As Xue Chen withdrew his Soul Skill and Martial Soul, the dark clouds blanketing the skies above Shrek Academy slowly dispersed, and sunlight once again fell upon the field.
Feeling warmth return to their bodies, all the teachers and students, including Mu Jin and Zhou Yi, wore extraordinarily complicated expressions.
This was Shrek Academy. What kind of genius Soul Master had it not seen?
Yet a Soul Master like Xue Chen, who could trigger a change in the weather with only a single Soul Ring, was utterly without precedent.
"Greetings, Dean Xian!"
Watching the woman slowly descend from high above, the teachers of all the freshman classes finally seemed to wake from a dream and hurriedly bowed to her.
"Mm."
With an indifferent expression, Xian Lin'er casually nodded to the Outer Court teachers before her beautiful eyes settled on Xue Chen in the field.
"Teacher."
After a moment's hesitation, Xue Chen also bowed to Xian Lin'er.
Only upon hearing this did a smile appear on Xian Lin'er's face.
Earlier, in the Sea God Pavilion, Mu En had designated her and Yan Shaozhe as Xue Chen's teachers, but Xue Chen himself had never given any response.
Now that Xue Chen had addressed her as his teacher of his own accord, it counted as his fully acknowledging their relationship as teacher and student.
"Chen'er."
Xian Lin'er stepped forward and reached out to stroke Xue Chen's head, her voice carrying a measure of affection.
"I need to speak with you. Come with me."
Xue Chen said nothing, merely turning to look at the extremely reserved Mu Jin beside him.
"Since Dean Xian Lin'er needs you for something, Xue Chen, hurry along. You mustn't delay her business!"
Noticing Xue Chen's gaze, Mu Jin said with a bitter smile:
"Besides, a genius like you truly has no need to waste precious cultivation time in a freshman class..."
For some reason, Mu Jin's voice seemed to carry an indescribable tinge of bitterness.
She was merely the teacher of Class Nine, whereas Xian Lin'er, standing before her, was Xue Chen's true teacher.
Only a Titled Douluo powerhouse like Dean Xian Lin'er was qualified to teach Xue Chen.
Xian Lin'er glanced at Mu Jin and nodded slightly, seemingly commending him for knowing what to say.
"Let's go."
Withdrawing her gaze, Xian Lin'er took Xue Chen's hand, and they vanished from the spot in a streak of white light.
With Xian Lin'er and Xue Chen's departure, the already quiet field seemed to sink into a peculiar silence.
The teachers of the Outer Court's freshman classes all wore complicated expressions, their envy seemingly mingled with a sense that this was only natural.
"Only a Titled Douluo elder like Dean Xian Lin'er is qualified to teach a student like that."
Zhou Yi put away the envy and jealousy on her face and suddenly spoke in a mocking tone:
"But judging by your expression, Teacher Mu Jin, you seem rather regretful?"
"Surely not? Surely not?"
"Surely you haven't truly started thinking of yourself as his teacher just because that child was assigned to Class Nine?"
Hearing this, Mu Jin's lingering melancholy abruptly gave way to an icy expression.
"At the very least, Xue Chen and I share some bond as teacher and student. He also calls me Teacher Mu Jin."
After a pause, Mu Jin looked at Zhou Yi's nauseating old face and suddenly sneered.
"To be sincerely addressed as a teacher by a student destined for extraordinary achievements-some people must be going mad with jealousy over it!"
"You!"
Zhou Yi's expression turned ugly as well.
The two had been competing ever since they met. How could either fail to understand the other?
How could Zhou Yi's petty thoughts possibly escape Mu Jin's eyes?
After glaring fiercely at Mu Jin, Zhou Yi swung her sleeve sharply and turned toward her class.
"Extra training today! All of you, run another ten laps around the field!"
"Anyone who can't finish can get out of Class One! Our class has no need for useless students like that!"
Every student in Class One looked crestfallen, but under the shadow of Zhou Yi's tyranny after she had expelled more than a dozen students yesterday, they could only steel themselves and start running around the field again.
"Is that teacher of yours out of her mind?!"
The Sky Dream Ice Silkworm, residing in Huo Yuhao's Sea of Consciousness, burst into curses.
"Yuhao, you already suffered serious injuries yesterday. That run just now was already your limit."
"If this continues, you're bound to damage your foundation!"
Exercise was something that required moderation; otherwise, one might suddenly drop dead with a crack, like a certain teacher surnamed Zhang on Blue Star.
"What else can I do? If I don't run, Teacher Zhou Yi really will expel me!"
Huo Yuhao sighed helplessly, but he slowly began running anyway.
"Besides, Shrek Academy has genius students around my age like that person just now. If I don't work hard, how could I face you, Brother Sky Dream?"
Hearing this, the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm, who had still been protesting the injustice on Huo Yuhao's behalf, instantly fell silent.
"Only by staying at Shrek Academy can I keep growing stronger!"
"Only then can I gain the strength to take revenge on the White Tiger Duke's line and fulfill your god-making plan, Brother Sky Dream."
Huo Yuhao clenched his fists tightly, a savage look appearing on his face.
"So no matter what, I absolutely cannot get expelled from Shrek Academy!"
"Yuhao, you..."
The Sky Dream Ice Silkworm let out a long sigh, but could only offer reassurance:
"Don't worry. I've already planned everything out. I'll definitely get you a top-tier Second Martial Soul and Soul Ring."
"When the time comes, I'll make sure you're even stronger than that person just now!"
"Mm!"
Huo Yuhao nodded firmly, then gritted his teeth and continued along the field's running track, sweat pouring off him like rain.
Nor was he the only one. Many other students who had witnessed Xue Chen's strength could not help entertaining thoughts of their own.
"So strong. Is this what a Martial Soul with an Ultimate Attribute is like?"
Looking in the direction where Xue Chen had vanished, an unusual glint flashed through Ning Tian's eyes.
With her Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda Martial Soul's support abilities, the best on the continent, combined with Xue Chen's Ultimate Attribute Martial Soul, she would surely be able to restore the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda to its peak of ten thousand years ago.
"Yes, he... he really is so strong!"
Wu Feng echoed her from beside her.
Yet for some reason, two rather sickly flushes appeared on her cheeks, quite unlike her usual self.
"Is that bastard really this powerful?"
A complicated expression appeared on Wang Dong's face as well, but it was soon replaced by irritation.
"That bastard hasn't come back to the dorm for two nights in a row. Who knows what trouble he's getting up to outside!"
Wang Dong had been the only one staying in their shared dorm room for the past two days, which should have been a tremendous blessing for her.
Yet for some reason, Wang Dong simply felt a little unhappy.
The dorm room was cold and empty, without the slightest trace of life!
"That bastard seems to have caught the attention of Shrek Academy's higher-ups. Who knows if he'll even stay in the freshman dorms anymore!"