Morning.
Sunlight filtered through the curtains and spilled into the room, illuminating the two figures entwined on the bed.
The blue-haired youth was the first to wake. Having already begun to practice the path of Blood Essence · Body Cultivation, his physical stamina was naturally much, much stronger than that of the current Ice Emperor, whose body had not yet reached its peak.
Consequently, the initiative remained firmly in his grasp. Even though there was a period where the Ice Emperor exhausted all her strength to get on top, she couldn't hold out for long before suffering a total defeat.
It was worth noting that, perhaps driven by a desire to prove something, the Ice Emperor had kept her teeth clenched the entire time, refusing to utter a single plea for mercy. This had unconsciously triggered a certain inexplicable thrill in Huo Yuhao, leading him to exert his full strength without realizing it...
His deep blue gaze flickered slightly as Huo Yuhao looked down at the Ice Emperor.
At this moment, the girl was huddled quietly in his arms like a small cat. Her exquisite, peerless face bore a striking blush, making her exceptionally alluring.
Looking at the Ice Emperor's face so close at hand, Huo Yuhao's heart was slightly moved. He instinctively leaned in and gave her a light peck on the lips.
In the next instant, the girl's eyelashes trembled slightly, and she slowly opened her eyes.
Her golden pupils met his gaze. For a moment, they looked at each other in silence.
"Good morning, Ice Emperor."
Huo Yuhao quickly offered a greeting, but the Ice Emperor only blinked before expressionlessly snuggling deeper into Huo Yuhao's chest.
"I'm too tired... let me... sleep a bit longer..."
The Ice Emperor spoke in a murmur just loud enough for Huo Yuhao to hear. It sounded like the comfortable purring of a kitten acting spoiled, tugging at Huo Yuhao's heartstrings.
Her breathing gradually stabilized, and the Ice Emperor slowly drifted back to sleep.
Silence returned to the room once more.
...
On the other side, in the living room, Skydream was in total silence. She had woken up to find no one making breakfast, and Huo Yuhao's room was still under blockade.
What does it feel like when the person who used to be your "White Moonlight" is now being ridden hard by the person you like now, and they won't even let you join?
Skydream didn't know, but she felt as if the sky had collapsed.
If you won't let me join, let me stay under the bed! If not under the bed, at least let me listen at the door!!!
I can handle things myself too!!!
...
Shrek Academy, Class One.
At this moment, Zhou Yi returned to her own class with a grim expression.
Standing on the podium and looking at the remaining dozen or so students below, Zhou Yi's face grew even darker. Even through her mask, one could tell her expression was exceptionally hideous.
According to the gambling agreement, the other students of Class One had been taken elsewhere by Ning Tian for lessons.
The students left here were her only remaining capital for a comeback.
Zhou Yi scanned the dozen or so students, a sense of madness slowly breeding in her heart.
They say I'm not qualified to teach? Say I only exploit loopholes? Say I'm a fraud who fishes for fame? Zhou Yi was going to prove it! She wasn't!
Zhou Yi took a deep breath, looked around at the crowd below, and spoke in a deep voice:
"I don't want to say much, because that is a waste of time. By staying here and choosing me, you've proved that your heads are still clear and you haven't been completely blinded.
"In about three months, which is the end of this semester, a Freshman Assessment will be held. This assessment will determine whether you can stay at the academy!
"Furthermore, Dean-level figures will be watching this assessment. If your results are excellent or your performance is outstanding, there is a high probability you will be scouted and taken in as a disciple.
"I believe you all know that the Dean-level figures in our academy are mostly Titled Douluo.
"Survival of the fittest—that is the philosophy of the academy!"
Zhou Yi began her usual routine of "chicken soup" motivational speeches. Once finished, she called the students into her office one by one to arrange the teams in advance.
Soon, it was Tang San's turn.
"Your Martial Soul is a variant of Blue Silver Grass, the Blue Silver King?"
"No, Teacher Zhou, the Blue Silver King is a high-level evolution of Blue Silver Grass," Tang San corrected.
"A high-level evolution? How rare. You share a name with the Ancestor Tang San, and even your Martial Soul is so similar..."
Zhou Yi paused slightly, then spoke indifferently:
"You've been hiding your strength, haven't you?"
Tang San's facial expression remained unchanged, but under the cover of his Divine Consciousness, killing intent instantly flared in his heart!
The first rule of the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record: Never let someone you cannot fully trust know the true extent of your strength!
Even though Tang San highly approved of Zhou Yi's teaching methods—especially the lap running, which felt incredibly familiar to him...
It inexplicably gave him the feeling of returning to those green years ten thousand years ago at Shrek... he was quite nostalgic!
But that didn't mean Tang San fully trusted Zhou Yi.
Knowing that he hid his strength... she truly has a "way to seek her own death"!
Zhou Yi was completely oblivious. Seeing that Tang San's expression hadn't changed, she secretly nodded in approval of his temperament—calm even if Mt. Tai were to collapse before him:
"On the first day of school, there were only four people whose expressions didn't change much under the pressure of my Soul Emperor aura.
"Ning Tian, Wu Feng, Wang Dong'er, and... you.
"Ning Tian goes without saying, a Rank 35 Soul Elder. Wu Feng and Wang Dong'er are Rank 29 and Rank 27 respectively; both possess powerful Beast Martial Souls, so their constitutions are naturally strong.
"Only you have a cultivation of just Rank 24, and your Martial Soul isn't a Tool Martial Soul that enhances the body... How could you remain unfazed?
"Not only that, in every training session, your limit for laps far exceeded the limit of a normal Plant-type Tool Martial Soul Master!
"Your constitution shouldn't be this strong...
"Unless... you are hiding something..."
Zhou Yi stared intently at Tang San. she had noticed him very early on; after all, sharing a name with Ancestor Tang San and having a similar Martial Soul was simply too eye-catching.
But it was precisely this bit of attention that led Zhou Yi to discover the anomalies about him!
"Speak, Tang San. Is it a Soul Bone, or... a Twin Martial Soul?"
Tang San remained silent, countless thoughts flashing through his mind. Kill Zhou Yi?
He was no match for a Soul Emperor right now. Even if he used his powerful hidden weapons or the rewards from his third Sea God trial, he still wouldn't be an opponent.
So... it seemed he had no choice.
Remaining silent, Tang San slowly raised his hand, summoning his long-transformed Clear Sky Bamboo Shoot—no, it should be the Shattering Heaven Hammer Martial Soul!
In an instant, an incredibly heavy aura appeared within the office!
Ever since he learned that forging could enhance his forging hammer Martial Soul, he had carved out time every day to forge, hoping for his Martial Soul to evolve. After all this time, his Martial Soul had indeed evolved as he wished!
Though its appearance was still somewhat comical and ugly, its weight had indeed increased significantly!
And now, since Zhou Yi had already sensed that he was hiding his strength, he might as well expose a portion of his trump cards to attract the attention of the academy's high-level officials and secure a tilt in resources.