The Students' Victory
After Lin Xiuya finished washing up, he walked out of the bathroom, still damp with sweat, and saw Huo Yuhao writing furiously on a scroll. A set of paintbrushes that had just been used was spread out on the table, the paint on the tips of the brushes still wet.
"What are you busy with?" Lin Xiuya approached curiously. "Did you bring these things back just now?"
"Submit an article to the Canaan Times." Huo Yuhao didn't even look up, his pen moving smoothly across the scroll.
"You're planning to join the news agency?" Upon hearing this, Lin Xiuya was taken aback. After getting to know him over the past day, he didn't think his new roommate was the kind of person who liked to pry into other people's privacy.
"No, it's just some personal grudges." Huo Yuhao stopped writing, held the scroll upright, and admired his work by the light.
Lin Xiuya also noticed the lifelike illustration on the scroll. The person in the picture was soaking wet and lying on the ground, looking extremely disheveled.
Lin Xiuya recalled for a moment and recognized him, "Is this Lu Mu, the one who caused the furnace explosion today? You have a conflict with him?"
"So you read the Canaan Times too, class monitor!"
The next day, the sun shone brightly, and the sky was cloudless.
In the vast central square of the Jia Nan Academy, all the new students stood in neat rows, completely silent, awaiting the vice dean's motivational speech.
Vice Dean Hu Gan swayed as he walked up to the platform; his rounded figure conveyed a sense of approachability.
The vice dean stood on the platform, reached into his wide sleeve, and pulled out a crumpled manuscript and a megaphone!
--
"Huo Yuhao, isn't this vice dean Dou Emperor?" Xiao Yu stood behind Huo Yuhao Huo Yuhao, leaning slightly forward, and whispered in his ear. Clearly, she had already put yesterday's incident behind her.
"Indeed, as the vice dean of the number one academy on the continent, the strength of Dou Emperor is a bit weak." Huo Yuhao replied in a low voice.
Dou Emperor is weak? Xiao Yu was speechless for a moment, then continued, "That's not what I meant. Does the Vice Dean, as a Dou Emperor, need a megaphone to speak?"
"Maybe he's sick and can't speak loudly?" Xiao Yi Xian interjected.
"That shouldn't be the case." Huo Yuhao observed Hu Gan's expression and thought to himself: Although his weak and listless feeling really does seem like he's a little weak somewhere.
Welcome, new students, to the Gate of Canaan! This is where your dreams take flight, a crucible for honing your will and seeking truth! Remember: strength comes from self-discipline, and excellence begins with diligence! Cherish your youth and forge ahead!
After delivering some of the same old opening remarks, Hu Gan threw down his manuscript and instantly became smug.
"We at the Jia Nan Academy have decided to change the rules for class assignments this year! We will no longer rank students solely based on their entrance exam scores, but rather—" Hu Gan, his gaze sweeping over the group of spirited freshmen below.
"Classes will be assigned according to each student's development direction and the most suitable training model! We hope that all new student mentors will carefully observe and deeply understand their students within this month, providing detailed evidence for their personalized class assignments!"
A slight commotion and murmur arose from the audience. Many of the new student mentors felt a wave of dizziness, as if they could already see the grueling life that awaited them for the next month.
Huo Yuhao, who was mixed in with Ruolin's class, felt a sudden thought upon hearing this. He immediately recalled Lin Xiuya mentioning yesterday that he should "discuss things with the vice dean." Could it be—
After the meeting, back in Class Profound Class One Rank, Huo Yuhao went straight to Lin Xiuya and asked, "Class monitor, is the class reassignment reform that the vice dean announced today related to your visit to him yesterday?"
Lin Xiuya was chatting with Yan Hao when he heard this. He looked up and calmly said, "That's right."
Yan Hao stood up, patted Huo Yuhao's shoulder forcefully, and added with a hint of pride, "Hey! It's not just about Old Lin! This idea was originally proposed by Lao Lin! Several of us class monitors and vice-monitors jointly wrote a proposal, and Lao Lin took us to the vice-dean's office several times, presenting facts, reasoning, and analyzing the pros and cons. We practically wore our lips out! Finally, the vice-dean approved that we could give it a try!"
He gestured wildly, as if reenacting his "reasonable argument" from that time.
So the academy really does listen to and adopt students' opinions! Huo Yuhao looked at Lin Xiuya's still calm profile, lost in thought. This open attitude was completely different from some places he had experienced before.
Just then, Huo De pushed open the classroom door and walked straight towards Huo Yuhao and Xiao Yi Xian, completely ignoring the other people in the class.
"Greetings, mentor." Huo Yuhao bowed.
"Hmm." Huo De nodded in response, without saying much more, and took out four scrolls from his Storage Ring, placing them on Huo Yuhao's table.
"According to the academy's regulations, freshmen who break through to the Dou Zhe can obtain a Black Grade cultivation technique and Dou Technique. For each major realm they break through, they can apply for another Dou Technique."
Next, Huo De took out several bottles of pills. "If a freshman can break through to the Dou Zhe level within the first year, they will receive a bottle of Essence-Fixing Pill every month thereafter, and there will also be pill rewards for each breakthrough in their cultivation level."
After putting down Xiao Yi Xian's share, Huo De had no intention of staying for class and walked straight out the door.
"Mentor!" Lin Xiuya stopped Huo De, staring intently at his self-satisfied expression. "It's only the second day, and you haven't even learned about Huo's abilities yet!"
Huo De knew his class monitor's personality well; if he didn't give a clear explanation today, he definitely wouldn't be able to leave this room.
"I asked Ruolin."
"Class monitor, I've already introduced my abilities to Instructor Ruolin." Huo Yuhao stopped Lin Xiuya, and at the same time thanked Huo De, "Instructor Huo De, thank you for your help."
Huo De's lips twitched, as if he wanted to laugh. He walked around Lin Xiuya and pushed open the door to leave.
Huo Yuhao unrolled the scroll and glanced through it briefly.
"Professor Huo De has truly done his best."
The abilities Huo Yuhao demonstrated to Instructor Ruolin were primarily control abilities. Instructor Ruolin's initial advice was to choose movement-based Dou Technique and defensive Dou Technique at the academy.
Unlike Ruolin's idea of "making up for weaknesses," Huo De applied for one Dou Technique, one for weakening, one for bursting, and one for escaping for Huo Yuhao.
Clearly, Huo De believes that it is more important to better leverage one's strengths than to be a seemingly well-rounded but conventional individual.
"After all, he is one of the most outstanding mentors in the Outer Academy." After learning that Huo De was not being perfunctory, Lin Xiuya spoke up for Huo De.
"Indeed! You can only say that guy is bad, not that he's incompetent," Yan Hao concluded.
After a moment's hesitation, Huo Yuhao said, "Class monitor, I'd like to ask for leave. I don't plan to stay with the class for the next period of time."
Lin Xiuya looked at him, his eyes showing little surprise, as if he had expected it. "Sure, in the six months leading up to the Inner Academy assessment, our class's only required courses are the daily fixed combat drills and group meditation. With your strength, the combat drills are meaningless for you, but we still hope you can attend the meditation sessions."
He paused for a moment, then asked, "Would you mind telling me what you're planning to do there?"