, all his physical abilities had improved. His whole body felt incredibly light.
More than twenty students had fallen behind at the rear.
Among them was Huo Yuhao.
He had started out running fiercely, charging ahead with the excitement of someone pumped full of adrenaline.
But after more than twenty laps, his stamina began to plummet off a cliff.
He had also danced in the middle, wasting quite a bit of time and energy.
Among those who had fallen behind with him, several had been delayed after being forcibly controlled by his Soul Skill.
They had stood there watching him dance "Chicken You Are Too Beautiful" for ages, and by the time they came to their senses, the main group had already left them several laps behind.
As they ran, this group cursed inwardly: Huo Yuhao, how are you going to repay what you owe us?!
Time passed quickly.
The main group gradually completed their laps, each of them collapsing near the finish line and gasping for breath.
Yet none of the twenty-odd students had finished.
The boys punished with one hundred and fifty laps looked ashen, still far from their goal.
As for Huo Yuhao...
Out of two hundred laps, he had only run a little over ninety.
The moment time ran out, Huo Yuhao's legs gave way, and he fell to the ground with a thud.
He lay sprawled on all fours, drenched in sweat and still gasping for air.
He looked as pathetic as a dog that had just been dragged out of a mud pit.
Huo Yuhao lay on the ground, panting heavily.
What should I do... I did not even finish one hundred laps...
But I, Huo Yuhao, am the child of fortune!
I definitely will not be expelled!
He struggled to his feet. His legs were still trembling, but his back remained straight.
Time was up.
Zhou Yi turned toward the students expressionlessly and spoke flatly:
"Those whose names I call, step forward. Cheng Cheng, Qiu Jianrao, Tang Dao, Shangguan Chentian, Lin Zeyu, Zhuge Yun, Tai Long, Tang Ling, Yun Xiaopiao..."
The students whose names had been called stepped forward one after another, their faces still filled with confusion.
Zhou Yi's tone was calm:
"You may return to pack your belongings and leave the academy. From this moment on, you are no longer students of Shrek Academy."
"What?!"
The students, whose bodies were still exhausted from running, were instantly shocked. The others broke into an uproar as well.
"Teacher, why?"
A tall youth named Tai Long stepped forward, his face full of anger.
He was one of the first to finish the laps and believed his performance had been flawless.
Zhou Yi swept a cold glance over him.
"Shrek Academy does not need students who cut corners. Those with strength but without upright hearts will only bring disaster to any nation once they are trained into talents."
"Tai Long, tell me yourself. Did you really run one hundred laps?"
Tai Long craned his neck. "Of course I did!"
Zhou Yi smiled.
That smile was more chilling than if she had not smiled at all.
"One hundred laps? If I remember correctly, I had not yet arrived at the plaza when the run began. You strolled leisurely for two laps, only starting to follow once the leaders had reached their fifth lap."
"You ran ninety-seven laps, not one hundred."
Tai Long's face turned bright red.
He had never imagined that Zhou Yi, who had not even appeared on the field at the beginning, could describe his corner-cutting as clearly as though she had witnessed it herself.
"B-But... even if I ran a few fewer laps, you cannot expel me over that!"
Zhou Yi snorted disdainfully. "I already gave you the reason. You are not worthy of being a student of Shrek Academy. Pack your things and get lost."
Tai Long was completely dumbfounded.
With his strength, running one hundred laps had been no problem at all. His cultivation could even rank among the best in the class.
Yet he was being eliminated just like that?
Zhou Yi looked toward the other students, her tone remaining calm.
"I have a bad temper, but I always keep my word."
"You nine all cut corners during the run and failed to complete one hundred laps."
Her gaze shifted toward another group.
"You few failed to complete one hundred and fifty laps."
Finally, she looked toward the group around Huo Yuhao.
"And you few did not even finish one hundred laps."
"If you are dissatisfied, you may report me to the Academic Affairs Office."
"But for now, you may leave."
The students who had been delayed by Huo Yuhao's "Chicken You Are Too Beautiful" control skill had all reddened eyes.
Killing intent filled the air.
Huo Yuhao, how are you going to repay us for screwing us over?!
Before you continue