Martial Soul Department, Dean's Office.
In the spacious, bright office, the head teachers of ten freshman classes gathered together, each with different expressions on their faces.
Du Weilun,the Dean of Martial Soul Department Studies, sat at the head of the table, thumbing through a thick stack of documents, his expression unreadable.
After three days of intense competition, 150 student teams had emerged successfully from the freshman assessment. They had earned the chance to continue their studies at Shrek Academy. The performance of these students also reflected directly on their homeroom teachers.
"Teachers, you've all worked hard these past few days," Du Weilun said politely, though his words did little to ease the tension in the room. As he organized the lists in his hands, he continued, "The freshmen assessment round-robin is over. The students did well — especially those from Mu Jin's class. They managed to send up 30 teams."
Lifting the thickest stack of documents, Du Weilun praised Mu Jin generously.
"That's about a 60 percent admission rate."
"Truly excellent."
"Director Du, you flatter me," Mu Jin replied respectfully, though she couldn't stop a pleased smile from spreading across her face.
After all, as long as the admission rate surpassed 50%, the homeroom teacher's rating would be elevated.
Sure enough, a moment later—
"After all these years, it looks like your teaching rating is finally due for a promotion," Du Weilun said directly, returning to his usual serious tone. Around him, the other teachers couldn't help but look at Mu Jin with envy while silently considering whether they should adopt her teaching methods in the future.
Du Weilun continued to announce the admission rates of the other classes. Yet, none of them surpassed the 50% mark. Most hovered around 40%. Until...
"Class 1, Zhou Yi..."
"Admission rate: about 80 percent."
The entire office fell into an awkward silence.
Though Zhou Yi's class boasted an admission rate more than 20 points higher than Mu Jin's, not a single teacher offered congratulations. Even Du Weilun's expression darkened.
He stared at the thin pile of lists in his hand.
Almost instinctively, every teacher turned to look at Zhou Yi.
There she stood — an elderly woman in simple white robes, her gray hair coiled neatly atop her head. Her expression was impassive as she listened. When Du Weilun finished speaking, she stepped forward slowly and replied in a calm tone, "Thank you for your praise, Director Du."
"Pah—!"
A thunderous crack shook the office!
Du Weilun had slammed the desk with such force that it splintered under his palm. A powerful gust of energy swept through the room, scattering papers into the air!
The teachers glanced at each other nervously. Only Mu Jin allowed a flicker of sarcasm to cross her lips, but she held her tongue.
"Zhou Yi! Do you think I'm praising you?!" Du Weilun shouted, waving the list furiously.
Zhou Yi remained composed, glancing at the thin stack in Du Weilun's hands.
"Isn't my class's admission rate quite high?"
"High?!" Du Weilun almost laughed in frustration.
The stack of admitted students from Zhou Yi's class contained just a few thin sheets. Excluding the bizarre situation in Class 9, the other classes had admitted three or even four times as many students!
"If we only look at admission rate, you—Zhou Yi!"
"You wouldn't still be stuck as a freshman homeroom teacher!"
Zhou Yi's expression didn't change. "I'm here because the senior students complained they couldn't withstand my teaching. Simple as that," she said bluntly. "The academy rules only recognize the admission rate."
"Good, good—"
Du Weilun struggled to contain his fury. If not for Fan Yu, the director of the Soul Guidance Department, who shielded Zhou Yi, he would have fired her long ago!
Expulsions, expulsions, expulsions!,that the only thing Zhou Yi good at.
He,as the Dean had to clean up after her chaos every year!
Your results might be excellent for Zhou Yi.
But what about my reputation?!,Du Weilun couldn't help but glare at Zhou Yi viciously.
"Get out!"
Without hesitation, Zhou Yi turned sharply and walked out of the office. Her movements were swift and practiced — clearly, she'd done this more than a few times.
The other teachers, accustomed to this spectacle, quietly slipped away, hoping to avoid becoming targets of Du Weilun's lingering anger.
As they left, Du Weilun's brief moment of satisfaction over Mu Jin's results vanished completely. He glanced at the mess of documents and sighed.
Squatting down, he began picking up the scattered papers.
Meanwhile, out in the corridor.
Freed from the tension of the office, the teachers relaxed, their voices rising in quiet conversation.
The senior teacher of Class 2 shook his head. "Ah, it's the same every year. Whenever Zhou Yi is assigned to the freshmen, this happens."
"Heh. Freshmen?" Mu Jin scoffed. "It's not just the freshmen. She does the same in every grade. Any student under Zhou Yi's class, no matter how promising, risks being expelled. Even some of the core students in the preparatory class weren't spared. Completely absurd. If Director Du weren't constantly cleaning up her mess, I think..."
"Oh, alright, Teacher Mu Jin. Let's not go too far."
The Class 2 teacher offered a token gesture of restraint before turning to offer his congratulations, along with a few other teachers.
Of course, some couldn't help but feel a bit envious.
Mu Jin had been lucky to have two strong seed teams this year, both with Soul Elder-level cultivation.
What a fortunate class.
Just then, Zhou Yi rounded the corner.
Her eyes were icy cold — clearly, she'd heard everything Mu Jin said.
The congratulatory chatter died instantly. As Zhou Yi's gaze locked with Mu Jin's, the air between them seemed to crackle, not with heat, but with the bitter chill of a frozen tundra.
"Oh? Only brave enough to gossip behind my back?" Zhou Yi sneered.
"Behind your back?" Mu Jin retorted, a cold smile playing on her lips. "I dare say it to your face."(TL:Damn)
Memories of how Zhou Yi had once expelled her brother from the academy flashed through her mind, stoking her fury.
"With your admission rate, any one of us homeroom teachers could achieve the same. But we don't. Why? Because we're responsible for these students! It's our duty to help them grow, not just discard the ones we deem 'bad wood.' We're supposed to sculpt that wood into something valuable."
"But you? You only pick the best material and claim it as your achievement. What's the point of your role, then?"
Zhou Yi's expression darkened. "My methods don't need your approval."
"Hah, struck a nerve, did I?"
Mu Jin's smirk deepened. She knew Zhou Yi well — better than anyone. She could see right through her.
As Zhou Yi's face grew stormy, Mu Jin pressed further. "Why don't we settle this with a wager?"
"What do you want to bet?"
"You're so confident in your 'methods,' aren't you?" Mu Jin said coolly. "Then let's see just how far your team can go."
Zhou Yi narrowed her eyes, knowing Mu Jin was baiting her.
She also knew the strength of Mu Jin's students. If she set the stakes too high…
Heh. She wasn't foolish.
"Top four," Zhou Yi said at last, folding her arms. She tapped her left arm thoughtfully. "If my team makes it to the semifinals… one soul bone. Do you dare?"
Mu Jin's eyes flashed at the mention of a soul bone. Even the other teachers hurried forward to try to defuse the situation.
But neither of them would back down.
Mu Jin had absolute confidence in her class. With two seeded teams expected to reach the top four, and the remaining slots likely filled by Class 2 or Class 5, Zhou Yi's class had no chance!
"Aight bet!"
With that, the wager was sealed.
Both women were supremely confident.
"I'll be the notary!"
The teachers turned as Du Weilun emerged from his office.
The commotion had clearly drawn his attention, but he made no move to stop it.
If anything, Du Weilun welcomed this turn of events. He knew Fan Yu would soon hear about it. Using Mu Jin's challenge to put pressure on Zhou Yi suited him perfectly.
And as for whether Mu Jin would lose?
Du Weilun had full faith in this year's freshmen.
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(End of chapter)
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Stones,oh Stones,where are you~