Soul Land: Xiao Yan Reincarnates as Huo Yuhao

Though aged, the old woman held herself with a dignified posture, her back straight as she walked to the podium. As soon as she arrived, the classroom quieted down.

She scanned the room calmly, her gaze carrying a weight that pressed on every student she looked at—everyone except Xiao Yan.

"My name is Zhou Yi, and I'm your homeroom teacher. I can't say how many of you will make it through the coming year with me, but let me be clear: in my class, no trash or weaklings will ever pass." Her voice was harsh, with a tone like a broken bell. "Shrek Academy produces monsters, not dead weight and fools."

At her words, a ripple of anger spread through the room. Many students felt insulted; they were considered elites among their peers, yet she dismissed them as if they were nothing.

"Trash? Ha…" Xiao Yan's mouth curled into a faint, self-deprecating smile as he recalled certain experiences from his past life in the Dou Qi Continent, along with memories of his long-unseen father, Xiao Zhan.

"Since registration began, anyone who's been in a fight, stand up," Zhou Yi suddenly ordered.

The students were newly admitted; who would fight within the academy without cause? And even if someone had, who would willingly admit it?

Xiao Yan glanced over at Wang Dong, who returned his look, but neither stood up. Instead, Xiao Yan leaned back in his chair. At that moment, Wang Dong gave a dissatisfied snort and stood up abruptly.

Out of the hundred or so students, Wang Dong was the only one who stood, instantly becoming the focus of the entire class.

"Just you? Were you fighting yourself, or did you scuffle with someone from another class?" Zhou Yi raised an eyebrow in surprise.

Wang Dong huffed and cast a glance at Xiao Yan, saying, "It wasn't with someone from another class. It was with a fellow classmate."

"A classmate? Who?" Zhou Yi's face changed, and she pressed him for an answer.

"Xiao Yan!" Wang Dong replied without hesitation.

"Who's Xiao Yan?" Zhou Yi's gaze, filled with a hint of frustration, swept through the room until it landed on him.

"That's me." Xiao Yan raised his hand, and immediately, the classroom fell silent as everyone turned their attention to him.

Zhou Yi's brows knitted slightly as she looked at the boy with the black ruler on his back. He seemed unusual, but she questioned him sharply, "I just asked who had been in a fight. Why didn't you admit it?"

"Why should I? I didn't start it," Xiao Yan replied calmly as he stood up, his words surprising everyone. "If someone picks a fight with me and I defend myself, is that the same as fighting? If someone tries to kill me and I defend myself and kill them instead, does that make me a murderer?"

"You…" Zhou Yi's face twisted with irritation, struggling to counter his point. She snapped, "So, you're all cowards, is that it? Do you not understand Shrek Academy's motto? Refusing to stir up trouble shows cowardice! If you don't even dare admit to a fight, you're not worthy to be Shrek students. Anyone who hasn't been in a fight, get out and run a hundred laps around the track!"

"If you can't finish, consider yourself expelled!"

Everyone understood she meant everyone except Wang Dong. To her, Xiao Yan was simply a coward unwilling to admit he had fought, but in reality, Xiao Yan just wasn't one for petty arguments. He found her question meaningless.

In Xiao Yan's view, what did fighting even prove? Did winning a brawl make you strong? He found the motto "refusing to stir up trouble shows cowardice" absurd.

"Stir up trouble? So we should pick fights with the weak and then back down in front of the strong? Such behavior reeks of bullying," Xiao Yan muttered, his arms folded. He didn't go looking for trouble, but he wasn't afraid of it either. Shrek Academy's teaching style didn't sit well with him.

The class erupted in protest. They hadn't even started their lessons, and here they were, being punished for not fighting. Who would accept that?

A student stood up and protested, "Teacher, this isn't fair! Why should we be punished for not fighting?"

Zhou Yi's eyes flashed, and she coldly replied, "You don't like it? You can leave. As your teacher, I have the authority to expel anyone. You have one minute to get to the track. If I don't see you there, everyone will be expelled!"

As she spoke, two yellow, two purple, and two black rings rose from beneath her, the aura of a powerful soul master flooding the room, making everyone but Xiao Yan feel like they couldn't breathe.

"A Soul Emperor… Just another bully, throwing her weight around," Xiao Yan thought as he observed her six rings. He mused, "What if all these students were Title Douluos instead?"

Unprepared for such pressure, the students had no choice but to follow her orders. Everyone but Xiao Yan and Wang Dong reluctantly headed outside. Zhou Yi withdrew her soul power, impassively watching them file out.

Once everyone had left, she noticed Xiao Yan still seated and scowled. "Why aren't you running?"

"Why should I?" Xiao Yan replied, shrugging.

Zhou Yi snapped, "Aren't you afraid I'll expel you?"

"Expel me, then. It's all the same to me. I came to Shrek Academy to see what the so-called best academy had to offer. But from what I've seen, it's not impressive," Xiao Yan said with a sneer.

"Such impudence!" Zhou Yi glared at him.

Xiao Yan merely shrugged.

Looking at his nonchalant expression, Zhou Yi realized her usual tactics weren't working. After a pause, she narrowed her eyes and said, "You say Shrek Academy is unimpressive? Here's your chance to prove yourself. If you can last the time it takes for one incense stick to burn against me—without me using soul skills—I'll overlook everything that happened today."

"If not, you'll no longer be a Shrek student. The academy has no place for cowards who can't even admit to a fight."

Xiao Yan scratched his head and slowly walked to the door. A glint of disdain flashed in his dark eyes, and he replied evenly, "I already told you. If you want to expel me, go ahead."

"You…" Zhou Yi gritted her teeth in frustration, stomping her foot. How could this boy be immune to her usual intimidation tactics? Could he really be just a teenager?

Unlike the others, Xiao Yan wasn't afraid of being expelled. He knew that even if he didn't cultivate his martial spirit, Yao Lao could make him a powerful force in this world and help him avenge his mother.

"Hmph. Afraid to admit you fought? Trash will always be trash," Zhou Yi scoffed, watching him walk away.

"Trash?" Xiao Yan's expression darkened as memories of past humiliations surfaced. Turning back, he locked eyes with Zhou Yi, his voice steady but int

ense. "This room is too small. If we're going to fight, let's take it outside."