Shrek, Outer Court.
It was early morning; the sunlight had not yet fully pierced through the thin mist, its golden rays casting a warm halo over the bluish-gray stonework.
However, this warmth could not penetrate the gloom within the classroom of Class 1, the first-year students of the Shrek Outer Court.
At this moment, most of the students in the classroom had already arrived. Each was silently making pre-class preparations, and the air was thick with a tense yet quiet atmosphere.
The figure of the class teacher, Zhou Yi, appeared at the classroom door on time, as usual.
She was dressed in a simple white-striped martial outfit, her hair casually tied back.
Zhou Yi's gaze was as sharp as an eagle's, sweeping across every corner of the classroom, carrying an inherent aura of majesty that commanded respect without anger.
Merely by her appearance, the classroom, which had been filled with some whispering, instantly fell silent, and even the sound of breathing became cautious.
Zhou Yi's gaze moved slowly, finally settling on a somewhat thin figure in the back row of the classroom.
Huo Yuhao was sitting in his seat, his hands on his knees, his fingertips curling slightly as if he were trying his best to suppress something.
He was wearing a school uniform that had become somewhat white from washing, and his physique was slightly slender compared to the other students.
His face, which should have been full of youthful energy, now bore a trace of fatigue and loneliness that was hard to conceal.
The moment Zhou Yi saw Huo Yuhao, her brow furrowed tightly, the frown etching deep lines.
"Huo Yuhao."
Zhou Yi's voice was not loud, yet it possessed an unquestionable penetration that clearly reached every corner of the classroom.
Huo Yuhao's body stiffened suddenly. He slowly raised his head, his gaze meeting Zhou Yi's sharp eyes.
He could see obvious dissatisfaction and disappointment in Zhou Yi's eyes—a gaze like a sharp dagger stabbing straight into his heart.
"It's been two months since school started. How is it that you still haven't made any progress at all?"
Zhou Yi walked slowly toward Huo Yuhao, each step seemingly treading on everyone's heartstrings.
She stood before Huo Yuhao's desk, looking down at him, her tone filled with undisguised bitterness and disappointment.
"You can't even complete the daily basic training, and your spirit power cultivation has stagnated. Someone like you simply doesn't deserve to enter Shrek!"
These words were like a heavy hammer, smashing ruthlessly against Huo Yuhao's heart.
He could feel gazes coming from all around him—some curious, some sympathetic, and some gloating.
These gazes were like countless fine needles, making him feel uncomfortable all over.
Huo Yuhao's hands clenched tightly into fists, his fingernails digging deep into his palms, bringing a sharp pang of pain.
This pain allowed him to barely maintain his composure, but it could not suppress the emotions surging in his heart.
He had not forgotten that when he first entered the school, he too had been full of hope.
He thought that by possessing his first spirit ring and becoming a Spirit Master, he could gain a foothold in Shrek, become a powerhouse, and avenge his mother!
But reality had dealt him the heaviest blow.
Having lost the two great assistants, Heavenly Dream Ice Silkworm and Electrolux, Huo Yuhao's path of cultivation had now become exceptionally difficult.
He cultivated with all his might, even going so far as to overextend his physical strength to complete the training as much as possible, yet the final result remained dismal.
Two months into the term, his spirit power remained at Rank 11, without a single Breakthrough.
Every time there was basic training, he gave it his all, yet he still could not reach the standards set by Zhou Yi.
He could feel that the gazes of the surrounding students had gradually turned from initial curiosity into disdain.
"I practice every day, I really am working hard..." Huo Yuhao defended himself in a low voice, his voice somewhat raspy and carrying an imperceptible tremor.
Zhou Yi let out a cold laugh, the contempt in her eyes deepening: "Hard work? Your hard work is worthless by Shrek's standards."
She paused, her gaze sweeping over the surrounding students, and her voice suddenly rose: "Listen up, Shrek Academy never supports idlers!"
"This is a cradle for the strong, not a shelter for trash! Either show your strength to prove yourself, or get lost!"
As her voice fell, the classroom became deathly silent.
The students lowered their heads one after another, not daring to meet Zhou Yi's eyes.
Zhou Yi's gaze returned to Huo Yuhao, her tone cold and decisive: "To tell you the truth, Huo Yuhao."
"If it weren't for Bei Bei and Tang Ya repeatedly pleading on your behalf, according to my rules, you would have been directly expelled the very first time you failed the training assessment."
"Teacher Xiao Ya and Senior Brother?" Huo Yuhao looked up abruptly, a complex mix of emotions flashing in his eyes.
He knew that Bei Bei and Tang Ya were truly helping him, but this help made him feel even more ashamed.
Because in the eyes of others, this help looked more like charity.
"Today is your last chance." Zhou Yi's tone did not soften in the slightest.
"If you fail to complete the task during this afternoon's basic training, you don't need me to act—get out of Shrek yourself!"
"The last chance..." Huo Yuhao murmured to himself, his heart feeling as if it were being squeezed tightly by an invisible hand, making it almost impossible to breathe.
He bit his lower lip hard until he tasted a faint hint of blood.
He stood up abruptly and raised his head, his eyes bloodshot as he stared fixedly at Zhou Yi.
The grievances, anger, and resentment accumulated over two months completely erupted at this moment.
"Why?!"
This questioning cry, filled with hysterical despair, echoed in the quiet classroom, making everyone's eardrums buzz.
"Why does everyone have to treat me like this?!" Huo Yuhao's voice suddenly rose, thick with nasal congestion.
"What did I do wrong?! I've been training with my life on the line every day, absorbing spirit power with everything I have; I've already done my best!"
"But my strength is just limited! The tasks you assign are too heavy; I give my all to do them, but I still can't reach the standard! What more do you want from me?!"
His emotions were completely out of control, his chest heaving violently, tears welling in his eyes but stubbornly refusing to fall.
He did not want to show weakness in front of everyone, let alone let others see his vulnerability.
Looking at Huo Yuhao in this state, Zhou Yi's face showed no sign of being moved, and her gaze remained ice-cold.
She spoke slowly, her tone full of mockery: "What kind of place do you think this is?"
"This is Shrek! It's a place for cultivating monsters! It's not a greenhouse for you to come and cry in!"
"If it weren't for the fact that you benefited from the Tang Sect's influence and entered Shrek through your connections there, trash like you wouldn't even have the qualifications to enter the academy!"
"Coming to Shrek without talent—that is your greatest mistake!"
Every one of Zhou Yi's words was like a sharp knife, accurately stabbing into Huo Yuhao's most painful spot.
"Being trash is the original sin." These words were like a curse, echoing continuously in his mind.
Huo Yuhao trembled all over, staring fixedly at Zhou Yi, his lips quivering, but he could no longer say a single word.
Anger, grievance, resentment, and despair—all sorts of emotions intertwined, nearly swallowing him whole.
Zhou Yi no longer looked at him and turned to leave.
Before leaving, she left behind one last cold warning: "I may be a bit strict, but I do this for your own good."
"Since you can't do it, then quit early. Don't waste everyone's time here."
"Remember, this is the last chance. I, Zhou Yi, am not a saint; I have already made an exception for you once, and there will never be a second time."
After saying this, Zhou Yi strode out of the classroom, leaving Huo Yuhao standing there alone like an abandoned soul.
The sunlight at the classroom door was still bright, but Huo Yuhao felt cold all over.
He slowly lowered his head, looking at his clenched fists; the wounds on his palms were still throbbing with pain.
After a long time, he slowly raised his head, his gaze fixed on the direction where Zhou Yi had left, his eyes filled with stubbornness and resentment.
"Old Hag, I will make you regret this!"