The list of Core Disciples was finalized, like the cold chime of a hammer, shattering the last shred of luck in Huo Yuhao's heart.
He stood where he was, feeling as if his blood had instantly cooled, leaving only a bone-chilling cold.
Despite his usually composed demeanor, he was actually sensitive inside; he had experienced far more hardship than his peers, making him more prone to harboring dark thoughts.
Especially when his gaze swept over Dai Huabin in the crowd, that familiar and detestable figure made the long-repressed resentment and unwillingness almost burst from his chest.
"Why... why... why!"
Huo Yuhao roared in his heart over and over, his nails digging deep into his palms, bringing a sharp pain.
The huge disparity gnawed at his heart like a poisonous snake; they were on the same team, yet Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao had both become Core Disciples, while he, the captain, was excluded. This humiliation and sense of loss almost suffocated him.
Beside him, Wang Dong keenly sensed Huo Yuhao's stiff body and the uncontrollable negative emotions; he worriedly tugged at Huo Yuhao's sleeve and whispered, "Yuhao, calm down."
He was truly afraid that this stubborn companion would act on impulse and do something irreversible.
On the high platform, the Director glanced obscurely at Huo Yuhao and sighed softly in his heart.
It was not that he hadn't noticed this youth; the tactical core role Huo Yuhao displayed in battle, especially that magical Spiritual Detection, had indeed made him and several judging teachers hesitate.
But in the end, that conspicuous white ten-year soul ring, along with his current Soul Power of only level seventeen, became the heaviest weight on the scale of judgment.
At Shrek Academy, especially when selecting Core Disciples who would be future top-tier combatants, they had to place more importance on the solidity of a Soul Master's foundation and their obvious growth potential.
Huo Yuhao's "shortcomings," by the standards of the academy's upper echelon, appeared too fatal.
However, the Director ultimately cherished talent and did not completely block his path.
He cleared his throat and continued to announce: "In view of the fact that some freshmen in the Freshman Assessment, although lacking in talent and ability, also had excellent performances, the academy has decided to allow them to temporarily enjoy the treatment of Core Disciples. Until the end of this academic year, if they can make a Breakthrough in next year's promotion examination, they will be considered for promotion to official Core Disciples. The list is as follows: Huo Yuhao, Cui Yajie, Huang Chutian, Long Xiangyue, Nangong Yuner. Announcement concluded."
This sudden status as a "preparatory Core Disciple" temporarily extinguished the raging fire of resentment in Huo Yuhao's heart.
He lifted his head abruptly, the ferocity in his eyes receding slightly, replaced by a trace of complex bewilderment. Immediately, he thought of his pitiful level seventeen Soul Power and that white spirit ring, and a deep sense of powerlessness and self-mockery welled up in his heart.
That's right, compared to those Geniuses who were selected, what was he, Huo Yuhao?
If not for that accidental Martial Soul Fusion Skill with Wang Dong, the "Martial Soul Fusion Skill," he probably wouldn't have even secured this preparatory spot.
Who could he blame? Blame the academy for being blind? Perhaps, he should blame his own lack of strength, blame his own seemingly unimpressive spirit ring configuration.
A bitter smile appeared at the corner of Huo Yuhao's mouth.
When he lifted his head again, the grievance and unwillingness in his gaze had been forcibly suppressed, replaced by a cold chill and a near-paranoid determination.
He needed strength, needed to prove himself, and needed to make everyone who looked down on him pay the price.
Gu Yuena's keen mental force captured Huo Yuhao's fleeting dark emotions, and she frowned almost imperceptibly.
This is the child of destiny chosen by the will of the Douluo Continent plane? So fragile in Mind and nature, easily prone to resentment? She sneered in her heart.
Then, her gaze involuntarily fell upon Caelus beside her, who possessed a calm temperament and seemed to have everything under control.
No matter how you looked at it, Caelus was more like the child of destiny than Huo Yuhao.
But the rules of the World are sometimes just that ironic.
The Douluo plane chose humanity, chose a youth with such flawed Mind and nature... For the Soul Beast race, this was by no means a good thing.
A warning sign faintly arose in Gu Yuena's heart.
Moreover, Huo Yuhao was also at Shrek; he would surely be a variable in her plans in the future.
However, as it currently stood, Huo Yuhao not being truly valued by Shrek Academy could be considered good news.
After announcing the list of Core Disciples and preparatory Core Disciples, it was time for the final class assignment segment.
The entire first grade was divided into four classes.
Class One was for attack system and control system Soul Masters, Class Two was for defense system and agility-attack system Soul Masters, Class Three was for support system Soul Masters, and Class Four was for other various special attribute Soul Masters and Tool Spirit Masters, including food system and healing system.
Without a doubt, the strongest in terms of overall strength was Class One.
Caelus, Gu Yuena, and Ye Guyi were assigned to Class One without any suspense.
Most of the Core Disciples, such as Dai Huabin, Wang Dong, and others, were also assigned to Class One because their Martial Soul characteristics fell under the attack system or control system.
Almost every grade was divided into classes in this way, but the higher the grade, the fewer the number of people in each class.
The elimination rate at Shrek Academy had always been extremely high.
Even for students who could successfully graduate from the Outer Court, there were no more than fifty people each year.
In other words, out of these three hundred or so students now, it would be quite good if twenty percent could make it to the end.
Next was the introduction of the head teachers for each class.
Due to the sudden emergence of Caelus's team, which snatched the championship, coupled with the addition of the Inner Court elite Han Ruoruo, the original plot had already deviated.
Huo Yuhao's team failed to win the championship, so Zhou Yi naturally lost the qualification to become the head teacher of Class One.
The final announced result was.
For Class One of the first grade, the head teacher would be Wang Yan, a senior teacher with extremely rich theoretical knowledge and rigorous teaching style.
And the Assistant Class Teacher would be Han Ruoruo, who, while slightly lacking in teaching experience, was powerful and served as a representative of the Inner Court Disciples.
After the class assignment ceremony ended, Caelus, Gu Yuena, and Ye Guyi followed the Director to his spacious and bright office.
The Director took out an exquisite jade box from his spirit tool, and the moment the lid was opened, a gentle yet pure energy fluctuation permeated the air.
Inside the jade box, a left arm Spirit Bone lay quietly, its entire body appearing pale cyan, with what seemed to be flowing cloud-like light inside.
"This is your reward for being the freshman champions, a left arm bone from a hundred-year-old Azure Cloud Sparrow."
The Director introduced, his tone carrying a hint of encouragement.
"It can enhance a Soul Master's speed and comes with an attack or amplification Spirit Ability related to the wind attribute. The specific effect varies from person to person. For agility-attack system or some control system Soul Masters who need speed, it is a quite good choice."
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