The taunting words stirred up a storm of emotions among the students.
Some who had been wavering, influenced by the outspoken few, began to break away from the group.
"Hey! Do you even care about our team's honor?"
"This is ridiculous! Zhao Wuyou, you're a disgrace!"
"Having you as a roommate is utterly humiliating!"
Huo Yuhao's expression remained calm; he had anticipated this moment.
He and Wang Dong began jogging forward, supporting Xiao Xiao between them, their actions clearly expressing their stance.
Those who hadn't fled followed suit, one after another.
The pace was slow, but the group gradually drew closer to Huo Yuhao.
The rhythmic pounding of footsteps, synchronized and steady, echoed like a giant beast strolling through the distance.
Huo Yuhao's vision began to flash with notifications:
[ - Rewrite Xiao Xiao's fate: +15 Fortune Points! ]
[ - Rewrite Wang Dong's fate: +21 Fortune Points! ]
[ - Rewrite Zhao Wuyou's fate: +8 Fortune Points! ]
The numbers weren't large, but they were numerous.
Huo Yuhao, aided by the Muscle Transformation Manual recovery, pondered: 'It's just running, right? How does that rewrite someone's fate?'
"It's because those who align with the Way receive greater support," Zhuge Lan explained. "Now that we've formed a core team around you, Huo Yuhao, the chances of us helping each other out in the future have increased."
Huo Yuhao had an epiphany.
'So, without realizing it, I've already started influencing the fates of others?'
A sudden idea struck him.
"Brother Lan, I want to recruit everyone into the Holy Flame Meow Meow Sect!"
"I have no objections," Zhuge Lan replied casually. "But you should probably ask Ma Xiaotao first. Have her inform the higher-ups; otherwise, people might mistake us for some evil Soul Master gang coming to Shrek to steal talent."
"You're always so thorough, Brother Lan."
Ding-ling-ling—
The school bell finally rang.
The formation instantly collapsed. Ninety percent of the students plopped down onto the ground, some even collapsing onto their backs.
"Get up! Don't lie down!" Huo Yuhao shouted. "Your bodies are at their limits, but that means absorbing soul power is even more effective now! Quickly, sit cross-legged and meditate!"
He led by example, immediately activating the Muscle Transformation Manual. The refining effect was even more potent than usual, his exhausted body hungrily absorbing the soul power. More students began meditating, though most struggled to maintain focus due to their depleted state.
Still, they gained something from the experience.
As for elimination?
That was already forgotten.
Zhou Yi quietly appeared, waving her hand to erect a soul power barrier, her eyes brimming with satisfaction.
With Huo Yuhao leading the way, it was effortless to identify the talent worth nurturing.
As for the dozen or so who had abandoned the group, unless they possessed truly exceptional talent, they were already eliminated in her eyes.
Though Shrek was an academy, it also bore the responsibility of maintaining peace on the continent.
Those who cared more about personal gain than collective honor, who chose to flee at the first sign of hardship, were not worth investing resources in.
They might just turn into ungrateful wretches, biting Shrek in the end.
A dozen minutes later, Huo Yuhao finished his practice and rose, the clanking of his armor startling the others awake.
Zhou Yi dissipated the soul power barrier and nodded toward the white-robed man.
Buzz, buzz, buzz—
Seven soul rings—two yellow, two purple, and three black—rose around him. A gentle green light radiated from his palm, growing into a towering tree that shed 74 leaves, each landing on a student.
"Ah~"
"Awesome!"
"Hiss—"
Strange sounds rose and fell.
Muscle aches, torn wounds, and exhausted strength all recovered at a startling rate.
Not far away,
the 19 classmates who hadn't been able to join earlier immediately began moving in that direction.
But even when it was over, not a single leaf had fallen on them.
Seeing the white-robed man about to retract his Martial Soul,
some of them panicked! "Wait! We haven't been healed yet!"
"That's right! We're students of the First Class too!"
"This is discrimination! You're treating us unfairly!"
The man in white turned to Zhou Yi, who shook her head firmly. She clasped her hands and spoke to him in a low voice.
The man sighed helplessly and glided away with a tap of his foot.
Zhou Yi swept a cold gaze over the nineteen students.
"Don't say I didn't give you a chance."
"If you can find a class willing to take you, do so immediately."
"But if you stay, don't even dream of touching the resources I, Zhou Yi, begged for and secured through personal connections!" Her aura as a Six-Ring Soul Emperor cut them off like a forceful mute command.
She turned and left.
As for the matter of elimination...
If she didn't mention it, would anyone dare bring it up?
"Is... is it really over?"
"The old demon... Teacher Zhou's gone, so it must be over!"
"Long live the Class Monitor!"
"Long live Yuhao!"
"Huo Yuhao! You're my idol!"
The recovered cadets hoisted Huo Yuhao aloft, tossing him high into the air and catching him, again and again.
Meanwhile, in the spiritual world, Zhuge Lan eagerly collected a surge of Fortune Points.
He couldn't help but marvel, "This Fortune Points comes so easily!"
"I almost want to urge Little Yuhao to go back and kill the White Tiger Duke, then take command himself."
"He'd definitely earn a ton of Fortune Points every day."
Tianmeng Ice Silkworm was also tempted by the idea.
"Should we... give it a try?"
"Give it a try?!" Zhuge Lan laughed. "Military life is unsuitable for a Soul Master's cultivation. Sheer power is what truly matters. Don't forget, Little Yuhao is destined to become a god."
Tianmeng Ice Silkworm: "..." You were the one who brought it up in the first place!
But it had learned its lesson. If it argued rationally, Zhuge Lan would inevitably pull out the trump card: "Do you want to awaken your spiritual power or not?"
So, it simply shut its mouth and burrowed into the ground.
Sleeping now. Ignoring you!
Zhuge Lan paid no mind, continuing to watch the live stream through the spiritual world.
Huo Yuhao had been set down, and the cadets were now being instructed to secure their iron armor before departing in small groups.
Wang Dong accompanied him, along with a green-haired little girl whose eyes sparkled as she stared at Huo Yuhao.
[ Fate of Xiao Xiao altered +250 Fortune Points! ]
'Huh?
What's going on?
Could it be...?'
"Class Monitor, my name is Xiao Xiao, and thank you so much for pulling me back just now!" Xiao Xiao said, her voice thick with emotion. "With my weak constitution, I might have been eliminated if you hadn't helped."
Zhuge Lan clapped his hands.
'That's it!'
Xiao Xiao had lost interest in Wang Dong, that "big hunk," and now had her sights set on Huo Yuhao, with his overwhelming charisma!
'How amusing.'
Meanwhile, Huo Yuhao, under Xiao Xiao's intense gaze, felt utterly flustered.
"Ah, we're just classmates," he stammered. "It's natural to help each other."
"Just classmates?" Xiao Xiao pressed, boldly. "Can't it be... more? Like..."
"Xiao Xiao!" Huo Yuhao interrupted loudly. "If we're late for the cafeteria, we'll miss out on the good food! Hurry up and follow!"
He fled at full speed.
Xiao Xiao chased after him, her short legs a blur.
"Class Monitor, wait for me!"
Huo Yuhao ran even faster.
Wang Dong roared with laughter. "So you do have something to fear after all!"
By the time they reached the cafeteria, Huo Yuhao was already carrying two trays.
He shot a meaningful glance at Wang Dong, nodding toward Xiao Xiao, who was still trailing behind.
Wang Dong: ???
'What secret code is this? I don't understand a thing.'
Huo Yuhao: "..."
"Idiot," Zhuge Lan tutted. "Use Mental Sharing. Just like how we communicate with each other, transmit your message to him."
"Huh?" Tianmeng Ice Silkworm chimed in. "You can do that?"