Because of yesterday's legendary battle that overturned Shrek, two people from Class Zero made it onto the young genius ranking list this time: Tang Wulin and Huo Yuhao. The reason Tang Wulin made the list was no surprise; he had defeated the four-ring Spirit Ancestor Yu Tianlong head-on with a pure and violent move on the stage, and the shocking footage had already spread across the internet.
Funnily enough, it was also because of this video that many people suspected Shrek's Yu Tianlong of throwing the match. After all, how could a normal four-ring Spirit Ancestor be defeated so easily by a one-ring Spirit Master? Although Huo Yuhao had been standing at the back of the team throughout the match and didn't seem to do much, those three ten thousand years spirit rings were enough to explain everything!
Seeing the surge in Aura from Huo Yuhao's four teammates, many guessed that he must be a support system Spirit Master. One could only say that while the guess wasn't right, it wasn't exactly wrong either. In comparison, although the other members of Class Zero performed excellently, they inevitably seemed a bit "mediocre" under the overly dazzling halos of these two.
Xie Xie almost pressed his head against the light screen, muttering.
"Wulin's title of 'Dragon Punch' is quite fitting, since it was delivered with one punch... Eh? Why is it empty here for Yuhao? He doesn't even have a title?"
That's right, with just this one battle, the ten-year-old boy Huo Yuhao had shot straight to the top of the young genius ranking list!
"That's because Yuhao has shown too little information."
Xu Xiaoyan pursed her lips and smiled; she had obviously noticed this detail long ago. She explained.
"The judges of the list probably aren't sure how to summarize him, so they couldn't decide on a particularly suitable title for the time being."
As she spoke, she lightly swiped her fingertip along the edge of the light screen, bringing up the real-time comment section below the list. She quickly browsed through a few, then suddenly let out a "pfft" and laughed, her eyes curving into crescents.
"Look at this top comment... it says Yuhao's title should just be 'thirty thousand'! The reason... the most direct and indisputable sign is those three ten thousand years spirit rings!"
"thirty thousand?"
This somewhat playful and exceptionally blunt name instantly hit everyone's funny bone. Xie Xie was the first to slap his thigh and laugh out loud, and even Gu Yue's cold eyes were tinged with a faint smile. Tang Wulin tried to hold it in, but his face turned red, and finally, he couldn't help himself and burst out laughing too.
Only the protagonist, Huo Yuhao, had his face darken for an imperceptible moment, a deep sense of helplessness flickering in his eyes. Looking at his companions laughing uncontrollably, he silently turned his gaze out the window, as if wordlessly protesting this "simple and crude" naming aesthetic... On the top floor of the Tianhai Hotel, in the most luxurious suite, the air seemed to have solidified into heavy blocks of lead, pressing down on everyone's chest.
Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, the light was brilliant; it was a rare fine day. But the soft sunlight couldn't dispel the gloom of the dead silence in the room at all; it could only illuminate several pale and tense faces. After a long time, a figure slowly stood up from deep within the sofa.
Ye Xinglan lowered her head, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her clothes. Her throat bobbed a few times before she squeezed out a dry voice.
"I'm sorry... this matter started because of me. I will take responsibility."
"You'll take responsibility?!"
Yu Tianlong suddenly raised his head, his eyes bloodshot, staring intently at Ye Xinglan. The look in his eyes was no longer just anger, but a near-maniacal hatred and humiliation. The scenes from yesterday burned repeatedly in his mind—being blasted away by a one-ring Spirit Master's punch and fainting in public, becoming the most glaring failure of the entire battle.
All the mocking, shocked, and disbelieving gazes seemed to turn into poison needles, stabbing at his sanity until it wavered. He almost roared, his voice piercing the oppressive silence.
"How are you going to take responsibility?!!"
Spittle almost splashed onto Ye Xinglan's face. His chest heaved violently, like a wounded beast trapped in a cage, wishing he could pounce and tear something apart. Although the other Shrek team members in the room weren't as out of control as Yu Tianlong, the looks they cast at Ye Xinglan no longer held any of their former classmate camaraderie, leaving only cold resentment.
Those eyes seemed to be saying: if Ye Xinglan hadn't meddled and insisted on provoking that Class Zero before the match, how could they have been forced to accept the challenge? And how could they have fallen from the high clouds overnight to become the "sinners" of the entire Shrek Academy and the laughingstock of the whole continent?! The invisible pressure pierced toward Ye Xinglan like ice picks, making her thin shoulders tremble slightly.
"This matter... can't be entirely blamed on Sister Xinglan."
A slightly timid but brave voice sounded. Xu Lizhi stood up, his round face filled with anxiety, trying to ease the suffocating atmosphere.
"That Class Zero... they are indeed very strong, we..."
"Shut up!! Who are you to talk here?!"
Yu Tianlong's roar crudely cut off Xu Lizhi's words. He suddenly turned his head, his sinister gaze gouging like a knife at this Little Fatty who was trying to defend Ye Xinglan, his face full of disdain and impatience. He took a step forward, spittle flying.
"With just the two of you, you're worthy of entering the Inner Court? I think those Shen Yis in the academy are fucking blind!!"
Xu Lizhi's face turned pale from this sudden malice. He opened his mouth but could no longer make a sound, only able to clench his fists and stand helplessly half a step in front of Ye Xinglan.
"Bang!"
The heavy solid wood door was suddenly pushed open from the outside, hitting the wall with a dull thud. Shen Yi walked in, her face devoid of any expression, only a layer of unmelting frost condensed in the depths of her eyes. The indoor lights hit her face, casting a cold and hard silhouette. Her gaze was like a knife, stabbing first at Yu Tianlong, who was almost out of control.
"Those words, you can go to the Inner Court and say them again in front of the Elders."
Her voice wasn't loud, but every word was clear. Yu Tianlong's body suddenly stiffened, the surging fury and humiliation instantly freezing on his face. The muscles in his cheeks twitched a few times, his clenched fists' knuckles turned white, and veins bulged. But ultimately, under that cold gaze, all his resentment and rebuttal were forced back deep into his throat.
He sat heavily back on the sofa and turned his face away, his chest heaving violently, with only his heavy breathing sounding particularly harsh in the silence. Shen Yi stopped looking at him, her gaze slowly sweeping over every young and miserable face in the room.
"The speed and intensity of the public opinion's fermentation have exceeded expectations. The academy has been alerted."
She spoke, her voice low. The air seemed to solidify a bit more. All the students held their breath, and even the most indignant Yu Tianlong pricked up his ears.
"The Dean personally sent a message," Shen Yi continued, "ordering us all to stay in Tianhai City and wait for the academy's handling results."
Ye Xinglan raised her head blankly, her once lively eyes now dull. Her dry lips moved as she asked.
"Shen Yi... what will be the result?"
Shen Yi's gaze fell on her pale face and lingered for a moment. She shook her head almost imperceptibly.
"I don't know the final decision. However..."
Her gaze swept between Ye Xinglan and Xu Lizhi.
"The two of you... probably won't be able to stay in the Inner Court anymore."
As her voice fell, there was a deathly silence in the room. Xu Lizhi's chubby face instantly lost all color, his pupils dilating. Ye Xinglan seemed to have her last bit of strength drained away; her body swayed almost imperceptibly, and she slumped down.
----------------
You can read advanced chapters here: patreon.com/GregariousLion