Bonus Chapter. Enjoy!
===========================
The name Huo Yuhao struck Teacher Fan Yu's ears like a sudden clap of thunder exploding in the depths of his heart.
He froze on the spot, his expression shifting from blankness to shock, and then from shock into an inexpressibly complex mix of emotions.
How could he possibly be unfamiliar with this name?
Teacher Fan Yu still vividly remembered that youth from a year ago, who had remained neither humble nor arrogant when faced with his recruitment offer.
But that child had rejected him.
He had rejected him cleanly, decisively, and without leaving any room for negotiation.
Teacher Fan Yu still remembered how he had left with a darkened face back then, and he remembered the words he had once said to the boy.
There were plenty of people with the same name, but Teacher Fan Yu felt that the eleven-year-old Huo Yuhao mentioned by the Yan Shaozhe must be the same one he had seen before.
Teacher Fan Yu's Adam's apple bobbed; he suddenly felt his mouth go dry.
Meanwhile, the shock in Qian Duoduo's heart was suppressed in an instant, and a smile returned to his face.
His tone carried a hint of sincere envy:
"For the Spirit Department to have gained such a Genius, congratulations, Old Yan."
Then Qian Duoduo changed the subject, leaning in with that smiling Face again to test the waters:
"But Old Yan, about Zhou Yi... is there really no room for reconsideration?"
In truth, Zhou Yi was neither relative nor friend to him; why would he normally bother to lower his Face repeatedly to plead for mercy?
In the end, wasn't it all for the sake of the brute standing behind him?
Others might not know the state of Shrek's Soul Tool Department these past years, but how could Qian Duoduo not know?
Talents were scarce and there was a gap between generations; the Soul Engineers worth showing off could be counted on one hand.
Teacher Fan Yu was already an eighth-class Soul Engineer before even reaching forty; for such a prospect, Qian Duoduo naturally had to spare no effort to keep him close.
Therefore, he had to involve himself in Zhou Yi's matter.
If he could manage it, he would; if he couldn't, he'd have to brace himself and try anyway.
The Yan Shaozhe looked at the smiling old Face opposite him, understanding the situation perfectly.
He and Qian Duoduo had been rivals for most of their lives; who could hide their inner schemes from the other?
Seeing his old rival acting so ingratiatingly, the Yan Shaozhe didn't completely shut the door on the matter.
He looked at the two men and said calmly, "If Huo Yuhao can forgive Zhou Yi, then there is still room for discussion."
Qian Duoduo's eyes lit up, and he immediately stood up.
"Good! With those words from you, Old Yan, that's enough!"
He pulled the still-dazed Teacher Fan Yu and walked toward the door with large strides.
Before leaving, he didn't forget to turn back and cup his hands toward the Yan Shaozhe, only then closing the door and hiding that smiling Face behind the wood panel.
The hallway fell silent, with only the sound of their footsteps echoing in the empty corridor.
Qian Duoduo walked in front, his pace fast and steady.
"Fan Yu."
He called out, his tone carrying a hint of earnest advice.
"You heard what Old Yan said just now. Whether this succeeds depends entirely on that child named Huo Yuhao."
"Go and talk to this Huo Yuhao. Remember, you are going there to ask for a favor now; don't put on airs."
"As long as he nods his head, there's still a chance for Zhou Yi's situation."
"Yan Shaozhe..."
A low voice came from behind, sounding as if it were squeezed from the depths of his chest.
"There's no need."
Qian Duoduo's forward step halted abruptly; his foot hung in mid-air for a moment before slowly lowering back to the ground.
He turned around, his gaze falling on Teacher Fan Yu's Face, a flicker of surprise crossing those usually shrewd eyes.
Teacher Fan Yu stood there with a heavy expression, his brow furrowed into a knot, looking as if he had just swallowed a mouthful of bitter herbs.
"What do you mean by that?" Qian Duoduo frowned. "Are you giving up on her too?"
A bitter smile tugged at the corner of Teacher Fan Yu's mouth. "Yan Shaozhe, this Huo Yuhao... I know him."
Qian Duoduo was taken aback.Teacher Fan Yu's voice was low as he said, "He is not just a Genius Spirit Master; he is even more of a Genius when it comes to spirit tools..."
Teacher Fan Yu took a deep breath and recounted the events of that year exactly as they happened.
Qian Duoduo listened in silence, the expression in his shrewd eyes shifting several times.
After Teacher Fan Yu finished speaking, the hallway fell into a deathly silence.
After a long while, Qian Duoduo let out a long sigh.
"You two, husband and wife..."
He shook his head, his tone full of helplessness.
"You really are a bit at odds with this Huo Yuhao."
The couple had taken turns, offending the child thoroughly from start to finish.
Now it was just great; they wanted to plead for mercy... but they couldn't even open their mouths!
It seemed Zhou Yi's matter likely wouldn't be resolved.
However, Qian Duoduo didn't actually care that much; he had done right by Teacher Fan Yu and Zhou Yi, and that was enough.
As for the outcome, that wasn't something he could control.
His attention had long since been hooked by something else.
Huo Yuhao.
Eleven years old.
Level forty-three Spirit Ancestor.
At least a fifth-class Soul Engineer.
These terms swirled around in Qian Duoduo's mind, making his heart itch with anticipation.
That brute Fan Yu had offended the boy, but that didn't matter.
He, Qian Duoduo, hadn't offended anyone yet, right? His old Face should still be worth something in front of Huo Yuhao, shouldn't it?
Thinking of this, the trademark smile returned to the corners of Qian Duoduo's mouth, and his eyes gleamed with shrewdness.
The next day, a new homeroom teacher arrived in the Freshman Class One classroom.
It was a young and beautiful woman who looked to be no more than twenty-seven or twenty-eight. Her black hair was gathered into a simple bun, with the rest cascading over her shoulders, making her elegant face appear even more gentle.
She wore a simple and elegant dress; standing there, she was like a quietly blooming orchid.
"Hello, students. My name is Zhang Lexuan, and starting today, I will be your homeroom teacher."
Her voice was warm and clear, like a mountain stream gently flowing through everyone's hearts.
The classroom was silent for a moment, followed by a burst of irrepressible whispers.
Compared to that cold-faced old hag Zhou Yi, who would curse at them the moment she opened her mouth, this new Teacher Zhang was practically a fairy stepped out of a painting.
She stood on the podium with a beaming smile, patiently listening to every student's self-introduction, occasionally offering a gentle word of praise. Her warmth made everyone feel comforted.
And just as Freshman Class One officially began their academic life, in another part of Shrek Academy, a vital meeting quietly commenced.
Inside the Sea God Pavilion, the long conference table was already crowded with people.
These people were the various Elders of Shrek Academy, the true helmsmen of the continent's number one Spirit Master academy.
At the head of the long table, in the chair on the left, sat a slovenly old man.
He wore a grey robe that looked like it hadn't been washed in ages, with several stains—whether grease or something else—on the cuffs.
His greying hair was a messy heap on his head, looking like a bird's nest that hadn't been tended to for months.
Since this unkempt elder could sit at the head of the table, his identity was naturally not simple.
He was the current second-in-command of Shrek Academy, the Taotie Douluo, Xuan Zi.
Xuan Zi yawned, his gaze falling on the Yan Shaozhe standing at the end of the long table, and spoke sluggishly, "Shao Zhe, why did you make such a fuss to call all of us old fogies here? What's this all about?"
The Yan Shaozhe took a deep breath, his gaze slowly sweeping across both sides of the long table.
"I've troubled the Elders to gather at the Sea God Pavilion mainly because of... a student."
As soon as these words were spoken, several Elders slightly raised their eyelids.
A student?
Just for one student, the Sea God Pavilion meeting was convened?
What student could possibly have such a large amount of face?
The Yan Shaozhe didn't explain much. At some point, a stack of papers appeared in his hand, neatly folded together.
With a flick of his wrist, the stack of papers seemed to come to life, flying up one by one and drawing elegant arcs in the air to land accurately on the table in front of each Elder.
Meanwhile, his voice rang out in the silent pavilion.
"This is his file. Elders, you may look it over first."
Everyone grew interested; for the Yan Shaozhe to convene a Sea God Pavilion meeting so solemnly, this student was likely extraordinary.
A few pages landed in front of Xuan Zi. He lazily reached out, pinching a sheet with two fingers and bringing it carelessly to his eyes...
In an instant, his body straightened, and his expression became solemn.
The reactions of the other Elders were much the same.
Even though they had been mentally prepared, they couldn't control their expressions once they saw the data before them.
After all, the talent and strength displayed by Huo Yuhao were truly staggering, arguably unprecedented!
---------------------------------------------
A/N:
5 Power Stones = 1 Extra Chapter
I hope all of you are enjoying this story so far. I would appreciate some Power Stones if you can spare any. Leave a review if you like the story. Thank you.