After entering the hall, the Academy Head walked straight to the only stool at its head and sat down.
The moment the Academy Head sat down, an invisible pressure spread outward from him. He said nothing, merely sweeping his gaze over everyone in the hall.
At once, the already quiet hall became so still that a falling pin could have been heard. Zhao Er could distinctly sense the disciples around him slowing their breathing; some even held their breath altogether.
When the Academy Head looked at him, Zhao Er once again experienced that sensation of needles piercing his skin from their first meeting. This time, there was no sting, yet his entire body still tensed involuntarily.
Even White Marten trembled slightly inside his robe.
But the Academy Head's gaze lingered only briefly before moving on to the next person.
"Whew..."
Only after sensing that gaze leave him did Zhao Er breathe a soft sigh of relief. He slipped a hand into his robe to soothe White Marten.
Now he finally understood why everyone else was so nervous.
"My name is Lu Zhi. I currently oversee the Discipline Law Branch..."
Only after looking over everyone in the hall did the Academy Head speak softly.
It was not until the Academy Head spoke that the atmosphere in the hall eased a little.
"Today is the newly recruited disciples' first lecture. But before that, Xu Zhen, Ji Yang, Zhang Guang..."
As the Academy Head read out one name after another, the atmosphere tightened again.
Those whose names were called turned pale. Some even went weak all over, breaking out in cold sweat.
The Academy Head did not stop calling names because of their reactions. Only after naming seven people did he continue:
"Among you seven, some have joined the Criminal Law Lineage for