In the classroom of the freshman Class Nine, ten minutes before the afternoon bell rang, all one hundred students were already seated.
However, the class was abuzz with chatter. If you listened closely, you could hear they were discussing the words Huo Yuhao had said in response to Mu Jin's question that morning.
Most of the new students at Shrek Academy came from various soul master forces originally belonging to the three great empires of the Douluo Continent, including the royal families of these empires. From a young age, they were taught to see soul tools as monstrous creations, demonized as almost having destroyed the Douluo Continent.
Moreover, from the day they awakened their martial souls and embarked on the path of soul masters, their family elders instilled in them the belief that high-level soul tool abilities were inferior to traditional soul master skills. They were warned that training in the so-called cunning arts of soul tools would only delay their cultivation and might even halt their progress entirely.
However, Huo Yuhao's speech completely overturned their deeply ingrained perceptions of soul tools. According to Huo Yuhao, soul tools were not evil or dirty; they were simply tools, no different from the chopsticks they used to eat or the shoes they wore to walk.
Though their families' teachings were deeply rooted, Huo Yuhao's words resonated with these young soul masters, who saw themselves as future rulers of the world, opening a new path for them.
"Ning Tian, what do you think about what Huo Yuhao said this morning?" Wu Feng asked Ning Tian beside her. However, her gaze frequently flicked back to Huo Yuhao in the rear, who was daydreaming with his head propped on his hand.
"The future development trend of soul tools is unstoppable. The delicate hidden weapons of the Tang Sect being overwhelmed by these powerful soul tools back then is a prime example," Ning Tian replied.
"Thousands of years have passed, and no one knows the current extent of the Sun Moon Empire's soul tool technology. However, every faction in the soul master world can foresee that the Sun Moon Empire will undoubtedly embark on a conquest again, and it's uncertain who will win this time."
"So, after the class divisions, should we also study soul tools as a secondary discipline?" Wu Feng asked.
"As a support-type soul master, I will study the knowledge of soul tool making to compensate for my inherent lack of combat and defense abilities and to provide future opportunities for my sect," Ning Tian said with a smile. "But you're different. You just need to follow Huo Yuhao and learn to use soul tools. Learning to make them would only waste your energy."
"Mm," Wu Feng nodded obediently.
As Mu Jin briskly walked into the classroom, the atmosphere in Class Nine instantly turned solemn and quieted down.
At this moment, Huo Yuhao also snapped out of his daze.
He had a lot to think about. Besides cultivation, he needed to learn alchemy and knowledge about soul tools. He also had to find time to visit the library to look up secrets and histories of the soul master world to broaden his horizons.
Additionally, he followed a strict daily regimen to strengthen his body with the help of Yao Lao, leaving him very little free time. However, Huo Yuhao found this lifestyle fulfilling and enjoyed it immensely.
You don't fear an opponent with cheats; you fear an opponent who's also a workaholic. When someone cheats and grinds hard every day, it truly seems unjust.
"Huo Yuhao, your answer this morning was excellent. I ended class early to let them digest what you said," Mu Jin said with a smile. "Now, have you decided who will be the vice class monitor of Class Nine, Huo Yuhao?"
Huo Yuhao stood up, glanced around the class, and then looked at the golden-haired figure in the front row.
"Teacher, I choose Ning Tian as the vice class monitor."
Ning Tian was momentarily stunned upon hearing this, then stood up, turned around, and gave Huo Yuhao a smile.
Huo Yuhao returned the smile knowingly. When looking for a deputy, he absolutely couldn't choose someone who was clueless and reckless.
Ning Tian had previously shown wisdom and keen insight, and she had also conveyed some goodwill toward him, which was why he chose her.
"Very good, the positions of class monitor and vice monitor are now decided. Next, everyone stand up and gather at the square."
No one dared to slack off. The students quickly walked out of the classroom, orderly and quietly following Mu Jin to the square of Shrek Academy.
Upon reaching the square, they saw that many iron chain vests were already piled on the ground. As expected, the next activity was one of Shrek Academy's traditional exercises—running with weights.
Huo Yuhao also noticed that some other classes had already started running on the square. Class Nine was not particularly early.
"Today is your first day of school, so we will start with the most basic training," Mu Jin clapped her hands and said loudly.
"For students with different martial soul abilities, I will use different methods to conduct targeted physical training in the future. But running is the most basic physical training and can fully reflect your overall physical fitness."
Mu Jin pointed to the iron chain vests in front of her and said, "These are iron vests. Each of you takes one, and after putting them on, start running laps around the square. From now until the bell rings for the end of class, you will keep running. You can use your soul power, but you cannot use soul skills. You will be ranked based on the number of laps you complete."
"Huo Yuhao, Ning Tian, you two will list the rankings of all the students in the class based on their lap counts. According to their physical data, targeted special training will be arranged in the future."
Huo Yuhao and Ning Tian nodded. Mu Jin's method was very scientific. Tailoring different types of training to students based on their physical conditions would not cause harm to their bodies.
Moreover, Mu Jin was not like Zhou Yi, who would easily expel a student just for coming last in a lap.
In fact, Shrek Academy's teachers would not easily expel any student unless there was a major fault or they completely disobeyed the academy's rules.
After all, every student admitted to Shrek Academy bore the high expectations of their families. The teachers did not have any personal grudges against the students or their backgrounds, so they would at least give them a chance to participate in the freshman assessment.
With Zhou Yi's method and without Huo Yuhao's protagonist halo to save everyone, Huo Yuhao doubted that there would be more than ten students left in Class One by the time of the three-month freshman assessment.
And with twin martial souls like Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao destined to enter the inner court, Zhou Yi's inner court admission rate would still be an astounding one-fifth!
Simply incredible!
Speaking of the devil, as Huo Yuhao was inwardly criticizing Zhou Yi, she appeared beside Mu Jin from the freshman Class One group.
"Mu Jin, you and that kid Huo Yuhao made me get a thorough scolding from Du Weilun!" Zhou Yi said with a cold sneer.
Zhou Yi had an exceptionally bad day. She was scolded by Du Weilun for a full hour in the teaching office and didn't even have time for lunch.
If it weren't for the fact that her husband, Fan Yu, had intervened, Du Weilun would have reported this incident to Yan Shaozhe, or even to the Sea God Pavilion.
"You brought this upon yourself, guarding a treasure mountain without realizing it!" Mu Jin sneered and waved her hand dismissively. "Yuhao is now the class monitor of our freshman Class Nine. Just wait, after the three-month freshman assessment, our Class Nine will crush you to pieces."
"Just him? A mere kid with only eleven levels of soul power!" Zhou Yi said angrily. "If you have such confidence, why not let our class monitor compete with him in laps? We'll judge based on the number of laps completed!"