Roommates

Dai Huabin held his head high, looking like someone whose brain was not quite right. He carried himself with an arrogant air, his cold gaze sweeping across the classroom without placing a single student from Freshman Class Five in his eyes.

Dai Huabin did indeed have the qualifications to be arrogant. In terms of status, he was the White Tiger Duke's Manor's second young master and a strong contender for the future position of White Tiger Duke. In terms of talent, he was already a Soul Elder, even stronger than Dai Yaoheng had been at the same age.

Dai Yaoheng, meanwhile, was a regular team member for the next Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Dueling Tournament and the vice-captain of the Shrek Seven Monsters. Dai Huabin believed that anything Dai Yaoheng could do, he could do as well.

Unfortunately, there was a gulf-like difference between Dai Huabin and his elder brother: Dai Yaoheng had a brain.

After Dai Huabin and Zhu Lu found adjacent seats and sat down, the class bell rang. A middle-aged man who appeared to be in his forties entered the classroom.

He was the homeroom teacher of Freshman Class Five.

Clearly, this homeroom teacher had no intention of wasting words. After reminding them to cultivate diligently and prepare to pass the freshman assessment three months later so they could remain at Shrek Academy, he began his lesson.

Most of what he taught could be learned at intermediate Soul Master academies. Even at elementary Soul Master academies, one could find this knowledge in the library with enough effort.

At eleven or twelve years old, students generally entered Shrek, an advanced Soul Master academy, directly after graduating from elementary Soul Master academies. It was unlikely that they had attended an intermediate Soul Master academy, so it was perfectly reasonable to teach these things.

Normally, this knowledge was quite simple for young geniuses. As long as they were willing to listen, there was nothing difficult about it. But as everyone knew, across the entire Douluo Continent, people did not pay much attention to anything outside the traditional power system of Soul Masters, including martial soul theory.

After all, for any Soul Master whose talent had not been completely exhausted and who still had a chance to become powerful, who would choose to study martial soul theory?

As a result, most Soul Masters did not have outstanding theoretical grades. This was especially true in Shrek Academy's Martial Soul Department, which could practically be called a gathering place for illiterates.

Since the lesson covered knowledge Jiang Yue already knew, he had no interest in continuing to listen. There were quite a few others in the classroom who, like Jiang Yue, did not want to listen either, though most of them were simply uninterested in such theory.

While the homeroom teachers of all ten freshman classes were teaching, organizing student introductions, or explaining their goals for the next three months, one class stood completely apart from the rest.

Just then, a commotion came from below Class Five, leaving the students in the classroom confused. They could not understand why Class One downstairs had gone crazy on the very first day of school.

Just as the students in the classroom revealed puzzled expressions, a terrifying fluctuation of soul power surged up from below. Everyone's bodies instantly tensed as though facing a great enemy. Almost the moment that soul power appeared, many students sprang to their feet in unison, and the classroom nearly descended into chaos.

Seeing this, Class Five's homeroom teacher's face darkened. He rubbed his forehead in helpless exasperation, released his own soul power to disperse the soul power fluctuations from downstairs, then shot a vicious glare downward, as though something below deeply disgusted him.

Class One was directly below Class Five. Jiang Yue knew that the old hag downstairs had just unleashed her martial soul before a hundred freshmen, using absurd reasons like "those who do not dare to cause trouble are mediocre" and "there was no fighting on the first day of school" to make Class One's freshmen run one hundred laps around Shrek Plaza.

Naturally, few people were willing to run after receiving such an unreasonable punishment for such absurd reasons. Zhou Yi then displayed her Soul Emperor cultivation to intimidate the freshmen.

In Jiang Yue's eyes, the commotion Zhou Yi had caused was nothing more than a compliance test—the sort of compliance test only someone without a brain could come up with.

What normal teacher would use such absurd reasons to make support-system Tool Soul Masters run a hundred laps just like battle Soul Masters?

The cultivation of a Soul Emperor was not truly much. There might be quite a few Soul Emperor-level powerhouses in those students' families, but this was Shrek Academy. They could not possibly slap Shrek Academy in the face, and they were not at home now. Under such coercion, they could only obediently begin running around Shrek Plaza.

As another wave of commotion rose from downstairs, one figure after another gathered in Shrek Plaza and began running, becoming a striking sight on the first day of school.

Not only Class Five, but all the freshman classes watched the scene curiously, unable to understand what was going on with those people. They were actually running around Shrek Plaza on the first day of school.

"Alright! Stop looking outside. Let's continue the lesson."

Watching the spectacle was human instinct. Seeing that the students' attention had all been drawn away by the unfortunate students from Class One outside, the homeroom teacher immediately spoke up and pulled their thoughts back into the classroom.

He was extremely dissatisfied with Zhou Yi for making such a huge disturbance. Not only was she tormenting the students in her own class, but she was also disrupting other classes.

But what could he do, no matter how much he disliked it? She had people backing her. With someone supporting her, she naturally acted without restraint. Someone would clean up after her, and someone would handle every mess she left behind.

Even Director of Studies Du Weilun turned a blind eye to Zhou Yi's various actions.

Jiang Yue's gaze remained on the group struggling to run in the plaza. After a while, a slender figure and a pink-blue figure entered the plaza and began running with all their strength as well.

Seeing this, Jiang Yue felt rather fortunate that he had not been assigned to Class One. Otherwise, he might already have been arguing with Zhou Yi until his face turned red.

This time, the difference from the original story was quite significant. In the original story, because Dream Iceworm's heaven and earth energy had been drained dry, its soul ring did not strengthen Huo Yuhao's body at all. This time, however, nourished by a complete hundred-year soul ring, Huo Yuhao's body was much stronger than it had been during the same period in the original story, and he ultimately managed to barely complete the assessment.

There was actually no need to worry too much about whether Huo Yuhao could pass the freshman assessment and remain at Shrek Academy. Although the Tang Sect's Mysterious Heaven Skill was incomplete, Huo Yuhao could still develop an alternative use for it as he had in the original story, and he could obtain the two Mysterious Water Pills that Bei Bei extorted from Xu Sanshi.

The Soul Ascension Pill was no longer available, but with a spiritual-attribute martial soul, perhaps he would still come into contact with soul tools and display talent in that area. This time, Huo Yuhao might not cultivate both the Martial Soul Department and the Soul Tool Department. Instead, he might become a pure core disciple of the Soul Tool Department.

The Soul Tool Department only had so few core disciples each year. If he still could not remain at Shrek Academy, that would be absurd.

The only question was whether he would come into contact with the Body Sect in the future, and what choice Huo Yuhao would make this time. Logically speaking, the Body Sect was key to whether Huo Yuhao could gain the strength to take revenge. Of course, all of that depended on whether he could successfully achieve a second awakening of his Spirit Eye Martial Soul.

The morning lessons ended quickly. After getting some food from the cafeteria that was neither cheap nor expensive, Jiang Yue returned to the dormitory, planning to rest for a while before the afternoon lessons began.

When he arrived at the dormitory, Jiang Yue found that the empty bed had already been made with bedding, but there was no sign of his roommate.

Jiang Yue silently sighed to himself. It seemed his hope of having a single room all to himself had completely fallen through. Now, he could only hope that his roommate would not be difficult to get along with.

When the afternoon lesson began, Class Five's homeroom teacher did not immediately start teaching. His stern gaze swept across the faces of the students below. Only after confirming that every pair of eyes was on him did he slowly speak.

"You are all freshmen. I do not know how many of you will pass the freshman assessment three months from now, but I hope to see all one hundred of you remain at Shrek Academy, without a single one missing."

"For these three months before the freshman assessment, you are classmates in the same class. Only after the freshman assessment will you be assigned to different classes according to your individual paths of development."

"As your teacher, I also need a bridge to help me communicate with you, someone to manage the class. Before formal lessons begin, we need to decide on a class monitor."

As soon as he said this, the eyes of many battle Soul Masters who considered themselves strong filled with fighting spirit. They were eager to give it a try. Compared to tedious theoretical lessons, choosing a class monitor clearly excited them far more.

In the eyes of these eleven- and twelve-year-olds, becoming the class monitor meant that person was the strongest in the class. For children of their age, that was an irresistible temptation. Whether boys or girls, anyone who believed they had some ability wanted to fight for a chance to claim the position of class monitor.

There were exceptions to everything. Regardless of their strength, those support-system Tool Soul Masters remained detached from the competition, with no intention of joining the race for class monitor.

Clearly, in a class mixed with Tool Soul Masters and battle Soul Masters, a support-system Soul Master could only become class monitor if their martial soul was the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, or if they had a powerful battle Soul Master companion willing to fight for the position on their behalf. Otherwise, it was simply impossible for them to become class monitor.

Among the crowd, Dai Huabin was full of vigor, his gaze toward everyone else brimming with disdain. In his eyes, the position of class monitor was something already within his grasp.

Unless another Soul Elder suddenly emerged from this class, no one could possibly threaten him.

Jiang Yue watched silently. He had no interest in the position of class monitor; it was nothing more than a job where you worked for the teacher and the other students.

The class monitor position at Shrek Academy in Soul Land 2 was completely different from Soul Land 3. In Soul Land 3, class monitors received a certain number of contribution points each month, which could be considered a salary. In Soul Land 2, it was purely grunt work.

Given that time, Jiang Yue felt it would be better spent cultivating. That way, he might break through to Rank 40 sooner, or read a few more books. No matter what, anything was more meaningful than being class monitor.

Seeing the students below brimming with fighting spirit, the homeroom teacher raised a hand to signal for silence. Naturally, no one would oppose the homeroom teacher at a time like this.

"Ahem. I know you're excited, but you still need to calm down. You're all soul masters, so I imagine none of you would accept someone weaker than yourselves as class monitor."

"To encourage you to compete with one another and improve together, the class monitor position will not be fixed. Anyone who can defeat the current class monitor can take over the position. As for the first class monitor, I will appoint one myself. I have reviewed your entrance assessment results."

"Among you, the one with the highest cultivation is a Soul Elder-level battle soul master. Unfortunately for the rest of you, if you want to become class monitor, you'll have to work hard."

Upon hearing the teacher mention a Soul Elder, Dai Huabin's grin nearly reached his ears. Although he had enrolled using the White Tiger Duke's Manor's special admission quota, the teacher also had his results on record.

There were not many geniuses who became Soul Elders at eleven or twelve years old. The teacher had just said that this Soul Elder was a battle soul master. Dai Huabin felt there could not possibly be anyone besides himself. The class monitor position was already his for the taking.

"Jiang Yue, Dai Huabin, stand up and let everyone get to know you. Both of you are Soul Elders, outstanding among all the freshmen. If either of you is an auxiliary-type soul master, you may withdraw now."

When the teacher saw that neither Jiang Yue nor Dai Huabin sat down, a faint smile appeared on his face. Two Soul Elders, and neither was auxiliary-type. He felt that perhaps their class could claim two of the top three places in this year's freshman assessment.

"Hmm, since neither of you is an auxiliary-type soul master, that makes things easy. If both of you want to be class monitor, I will make a special exception and allow you to duel at the Soul Arena."

Dai Huabin was greatly surprised that the teacher had called someone else's name before his. Turning toward Jiang Yue at the edge of the classroom, he had not expected there to truly be another Soul Elder-level student in the class.

But Dai Huabin did not think he would lose. He believed that with his martial soul and his own strength, he would definitely defeat Jiang Yue.

Just as Dai Huabin looked at Jiang Yue with fervent fighting spirit, Jiang Yue raised his arm to signal to the teacher on the platform that he had something to say.

"Teacher, it seems Dai Huabin is determined to become class monitor. I just happen to have no desire to take the position, so it would be better to let someone like Dai Huabin, who wants to contribute to the class and his fellow students, take it."

"Oh? Jiang Yue, are you sure you want to give up the class monitor position?"

"Yes, I'm sure. I'm not suited for that position."

"Very well. Since you are unwilling to compete, then the class monitor position will be given to Dai Huabin."

Although Jiang Yue had already sat down, Dai Huabin's gaze remained fixed on him. His face was still as cold as ever, but the fighting spirit he had just developed toward Jiang Yue had faded by half, becoming more like the look he would give a coward.

Dai Huabin also clenched his fists tightly. Clearly, he was dissatisfied with becoming class monitor simply because someone had yielded the position to him. Though he had become class monitor, he did not want it to happen this way. He wanted to defeat every opponent and prove that he was the strongest.

He did not want anyone to say behind his back that he had become class monitor only because others had not wanted to compete with him.

Seeing Dai Huabin's expression, Jiang Yue could only feel that there was probably something wrong with the guy's head. Otherwise, why was he staring at him like that?

However, this was only the beginning. For the entire afternoon, Dai Huabin's gaze remained locked on Jiang Yue, making Jiang Yue wonder whether the guy had some issues with his sexual orientation.

Even Zhu Lu, who sat beside Dai Huabin, looked at Jiang Yue with a trace of resentment, seemingly very displeased that Jiang Yue had stolen Dai Huabin's attention.

As soon as the afternoon classes ended, before the students who wanted to approach Jiang Yue after learning he was a Soul Elder could get close, Jiang Yue directly opened the window and jumped out.

Class Five was only on the second floor, so jumping down from that height was naturally no problem at all.

After politely waving to the people gathered at the upstairs windows, Jiang Yue headed toward the dormitory building.

By his calculations, it was about time for Huo Yuhao to set up a stall outside Shrek Academy to sell grilled fish. Bei Bei and Xu Sanshi would also be having a Soul Arena match around this time.

As the famous twin stars of the outer courtyard, the person in charge of the Soul Arena would naturally promote their match well, and people would also open betting pools.

Since their strength was similar, their odds were nearly identical. Although Bei Bei no longer had Huo Yuhao's Spiritual Detection Sharing to help him, who knew what Huo Yuhao's soul skill could do now? Could it provide Bei Bei with an advantage?

Everything depended on the exact circumstances. It would be best to find out precisely what Huo Yuhao's soul skill was now. Otherwise, the risk was simply too great, and he could not place a bet. One misstep and Jiang Yue might be living in poverty for the rest of the school year.

As Jiang Yue passed the first floor on his way back to the dormitory, he discovered Huo Yuhao carrying toiletries and preparing to head to the washrooms on either side of the corridor to clean himself. But judging by the direction Huo Yuhao had come from, it did not seem to be Room 108. Maybe he had moved into a new dormitory? Who knew?

Noticing this, Jiang Yue knew there was still some time before the story began. After returning to his dormitory, he took out a book, intending to head to the snack street outside Shrek Academy later.

Just then, the door to Dormitory 208 was opened from outside. The sound drew Jiang Yue's attention. At last, he was going to meet his roommate.

But when the door opened, the person Jiang Yue least wanted to see appeared in the doorway: Dai Huabin!

When Dai Huabin noticed Jiang Yue inside the dormitory, he froze as well. He had never expected the two of them to be roommates. Keeping his gaze on Jiang Yue, he walked over to his own bed.

Perhaps it was Dai Huabin's overly sensitive pride at work, or perhaps he truly felt from the bottom of his heart that Jiang Yue was not someone from the same world as him. He spoke coldly.

"Why didn't you agree to fight me in the classroom today? I don't believe you don't want to be class monitor!"