"Starting today, we will change everything, including Shrek Academy's uniforms, to black. We must remind ourselves at every moment and forever remember this day of humiliation. Let it spur us to become stronger," Zhang Lexuan declared in a ringing voice.
"Tomorrow, all Shrek freshmen will begin their freshman assessment. The homeroom teachers of each class must make the necessary arrangements. The top ten teams in the assessment will all receive outer court core disciple status. We will spare no effort in nurturing every student."
"The assessment standards for inner court students will be lowered, and every student will receive more resources. Everyone, Shrek Academy is our home. Please be sure to protect it!"
With a solemn expression, Zhang Lexuan bowed deeply to the students.
Clap! Clap! Clap!
Thunderous applause rang out across the entire Shrek Academy square.
Every student's eyes blazed as they stared in unison at Zhang Lexuan on the platform and applauded.
Zhang Lexuan's final bow went straight into everyone's hearts. At that moment, their sense of honor in Shrek reached its peak.
Although Zhang Lexuan could not be called the inner court's greatest beauty, her cool, aloof demeanor, coupled with her lovely face and the fervent expectation in her otherwise cool gaze, truly left people powerless to resist.
To think that Shrek now had to let such a young woman shoulder this heavy burden-some could not help aching for her.
Quite a few male students even resolved to hurry up and grow stronger, determined to become their senior sister's strongest support.
"Senior sister, you have to wait for me! Once I become a Titled Douluo, I'll love you and you alone!"
Senior sister, I'll protect you!
Wang Dong'er looked at the excited eyes of the students beside her and was utterly speechless. Then she looked at Huo Yuhao, who was already propped against Xiao Xiao's delicate shoulder, dozing off.
Hmph! At least you still have a bit of a conscience. At least you don't harbor any improper thoughts about senior sister like these guys.
"All right, everyone, dismissed. Class One of the first year, come to the classroom with me," Zhou Yi called out as she stepped forward.
The Shrek students immediately dispersed, the dense crowd scattering all at once.
Some even ran at full speed, eager to improve their strength immediately.
Bei Bei watched Zhang Lexuan walk down from the platform and was just about to approach her.
Suddenly, someone bumped his shoulder. By the time he came back to his senses, Zhang Lexuan had already left.
He could only sigh helplessly and look for another opportunity.
Upon hearing Zhou Yi's words, the students of Freshman Class One immediately stepped out, formed orderly ranks, and stood before her.
Xiao Xiao said timidly, "Yuhao, wake up. Teacher Zhou told us to assemble."
She shook Huo Yuhao, who was leaning against her shoulder, truly reluctant to wake him. His sleeping face was simply too beautiful.
"Oh, come on, you two! Could you hurry up? Teacher Zhou is already looking over here."
Wang Dong'er really could not stand watching anymore. She grabbed Huo Yuhao by the collar and dragged him straight toward the ranks, regardless of whether he was awake.
The weight in her hand left Wang Dong'er utterly speechless. Just what did Huo Yuhao do every night? He looked as though he could never get enough sleep.
Xiao Xiao followed, feeling a little sorry for him, but when she saw Zhou Yi's stern face, there was nothing she could do either.
"Everyone! Hurry up and get seated in the classroom."
Under Zhou Yi's lead, they followed her into the teaching building.
By now, the teaching building had long since lost its usual clamor. Only silence remained.
Zhou Yi tapped the desk and said solemnly, "Now, everyone has received their paper, right? Write down your future cultivation direction on it. This is very important!"
"I've divided you into twenty-two groups, with one person left over. I grouped you according to your Martial Soul characteristics. Discuss things among your group members yourselves, and if you want to make any changes, tell me before tonight."
"Song Qinghan," Zhou Yi said gravely.
"Present!"
A thin, small student immediately stood up from his seat. Song Qinghan had not expected someone as inconspicuous as himself to be the first person Zhou Yi called.
"Based on my observations, you're very well suited to the Soul Tool Department. If you have no objections, report there today. This is a special admission under my authority as homeroom teacher, so you can enter directly without an assessment."
"Of course, if you want to stay in the Martial Soul Department, I can choose someone else."
Zhou Yi was forceful, laying the choices directly before him.
Time was tight now and could not be squandered at will. Zhou Yi needed an answer immediately.
Before yesterday, she had intended to recommend Huo Yuhao to the Soul Tool Department. But after such a major incident on Sea God Island, she had to recommend the most suitable student among them.
As the White Tiger Duke's third son, Huo Yuhao at least had better Martial Soul talent than Song Qinghan. For the academy's development, she immediately changed her decision.
"I'm willing! Thank you, Teacher Zhou!"
Song Qinghan was so excited he nearly jumped up. Hadn't he come to Shrek precisely for the Soul Tool Department? This was practically having someone hand him a pillow just as he started nodding off!
Zhou Yi gestured for him to sit down and took out the roster. "Now, we'll begin assigning groups. Group One: Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, Xiao Xiao. Group Two..."
The grouping went smoothly. None of the students even had any thoughts of rejecting their teammates; Zhou Yi's arrangements largely matched their own wishes.
Zhou Yi walked up to the lectern and swept her sleeve. "All right, you have three minutes. Hand it in when you're finished!"
"One more thing. The academy has suffered some heavy blows, and the elimination rate has already been greatly reduced. I demand that all twenty-two of your groups pass the freshman assessment! Can you do it?"
"We can!" everyone answered in unison.
Choosing a cultivation direction was not particularly difficult for any student. Based on their understanding of their own Martial Soul's characteristics, everyone had long since decided on their future cultivation direction.
The other students all wrote their answers on their papers, then handed them in one by one as groups.
Huo Yuhao rubbed his eyes and opened them. After casually writing a few words on the blank paper, he set it aside and waited for Wang Dong'er and Xiao Xiao to hand it in for him.
Wang Dong'er looked at the newly awakened Huo Yuhao beside her, then glanced at the words on his paper. She was a little puzzled, but soon understood and wrote her own answer with satisfaction.
Xiao Xiao also stole a glance. Only after confirming that their cultivation directions would not separate the two of them did she write her own answer.
Wang Dong'er handed in the three of their forms.
Seeing that everyone had handed theirs in, Zhou Yi took the three sheets from Wang Dong and flipped through them. Her brow furrowed. "Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, Xiao Xiao, you three stay behind. Everyone else can head back, discuss things, and work on your teamwork to prepare for tomorrow's assessment."
All their fellow students immediately left the classroom. Every one of them was in a hurry, with no time to spare wondering why Zhou Yi had kept the three behind. Passing the freshman assessment was what mattered most right now. The upheaval at the academy had caused the other classes to speed up their schedules too, and almost all had left the teaching building. Soon, the building fell quiet again, leaving only Huo Yuhao and the other two standing there.
"You three. Are you trying to put me in my place?!"
Zhou Yi shook the papers in her hand, her brow tightly furrowed, and slapped the white sheets heavily onto the desk.
"Come on, Huo Yuhao. I really don't know what you're thinking! Tell me, what were you thinking?"
"Power Attack Control System!"
The five large characters stood out conspicuously on the paper!
Huo Yuhao, however, looked calm as he took out the short sword tucked at his waist and blew the dust off its sheath.