"Yes, that's why I chose your class, Teacher Mu Jin."
Withdrawing his gaze from Class One, Xue Chen turned and gave Mu Jin behind him a bright smile.
"In my opinion, teachers like you are the ones who deserve the title of outstanding teacher at Shrek Academy!"
At the sight of Xue Chen's smile, Mu Jin froze slightly. Then a blush actually flashed across his face, and his long legs, clad in pale purple stockings, could not help pressing together.
"You child, you certainly know how to sweet-talk your teacher!"
Pressing his lips together, Mu Jin gave Xue Chen a mildly reproachful look, but when their eyes met, she hurriedly looked away.
The heart that had fallen silent ever since Fan Yu and Zhou Yi got together seemed to start pounding again at that moment, despite herself.
A student who could offer him emotional fulfillment, who was so talented and so good-looking, was truly difficult not to like.
"Ahem, ahem, ahem!"
After a couple of dry coughs, Mu Jin forcibly suppressed the jumble of thoughts in his mind and clapped his hands at the students of Class Nine.
Only after all the Class Nine students had focused their attention on her did she speak:
"As Battle Soul Masters, practical combat experience is the most important part of your overall strength, and also the easiest to overlook!"
"Especially when your opponent's Soul Power Level and Martial Soul quality are similar to yours, practical combat experience is often the key to deciding victory!"
"Even Soul Masters whose apparent strength falls short of their opponents can sometimes win by relying on abundant practical combat experience!"
After a pause, Mu Jin's expression gradually grew serious.
"Although you are currently students of Shrek Academy, no one can guarantee that you will pass the freshman assessment in three months and retain your status as students here!"
The other students of Class Nine listened very attentively, and quite a few even looked worried.
Xue Chen, however, was yawning, looking utterly bored.
Three months?
What could anyone accomplish in three months?
For a Soul Grandmaster above rank twenty, three months might not even be enough to raise their Soul Power by a single rank!
In Xue Chen's view, this so-called three-month freshman assessment was nothing but Shrek Academy's open scheme to drive people out.
The admission requirements for the Shrek Outer Court were not actually that high. The relatively difficult part was obtaining two recommendation letters from city lords of major cities.
Yet it was precisely this recommendation system that had filled Shrek Academy with useless second-generation heirs who had little ability and relied entirely on popping pills to raise their ranks.
The assessment three months after admission was largely intended to clear these useless second-generation heirs out of Shrek Academy.
"Xue Chen!"
Watching Xue Chen yawn nonstop, Mu Jin frowned slightly and suddenly called his name.
"Yes!"
Xue Chen jolted and hurriedly answered.
"An Ultimate Attribute Martial Soul may be powerful, but as I just said, practical combat experience is equally important."
After reprimanding Xue Chen, Mu Jin swept his gaze over the students of Class Nine again.
"Which of you would like to have a Soul Fighting match with Xue Chen right here?"
At these words, every student in Class Nine lowered their head, not daring to meet Mu Jin's eyes.
Fight Xue Chen? Was he kidding?
Wu Feng's strength already ranked among the very best in Class Nine, yet yesterday, even after using a Soul Skill, she had been frozen by a single palm strike from Xue Chen, who had not even used Martial Soul Possession.
How the hell were students like them supposed to fight a monster like that?
"In competition between Soul Masters, the brave must take the lead!"
Seeing how timid all the students looked, Mu Jin's pretty face immediately darkened.
"If you don't even have the courage to challenge a Soul Master at your own level, what could you possibly achieve in the future?"
But it did fuck all. Still, not a single student volunteered.
"Wu Feng!"
Seeing that no one was willing to volunteer, Mu Jin simply called on someone directly.
Wu Feng trembled all over when Mu Jin called her name and hurriedly edged closer to Ning Tian.
"Teacher... I can't. I really can't..."
Having only just left the infirmary, Wu Feng was deathly pale, and her gaze was rather evasive as she looked at Xue Chen.
It was unclear whether yesterday's injuries had yet to fully heal or whether she was simply afraid.
The corner of Mu Jin's mouth twitched slightly.
If even Wu Feng was this frightened, there was no need to mention the other students of Class Nine.
"Why don't you all just come at me together?"
Looking at the cowering students of Class Nine, Xue Chen curled his lip with considerable disdain.
Restricted by his Soul Rings, his Soul Power was currently stuck firmly at rank nineteen, but the quality of his Soul Power, his Martial Soul, and his Soul Rings were all far beyond what these students could compare with.
In particular, the area damage he could inflict after gaining control of Ultimate Ice was enough to let him fight many opponents at once.
"What!"
However afraid the students of Class Nine were, they could not help flaring with anger at such arrogant words.
A Soul Master of only rank nineteen actually wanted to challenge several dozen of them.
No matter how powerful the Ultimate Ice attribute was, that was absolutely impossible!
"Xue Chen... you aren't joking with me, are you?"
Even Mu Jin was left at a loss by Xue Chen's arrogance. After freezing for a moment, he finally asked Xue Chen for confirmation.
"Of course I'm not joking."
Xue Chen shook his head and merely stretched where he stood.
"The strong always walk alone. Only the weak gather in packs!"
Xue Chen made no deliberate effort to lower his voice, and every Class Nine student who heard him exploded.
"This brat is way too arrogant!"
"There's a fucking limit to arrogance!"
"No matter how powerful the Ultimate Ice attribute is, it has to have a limit!"
"I refuse to believe he can beat us all if we rush him together!"
"We have to teach him a lesson!"
The male students of Class Nine rubbed their fists and flexed their hands, eager to teach Xue Chen a lesson.
Yet little stars lit up in the eyes of most of the female students as they looked at Xue Chen.
Whether on Blue Star in his previous life or on the Douluo Continent now, the vast majority of women admired the strong.
Though he was in the same year as them, Xue Chen dared to challenge an entire class of students alone. Such courage and boldness truly won over these girls, who were only in their teens.
Even Mu Jin, their teacher, could not help feeling a flutter in his heart.
"All right!"
Gritting his teeth, Mu Jin revealed six Soul Rings beneath his feet: two yellow, two purple, and two black-the optimal configuration.
With a wave of his hand, the fifth Soul Ring beneath Mu Jin's feet lit up.
In an instant, rings of green vines burst from the ground, enclosing the large stretch of the field occupied by Class Nine.
Such a commotion naturally attracted the teachers and students of the other classes training on the field.
Quite a few students and teachers stopped what they were doing and looked toward Class Nine.
"Teacher Mu Jin, what are you doing?"
Some teachers who were on good terms with Mu Jin came straight over and asked curiously.