Chapter 9: The Monster Teacher

The Shrek Academy covered a vast area, with large open spaces between the buildings. After leaving the dormitory, Wang Dong stopped right outside and turned to hook his finger at Huo Yuhao.

Rage burned fiercely in his heart, but Huo Yuhao did not rush over. After experiencing life and death in the Star Dou Great Forest, he had at least learned one thing: to remain calm.

At the dormitory entrance, the old man leaning in a recliner slightly raised his head, a glint of curiosity flashing in his dim eyes as he watched Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong with interest.

A faint golden light flickered in Huo Yuhao's eyes, and a white soul ring rose from his feet as he activated his Spirit Eyes soul power.

Seeing his "ten-year soul ring," Wang Dong chuckled, "I'm very curious how you got into the academy. Do you dare to fight me with just this level of skill? I don't even need to use my soul power to deal with you."

As he spoke, Wang Dong's left foot tapped the ground, and his body shot forward like an arrow. Not only was he fast, but he also moved with exceptional agility, reaching Huo Yuhao in the blink of an eye. He lifted his right foot and aimed a kick at Huo Yuhao's chest.

Only when he lifted his leg did Huo Yuhao realize that Wang Dong had disproportionately long legs. The kick was about to reach him.

At that moment, Huo Yuhao moved, quickly stepping to the right and slapping Wang Dong's ankle with his left hand.

"Hmm?" Wang Dong clearly did not expect Huo Yuhao to dodge such a swift kick. He instantly retracted his right foot, dodged Huo Yuhao's left hand, and then kicked out again, this time aiming for Huo Yuhao's neck.

Huo Yuhao seemed to anticipate his move. As Wang Dong's leg shot out, Huo Yuhao crouched down and then immediately sprang up, his right shoulder colliding with Wang Dong's thigh.

Both of their movements were fast. To an outsider, it looked as if Wang Dong had deliberately offered his leg for Huo Yuhao to shoulder-check.

It had to be said that Wang Dong's physical condition was extremely strong. For most people, being hit in the thigh would cause them to lose balance, but Wang Dong's right leg was lifted high, performing a split while his left foot remained firmly on the ground.

Huo Yuhao felt a soft and elastic sensation on his shoulder where it hit Wang Dong's thigh. Seizing the advantage, he quickly lunged forward, aiming to use Wang Dong's one-legged stance to knock him down.

Facing Huo Yuhao's relentless attack, Wang Dong made a surprising move. His raised right leg continued to arch backward along with his upper body, while his left foot kicked out at Huo Yuhao. At this point, the angle between his legs had exceeded what a normal person could imagine.

Although Huo Yuhao had accurately predicted Wang Dong's previous attacks using his Spirit Eyes' mental detection, this time he felt Wang Dong's movement but was already in motion and could not stop in time.

Anticipating the enemy's move certainly had its advantages. Seeing Wang Dong's left foot kick toward his chin, Huo Yuhao simultaneously made a downward pressing motion with both hands, colliding with Wang Dong's left foot.

"Slap—" Wang Dong's strength was surprisingly great, and this kick carried an indescribable powerful shock. Huo Yuhao felt a tingling sensation in his palms and instinctively activated the power of the Black Jade Hand. Despite this, he was still forced to stagger backward.

Wang Dong flipped his body, lightly tapping the ground with his right foot and then bringing his left foot down. He flipped back, his right leg whipping toward Huo Yuhao's shoulder with a whistling sound. He was clearly enraged by Huo Yuhao's previous shoulder-check.

Huo Yuhao, who was retreating, reacted the moment Wang Dong's right foot touched the ground. His steps became agile, and he quickly dodged to the left.

"Bang—" Wang Dong's right foot slammed into the ground, leaving a shallow footprint on the hard stone slab, showing the immense force of the kick. Then, he spun like a windmill, his legs like steel whips, launching a storm of attacks on Huo Yuhao.

After the initial clash, Huo Yuhao became even calmer. His mental detection was fully activated, calmly predicting each of Wang Dong's attacks. His steps, though not fast, were always able to clearly anticipate Wang Dong's actions and effectively evade them. He moved like a small boat, swaying left and right but never capsizing under Wang Dong's fierce assault.

Wang Dong was increasingly alarmed. He clearly felt that Huo Yuhao's strength was far inferior to his own, both in speed and power. Yet, his attacks could not land. Huo Yuhao's speed was not fast, but he could always clearly predict Wang Dong's actions and make effective evasions. Even when Wang Dong tried feints, he could not deceive his opponent.

Wang Dong was not only proud but also stubborn. Since he had said he would not use his soul power, he would not. He only intensified his attacks, not believing that Huo Yuhao could hold out indefinitely.

Indeed, Huo Yuhao was struggling to hold on. Wang Dong's leg attacks were powerful and swift. He could barely keep up by relying on his mental detection. As time passed, the physical disparity between them became more apparent.

Huo Yuhao had grown up in hardship, suffering from malnutrition, and the nourishment from the Black Heaven Technique had only just begun. Compared to the well-trained Wang Dong, he was far behind in physical strength. Although he had activated his soul power, Wang Dong had not. However, soul power nourishes the body internally. As the battle dragged on, Huo Yuhao began to make minor mistakes, being grazed by Wang Dong's legs several times, causing his body to burn with pain. His still-inexperienced Ghost Shadow Steps also became disordered, making him increasingly passive.

No, I can't keep this up. Huo Yuhao was retreating faster and faster, almost unable to avoid Wang Dong's attacks.

Suddenly, he lifted his head sharply. Wang Dong subconsciously looked at his face. He clearly saw a hint of purple in Huo Yuhao's pale golden eyes, followed by a sharp pain in his brain, causing his mind to go blank.

Huo Yuhao would not let such an opportunity slip. He lunged forward, jumping up and tightly hugging Wang Dong's arms with his own. His legs wrapped around Wang Dong's waist, and he forcefully knocked him to the ground.

Wang Dong had been using his legs for the entire attack, and Huo Yuhao's sudden move caught him off guard. With his legs wrapped around Wang Dong's waist, how could he generate any force? He just needed to subdue him.

The pain in Wang Dong's brain made him frown, but it only lasted for two seconds before he regained consciousness. However, he was already on the ground, his waist tightly locked by Huo Yuhao's legs and his arms held by Huo Yuhao. Their faces were only an inch apart, and they could hear each other's breathing.

Huo Yuhao, breathing heavily, growled, "Do you admit defeat?"

"Admit defeat to you? Get off me," Wang Dong shouted angrily, struggling fiercely. But Huo Yuhao used all his strength, even activating his soul power, making it difficult for Wang Dong to break free without using his soul power.

"If you had used a knife, I would already be dead," Huo Yuhao growled back, undaunted. As their bodies were in close contact, he was surprised to find that Wang Dong's body was not only very flexible and elastic but also had a soft, warm feel. A faint, fresh scent emanated from him, which was quite pleasant.

Hearing this, Wang Dong was stunned, and his resistance weakened. Yes! The pain and dizziness in his brain had been brief, but with their faces so close, Huo Yuhao had had enough time to harm him if he had wanted to.

"I admit defeat. Get up quickly," Wang Dong said angrily, his eyes filled with不服气 and resentment.

Huo Yuhao did not let go immediately. He said coldly, "I can do the five things you mentioned, but not because of your threats. It's out of respect for a roommate. I know your strength is greater than mine. If you use your soul power, I would definitely not be your match. But remember, if you ever insult me again, even if you beat me to death, I will at least bite a piece out of you."

Seeing Huo Yuhao's increasingly fierce, almost beast-like eyes, the hatred in Wang Dong's eyes dissipated, replaced by a hint of fear. His opponent was clearly much weaker, yet in terms of momentum, he was completely at a disadvantage.

Huo Yuhao slowly released Wang Dong and stood up, stepping back a few paces before turning and walking back to the dormitory.

Wang Dong sat on the ground for a while before standing up and slowly walking back to the dormitory. As he reached the dormitory door, an elderly voice sounded in his ear, "You did lose, not just in the fight but in your heart as well."

"Why?" Wang Dong turned sharply to look at the old man, his face filled with dissatisfaction. "I am clearly stronger. If I wanted to deal with him, he wouldn't even be able to touch me. Why did he win?"

The old man pointed to his heart, "Because of this. He has a fearless heart, and you don't. Not everyone can face death without fear."

Wang Dong was stunned for a moment. After a while, he bowed deeply to the old man, "Grandpa, thank you for enlightening me." Then, he strode into the dormitory.

Back in the dormitory, Wang Dong saw that Huo Yuhao was already sitting on his wooden bed, meditating. He wanted to say something but held back, huffed, and then prepared his bed.

Compared to Huo Yuhao's modest setup, Wang Dong's bed was covered with thick fur, made from some soul beast's pelt, looking both thick and soft. He also had a soft blanket. His luggage filled his side of the cabinet, and there were many items on the table. However, Wang Dong seemed too lazy to tidy up and angrily pulled the blanket over his head to sleep.

Over the next two days, Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong ignored each other, each doing their own thing. What surprised Wang Dong was that, except for meals, Huo Yuhao was almost always in a state of cultivation. He could vaguely sense Huo Yuhao's soul power, and the more he felt it, the more he found it unbelievable. How could someone with his strength win over me?

Finally, the new year's enrollment was complete, and the new student dormitory became lively. Although each room was not large, they were shared by only two people. The outside was noisy, but the dormitory had excellent soundproofing.

Huo Yuhao had been continuously cultivating over the past few days. The battle with Wang Dong had given him significant insights. His victory was due to the skill he had learned from the Heavenly Dream Ice Worm.

The Ice Worm was not a powerful soul beast, and the four skills it bestowed on Huo Yuhao were not particularly strong: Mental Detection, Mental Sharing, Mental Interference, and Soul Impact.

Huo Yuhao was more proficient with the first two skills, which he had already verified with Bei Bei. Mental Interference was a ranged skill that could affect all life forms with mental activity within a thirty-meter radius centered on Huo Yuhao. However, the interference was not strong, and at his current level, it could only cause a momentary mental lapse. Moreover, he could only maintain it for less than three seconds, which consumed more soul power than the first two skills.

Soul Impact was the only slightly offensive skill among the four, being a single-target skill. Therefore, its attack power was stronger than the group Mental Interference, but not by much. Huo Yuhao was able to use it to defeat Wang Dong by integrating the Purple Extreme Demon Eye ability. The effect was better than expected, but this was also because Wang Dong was caught off guard. If he had been prepared, the Soul Impact would have been much less effective.

Regardless, Huo Yuhao had, through these four mental skills, begun to take on the form of a control-type soul master. However, his senior had told him that in the first year, there were no divisions, and they had to endure the first year of being new students.

"Hey, classes start today. Are you still sitting there like a fool?" Wang Dong's voice jolted Huo Yuhao out of his thoughts. He had just finished breakfast and was about to meditate again.

"Classes start now?" Huo Yuhao asked subconsciously. This was their first interaction since the fight.

Wang Dong did not even look at him, saying coolly, "In about half an hour."

"Oh." Huo Yuhao closed his eyes and began to meditate. After these days of effort, he had become more proficient with the Black Heaven Technique. With half an hour, he could complete one cycle, making his soul power progress a little.

Wang Dong, hearing no further response, turned to look at Huo Yuhao, who had started meditating again. He muttered, "What a lunatic." Then, he walked out of the dormitory without looking back. In two days, he had never seen Huo Yuhao lie down to sleep.

The white teaching building's doors were open, and the new students, dressed in white uniforms with the green monster emblem of Shrek Academy on their left chest, filed in.

The uniforms of students from different grades were different, just like the colors of their teaching buildings.

By the time Huo Yuhao rushed to the new student teaching building, the bell had just rung. He quickly ran in and saw the sign for Class 1 in the first classroom on the left side of the first floor, and he immediately rushed in.

The large classroom was already full of people. Huo Yuhao, being the last to arrive, found very few empty seats. He finally found one and sat down, with a very pretty girl as his desk mate. However, this girl had a high and mighty look, similar to Wang Dong's initial attitude, and she did not even glance at him.

After sitting down, Huo Yuhao had a chance to observe his surroundings. The classroom was large, and there were about a hundred students in his class. With a thousand new students, there should be about ten classes.

He quickly spotted Wang Dong, who stood out due to his remarkable appearance. The students around him, in front, behind, and to the sides, were all girls, and none of them were inferior to the girl next to Huo Yuhao.

At that moment, a person walked into the classroom. It was an old woman with wrinkled skin and white hair tied up on her head, wearing a white robe and of medium height. What was particularly striking was her bright, sharp eyes, which emitted a piercing light.

Huo Yuhao, whose soul power was the Spirit Eyes, was particularly sensitive to others' eyes. He felt a strong mental pressure from the old woman's eyes.

Despite her advanced age, the old woman stood straight and walked to the podium in just a few steps. She was undoubtedly the teacher of Class 1.

When the teacher entered, the previously noisy class immediately quieted down, and all eyes turned to the podium.

The old woman's gaze swept calmly from left to right, and everyone felt as if they were being watched, a无形的压力顿时出现在心中。

“我叫周漪，是你们的班主任。我不确定你们中有多少人能陪我走过未来的一年。但我要告诉你们的是，在我的班级，一切垃圾都不可能通过考核。我要培养的是怪物，而不是蠢货。”

这位周老师的嗓音沙哑难听，就像敲破了的锣。

听了她的话，不少学员脸上都流露出愤愤之色。能够通过考核成为史莱克学院的学员，他们都是大陆各国精挑细选出来的，在同龄人中绝对当得上精英二字。可在这位周老师口中却变成了垃圾、蠢材。

霍雨浩却很平静，在刚看到这位周老师的时候他就想起了大师兄和小雅老师的话，这位周老师会很严厉、脾气很不好，但却是有真本事的。

“报名这几天以来，打过架的人起立。”周漪的下一句话再次震惊全班。

这些学员们都是刚刚被录取的，没事谁会在学院里打架？就算打了，谁会承认？

就在全班都保持沉默的时候，有一个人却站了起来，正是霍雨浩。他站起来不是因为他诚实，而是他隐隐猜到这位周老师不会按常理出牌。

看到霍雨浩起身，王冬哼了一声，也不甘示弱地站了起来。

全班一百名学员，站起来的却只有他们两个，顿时如同鹤立鸡群一般成为了全班瞩目的焦点。

“就两个？”周漪眉毛挑了挑，“真是一群废物。难道你们不知道什么叫做不敢惹事是庸才吗？除了他们俩以外，其他人全都给我出去，绕着史莱克广场跑一百圈。谁跑不完，直接开除。”

此言一出，全班一片哗然，这才第一天开学，课还没上，竟然就因为未曾打架要被处罚，谁能服气？

顿时，有一名学员站了起来，“老师，我不服。凭什么我们不打架就要被罚