After Yuhao's introduction, a few more of the students also introduced themselves.
Yuhao remembered everyone, but he made a note on only two people, Ning Tian and Gu Cong — especially Gu Cong. Elder Yi himself had stated that although Gu Cong's chosen path wasn't wrong, it wasn't the one most suited for him. So, Yuhao also wanted to see what he could do.
"Alright, students!" Mu Jin suddenly said as she knocked on her desk, snapping Yuhao out of his thoughts. "Next, let us all go to the Arena for a simple spar, to get yourselves acquainted." Mu Jin continued, "Also, the other classes from Class One to Class Ten will also be there as per the new policy of Shrek."
Yuhao's eyes suddenly sharpened to an unnatural degree.
'.....That means that guy will also be there.' Yuhao thought as one of his targets of revenge might appear today.
'Yuhao! Calm down!' Elder Yi said, snapping Yuhao out of the dormant anger that was beginning to leak out. Skydream slumped onto the ground in the Spiritual Sea after Yuhao's pressure dissipated.
'....Yuhao....a warning next time for brother?' Skydream asked tiredly, and Yuhao profusely apologized to both Elder Yi and Skydream while, in reality, his body kept moving towards the door, following Mu Jin to the arena.
____
Arriving at the huge Arena, the students, like Yuhao, were slightly in awe as they looked at the four Arena Platforms arranged next to each other with enough space between them to be clearly separated.
"Students, welcome to Shrek." Mu Jin said to the stunned group as she walked toward a gathering place near the stands. Many students were already there—seemingly all those from the other classes who had arrived earlier. In front of each group of students stood four other adults similar to Mu Jin.
"Dean Yan, Class 9 has arrived." Mu Jin said respectfully to an old man wearing white clothes. He looked neat and stylish, with grey hair and bluish eyes that emitted a very strong pressure.
'He's strong.' was Yuhao's first reaction on seeing the man—Dean Yan, as Mu Jin called him.
'Indeed, he's likely a Super Douluo too, as Old Mu mentioned.' Elder Yi said to Yuhao. When did Mu En mention that? Of course, it was offscreen!
A few minutes later, more classes joined in, one of them including a certain Dai Family member. Yuhao's spirit became slightly chaotic, only kept under control by his will to make their living life worse rather than kill them outright. Yes, thanks to the teachings of a vengeful million-year-old soul beast who wished to remain anonymous, Yuhao's thirst for murder had turned into a desire for spiritual annihilation followed by murder.
(Skydream Iceworm: You're welcome!)
"Hm, that's good, all those participating in this arena are here." Dean Yan said as the teachers fell back into line behind him. He stepped forward toward the students.
"Freshmen of Shrek Academy, I am Yan Shaoze, The Dean of the Martial Soul Department and also the Overseer for the current sparring match." Yan Shaoze said as he subtly released his pressure. Most students began breathing rapidly just to stay upright, with some even stumbling. Only a few exceptions merely felt some pressure. Shaoze's eyes widened slightly when his gaze fell upon Yuhao, who remained unaffected. He was surprised, then calmed down while mentally noting Yuhao's reaction.
"Today, you will all fight against each other in a tournament of sorts. As there are three students this year who have already reached Soul Elder, I will let those three stand on the arena along with another exceptionally talented student on the fourth arena. They can all be challenged, and the victor will take over as the Keeper." Yan Shaoze explained. "Whoever remains standing by the end of one hour on the ring… will get a reward from Shrek Academy—a Mysterious Water Pill."
The students, including Ning Tian, were shocked. That pill was worth over ten thousand gold coins for connected people. At auctions, the price could rise to over fifty thousand gold coins per pill.
'....Such unrefined medicine is considered pills?' questioned a certain Holy God of Undead, genuinely confused about the development of this world.
'Returns Elder Yi! Returns!' replied Skydream dramatically, which Elder Yi accepted. That system was genuinely too broken.
"Class 10, Dai Huabin, go to Arena One. Class 3, Chen Bo, Arena Two. Class 9, Ning Tian, Arena Three. But as a support-type Spirit Master, you may take one student with you." Yan Shaoze said. Gu Cong looked at Ning Tian with expectant eyes, but she chose Wu Feng instead. Wu Feng gave Gu Cong a smug grin. "Class 9, Huo Yuhao, Arena Four." Shaoze read out after noting Yuhao's name because... he felt it was interesting to see the limits of the boy who didn't react to his pressure. Due to Xuan Zi not being nearby, Shaoze's IQ wasn't room temperature.
Although some students were unconvinced about Yuhao being chosen (staring at you, Gu Cong), they had no choice but to wait and see since Dean Yan had chosen him.
The other three got onto the ring and stood in the middle. It was finally Yuhao's turn to get up there.
'.....Yuhao, Act...Cool!' said a certain Skydream, and Elder Yi didn't deny it. Remember this—Elder Yi literally had a tower of darkness and death. How was that not cool?!
So Yuhao, being the great friend he was, slowly stepped toward the stairs and began to climb. Suddenly, everyone felt pressure around the ring similar to Yan Shaoze's earlier test but much more focused and targeted.
'Spiritual Power?!' Shaoze thought, shocked at the spiritual power that was comparable to a Soul King who specialized in the Mental Type... but the kid was only a Soul Grandmaster!
(Skydream: Git Gud Kid)
_____
{Wang Dong'er's POV}
'Huh? Yuhao was chosen for the fourth arena?' she thought as she watched Dean Yan announce the Keepers.
'He's strong but.... I don't think he's that strong!' she thought stubbornly as she headed toward the fourth arena to challenge Yuhao first. She still remembered her earlier humiliating defeat at his hands. 'Hmph! I don't believe he can last that long on the ring!'
Suddenly, she felt the suffocating feeling of her breathing becoming difficult again, like Dean Yan's aura earlier—but this time it was more targeted and grew more and more suppressing. She struggled to look at the source.
She watched, shocked and in awe, as Yuhao's ascent of each step increased the pressure on every student around them. She glanced around and saw the shocked and terrified faces of the others, all struggling.
Seeing that, she felt a strange sense of pride in herself for being Yuhao's roommate.
'....Okay, that is cool....' she thought as she watched Yuhao calmly walk up the stairs to the ring, looking completely disinterested in everything else (he was talking to Elder Yi and Skydream).
That day, a girl who would always try to be cool in the future—and succeed most of the time except with one certain person—began to be created.