A Student Is Not a Bargaining Chip to Win Someone's Favor! A Deal with Mu Jin!

"All right, all right. You geniuses have more ideas than I can keep up with." Mu Jin rubbed her brow and waved a hand, looking thoroughly exasperated.

She sighed, dragged over a chair, and sat across from Tang Qi, assuming an earnest expression.

"But Tang Qi, let me warn you first. Once the Freshman Assessment Tournament ends in three months, every student who passes will be reassigned to a class based on their chosen Martial Soul path."

"Given your Martial Soul, you'll definitely be placed in Freshman Class One. Two senior teachers usually serve as its homeroom teachers. Who gets chosen depends largely on which temporary class the tournament's champion team came from."

A knowing smile curved Mu Jin's lips. Even the way she looked at Tang Qi turned strange.

"Tang Qi, you wouldn't want some old witch who stirs up trouble all day to become your future homeroom teacher, would you?"

Tang Qi raised an eyebrow.

Well, well. Mu Jin had some nerve. This was rebellion.

He was usually the one threatening other people. Today, someone had managed to get a hold over him.

"If your team wins the Freshman Assessment, I'll naturally become a homeroom teacher for Freshman Class One."

Mu Jin went on, "The whole academy knows Zhou Yi and I don't get along. Unless the academy's leadership collectively loses its mind, they'll never assign us to the same class."

Even with Fan Yu, a key figure in the Soul Tool Department, backing Zhou Yi, he couldn't sway a decision supported by Mu Jin's "hard strength."

When both sides were evenly matched, connections could add flowers to brocade, but they weren't the deciding factor.

Of course, if those connections were strong enough—say, Zhou Yi became a Titled Douluo and Fan Yu became head of the Soul Tool Department—

What could Mu Jin say then? Fine, they could have it. How was she supposed to compete with that?

As for the other homeroom teacher, Mu Jin figured it would most likely be Wang Yan.

His theoretical knowledge was solid, and he had a mentor-disciple connection to an Elder of the Sea God Pavilion. He was qualified to teach Freshman Class One.

"As long as you help me become a homeroom teacher for Freshman Class One..."

She changed tack and fixed Tang Qi with an eager stare. "I'll give you free rein. Aside from major assessments and essential theory classes, you can come and go as you please. Just let me know beforehand so I know you haven't gotten yourself into trouble."

"What do you say?"

Mu Jin leaned back. "I guarantee you won't find another teacher this 'reckless' anywhere in Shrek Academy."

Tang Qi rubbed his chin.

Mu Jin had clearly become obsessed with getting the better of Zhou Yi.

After a moment, he frowned. "You want me to team up with Ning Tian and Wu Feng. What about the two outside?"

He glanced toward the door. "With their strength, passing the Freshman Assessment Tournament won't be easy."

"Yutong's only a One-Ring Soul Master, and Xiao Xiao has only just become a Soul Grandmaster. Even if you find another Soul Grandmaster for their team, it'll be a struggle."

Mu Jin froze, her brows drawing together.

She really had forgotten about that.

The office fell into a heavy silence. After a while, Mu Jin's instincts as a teacher reclaimed the high ground, and she sighed.

"Fine. Let those two girls in. I'll see what their Soul Skills can do and whether they can knock Dai Huabin and Zhu Lu out of the arena before those two use their Martial Soul Fusion Skill."

Mu Jin had seen Tang Qi defeat Dai Huabin in an instant in the plaza that day, even after Dai Huabin had used his third Soul Skill.

Tang Qi wasted no words. He raised a hand and snapped his fingers.

Snap!

A strand of Blue Silver Wood wound its way to the door, deftly coiled around the handle, and gave it a gentle twist. The door swung open with ease.

Mu Jin's eyelid twitched at the sight, and the corners of her mouth jerked twice.

Even at Shrek, where geniuses gathered in droves, most plant-type Soul Masters Tang Qi's age still relied on Soul Ring abilities to use their Martial Souls.

But this boy had clearly mastered his Martial Soul as though it were an extension of his arm. It was downright terrifying.

Tang Qi: A little cheat didn't count as cheating.

With the door open, Xiao Xiao and Huo Yutong stood outside, one behind the other, apprehension on both their young faces.

Seeing Mu Jin and Tang Qi seated across from each other, they both looked to Tang Qi.

"Come in." Tang Qi beckoned them over, his tone easy.

Only then did they edge cautiously into the office.

"Relax." Tang Qi chuckled. Two strands of Blue Silver Wood shot out, picked up a pair of chairs, and set them behind the girls.

"Have a seat." Tang Qi acted as though he owned the place.

Mu Jin looked at the two girls, who resembled a pair of frightened quails, and sighed helplessly. Her voice softened.

"I just want to learn about your Soul Skills. The Freshman Assessment Tournament is three months away, so I can help you plan ahead."

Xiao Xiao's tense expression eased. "My first Soul Skill is Cauldron's Tremor. The Three-Life Soul-Suppressing Cauldron can split into three. When all three cauldrons come out, they can stun nearby enemies or split up to ram different targets."

"An area attack and group stun in one? Not bad." Mu Jin nodded slightly, approval flashing in her eyes.

"My second Soul Skill is Cauldron's Surge," Xiao Xiao continued. "Black ripples spread across the cauldrons. When they strike, they can send an enemy flying, and a hit also stuns them."

"A powerful single-target attack with control as well."

Mu Jin smiled, her gaze growing gentler. "Xiao Xiao, you're planning to pursue the control path, aren't you?"

Xiao Xiao nodded firmly.

"And you, Yutong?" Mu Jin turned to Huo Yutong.

The girl glanced at Tang Qi without thinking.

He nodded slightly, giving her a look that said, Stick to the plan.

The girl drew a deep breath and slowly stood.

A bright Yellow Soul Ring rose from beneath her feet. Pale gold appeared in her Spiritual Eyes, and a gentle wave of spiritual power spread outward.

Tang Qi had arranged for Tian Meng to handle the Hundred-Year Soul Ring beforehand. A little disguise would save them a lot of trouble.

He had discussed the plan with her in advance.

Depending on the situation, she would reveal Spiritual Detection and Spiritual Sharing, while keeping Mental Interference and Soul Shock hidden.

If anyone asked why she had two Soul Skills, they would attribute it to the mysteries of a Body Martial Soul. Even if everything was eventually exposed, they could say it resonated with the Purple Demon Eye.

"Incredible..." Mu Jin murmured.

Huo Yutong withdrew her spiritual power, but Mu Jin still seemed unable to recover. She stared straight at Huo Yutong, her eyes shining.

"It's nothing short of miraculous!"

She sprang from her chair, breathing hard, and looked at Huo Yutong as though she were a priceless treasure.

A name flashed through Mu Jin's mind: Fan Yu.

With Huo Yutong's support, Fan Yu would be like a tiger with wings. Mu Jin would surely win back the attention Zhou Yi had taken from her.

The thought sent Mu Jin's blood surging. Her face flushed, and she hurried forward, reaching for Huo Yutong's wrist.

But Tang Qi reacted first and pulled Huo Yutong to him. She stumbled and fell against his chest.

Tang Qi glared at Mu Jin, his face dark. "What are you doing?"

"Tang Qi, give Yutong to me!" Mu Jin said urgently, her voice trembling.

"You have no idea how talented she is with Soul Tools! She belongs in the Soul Tool Department! She needs to go there now!"

"Enough!"

Tang Qi's voice rose sharply.

Huo Yutong trembled in his arms and instinctively tucked her head back down just as she had begun to lift it. Xiao Xiao sat frozen in her chair, hardly daring to breathe.

Tang Qi's gaze was sharp as a blade. "You've lost your mind! Do you think I don't know what you're after? A student isn't a bargaining chip for winning someone's favor!"