Cai Yueer's gaze moved past Wu Changkong, who stood in front, and landed on the five teenagers behind him.
Her eyes swept over the faces of Tang Wulin, Xie Xie, Xu Xiaoyan, and Gu Yue one by one, finally settling on Huo Yuhao.
After a moment, she slowly withdrew her gaze and looked back at Wu Changkong.
Her voice was flat, revealing neither joy nor anger, yet it carried an inherent sense of condescension.
"The students have been taught well."
She paused, her tone deepening slightly: "But your actions lack consideration."
According to Cai Yueer's usual style of doing things, since Shen Yi and the others were required to be severely punished, Wu Changkong should also have been held accountable.
However, she was burdened with the heavy responsibility of recruitment on this trip, and she knew that if she punished their teacher right away, it would be no different from pushing away the geniuses she might otherwise obtain.
Therefore, she suppressed the slight dissatisfaction in her heart regarding Wu Changkong's rebellious behavior and used this mild warning as an opening.
Wu Changkong's expression remained unchanged, his ice-blue eyes calm and rippleless.
He was cold and aloof by nature, but he was by no means a reckless greenhorn who didn't understand the ways of the world.
Judging from Cai Yueer's tone and her attitude of appearing publicly now, she hadn't come specifically to bully the young, which put his mind at ease.
Having finished her warning, Cai Yueer stopped looking at Wu Changkong; she tilted her chin up slightly, and her voice suddenly became much clearer.
"These children have good talent. By a resolution of the Sea Gods Pavilion meeting, Shrek Academy now grants special approval for the five of you..."
Her gaze swept over the five young faces again, her tone carrying an unquestionable sense of bestowing a favor.
"To enter the academy directly for study!"
"Among you, Huo Yuhao can be promoted directly to the Inner Court without an exam!"
As her words fell, Cai Yueer waited leisurely for the expected reaction.
In her view, Shrek Academy's golden reputation and the supreme glory of the Inner Court should be a dream-like, ecstatic opportunity for any young Spirit Master.
She even anticipated the expressions of excitement and unbelievable joy that would bloom on these children's faces.
However, the scene presented before her eyes was the exact opposite of what she had envisioned.
There were no cheers, no jumping for joy, not even a single trace of a surprised reaction.
Gu Yue and Huo Yuhao both looked as usual, as if they had just heard the simplest piece of information.
Tang Wulin, Xie Xie, and Xu Xiaoyan did feel an instinctive ripple in their hearts when they heard they could enter Shrek Academy.
It was a brief moment of joy triggered by the instinctive yearning and awe that Spirit Masters had long held for the continent's number one academy.
But then, looking at these Shrek people opposite them and remembering their arrogant and domineering behavior not long ago, that surge of excitement was instantly extinguished.
The expected enthusiastic response did not appear, and the air in the hall became somewhat stagnant due to this eerie silence.
Cai Yueer's brow furrowed imperceptibly, and a flash of surprise and displeasure crossed her eyes.
Cai Yueer's gaze fell back onto Wu Changkong, and this time, her tone was noticeably heavier.
"Wu Changkong, you have painstakingly taught these students and spent so much effort on them; isn't it because you hope they can one day step through Shrek's threshold and have a better future?"
"Now, the academy has made an exception for special recruitment, and positions in the Inner Court are waiting. This isn't the regular path where thousands of people fight for a single spot every year."
"As their teacher, you should understand its weight better than they do, and you must... grasp it for them."
Clearly, Cai Yueer wanted Wu Changkong, as their teacher, to agree to this matter.
However, on Wu Changkong's handsome, ice-like face, there was still no emotional fluctuation.
Meeting Cai Yueer's gaze, he simply said calmly: "Whether to go to Shrek Academy or not depends entirely on the children's own wishes."
He knew full well that Gu Yue and Huo Yuhao were both from the Spirit Pagoda and might not necessarily go to Shrek Academy.
As for Tang Wulin and the others, he had indeed hoped they could go to Shrek for further study, but now... hearing Wu Changkong's unappreciative response, Cai Yueer's dissatisfaction grew even stronger, almost causing her to cold-snort.
But she forced herself to hold back, noting this displeasure for later without erupting on the spot; the priority now was to secure Huo Yuhao.
Her gaze moved past Wu Changkong and locked directly onto the boy who had remained indifferent throughout.
"Huo Yuhao, the gates of Shrek Academy have opened for you. Are you willing to join?"
Huo Yuhao didn't even think for a second; he shook his head directly and said: "I am not willing."
The refusal left no room for maneuver.
Of course he would refuse; with teachers like Leng Yaozhu, Han Tianyi, Zhen Hua, and Electrolux teaching him everything they knew, and the resource support of the Spirit Pagoda, he lacked nothing.
So why go to a place that looked glamorous but might be filled with arrogance and rules?
His experiences over these years had already caused the sacred halo that had shrouded Shrek Academy for ten thousand years to mostly peel away in his heart.
The reason he wanted to enter Shrek Academy ten thousand years ago wasn't because of the academy itself; his main goal was to go in and find his wife.
Such a blunt refusal finally made Cai Yueer lose her composure, and a shadow flickered in her eyes.
But she quickly adjusted, knowing that for such a genius, one could not judge them by common logic; she had to present more significant chips.
"Huo Yuhao, if you nod, I can persuade the Master of the Sea Gods Pavilion and the world's strongest expert, Atlas Douluo Yun Ming, to personally teach you!"
She paused, observing Huo Yuhao's reaction, and continued to increase the stakes.
"All resources in the academy's treasury—Secret Methods, Spirit Bones, Heaven And Earth Treasures—as long as they benefit your cultivation, you may take and use them without any restrictions!"
"With your talent, in a few decades, reaching the realm of a Limit Douluo will certainly not be a delusion."
"At that time, you will be the perfect choice for the next Master of the Sea Gods Pavilion!"
Cai Yueer's words were like a thunderclap exploding in the hearts of the Shrek people behind her.
The position of the Master of the Sea Gods Pavilion!
That was the symbol of supreme authority in Shrek Academy and the leader's honor standing at the peak of the continent's Spirit Master world.
Now, it was actually being promised so easily by the Dean to a mere ten-year-old boy?
As an Outer Court Dean, Cai Yueer naturally had no right to decide the succession of the Master of the Sea Gods Pavilion.
That she dared to make such a bold claim meant she had her own backing.
Before leaving, she had specifically visited Long Yeyue.
That powerful Elder had given her only one sentence: "Bring the person back first, regardless of the method; whatever you promise him, just agree to it."
"As long as he enters Shrek's doors, how things go in the future—can a child really have a say? We will deal with it then."
It was precisely because of this that Cai Yueer dared to make such a heavy promise.
However, facing a temptation that could drive anyone on the continent crazy, Huo Yuhao still showed no sign of struggle or wavering; he just calmly shook his head again.
"Senior, you do not understand me."
"When I say I won't go, I won't go."
"I will not change my decision because of any conditions you promise."
Cai Yueer felt a surge of frustration rush to her head, and her breathing became slightly hurried.
"You...!"
As the Silver Moon Douluo and the Outer Court Dean, when had she ever been refused so bluntly, again and again, especially by a child?
She took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing her churning rage, but the warmth in her eyes completely vanished, replaced by a frozen, cold light.
"I... am giving you an opportunity."
"Do you think that by refusing Shrek's kindness, this matter... will just end so simply?"
Her gaze was as sharp
as a blade as it swept over everyone in Class Zero.
"Right now, the entire continent is laughing at Shrek; the academy's reputation has been tarnished and damaged because of you!"
"Someone... must be held responsible for this turmoil!"
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