The classroom fell into an eerie silence.
In all her years of teaching, this was the first time Teacher Zhou had encountered a student who so boldly questioned her teaching methods.
A flash of astonishment first crossed her wrinkled face, immediately followed by an irrepressible surge of anger.
"Do you have a problem with my teaching?" Teacher Zhou's voice rose sharply, her hoarse tone echoing through the classroom, carrying a heart-palpitating sense of oppression.
Furina, however, remained completely unmoved. She stood up gracefully, her long white hair gleaming with a soft luster in the sunlight streaming through the window.
She did not answer Teacher Zhou's question directly, but instead threw out an unexpected counter-question:
"Before discussing this issue, I would like to ask Teacher Zhou—according to your standards, do I count as a Genius now?"
"Hm?" Teacher Zhou was clearly stunned, the anger she had just been brewing even coming to a halt.
Having taught for many years, she had seen all kinds of unruly students, but she had never encountered one who played by such unconventional rules.
The other students in the classroom were also stunned; none of them had expected Furina to ask such a seemingly irrelevant question.
A meaningful smile curled at the corners of Furina's lips: "Didn't Teacher Zhou just say that 'those who dare not cause trouble are mediocre'? So, now that I am openly questioning your teaching methods, according to this standard, do I count as a Genius?"
"You!" Teacher Zhou's expression instantly froze, and for a moment, she was so angry she almost wanted to laugh.
In all her years of teaching, this was the first time she had encountered such a sharp-tongued and audacious student.
The students below, including Huo Yuhao, were all suppressing their laughter.
Some people even lowered their heads, their shoulders trembling slightly, clearly amused by Furina's unexpected response.
Furina, however, did not stop there. She continued calmly: "Or is it that Teacher Zhou says 'those who dare not cause trouble are mediocre', but in reality, that is not the case at all, and you are just putting on a show of authority in front of students?"
Her voice was crisp and melodious, yet every word stung: "Or perhaps, you are just following some so-called 'fine tradition'? But I highly doubt whether this tradition is truly correct. Are those who dare not cause trouble necessarily mediocre? In my opinion, those who only know how to stir up trouble are the real fools. After all, if you put it that way, wouldn't the little hooligans who cause trouble at will all be Geniuses?"
"Or is it that this philosophy of 'those who dare not cause trouble are mediocre' actually only cultivates a group of cowards who only dare to bully the weak, but lack the courage to challenge the strong?"
These words were like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, stirring up ripples among the students.
Many students nodded in agreement unconsciously; Furina's words had indeed voiced their inner thoughts.
Teacher Zhou's face was so gloomy that it seemed water could drip from it; she stared fixedly at Furina, her eyes as sharp as knives.
The dignity she had built up over many years of teaching was being challenged like never before at this moment.
"My words are the rules!" Teacher Zhou slammed the podium, the heavy solid wood podium groaning painfully under her palm. "If any of you feel dissatisfied, you can choose to get out right now!"
She scanned the room, her voice bone-chillingly cold: "Within one minute, I want to see you running around Shrek Square! Otherwise, everyone will be expelled!"
As she spoke, a powerful fluctuation of Soul Power erupted from her body.
Two yellow, two purple, and two black—six perfect spirit rings rose slowly from beneath her feet, and the pressure of a Spirit Emperor instantly enveloped the entire classroom.
"Especially you," Teacher Zhou's gaze locked onto Furina, "you sharp-tongued little girl!"
However, facing this powerful pressure, Furina smiled.
That smile carried a hint of nonchalance, yet it also contained an undeniable confidence.
"Showing off spirit rings? Who's afraid of who?" Furina gently raised her hand, a soft light condensing in her palm. "If you want to call me a fool, you might as well take a look at my Martial Soul and spirit rings first."
As she spoke, an exquisite cake appeared in her hand.
Immediately after, a scene that left everyone dumbfounded appeared—two purple and two black, four spirit rings that defied conventional knowledge rose slowly from beneath her feet.
"Let me introduce myself," Furina's voice was clear and composed, "Furina, fourteen years old, a level 49 Food-type Support Soul Master! And I have twin spirits. May I ask, in your opinion, am I a fool?"
At this moment, the entire classroom fell into a deathly silence.
Except for Huo Yuhao and Xiao Xiao, who already knew, all the students, including Wang Dong, were too shocked to speak.
A fourteen-year-old Soul Ancestor was already astonishing enough, not to mention that counter-intuitive spirit ring configuration, and the status of having twin spirits.
Wang Dong compared to himself in his heart: "It's just twin spirits, right? I have them too..."
But he had to admit that the talent Furina displayed was truly shocking.
He comforted himself in his heart: "Big Daddy and Second Daddy said that I actually have a third Martial Soul, it's just that I can't attach spirit rings to it yet. Also, my second spirit ring is also at the Millennium level, and for my next spirit ring, I will strive for a Ten-Thousand Year one; one day I will be able to catch up to her."
His gaze drifted unconsciously toward Huo Yuhao: "And that guy... he clearly looks younger than me, yet he is already level 31, and his spirit ring configuration is so abnormal too. Could it be because he is a companion of Furina? Regardless, I must work harder."
Teacher Zhou on the podium was equally dumbfounded.
Having taught for many years, she had seen many Geniuses, but this was the first time she had seen someone as abnormal as Furina.
With this level of talent, let alone expulsion, even a slightly harsh punishment could alarm the academy's higher-ups.
Teacher Zhou soon realized that the student in front of her was definitely not someone she could handle at will.
Such a gifted student must have been reported to the academy by the admissions teachers long ago.
Perhaps the academy's higher-ups were already closely monitoring every move of this student.
Despite her inner shock, Teacher Zhou still felt angry at Furina's backtalk.
Furina's actions were undoubtedly openly challenging her authority, and those words just now had indeed made it difficult for her to refute.
Seeing Teacher Zhou remain silent, Furina spoke again, her tone carrying a hint of mockery: "I think Teacher should admit that I am a Genius, right? After all, someone as talented as me is truly rare in ten thousand years."
Although these words carried an obvious element of self-praise, no one present could refute them.
Facing such astonishing talent, any questioning seemed pale and powerless.
And indeed, there had been no such talent in the past ten thousand years.
Furina changed the subject, bringing the topic back to the main point: "Alright, let's leave the previous matter aside for now. Regarding the running punishment you requested, Teacher, I do have some doubts."
Teacher Zhou didn't know if Furina was giving her a way out or preparing to pick new faults, but even if it were the latter, she could only patiently take up the topic: "Fine, Genius student, tell me, what doubts do you have about my course arrangements?"
The atmosphere in the classroom seemed to have eased, but everyone knew that this contest between teacher and student had only just begun.
A meaningful smile curled at the corners of Furina's lips; she gathered her thoughts, prepared to give this strict head teacher a lesson.
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