Douluo Continent: Thunder Roar

"Student Ling Yu, I have a few questions for the teacher." Ling Yu's voice was not loud, but it had a peculiar penetrating power, suppressing the slight commotion in the classroom. "Just now, the teacher said that we should cultivate 'monsters' rather than 'idiots', and called us 'trash'."

"I dare ask, if we students are already flawless 'monsters' upon entering the academy, what need is there for teachers to guide us? If we are truly hopeless 'trash' and 'idiots,' why did Shrek Academy admit us in the first place? Isn't the purpose of the academy's existence, and the value of you standing here, teacher, precisely to sculpt us, these still imperfect 'materials,' into something useful and guide us towards true strength?"

He paused slightly, his gaze sweeping over Zhou Yi's increasingly icy expression, but his tone remained steady: "You said again, 'Those who dare not cause trouble are mediocre.' I would like to ask, what is the true meaning of this statement? Does it encourage us to actively provoke conflict and create trouble out of nothing in order to demonstrate our bravery, or does it refer to the courage and responsibility of standing up against injustice, oppression, or to protect our principles and what is important to us—the courage to face power without fear of danger and to stand up for what is right in our hearts?"

"If it's the latter, the student agrees. Soul Masters should have integrity, knowing what to do and what not to do. Moreover, Shrek Academy is the premier Soul Master academy on the continent, and its rules explicitly prohibit private fights and disturbances. If 'not daring to cause trouble' is interpreted one-sidedly as actively provoking and disrupting order, wouldn't that contradict the academy's fundamental principle of cultivating virtue and character, and the foundation of self-discipline for Soul Masters?"

His tone gradually took on a hint of strength: "True strength is not merely about being brave and aggressive. A true 'monster' should also be able to distinguish right from wrong and know when to advance and retreat. In times of peace, they should be able to calmly study and cultivate their character; in times of trouble, they should be able to speak out for justice and draw their swords. They should possess the fierceness of a tiger within, yet be able to appreciate the gentleness of a rose. They should be clear-headed and discerning within the rules, and courageous and resolute in the face of major issues of right and wrong. If one possesses only the courage of blood and guts but lacks a discerning mind, acting solely based on likes and dislikes without regard for consequences, then such a monster is not a blessing to the continent, nor is it the kind of pillar that the academy truly wants to cultivate to shoulder great responsibilities in the future."

Ling Yu looked at Zhou Yi, his gaze clear and firm: "So, teacher, what you want is either a 'monster' who only knows how to fight and be fierce, or a 'talent' who is reasonable, principled, and dares to take responsibility in critical moments? What exactly is your standard for 'those who dare not cause trouble are mediocre'? How can we cultivate this courage and responsibility you speak of while abiding by the academy's discipline and fulfilling our duties as students? I hope you can enlighten me, teacher."

His words were clear, logical, and progressively more complex. He not only responded to Zhou Yi's insults about him being "trash" and "idiots," but also elevated the argument that "those who dare not cause trouble are mediocre" to a higher level. He didn't directly confront her, yet every sentence was reasonable and hit the nail on the head.

The entire freshman class was completely silent.

All the trainees stared blankly at Ling Yu, their eyes filled with complex emotions.

These words resonated with many people.

Wang Dong'er stared wide-eyed at Ling Yu's profile, as if she were seeing him for the first time.

This taciturn guy actually said so much all at once, and it sounded... like it really made sense?

Zhou Yi stared intently at Ling Yu, her wrinkled face now completely replaced by a suppressed, almost tangible anger, the initial contempt and coldness on her face replaced by a suppressed rage.

What she detests most are these self-righteous freshmen who use grand principles to question her authority!

Thinking that just because they have some talent they dare to challenge the strong, they are truly courting death.

As the homeroom teacher, she had already memorized the information of all the students in the class.

This Ling Yu is indeed a rare genius. He has already reached the third ring cultivation level upon entering the school. No wonder he is so arrogant.

"Heh...good, very good." Zhou Yi let out a hoarse, grating laugh, her eyes sharp as knives. "Your name is Ling Yu, right? You're quite bold, and you're also good at 'reasoning'."

Her voice suddenly turned cold, filled with undisguised sarcasm: "Since you like reasoning so much, then today, your teacher will teach you the most fundamental and effective principle in Shrek Academy, in my class, Zhou Yi's class!"

Before the words were finished—

"boom--!"

An extremely terrifying pressure of soul power erupted from Zhou Yi's seemingly aged body, like a dormant volcano suddenly erupting!

Yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black!

Six spirit rings—two yellow, two purple, and two black—in perfect proportions, rose up without reservation, their dazzling light illuminating her cold and ferocious face. The powerful surge of spirit energy, like a tangible tide, carrying an overwhelming will, instantly swept through the entire classroom!

"Ugh!"

Many students were caught off guard and were hit by the powerful soul force, causing them to groan, turn pale, and uncontrollably lean backward. Some of the weaker students were even forced to slump into their chairs, struggling to breathe. The entire classroom was in disarray.

Wang Dong'er's body stiffened, and her soul power instinctively circulated to resist, barely managing to sit still, her heart filled with horror.

Is this the oppressive aura of a Soul Emperor? Truly terrifying!

And the one who bore the brunt was Ling Yu, who was standing right there!

More than half of Zhou Yi's soul power pressure was precisely and mercilessly crushing towards Ling Yu!

She wanted to make this arrogant, self-righteous brat experience firsthand how pale and laughable his rhetoric was in the face of absolute power!

The terrifying soul power, like an invisible hammer, slammed down on Ling Yu. The air seemed to groan, as if it could not bear the weight.

However, when faced with this pressure that would have instantly crushed an ordinary Great Soul Master, Ling Yu's body only swayed slightly, and he didn't even take a single step back.

Deep within his dark eyes, it seemed as if an undercurrent was surging.

"I see," Ling Yu's voice remained clear amidst the surging soul power, carrying a hint of understanding. "This is your 'reasoning', teacher."

He slowly raised his right hand and gently clenched his fist, as if to feel the oppressive force.

"So..."

The next second—

"Buzz!"

A completely different, yet in no way weaker, aura, like a sleeping dragon awakening, suddenly erupted from Ling Yu's body!

This aura was not as aggressive and violently oppressive as Zhou Yi's!

Instead, it stands firmly like a pillar in the middle of the river, separating the surging tide of momentum from the middle and forming a clear and distinct confrontation!

Immediately afterwards, Ling Yu's eyes suddenly changed!

His jet-black pupils instantly turned crimson, with three jet-black magatama slowly rotating within them, emitting an eerie and cold light.

At the same time, three spirit rings rose from beneath his feet.

yellow! purple! purple!

A soul ring configuration that surpasses the optimal ratio! The first ring costs a hundred years, while the second and third rings cost a thousand years each!

"What?!" Even Zhou Yi, who was well-informed and hard-hearted, couldn't help but have her pupils contract violently when she saw Ling Yu's soul ring configuration and those strange eyes. Her heart was filled with shock.

A soul ring combination that surpasses the optimal ratio!

Especially the purple of the third ring, which is incredibly deep, probably indicating that it is extremely old!

And those eyes... what kind of martial spirit is that?

How could there be such a strange sense of mental oppression?

This talent... it's more than just genius, it's downright monstrous!

The students in the classroom were stunned, and many of them gasped in shock.

The Third Ring Road!

Yellow and purple!

This freshman, who is the same age as them, is already a Soul Master, and his Soul Ring configuration is so astonishing!

Wang Dong'er's mouth dropped open, her pinkish-blue eyes filled with shock.

She knew Ling Yu was no ordinary person, but she never expected his spirit rings to be... even more extraordinary than hers?

Miss Wang has extraordinary talent and is only level 21, while this quiet guy is already at level 3?

The surprise in Zhou Yi's eyes was fleeting, quickly replaced by a deeper coldness and an almost fiery severity.

genius?

evildoer?

very good!

The more this is the case, the more it needs to be refined!

The more she needs to understand, the more she needs to realize that talent is not everything, and that she must learn to respect true strength and the rules!

"Excellent, excellent!" Zhou Yi's hoarse voice trembled with excitement, not joy, but the excitement of finding a hard stone worth "polishing." "No wonder you dared to be so presumptuous! Ling Yu, your talent is truly unparalleled in my life!"

Her tone shifted abruptly, and her soul power pressure not only didn't recede but intensified, firmly locking onto Ling Yu: "But talent doesn't mean you're qualified to reason with me right now! In the world of soul masters, reason is always built upon strength! Today, I'll teach you a lesson, let you experience firsthand what a gap truly means! What obedience truly means!"

She abruptly waved her hand, pointing to a relatively open area at the back of the classroom, her voice resolute: "Attack with all your might! Let me see just how good your extraordinary talent really is! If you can withstand me for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, I can pretend your disrespect today never happened! If you can't..."

A cold glint flashed in Zhou Yi's eyes: "Then remember this lesson! In my classes from now on, put away your grand theories and behave yourself! Otherwise, even if you're a once-in-a-millennium genius, I'll personally kick you out of the class! Shrek Academy doesn't lack geniuses, it lacks geniuses who can survive and grow!"

As soon as she finished speaking, she floated backward like a ghost and landed steadily in the center of the open space. Six spirit rings floated around her, exuding an imposing aura.

challenge!

A blatant challenge!

Class teacher Zhou Yi, the Soul Emperor, personally challenges a freshman!

Although time was limited, everyone knew that the gap between a Soul Venerable and a Soul Emperor was as vast as an insurmountable chasm!

All the trainees' hearts were in their throats, looking at Ling Yu with a mixture of tension and anticipation.

Will he accept it?

Wang Dong'er clenched her fists, her eyes fixed on Ling Yu's back.

Ling Yu didn't say much, and walked steadily to a spot three zhang away from Zhou Yi.

He casually put his hands in the pockets of his freshman uniform, his posture upright and relaxed to the point of being...casual.

Only those scarlet eyes, with three tomoe slowly rotating, coldly locked onto Zhou Yi.

Zhou Yi's eyes flashed with anger, extremely dissatisfied with his nonchalant attitude.

"Arrogant..."

Ling Yu pulled his right hand out of his pocket, casually brushed his black hair from his forehead, and his scarlet three-tomoe Sharingan met Zhou Yi's gaze without warning!

Illusion!