"Report!"
Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong simultaneously ran up to their teacher and the other students, shouting.
The teacher, who was taking attendance, stopped. He was about fifty years old, tall, dark-skinned, and had a cold expression.
"Which class are you two in? Why are you so late?"
Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong both recognized this teacher as Du Weilun, the head of the Martial Soul Department in the Outer Court, and a figure of immense authority there.
Huo Yuhao replied, "Teacher Du, Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong from Class One of the New Students, we were so engrossed in cultivation that we forgot the time."
Du Weilun's expression darkened. "You're late for an assessment? Do you have any concept of time? As punishment, after class, you two will clean the entire hall of the Teaching Building. Go to your places."
"Yes, sir."
Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong quickly agreed, both exhaling in relief. As long as they weren't disqualified from the assessment, it was still fine. The two quickly ran into their class's formation, standing with Xiao Xiao.
Du Weilun glanced at Zhou Yi, who was standing not far away, then picked up the roster and continued reading. If it had been any other student, given his temperament, he would have directly disqualified them. After all, all the groups had already passed the new student assessment. But Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong were special because they had performed exceptionally well during the round-robin tournament, achieving an undefeated record. This was why the stern-faced head had given them a little leeway.
At Shrek Academy, although not everything was based on achievement, if one possessed strong power and good results, they would still receive certain privileges. This was the same in any academy.
"What were you two doing? You're going to get it from Old Lady Zhou later. Look at her eyes, it's like she wants to eat you two alive."
Xiao Xiao said angrily.
Wang Dong grumbled, "You don't need to be so talkative. Isn't it all because of this damn Huo Yuhao? If he hadn't dragged me out to spar and then ignored the time, how would we have been late?"
Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong had already discussed it beforehand. They decided to keep their Martial Soul Fusion Skill a secret for now, as they hadn't used it in this assessment anyway. They unanimously agreed to only tell Teacher Zhou about it to appease her anger. At the same time, they wanted her guidance for their cultivation. Once they could use it proficiently, they would demonstrate it during the assessment.
Soon after, Du Weilun finished taking attendance, and next was the drawing of lots. It was only a new student assessment, yet there were so many elaborate rituals. Huo Yuhao represented his group to draw lots. All the students, sixty-four groups in total, were divided into thirty-two matches, fighting in pairs.
Yesterday, the students had a day to rest and recuperate, and the assessment area had also been improved; only the partition walls needed to be adjusted. It was once again divided into sixteen areas. This time, the area of the fighting rings had increased several times, giving the students participating in the elimination rounds more space to display their skills.
The rules for the elimination rounds were very simple: one match in the morning, one in the afternoon. Any group that was eliminated would go back to class, while the winners would stay and continue the competition. Within three days, the top three would be selected.
After the drawing of lots, the elimination rounds immediately began, with thirty-two matches unfolding simultaneously. This would reduce the total competition time, allowing students more time to rest and prepare for the afternoon matches after their morning bouts.
Huo Yuhao's team was assigned to compete in the fifteenth area. The supervisor had also changed; this time it was a female teacher, around thirty years old, who looked kind.
When drawing lots, they only saw numbers and didn't know who their opponents were. When they entered the arena, they felt a bit helpless. Their opponents were from their own family, Class One of the New Student Division. This kind of elimination match became an internal conflict.
Huo Yuhao knew all three students on the opposing team. One of them had previously had a conflict with Wang Dong. According to Wang Dong, after that guy was beaten by him, he became much more honest.
Zhou Yi's judgment was extremely accurate. When she determined that Huo Yuhao's three-person team was the seeded team of Class One of the New Student Division, it naturally meant they had strength that other teams could match. The match didn't last long. Although the opponents were decent, when Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao attacked simultaneously, with the assistance of the Spiritual Detection Sharing skill, they finished the match in just ten minutes and advanced to the next round.
However, when Huo Yuhao's three left the assessment area, the joy of victory vanished in an instant. Because right at the door, Teacher Zhou was waiting there, her expression extremely grim.
"Xiao Xiao, go back and rest first. As for you two, follow me!"
After Zhou Yi finished speaking, she let out a cold snort, turned around, and walked away.
Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong simultaneously felt a chill down their spines. Fortunately, the two of them had prepared in advance. They exchanged glances before following Zhou Yi. Xiao Xiao could only give them a look that implied "good luck."
This time, Zhou Yi directly took them back to her office. As a class head in the New Student Division, her office was located in the North dormitory area, behind the senior faculty work area of the Teaching Building. The office was on the first floor, and at this moment, she was the only one there.
Following Zhou Yi into the room, Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong couldn't help but be surprised.
Teacher Zhou, with her cold personality and stern demeanor, had an office decorated in a very elegant and refined manner. The walls were painted light white, with some light red wooden materials, as well as a dark red chaise lounge and other furnishings. There was also a small door in the room, which seemed to lead to a bedroom. It had to be said that Shrek Academy treated its teachers quite well.
Huo Yuhao entered last, carefully closing the door. Zhou Yi was already sitting on the chaise lounge, her hands crossed in front of her chest, and she said coldly:
"Speak, what are you two doing? Very good! You've been late for two consecutive days. Do you think that since you've passed the new student assessment, you're fully fledged and I can't control you anymore? Let me tell you, if I want to, expelling you from the academy is easy. This world has never lacked geniuses, and the number of geniuses I've expelled is not small, but very, very many. There's only one reason: their personalities are not suitable to become powerful individuals. Give me a reason not to punish you two."
Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong exchanged glances. Wang Dong nudged him forward, signaling him to explain.
Huo Yuhao could only persist in saying:
"I'm truly sorry, Teacher Zhou, your student was wrong."
Having known each other for three months, they were already familiar with Zhou Yi's temperament. She preferred softness over hardness; stubbornly resisting would only anger this teacher more. The better their attitude, the less severe the punishment.
"Apologies are enough? Don't you realize how big your mistakes are? You're barely over ten years old and you've already started being lazy. For that reason alone, I could expel both of you. If you have a reason, speak up quickly!"
Huo Yuhao respectfully said, "Teacher Zhou, please don't be angry. Do you remember what happened yesterday? Yesterday, our group fought against Huang Chutian's group. In Huang Chutian's group, there were two twin sisters, Lan Susu and Lan Luoluo."
"Hmm." Zhou Yi replied.
Huo Yuhao continued, "That time, our group almost lost because of Lan Susu and Lan Luoluo's Martial Soul Fusion Skill. In the end, it was only through the whole group's concerted effort that we were barely able to stop their Martial Soul Fusion Skill and achieve victory, ultimately winning all matches in the round-robin tournament."
"After returning, my disciple and Wang Dong were very interested in the Martial Soul Fusion Skill, so we decided to try once to see if our Martial Souls could fuse. Because there are no special classes for Martial Soul Fusion Skills at the academy, we had to figure it out ourselves. Unexpectedly, the first time we tried, our Martial Souls actually fused. As a result, during the fusion process, both of us fell unconscious on Wang Dong's bed. By the time my disciple woke up, it was already past class time. This is also the reason why we were late yesterday morning."
While explaining, Huo Yuhao felt Wang Dong behind him pinching his side hard with two fingers and twisting it one hundred eighty degrees.
Although it hurt a lot, he dared not scream. At this moment, Huo Yuhao's face became stiff.
"Martial Soul Fusion?" Zhou Yi was startled. She hadn't expected this to be Huo Yuhao's reason, so she casually asked, "So, you really succeeded?"
Huo Yuhao scratched his head, "We don't know if it was a success or not, so yesterday during our run, my disciple tried it again a little. In the evening, both of us left the academy to try this newly appeared Martial Soul Fusion Skill, but unexpectedly, it succeeded on the first try, and its power was incredibly strong. But immediately after both of us combined to unleash the Martial Soul Fusion Skill, our Soul Power was completely depleted, and we fell unconscious in the forest... By the time we woke up, it was just like the day before... late again. Teacher Zhou, both disciples were truly late for the competition because we were diligently cultivating. This was just an accident, and my disciple promises not to repeat it!"
As he spoke, Huo Yuhao also raised his head to peek at Zhou Yi. Unexpectedly, Zhou Yi was also wide-eyed with surprise at this moment.
"You... you said both of you just tried to use the Martial Soul Fusion Skill and actually succeeded?" Zhou Yi's voice rose, and she stood up from her seat, her face extremely excited.
Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong both nodded.
Zhou Yi excitedly said, "Quick, quick, use your Martial Soul Fusion Skill for me to see!"
Huo Yuhao said, "Teacher Zhou, my disciple still has a competition this afternoon. This Martial Soul Fusion Skill consumes all of both disciples' Soul Power when used."
Zhou Yi angrily said, "That's because it's the first time using the Martial Soul Fusion Skill, so the consumption is extremely high. It won't be like that in subsequent uses. If a Soul Master immediately falls unconscious every time they use a Martial Soul Fusion Skill, is it a suicide skill? Hurry up, with me here to help both of you recover your Soul Power, it definitely won't affect the competition! Both of you, just aim at me and unleash it!"
Since Zhou Yi had said so, Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong no longer refused. They turned to look at each other, and Huo Yuhao opened his arms to embrace Wang Dong. Wang Dong's body stiffened slightly but did not resist, closing his eyes and opening his arms to embrace Huo Yuhao.
As their bodies touched, both immediately released their Martial Souls.
Their Soul Power instantly merged into the Power of Vast East, flowing through their bodies. At this moment, Wang Dong and Huo Yuhao felt as if they had become one.
One, two, three seconds passed...
At this moment, Zhou Yi was extremely focused. The office was so quiet that one could hear a pin drop. Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong had both released their Martial Souls, yet nothing happened.
Zhou Yi stared at them, having prepared her defenses very carefully. But apart from Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong embracing intimately, nothing occurred. The corner of Zhou Yi's eye began to twitch.
Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong started to feel strange. According to yesterday's situation, their Soul Power should have been completely depleted by now, and then the Soul Skill "Brilliant Desolation - Golden Path" would have been unleashed. But now, nothing was happening.
"Are you trying to make fun of me?"
Zhou Yi's voice, cold and sharp, came from between clenched teeth. Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong shivered slightly and separated, their faces filled with surprise.
Teacher Zhou had killing intent! Both shared the same feeling; this old lady Zhou was about to erupt!
Huo Yuhao immediately spoke up:
"Teacher Zhou, this disciple is truly not lying. Last night, we both successfully performed the Martial Soul Fusion Skill. But at this moment, this disciple truly... truly..."
Zhou Yi said coldly:
"Are you two here to hug each other for me to see? Very well, today you two will know my wrath. I will..."
Without waiting for Zhou Yi to finish, Huo Yuhao immediately grabbed Wang Dong's hand and activated Spiritual Detection Sharing to assist Zhou Yi.
"Huh?"
Zhou Yi, who was furious and about to act, suddenly felt that her surroundings became incredibly clear. With just a blink of an eye, everything happening within a hundred meters appeared in her mind.
The range has become so large? Zhou Yi knew that the range of Huo Yuhao's Spiritual Detection Sharing was only thirty meters in diameter. Now it had become over a hundred meters. This growth rate was too terrifying!
Taking advantage of Zhou Yi's astonishment, Huo Yuhao quickly spoke:
"Teacher Zhou, do you remember this disciple once said that the range of Spiritual Detection would increase with this disciple's cultivation? After more than three months of your guidance and teaching, this disciple's Spiritual Detection now has a diameter of fifty meters. Furthermore, this disciple has also researched a way to focus spiritual power in one direction to increase the range. At this moment, you can feel the range of fifty meters in diameter because this disciple and Wang Dong used merged Soul Power. This disciple's Soul Skill is supported, so the affected range has doubled. The growth rate of both our Soul Powers has also increased. This can prove that this disciple and Wang Dong can use the Martial Soul Fusion Skill! Moreover, the traces of us using the Martial Soul Fusion Skill last night are still there. If you don't believe this disciple, I can take you to see them."
After listening to Huo Yuhao's explanation for a while, Zhou Yi began to calm down. At this moment, she realized she had been too impatient.
In the more than three months she had been a teacher for Huo Yuhao's class, she knew him very well. In her memory, no student had been more diligent than him. Among the disciples of the same age group, he was also extremely steady, even like a precocious old man. If he truly wanted to lie, he wouldn't come up with such an easily detectable reason.
Everyone has their own strengths. Although Zhou Yi was a teacher at Shrek Academy, she didn't have a deep understanding of Spirit Fusion Skills. After all, Spirit Fusion Skills were truly rare. After listening to Huo Yuhao's explanation, she was quite convinced, and her anger had subsided considerably.
Zhou Yi waved her hand:
"Alright, retract your Spirit Skill. I'll temporarily believe you two. But the inability to use the Spirit Fusion Skill is extremely strange. Both of you stay here and wait for me for a moment. I'll go call a teacher who has researched Spirit Fusion quite deeply to explain."
As soon as Zhou Yi finished speaking, she immediately walked away.
As soon as she left, Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong immediately breathed a sigh of relief and slumped onto their chairs. Huo Yuhao wiped the cold sweat from his forehead with his left hand. Wang Dong also raised his hand... at this moment, he realized his left hand was still being held by Huo Yuhao.
"Let go of my hand!"
Wang Dong angrily pulled his hand back, then glared at Huo Yuhao:
"It's all your fault! If it weren't for you wanting to go out and research skills, how would Teacher Zhou have noticed me? This isn't some secret anyway!"
Huo Yuhao leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily:
"Blame me if you want, but this isn't a bad thing. With guidance from the teachers, our cultivation will be much easier. You still haven't gotten rid of your unpredictable temper, have you? Perhaps only I can tolerate you!"
Wang Dong snorted:
"I'm only like this with you; with others, it's a long shot. But today, being able to see Teacher Zhou's terrified expression, getting scolded isn't too much of a loss. What do you think, after we pass the assessment, will Teacher Zhou still teach us?"
Huo Yuhao said:
"I don't know either. Although Teacher Zhou can teach a lot, she still has her own strengths. Because our class is too low-level and our cultivation isn't high, Teacher Zhou hasn't shown her true capabilities. I truly hope that after we pass the assessment, we can continue to be taught by Teacher Zhou. After all, having a dedicated and strict mentor isn't a bad thing for us. At least we won't neglect our studies and cultivation."