Withdrawal, a Familiar Encounter

Wang Dong'er was deeply disappointed.

Although she had lived in Clear Sky Fortress at Cloud Recesses Unknown Depths since childhood, she had heard plenty about the outside world from members of the Clear Sky Sect. Naturally, that included Shrek, the Number One Academy on the Continent.

Even after learning that she had been living within Tang San's scheme all along and deciding to flee to the Sun Moon Empire, she had still chosen to stay here for two days, just to experience Shrek Academy's teaching methods for herself.

But the actions of this homeroom teacher, Zhou Yi, had thoroughly disappointed Wang Dong'er!

With every word Wang Dong'er spoke, Zhou Yi's expression darkened further. When she heard that final question challenging Shrek Academy, Zhou Yi finally could not hold back any longer and glared furiously at Wang Dong'er.

"Are you questioning Shrek Academy? Questioning the Number One Academy on the Continent, with its ten-thousand-year legacy?"

The pressure of a six-ringed Soul Emperor bore down heavily on Wang Dong'er, but she still stood straight, choosing to confront this so-called teacher, Zhou Yi, head-on.

"Don't try using such cheap wordplay against me. I'm questioning you, the teacher supposedly with the highest promotion rate! But if all the teachers at Shrek Academy are like you, then I don't mind questioning all of Shrek!"

She had already decided to leave Shrek anyway. Did Wang Dong'er really have any reason to fear an outer academy teacher with merely six rings like Zhou Yi?

She truly did not believe that, with her current status as the Young Sect Master of Clear Sky Sect, this mere teacher could do anything beyond threatening her with expulsion. What else did she dare do? What could she possibly dare do?

Fury burning in her chest, Zhou Yi's breasts rose and fell rapidly as she stared coldly at the proud Wang Dong'er below.

Although the aura released by Zhou Yi, a Soul Emperor, was mostly directed at Wang Dong'er alone, the other new students in the classroom still felt immense pressure.

Just as Zhou Yi was about to say something, Xiao Xiao stood up as well and took her place beside Wang Dong'er. Though small and delicate, she seemed to contain tremendous strength within her.

"Wang Dong is right. If Shrek Academy's teachers are all like you, treating students as less than human and seeing us as nothing but trash, worthless waste, even slaves, then this Shrek Academy isn't worth staying at!"

Zhou Yi's icy gaze swept repeatedly across Wang Dong'er and Xiao Xiao's faces. She lowered her head to glance at the roster on the desk, then said coldly.

"You two are Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao, correct? Two mere two-ringed Soul Grand Masters, and you think you're some kind of extraordinary geniuses? Let me tell you, Shrek Academy has plenty like you!"

"Just the two of you dare question Shrek, with its Ten Thousand Year Glory? One day, you will understand just how foolish your actions today were! I hereby announce that you have been expelled!"

Although Wang Dong'er and Xiao Xiao were already among the most gifted students in New Student Class One, Zhou Yi showed not the slightest mercy when expelling them.

On the contrary, in Zhou Yi's eyes, they were chickens meant to scare the monkeys.

After expelling the two of them, the others would surely never dare question any of her decisions again. They would also give their all to carry out every instruction she issued.

So what if Wang Dong'er belonged to the Clear Sky Sect? With the lofty justification of protecting Shrek's Ten Thousand Year Glory, along with her husband Fan Yu, a highly sought-after senior figure in the Soul Tool Department, expelling Wang Dong'er would not bring Zhou Yi any trouble at all!

Wang Dong'er looked at the aggressive Zhou Yi on the podium and said, one word at a time, "Don't get this wrong. It's not expulsion. I'm withdrawing! With a teacher like you at Shrek, I have no interest whatsoever in staying here!"

Seeing Wang Dong'er proudly raise her chin, Zhou Yi was filled with rage. Even if Wang Dong'er was no longer her student, she did not mind continuing to suppress and manipulate her. She sneered.

"What's the point of putting on a brave front now? Whether you're expelled or withdraw, it won't affect Shrek's Ten Thousand Year Glory in the slightest."

"Your classmates will shine brilliantly in the future Soul Master Competition and inherit the title of the Shrek Seven Devils. As for you, you can only become a spectator, an outsider!"

Xiao Xiao looked strangely at Zhou Yi. This gold-medal teacher from Shrek truly knew how to divide and conquer!

After seeing the other students begin to doubt Shrek's teaching standards because of Wang Dong'er's words, she had actually used the Soul Master Competition and the title of Shrek Seven Devils to divide them. Even if they were dissatisfied with Zhou Yi, tempted by the grand promise she had dangled before them, they could only endure it in the end.

Ten Thousand Year Glory this, Ten Thousand Year Glory that. Every word reeks of arrogance, and she cannot tolerate even the slightest question. This Shrek Academy truly doesn't seem as wonderful and great as the rumors claim.

Xiao Xiao quietly shook her head, now certain that choosing to withdraw alongside Wang Dong'er had been an extremely wise decision.

This proud young girl, Wang Dong'er, would not lower her head because of Zhou Yi's suppression. Instead, she shot back without yielding an inch.

"I've never heard of any generation of the Shrek Seven Devils that included the name Zhou Yi! Shrek's glory was earned through other people's hard work. What have you done? Expelled students you don't like?"

"You!"

That one sentence shattered Zhou Yi's composure. Her body trembled faintly, and she wished she could immediately teach Wang Dong'er a brutal lesson. But upon remembering Wang Dong'er's Clear Sky Sect origins, reason ultimately returned.

Zhou Yi was already in her early thirties and still only a six-ringed Soul Emperor. Naturally, she had never been qualified to become a member of any generation of the Shrek Seven Devils. Wang Dong'er had undoubtedly struck a sore spot.

"You sharp-tongued brat! At your age, you should be able to participate in the next two Soul Master Competitions. I will apply to accompany Shrek Academy's competitors for both of them. I'd like to see whether you truly have the qualifications to spout such nonsense before me!"

"Let me remind you in advance: in the Soul Master Competition, if you're too weak and get killed, that's only to be expected!"

Not only did Zhou Yi's threat fail to frighten Wang Dong'er, it made her break into a bright smile.

"You'll see!"

With that, Wang Dong'er and Xiao Xiao turned and left New Student Class One without the slightest hesitation.

With the fury in her chest nowhere else to go, Zhou Yi could only vent it on the other students, roaring, "Why aren't you running laps around Shrek Square? Do you want to be expelled like those two as well?"

At the border of the Sun Moon Empire, Huo Yuhao, completely unaware of what had happened at Shrek Academy, was happily grilling fish and eating at the same time. He could not help praising himself. As expected of someone with the nickname Huo Grilled Fish—even without any special seasonings, it somehow tasted unbelievably good.

But just then, a delighted feminine cry rang out. The voice was clear and pleasant, yet it gave Huo Yuhao quite a fright.

"It smells so good!"

Huo Yuhao turned toward the voice and saw two white-haired—scratch that—handsome and beautiful youths walking toward him. The sight felt strangely familiar.

If he remembered correctly, when he had first met Bei Bei and Tang Ya in the Star Dou Great Forest, had it not been a similar scene?

A glint of mischief flashed through the leading girl's eyes. She skipped over to Huo Yuhao in just a few quick steps and looked as if she were drooling. "Little brother, are you selling those grilled fish? They smell so good! How did you make them?"

Before Huo Yuhao could answer, the white-haired youth stepped forward and said to her irritably, "Meng! Can't you be a little more composed?"

Though he said that, his eyes had never left the grilled fish. As the grandson of the dean of the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy, what delicacies had Xiao Hongchen not eaten? Yet he was still drawn in by these grilled fish. That could only mean the aroma was simply too tempting!

"Ahem, brother, could you sell us two grilled fish? Don't worry, name your price."

Huo Yuhao felt that something about this was odd. After hesitating for a moment, he handed them two grilled fish.

"Forget it. They're on me."

Xiao Hongchen's eyes immediately lit up. As he accepted the fish, he did not forget to give Huo Yuhao a thumbs-up. "Generous! What's your name, brother? I'm Xiao Hongchen, and this is my younger sister, Meng Hongchen."

Woohoo, the white-haired Miss Meng has appeared! Brothers, throw those tickets in your hands over here!