"Elder Mu," Song Yunzhi, the other veteran seated beside him—a Rank 97 agility-type Super Douluo whose Martial Soul was the Green Shadow Divine Eagle—spoke in a slightly hoarse voice. "Are you saying... just a wisp of his aura was enough to make your Martial Soul feel fear?"
Mu En nodded slowly. A grave look flashed through his cloudy eyes. "His Martial Soul may already have surpassed our understanding of Martial Souls. It should even be above Di Tian's."
"Elder Mu, should I go test him?" Xuan Zi had his mouth hanging open. He hadn't even noticed that his wine gourd had tilted sideways. His Martial Soul, the Godly Taotie Bull, possessed Taotie blood. Once he summoned it, his bloodline was even superior to Di Tian's.
"There's no need, and you don't need to keep guessing," Mu En said, lightly tapping the armrest of his recliner and drawing everyone's attention back to him. "No matter where he came from, there's no doubt that he's human. Everyone has their own opportunities and secrets. This is also an opportunity for Shrek Academy."
"I told you all this not so you'd immediately try to win that boy over. Since he came to Shrek Academy, it means he has a favorable impression of the academy. Too much attention might have the opposite effect. Shaozhe, put all the information on this child under seal. No one may access it without the Sea God Pavilion Meeting's approval."
"Yes, Teacher. Before coming here, I had already sealed the information." Yan Shaozhe stood and replied.
"Good." Mu En nodded in satisfaction. "As for how to cultivate him..."
His gaze swept over the veteran elders one by one. "This child is only twelve and has already reached Rank 35. For now, there's no need to interfere too much. Shaozhe, Xuan Zi, neither of you needs to investigate him. Just observe him discreetly for now."
"But we can't do nothing, either. I suggest we change the reward for this year's freshman assessment—to a Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone of good quality from the academy's inventory." Mu En spoke slowly.
It was a call for a show of hands. Seeing Mu En raise his hand in approval, everyone present raised theirs as well.
"Then it's settled. Shaozhe, take care of the follow-up and let the children return to their regular studies."
"Yes, Teacher." Yan Shaozhe nodded.
"If there's nothing else, we'll leave it at that. Unless something special comes up, don't go near that child."
As Mu En's final words fell in the Sea God Pavilion's meeting hall, the veteran elders rose one after another. Yan Shaozhe bowed respectfully and was the first to leave, going to arrange the details. Xuan Zi picked up his long-tilted wine gourd and took a swig. He smacked his lips, apparently still turning something over in his mind, then staggered out.
Freshman Class One. After Zhou Yi was taken away by a healing-type Soul Master, Du Weilun came to the classroom.
"Students, I'm your dean of studies, Du Weilun. Teacher Zhou Yi has a chronic ailment, so she won't be able to continue as your homeroom teacher. From now on, Teacher Wang Yan will be the homeroom teacher for Freshman Class One." Du Weilun walked up to the podium and spoke without changing his expression.
A wave of whispers filled the classroom.
"An ailment? What kind of ailment suddenly flares up in the middle of class? And wasn't Teacher Zhou's Martial Soul shattered?"
"Didn't you see what she looked like? She was sprawled on the ground, unable to get up, and she even vomited blood."
"Wasn't she just intimidated by Lin Shuo? When Lin Shuo released his Martial Soul, I couldn't summon mine at all."
"Shh, don't say that. Director Du Weilun said it was an ailment."
The freshmen chatted and whispered among themselves. Some of them kept sneaking glances toward Lin Shuo's seat. They had all seen him release his Martial Soul. That overwhelming pressure and those three Ten Thousand Year Soul Rings were no illusion.
Lin Shuo sat there with his chin propped in both hands, his expression calm, as if they weren't talking about him. Sunlight streamed in through the window and fell across him, casting a faint, seven-colored sheen over his jet-black hair.
"Ahem. You're all outstanding students from various countries, so you should understand what I'm saying. If the school finds out that rumors are being spread on or off campus, the academy will deal with it severely and show no leniency." Hearing the discussion below, Du Weilun warned them sternly.
Wang Dong'er folded her arms across her chest. Her short pink-blue hair swayed gently as she turned her head. She stared at Lin Shuo's profile, her lips moving as if she wanted to say something, but then she held it back. Anyone with eyes could tell the academy had no intention of dealing with Lin Shuo at all. And she'd been worrying about that big idiot for nothing.
She remembered how Lin Shuo had pinned her to the ground with one hand outside the dormitory that day.
"Hmph." Wang Dong'er looked away and muttered under her breath, "One of these days, I'll make you call me Big Sis Dong'er."
Sitting beside her, Huo Yu'er heard the mutter and couldn't help smiling. She didn't have as many thoughts as Wang Dong'er. She only knew that Big Brother Lin was a good person who treated her well. As long as nothing happened to Big Brother Lin, that was all that mattered. She didn't care about anything else.
Du Weilun saw Wang Yan waiting at the door and cleared his throat. "All right. Teacher Wang is here. He'll be teaching you from now on. Everyone, remember what I just said."
After Du Weilun left, Wang Yan walked up to the podium. He looked to be around forty, with an ordinary appearance, a smiling face, and the air of a scholar. He'd been in his office when he was suddenly informed that Zhou Yi was unwell and that he'd be taking over as the Freshman Class One teacher, so he'd hurried over.
"Hello, everyone. I'm Wang Yan, and I'll be your homeroom teacher from now on. We won't be covering Martial Soul cultivation in today's lesson. We'll be talking about..." Wang Yan turned around and wrote three characters on the blackboard: Soul Tools.
"Many of you may be wondering why we need to learn about Soul Tools when we're Soul Masters. But in my view, Soul Masters and Soul Engineers aren't two entirely separate paths. Soul Masters can certainly learn to use Soul Tools to help themselves..."
Most of the students weren't impressed. At this point in time, the stronger a Soul Master was, the more they rejected the use of Soul Tools. Only Huo Yu'er listened with rapt attention. She remembered Tang Ya saying that the Tang Sect had declined because of the development of Soul Tools. And perhaps her Spirit Eye Martial Soul was especially suited to learning about them.
The lesson passed quickly. Just as Wang Yan was about to leave the classroom, Huo Yu'er stepped forward. "Teacher, about Soul Tools..." When Wang Yan heard that Huo Yu'er was interested in Soul Tools, he immediately grew enthusiastic and took her toward the Soul Guidance Department.
When Wang Dong'er saw Wang Yan leading Huo Yu'er away, her eyes unconsciously turned toward Lin Shuo. A crowd of girls from their class had gathered around him. After all, Lin Shuo was not only handsome but had also displayed tremendous talent in class. Naturally, he'd caught the attention of his classmates.