Zhou Yi quietly watched the students. Seeing their determination, she could not calm down for a long time.
In all her years of teaching, when had she ever seen students with such spirit?
Perhaps she would occasionally encounter one or two hardworking students, but never an entire class like this.
Recalling Huo Yuhao's words, Zhou Yi sank into thought, considering what the right way to teach truly was.
Huo Yuhao stepped back onto the track, sliding along with his distinctive Moonwalk.
He knew full well that stirring words alone were useless. A momentary surge of passion could not sustain lasting enthusiasm. Only by giving these students tangible benefits could he establish a positive feedback loop that encouraged them to train of their own accord.
Running happened to offer exactly those benefits.
Soul Masters had far better physical constitutions and potential than ordinary people. As long as they kept training diligently, even those with low soul power levels could easily surpass ordinary people.
But physical fitness could not increase without limit. It was still tied to soul power.
Only with a higher soul power level would the body's ceiling rise.
He could already feel his physical limits firmly shackled by his soul power. Without a breakthrough in soul power, his physical strength could advance no further, so he had gradually eased off his physical training and shifted his cultivation focus to soul power-in other words... barbecue.
The other students were different, however. If they devoted themselves to physical training, they would surely advance by leaps and bounds before long.
Riiing-
The bell finally rang to end class.
The piercing bell was like an invisible hand, toppling many students who had already reached their limits. They fell one after another, their Iron Garments striking the ground in a series of clatters.
Yet a few students still gritted their teeth and held on, refusing to fall. Even after the bell rang, they continued inching forward.
Wang Dong was among those still standing. Looking at Huo Yuhao beside her, who still seemed perfectly relaxed, she panted, "You... what kind of monster are you? Don't you ever get tired?"
"Of course I get tired." Huo Yuhao smiled. "But Brother Hao knows how to pace himself."
"You... you really are..."
Wang Dong bent over, bracing both hands against her knees to keep herself from collapsing. She was about to use the last of her strength to complain about Huo Yuhao when her whole body suddenly shuddered.
An incomparable coolness instantly washed over her entire body. The soreness in her muscles rapidly faded, and her depleted stamina recovered just as quickly.
Wang Dong turned to look. A man in white stood beside Zhou Yi, black light swirling around his Seventh Soul Ring, with a towering tree rising behind him.
Leaves fell from the tree, drifting onto every student.
"That's the Tree of Life Martial Soul!" Wang Dong exclaimed.
The one restoring them was none other than a support system Soul Saint with a top-quality Martial Soul.
After restoring all the students, the Soul Saint said nothing more. He merely nodded and left.
With the soreness gone, their lingering fatigue carried a faint sense of comfort. The students rose from the ground, looking somewhat blissful, heartfelt smiles spreading across their faces.
Watching them, Zhou Yi smiled as well. "Students, I must admit that you've given me a surprising answer."
"You should thank your class monitor. He taught you what it means to strive. I should thank him too. He taught me how I should treat my students."
"Class is over. Head back, everyone, and take your Iron Garments with you. Think carefully about what your class monitor said. We'll have another physical training class the afternoon after tomorrow. I hope today's performance wasn't just a passing burst of enthusiasm, but that you truly understood why you strive, and can use that as the driving force to persevere."
"Yes!" the students shouted excitedly in unison.
They did not disperse. Instead, they turned toward Huo Yuhao with eyes full of admiration and respect.
Children of this age were especially prone to idol worship. Although Huo Yuhao was young himself, the composure and leadership he displayed had unconsciously won them over.
"You've earned my respect, Class Monitor!" Tai Long stepped forward and told Huo Yuhao.
The other students chimed in, "Class Monitor!"
It was only their first day at school, and they could not yet put names to one another's faces, but they had already firmly remembered Huo Yuhao, the class monitor of Freshman Class One.
"Don't call me Class Monitor," Huo Yuhao suddenly said coolly.
The students all froze, unsure why Huo Yuhao had suddenly become so averse to the title.
Huo Yuhao swept his gaze across them and said, "Call me Brother Hao!"
The other students: "..."
After a brief silence, their faces broke into delighted smiles, and they answered in unison, "Yes! Brother Hao!"
After physical training class ended, Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong returned to their dormitory.
Wang Dong was drenched in sweat, but she refused to wash in the washroom no matter what. Instead, she fetched a basin of water and washed in their room.
Huo Yuhao was speechless.
We're all grown men here. Why act like some shy little girl?
Although he had barely sweated, he still went to the bathroom to wash, planning to set up his stall at the academy gates afterward.
After changing into a fresh school uniform, Huo Yuhao went back to check on their room, only to see a familiar figure repeatedly knocking on the door of Dormitory 108, producing an incessant thump, thump, thump.
The person kept muttering as he knocked.
"Brother Hao? Are you there, Brother Hao?"
"It's time to open the stall, Brother Hao."
The person knocking was none other than Huo Yuhao's ready-made brother, Dai Huabin.
Huo Yuhao walked over and looked at him as though he were an idiot. "What the hell are you knocking for?"
"Huh? You weren't in your room?" Dai Huabin asked in surprise. "I thought I'd knocked on the wrong door."
Bang-
The door to Dormitory 108 suddenly flew open, and Wang Dong shouted resentfully, "I told you he wasn't here, he wasn't here! Why did you keep knocking?"
She had chosen to wipe herself down in the room precisely because she did not want anyone to see her. Yet halfway through, some dumbass had started knocking nonstop outside and refused to leave no matter what she said.
She could only hurriedly get dressed and open the door to give this endlessly annoying fellow a piece of her mind.
Wang Dong's voice seethed with anger. "Don't ever come knocking on our door again. You're not welcome here!"
Dai Huabin was arrogant by nature. Hearing Wang Dong's rude tone, he said coldly, "What business is it of yours if this young master wants to see Brother Hao?"
The two stared each other down, and the atmosphere immediately grew tense.
That tension, however, was soon broken.
Huo Yuhao impatiently rapped Dai Huabin on the forehead with a knuckle. "What's with that attitude? Call her Brother Dong!"
Dai Huabin froze, then abruptly became obedient. "Hello, Brother Dong."
Wang Dong: "..."
She gave a cold laugh. "Looks like you're also..."
Before Wang Dong could finish, Huo Yuhao rapped her on the forehead too. "You too. Call him Brother Bin!"
Wang Dong: "???"
She did not even know him. Why should she call him that?
Looking into Huo Yuhao's eyes, Wang Dong somehow felt that something terrible would happen if she did not do as he said.
She could only murmur, "Brother Bin."
Huo Yuhao said calmly, "Let me introduce you. This is my roommate, Wang Dong, and this is my regular customer, Dai Huabin. Now that everyone knows each other, do Brother Hao a favor and stop arguing."
Wang Dong: "..."
Dai Huabin: "..."
"All right, let's go."
Seeing Huo Yuhao and Dai Huabin about to head out, Wang Dong asked in confusion, "Where are you going?"
"To open the stall," Huo Yuhao answered without looking back.
"Wait, wait! I'm coming too!" Wang Dong followed them out.
After the afternoon's intense training, she was already ravenous. The thought of Huo Yuhao's delicious grilled fish made the temptation impossible to resist.
These days, Wang Dong no longer even went to the cafeteria. She was counting entirely on Huo Yuhao's barbecue to stay alive.
"Brother Hao, you two go ahead," Dai Huabin said, stopping as they left the dormitory.
"Got something to do?"
"I'm waiting for Lulu."
"Oh."
Huo Yuhao did not ask anything further and headed toward the academy gates with Wang Dong.
Wang Dong glanced back at Dai Huabin, silently muttering to herself.
What's this guy's relationship with Huo Yuhao? Why do they seem so close?