The battle had ended, but every student in Year One, Class One, was as silent as the now deeply sleeping Dai Huabin.
"Huabin!"
Zhu Lu exclaimed, rushing onto the battle stage to support Dai Huabin. However, no matter how much she cried and called, Dai Huabin remained unconscious.
After Huo Yuhao's Eyes of Flame God awakened for the second time, even his own spiritual power had become much more solid. The power of this soul impact, even a Soul King level expert would suffer a significant setback if caught off guard.
Given Dai Huabin's Soul Elder level, even with the protection of his White Tiger Barrier, how could the defense of a hundred-year soul skill withstand the terrifying power of a million-year soul ring's first soul skill?
"Trying to embarrass me while I'm away? Is the heir of the White Tiger Clan this unworthy?" Huo Yuhao said coldly.
"It's only been three days since the freshman assessment finals. How did you get defeated then? Have you already forgotten? As my defeated foes, you have the gall to bark at me now?"
Zhu Lu looked up unwillingly. They certainly hadn't forgotten that match, and the details of it would be etched in their memories forever.
It was precisely because of this, feeling the deep humiliation from that defeat, that they decided to give Huo Yuhao some trouble while he was "recovering".
But they hadn't expected Huo Yuhao to return so quickly and at such a critical moment. Furthermore, Huo Yuhao invoked the honor of the White Tiger Clan. Dai Huabin, despite his doubts, had no choice but to accept the challenge on the battle stage.
Self-inflicted misfortune is hard to bear. They tried to take advantage of his perceived weakness, so the outcome was well deserved.
Wang Yan quickly approached Dai Huabin and checked his condition. Dai Huabin was severely injured, especially with his mental consciousness destabilized due to Huo Yuhao's soul impact. He needed to be taken to the infirmary immediately.
"Huo Yuhao, you—"
To be fair, Huo Yuhao's behavior of severely injuring his opponent was a clear violation of the battle stage's rules.
However, Wang Yan was the only supervising teacher present. Huo Yuhao's release of the mental impact had been so swift that Wang Yan didn't react in time, meaning he bore some responsibility as well.
But what really ignited Wang Yan's emotions was the colorful light emanating from Huo Yuhao's eyes. He knew it must be the second awakening of his innate martial soul; otherwise, how could his eyes change color?
Wang Yan didn't realize that Huo Yuhao's display and his direct severe injury to Dai Huabin were part of a plan to get expelled from Shrek Academy.
Although Du Bushi wasn't able to keep him and send him back to Shrek Academy, it didn't mean he couldn't break school rules to get expelled. Having gone through so much trouble to join the Body Sect, he still couldn't escape the clutches of Tang San. How could that be okay?
Huo Yuhao now missed Zhou Yi immensely. If she were the headteacher, he would probably be able to say goodbye to Shrek Academy within a minute.
Come back, my dearest disciplinarian! My proudest belief.
Even if it doesn't work this time, it doesn't mean it won't work next time. Keep at it, Huo Yuhao, keep breaking Shrek Academy's rules!
Wang Yan carried Dai Huabin and headed towards the infirmary. Zhu Lu followed, casting a resentful glance back at Huo Yuhao.
"Huo Yuhao, just wait. You injured Huabin. The White Tiger Duke's mansion won't let you—"
At this moment, Ning Tian stepped forward and coldly spoke to Zhu Lu, "Don't think that just because the White Tiger Duke has some power in the Star Luo Empire, you can threaten others at will. Not everyone is someone your White Tiger Duke's mansion can afford to offend!"
As the young mistress of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Ning Tian naturally had the backing to make such statements.
Although the White Tiger Duke Dai Hao now enjoyed immense prestige in the Star Luo Empire, the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had a millennium of heritage. Even if the sect's influence had waned, it still didn't fear the White Tiger Duke's mansion.
Moreover, the ancestors of the White Tiger Duke, Dai Mubai, and the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Ning Rongrong, were comrades-in-arms. There was a thread of camaraderie between the two forces.
For this reason alone, Dai Hao would not cause trouble for the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect over such a matter.
Zhu Lu's expression changed repeatedly, but she finally left unwillingly. Huo Yuhao, however, didn't forget to add cheerfully, "When Dai Huabin wakes up, don't forget to process the transfer paperwork!"
The expressions on the faces of the first-year Class One students were complex. Huo Yuhao truly left no room for Dai Huabin! Such decisive and ruthless behavior!
Turning around, Huo Yuhao faced the other students gathered around the battle area, his face once again cold.
"I'll count to three now. Anyone who's dissatisfied with me being class monitor can step forward and fight me on the battle stage again. Even if you plan to fight me in turns, that's fine. But my rule is simple: anyone who loses to me must voluntarily leave Class One!"
Many of the students now looked at Huo Yuhao with a newfound respect. The previous battle had astonished all the students, including Wang Dong.
Wang Dong had originally thought she lost due to Xiao Xiao being interfered with by Huo Yuhao's spiritual power, causing the powerful combination of her soul skills to backfire. She believed that in a one-on-one fight, Huo Yuhao wouldn't be her match.
But now, she thought otherwise.
Class One was undoubtedly the strongest among the four first-year classes, and within it, the strongest were the students designated as core disciples.
Huo Yuhao had defeated Dai Huabin, who was the strongest in individual combat among the core disciples. Even the confident Wang Dong had no assurance of beating Dai Huabin in a one-on-one fight, given that the White Tiger martial soul was one of the top beast martial souls, and Dai Huabin's strength exceeded hers by one level.
And he's only at one ring. What if he reaches two rings?
Advancing from one ring to two is much easier than from two to three. Wouldn't his strength be unmatchable then?
At this moment, everyone recalled Huo Yuhao's astonishing declaration during the freshman assessment award ceremony.
"Though autumn grass turns yellow, it can turn green all over the mountains in spring! Though a rusty sword lacks edge, it can still cut down all things! Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west, don't belittle the young and poor!"
"I chose to forgo the core disciple's treatment not to prove I am extraordinary, but to fight for my honor! When the upgrade exams come, I want to see which core disciple is qualified to fight me!"
The words from that day still echoed in their ears, but now the students understood. Huo Yuhao dared to say such things because he had the strength to back it up!
Huo Yuhao slowly counted to three, but no one stepped forward.
Seeing this, Huo Yuhao nodded and, in the manner of a class monitor, addressed the surrounding students, "Alright, everyone follow me back to the classroom. Currently, I'm the control department monitor for Year One, Class One. As for the assault department monitor, we'll wait for Teacher Mu Jin or Teacher Wang Yan to return before holding elections."
"Oh, by the way," Huo Yuhao added with a chuckle. "Remember to erase Dai Huabin's name when you get back. He's no longer a member of Year One, Class One. Now, his name is 'the defeated'."
Seeing Huo Yuhao's departing figure, Zhou Sichen and Cao Jinxuan exchanged a glance, admiringly saying, "Did you see that? This is what it means to have overwhelming presence!"