It was true that Zhou Yi could use expulsion to intimidate the entire class, but by the same token, Ning Tian could choose confrontation to rapidly accumulate her own prestige.
As the Young Mistress of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, coupled with her Level 35 cultivation and the Level 29 Wu Feng by her side, Ning Tian could quickly establish her authority and ensure every student in the class remembered her name.
One could only say the method was a bit aggressive, but unexpectedly effective.
Amidst the stagnant atmosphere, Du Weilun was "released" by a certain someone and tossed inside to balance the mood. Of course, with Huo Yuhao standing right outside the door of Class 1, Du Weilun's "balancing" naturally leaned toward a specific side.
A short while later, Zhou Yi was temporarily taken back to the Teaching Director's office by Du Weilun, leaving Class 1 to self-study for the time being.
Ning Tian naturally did not waste this opportunity. She decisively began winning people over, organizing the class, and presenting everyone with a small gift.
It must be said, she truly lived up to her status as the future Sect Master of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Even at a young age, her tactical mind was far deeper than her peers.
To Ning Tian, the students before her were all "potential stocks." In the future, if even one of them achieved a high cultivation and joined the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, she would turn a profit.
In just a short time, Ning Tian gained the goodwill of the vast majority of the class, and there was already a faint trend of her becoming the unofficial Class Monitor.
In her seat, Wang Dong'er's expression froze slightly as she carefully reached out to touch the small gift Ning Tian had given her.
It was a First-Class defensive soul tool. In terms of raw value, a First-Class tool was only so-so, as it could at most defend against attacks from Soul Masters below Level 20.
However, what truly left her at a loss was the fact that she could touch this soul tool normally! It didn't trigger any sense of nausea or guilt!
Wang Dong'er held the palm-sized, shield-shaped defensive soul tool as if it were the most precious treasure in the world.
She could feel that as long as she injected soul power into it, the defensive tool would deploy exactly as designed.
And this proved one thing.
That was—she could use soul tools!
She... she really could use soul tools now!
...
On the other side, in Du Weilun's office, Zhou Yi was having a heated confrontation with him.
"Can't you show some restraint?! Last semester, the number of complaint letters about you was in the double digits—more than all the other teachers combined!"
"I have my teaching philosophy. If you really can't stand me, then just tell me to get lost!"
Zhou Yi gave Du Weilun no face at all, snapping back at him as usual.
"There's nothing wrong with your teaching philosophy, but can't you be a bit gentler? Can't you stop expelling students so casually?!"
"Gentle? As long as Fan Yu thinks I'm gentle, that's enough! Besides, being gentle to students just gives them an opening to walk all over you!"
Zhou Yi once again skillfully brought up Fan Yu. However, while she thought this would shut Du Weilun up, it actually caused Du Weilun to lose his temper.
"Fan Yu? You're mentioning Fan Yu again! It's like this every single time! Do you even know who Ning Tian's teacher is?! You get your kicks out of expelling people, and I'm the one left to clean up your mess!
"If that Dean Skydream truly comes to place blame, will it be you resigning or me?
"Zhou Yi, for Fan Yu's sake, I'm warning you one last time: stop talking about expulsion every time you open your mouth. They are still children, not tools for your intimidation! Restrain yourself!
"If something really happens, Fan Yu will have to suffer right along with you!"
Du Weilun's resentment was massive.
He and Fan Yu had a good personal relationship, and it was precisely because of their years of friendship that he had helped Zhou Yi so many times.
However, over the years, Zhou Yi's teaching style had become increasingly extreme, escalating from corporal punishment to the far more severe penalty of expulsion!
And almost every time, she acted first and reported later, bringing the expulsion forms for him to sign only after the students had already left...
If it weren't for Fan Yu's face, he really would have wanted to slap Zhou Yi!
In the past, things were manageable and could be suppressed, but this time, he had been snatched from his office by the student's guardian (teacher) and dragged to the classroom door to listen to Zhou Yi call Ning Tian "uneducated."
He was numb. Completely numb.
You're literally calling a child uneducated right in front of their guardian—are you insulting the child or the guardian?!
Regardless, at that moment, Du Weilun was breaking into a cold sweat, not daring to move an inch.
Hearing Du Weilun roar like this, Zhou Yi was momentarily stunned and a bit dazed. Usually, as long as she mentioned Fan Yu, Du Weilun would endure his anger. Why did he explode this time?
Facing the obviously furious Du Weilun, Zhou Yi—who still possessed a modicum of situational awareness—hesitated slightly. Finally, she dryly left behind a sentence: "I know what I'm doing," and turned to leave.
Seeing Zhou Yi's stubborn attitude, Du Weilun's face was covered in dark lines.
This is all the result of Fan Yu spoiling her!
No, if this continues, I might go down too! Didn't even the Dean get put into solitary confinement for half a year by that Dean Skydream? How could a lowly Teaching Director like me play games with someone like that?!
Sorry, Fan Yu, but your bro has to look out for himself!
In short, I must cut ties with Zhou Yi!
...
Clearly, Du Weilun's words had some effect—though only a little.
Upon returning to the class, Zhou Yi didn't say another word, simply ordering the students to run laps as per her previous requirement.
This time, Ning Tian was the first to stand up, leading the other students to begin running.
This sight of unity made Zhou Yi's expression turn even gloomier.
However, there were still some who didn't fit in.
For example... Tang San.
Accepting your gift ≠ I owe you anything.
Tang San couldn't stand seeing Ning Tian defy a teacher he had approved of, especially since his own daughter had also chosen to join Ning Tian's group. This made Tang San even more furious!
Daring to lead my daughter toward disrespecting her teacher? You truly have a way to seek your own death!
And Xiao Qi too, showing no sense of discipline at all. She's really been spoiled rotten by Da Ming and Er Ming!
In a single instant, Tang San had already developed a grudge against three people!
When the laps ended, because Ning Tian had led the way, there were far fewer slackers this time. However, there were still a few who failed to complete the task and were expelled by Zhou Yi for "insincere study."
Crucially, none of these people were part of Ning Tian's group.
This scene served to refresh Zhou Yi's authority while simultaneously making the other students subconsciously feel that as long as they stayed in Ning Tian's group and followed orders, they wouldn't risk expulsion.
Thus, invisibly, Ning Tian's prestige grew once again.
After the class ended and everyone prepared to leave, Wang Dong'er approached Ning Tian... in her capacity as the Young Mistress of the Clear Sky Sect.