Grouping

Xiao Xiao was immediately dissatisfied. She slapped the desk and stood up, looking at Zhou Yi resolutely. "Teacher Zhou, I want to be in the same group as Yuwen Tuo."

Everyone in the class knew how close she and Yuwen Tuo were. Many even believed they were already a couple.

Why should Zhou Yi split them apart when assigning teams?

Light flashed across Zhou Yi's lenses as she said, "Xiao Xiao, don't rush. I understand what you're thinking, but you don't need to worry about Yuwen Tuo. According to the rules, every new student class's Class Advisor can nominate one specially recruited student to pass the assessment directly. Our class is somewhat special this year, and the dean gave me two slots, just enough for the two extra students."

"Song Qinghan."

"Here." At the call of his name, a small and thin student quickly rose to his feet. He had always been rather inconspicuous in class and clearly had not expected Zhou Yi to call on him first.

Zhou Yi said, "For my first specially recruited student, I've chosen you. Based on my observations, I believe you are more suited to continuing your cultivation in the Soul Tool Department. Do you have any objections? You have two choices now: go to the Soul Tool Department, or pack your things and leave."

Forceful—far too forceful. Every student's gaze fell on Song Qinghan in unspoken agreement.

"I'm willing. Thank you, Teacher Zhou." Song Qinghan did not resist. Not to mention that he already wanted to go to the Soul Tool Department; even if it were only to stay at the academy, he had no choice but to agree.

"The other one, Yuwen Tuo. I recommend you for the Martial Soul Department."

Zhou Yi had intended to give the other nomination slot to Yuwen Tuo. That way, Xiao Xiao would have no choice but to team up with Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong.

This was the strongest combination she could think of in their class.

Although Huo Yuhao's rank was low, no one could rival the subtlety of his spiritual support soul skill. Xiao Xiao excelled in all four areas—attack, defense, control, and support. Since Xiao Xiao had revealed her Twin Martial Souls to the academy early on, Zhou Yi, as her Class Advisor, had naturally known for a long time. Xiao Xiao was now also one of her key students.

Lastly, Wang Dong was one of the two strongest attack-type Battle Soul Masters in the class. The three of them—one support, one attacker, and one all-rounder—were the best possible combination.

Although Yuwen Tuo was also extremely strong, the rules allowed only one attack-type Battle Soul Master on a team, so his role overlapped with Wang Dong's. Compared with the rebellious Yuwen Tuo, Zhou Yi naturally preferred Wang Dong, who was more obedient because of Huo Yuhao.

Furthermore, Yuwen Tuo was nothing but a slacker and lay outside the scope of her training. The prize for winning the New Student Assessment was extremely generous, and of course she wanted to fight for it on behalf of her prized students. More importantly, because of Huo Yuhao's Spirit Eye martial soul, he possessed an extraordinary talent for Soul Tools and had already caught the attention of her husband, Fan Yu.

That made Yuwen Tuo the most suitable recipient for the nomination slot. It would extinguish Xiao Xiao's intentions while allowing that slacker to pass without effort—a win-win situation.

In truth, this second nomination slot had originally been compensation from the academy for Yuwen Tuo.

But today, before Zhou Yi could finish speaking, Yuwen Tuo interrupted her. "I refuse!"

Zhou Yi frowned. "Yuwen Tuo, what do you mean by this? This is a teacher's order. You do not get to refuse."

"And if I insist on refusing, what can you do about it? Expel me?" Yuwen Tuo said calmly. "If you can expel me, I'll turn around and leave. If you can't, then stop wasting your breath. I've heard of people begging for guaranteed admission and failing to get it, but I've never heard of someone being forcibly given it when they don't want it. Is there such a school rule, Teacher Zhou? I'm not one of your former students. I won't accept your overbearing terms. I want to participate in the New Student Assessment. Give that nomination slot to whoever you like."

"You—"

Zhou Yi pointed at Yuwen Tuo, about to lose her temper, when she heard him continue, "The school rules for the New Student Assessment state that the students are free to decide their own teams. Only if they have not formed a team by two days before the competition will teachers make arrangements. Teacher Zhou, I want to participate in the New Student Assessment, and Xiao Xiao wants to be on my team. Which school rule have we violated?"

He still needed to complete Ling Luochen's test. Besides, he remembered that the champion of this New Student Competition could receive a soul bone. Yuwen Tuo did not need it, but giving it to Xiao Xiao would be good. It was hers to begin with.

This Huo Yuhao was much weaker than in the original story. With that little Soul Power of his, the duration of his support would be reduced by several minutes at the very least.

Those few minutes should not be underestimated. So many battles in the original story had been narrow victories; losing several minutes would inevitably have an enormous impact.

If Xiao Xiao followed this Huo Yuhao, she might not win the championship.

"Yes, exactly. I don't care. I want to be with Tuo Tuo." Xiao Xiao put her hands on her hips. She could be an obedient student in other matters, but she would not yield on this.

"Hmph. You make it sound like Yuhao and I need you so badly." Wang Dong stood up and said unhappily, "Teacher Zhou, since this student Xiao Xiao looks down on Yuhao and me, let her go with whoever she wants. This young master and Yuhao are enough on our own."

She was also a proud young lady. How could she stand being rejected like that?

Moreover, she was somewhat overly confident. When disguised as a boy, she often referred to herself as "this young master."

"I'm sorry, Wang Dong. Class Monitor, that's not what I meant." Xiao Xiao hurriedly explained.

It was not that she looked down on Huo Yuhao. She had always considered him a very hardworking student—responsible, steady, and serious. Though his talent was somewhat lacking, she did not dislike the Class Monitor because of that.

As for Wang Dong, there was even less to say. She was a genius tied with Yuwen Tuo for first place in the class.

Though she possessed three parts less masculine vigor than Yuwen Tuo in temperament, her appearance had three parts more softness and beauty, making her better fit the traditional image of a handsome man. Who would be dissatisfied with having someone like that as a teammate?

But not disliking them was one thing. The person Xiao Xiao liked was Yuwen Tuo. Since the school rules allowed students to freely choose their teammates, what was wrong with choosing to team up with the person she liked?

"It's fine, Xiao Xiao. I understand what you mean," Huo Yuhao said.

Because of his past experiences, coupled with his spiritual-type martial soul, Huo Yuhao was better than others at seeing into people's hearts. His Soul Power was the lowest in the class, and he knew that many people were dissatisfied with him being the Class Monitor.

Only a few had never looked at him with disdain.

Wang Dong was one of them. Xiao Xiao and Yuwen Tuo were the other two.

Just as he and Wang Dong would never separate, Xiao Xiao naturally would not want to be separated from Yuwen Tuo. Putting himself in her shoes, he could understand that.

"Teacher, since Xiao Xiao and Yuwen Tuo have already formed a team, we'll find someone else," Huo Yuhao took the initiative to say.

"Ah, do whatever you want!" Zhou Yi sighed.

The three little ones before her simply did not understand her painstaking intentions. Only by forming a team would they have any hope of taking the championship. Once separated, they would likely make it no further than the top eight.

It was all because of that problem student, Yuwen Tuo, who had completely ruined her plan.

After the official class reassignment this time, no matter what, she would throw away this hot potato.