Huo Wu was holding in her anger. She just wanted to test Zhou Sheng'an's capabilities. If he truly had the skills, she wouldn't mind even kowtowing to him. But if he turned out to be all appearance with no substance, she wouldn't stick around for another second.
So what if he was good-looking? She couldn't care less!
But Shui Bing'er had stopped her. After much persuasion, they finally agreed to attend the open lecture tomorrow before making any decisions.
…
The next day, in the lecture hall.
The front row had been deliberately left empty for the students from the Four Elemental Academies.
Huo Wu and her group arrived thirty minutes early, but by the time they got there, the classroom was already nearly full.
Huo Wu paused in surprise and murmured, "Seriously? These people are this eager for class?"
Shui Bing'er smiled. "That just shows how attractive Teacher Zhou's lectures are. Otherwise, they wouldn't have shown up so early."
Huo Wu nodded, half-convinced. She noticed that many students were looking at their seats with envy and even jealousy.
Just then, a young man wearing a mask—looking like an assassin—leaned over with a grin. "Xiao Wu, why did you come so early? You didn't even wait for me."
"Why would I wait for you?" Huo Wu replied mercilessly.
Feng Xiaotian clutched his chest like he was in pain and leaned against Huo Wushuang's shoulder. "Brother Wushuang, why is Xiao Wu treating me like this…"
"Quit the nonsense and let's take our seats," Huo Wushuang grumbled, uncomfortable under the weight of so many stares. He just wanted to sit down quickly.
As Feng Xiaotian sat beside him, he glanced at Huo Wu and asked,
"Xiao Wu, is this Zhou Sheng'an really that amazing? With all this build-up, someone who didn't know better might think a Titled Douluo came to teach or something!" he said with a roguish grin.
Huo Wu rolled her eyes. "Don't spout nonsense! I only came because Shui Bing'er suggested it. Otherwise, I would've already tested him yesterday."
Shui Bing'er smiled faintly. "Just listen for now."
At that moment, Yu Tianxin from Thunderclap Academy suddenly spoke. "I've heard of Zhou Sheng'an's name back in my clan. He… might really be something. And the personalized soul ring plans he created for students have already caused a huge stir."
"A stir? How big could it be? Don't tell me even the Titled Douluo are getting involved?" Huo Wu scoffed.
"Huo Wu…" Feng Xiaotian suddenly whispered, his expression stunned as he pointed to the entrance.
Huo Wu turned her head toward the door—only to see Poison Douluo entering with Dugu Yan, taking a seat in the front row.
"…"
The students from the Four Elemental Academies were all dumbfounded.
They had just mentioned a Titled Douluo—and now one actually showed up!
Huo Wu muttered under her breath, "Maybe he's just accompanying his granddaughter. After all, Poison Douluo doesn't have a faction, and if he cares about her, it's possible he'd come take a look…"
Feng Xiaotian's mouth fell open again. He pointed toward the door once more.
Everyone turned to look—and instinctively rubbed their eyes in disbelief.
This time, a truly powerful faction had arrived… One of the Three Upper Sects—Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect!
Sect Master Ning Fengzhi had personally come! Behind him, a sharp, sword-like figure followed—Sword Douluo!
"…"
Huo Wu's expression darkened.
Even though she hadn't seen Zhou Sheng'an yet, she already felt completely slapped in the face.
She made a note of this grudge!
After a few seconds of silence, Huo Wu, still unwilling to back down, muttered stubbornly, "Since there's been so much buzz, the royal family should show up too, right? I mean…"
Before she could finish her sentence, Feng Xiaotian and the others were already giving her a complex look.
Huo Wu slowly turned her head to look at the door—only to see Qian Renxue and Princess Xue Ke walking in together. They smiled and nodded at the other academies in greeting, then calmly took seats beside the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect members.
"…"
Everyone from the Four Elemental Academies was stunned.
No way—Huo Wu's mouth must be blessed or something!
Everything she said just came true!
If she kept talking, would the Pope show up next?
Thankfully, before Huo Wu could say another word, Zhou Sheng'an arrived, with Liu Erlong following behind him and closing the door.
Bang…
The sound of the door shutting instantly brought a quiet seriousness to the room.
Huo Wu glanced back, slightly agape. 'Seriously? It's just a public lecture—why is everyone so alert and focused?'
"Everyone, today we'll go over a few examples from the soul ring configuration sheets," Zhou Sheng'an said with a light smile from the podium.
"!!!"
A wave of gasps swept through the room.
The soul ring configuration sheets Zhou Sheng'an had handed out were like ready-made meals—now he was about to teach them how to cook!
This wasn't just a teacher—he was practically a living sage!
"Teacher Zhou… are you really planning to reveal it all?" Ning Fengzhi asked, eyes fixed intently on him.
Zhou Sheng'an smiled. "Of course. I don't believe hoarding knowledge and turning it into a privilege for a select few is a good thing. For the progress of the entire soul master world, that kind of exclusivity is a burden."
"So let me tell you all now: every theory I've developed—once I've verified it—will be gradually made public."
That single sentence from Zhou Sheng'an hit the classroom like a boulder crashing into a lake.
Everyone's eyes lit up.
There may not have been much noise, but anyone could feel it—the atmosphere had turned electric.
Huo Wu was starting to panic a little. 'What's going on with Zhou Sheng'an? Why do just a few words from him stir up such massive change?'
"Shui Bing'er, what do you think…" Huo Wu asked quietly.
Shui Bing'er shook her head at her.
Huo Wu pursed her lips. This whole environment gave her an unsettling feeling of something bizarre.
At that moment, Zhou Sheng'an spoke again. "Has anyone gone out to hunt a soul ring yet?"
"Teacher Zhou, I followed your instructions and hunted my third soul ring. I can begin fusion now!" said a scruffy-looking male student excitedly.
"Good. Come up and show us," Zhou Sheng'an nodded.
The bearded student walked up to the stage.
Huo Wu and Huo Wushuang's eyes widened at once. Fusion? That was their Huo Clan's secret technique!
'Why would a disheveled student like that know about it?!'
Huo Wu immediately moved to stand up, but Shui Bing'er quickly pulled her back and shook her head.
"Watch first."
Huo Wu stared daggers at the man on stage. "It must be fake! How could our clan's soul ring technique be cracked so easily—especially by a low-level soul master from a commoner background?!"
On stage, the bearded student released his martial soul—a metal rod, with three soul rings spiraling around it: white, yellow, yellow!
Seeing this, Huo Wu sneered. 'With rings like that, he thinks he can use soul ring fusion?'
In the next second, the student let out a low roar—and the third soul ring rapidly merged into the second one, turning it light purple!
Soul Ring Fusion—Success!!!
The room went completely silent.