Wang Yan's teaching philosophy leaned toward being gentle; he preferred using guidance to help students grow on their own rather than using forceful methods to restrain them.
The deputy class teacher, Han Ruoruo, shared a similar personality.
However, the result was that these geniuses from all over the continent were each full of personality, and friction within the class never ceased.
'For example, the current situation...'
Wang Yan's gaze shifted toward Wu Feng.
'Wu Feng, this child, possesses the Red Dragon Spirit. Her talent is top-tier, and her personality is just like her Spirit—competitive, overbearing, and unable to tolerate even a grain of sand in her eyes.'
His gaze then moved to Huo Yuhao.
'And Huo Yuhao is precisely that grain of sand in her eyes.'
Wang Yan clearly remembered how it all started.
Wu Feng had always disliked Huo Yuhao, especially after the Freshman Assessment when the team of Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, and Xiao Xiao defeated the powerful team led by Ning Tian, which included a Spirit Elder, in a way she completely failed to understand.
From then on, Wu Feng's targeting of him never stopped.
'A guy with spirit power only in the teens, relying on two powerful teammates—what kind of skill is that?'
'This kind of cultivation is simply a waste of the academy's resources; he has no right to stay in our new student class one.'
Similar ridicules happened almost every day.
What triggered everything was a comment Wu Feng made this morning.
'I heard you got in through the Tang Sect's recommendation quota? Heh, so it was through the back door. I was wondering why Shrek Academy's standards had become so low.'
This sentence completely ignited the powder keg in Huo Yuhao's heart.
Thus, it led to the current Spirit Duel.
It was a challenge initiated by Huo Yuhao himself.
If he won, Wu Feng would apologize to him in front of the whole class.
If he lost, Huo Yuhao would apply to leave new student class one on his own, and even leave the Martial Soul Department.
Wang Yan rubbed his temples, his mind filled with a thousand thoughts.
Although he was provoked, this was ultimately Huo Yuhao's own choice.
If a Spirit Master doesn't even have the courage to defend their own dignity, then their future path is destined to be short.
Wang Yan respected his choice.
He actually thought highly of Huo Yuhao; that child's mental-type Spirit was the most peculiar he had ever seen in anyone.
'I hope... he can give me, and everyone else, a surprise.'
At the side of the arena, Han Ruoruo, wearing the Shrek Academy teacher's uniform, served as the referee for this Spirit Duel.
A hint of seriousness was on her elegant face as her gaze swept over the two students.
"Both sides, prepare."
Her voice was crisp, echoing throughout the arena area.
"Spirit Duel, begin!"
As Han Ruoruo gave the order, the atmosphere on the arena instantly grew tense.
However, Wu Feng did not make a move immediately.
She folded her arms across her chest, her fiery curves fully on display.
She tilted her chin up slightly, looking down at Huo Yuhao with a condescending gaze, an undisguised sneer hanging on the corners of her mouth.
"Huo Yuhao, I'll give you one last chance."
Her voice was loud, intentionally letting everyone below the stage hear clearly.
"Now, walk down honestly on your own and take the initiative to apply to leave new student class one tomorrow. I'll act as if nothing happened today, how about it?"
She chuckled and continued:
"With your cultivation not even at Rank 20, how many punches of mine can you take? I'm someone who doesn't know my own strength; if I accidentally kill you, I'll have to face punishment from the academy. It's not worth it, don't you think?"
These words were as insulting as they could be.
Below the stage, Dai Huabin and Zhu Lu, standing in the crowd, both wore mocking smiles on their faces.
"Heh, this trash actually dares to step onto the stage."
Zhu Lu whispered to Dai Huabin.
Dai Huabin didn't speak; he only looked at Huo Yuhao on the stage with a cold, disgusted gaze.
He couldn't quite explain why himself.
'Why? Why do I feel disgusted whenever I see this guy?'
Dai Huabin thought to himself.
'There's a feeling about him that makes me instinctively repulsed. A piece of trash who only barely managed to stay here through luck and the sympathy of others should have the self-awareness of trash. Wu Feng is doing well; kick him out of the Martial Soul Department, better yet, kick him straight out of Shrek, out of sight, out of mind.'
On the other side, Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao were red-faced with anger.
"Dammit, this Wu Feng, she's gone too far!"
Wang Dong growled through gritted teeth.
"Wang Dong, don't be impulsive."
Xiao Xiao pulled his sleeve and said urgently.
"We have to believe in Yuhao. Since he dared to accept the challenge, he must have a way."
Even so, her own voice was filled with unease.
Facing Wu Feng's ridicule and Dai Huabin's undisguised malice below the stage, Huo Yuhao's expression didn't change; he remained calm.
However, his hands hanging at his sides had unknowingly clenched into fists.
His gaze was terrifyingly dark.
His inner self was far from being as calm as his exterior; it was already a surging storm.
'Why?'
He asked himself over and over in his heart.
'Wu Feng, how exactly did I offend you?'
'Just because we beat you and Ning Tian during the Freshman Assessment? But that was a team victory, a tactical victory—isn't that exactly what Shrek Academy promotes?'
'Just because my cultivation is low? But from the day I entered the academy, I've never slacked off for a single day. I've put in more effort than any of you.'
'Just because I was recommended by the Tang Sect? The Tang Sect is an ally of Shrek Academy, and the recommendation quota is an academy regulation. What's wrong with that?'
A series of questions rolled through his heart, eventually turning into a surge of anger.
'No matter what, I must win this battle.'
He took a deep breath, his gaze becoming incredibly determined.
This wasn't just for his own dignity, but also for the dignity of the Tang Sect.
He couldn't let others say that the person recommended by the Tang Sect was a piece of trash.
More importantly, he couldn't leave the Martial Soul Department.
He thought of Teacher Zhou Yi and Teacher Fan Yu.
'Teacher Zhou although strict, she truly wants what's best for me; she recommended I go to the Soul Tool Department for the sake of my future.'
'Teacher Fan Yu has taught me everything he knows, showing me a whole new World.'
'But that doesn't mean I should give up on the Martial Soul Department.'
If he lost today and was kicked out of the Martial Soul Department, what would that represent?
It would represent escape; it would mean he was a failure on the path of the Martial Soul and could only slink away to the Soul Tool Department in disgrace.
'I don't want to be a deserter!'
Huo Yuhao's chest heaved violently as a strong sense of unwillingness and stubbornness welled up from the bottom of his heart.
'I'm not convinced.'
'Why are people like Dai Huabin Core Disciples, enjoying the academy's best resources and being the center of attention?'
'Why should I be looked down upon and treated like trash who got in through the back door?'
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